her impudencie did so faâre exceed as shee would dishonourablie haue stayed in Antioche and left her husband presuming to cloake her shame with a shew of Religion saying without blushing that she could be no more the wife of Lewis to whom shee was Cousin in the fourth degree preferring the loue of a Iester named Saladin of the Sarrazin race Queene Elenoâ vnchast before the greatnesse of a King of France her lawfull husband Lewis being much disquieted perswades this woman to returne a heauier burthen to his minde then to his ship being returned to his house hee frees himselfe with all the speed he can And whereas hee should haue cast this insatiate woman into the Riuer being no more his wife and retained her Dowrie iustly gotten she playing bankerout of her honour Lewis pretends a cause to be diuorsed from Elenor and restores her Guienne hee calles a Councell at Baugency to haue her diuorsed the which was granted vnder colour of this farre fetcht consangunitie But his desire was to bee freed from her So retaining two Daughters borne vnder the vale of their marriage hee restores vnto Elenor all her Countrie of Guienne that is he puts into the hands of his furious enemie a Torche to set his whole Realme on fire for so soone as shee sees her selfe freed from the subiection and feare of a husband shee stayed not long to acquaint her selfe with Henry King of England and Duâe of Normandie Elenor marries with Henry King of England the greatest and most capitall enemie that Lewis had So hee obtained Guienne by the voluntary cession which Lewis made to haue the better meanes to annoy him and his whole realme Moreouer Lewis payde deerely for so great a discomoditie for the Pope would not giue him a dispence to marrie againe without a great summe of money to be imployed in the warres of the Holy Land and to finish this worke hee tooke to Wife Constance the Daughter of Alphonso King of Galicia being a weake friend Lewis marries againe and farre off This marriage was not greatly conuenient neither for his owne quiet not the peace of his subiects This subiect of deadly rancor encreasing the hatred of these two neighbour Monaâkes of France and England burst forth soone by dangerous effects The benefit of the new purchase of Guienne was the cause of that perrilous warre the which had so long and so lamentable a continuance William Duke of Guienne Grand-father by the Father to Queene Elenor had marryed the onely Daughter of the first Raimond Earle of Tholouse who had ingaged the sayd Countie to Raimond Earle of Saint Gilles who since also called himselfe Earle of Tholouse being seized of the sayd Countie and enioyed it quietly vnder the Kings obedience Henry King of England offers the money to Raimond to redeeme it The first war betwixt France and England for the Earledome of Tholouse and demands the Earledome as his Wiues right Vpon his refusall he armes enters into Quercy takes Cahors spoiles the Countrie and besiegeth Tholouse Lewis intreated by Raimond runnes to quenche this fire Beeing arriued and the two Armies readie to ioyne a peace was made betwixt the two Kings by the marriage of Marguerite the Daughter of Lewis with Henry the eldest Sonne of Henry King of England The two kings reconciled by a marriage But for that shee was very young and not yet mariageable shee was deliuered into Henry the Fathers hands vntill shee were of fitte age to marry Lewis had now buryed his wife Constance who left him but two Daughters without any heyres male so as being desirous to haue a successor hee made no delay to matry and tooke to his third Wife Alix the Daughter of Thibaud Earle of Champagne his vassall 1151. and newly reconciled but not greatly affected vnto him vntill that time Hee had a Sonne presently by her whom hee called Dieu Donné or giuen of God as an acknowledgement that God had sent him at his and his subiects praiers This is hee that shall succeed him I should begin to describe his raigne but order commands me to relate what happened during the raigne of Lewis in the neighbour nations of England and Italy wherein Lewis had great crosses Henry King of England had two sonnes by Elenor Richard and Geoffrây and by his first wife hee had Henry who was made sure to Marguerit of France of whom wee haue spoken The Father caused him to be crowned to settle him in his life time and tyed the English vnto him by homage A young Prince ambitious audatious ill aduised and rash who cannot long conteine himselfe with the taste of this new authoritie Notable troubles in England betwâââ the father and the sonne but will play the King with his Father And although his Fathers admonitions restrained him for awhile yet this ambitious humour still burst forth So as the Father from milde admonitions came to threats the insolencie of this young Prince increasing dayly Some yeares passed whilest this fire lay smothered very long for young Henry to whom the Fathers life seemed too tedious and the children of the second wife grew by the care of Elenor their Mother Henry the Father discontented with his Sonne and fearing that in consumating the mariage betwixt him and the Daughter of France the young Prince would grow proud augmenting his traine and State and through the fauour of King Lewis his Father in Lawe attempt something preiudiciall to his authoritie Hee delayed the accomplishment of this marriage although the Virgin werâ of more then sufficient yeares to marrie To this mischiefe was added an other more shamefull for that Henry the Father caused this Princesse to bee carefully kept the which should bee his Daughter in Lawe fearing least his Sonne should violently take her away Prince Henry iealous of his owne father and marry her Elenor falles into iealousie as if Henry had abused her And it was easie to settle this conceit in her sonne in Lawe Henryes head who had the chiefe interest in this delay And to publish this scandolous report vnto the people to make the old man more odious vnto the whole world A malitious and importune woman borne for a great plague to both these Estates As men doe commonly adore the Sunne rising so there wanted no Sicophants in Court to flatteâ the cares of this young King and likewise to incense the two Kings one against the other in flattering their passions Thus Henry transported by these occasions complaines to Lewis of the double wrong his Father did him both in the delay of his marriage and deniall of his authoritie And as Lewis at his request had giuen some admonitions vnto Henry in the end this passionate young Prince came to Paris where beeing well receiued hee enters League with Lewis to make warre against his Father and to disquiet him in diuers parts William King of Scotland is an associate vpon condition that Henry shall giue him
retreate Philips impatience resolues to be reuenged of Edward to follow him and to drawe him to battaile His councell aduised him rather to rest his troopes some time to take breath that they might recouer their spirits and in the meane time to let Edward alone and to obserue his countenance but hardly had he the patience to stay one day at Abbeuille to repaire the bridge ouer which his armie was to passe but his drummes sound a marche going to seeke Edward like a Stagge that flies and to giue him ãâã at what price so euer puft vp with a certaine hope of an infallible and triumphant victorie But he had not made his accompt with God who is not callâd the God of armies in vaine who rules combats and disposeth of the victories of great Monarkes notwithstanding all their councels desseignes courage and endeauours The armies were in view one of an other Edward had lodged his armie and stood vpon his guard with a wonderfull care being in the Countie of Ponthieu a countrie belonging vnto himselfe by the right of his mother in camped in a village named Crecy the which he intrenched and fortified carefully both with trees cut out of the neighbour forrest and trenches wherewith he had strengthened his campe His armie was about thirty thousand men but their order industrie and resolution made them double He gaue the foreward to Prince Edward his sonne The English ãâã being yet very young and for a guide that Geoffrey of Harcourt who as we haue said was retired vnto him to whom he had giuen the office of Constable of England The battaile he giues to the Duke of Suffolke and reserued the rereward to himselfe hauing placed his croâbowemen in front and next ranked his horse putting in the formost rankes his battell axes and maces and behinde his Lances so as euerie parte of the armie should fight when as they came to ioyne to their best aduantage So much may order and foresight doe vnder that great God of battailes without whome it is in vaine to order armies Philips armie was farre greater of a goodlier shewe and more aduantage The Frencâ armie consisting of aboue threescore thousand fighting men well armed with an infinit nomber of noble men as Charles Earle of Alaâson brother to the King Lewis King of Bohemia and duke of Luxembourg Charles Earle of Blois Nephewe to the King Raoul Duke of Lorraine the Earles of Flanders Neuers and Sancerre the Daulphin of Viennois and may Barons and gentlemen in number aboue three thousand who were come at the call of this newe King to the first fruites of his newe possession against him who contended for the Crowne His aduantage was far greater then that of Edwards who fought in another mans countrie But in truth the commodities and titles hee had in France did balance this aduantage but with a different consideration Vppon the Eue of this battaile Ame Eaâle of Sauoie arriues with a thousand men at armes as if all things had conspired to make Philip a conquerour Philip full of hope of an assured victorie desires to fight placing his armie in this order He giues the foreward to his brother Charles Earle of Alanson the rereward to the Earle of Sauoâe and hee himselfe commands the battaile But his desire to fight was so great as he held euerie little stay for a great delay They gaue it out in the army that the English fledde so as they now vaunted of a victorie euery one disposing of the English according to his humour but in searching out the reason of this brute Philip thinks it good to discouer his enemies countenance Behold sodenly he receiues a contrary aduise His scouts report that Edward had already taken the field ordred his armie attending the battaile Then there was no hold Philip wilâ needes fight hardly can they hold a councell standing about him The two armies redy to ioyne to aduise what they had to doe in so notable an occurrent and euen hast the stepdame of better affaires would not suffer them to resolue For at the same instant as the King had aduerâisement of Edwards readinesse to fight Philip without any breathing would haue led forth his army to battaile The King of Bohemia aduised him to refresh his men before the fight and that his foote consisting of crossebowes and a good part of them Geneuois Description of the battails of Crecy which were held to be resolute men should make the front and the horse should followe according to the appointed order At the last they obtained so much respitte of the King as to feede their men speedely This done they al prepare to another feast The foreward made the first head where Charles Earle of Alanson the Kings brother commaunded But behold presently an vnfortunate occasion of a ruinous disorder The Earle of Alanson against the order decreed in Councell misliked that the Geneuois footemen were in the first ranks and makes them to change their places with some disgrace saying that it belonged not vnto them Remarkable circumstances in this greate battaile and yet on this push depended all on their side The Geneuois discontented with his repulse not onely fainted in courage but also fell into a rage so as changing their places they cried out for anger as giuing a signe to the enemie of their bitter discontent This was seconded with an other accident as if Heauen had fauored the English Sodenly there fell a great shower of raine and then the burning Sunne appeared out of a cloud with a rainbowe In this forced and despightfull changing of places the Geneuois couered not their bowes so as the strings being presently wett they yeelded and to increase the mischiefe this alteration made them to change the order of their battaile so as the Sunne lay in the Frenchmens faces and on the Inglishmens backs and to make their misfortune absolute euerie one was more incensed against his commander then against the enemie as a signe of some check at hand Dangerous imaginations they being ready to fight Philip was sufficiently aduertised of the armies disdaine against his brother yet must hee needes fight he held himselfe lost if all were not lost Edward who stood vpon a high eminent place as it were in sentinell to discouer with iudgement the countenance of the enemie sees this change heares the shout and markes the place resoluing to charge it at the weakest part The euent fauours his desseigne he embraceth this occasion not suffering them to take breath or to repayre this error he sends forth a troupe of crossebow men chosen out of the foremost ranckes they sodenly discharge a showre of arrowes so thick and violent as at this first charge the Geneuois who were transported with choler and surprised with this sodaine storme brake theââ ranckes and gaue way to the enemy their wet strings beeing vnfit to serue and their mindes not yet pacified could not resist so great a force The
one another by new attempts Charles hauing pacified Flanders and Brittaine resolues to bee reuenged of Richard who had sought all meanes to annoy him in eyther prouince besides the ordinary brauadoes he gaue him within the hart of his realme Charles sends men and mânition into Scotland He therefore sends a thousand men at armes to Dauid King of Scots and threescore shippes well appoynted with furniture to arme twelue thousand men of his country vnder the command of Iohn of Vienne Admirall of France Their entry into Scotland was pleasing but the Scottishmen grew soone discontented with our men eyther through their fault or our they accusing vs of insolency and loosenesse and we them of barbarousnes and cruelty to their friend a stranger who came to succour them This diuision caused Dauid to make a peace with Richard and our Admirall of Vienne to returne speedily home with his Frenchmen but not without obseruing the manners strength and commodities of this Iland diuided into two kingdomes And least he should seeme to haue made a fruitlesse voyage yeelding an accompt vnto the King of what he had done seene and learned in Scotland he lets him vnderstand that the strength of Scotland consisted but in fiue thousand horse and thirty thousand foote halfe armed and that of England in eight thousand horse and threescore thousand foote This relation were it true or false gaue aduice to assayle the King of England in his own Country where he might be vanquished with more facility then abroad the which so moued the minde of this yong Prince transpotted with the great harmes suffered with much indignity by the English as it was easie for the Duke of Bourgongne â whom it much concerned to haue the English molested being often disquieted by him in his country of Flanders Charles resolues to make war in England to perswade the King to vndertake this war Oportunity did likewise seeme to inuite him for that the Duke of Lancaster pretending right to the realme of Castile by his wife had exhausted England both of men and money and the Gantois being pacified all Flanders would be held in subiection by this check The Regent acquainted with the Duke of Bourgongnes humoâ being his brother who for his priuate interest would hazard the whole and noting the eminent dangers in the Kings person who would imbarke himselfe in this action the great want of money the peoples exclamations the great danger of tumults by the great exactions which must be made and in the action it selfe the inconueniency so apparant to any one that would open his eyes the impossibility of so great an enterprise to assaile a great King so oft a Conquerour within his owne Realme not holding any land there The Regent dislikes of thââ enteâprise he was vtterly against it yet he spake soberly least he should offend the King who greatly affected it Lewis Earle of Touraine the Kings brother who soone shal be Duke of Orleans the Constable Clisson the Earle of S. Pol the Lord of Coussy and others in whom Charles had most trust had beene so perswaded by the Duke of Bourgongne as they had nothing else in their mouths nothing sounded in this yong Princes eares but the necessity profit honour and facillity of this voyage What my Liege say they are you lesse then the King of England shal the French yeeld to the English in valour courage or force what an indignity is it to haue this people alwayes at our gates to nourish them in our bosomes and to furnish them with armes to beat vs what a benefit wil it be to take their nest from them and leaue them no place of retreat Your Countries of Guienne Normandie Picardie and Flanders are wholy yours How much doth that import for the honour of your Maiesty and the good of your Realme to returne them their owne who haue so often defeated your armies taken your ancestors spoyled your Estate braued it in your Townes and beseeged your chiefe citty of Paris As for the facility of the execution who sees not but you may effect it if you please The Saxons conquered England with a handful of men far from their own home and with small meanes and William the Conquerour with his sword alone And you my Liege hauing a realme ful of men victualls monie euen at your enemies gate shall not you preuaile England opens her armes vnto you your Realme inuites you which without doubt will imploy both heart and purse for so great generous a desseine the which imports both the honour and quiet of your Maiesty Such and like speeches they did continually buzz into Charles his eares but from his Chamber they were published in the Court and so through out the whole realme as that which pleaseth the King doth commonly please all The desseine was to bee wished against a capitall enemie of the State and the proceeding had a fayre shewe At the generall instance of all the French the King decrees in counsell to leauy a great armie for the voyage of England letters are sent out to all parts Subsidies Taxes Loans imposed greater then during the imprisonment of King Iohn but all was shadowed with this reason That they must endeauour once for all to roote out the English who vndermined this estate and sought to ruine it This decree was put in execution with great applause of all men as if France had layed new foundations of her greatnesse both to warrant it selfe from danger at hand to haue a reuenge of former losses and to build a newe Estate at the cost of the common enemy of the French nation The Nauie is prepared at Scluse and Blanguerge to the great content of the Flemings They armed fower hundred eighty seuen Shipps for warre with an infinite quantity of victuals the which came from all parts like to a flowing streame The nobility striues who shal be best appointed Strange Princes are inuited The King of Spaine then a friend to our King the Earle of Sauoy Preparation for the warre of England The Dukes of Saxony and Bauiere send men Our Princes will not yeeld one to another in costly showes they adde superfiuous curiosity to necessity They paint and gild their shippes All glisters with goodly ensignes penons banners standards and streamors The masts painted with rich grounds shining with leaues of Gold gaue notice to all men that they went not onely to a certain victory but to some ioyfull nuptialls But all this feast was made without any reckoning with God who laughs from heauen at these ants that striue to climbe without a Ladder and at Princes who made these brauadoes at the poore peoples cost who remembred not that God hath a soueraigne court and a register to controll their actions and to oppose against their vanities The armie was prepared in two places in Flanders and in Brittaine It consisted of twenty thousand Knights and Squires as many Ganouois archers on foote and fiue
the fiue no otherwise but for the defence of his owne estates As for the Castells of Lugan and Lugarne strong passages and of great importance for the surety of the Duchie of Milan they desyred rather to raze them then to take three hundred thousand Ducats for the restitution thereof Let vs nowe lay out all armes aside for a certaine space and giue our warriours time to take their breath and returne againe shortly to warre by the ambitious factions of two most great and mighty Princes This yeare in Febuary was borne Francis 1â17 Daulphin and successor to this Crowne if his end had not beene violently forced The Daââpâin Francis borne Laurence of Medicis did present him at the Font for the Pope âis Vncle. A Christening celebrated with iousts skirmishes incounters besieging and taking of places and other such stately shewes as the memory of man hath not obâerued greater And the King to make a more stricter league with the Pope he caused the said Laurence to marry with Magdaleine daughter to Iohn Earle of Auuergne and Auraguez and of Ioane sister to Francis of Bourbon Earle of Vendosme who died at Verceil when as King Charles the eight returned from Naples Of this marriage came Katherin of Medicis whom we shall see Queene of France and Mother to the three last Kings of the name of Valois At the same time the King sent Gaston of Breze Prince of Fonquarmont brother to the great Seneshall of Normandie with two thousand French foote to succour Christierne King of Denmarke against the rebels of Sueden who after they had wonne a battaile for the King being abandoned in the end by the Danes in a combate vpon the Ice where those Northerne Nations are more expert then ours were ouerthrowne and the most part slaine such as could escape the sword returned without pay without armes and without clothes 1518. The yeare following the last of March Henry the Kings second sonne was borne who by the death of the Daulphin his brother shall succeed his father Henry King of England was his God-father and gaue him his name During this surcease of armes among Christian Princes the Pope motioned but saith the Originall rather in sâew then with any good intent Estate of the East a generall warre of all Christendome against Selim Prince of the Turkes Baiazet as we haue sayd in his latter age studied to install Acomath his eldest sonne in the throne of the Turkish Empire Selim the younger brother through fauour of the Ianisaries and Souldiers of his fathers gard forced him to yeeld the gouernement vnto him Selim was no sooner in possession but as they say hee poisoned his father and murthered his bretheren Acomath and Corcut and in the end all that discended from the line of the Ottomans Then passing from one warre to an other he vanquâshed the Aduliâns ouerthrew the Sophi of Persia in battaile tooke ââom him Tauris the chiefe seate oâ his Empire and the greatest part of Persia rooted out the Sultans of Egipt and the Mammelius tooke Caire and seized vpon all Egipt and Syria So as hauing in few yeares almost doubled his Empire and taken away the hinâârance of so mightie Princes who were iealous of his Monarchie Christian Princes did not without cause feare the happy course of his victories Hongarie was weake of men and in the hands of a Pupill King gouerned by Prelates and Barons of the realme diuided amongst themselues Italie dismembred by former warres âeared least the part alities of these Princes should cause Selim to turne his eyes towards it The âope and all the Couât of Rome making shew to preuent this imminent danger thought it expediânt to make a great prouision of money by a voluntarie contribution of Princes and a generall taxe ouer all Christendome That the Emperour accompanied with the horse of Polonia and Hongarie and an armie of Reistres and Lââsquenets fit for so great an enterprise should assaile Constantinople and the King of France with the forces of his Realme the Venetians Suisses and Potentates of Itaâie should inuade Greece being full of Christians and ready to rebell vpon the first approach of forâaine âoâces The Kings of Spaine Portugall and England should passe the straight of Gallipoli with two hundred saile and hauing taken the Castell at the enârie thereof they should approach neere to Constantinople That the Pope should follow the same course with a hundred great Galleys These were goodly plottes in conceit This counteâfeit shewe to send an armie into Turkie was but a deuice to fill the Popes coffers which was made emptie by the former warres especially by that of Vrbin To treate of these propositions Leo published in the Consistorie a generall Truce for fiue yeares amongst all Christian Princes and vpon rigorous censures to them that should breake it Appointing for Legats the Cardinall of Saint Sixte to the Emperour the Cardinall of Saint Marie in Portico to the King the Cardinall Giles to the King of Spaine and the Cardinall Laurence Campege to the King of England hee proclaymed his Bulls of pardon to all such as should contribute a certaine summe for so woâthie an expedition All Princes accept of this truce and shewe themselues verie willing to so honorable in action But the meanes howe in so short a time to make a firme Vnion among so many Potentats who had beene long at deadly warre Euery one studies of his priuate interest and finding the danger to concerne one more then an other they care for themselues and manage these affaires carelesly more with shewe then deuotion This negligence of the publicke state and greedinesse of priuate men was the more confirmed by the death of Selim who leauing his Empire to his sonne Soliman young of age but of a milder spirit and not so enclyned to warre A peace concluded with the English then all things seemed to incline to peace and loue betwixt so many great warriors The Kings of France and England renued their friendship by a defensiue League betwixt them vppon promise of a marriage betwixt the Daulphin King Francis eldest sonne and the onely daughter of Henry King of England both very young which contract many accidents might hinder before they came to sufficiencie And Henry yeelded Tournay for foure hundred thousand Crownes the one halfe for the charge in buââding the Citadell and for the artillery powder and munition which the King of England should leaue in the place the other halfe for the expenses in conquering thereof and for other pensions that were due vnto him Thus often times the looser paies the shott On the other side the Kings eldest daughter being dead And with ãâã Spaniards whome they had appointed to bee wife to the King of Spaine a peace betwixt these two Kings was reconfirmed according to the first Capitulation with promise of the yonger An alliance which eyther Prince did confirme with great outward shewes of friendshippe King Francis wearing the order
Quotidian So finding his houre come he disposed of his conscience and of his house he greatly recommended his subiects and seruants to the Daulphin his successor and the last day of March The death of Franâis the â in the yeare 1547. being fiftie and three yeares old hee changed the painfull and continuall toyles of this mortall life with the eternall rest which the happie inioy for euer A Prince wonderfully lamented both of his subiects and strangers whose vertues deserue to bee placed among the most famous valiant Courteous bountifull iudicious of a great spirit and an excellent memorie A louer of learning and men of merit to whome arts and sciences owe the perfections they haue gotten at this day hauing by his bringing vp of youth founded Colleges in Paris in the Hebrew Greeke and Latine tongues assembled from all parts of the world learned men and of good life and by this meane cleered the darknes of Ignorance wherewith the world had beene so obscured by the malice of time and negligence of former ages A Prince fauoured with many good yet crost with as many bad and sinister fortunes Happie notwithstanding that no aduersitie could euer make him degenerate from a noble and royall mind nor from the true beleefe of a good and faithfull Christian. Happie and blessed in his end to haue pacified all forraine confusions which had so long troubled his estates and his subiects quiet But without doubt hee had beene far more happie if he could haue left his realme free from those fatall diuisions which euen in his raigne had so miserably diuided his subiects and shall cause hereafter strange combustions the first consideration whereof makes my haire to stand vpright and my heart to tremble at that which is to come HENRY the second 59. King of France HENRY .2 KING OF FRANCE .59 · NAture his age and the good education he had receiued vnder his father in the gouernment of the Estate 1547. did countenance him in this succession the which he receiued on the same day that he was borne and confirmed it in Saint Germaine in Laie by the restâtution of the Constable of Montmorentie by the publication of many goodly ordinances for the reformation of apparell ordering of the Treasure prouiding for the poore suppression of new erected offices gouernment of the riuers and forrests maintenance of Iustice and releeuing of his subiects but aboue all that necessarie lawe against blasphemers as we may see in the Originall Doubtlesse this was a commendable beginning and worthy the homage he did owe to the Soueraigne Lord as an acknowledgment of the fee whereof he tooke possession if he had not polluted it with the mournfull spectacle of that bloudie and fatall combate betwixt Iarnac and Chastaigneray whereof he would be an eye witnesse and behold the laters bloud shed contrarie to all mens opinion by Iarnaâ being the weaker and newly recouered from sicknesse So shall we see in the end of this raigne that Gods diuine Iustice doth suffer That the man which did thirst after an others bloud shall finde some one to drinke his owne The restoring of the Constable disapointed the Cardinall of Tournon The Constable restored and the Admirall of Annebault touching the chiefe gouernment of the State and the Lords of Longueual Esâars Boncour Framezelles Antibe Grignan the Baron of la Garde the Generall Bayard and many others accused some for theft some for other disorders in their charges did somewhat trouble the Court It was an olde saying That he which eaâes the Kings Gooâe will cast vp the feathers a hundred yeares after but since they haue turned this saying into a Prouerbe He that steales a hundred thousand crownes from the King 1548. is quit if he restore ten thousand So some preâaâââd by ãâ¦ã others escaped rigorous punishments through fauour In the meane time the ceremonies of the Kings Coronation were ãâ¦ã Rheims and hauing receiued it the 27. of Iuly by the hands of Charles of Lorraine Archbishop of Rheims Henry the 2. crowned he made a voyage into Picardie and did visit the ãâ¦ã were made about Boullen then did he prepare an armie to succour Scotland ãâã whom the English made warre for that the Lords of the countrie had refused to giue their Princesse Mary Steward in marriage to yong Edward hoping by this bond tâ vnite the two realmes of England and Scotland to the preiudice of the French of the common alliance betwixt France and Scotland The Lord of Essé was chiefe of the armie Peter Strossy generall of the Italian bands d' Andelot Colonnell of the French âoote the Reingraue chiefe of the Lansquenets An armie in Scotland marching by land against the English forces and Leon Strossy Prior of Capoua by sea spoiled the English of the greatest part of their conquests but the confirmation of the peace lately concluded betwixt the deceased Kings of France and England ended this warre and brought back our aduenturers into France 1548. Francis at the end of his daies had well foreseene the leuaine which should soone breed new combustions with the Emperour Henry must be heire to his quarrell aâ well as to his crowne and knowing that the Pope had a fresh and iust cause of indignation for the murther of Peter Lewis Duke of Parma and Plaisance his sonne and sortââ inuasion of Plaisance by Ferdinand of Gonsagne Lieutenant for the Emperour in Italieâ he sent Charles of Lorraine lately honoured with a Cardinals Hat this is he that shall minister so much matter to talke of him vnder the successors of Henry to draw the Pope from the Emperours partie to the Kings alliance but death shall frustrate the Pope of his intended reuenge Commonly men fish best in a troubled streame many knowing this new King to be of a mild spirit addicted to the delights of Court little practised in affaires they kindled a desire in his minde to reuenge the wrongs the Emperour âad done to France whereof they vrged for a testimonie the death of Vogelsberg beheaded in Ausbourg at his returne from the Scottish warres for the Kings seruice Oâ the other side the Emperour grew not a little iealous of the progresse the King made into Bourgogne Bresse Sauoy and Piedmont as if he had carried with him an alarum ãâã to sâârre vp the people to the following warre And it may be it had then been kindled but an home-bred mutinie staied it for a time During the Kings voiage the extorsioâs of the tol-gatherers and farmers of Salt Sedition for the customes caused the commons of Guienne Xainâonge and Angoulmois to rebell In few weekes forty thousand men go to field armed with all kind of weapons the Ilanders ioyne with them and with a common consent fall vpon the tol-gatherers The people of Gasconie do presently follow this pernitious example The commons of Bourdeaux rise finding la Vergne Estonnac Maquanan and others Tribunes fit for their humors they
bee vnknowne to the French What a drowsines had it beene in so wise circumspect a nation to suffer themselues to be abused by a new-come Prince and by so grosse a pollicie to drawe themselues into apparent combustion which hung ouer their heads in preferring the French before the English who had then so good a portion in France where hee possessed the goodliest and richest prouinces How vnsound is this policy to imagine that a poor Prince Count of Valois hauing to do with a rich King of England who encountred the Frenchmens minds with an intestine force by the golden vertue of his Angels could haue abused such as were kept in their obedience by the force of right and reason for the preseruation of the Crowne of France their Countrie Who sees not but it had beene the ouerthrowe of Philip of Valois cause to say that hee had forged a law at his pleasure to exclude the lawfull heire and her ofspring from her right Truely the good cause of Philip of Valois made him victorious against the forces of Edward King of England and the auncient reuerence to him 430. authorized by a continuall vse and receiued by the common consent of the French reiected gold to respect the order of right for the benefit of the lawfull heire These French lawes were called Saliques of the riuer Sal which is in Franconia Etimologie of the word Salique or East Franco it ioynes with Mein and is not yet dryed vp It is neyther new nor extraordinary for people to deriue their names from Mountaines or Riuers and to shewe an example springing from the same thing by noting the Riuers The Country where the Citty of Paris is seated not onely the chiefe of this great realme but the Theatre of the whole world if by a happy peace she may recouer her ancient beauty is called the Isle of France for the concurse of diuerse riuers which ioyne with Seine and to this end the ship the armes of our chiefe Cittie shewes the oportunity of these goodly riuers Who can with reason reiect the apparency of this likely-hood That as our ancestors remayning alongst the riuer of Sal were called Saliens so the name hath continued to posteritie the which for the like reason are called Ripuaires as made for the commodity and vse of the dwellers vpon that banck the which they likewise called Ripuaires or Ribberots Truely long time after Conrad of Franconie the Emperour was called Salique to marke his beginning in that Country by the ancient name Thus much for the word But the inuiolable Maximes and Principles of the state of France the consent of all the true ancient writers the prescription of so many ages the generall approbation of all the French nation should make vs hold this Salique lawe for certaine without seeking for new opinions not onely weake and vnprofitable but insupportable in the state where the olde prouerb must stand for an oracle Remoue not the stâane well layed Thus hauing briefely set downe the principall lawes of the state of France I will returne to the course of my history Thus hee raigned thus he liued and thus died Pharamond the first King of France Death of Pharamond leauing for hereditary successor of his Realme his sonne Clodion according to the right of lawe and King in effect by consent of the French This age was the sincke of Babarous nations by whome God would iustly punish the vniust pride of the Râmains The greatest parte came out of Asia staying first in Germany and from thence like Caterpillers or Grassehoppers âread themselues ouer Gaule Italie and Spaine that is to say the Goths or Getes Alans Hunnes Sueues others from the North the Bourguignons Normans and Lombards We must know the Chaunge of these nations for the vse of his history But it sufficeth to touch them briefly in their places without cloying our chiefe subiect with a cumbersome discourse 431. CLODION or CLOION the hairy 2. King of France CLODION·KING OF FRANCE .2 CLODION the sonne of Pharamond succeeded his father in the yeare 431. and raigned one and twenty yeares The first attempâ of Clâdâoâ He laboured to follow his fathers course and to settle himselfe in Gaule but hauing transported certaine troupes which made a happy beginning passing to the couâtrâes of Cambresie and Tournay betwixt the riuers of Somme and âscout behold a furious mulâitude oâ diuers nations assembled toâeâher of âandales Alans Sueues and Burgâignons iealous to see this great and warlââe people follow their steps in the conquest of a land not onely âet to âale but abandoned in the disorders of the Romaine Empire oppoâed themselues against them The French not able to withstand âo great vnited forces retyred themselues into their Country oâ Franconia To this iealousie was added the practise of Stillico Lieutenant generall tâ Honorius Emperour of the West who easily ingaged these Nations seeking for woâke against the French laboured by all meanes to crosâe them and to possesse âimselâe of Gaule yet the successe did not fitte his desseigne for being preuented by Honorius his maister he was slaine with his sonne Euâherius whom he had appointed absolute heire of that goodly portion But the prouidence of God had left it in prey to these great and victorious Nations being come from diuers parts of the world to diuide the Empire Thus confusion preuailed by his authority who had most interest in the practises of Stillico who in taking Gaule for himselfe reteined still the Romaine name being ouerthrowne by Honorius The deluge of these barbarous nations oâerflowed all Gaule which from yeare to yeare was replenished with new guests The Bourguignons had already seized on a great part with the title of a kingdome whereof Arles was the chiefe Citty The Goths possessed Gaule Narbonnoise 440. euen by the Emperours consent who granted what he could not take from them with promise to passe no further So this victorious nation dispersed in diuerse places in Italy Gaule and Spaine were called by sândry names Wisigoths and Ostrogoths according to the place where they were planted by their great multitudes and valour Such was the disorder of the Romaines who in their seasons had subdued the whole world by their victorious armes These tempests and stormes raigned during the Empires of the two brethren Arcadius and Honorius the one commanding in the East The estate of the Empâre and the other in the West of Theodosius the second sonne to Arcadius and in the beginning of Vâlentinian the third a vitious and vnhappy Prince The raigne of Clodion fell out in those times not greatly memorable but to obserue his resolutions and manly endeuours to settle and increase the conquests of his father but with no successe Thus great and heroicall enterprises haue often stayes and lets in the beginning or such difficult crosses as they seeme quite suppressed Aetius a Romaine borne succeeded Stillico for the Emperour in that which
gouerned this dislike so wisely as in the end Hebert was hanged And this was the meanes Lewis pretending to loue Hugues shewed a good countenance to all such as were affected vnto him especially to this Cont Hebert whome hee fauored extraordinarily protesting to trust him in all things the successe was answerable to his plot He calls an assembly of his vassalls at Laon and fortifies himselfe to be the strongeât thether he calls Cont Hebert of whose councell in shewe he made great esteeme and writes his letters vnto him that he would vse him Hebert growne familiar with Lewis and sent for by him comes to the assembly fearing no enemy Lewis being master of the Citty reading a letter after diuer in the great hall he cried out Treachery punished with treacheâie It is truely sayd that English men are not very wise The Noblemen about him desirous to knowe the cause of this speech hee fained that the King of England had demanded his aduice by this letter What he should do to a subiect that had called his Lord into his house vnder colour of good cheere had seized on him and caused him to die shamefully Hebert answereth with the rest That he must die infamously The King replies vnto him presently Thou hast condemned thy selfe by thine owne mouth thou wicked seruant thou didst inuite my father to thy house with a shewe of loue being there thou didest detaine him and cause him to die cruelly The company stood in shew amazed but in effect readie to execute the Kings pleasure not able to contradict so manifest a truth for the information of the death of King Charles the simple was notorious to the world âont Hebert hanged so as presently by Lewis absolute command Hebert was taken away deliuered to the executioner and hanged in vewe of all the world the place being neere vnto Laon noted by so memorable an execution is called Mont Hebert vnto this day And thus the treachery of Hebert after a long delay when he least suspected was punished by the treachery of Lewis Lewis dies hated oâ his subiects and he himselfe after all these exploits died at Rheims in the yeare 955. hated and detested of the French leauing to Lothaire his sonne a Crowne neere the ruine and to Charles his yongest the faâour of his elder brother for a poore portion as wee shall declare heereafter LOTHAIRE the 34 King of France LOTAIRE KING OF FRANCE XXXIIII HE began to raigne in the yeare 956. and raigned 31. yeares 956. performing nothing that was memorable but that hee was heire to his fathers treacherie misfortune and the last but one of his race He was a forerunner of the change which happened to his posteritie Lothaires treacherous King He renued a League with the Emperour Otho the second who had succeeded his father Otho the first with an intent to âeâiue the enterprise of his father Lewis against Richard Duke of Normandie either by policie or else by open force He sought twise to surprise Richard a good and a wise Prince with a shew of good meaning but hauing attempted all in vaine in the end hee vsed open force and was shamefully repulsed and beaten Thus he spent some yeares vnprofitably in this wilfull passion against the Normans Hee attempts warre against Richard of Normandy but in vaine bringing infinit confusions into ââance both by his owne forces and by theirs against whome hee vndertooke this voâââtary warre These miseries are set forth at large by those writers which liued in that age This breefe will serue for the matter according to our stile to shew That these calamities bred only by the passion of an il aduised King thrust the subiects into furie and dispaire and then into hatred against him being vnworthie to be respected hauing so litle regard of publike peace The general Estates assemble for the redresse thereof The Normans suffering as well as the French demaund nothing more then peace and Duke Richard notwithstanding his treatie with Lewis the fourth offered to hold of the Crowne to France so as his subiects might liue in quiet These honest profitable and necessarie offers augmented their hate against Lothaire ãâã sought war without any cause although he were vnfortunate alwaies mutinous and alwaies beaten To this phreneticall passion of his fruteles quarrels against the Normans 957. a new fantasie possessed Lothaire to breake the league with the Emperour to make warre with the Germaines or the possession of Lorraine anciently called Austrasia the which he sayd belonged vnto him by right time out of minde He sought by ill gouernment to repossesse that which lay farre off being vnable to keepe that which he had in his possession Lothaire makes warre against the Emperour He ingaged Regnier and Lambert the sonnes of the Earle of Mons in this action promising to diuide the conquest and did so contemne his Brother Charles whom his father had recommended vnto him leauing him no portion but his fauour hoping this liberty should breed more loue in him and also the reuerence of a brother tyed to his eldest should make him respectiue to the publike authority as he fled to the Emperour Otho for helpe Otho imbracing this occasion determines the sute which Lothaire would commence against him in respect of Lorraine inuesting Charles therein who sought releefe of him for his brothers discontent but Otho restoring Lorraine vnto him tooke from it great Seigneuries giuen to the Bishops of Cologne and Liege Lorraine giuen to Charles of France by the Emperour with condition also that hee should depend of the Empire Hereof grew great iarres betwixt the French and the Germaines with so violent a rage and passion as they were rather furious robberies then iust and well gouerned warres Charles the brother of Lothaire carried himselfe very indiscreetly as if he had been no Frenchman but a Germaine and was wedded to the Emperours passions with such vehemencie as if all his good fortune had depended thereon and had vtterly renounced France as a capitall enemie Moreouer the ordinary trafficke from France to Germanie was a dayly cause of discontent to the French to whom Lorraine was an ordinary passage for their commerce so as diuers persons receiuing dayly and vpon diuers occasions discurtesies from Charles Duke of Lorraine the French conceiued a hatred in their hearts against him which burst out in a seasonable time for the vtter ouerthrow of all the good hap wherevnto God had called him the which he could not gouerne by his indiscretion and cruelty But the prouidence of God making way for his decrees would expell them from the Crowne which had banished all faith valour humanitie Iustice and other royall vertues and disposed the people to these changes by their default who had the principall interest to entertaine their loues by equity and good vsage Lothaire hated of all men dyed in the yeare 964. leauing behind him an execrable memory of his actions
Lothaire dyes detâsted of all men and Lewis his sonne for a finall conclusion of his race as an outcast of great Charlemagne LEWIS the 5. the 35. King and the last of this second race LEWES .5 KING OF FRANCE XXXV HE raigned one yeare onely and dyed without heire 964. without friends and without memorie The last King of the race of Charlemagne leauing his place voyde at time of need in troubles of State and confusion of times horribly corrupted He was likewise called idle hauing done nothing worthy of memory but in leauing the place to a better Prince and more worthy then himselfe whom God the protector of the Crowne of France had reserued for this estate in so great necessitie God the disposer of Kingdomes and states for as God had decreed that out of the house of Hugues the great should issue a great King which should repaire the errors of this bastard race of Charlemagne so likewise hee had prepared the meanes both for the father to lay the foundation and for his sonne Hugh Capet appointed for this dignity to finish this goodly building as it appeares in the following discourse THE THIRD RACE OF THE KINGS OF FRANCE Called Capets or Capeuingiens of the name of Hugh Capet Father to the Kings which raigne happily to this day I haue made the earth with a stretched out arme and dispose of the estates of men at my pleasure By me Kings doe raigne A particular Chronologie of the third Race Yeares of grace Kings From the yeare 988. vnto the yeare 1598. 988. 36. Hugues or Hugh Capet The first of that race who setled the Estate of the French Monarchie much shaken by the confusion of ciuill warres and the multiplicity of masters He reckons twentie and eight Kings issued from him successiuely from father to sonne or from branch to branch according to the order of the fundamentall Law of the State of France Hauing raigned nine yeares he leaues 996. 37. Robert his sonne alone of that name a peaceable King who raigns 32. yeares and to him succeeds 1028. 38. Henry the first of that name his sonne who raigns 33. yeares and to him 1061. 39. Philip the 1. his sonne who raigned 49. yeares and to him 1109. 40. Lewis the 6. called the grosse his sonne who raignes 29. yeares and to him 1137. 41. Lewis the 7. called the yong who raigned 44. yeares and to him succeeded 1181. 42. Phillip the 2. surnamed Augustus or giuen of God his sonne who raigned 44. yeares and to him succeeded his sonne 1223. 43. Lewis the 8. called the father of Saint Lewis who raigned 3. yeares and to him 1227. 44. Lewis the 9. called Saint Lewis a great and famous Prince he reigns 44 yeares and to him his sonne 1271. 45. Philip the 3. surnamed the hardie who raigned 15. yeares and to him his sonne 1286. 46. Philip the 4. called the faire who raigned 29. yeares and to him his sonne 1315. 47. Lewis the 10. surnamed Hutin hauing raigned 2. yeares hee leaues the Crowne to his brother 1317. 48. Philip the 5. called the long who raigned 6. yeares and leaues the scepter to his brother 1322. 49. Charles the 4. called the faire who raigned 6. yeares And by the law of State for want of sonnes or brother the Estates of France notwithstanding the pretentions of Edward King of England 1328. 50. the sonne of the onely daughter of Philip the faire placed in the royall throne 1350. 51. Philip of Valois the 5. sonne of Charles Earle of Valois and second sonne to Philip the 3. and by consequence the neerest kinsman to the three former Kings Heraignes 23. yeares and to him succeeds his sonne Iohn alone of that name   Vnder him began a confusion in the Realme the which continued neere a hundred yeares with much miserie that is from this Iohn vntill the warre of the common weale vnder Lewis the XI So wee reckon 5. very troublesome raignes vnder Iohn Charles 5. Charles 6.  Charles the 7. and Lewis the XI who setled and augmented the Estate of the realme being greatly decayed by the continuance of ciuil wars Iohn hauing raigned 14. yeares leaues the realme to 1364 52. Charles the 5. his sonne called the wise who raigned 18. yeares and to him succeeded 1382. 53. Charles the 6. his sonne who raigned with much paine 42. yeares and to him 1424. 54. Charles the 7. his sonne   Who expelled the English out of France and setled the Crowne seized on by the King of England who was Crowned and proclaimed King in Paris hauing raigned 39. yeares He leaues the royall scepter to 1463. 55. Lewis the XI his sonne   Who vnited Bourgongne and Prouence to the Crowne and thereby tooke away all occasions of trouble leauing the royall scepter to his sonne 1483. 56. Charles the 8. with peace   The which continued without any disturbance a boute a hundred yeares from the yeare 1462. vnto the yeare 1562. vnder the raigns of Lewis 12. Francis 1. and Henry 2. Charles the 8. hauing raigned 14. yeares dying without Children the realme was transported to 1498. 57. Lewis the 12. Duke of Orleans who raigned 18. yeares and for want of heires male remits the Crowne to 1515. 58. Francis the 1. of that name Duke of Angoulesme who raigned 32. yeares   An excellent Prince who after the long ignorance of obscure ages caused the knowledge of learning to flourish hauing beautified his vniuersity of Paris with excellent learned men in the tongues and sciences the which were dispersed ouer all Europe and to him succeeded his sonne 1547. 59. Henry the 2. of that name who raigned 12. yeares and to him succeeded 1559. 60. Francis the 2. his sonne who dying without Children there succeeded him his brother  61. Charles the 9. who dying without Children left the Crowne to  62. Henry the 3. his brother the last of the royall race of Valois who beeing slaine by a Iacobin and dying without Children there succeeded in the lawfull masculine line  63. Henry the 4. before King of Nauarre and the first King of the royall line of Bourbon who now raignes and long may he rule happily and holyly beloued obeyed and respected The Genealogy of King Henry the 4. now raigning according to the order of succession is at the ende of the royall branch of Valois HVGVES or Hugh Capet the 36. King and the first of the third race the which raignes at this daye vnder Henry the fourth HVGH CAPET KING OF FRANCE XXXVI THE royall throne of France remayning voide 987. by the death of Lewis the 5. did visibly call Charles Duke of Lorraine to the Crowne of whome we haue before made mention as the first Prince of the bloud royall to whome I say the fundamentall Lawe did adiudge the Crowne for want of heires males Charles Duke of Lorraine hâire presumptiue reiected from the Crowne and. Hugh Capet chosen King of
flies to Philip who comes himselfe with a very great army and enters Flanders The vncle supplaâââ his Nephew for the County of Flanders His meaning was to make a benefit of their common quarrell But it fell out otherwise by his prouidence who doth pull downe one raise vp an other alwaies iustly although the causes be vnknowne vnto vs. Robert defeates the King and his Nephews After this victory hee is receiued Earle of Flanders without any discontent of the King for the distressed pupills who relying no more on him fled for succor to Thierry Bishop of Liege who makes an accord That Robert the Frison should haue the Earledom of Flanders giue his Nephews some recompence After this peaceable possession of the Earledome of Flanders Philip fârsâks Baldwins Children at their neede In England Philip became a deere friend to Robert forgetting the good offices hee had receiued from his tutor measuring friendship by proffiâ Such was tâeÌ the state of Flanders England had a greater change we haue sayd that Robert Duke of Normandy had instituted William his bastard sonne his heire and that hee had gotten possession of the Dâchie but behold a greater happinesse attends him Edward King of England hauing receiued much kindnesse from him and knowing him fit for the gouernment of the realme names him his heire by his testament by vertue whereof notwithstanding all the policy and force that Herould brother to the Queene could vse William is receiued King of England and crowned in a soâlemne assemble of the English homage is done vnto him as to their lawfull Lord this great dignity continued in his posterity Philip sees this new power impatiently Philip discontented at VVilliams aduancement to the crowne of England yet can he not preuent it but God hath prepared it as a rod to correct this realme by the three sonnes which William left to succeed in his Estates Robert William and Henry Ambition is the Leuaine of these warres it shewed it selfe soone after the birth of this new power growen to the Dukes of Normandy whose first breeding we haue seene in the second race by the increase of the realme of England Robert and Henry the sonnes of William come to the King at Constans vpon Oise As they play at Chesse with Lewis the sonne of King Philip there fell some contention among these yong Princes and from iniurious words they fell to blowes Lewis called Henry the sonne of a Bastard Henry struck at him with the Chesse-board and had slaine him if Robert had not staied him This blow being giuen Robert and Henry made all hast to saue themselues in Normandy The Leuaine of distention betwixt France and England where they incensed both heauen and earth with their complaints From this light beginning grew all the troubles which disquieted these two Estates during 400. yeares vpon diuers occasions Robert Henry being escaped the fathers so imbrace the quarrell for their children as they fall to armes Philip goes to field and takes Vernon depending of Normandie Robert goes out of Normandie and doth seize vpon Beauuois King William parts from England and lands in France with a great and mighty power The English enter into Guienne and inuades Xaintonge and Poitoâ Behold the first check of a dangerous game Philip moued with these losses enters into Normandie with a great and mighty armie but he cures not one wound in making of another William on the other side runnes and spoiles all the Country euen vnto the gates of Paris where hee entred not then but his posteritie did after him Hee dies soone after but the quarrell suruiued in his children who augmented this hereditarie hatred in many sorts While they began to weaue this web Italy was in no better estate being full of horrible combustions and the cause was so much the more lamentable for that the mischiefe came from them Conââââons in Italy betwixt the Emperour and Popes from whom all good was to be expected We haue formerly spoken of the deuisions growne betwixt the Emperours and the Popes of Rome for their preheminences In all ancient times the Popes were subiect to be summoned before the Emperour who had authority to create them to depose them that were vnworthy of their charges to call Synods and to confirme all things which concerned the outward gouernment of the Church The Pope on the other side maintaines that all this authority was his The Popes vsurpation as vniuersall Bishop hauing power to bind and loose to iudge of all men and all causes as the soueraigne Iudge of the Church not to bee iudged by any man and so to dispose absolutely of all matters as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill as Monarch in the Church not only armed with power of excommunication to damne rebels and authority to remit sinnes but hauing also the temporall sword with soueraigne authority ouer Emperours Kings and Princes of the earth to place and diâplace and to dispoâe of their estates Hereafter we shall find in euery raigne some memorable example of this soueraigne authority This raigne giues a very notable one After the death of the Emperour Conrade called Salique Henry the 3. of that name hauing happily gouerned the Empire left it to his sonne Henry the 4 yet very yong so as the Popes during this weakenesse of the Empire had meanes to fortifie themselues and so imbracing this occasion Gregory the 7. called Hildebrand did prohibite the Emperour all authority ouer the Clergie and forbad vpon paine of excommunication to haue any recourse vnto him for the collation of benefices or for any thing else that depended on the Church Henry moued with so great an affâont Sârange confuâoâs betwixt the Emperoâr and the âope lets Gregory vnderstand that this his decree was contrarie to the ancient orders the vse of the Catholike Church Vpon this refusall he lets him know that hee will maintaine the rights of the Empire and complaines to the Clergie of Rome in an open assembly Gregorie calls an other wherein hee doth excommunicate Henry and all his adherents and sends forth his Bull into all parts wherby hee declares him excommunicate and degraded of the Empire and in his place causeth Rodolph Duke of Sueuia to be chosen Emperour Thus there growes two factions in Italy and in Germanie one for the Emperour and the other for the Pope behold two armies leuied of these factions ready to shed Christians bloud nine battailes were giuen vpon the quarrell of these preheminences In the end Rodolphe the new Emperour is taken and slaine by Godefroy of Bouillon who followed the Emperour Henry the fourth who after this victorie assembled a great Councell at Bresse where as Gregorie the seuenth is excommunicated and Clement Bishop of Râuenna appointed to succeed him they conduct him to Rome with an armie take the Citty after a long siege whereas the new Pope is sollemnlie installed and Henry the 4. Emperour restored
of gold pretious stones dedicated to his Crowne by a Holy humility and a religious acknowledgement of the victory which the Son of God hath gotten by his bloud to giue vs in Heauen the Crowne of immortall life This famous act chanced in the yeare 1099. in the moneth of March. Hauing put Godefroy and the Christians in possession of the Holy Land let vs returne into France to our Philip not without griefe to see the dissention betwixt the Emperour and Pope who were nothing reconciled by the voiage to the holy Land The increase of this newe power purchased in England to the Sonnes of William the Conquerour gaue him no small occasion to looke to his affaires and the rather for that this newe King of England had begonne to make a breach in his Estate taking Xaintonge and Poitou Countries very important being members of one of the principall Prouinces of his realme The sonnes of VVilliam King of England foreseeing also that Normandy would bandy it selfe against France without all respect William had leât three sonnes of great hope William surnamed Rufus King of England Robert Duke of Normandie whome wee haue left in the holy Land and Henry Earle of Maine withall his treasure Philip therefore to secure his Estate following the example of his Ancestors caused Lewis his sonne whome hee had by Berthe daughter to Baldwin Earle oâ Flanders to bee Crowned King Philip dies There was a scandalous breach in this marriage for Philip falling in loue with Bertrade the wife of Foâques Earle of Aniou puts away Berthe and afterwards hauing reiected Bertrade hee receiued Berthe againe His disposition being mother to King Lewis to whome hauing resigned the crowne at Orleans hee died at Melun in the yeare of grace 1109. of his age 57. and of his raigne 49. hauing raigned long to settle his Estate but not without a leuaine of much trouble to come hauing degenerated from the vertues of his grand-fathers and father He was disloyall couetous louing nothing but his owne profit pittilesse ingrate and one who sowed dangerous seeds of much mischiefe which began to bud in the raigne ensuing LEWIS the 6. called the grose the 40. King LEWES .6 KING OF FRANCE XXXX AS wee foresee a storme by the clouds that rise 1110. by the darke mists of the thicke ayre The estate of this raigne pierced through with sparkles like the shining of a close fire and by the motiues of the water driuen with a violent and sudden wind euen so there be simtomes fits in an estate which foretell the alterations which shall insue the which fall not all at one instant but the subiect being gathered togither in processe of time breakes forth when it can no longer hold There is this difference betwixt naturall things and those which belong to man for that men can well discerne what the wether will be but he is blind in that which concerns himselfe and neuer beleeues vntil he feeles the blow falling into the danger which he flies by his owne fault neuer wise but after danger France had inioyed peace aboue a hundred yeares vnder these forepassed raignes shee now growes wearie This raigne is a preamble to a mornfull song which shal make them to weepe that reioyced in the fruition of so long rest The name of royall authoritie held all those great men backe which had any interest therein the wisedome of Capet Robert Henry and Philip had so bridled them as they willingly obeyed Now they are of an other humor The Duke of Normandie who since Capet had beene obedient and affectionate to the Crowne The French begin to fall from their obedience seeing himselfe strengthened with the Realme of England hee frames all his practises to ouerthrow this order by rebellions and tumults Lewis had scarce performed his fathers funeralls before the fire of rebellion kindled in diuers parts of the realme and as if the Kings youth had beene a blemish to his dignitie euery one will play the pettie King The places neere vnto Paris began these first reuolts by reason of the many great horses thereabouts Corbeil had an Earle 1109 Chartres an other Piseaux in Beause had one Crecy had his Lord Marle his Pompone his and so diuers other Seigneuries had euery one their particular Lord. But as a disease stirres vp all the humors in a weake bodie so all that were discontented with Lewis gather togither into one head to afflict him vnder the countenance of the King of England They were for a time suppressed yet this was but to open a vaine and not to cure the feuer Guy of Crecy the Lord Piseaux ãâã Earle of Dammartin Thibaud Earle of Champagne and Brye Pean of Louure in Parisi Milon of Montlehâry and Philippe the bastard of King Philippe all ioyntly play the mutines and rise against their King At the same instant Henry King of England goes to field his priuate quarrell was for the Towne of Gisors seated vpon the riuer of Epre on the confines of Normandie Rebels suppressed and punished But this small processe was soone ended for Lewis hauing defeated the English neere vnto Gisors hee forced Henry to retyre and afterwards punished all these rebells increasing his reuenues by their confiscations But the quarâell betwixt the Emperour and the Pope did hatch a more dangerous proces for France We haue sayd that Henry the 5. banded against his father Henry the 4. who had associated him to the Empire and had cast him into prison by the Popes Councell where this poore man died for greefe Henry the 5. wonderfully troubled in consciânce and vexed with daily approches that hee had violated the Imperiall rights resolued to haue his reuenge of Pope Pascall the author of this cruell and vnkind Councell To conclude he aâmes and that with so great a resolution as in few dayes The Emperour ãâã for his ãâ¦ã hee assembles threescore thousand foote and thirtie thousand horle with this army hee goes into Itâlie and hauing taken and spoyled Noâarre Pontremolo and Arezzo hee comes a Conqueror to the gates of Rome the which were opened without any resistance Being entred the Cittie and causing the Pope and Colledge to assemble he makes knowne vnto them the rights of the Empire as Pope Leo the eight had acknowledged them to Otho the second Emperour The Emperour comâs to Româ and ãâã the âoâe to take an oth and before him Adrian to Charlemagne according to the decâee of the Councell at Rome conteined in the sixtie third distinction and to conclude he forced him to take the oath of fidelity as to the true and lawfull Emperour and then returnes with his army Pope Pascal extremely moued with this ãâã calls a Councell wherein he protests to haue beene forced by ãâã so by consequence pronounceth that whatsoeuer he had promised was of no force and after all these toyles he died Gelisais succeeded him both in place and hatred against the Emperour
Henry but being too weake of himselfe neither hauing any such friend as the King of France according to the triall so often made time out of minde he comes into France but he died at Cluny and in his place Calixtus son to the Earle of Bourgongne was chosen Pope The reputation of the place from whence he was descended was great so as he being a Frenchman easily called a Councell in France to the great satisfaction of the French The Emperor degraded by the Popes decree in a Councell at ãâã It was held at Rheims where by an ecclesiasticall decree he declared Henry an enemy to the Church and degraded of the Imperiall dignity As this ignominious decree did moue the Emperor so did it minister matter to the King of England his brother in lawe to imbrace all occasions to annoy Lewis his capitall enemie for seeing this Councell had bin held in France and consisted chiefly of the French Church it was very apparant that the Kings fauour was very preiudiciall to the Emperours affaires The English fayles not to harpe vpon this string to the Emperour The Emperor and âing oâ England ioyne against France being already incensed by the thing it selfe promising him all his meanes incouraging him to enter France on the one side whilest that he came on the other with all the forces of Normandy and England The party was not small neither had Lewis small cause to feare being incountred by two such enemies But God shewed him the rod and reserued the punishment for an other season for as the Emperour was going to field the Germaine Princes foreseeing the misery of a warre vndertaken lightly vpon despight and weighing the importance of neighbourhood gaue him to vnderstand that he ought not to attempt warre against the King of France without declaring vnto him the causes of his discontent Hee therefore sends his Ambassadors to this end 1112. Lewis doth wisely answer him that hee is exceedinglie sorrie to see the two great Pillers of the Church so shaken by these dissentions and that it was to bee feared the whole building would bee ruined So as being a friend to both hee desired greatly to be a mediator of concord and not to carrie coales to increase the fire too much kindled alreadie the which ought to be quenched for the good and quiet of all Christendome This Ambassage was pleasing and preuailed so much as the Emperour disarmes The French King and the Emperour reconciled and was content to make Lewis a mediator for an accord betwixt him and the Pope to the great griefe of the King of England who expected a long continuance of this iaââe The composition was made at Wormes very beneficiall for the Pope in the yeare 1122. whereby Henry grants him the installing of Bishops and other benefices This did ease the sore but not cure it as the sequell of the Historie will shew While that Princes haue leisure to contend the poore people dye for hunger in many places of Europe This famine was exceeding great in Flanders Notable troubles in Flanders who then had for their Earle Charles surnamed the good for his good disposition and great charitie to the poore He sought by all meanes to releeue them But as barrenesse was one of the causes of this famine so the cruell couetousnesse of the rich was a great hinderance to the commoditie of victuals whereby there grew as remarkable an act as the successe was strange the particular report whereof the reader must pardon in the breefenesse of our stile There were three brethren at Bruges of the chiefe of the Countrie the which had gathered together a great quantitie of graine and would not sell it expecting a greater dearth which might cause a greater price that is Bertholphe Wendestrate Pouost of S. Donas and Chancellor of Flanders Lambert and Boussard Wendestrate brethren and an other rich Bourges called Lambert one of the chiefe of the Cittie This dignity of Prouostand Chancellor was so great as hee supplied the Princes place in his absence Vpon the peoples complaint the Earle decrees that all the graniers of these great houses should be opened and the Corne sold to the people at a reasonable rate The Comission was giuen to Thamard Almoner of the Earles house as a thing befitting his charge he causeth the graniers of these rich Bourgesses to be opened the corne is sold to the people and the money deliuered to the owners The people being releeued by the couragious care of Thamard commend him The Wendestrates and Lambert greatly discontented with this sale wherein they held themselues interessed cause many indignities to be done vnto him Lambert is directly accused by informations being a very audatious young man and the Wendestrates were touched therewith The Earle offended with these audatious attempts repaired them by Iustice threatning Lambert that if he continued he would seuerely punish him There was also an other complaint made by an old Abbot against the Prouost Treacherie against the good Earle of Flanders to whom the Earle spake roughly commanding him to restore vnto the Abbot what he ought him These free admonitions of the good Earle Charles did so alter the proud trecherous minds of these Cittizens as they resolue to kill him his milde facilitie giuing these wicked spirits both courage to attempt and boldnesse to execute And the end is answerable to their wicked desseine As the good Earle Charles went ill accompanied in the morning to his deuotion to the Church of S. Donas on Ash wednesday behold a troope of yong mad men led by this Lambert comes vnto him being vnarmed on his knees in a Chappell the Priest attired in his ornaments at the Altar the Earle holding forth his arme to giue his almes to a poore woman without any warning they beat him downe with their swords kill him and so forcing all to giue way The Earle of Flanders and his Almonet murthered they seeke for Thamard whom they find massacre with so great a furie as they leaue him vpon the place hewed into many peeces Their troope increaseth and they flie to the Pallace where all are amazed and finding it without gard without keyes without any gate shut they enter it with horrible cryes they kill sack and spoile and running from thence into the Cittie Crueltie in the Citty of Bruges they commit the like in those houses which they knew best affected to the good Earle Charles This furious crueltie was accompanied with an ouerweening indiscretion as if they had made some goodly conquest they braue it 1117. and play the maisters without feare of any punishment The people exceedingly grieued to see these barbarous cruelties against their good Prince whom they loued as a father durst not speake a word during this furye whereas this troupe of murtherers commaunded absolutely But the wisest Cittizens fled to Lewis as to their soueraigne Lord. Lewis comes to Bruges with great speede
no other respect but for the reuerence of Religion and the zeale of publick peace This famous acte happened at Venice in the yeare 1171. in the presence of the Ambassador of the Kings and Princes of the greatest States of Europe that were Mediators of this Accord From Venice Frederick went into the East with a goodly Armie according to his promise And the dissention was well pacified by his humilitie but not altogether suppressed in Italy for it reuiued afterwards as wee shall see in the continuance of this Historie Thus the Christians liued whilest their enemies preuailed dayly in Asia to the great and shamefull losse of all Christendome Such was the estate of the Church and Empire vnder the raigne of Lewis the 7. 1179. Lewis caused his sonne Philip to bee sollemnly Crowned at Rheims at the age of foureteene yeares in the yeare of Grace 1179. Hee betrothed him to Isabel the Daughter of Baldwin Earle of Hainault and hauing thus disposed of his affaires hee dyed the yeare following 1180. An vnwise Prince and vnhappy with all his pollicies Lewis dyes leauing a Leuin of great miseries to his posteritie Doubtlesse the greatest pollicie is to bee an honest man This assured peace caused the Vniuersitie of Paris to flourish as farre as those obscure times would permit Gratian Peter Lombard and Comesior Complaints against the abuses of the Church learned men liued in that age The inexcusable confusion which raigned in the Church was a iust subiect of complaint to the good as appeares by the writings of Peter of Blois Ihon de Saraburck Bishop of Chartres and Bernard Abbot of Cisteaâx great and worthy men Their Bookes liue after their deaths wherein the wise Reader may see an ample and free Commentary of this Text the which the Historiâ suffers me not to dilate of PHILIP the 2. called Augustus or Gods Gift the 42. King of France PHILIPPE .2 KING OF FRANCE XXXXII. THe title of Augustus giuen to Philip is worthy of his person and raigne who not onely preserued the French Monarchie An excellent King and an excellent raigne amidst so many sorts of enemies and difficulties but enlarged it with many Prouinces diuided to diuers proprietaries by Hugh Capet and vnited them to the Crowne for this cause hee was also called Conquerour His dispositioÌ The beginning of his raigne was a presage of happinesse for there appeared in his face a great shew of a good disposition inclined to pietie iustice and modestie being strong quick vigilant valiant and actiue Hee did consecrate the first fruites of his raigne to purge the corruptions which raigned among the people Blasphemies Playes Dicing houses publicke dissolutions in infamous places Tauernes and Tippling houses Hee made goodly lawes which our age reads and scornes doing the contrary with all impuniâie but whilest he raigned they were duly obserued The Iewes were mightily dispersed throughout the Realme who besides their obstinate supeâstition vsed excessiue Vsurie and were supported for some great benefit by the Pope and oâher Princes and States where as they haue liberty at this day to liue after their owne manner Philip expelled them The Iewes banished out of France although they obtained a returne for money yet in the end they were banished out of all the territories of the French obedience and so continue vnto this day This was a small apprentiship and an entrance of much more happy paine the which hee should vndergoe both within and without the Realme in great and troublesome affaires as a famous subiect worthy of his valour England Flanders and Asia prouided varietie and change of worke to imploy his raigne the which continued fortie foure yeares but the change of his intricate marriages troubled him more then all his affaires 1190. as the progresse of our discourse will shew In the beginning there was emulation who should be neerest to gouerne him Philip Earle of Flanders and the Duke of Guienne were competitors The one as Vnckle to the young Queene Isabell his wife Competitors for the gouerment of the state and named by his Father Lewis The other as his neerest Kinsman and both the one and the other had great meanes to preuaile but Richard was the stronger as well by the Kings fauour as by the forces of England of whence he was an Inâant and well beloued of Henry his brother who then raigned Behold the King is imbarked against the Earle of Flanders by the aduise of his Councell The subiect of their quarrell was for Vermandois which the Earle enioyed the King demanded it being no longer his by the decease of Alix dead without children and therefore must returne to the Crowne From wordes they go to armes Their troupes being in field and ready to fight a peace was made with this condition That Count Philip should enioy Vermandois Troubles in Flanders for the Earldome of Vermandois during his life and after his decease it should returne to the Crowne But this peace continued not long among these Princes The King could not loue his Wife Isabel It seemes this was the cheefe cause of the dislike the King had against the Earle of Flanders her Vncle. In the end hee put her away in the yeare 1188. from which time Philip loued Richard Duke of Guienne But this good agreement continued not long by reason of another coÌtrouersie betwixt him and the English Marguârite the Daughter of Lewis the 7. sister to Philip marryed to Henry of England as wee haue said dyed then without Children Philip doth presently redemand his Sisterâ dowâie Henây sonne to Hânây the 1. King of England dyes before the father which was the Countrie of Vexin The King of England is loth to leaue the possession so as they fall to Armes and the mischiefe increased by this occasion Henry first sonne to old Henry dyed Richard Duke of Guienne his brother who might haue compounded this quarrell being called to the Crowne embraceth the action with all eagernesse And to crosse Philip by an important diuersion like to olde Henry auoides the blowe in Normandie and enters Languedoc by Guienne into the Countie of Tholâusa renuing the old quarrel he had against Count Raimond Philip being assailed in two places is nothing amased Hauing leuied an Armie with all celeritie Warre with England hee enters the English pale Where he sodenly takes Chasteaucaux Busaâcais Argenton Leuroux Montrichard Montsorâau Vandosme with other Townes and passing on hee batters and takes Mans and hauing waded through the Riuer of Loire he presents himselfe before Tours which yeelds at the terror of his forces Philip of Frânce and Ricâard of England make â peace Old Henry amazed at the sodaine valour of this yong Prince faints and oppressed with grieâe dyes at Chinon in the yeare 1190. leauing his Realme to his Sonne Richard but noâ his Malâce For presently after his Coronation hee concludes a peace wiâh âhilip vpon a cause very honourable to them both The
Willam King of Sicilia Al these were preparatiues of great warre against France And could Baldwine Earle of Flanders be wel satisfied being intreated as we haue seene Richard ioynes with him They resolue to make warre against Phiâip in diuers places Hauing assembled foâces their Baldwine enteâs into Artois Richard into Vexin contries then in Controuersie wherby reasoÌ the warre should begin seing the processe was bred there Philip without any amazement prouids for Artois sending forces thether vnder the command of his Sonne Lewis Warres with Richard King of England He himselfe marcheth in person against Richard who beseeged Corceeile the which he releeued in despight of him Richard not able to hinder these souccors takes his way into the Contrie of Beauuoisin and spoyles it Phillip doth the like in Normandy All tends to trouble by the willfulnes of these two Princes when as the Pope some say Celestin others Innocent .3 sends his Noncio to exhort them to peace This perswasion staied it not but only made a diuersion of their armes for Richard supposing that Philip could not auoide the blow being ingaged in Nomandie he marcheth into Berry and being assisted wâth all his forces of Guienne beseegeth Yssoudun hauing wasted and spoyled all the country Philip beseeged Vernon although the name be diuersly coated Vernon Vernueil or Aumale he leaues the Towne and flies to Richard to draw him to fight who finding himselfe to weake retyres to his towne Philip returnes to his seege and wins the Towne not withstanding all the attempts of Richard who now takes breth to seeke his reueng but God had otherwise disposed with whome all Princes ought to accoumpt for their actions 1223. who laughes at men when they vexe themselues most During his aboade at Limoges hee was aduertised that one of his men at armes had found a great treasure in the ground This Souldiar fearing to bee ill rewarded by Richard flies to a small Towne of Limosin which the Historie called Caalac or Cailus held by the French although it were of the Prouince of Guienne then belonging to the English Richard besiegeth it but as hee approched too neere the walles hee was wounded with an Arrow in the left arme His desire to follow this siege makes him to neglect his wound which impaires not being drest He takes the Towne but the man saues himselfe hauing hidden his treasure so as Richard tooke not the treasure which hee hunted after with a desire so vnseemely for a great Prince but insteed of taking gold Richard King of England dyes death surprised him who leauing his life vpon so light an occasion leaues a notable example of the vanitie of this world in the lightnesse of humaine spirits who suffer themselues to bee transported with couetousnesse a miserable councellor both to great and small This death did somewhat temper the bitternesse of their dissentions but it did not quench it betwixt France and England Iohn had right to succeed in the Realme of England as brother suruiuing the King deceased Iohn succeeds Richard and makes peace with Philip. but Arthur Duke of Brittanie sonne to Geoffrey the other brother as wee haue said pretended the Crowne to belong vnto him as the sonne of the elder Elenor their mother being yet liuâng Iohn was receiued by the English so as being in possession he had the better and stronger title Philip fauoured Arthur but hee meant to make his profit of the Brothers dâuision and to keepe the stakes Being sought vnto by Iohn the new King of England who had then nothing of greater import then his friendship hee concludes a peace with him vpon condition That Iohn should yeeld vp all that his Brother had taken in Berry and neuer pretend any thing of that which Philip had taken Vexin in these latter warres and that Elenor Mother to Iohn Duchesse of Guienne should doe homage to the King for that Prouince as depending of the Crowne of France This aâcord is ratified by a new alliance the which encreased no loue Lewis the Sonne of Augâstus takes to Wife Blanche the Daughter of Alphonsus King of Castill War betwixt Iohn King of England and Artâur his Nephew and of Iohns Sister being his Neece In the meane time Philip fauours Arthur vnder-hand who assisted by his meanes takes the Cittie of Tours to his great content Arthur doth him homage presently for the Countries of Touraine Aniou and Maine and so passeth on and takes Mirââeau where Elenor his Gâand-mother was resoluing to proceed on further but the Almightie GOD stayed his course For Iohn comes besiegeth and takes Mircbeau againe and Arthur his Nephew likewise Iohn murthers his Nephew Artâur Elenor extreamly afflicted with these diuisions dyes for griefe and Iohn puts his Nephew Arthur whom he held Prisoner to death to extinguish all controuersies for the title âf the Realme although this death were cloaked as accidentally falne out for sorrâw The cauâe of a cruell warre Hence sprung a cruâll Warre Constance the Mother of Arthur Duchesse of Brittanie demands Iustice of Philip as her Soueraigne Philip adiornes Iohn and for not appealing hee condemnes him as guiltie of the crime imposed Iohn declared ãâã of murtheâ felony by ãâã and of fellonie in disâbeying of his commandements Hee proclaimes him an enemie and doth confiscate all hee held of the Crowne This sentence is seconded by open force to make the execution thereof more easie The Brittons and Poiteuins wonderfully greeued with this cruell fact arme and come to Philip. So Iohn abandoned of all flies to Pope Innocent the third accusing Philip of the breach of his faith in making Warre against him Innocent the third declaring that the breache of faith belonged properly to his authority and so by consequence carrying himselfe for Soueraigne Iudge of the cântrouersie betwâxt the two Kings commands both the one and the other to laye aside Armes and to suffer the Churches in peace threatning to cursse his realme that should disobey his authority Pope Innocent âââârposeth his authority Philip shewes that hee hath neyther broken his faith nor peace with Iohn But that hee being his vassaile had slaine his Nephew in the territories of his obedience as it appeared by good proofes so as it was not reasonable the holye authoritie of the Church should serue as a defence or support for his impunity in so detestable a crime seeing the punishments of subiects and vassals 1201. appertained to the Prince by all diuine and humane Lawes But there were new complaints to the Pope against Philip that finding himselfe oppressed with war he imposed certain tenths vpon the Clergy to ease the people who complayned of their burthens He did not exact this of the Church by his owne decree but had assembled a Nationall Councell at Soissons to that end The Pope said this was done against his authority and not onely threatned Philip by his Censure but also all the Clergy that had assisted
Pironne and Ferrand to the Lovure at Paris All France made Bonfires for this happy successe and Philip built a Temple in honor of the holy Virgen which de called Victory nere vnto Senlis By a decree of the Parlament at Paris the Earledome of Flanders was adiudged vnto the King as forfeited who gaue it againe to Iane the heyre of the sayd Earledome being not guilty of her husbands trechery This memorable victory called the battel of Bovuens chanced in the yeare 1215. the 25. of Iuly To make his triumph absolute Philip gaue free passage to the Germaines and Otho the Emperor being returned to his house willingly resigned the Empire died of a pining griefe The Emperor diâs for grâeâe of his loââe diâgrace which neuer left him after that shamefull flight hauing willingly sought his owne misery in supporting wrong against right and serching danger to perish in danger A notable example which shewes That victories come from the Eternall that mortall man dies before his time by his owne rashnes and that no vniust warre can bee succesâefull But what shall become of Iohn the onely motiue of this warre while the Emperor and the Earles of Flanders and Bullen great Princes whom he had imbarked be at warre hee remaines at home free from blowes attending the euent Seeing his Confederates thus defeated hee feares the whole storme will fall vppon him what doth hee hee playes at Double or Quit and flies to Innocent the fourth as to his Sanctuary And being forced to saue his Estate in this extremity he resolues to giue him a good part The Popes hatred with the power of France was the last end of his downe fall The Pope had excommunicated him not onely for the parricide of his Nephew Arthur but for the ill vsage of his Clergie To purchase so difficult an absolution there needed a great satisfaction He therefore sends confident men in all hast to Innocent 4. humbly beseeching him to pitty him in his calamity Iohn makes the realme of England tributarie to the Pope That if it would please him to receiue him into fauour and protect him against the King of France he would bind the realme of England and Seigneurie of Ireland to hold of him and his successors and in signe of obedience to pay him a yearely tribute of a thousand markes of siluer This franke offer caused Iohns Ambassadors to be well entertained Innocent âends his Legat presently to absolue him to passe the contract and to receyue the homages of fealtie as well of himselfe as of his subiecâ Iohn is absolued hauing laid his Crowne Scepter Cloake Sword and King the royal enseigns of a King at the Legats feet Iohn doth homage to the Popes Legate he doth him homage for his realme of England kissing his feete as his tributarie and binds the English to the like duty by a sollemne oth He was also willing to discharge that which he had taken from his Clergie This shal be the means to make him loose both his estate and life This hapned in the yeare 1215. These things performed in England the Legate returnes into France and denonceth vnto Philip in the Popes name That hee should suffer Iohn to enioyne his realme of England in peace and freely to possesse the lands which he held by homage of the Crowne of France Moreouer that he should satisfie the great complaints which the Clergie of his realme had made against him restoring that which he had exacted from them during the warres vpon paine of excommunication if hee did not presently obey Philip promiseth to submit himselfe and before the Legates departure hee frees the Clergie of his realme of the tenths which he had exacted for the charge of the warres according to the decree of a Nationall Councell held at Soissons Iohn liues at peace in England for that which concerned Philip but see hee is the instrument of his owne miserie Being exhaust of meanes through the long and chargeable warres wherewith England had beene afflicted hee had bound himselfe to the Pope to restore vnto the Clergie all such summes of money as he had extorted from them during his troubles and for want of paiment he sees an excommunication readie the which was reuoked but vpon condition of obedience Iohns oppression oâ his subiects the cause of his ruine Thus freeing the Clergie he sur-chargeth the people and pressed by the Pope to satisfie his command hee oppresseth his subiects by extraordinarie impositions and tyrannicall exactions adding force to his commands So as it fell out that as hee could not helpe the one without hurting of the other and that the people hate him commonly that wrongs them behold the English make strange complaints in Parliament against Iohn who doth incense them the more by his rigorous answers The English seeing themselues reiected by their King flie to extraordinarie remedies and being denyed iustice by him that should giue it they seeke it else where chosing a King in the place of a Tyrant France was their onely refuge in these extremities The English reiect âohn anâ offer the realme to Philip. and therefore they send the chiefe Noblemen of the realme to Philip to offer him the Crowne of England promising to obey him as their lawfull King Philip who desired nothing more makes shewe to refuse it pretending both the truce made with Iohn and his worde passed to the Pope but vnder hand he sends them his sonne Lewis his faithfull Lieutenant giuing him a traine fitt for his person in so great an exploite Lewis hauing taken hostages of the English for assurance of their faith Lewis of France receiued by the English hee passeth into England being receiued of them all with great ioy as the Prince from whom they attended their health and quiet Hee makes his entrie into London which was the Rendezvous of his most confident friends and by their example many Ciâties come and offer him obedience In the meane time complaints come to Philip from Pope Innocent as if hee had broken his faith and threats if hee did not repaire it Philip denies any breach of faith The Poâe sends to Philip âor Iohn They bee sayd he the discontents of the English against Iohn whom they accuse to haue slaine Arthur their lawfull King and hauing free libertie to make a new election they repaired to his Sonne who was of age to gouerne himselfe for whose errors hee was not answerable But attending the end of this sute let vs returne to England 1217. Iohn held strong places Winchester whether hee had retired himselfe Windolisor or Windsor The Pope âends to Philip for Iohn Norwiche and Douer hee had likewise factions in other Citties Lewis hauing receiued homage from many of them commandeth his Armie to marche to reduce the Citties to obedience who for the most part receiued him willingly Norwiche yeeldes without any dispute from thence hee goes to Douer hauing attempted the Captaine
by meanes of his brother whom hee held prâsoner hee resolues to take it by force and in the meane time hee beseegeth Windsor by some Noblemen of his partie Iohn sleepes not hee makes a vertue of necessitie imploying all his meanes to leuie men and to keepe what remained But behold an accident which ends both his sute and his life One of his Captaines brings him certaine troupes to releeue Winchester where hee attended the siege but they were charged by Lewis his men Iohn seeing his people to perish some by the Sword and the rest drowned flying to saue themselues oppressed in his conscience not able to endure the reuenging furies of his Nephews bloud vniustly spilt hee falles to a despairing griefe King Iohn dies for griefe and shortlye after dyes suffering the punishment of his iniustice and crueltie Leauing a notable example and president to all men neuer to hope for good by doing euill although the offender growe obdurate by the delaye of punishment This was after eighteene yeares patience during the which Iohn raigned with much trouble a slaue to his furious passions the which is a cruell and insupportable commander The English chânge their opinion Thus the decree of Gods iust iudgement against Iohn the parricide was put in execution in the yeare 1217. But this death of Iohn did not settle Lewis in his new royaltie as it was expected The discontent of the English dyes with Iohn and the loue of their lawfull Prince reuiues in his Sonne Henry God limits the bounds of States which mans striuing cannot exceede The Sea is a large Ditche to deuide England from France the Pyrenei Spaine and the Alpes Italy if audatious Ambition and Couetousnesse would not attempt to force Nature The English pleased with his death that made them to languish cast their eye vpon their lawfull King The Pope interposeth his authoritie for Henry against Lewis Who desirous to preserue what hee had gotten prepares his forces when as the losse of his Fleete comming from France to England makes him to change his resolution yeelding to reason and time restoring another man his right and estate to keepe his owne at home the surer and safer The Englâsh receiue Henry the sonne of Iohn and dismisâe Lewis of France Thus Henry the third the Sonne of Iohn was receiued King of England and Lewis returned into France but Iohns posteritie shall bee reuenged of the Children of Lewis with more and greater blowes then hee had giuen Lewis being returned into France findes worke at home to imploye him in Warre which hee sought beyond the Seas The occasion was to make head against the Albâgeios of whome wee will discourse in his life and not interrupt the course of this raigne It is now time to finish this tedious relation of Philips actions and to shew the conclusion of his life Avuergne vnitâd to the Crowne Hee did confiscate the Earledome of Avuergne and vnited it vnto the Crowne taking it from Guy being found guiltie of Rebellion this was his last acte All the remainder of his dayes were consecrated to make good lawes for the well gouerning of the Realme At Paris hee did institute the Prouost of Marchants and the Sheriffes for the politike gouernement thereof hee caused the Cittie to bee Paued Philips actions being before verye noysome by reason of the durt and mire Hee built the Halles and the Lovure beeing beautified since by Henry the second with a goodly Pauilion and the rest of the new Lodging Wherevnto King Henry the fourth that now raâgnes doth adde a Gallerie of admirable beautie if the necessitie of his affaires suffer him to Crowne the restauration of his Estate by the finishing of this great building Hee walled in Bois de Vincennes and replenished it with Deare and with diuers other sortes of wilde Beasts hee finished that admirable and sumptuous building of our Ladyes Church whereof the foundation was onely layde vnknowne by whome Hee made lawes against Vsurie Players Iuglers and Dycing houses 1219. An enemie to publicke disolutions and a friend to good order and iustice Hee releeued the people ouer-charged by reason of the Warres Hee restored vnto the Clergie all the reuenues hee had taken from them during his greatest affaires And thus hee imployed this last acte of his life to gouerne the Realme Landes vniteâ to the Crown to the which hee had vnited a good parte of that which was alienated by Hughe Capet That is all Normandie a good part of Guienne the Earldomes of Aniou Touraine Maine Vermandois Cambresis Vallois Clermont Beaumont Avuergne Pontheiu Alancon Limosin Vandosme Damartin Mortaigne and Aumale Wee shall hereafter see how the rest of the Crowne landes returned according to the diuers meanes which GOD gaue by the good gouerment of our Kings Philip imployd his peaceable olde age in this sort when as God did summon him to leaue his Realme to take possession of a better Hee was verye sicke of a quartaine Ague which kept him long languishing in his bed giuing him meanes to meditate vpon his death and to prouide for the Estate of his Reaâme leauing a good guide whom hee had leasure and meanes to fashion yet could hee not make him the perfect heire of his Vertues and Happinesse Although Lewis his Sonne were not vicious yet had hee nothing excellent to make him apparent among other Kings He would not Crowne him in his life time beeing taught by the late and neighbour example of the ill gouernment of England betwixt the Father and the Sonne finding his forrces to faile him by the continuance of this Feauer hee made his Will Philips testâment In the which hee delt bountifully with his Seruants according to their deserts hee gaue great Legacies towards the Christians Warre in the East and to the Templets who were then held in great reputation to bee verie necessarie for the garde of Christendome Hee gaue new rents to Hospitalls and to very many Churches And so hee died in peace the yeare 1223. the first of Iulie Hâs death in the age of fiftie and nine yeares beloued and lamented of his subiects Hee was fifteene yeares old when hee began to raigne and gouerned forty and foure yeares hee left two Sonnes His condâtions Lewis and Philip and one Daughter called Marguerite Vnhappie in his house and verye happy in his raigne· His minoritie was reasonable good but his age was verie reuerend Crowned with all the contents a mortall man could desire in this mortall life hauing left many testimonies of his Vertues to make his memorie deere and respected of his posteritie His estate peaceable his heire knowne and beloued of his subiects and of age and experience to gouerne himselfe and to force obedience A Prince rightly called Augustus whom wee may number among the greatest Hee was most Religious Wise Moderate Valiant Discreete and Happy a louer of Iustice of order and of pollicie friend to the people enemie to Disorders Dissolutions
of K. Alphonso attending meanâ to repaire his affaires in better season In the meane time Simon doth promise himselfe the property of all Raymonds estates the which he had gotten with his Sword but for that it was apparent that the King of France would hardly grant so goodly a Prouince taken from his kinsman to one of his subiects Simon therefore flies vnto the Pope by whose authority this war was chiefely ingaged from whom he attended his chiefe recompence hauing laboured for him Innocent the 3. finding that Philip who would not desist in his pursute against Iohn King of England notwithstanding his interdictioÌâ would not be moued now by his simple authority to leaue so important a peece he assembles a great Councell meaning to force the King to yeeld vnto his will âhe Patriarkes of Ierusalem and Constantinople were there in person The Councell of Latran and those of Antioche and Alexandria sent their deputies there were 70. Archbishops 400. Bishops and 1000. Abbots Priors The Emperors of the East West the Kings of France England Spaine Ierusalem Cipres and other Kings Princes and great estates had their Ambassadors By a decree of this notable assembly Count Raymond was excommunicated with all his associats The Earldome of Tholouse giuen to Simon of Montfort by the Pope his lands adiuged to Simon of Montfort for his seruice done and to do to the Catholike Church Philip could not gain-say this decree confirmed in a maner by the consent of the whole world He therfore receiued SimoÌ to homage for the Prouince of Languedoc whereof he tooke peaceable possession but he did not long enioy it âor seeing himselfe inuested he began to oppresse his new subiects An Eâle is lost with ouer griping The people of Languedoc finding themselues oppressed with this insupportable burthen of Simon they resolue to call home their Count Raymond who was retired into Spaine to seeke some meanes to recouer the possession of his estate His case was not desperate for hee enioyed the Earldomes of Viuareâz Venaissan and the Citty of Auignon places kept by his subiects during these occurrents whether Simons forces were not yet come Raymond being called by his subiects returnes into Languedoc accompanied with a notable troupe of Arragonois being discontented for the death of their King Alphonso The whole Countrey baâdied against Simon hating him as an vsurper Simon hated by his subiects of Languâdoc for hâs oppression âyâânie and detesting him as a tyrant for doubtlesse vniust violent things cannot continue Whilest that Simon seekes to bridle the Citties of his new conquests leaping from place to place with an infinite toile behold Raymond is receiued into Tholousâ by intelligence with great ioy of the inhabitants Simon abandons all the rest and flies thether but he finds a stop for comming to the gates of the Citty as he approched neere the walles to parley he was hurt in the head with a stone wherof he died The example of Tholouse made the greatest part of the subdued Citties to reuolt Simon of Montfort left two sonnes Simon of Montfort slaân before Tholouse Guy and Amaulry vpon the reuolt of Tholouse the one seizeth vpon Carcassone the other of Narbonne but Guy was slaine in Carcassone by the Inhabitants who were the stronger Amaulry hauing fortified Narbonne repaires to Philip Augustus beseeching him to succor him in his necessity Philip had the Wolfe by the eare for as on the one side he desired this goodly Prouince for himselfe rather then for the children of Simon of Montfort so was he also restâained by the authority of the Pope and Councell He theâfore sends his sonne Lewis into Languedoc to reduce the Country to his obedience But he had scarce taken any one Castell when as his fathers death calls him home Count Raymond receiued againe in Languedock So as Count Raymond his subiects of Languedoc had time to reuiue their spirits recouer many places gotteÌ by Simon The king of England would neither assist nor send to the coronatioÌ of Lewis although he were held as Duke of Guienne 1223. This occasion moued Lewis to warre against him Warre in Guienne against the English whereby he got Niort and Rochel and Sauary of Mauleon Gouernour for the English retired to his seruice This losse made the warre more violent Richard Earle of Cornwaile brother to Henry King of England passed into France with a goodly armie and hauing taken S. Macaire Langon and Reolle Townes seated vpon the Riuer of Garonne and defeated some French troupes he made way for a truce which was fauourable for both parties But especially for Lewis being desirous to settle matters in Languedoc the which troubled him for the daily proceedings of the Albigeois yet was hee loth to labour for another For this reason he treats with Amaulry Earle of Montfort touching the right he had to that Countrie with whom hee preuailed the more easily for that hauing lost the greatest part of the Prouince he was not able to hold the rest with the Kings dislike to whom hee resigned it by order of a decree made by the Pope in the Councell of Latran and in recompence hee made him Constable of France with the consent of Pope Honorius Lewis compounds for Languâdoc with the âoân of Simon Montfort Hauing compounded with the Children of Simon Montfort hee resolued to winne Count Raymond to his deuotion and to perswade him to lay aside armes whereof hee did see the euents to be very doubtfull His intent was to vnite this rich Prouince of Languedoc to the Crowne But reason which saith that no man thinkes his owne too much the respect which great men do vsually beare one to another and the alliance which the house of France had with the Countie of Tholouse were great restraints for the couetousnesse of Lewis But how soeuer he determined to make himselfe the stronger to prescribe them a law To this end he leuied a great Armie fortified with his Edicts by the which hee thunders against these poore Albigeois as Heretikes and Rebels These Edicts were of force whereas his authoritie was respected Count Raymond considering with himselfe the cruell beginning of this warre and the continuance of the like miserie in these second armes fearing to imbarke himselfe the third time with a people against his King is easily perswaded by Lewis to reconcile himselfe to Pope Honorius Thus Raimond leauing to oppose himselfe Count Raymond submits himselfe vnâo the Pope yeelds to Lewis and perswades the âarle of Cominges the chiefe agent of his desseignes to the like obedience Thus both of them abandon the people go to Rome they make their peace with the Pope and leaue the Albigeois to the mercie of Lewis who seeing them without a head imbraceth this occasion to their ruine High and base Languedoc was wholy in his power by Raymonds departure Auignon remained with many other places in the Countie of
of Vallois Iohn Charles the 5. Charles the 6. Charles the 7. Lewis the 11. Charles the 8. who dying without Children the lawe calles the children of Lewis Duke of Orleans The house of Oâleâns called to the crowne the sonne of Charles the 6. to raigne one after an other Charles Duke of Orleans and Iohn Duke of Angoulesme for Lewis the sonne of Charles raâgned vnder the name of Lewis the 12. who dying without issue male the lawe takes the other branche of Iohn of Angoulesme so as it sets the Crowne vpon the head of Francis the 1. his onely sonne and from Francis the 1. to Henry the 2. his sonne and so in order to Francis the 2. Charles the 9. Henry the 3. his children successiuely from brother to b other This direct line ending in Henry the 3. the last King of the house of Vallois the law calles the second sonne of S. Lewis named Robert who giues the royall branche to Bourbon Out of the which is issued Henry of Bourbon the fourth of that name King of France and of Nauarre now raigning but we will set downe his genealogie distinctly in the end of the royall race of Vallois It sufficeth to haue noted the order of the following raignes returning to the course of our Historie Thus S. Lewis the 9. liued and thus he dyed the honor of vertue in our Kings leauing Philip his eldest Sonne for his successor PHILIP the third called the Hardie the 45 King of France PHILIPPE .3 KING OF FRANCE XXXXV THE authoritie of Lewis was so great as neither his absence not his death could alter any thing in the estaâe of France 1270. Being dead Philip his eldest Sonne was procâaimed King in the Armie and as much as the time would permit was recâiued with a generall applause of all men as hee in whom the Fathers vertue and authoritie was yet liuing The Armie in the meane time is fortified with the Fleetes of England and of Sicilia so as the Barbarians seeing the whole Countrie in Armes and on fire they demand a truce and obtaine it vpon condition That they should suffer the Christians which were dispersed in diuers parts of Affricke to liue in peace But that which did most presse Philip was his returne into France Queene Isabel dyes So as hee gathers his troupes together the remainder of the plague and of the vnciuill vsage of that barbarous Countrie and parts from Affricke into Sicilia where his losses encrease for his Wife Isabell dyes there And his Vncle Alphonsus with his Wife the Countesse of Tholouse dye soone after at Bologne without any Children so as according to the contract of marriââe the Earledome of Tholouse should be incorporate to the Crowne Another sinister accident chanced to Richard the Sonne of Henry King of England to the end the English might likewise reckon their gaines in this voyage for being arriued at Viterbo a Ciâtie of the Popes walking in Saint Lawrence Church Richard sonne to Henry King of England slaine traiterouslie suspecting no enemie behold this Guy of Montford the Sonne of Simon of whom wee haue spoken kills him in the presence of all his followers and drawing his Sword hee makes his way to the Church doore where finding a Horse ready he flies into Tuscane whereat neither the Pope Philip nor Charles were any thing moued This murther thus neglected shall bleed hereafter But these were not all the occurrents which Philip had in his returne home Pope Clement the 4. borne in Langâedoc being dead the Cardinals loth to yeeld one vnto another disagree in the election of a new Pope and continued in this contention two yeares nine moneths and one day as Platina reporteth Great contention for the election of a new Pope Our Philip and Charles his Vncle intreate the Colledge of Cardinalls to make an end of so scandalous a discention The respect of their admonition was not frutelesse For the Cardinals resolue that not any one of the Colledge that had assisted at this tedious controuersie should be Pope Thibaud of Plaisance Archedeacon of Leege being absent in the voyage of the East was chosen and called Gregorie the tenth In the end Philip returnes into France to the great content of his Subiects Hauing interred the dead his Father Wife Vncle Ante and Cousine hee disposed of the affaires of Iustice according to the instructions and example of his Father Saint Lewis famous amongst all our Kings And then hee married with Mary the Daughter of Henry Duke of Brabant hauing three Sonnes by Isabell his first Wife Lewis eldest sonne to Philip poisoned Lewis Philip and Charles But here wee shall not finde the happinesse of our Saint Lewis for this second marriage was blemished with a sadde and foule suspect Lewis the eldest Sonne of King Philip dyed with apparent signes of poison This mischiefe encreaseth by the iealousie is had of Queene Marie his Mother in Lawe and Peter de la Broche chiefe Chamberlaine to the King and principall Intendant of his Treasure being the Queenes fauorite is accused for this fact and being prisoner he confesseth the crime and accuseth the Queene as hauing poisoned Lewis by her command Moreouer as one mischiefe commeth not alone La Broche is found guiltie of Treason by his owne Letters giuing intelligence to the King of Castile of the estate of France being then no friend to this Crowne This crime alone was sufficient for his death being hanged leauing Mary in trouble by his accusation and by the strange euent a notable example of the inconstancie of the Court and the vanitiâ of the world Marie denies the fact by othe The King desirous to bee satisfied proceedes strangely For want of common proofe hee resolues to learne the trueth by a Sorceresse to whom hee sends a Bishop and an Abbot This Witche remained in Holland and was Subiect to the Duke of Brabant the Queenes Father The Bishop and Abbot at their returne faâe not to absolue the Queene by her report but they free her not from the generall iealousie of the French nor in the Kings conceit who after this accusation did neuer enioy any rest in his house These were the beginnings of the raigne of Philip whose progresse and end shall bee nothing better His Vncle Charles King of Sicilia shall crosse his life with many toyles and end it with perplexitie But let vs obserue euery thing in order As by the decease of Alphonsus and Ioane his Wife being dead without Children the Countie of Tholouse came to the Crowne The Countie of Tholouse annexed to the Crowne so Philip failed not to take possession thereof as one of the most important peeces of his Estate but hee found some alterations there through the priuate quarrels of his Subiects The Earle of Foix hauing a notable quarrell with Girard of Casebonne had taken his house from him by force Girard fled to the King for Iustice but the Earle trusting to his Fortes and the
Guienne hee taketh Bourdeaux the chiefe Cittie of Guienne and then most of the other Townes doe willingly yeeld obedience vnto the King Rions and some other Castels well fortified by the Eâglish âold good to serue as a Leuaine of this waâre Edward seeing himselfe thus assailâd aâmes by Sea and Land By Sea hee sends an Aâmie vnder the conduct of Robert Tiptoste A Leââue beâwixt Edwaâd oâ Enâland Gây of Fâanders the Emperor and Dukâ oâ Bâr against Philip. By land hee sends some forces vnder the command oâ Iohn Breton to preserue that which remained in Guienne and to fortifie himselfe with friends in the doubtfull euents of so important a cause hee makes a league with Guy Earle of Flanders and for confirmation thereof hee demands his Daughter Philip for his eldest sonne the Prince of Wales the heire apparant to the Crowne of England which the Earle accepts willingly And to omit nothing that might auaââe him hee enters league with Henry Duke of Bar giuing him Elenor his Daughter in marriage and with Adolphe of Nassau Emperour both hauing pretensions against France The Duke of Bar demanded Champagne of the King by the rights hâe preâended and enters it with forces Philip sends Gualter of Creây the Loâd of Chaââillion vpon Marne against him with a goodly Armie who on the other side entâing into Barrois makes a diuersion and forceth the Duke to returne to defend his owne against Gualter âhe Emperour brauângly giues notice vnto the King that he will make warre against him to recouer the Lands belonging to the Empire Philip makes no other answer but sends him a packet well sealed vp in the which was a whiâe Paper foulded like a Letter without any writing This scofâe was a great defie as indeed the braueries of Adolphe had no successe The Earle of Flanders was the neerest and most dangerous enemie to preiudice Philip who had ioyned himselfe to the King of England by so strict a bond as the marriage of his Daughter Philip hauing three great enemies in front tryes his wittes to staye them The most dangerous was hee that dealt vnder hand that is the Fleming who made a good shew to Philip Stââars dâluditur ãâã and yet treated with his most dangerous enemie but pollicie did circumuent pollicie The King findes meanes vnder-hand to giue him notice that hee would gladly see his Daughter whome hee had Christened and was called Philip by his name before he led her into England Guy brings her with him to Paris being arriued he is committed prisoner by the King The cause is made knowne vnto him by such as had commanââment to arrest him That being his Vassaâle hee had presumed to allye himselfe with a capitall enemie to the Crowne giuing him so precious a gage as his Daughter Guy obtaines leaue to speake with the King Hee excuseth himselfe Philip sâizeth vpon âhe âaâle oâ Flânâeâs Daugâter but his Daughter ââmaines as a pawne with the Queene to bee marryed at the Kings good pleasure ãâã Daughter although kindly entertained by the King and Queene was full of greefe lamenting dayly as if this honourable gaâde had beene a most cruell prison The Earle intreates Philip to send him his Daughter hee answers him plainely that hee tooke her not to restore her Herevpon Guy takes occasion to complaine of the great wrong hee pretended to bee done him by Philip who detaines his Daughter forceably without reason The English in the meane time make open warre in Guienne Philip foreseeing that this was the beginning of a greater storme meaning to lay the burthen vpon him that might doe him most harme sends a goodly Armie into Guienne against the English vnder the conduct of two great Commanders his Brother Charles Earle of Valois and the Constable of Neele to molest the enemie in diuers places Rions and Pondesaâ Townes vpon the Riuer of Garonne then strong but now desolate are besieged and after many diâficulties yeeld vnto the King and in the end Saint Seuer but with more paine Edmond Brother to the King of England is defeated at Sea The English affaires succeeded ill and reâuânâng into England repaires his Nauâe But striuing afterwards in vaine to besiege Bourdeaux with new forces hee goes and dyes at Bayonne then belonging to the English 1296. Thus all things succeeding ill for the English hee seekes all meanes to fortifie himselfe He flies to the Emperour Adolphe the chiefe instrument of his hope and sends him money to leuâe an armie To Pope Bâniface the eight beseeching him to remeâber the priuate bond he had to the preseruation of England whereof he was protector Guy Earle of Flanders ioynes openly with the English in this societie to make warre against Philip with all his forces But from these light beginnings sprung diuers occasions which ââoubled these great Princes The Fleminge is the chiefe aduancer of this Trageâââ and shall haue his share in it A great assembly of Princes against Philip. He cals a great assemblie in the Cittie of Gramont in the yeare 1296. at the feast of Châistmas where Adolph thâ Emperour Edward King of England the Duke of Austria Iohn Duke of Brabant the Earle of Iuliers William of Iuliers his Sonne Iohn Earle of Holland and of Haynault Robert Earle of Neuers William Henry and Guy of Flanders Ihon Earle of Namur and many other great personages meete and with one coâseââ resolue to make warre against Philip. The colour was to maintaine Guy Earle of âlanders vniustly afflicted by Philip who had violently taken and stolne his Daughter against the right of Nations and detained her refusing obstinately to restore her to her Father It was decreed that Guy should begin by force and bee well secoâded by the Emperour and the English in case of necessitie But before they come to Armes Pope Boniface should make the first point by the luster of his authoritie All things threatned Philip with much trouble but the end will shew that the attempts of man are all but vaine Boniface according to the intent of their league sends his Nuncio to Philip Popâ Boniface eâenây to Pâilip which was Iames Bishop of Metz to exhort him to doe Iustice both to the Earle of Flanders and to the King of England protesting that hee desired nothing more then peace betwixt Christian Princes Hee sent the same Nuncio vpon the same subiect into England but with an other intent then hee made shâw of vnto Philip casting Wood and Oyle into this fire in steed of Water to quench it But for that this Pope must appeare in many acts of this Theater wee must obserue his disposition by some sufficient and not suspected testimonie Platina the âopes Secretarie Being saith hee a Priest Cardinall of Saint Martin of the Mount Platina iâ ãâ¦ã hee affected the Pontificall dignitie with such vehemencie as hee omitted neither ambition nor fraude to compasse it and moreouer hee was puft vp with such arrogancie âs âee
King Iohn who had already granted his pardon vpon good assurance Iohn grants his request yet could he not command his heart to leaue this malitious iealousie the which made him to seeke new occasions daylie to crosse his father in Lawes actions He then offers his seruice to the King of England who failes not to imbrace this occasion hauing the heart and hand of a Prince of the bloud whose power was great in the State Vpon this assurance he sends Edward his eldest sonne Prince of Wales into Guienne with a goodly armie a yong man of an exceeding hope And giues him for councell Iohn Shandos Robert Knowles Fraâcis Hali and Iohn of Arondel great men in their times and which shal be famous in those actions which shall follow New warre by the King of Nanâs practises He attended the end of truce the which being expired he enters Guienne and passeth into Langnedoc to Thâlouse Narbonne ouer al he spoiles sacks kils and finds no resistance and returnes wiâhout difficulty to Bourdeaux being loaden with spoiles At the same instant another cloud of English men breakes out of Calis and spoiles the Country of Picardy but Ioân by these skirmishes foresees the tempest of a greater warre measuring the forces of England by the will of King Edward his assured and tryed enemie He therefore seekes a remedie by an ordinarie course he calls a generall Parliament to take Councell and comfort from them in these newe occurrents Charlâs of Nauaâre assists but with an intent to crosse the Kings procedings by indirect practiâes and to withdrawe the subiects affections from assisting the King with their meanes in this necessitie Open force of the ãâã against the King but it was in vaine for in regard of Iohns promise to better the coyne they granted him a reasonable aide to raise and intertaine a great armie This faithful resolution of the French did for that time suppresse the violence of the English but not the furious malice of the Nauarrois for hauing labored in vaine to disswade the people from their promised succours and hauing raised by these practises seditions in diuers parts of the realme he lands at Cheâebourg with two thousanâ men robs and spoiles the countây and takes âhe Castel of Coâches in Normandie from the King An intollerable presumption of a subiect against his Prince after the muâther of a Constable But Iohn disâembles this assiont and by the mediation of his sonne Charles Daulphin of Viennois he remâts this second fault and receiues the King of Nauarre his son in Law againe into fauour but in effect he doth it to frustrate his purposes and to punish such as had assisted him Iohn did then giue the Duchie of Normandie to the Daulphin for his portion so as hee must take posâession thereof An apparent cause to drawe him thether but in effect Iohns intention was to drawe the Nauarrois into a place of easie surprise to make him and ãâã adherents to giue an accompt of their wicked actions and to preuent them hereafter The new Duke of Normandie arriues at Roan whether all the good Townes of the Countrie runne to do him homage The King of Nauarre who held Eureux and many great Lordships in the Country with one of the greatest dignities in the realme comes to do him honouâ well acompanied but better receiued by Charles his brother in law The King aduertised that the Nauarrois was at Roan with his sonne goes speedilie from Paris accompanied with his Brother Philip Duke of Orleans Lewis his second sonne Duke of Aniou the Earle of Tancaruille and Arnoul of Endreghan Marshall of France and ranne to Roan with this great traine 1352. Arriuing about dinner time he presently goes to his sonnes lodging where he findes him at table accompanied with the King of Nauarre and the most of them which had assisted him at the Constables murther where without any more deliberation or delay he causeth them all to be apprehended And then not pausing longer he made choise of fower out of this number the two Brethren of Harcourt the Lord of Maubue and Colinet Doublet chieâe actors in the foresaied murther and without any other forme of proceeding as a matter long before determyned he causeth their heads to be cut off Charles of Nauarre taken pâisoner by the King Fower of his complices beheaded setting theÌ vpon stakes and drawing their carcases to the gibet The next day he made choise of prâsoners and sends the Nauarrois with Friquet and Bontabu his domesticke and most trustie seruanâs to Arras vnder sauegards and presently dismisseth all the rest to their houses enioyning them expresly vnto fidelitie and loyaltie to his seruice bynding them by a new oath This vnexpected execution amazed the whole Countrie like to a cracke of thunder but it roused vp the Nauarrois faction especially Philip of Nauarre brother to Charles and Geoffroy of Haâcourt Vncle to the two Bretheren beheaded Occasion of newe warre the which opened the gates to a strange confusion which shal cast Iohn into miserable captiuitie and drawe the Nauarrois out of prison with a flaming torch in his hand to fier the whole realme Behold Philip and the house of Haâcourt presently in England crying out against murther They intââate Edward to stretch âorth his hand to bee reuenged of so notable an iniustice and disloyaltie They offer him their hearts persons goods Townes and hauens to land in Nârmandie without any difficultie and there to make warre comodiously against so trecherous and cruell a Prince Edward a wise and vigilant Prince who had his eyes open to all occasions that might annoy his enemy imbraceth this offer hee asâembâes his troupes to send them speedâly into No mandie And to do nothing by halues hee imploies all hee can to leuie a great army the which he sends into Guienne to make worke for Iohn in diuers places and not to suffer this first heat of the discontended french to coole hee then without anie delay sends the Duke of Glocester into Normandie with .4000 choise men who lands easily Warre in Normandy and ioynes with Philip of Nauarre and so they ouerrune and spoile the Champion Countrie The terror of these newe forces spâeads presently ouer all The Towns of Lizieux Orbes B cheloin and Ponteau on the sea yeeld presently And not staying to beseege any great Citties he goes to Bretueil and Tuillieres and from thence to Vernueil in Perche the which he takes easilie giuing it out in all places that it was to reuenge the wrong done to the King of Nauarre and his seruants a dutie of humanitie which Kings ought not to refuse one to another in their greatest necessity King Iohn hasteth thither with his armie and recouers Bretueil and Tuillieres and had easily repossessed all the rest if a new occasion had not drawen him else where and the secret decree of God to his owne ruine Edward Prince of Wales the eldest sonne of Edward King of
King Iohn hauing long expected the time of his deliuerie parts from England with a strong garde and is conducted to Calis attending the money ãâã the first pawne of his libertie The Regent his sonne labours earnestly the ãâã of Paris did contribute willingly a hundred thousand Royals and after their example all other citties paied their portions Of such power is our head cittie both to ãâã good and euill so by this ende they made amends for all former errors The money is brought to S. Omer whether the Regent comes to see the deliuerie Edward returnes to Calis he is wonderfull kinde to Iohn The two Kings sweare a mutuâll league of friendship and they sweare a league of friendship and comprehended Charles King of ãâã being absent in this peace his brother Philip vndertaking for him to the end that all quarrels might be troden vnder foote and all men liue in peace vnitie and concord So Iohn being set at libertie after a languishing imprisonment foure yeares take his ãâã of Edward with all the shewes of loue that might be betwixt brethren and ãâã friends Being parted f om Calis he findes his sonne Charles comming to meete him with a great and stately traine I cannot well expresse the ioy of this first encounter this good King imbracing his sonne as his redeemer with ioy mixt with teares and full of fatherly affection with the content of his sweete recouered libertie seeing himselfe in his ãâã armes who had giuen him so many testimonies of his faithfull loue in his necessitie ãâã in the middest of his subiects with his first authoritie depending no more vpon anothers will King Iohn receiued by his sonne with great ioy And contrariwise what ioy was it for this wise sonne to enjoy his father so precious a gage of the authoritie order and obedience of a State and a great discharge for him of this painfull burthen Thus discoursing of what had bin done during his imprisonment and of what was to be done they arriue at Heâin whether not onely the whole countrie repaires ãâ¦ã the Deputies of Paris and of all the prouinces of the Realme to congratulate their good Kings deliuerie where he disposeth of the gouernment of his house The King of Nauarre meetes him at Compiegne hauing fiâst sent back his hostages to shew that he relyed onely on his word put himselfe into his power Thus passeth the world after a storme comes a calme 1361. King Iohn made his entrie into Paris with this goodly traine being receiued with an incredible ioy of all his subiects The Kings reception into Paris The Parisiens going to kisse his hands offer him their hearts with a goodly cubberd of Plate worth a thousand markes for homage of their fidelitie and obedience The Parliament had surceased aboue a whole yeare Iohn for the first fruits of his recouered authoritie would honour the opening of the court with his presence being set in the seat of Iustice in the midst of all his officers to the incredible content of all men who beheld the cheerefull countenance of this Prince like the Sunne beames after a troubled skie Such was the returne of King Iohn into his realme after his imprisonment as the catastrophe of a Comedie in the which after mourning they reioyce This happened in the beginning of the yeare 1361. Some moneths were spent in these publike ioyes but they must seeke to get againe his hostages in the effecting whereof they found many difficulties for neither the priuate Lords whose homage he had bound to the King of England nor the countries whose Soueraignties he had yeelded by this accord would obey They argue with the King in councell and demand an acte shewing Difficulties in the performance of the conditions of peace that the King cannot dispose of the soueraigntie of his realme nor alienate the reuenues of the crowne Iohn on the other side fearing least Edward should reproche this vnto him as a practise betwixt him and his subiects made them sundry commandements to obey He went to Auignon to visit Pope Innocent who dyed at this time and Vrban the sixt succeeded in his place both Limosins To hansell Iohns recouered libertie and to ease his minde afflicted with long imprisonment Vrban exhorts him to vndertake the voyage of the holy land as generall of the action Iohn promiseth the Pope to goe with an armie Iohn not remembring the examples of Kings his Predecessors Lewis the 7. 9. nor apprehending the present burthen of his great affaires nor the danger of so mighty and watchfull an enemie who had so long and with so great paine kept him prisoner accepts the charge and makes a solemne promisse and to hasten the execution thereof he returnes into England Some saye the loue of the Countesse of Salisbury whose husband had the garde of the King being a prisoner was the principall motiue of his returne The which I cannot beleeue vpon the report of the English being vnlikely that his age his aflictions his great affaires and the voyage wherevnto he prepared should suffer this Prince to follow so vnseasonable a vanitie But whatsoeuer moued him therevnto he dyed there leauing his life in England where he had so long languished as a presage of his death Thus Iohn died in England in the yeare 1364. the 8. of Aprill Iohn dies in England His dispositioÌ leauing Charles his eldest sonne heire to the Crowne of France A good man he was but an vnfortunate Prince wise in ordinarie things but ill aduised in great affaires iust to all men but not warie how or whom he trusted in matters of consequence temperate in priuate but too violent in publick To conclude a good Prince but not considerate more fit to obey then to command Truely these heroicke vertues are the proper Iewels of Crownes and wisdome is a companion to the most excellent vertues especially in Princes who are aduanced vpon the Theater of manslife to gouerne the rest We haue noted that Bourgogne had beene giuen to Robert the grand-child of Hugh Capet for his portion A little before the deceasse of King Iohn Bourgogne annexed vnto the Crowne it was vnited to the Crowne of France by the death of Duke Philip a young man of the age of fifteene yeare sonne to that Iohn which dyed in the battaile of Poitiers He was betrothed to the heire of Flanders but both the Duchie and the Daughter were for another Philip the sonne of Iohn to whom the father gaue this new succession in recompence of the faithfull seruice he had done him the day of his taking and had continued it in prison CHARLES the 5. called the Wise the 52. King of France CHARLES THE V. KINGE OF FRANCE .52 THis Charles during the life of his father Iohn had giuen so many testimonies of his sufficiencie to gouerne well 1364. that he was held for King before he tooke the crowne Charles his raigne the which he receiued at Rheine
euent answered the proiect and by an admirable meanes the which ruined Peter through his owne folly This tyrant growne proud by the wishfull successe of the English forces makes no regard to satisfie the Prince of Wales for the charges of this warre although the successe were for his good but busying himselfe to take reuenge of such as had risen against ãâã he contemned such as had succoured him yea treading all pietie vnder foote he allyed himselfe with the King of Belle-marine a Sarasin and marrying his daughter he abiured the Christian Religion holding the neighbourhood of so mighty a King Peter forsakerâ by the English is taken prisoner to be more certaine and profitable then all the forces of England But it fell out contrary to his conceipt for Henry assisted by the constable Guesâlin and the French forces hauing won fiue battels against Peter in the ende he was quite defeated and taken prisoner Hauing him in his power Peter King of Castile beheaded at the Castilians suâe wonderfully incensed against this Tyrant he caused his head to be cut off reaping the fruites of his impiety the which made him to forsake the true religion of his vanity trusting to a rotten planke with the losse of his conscience and of his exceeding cruelty hauing murthered his wife tiranised ouer his subiects and spoyled his brother of his estate against all right An excellent lesson for all men especially for great Princes not to dally with God who punisheth haynous crimes with haynous punishments euen in this life attending the euerlasting paine in the life to come Charles King of Nauarre was much perplexed seeing himselfe betwixt two armies for desiring to be a neuter and to please both he knew not how to gouerne himselfe He seeks to intertaine both Charles and Edward although he were more ingaged to the English and could not well trust his brother in law hauing greatly offended him The King of Nauarres dissembling So hee lets the English army to passe through his dominions when it marched into Castile to succour Peter and suffered himselfe to be taken prisoner by Oliuer of Mauny a Gentleman of Britaine who led him into Castile to make the English thinke he had bin forced and the French that hee did willingly imploy himselfe for them beeing in their troupes A miserable hypocrisie which of a maister makes himselfe a slaue who might haue bin one of the chiefe of the army without this wretched dissembling The good and wise King taught by the example of his father Iohn that an Eele is lost by ouergriping it desiâed onely to pacifie his brother in lawe although he were well acquainted with his bad disposition and the practises he continued with England So he gaue him a safe conduct to come vnto him and restored vnto him Mantes and Meulan and the free possession of his lands in Normandy but this prince fraught with malice could not be reclaimed neither by the Kings prosperity noâ by his clemency for not trusting him hee retires to his realme of Nauarre where he continues his old practises with the English Thâ ãâ¦ã King Charles hee helps the Britton with men out of Normandie and attempted against the Kings person seeking to poyson him by Iaquet Rue and Peter of Tertre his domesticall seruants who were executed and the Nauarrois places seized on as guilty of high treason Thus Charles was forced to fight against his owne bloud and to haue the malice of his kinsmen and allies No small combate for a great Prince We haue discoursed at large of the valour and happy successe both of Edward the 3. King of England and of Edward his sonne Prince of Wales But as humane things are not durable so there chanced a great accident vpon his returne from the war of Castile which brought them both to the graue The Prince of Wales finding himselfe threatned with a dâopsey passed from Bourdeaux into England to take the ayre of his natiue country but hee died soone after his ariuall the 46. yeare of his age A Prince of great hope not onely lamented of his friends but coÌmeÌded of his enimies Edward the father The death of both Edwards seeing his right arme as it were cut off died for griefe leauing Richard the son of his son Edward in his place who was receiued without any questioÌ made by his vncles as the first by right of succession Richard not to degenerate from the example of his grandfather and father The English second passage through France being crowned King vndertakes a warre in France whether he sends a goodly army vnder the coÌmaund of the Duke of Clarence his vncle who hauing landed at Calais passeth the Riuer of Somme at Clery neere vnto Peronne bending towards Soisson he crosseth the Riuer of Oise Ain Then marching towards Chaalons he passeth Marne and shewing himselfe before Troyes in Champagne he spoyles the country and so goeth ouer Seine betwixt Ville-neufue and Sousey and bending towards Beausse and Gastinois he crosseth into Brittaine there ãâã the war in fauour of Iohn of Montport spoyling the country with a strange desolatioÌ On the other side there lands an other army at Bourdeaux the which hauing entred the country fortified such places as held for the English to nourish the seeds of this new warre 1380 In the country of Geuaudan a dioces in that large Prouince of Languedoc there was a Castle neere to Mande named Randon whereas the English maintayned a strong garnison a retreat for theeues which did infinite harme in the country The country hauing sued vnto the King to free them of this incombrance he graunted them Guesâlin the Constable a man of great reputation but the army should be defrayed at their charges He comes into Languedoc ãâã Randon and brings them to the last extremity but as the beseeged not able to hold out were entered into composition behold the Constable sick to the death yeeldâ vp the ghost At the same instant the place was yelded vnto the King so aâ in signe that the honour of this prize was due to Guesâlin the Captaines carried the keyes of the castle vpon his herse The death of the Constable ãâã Thus died ãâã leauing an honourable testimony of his valour and loyalty and to Charles an ãâã sorrow for his death who honoured him with a notable obsequie causing his body to be interred with the Kings at S. Denis at the foot of his own tombe was that of Guesâlin with a burning Lampe maintained by foundation called The Lampe of Guâselin vnto this day King Charles had g uen all Bourgogne to his brother Philip for his portion according to the will of his father Iohn as we haue said and had married him with Margueret the rich heyre of Flanders Being in possession of Bourgogne there happened another occasion in Flanders which won him great credit with those people whom he should comand after the death of Lewis his father in law
who was yet liuing The Inhabitants of Gand a mutinous people by nature who neuer want matter to mutine Troubles in Flanders pacified by Pâilip had then a great discontent both against their Earle in generall by reason of some new impositions and against them of Bruges in particular iealous to see them in so great fauour with their Prince by reason of a Chanell which they had drawne from the riuer of Lis for the commodity of their country which Riuer crossing the riuer of Gand the Gantois supposed it was all theirs in proper so as none might vse it without their liking This iealousie grew so great that this great citty as big with their wayward and contenâious humors as it was populous and rich being thus moued resolues to make shewe thereof and in this fury they make a League and choose a head bearing a marke or token of their faction and from words they go to blowes One called Leon a bold practiser of popular seditions was found fit to be the Ringleader of this tumult their marke was a white cap for all the troupe These Gaâtois gather together they hinder the worke of this chanell and the gathering of the custome beeing the cause of this quarrell they kill Collecters and receiuers and in the ende the gouernour of the cittie called Roger who being there for the Earle laboured to teach them their duties Their fury exceeded so farre as they spoyle the Earles Pallace fire it and in their rage pull it downe to the ground They run in great troupes to other townes to draw them to their league They beseege ãâã held by the Earles men crying in al places Liberty as hauing a meaning to change their Lord and then to seize vpon Flanders This cruell disorder amazed the Earle when as behold Philip Duke of Bourgogne his sonne in law flies vnto him to quench this fire and as men admire rather the Sunne rysing then sitting and that the name of the house of France and the greatnesse of his goodly portion gaue him great authority so it chanced that he pacified this rebellion to the content both of the Earle and cittyes taking a happy possession of this great inheritance by a famous and profitable occasion But Flanders alone was not subiect to these madde mutinies for those of Montpellier newly reduced to the obedience of our King Sedition at Montpelâier grew into so great a fury as they slew Iames Pontel a Knight of the order and Chancellor to Iohn Duke of Berry Gouernour of the Country Guy of Scery Senâshal of Rouergue Arnauld of Montelaur Gouernour of the said citty and other officers of the Kings and Dukes to the number of fower score and cast their bodies into a well As the outrage was odious so the punishment was memorable The Duke of Berry comes with forces assisted by the whole Prouince detesting so âoule an insolency so as the Inhabitants calling to minde their audacious phrensie resolue to submit themselues to punishment and not to stand desperately against force The Consuls of the Cittie hauing halters about their necks and torne cloaths The Duke of Berry comes to Montpellier to punish the seditions the keys of the citty in one hand and a red cap the marke of their office in the other met with the Duke their gouernour being followed by the Clergy carrying a crosse all crying for mercy and weeping with a lamentable noyse In this mournefull sort the Duke enters the citty gates being without any gard he finds the streets full of poore and desolate people vpon their knees men and women olde and yong crying for mercy and redoubling their pittiful cries as witnesses of their repentance Then the Duke commands they should presently bring all their armes into one place nere vnto his lodging placing a gard at the gates and vppon the walles The next day he caused a scaffold to be made in the market place where hauing sharply rebuked the people for their rebellion he pronounced a sentence in the Kings name whereby he declares That all their priuileges were taken from them their Consulship Towne house The sentence pronounced against them of Montpellier common Arches vniuersity their Bells Saltpannes and all Iurisdictions of the cittye eyther of soueraigne courts or of the commonalty six hundred Inhabitants to be chosen at aduenture condemned to die that is two hundred to loose their heads two hundred to be hanged two hundred burnt their children declared infamous and slaues for euer their goods confiscate The commonalty should pay six score thousand franks of gold and the charges of the Dukes voyage and his armies The Consuls with certaine Councellers that were named should drawe the bodies of such as had beene massacred out of the well and bury them A Chappell should be built for their obsequies With the same Bell which did sound the alarum The gates and citty walles should be beaten downe and their armes burnt publikely This was their doome but it was moderated at the intercession of Pope Clement The sentence moderated then resident in Auignon by the meanes of Cardinall de la Lune The same was qualified the priuileges restored the gates and walles preserued but the Aurhors of this sedition were put to death that the rest of the Inhabitants might liue in safety A notable president for subiects to suppresse their fury euen when they thinke to haue a iust cause of complaint feeling themselues surcharged or otherwise grieued considering the errours are sooner committed then repaired And for commanders that it is a dangerous resolution to let loose the raines to a mad multitude which augments the mischiefe supposing to cure it Queene Ioane wife to our wise Charles daughter to Peter of Bourbon dies about this time Queene Ioane dies to the great griefe of her husband to whom she left two sonnes Charles Lewis both very yong for Charles was borne the 3. of December 1371. and was carried to the Font by Charles of Montmorency and baptised by Dourmans Bishop of Beauuois and Chancellour of France Lewis was Duke of Orleans She leât him also one daughter Isabell marryed afterwards to Richard King of England Necessary obseruations for the course of our history Her children This good Prince after his wiues death was nothing healthfull so as broken with poyson the which had much weakened him with the tedious toiles of his youth more then with age he decayed dayly and he himselfe perceiued it so as feeling the ende of his life to approach remembring what troubles he had past during the mournefull imprisonment of his Father by the contempt vsed of his yong age least the like should happen to his sonne Charles vnder colour of his minority gouerned by tutors he decreed in a general assemblie of the States by a lawe and an irreuocable Edict That after the decease of the king of France his eldest sonne should succeed him presently and at the age of 14. yeares should be
hundred men at armes Brittons vnder the command of the constable Clisson who was with the fleet in Brittaine They had a care safely to lodge this great army after their descent in England expecting with safety the variable euents of warre against a king and people whom they came to fight with on their owne dunghill To preuent all in conueniences they build a great frame or engine some attribute this inuention to the Constable Clisson others to Iohn of Vienne Admirall of France who had layde the first plot of this enterprise like to a towne of warre with towers bastions bulwarks A strong sort of wood made flankes and other defences according to the manner of that age There was a lodging for the King and his court according to the degrees of Princes Officers and Noblemen of marke Lodgings for the chiefe of the armie according to their quarters and space to set vp their tents and pauillions halls and common places for the munition and victualls which followed the army and to conclude conuenient roome to imbattell a great number of men of warre Thâs inclosure or frame was round and made of many peeces with admirable arte and so great aboundance of stuâfe as if they had cut downe a whole foârest it was finished with wonderfull speede by the great number of workemen which came from all parts To the men shippes victualls and this engine the Kings court gaue an extraordinarye beauty being accompanied with the Dukes of Lorraine and Bar the Earles of Sauoy Armagnac Geneue S. Pol. Longueuille Eu Daulphin of Auuergne the Lord of Coussy Master William of Namur with all the great Barons of France and an infinite number of braue nobility who imbarked themselues more willingly then in the voyage to the holy land The preparation of the English for their defence Thus was the preparation made in France for England where they remayned in great perplexity to see so great a storme readye to fall vpon them They prouide the best they can first by deuotion hauing recourse vnto God then they fortifie their ports and all passages with great dilligence both with men of warre and all sorts of incombers to helpe those places which nature had made of hard accesse in this Iland They say that Richard leauied a hundred thousand foote and ten thousand horse which was not answerable to the Admirals relation the first Architect of this ridiculous attempt But thus are princes oft times abused imbarking themselues in dangerous actions without reason whose endes are not answerable to their beginnings All was ready in the end of September the King had prouided for the gouernement of the realme in his absence leauing his brother Lewis Earle of Touraine assisted with the Duke of Berry his vncle and the bishop of Beauuois his chancellour Thus he parts from Paris and comes to Scluse with great speed to recouer the time lost The Regent should not abandon his person in so long and important a voyage but he stayes behind the King promising to follow presently but his meaning was to bring this enterprise to nothing The king beeing arriued the howers of stay are tedious he tells the minutes and complaines of the time lost he sollicites his vncle to come by sundry letters The Regent seekes to ouerthrow the action and sends post after post he stampes he chafes by reason of his stay The whole Court is of the same humour The Duke of Aniou answers the King that he will part to morrowe but he stayes at Paris to make good cheere at leysure of purpose to draw on winter to make the voyage impossible and so to ouerthrow the action the which was neuer pleasing vnto him eyther for that it was pleasing to the Duke of Bourgongne his brother and so to crosse him or for that he held it preiudiciall to the King and his realme But seeing himselfe prest by importance and impatient letters from the King he parts from Paris and the same day the Constable Clisson waies anckor at Lantriguer in Brittaine with this great Towne of wood and seuenty two ships of warre meaning to ioyne with the whole bodye of the armie at Scluse but it fell out contrary to his disseine and otherwise then the facility of his supposed victory had represented vnto him For hauing âun his course towards Flanders to take port at Scluse behold a contrarye wind casts him vpon the coast of England Part of the French nauie dispersed at sea where notwithstanding all the diligence of his Marriners his fleete was dispeâsed into diuers parts three ships wherein this great Engine was are driuen into England and runne on ground at the mouth of the Riuer of Thames Behold our Argonautes as much amazed to see themselues taken in a weyre as the English were glad who with ioy and admiration see themselues possessed beyond all hope and without any paine of that which had cost their enimies so much to ruine them These newes flie speedily to King Richard who commaunds this great booty to bee brought vp the riuer vnto him whether all the Country flocks to so strange a spectacle and euery one holds it for a presage of good successe to haue taken their Citty which should haue taken them An other part of the Fleet is driuen into Zealand and the Constable of Clisson with the rest arriues at Scluse much amazed at this first successe All their ioy of an assured victory is conuerted into a generall feare least some newe losse should followe this vnfortunate beginning The Regent opposeth himselâe directly against thiâ voyage But whilest this amazement troubled most of the French the Duke of Bourgongne and those of his faction who desiâed the performance of this voyage at any rate made these difficulties light as common accidents which should not hinder great enterprises the which cannot bee executed without some crosses for the which they must seeke a remedy and not dispaire He had perswaded the King againe easie to be drawne to what he desired Hereupon the Regent arriues who seeing the King resolued to imbarke vales his maske speakes plainely and tels the King in his Counsell That he will neuer consent he should expose his person and estate to the hazard of the sea of weather and of war and vpon an aduice which seemed apparently false being most certain that the King of England had assembled aboue a hundred thousand fighting men That these first losses were aduertisements froÌ heauen to bridle those vaine hopes which are sooner conceiued then brought forth He had alwayes sufficiently declared that it was not his aduice yet for that he would not seeme to contradict the Kings will crosse such as gaue him this councel as honorable to himselfe and profitable to his Realme he would not rashly oppose himselfe But seeing now that God spake he did open his mouth the more boldly bearing in his heart a faythfull zeale vnto the Kings seruice and the good of the State That
realme The King followed accompanied with the Dukes of Berry Bourgongne and Bourbon his Vncles and the Dukes of Lorraine and Bar he lodgeth at Blandelle two leagues from Cassell with an intent to charge the English who presently leaue the seege of Ypre Cassel and Grauelins and retyer to Bergues where Charles presently beseegeth them The English demande a parle with the Duke of Brittain they put him in minde of the benefits he had receiued from their nation Charles makes a truce with the English and demande requitall in this occurrent The Duke of Lancaster remaines at Calais by reason of his weakenesse the English Captaines requier respit to vnderstand his pleasure In the ende the King receiues them vpon honest conditions to depart with bagge and baggage and to leaue Flanders the which they performe Being returned into England they are accused to haue sold the Earldome of Flanders to the French so as by Richards commands they are beheaded The Gantois made a dutifull answere and promised obedience and loyaltie to the King A Truce was concluded for one yeare with the English by meanes of the Duke of Lancaster for King Richard and the Duke of Berry for our King Charles Such was the issue of this sodaine voyage of Flanders being a meanes to settle a businesse of a deeper consultation and more dangerous consequence seeing it concerned not onely the heart but the whole body of the Staâe They sought how to suppresse the sedition which was apparently bred in Paris and by their example in many great citties of the Realme To this ende Charles vpon his returne from this voyage stayed at S Denis with his vncles the Constable Chancelour and his whole Councell they were all troubled to resolue in so important a cause for what should they do To punish the poore people âyred with the warres threatened with losses halfe dead by the feeling of so great calamities that were to beat one lying sicke in his bed for his waywardnesse The King consults what course to take ãâã the mutineus ãâã and not to cure him of the paine which is the cause thereof It were a meanes to driue him to dââpaiâe to apply a remedye worse then the disease And not to punish them would argue âeaâe and make them grow more proud and insolent a means to animate them to all impuââty and to lay the way open to a disordered rebellion But the last aduice preuailed beeing well verified that since the paiment of the sine the Parisiens were growne worse and more bitter hauing had conference with the ãâã audacious mutines and the right artisans of rebellion holding it a vertue to play the madde men against their naturall Lords and also had so farre abused the Kings bountie as they had presumed to sollicit the best Citties of the Realme to the like disorder It did greatly import for the good of the Kings seruice and of the State that such phrensies should be suppressed by an exemplarie punishment done vpon the chiefe authors Iohn de Marais was verie deepe ingaged in these tumults and the more dangerously for that he cast the stone and withdrewe his arme and making a shewe of seruice to the King he fed the people in these madde humours very torches of sedition vnder a colour of the Common weale for who can beleeue they would put so famous a person to death without some âust cause I knowe they write diuersly and euery man hath his iudgement ârâe yet is it not true not likely that in pardoning a whole multitude offending they would punish him in whome there were no shewe of offence If hee were not culpable at the least he was accused of that which was the subiect of a publike condemnation Charles being aduised to punish the Parisiens for the insolencies they had comitted in hâs pâcience caused his armie to lodge about the Cittie and on a certen day he sends for the Prouost of Marchants the Sheriffs who come vnto him to Saint Denis with a countenance full of humility and shewe of amendment The King gaue them to vnderstand by Peter Orgemont his Chanceller that he ment to goe to his Cittie of Paris to punish the rebells and seditions who had not respected his presence The Prouost makes answere That the whole bodie of the Cittie was wonderfully greeued for that which had beene committed by men in despaire worthy to be seuerely punished but the good Cittizens had no comunity with these rascalls and that the whole Citâie was readie to do him faithfull seruice There were many about the King which made all odious that concerned the Parisiens but Charles made them no other answer but that he would be soone at Paris The King enters Paris with his army and doe what reason and the dutie of a good King required He causeth his foreward to march led by the Constable Clisson and the Marâshall of Sancerre who seaze vpon the gates the which they found open without any gards The King accompained with the Dukes of Berry Bourgongne and Bourbon with other Lords of his Councell and an infinit number of Noblemen and Gentlemen in great shewe terrible to the people marcheth into the Cittie Being come to Saint Denis gate he causeth the barres to bee beaten downe The Prouost of Marchants the Sheriffs with the chiefe Inhabitants of the Cittie carrying the keys beseech the King to giue them audience hee denyeth them and passeth on to the house of Saint Pol but the army is dispersed throughout all the quarters of the Citty Presently they take away all the chaines and send them to Bois de Vincennes 1385. They search all houses for armes the which are instantly carried to the Louure and the Bastile The Dukes of Berry and Bourgongne with the Prouost and his Archers go throughout the citty causing 300. of the most seditious to be apprehended The next day many heads were stroke off at the Halles amongst the rest that of Iohn de Marais Iohn de Marais a fâmous aduocate with many others executed whoÌ al men had heard of late discours so eloquently with admiratioÌ being held for the Oracle of France These executions were done by fits with such a shewe of grauitie as the seat of Iustice did more terrifie then the executioners arme vpon the scaffold A whole day was spent in these slowe proceedings the citty gates being kept so straitly as no man might issue forth houses and shops were shut vp with so great a silence as if all had beene dead euery man being hidden in his house or else so amazed as he durst not looke into the streets The vniuersity which then was in great credit with the King becommeth sutor for the people and beseecheth him not to include the Innocent with the culpable The King answereth coldly that he would aduise what to do willing them to retyre In the meane time a great Scaffold is made on the highest staire of the Pallace before the great image of Philip
he would not accept of this gouernment without the good liking of the Duke of Berry so as all the punishment fell vpon Betizac his chiefe Treasurer who ãâã burnt at Beziers Betizac the Dukes treasurer burnt purging in the fire the extorsions he had committed vnder his maisterâ authoritie At that time Charles King of Nauarre died so often blemished in the truth of this historie we haue noted how he had retired himselfe from Court into his realme of Nauarre As this retreat was vnto him a reprochfull banishment so this shamefull solitarinesse was a ciuill death But the Catastrophe of his tragicall life was a famous proofe that God doth often reuenge notable sinnes by notable punishments euen in this life He was much broken by the excesse of venery and all sorts of dissolutions the which he had exceedinglie vsed with his wonderfull tyrannie and crueltie As they did anoint him with medicines fit to warme and comfort his benummed members some say they had chafed him with Aqua-vitae The tragicall ãâã of the Nauarroâ and wrapt him in a sheete but behold fire takes hold of this sheete with such violence as being vnable to quench it he was consumed by degrees liuing some daies as suruiuing his paine and that which encreased the horror of Gods iudgement his death made both great and small to reioyce and was receiued in France with as great content as the winning of a great and famous battaile Great robbing during the truce There was a generall truce betwixt the French and English so as the garrisons lying stâll the Souldiars bred vp and nourished in armes fighting no more by order vnder their eâsâgnes sought now their prey by disorder vpon the labourer and marchant The countries of Rouergue Perigort Limosin Auuergne and La Marche had English garrisons who spoiled these countries and did runne vp into the neerest parts of Languedoc Velai Geuaudan Viuarez and Suenes where the villages are for the most part walled in to preuent these sodaine incursions There were many theeues amongst them Teste noire or Black-pate in the Castell of Ventador Amerigor Marcel at Roâh-Vandais who breaking the truce sought to be supported by the King of England but in the end they all fell into the hang-mans hands or perished miserably by some strange death an Image of our late confusions Libertie had bred vp these warriours with so great aboundance as the English passed the sea to make Turneys and to fight at Barriers as they vse at great Triumphes There was a Tilt set vp betwixt Calais and Saint Iaquelvuert where the Nobilitie made triall of their valour as in a Schoole of Fence To take away this troublesome aboundance they tooke occasions to make long voyages into Castille and Italie but in the end there was a very famous one offred against the miscreaâts of Barbarie at the Geneuois request who suffred many discommodites in their traffick by these barbarous Affricans Charles granted them succours willingly and gaue the charge of this warre to Peter duke of Burbon assisted with the Earles of Auuergne and Foix the Lords of Coucy Guy of Tremouille A voyage into Affâââke by âhe Frenâh English together Iohn of Vienne Admirall of France Philip of Arthois Earle of Eu Philip of Bar Harcourt Antoing Linge Pyquiny and many other great men from all parts of the Realme which ranne to so famous an action vnder so worthy a commander and at so great leysure more painfull then the toyle of warre to men that desired nothing but imployment Richard King of England to imitate Charles granted succours to the Geneuois vnder the command of the Earle of Salisburie accompanied with many Noble men and Engââsh Gentlemen moued with desire like vnto the French in the enterprise of this pleasing paine The Deputies of the Kings of France and England assembled to treate of a generall peace but not able to effect it they continue a truce for foure yeares with goodly pâouisions against robberies for the safetie and quiet of their Estates Charles gaue free passage to the English by the Countries of Langâedââ and Daulphiné to passe the Alpes safelie All come to Genes to the great ioy of the Geneuois Being shipt they land within fewe dayes in Barbarie Presently they beseege the Citty of Affricke So our histore termes it as bearing the name of all the vast and barbarous counâry They call the Afâricanic commanders Agadinquor of Oliferne and Brahadist of Thunes But our Argonautes found them which stayed their fuây The Barbarians defended themselues with an obstinate resolution But their foâce did them lesse harme then the ayre and diet beeing very contrary to theiâ complexions so as our armie decreased dayly especially of men of accompt This siege conâinued six weekes with much losse no hope to preuaile The ãâã noated alwaâes to be âaithlâsse The Geneuois hauing conceiued a hope of a sodaine victorie began to grow cold and slacke in furnishing of the armie The Duke of Bourbon foreseeing the difficulties which might grow in continuing obstinaâe at this siege fearing the winter and not trusting the Geneuois who are famous for that they haue no faith remembring the example of the King S. Lewis resolued to returne wiâhout any greater losse He trusseth vp his baggage bringes backe his troupes into France coÌtinuing the example to al such as are capable of reasoÌ how difficult it is for Christâans to performe these strange attempts after the experience of many ages The ârench and the English hauing liued louingly together in this voyage returned to their houses without doing of any memorable act but to haue endeauored to doe sometâing worthy of memory to auoide idlenesse during so peacefull a time âritâaine did then conceiue and afterwards bring forth more preiudiciall effects then Bârbary iâ selââ and the way was made by light occasions to horrible and monstrous efâects to the great preiudicâ both of the King and Realme for a notable tesâimonie to posterity what Councellors Enuye and ambition be in a state we like wretches seeke for peace and when God gâues it we flie from it we maligne an other mans good and depââue our selues of our owne But alas it were a small matter for a great personage to hurâ himselfe by his owne passions if this poison did not spred abroad to the preiudice of âhe common weale We haue said that Iohn of Montfort remained peaceably Duke of Brittaine by the death of Charles of Blois and the agreement he made with his widow Hatred betwixt the duke of Briâââine the Constable Clisson whose eldest sonne Iohn of Brittâine Earle of Ponthieure was redeemed from prison out of England by the constable Clisson who gaue him his daughter in marriage payed his âansome The constable was a Briâton and so a subiect to Iohn of Montfort Duke of Brittaine his ancient and capitall ânimy and yet by this newe succession was become his Lord. Doubtlesse in this quality Clisson could not
men which chanced in the beginning of the yeare 1394 shal burne farther and kindle a greater fire betwixt the vncle and the Nephewe foâ the space often yeares vntill the death of Philip Duke of Bourgongne leauing this hatred hereditary to his posterity There is no meanes which the Bourguignon doth not attempt to wrong his Nephewe of Orleans Certaine Augustin Fryars vndertake to cure the King by incisions in his head wheâby he was in great danger of his life These counterfets were brought forth publikely in their habits and beheaded but the scarres of these wounds will remaine in Lewis his âace who recommended them vnto the King The women are dealers in these actions The Duchesse of Bourgongne perswades Queene Isabel that Lewis his meaning was to kill the King her husband his children These impressions are confirmed by the graue and sweet discouâses of the duke her husband who by degrees setled a hatred in the Queenes minde agaiâst her brother in-law Thus this faction is much fortified by the authority of Queene Isabel and by her with her husbands name whom she makes to speake what she pleaseth sometimes as her will directed him but not alwaâââ Yet this weake braine is the checker of all these courâly pollicâes by the meanes oâ women who are continually about his bedde or his chaire to distemper his braine with variety of newes springing from their wretched passions and this poore Prince is sometimes won sometimes lost and alwaies tormented wâth these imporâunâ discoârâes Vâlenâine to the Duke of Orleans an Iâaââan and daughter to Iohn Galeaz one of the cunningest and most subtill witts of her time which subtilty some held she increased by coniuring would not yeeld to the brauadoes of these two Princesses against whom she opposed her selfe not only by her husbands degree but also by a politike courage bred in her selfe visiting the sicke king with such ciuill entertainment as her greatest enemies could not finde any honest colour to deny her the dore So as the King did not onely willingly see her but did call for her and in his greatest fits did know her onely among all the rest refusing to take any thing but from the hands of his good Sister of Orleans The more the Kings loue kindled a iealousie in these two Princesses her enemies the more it raysed vp the mind of Valentine and by hir meanes of her husband who remeÌbring too hatefully the degree whereunto he was borne and the wrong done him in reiecting him yet hauing neither dexterity nor meanes to win many seruants he gaue the Duke of Bourgongne all aduantages being graue cold pleasing and modest so as by his wise teÌper he disolued the heate of the Duke of Orleans immoderate vehemencie who tyring himself with the shew of his greatnesse makes it known by effects that all the authority was in the Duke of Bourgongne for whosoeuer had neede of any publike helpe he must pasâe through his hands what busines soeuer chanced either within or without the realme the true rendez-uous was at his lodging Thus the Vncle made his Nephew towalke horses as they say although he chafed and stamped beyond all measure These diuisions troubled the whole court making them to neglect the affaires of state and what can we obserue more famous in so disordered an estate Al businesses are done in the Kings name yet without the King vnlesse the parties would haue him to countenance some great passion I do purposely omit all that which passed in this raigne touching the schisme of the Church and the house of Aniou in the realmes of Naples and Arragon not to breake off the course of my intent meaning to represent in due place all that concernes this forrain history Richard King of England sends his Ambassadors to Charles to congratulate his recouery offring him a generall peace and demanding his daughter in marriage The Kings relapse delayed the conclusion for a time Richard king of England marrieth with Isabell of France but soone after by the care of the Duke of Bourgongne who had a great interest in this alliance by reasoÌ of his country of Flanders it was concluded in the yeare 1395. Charles had some intermissions by meanes whereof he could ride Richard repayres to Calais and Charles to Ardres whether Richard came to ratifie the peace concluded betwixt their Ambassadors and to receiue his new spouse The Kings encountred one another with loue and kindnesse making shewes of great good will but it was a short ioy for either of them For as it seemed that the quiet of these two realmes had beene setled by this generall peace sealed by this marriage and seasoned with so many reciprocall shewes of cordial affection betwixt these two great Kings behold a great combustion in England which intangles both these Kings in this common calamity Richard being of himselfe effeminate carelesse voluptuous and idle grew more delicate by this profound rest built vpon the alliance of his enimy who alone might haue quickned him He is alwayes with his yong wife imbracing her dallying with her and attiâing her with such contempt of his authority abassing himselfe too much to his subiects so as he grew contemptible vnto his enimies who presâmed to attempt against his person The ordinary warres of England against France had caused many necessary impositions without any grudging of the subiects but when as necessity ceased by this generall peace the people require to bee relieued William More makes an oration vnto the king in the name of all the English in generall Richard hauing no meanes in these infinite exactions to supply the charges of his idle voluptuous life contemned his subiects request and in the ende pressed vpon the same matter by the Duke of Glocester the Earle of Arondel in the name of them all he puts them vniustly to death The English madde with rage for the death of their deputies flie to such remedies as despaire giues to necessitie From this general discontent sprong a strange Tragedie against Richard for the English seeing themselues thus despised by their King they cast their eyes vpon Henry of Lancaster his cousine and hauing called a Parliament they put Richard into prison and crowne Henry of Lancaster in his place Richard King of England put from the Crowne Richard being forced in open assembly to resigne the Crowne and to condemne himselfe to perpetuall prison as hauing abused his royall authoritie and his subiects But this tâagicke change concernes the Histoâie of England This may bâieflie suffice for ours in the conference of our estate with theirs Charles did greatly grieue at this deiection of Richard his sonne in lawe from whom he expected great loue and quiet for his subiects But who seeth not the vanitie of this world both in great and small to feare a shower euen when the Sunne is hottest Hee sends for Isabell his daughter of twelue yeares old whom Richard had not yet toucht being content to behold her
that this charge was imposed vpon the subiects against his consent laying a good foundation of firme correspoÌdencâe with the Parisââns he retires into Flanders to take possession of his mother Marguerits inherâtance and credit with that rich people but in effect it was to build vppon the hereditary hatred he had against his cousin and capitall enemy To omit nothing that might auaile him agâinst tâe Dâke of Orleans being at Brussels hee sends his Ambassadors to King Charles beseeching him with all affection to consuÌmate the marriage betwixt Lewis his eldest sonne Duke of Guienne Daulphin of Vienne Katherine of Bourgoâgne his daughter Charles thought it fiâ to content his cousin Iohn vpon this demand but his brother Lewis crossed this marriage as preiudicial to the housâ of France beeing âlready weakened by the vniting of Bouâgongne to Flandârs the which would be much more âortified by this alliance with the Kângs sonne Iohns Aâbassadors after long delaieâ returne home without any effect making theâr maâstââ acquainted with the cold proceedângs of the Court the which required his preâeÌce Iâ the end he reâolues to go in perso âo âollicite a matter of so great imporportance But beeing ready to march behold the King of England sends an armie into Flanders The Dukâ of Oââeaââ âoââeth the Duke oâ Boââgângââ to bâsiege Scluse âhich make him yeeâd âo neâessity to demand succours of the Kiâg ãâã hâs âoueraigâe against the common enemâ of the Sâate staying himselfe in Flandârs to preuent theâe practises of the English Lewis of Orleans pretending a truce betwâxt France and England causeth succors to be denied him as if they should dâaweââarre vpon Francâ being already tired âith sâ great and long troubles Iohn held him selâe mâch âronged by this deniall to haue the better meanes to returne to Paris he compounds with the English being desirous to make it knowne that hee would oppose himselfe against the Dââe of Orleans desseines taking hold of the occasion which he himselfe offeâed him to his gââat preiudice The imposition was leuied by the Dâke of Oâleans his commande and commissionâ were brought into Flanders At âaris it was exacted with all rigour but Iohn commând his subiects of Flanders âoâ to pay ât ând goe well accoâpanied to âaris to assist the peâple who gâeatly dâsâoâtented with âhis burthen durst not yet vtter their griefe expecting the countenance of a great commander The Parisiâns incensed agâinst Lâwis of Orleans ãâã Iohn of Bâurgââgne âo comâ to Paris being resolued to imploy all their means in the defence of thiâ cauâe The Paâiâions solicite Iâân of ãâã to come whiâh they heâd to be very important for their reliefe Iohn desiâed nothing mâre so as redoubling his courage aâ these calls he goes in haste to Paris stâies at Louure in Paâisâs gâuing the Parisiens nâtice to coâe vnto him The King remained at Paris as he was accustomed the queene Lewis of Orleans hauing discouered the Dâke of Bourgongnes ââtent fearing leâât being the stronger hauing tâe Parisiens at his deuotion âe should force the king to marry the Daulphin Lewis made sure to his daâghter they thought it best to coâueâgh this yâng prince into Germany to some place of safety And going togither from Paris they lefâ the Daulphin with Lewis of Bauâere his vncle by the mothers side who shoâd cânduct hâm secreâly in a litter to Corbeil where a goodly troupe attended him The Bâââgâignons fâlloâers giue him present intelligence of their departure Iohn folloâes so speedâly as he âueâtakes the Daulphin Lewis at Vâliuifâe Iohn of Bâârgoâgne âeizeth on the Dâââpââns person coÌducted in a lâtter by Lewâs of Baââere hiâ vncle bring him back gântly to Paris where they receiue the Dâke of Bâuâgongne ââth great ioy and are glad of the Daulphins returne going to meete them ân great pompe as at a ioifull triumph Iohn beeing come to Paris hath conference witâ them of this faction and findes them at his deuotion The Prouost of Mârchantâ ând the Vniueâsity assure him of their faithfull seruice they intâeat him to vndertake the reformation of the State a charge which he doth willingly imbrace as a fit maske âor his ambitious humor He then presents a petition to the King beseeching him to reâorme the Sâate 1406. strangely corrupted by the ill gouernement of the treasure whereby tâe subiects were oppâââsed with insupportable charges and sacred iustice ill adâinistred the ordinary âubâeââ of the peoples complaints but in effect it was to araigâe the Duke of Orleans Tââ King forbare to make any answer vntill his brothers retuâne beeing Pâesident of thâ counsell and greatly interessed in this complaint bât these had bin words witââuââffect if force had not followed this admonition The Bourguignon had brought grâat âroupes vnder the conduct of Iohn without pitty Bishop of Lâege Ciuâll waâââ beâinâ and tâe Duâe oâ Cleues The Duke of Orleans had also assembled an armie from diuers parts by the Lord of Hârpendanne fortified with the forces of the Dâke of Lorraine and the King of Sicily beeing made reâdy for the voyage of Naples Thus the Iâle of France is full of souldââââ of one liuery but of contrary humors as the manner is in ciuill warres French against French and kinseman against kinseman all making profession to maintaine the good of their country in ruining it Iohn of Bourgongne in shew had the aduantage being in the capitall Citty and possessed of the peoples harts he had the King in his poâer and for a gage of this newe authority which men honour like the sunne rising the Daulphin of the house of France âhom he pretended to be his sonne in lawe All these considerations made his heaââ sâell and his tongue to speake proudly But Lewis Duke of Orleans soundâ forth the name of publike authority which then remained in his hands as in a sacred gard Tâe most passionate make a stay at the name thereof to attend the euent of âo great a quarrell Such force hath the name of lawfull authority and order in a Sâate whereon it depends as on a firme foundation These armies thus lodged about Paris the Generalls minds appeared in the deuises of their standards In that of the Duke of Orleans was written Ielâenuie The deââseâ of the ãâã with a staffe ââll of ânots painted in it signifiyng that he would knock him on the fiâgers that should presume tâ touch his authority In the Duke of Bourgongnes was written in Flemish Ick Houd tâat is to say I hold it with a ioyners plane to make smooth the knotty staffe âo to incounter the force that threatned him yet these passions were suppressed by the only reâpect of authority without the which al had teÌded to a violent spoile The Princes of the bloud who were not ingaged in these quarrels labouâ to reconcile their cousâââ seeing the Kings infirmity will not suffer him to vse his absolute authoâiââ
forbidden vpon paâne of death and the English come to the succor of the associat Princes to bee satisââed out of the Kings tâeasor Without the Cittie of Auxerre neeâe to the Abbie of Saint Mâriââ a stately scaffold was made where the King sitting in his seat of Iustice enuironed with his Princes the officers of his Crowne and the chiefe deputies of the Parliament the peace was proclaymed with as great ioy as the warre had beene tedious and mournfull To confirme this peace with Iohn of Bourgongne Philip Earle of Vertus married his daughter but all this could not reconcile him to the house of Orleans The Daulphin reioyced much at this peace and made all shewes of loue to his Cousins lately reconciled being greeued to haue bin so long dissentioÌ betweene them desirous âo repaire what was past aboue all to maintaine an inviolable peace wâthin the Realme The good sicke King present at all yeelding his consent and authority somtimes inclyned to good sometimes to ill Queene Isabel held with the strongest but all these good motions were crossed by the Bourguignon so as all the confusions of this raigne are not yet ended Iohn of Bourgongne seeing himselfe crost by Lewis the Daulphin and the house of Orleans restored to grace stirres vp newe troubles from the yeare 1412. Vnto 17. when as the Daulphin died but the troubles ceassed not FRance began to hope for better by the meanes of Lewis the eldest Sonne to King Charles hauing a desire to make a peace against the Bourguignons will But this was not all they expected of the Daulphins first resolution yet the weakenesse of the sicke King The Boââguignons ãâã in Court and the inconstancie of his yong Lieuâenant gaue the subtill braine of Iohn of Bourgongne too great an aduantage to suffer the French to enioy the fruiâs of peace so much desired who neuer yeelded to baâe threats but grewe more resolute And notwithstanding this alteration of the Daulphin his sonne in lawe yet he left not the Court being alwayes neere the King keeping the Councel in breaâh who were for the most part all on his side and although they worshiped the Sunne rising yet seeing the spirit âf this yong Prince to be weake and inconstant and the Bourguignons fiâ me resolutâon they stood vpon their gard doing nothing that might openly offend eyther the one or the other but vnder hand they sought to please the most polâââke and redoubted maister who else mâght proue a most cruell and dangerours enemie Thus were affaires handled in the Kings councell And as not only the Court but the whole world is an ebbing and flowing of diuers humors the which doe change according to occasions and the scaffold whereon dissembling trechery and treason play their parts diuersly so at that time the Bourguignon a principall artisan of these goodly shewes found an ample subiect wherein to imploie his filthy trade But although he seemed to haue gained all whatsoeuer he desired that should come to passe and to haue attayned the full of his desires yet all his enterprises came to nothing and in the end he paied with the price of his bloud the great debt of his horrible wickednesse But this acte shall haue manie Scenes In the first our History shall set downe the new gouerment of Lewis the Daulphin The estate of the Court vnder Lewis the Daulphin This yong Prince was not capable of so great a charge hauing an idle braine being carelesse and voluptuous giuen to his owne will obstinate taking no aduice from any but of himselfe or from yong men of his owne humour loth to yeeld to any that vnderstood more then himselfe and especially to his vncles whose graue haires he disdained neither could he loue his father in lawe being resolued to gouerne the realme alone The Queene seeing her Sonnes humour inclyned to loue the house of Orleans made shew to fauour them but in effect she was indifferent being wholy giuen to flatter which her husband and to gouerne him according to the time The Bourguignon dissembling his sonne in Lawes wayward humours was alwayes neer the King giuing him such goodly reasons as the good Prince could not gainsaie him The subiect of his sutes was pleasing to the Parisiens whose good liking he entertained carefully but alwayes with an intent to bee reuenged of his enemies vnder this goodly name of the common wealth as the soueraigne ende of all his desseins but in effect he held still one of the cheefest places not yeelding in any thing to gouerne them which seemed to rule and to keepe backe such as might crosse his authoritie By the peace of Bourges the Constable of Albret should bee restored to his dignitie and Arnold of Corbie to his Chancellourship They delaie them from daye to day but in the ende they are restored with much difficultie The meanest haue many delaies more troublesome then a flat repulse being more willing to leaue al then to make these frutlesse poursuites Arnold of Corbie being honorably restored to his place resigned it into the Kings hands to auoide the danger of so confused a time more wisely then Henry of Marle that suceded him being slaine at the massacre at Paris with the Constable of Armagnae But the Bourguignons flew a higher pitche then to preiudice the house of Orleans in their goods and honors or to crosse their affaires and their followers The Bourguignons resolution He found no better expedient then to do as he had doone with Lewis their father for a dead Lion doth no harme To this ende he assembles some of his most trustye followers at Paris to finde meanes to murther the Dukes of Orleans Berry and Bourbon But Peter of Essars one of his most violent partisans discouered this practise for the which hee soone after smarted By the treatie of Bourges the Englishe which came to the Duke of Orleans succour must be satisfied They presse for paiement one part being discharged to the Duke of Orleans great hindrance he was forced to leaue his brother Iohn Earle of Angoulesme in in hostage for the rest Being carried into England he was in the end redeemed after much trouble and many dâlaies In this article the Bourguignon made shew of his good husbandrie solliciting the English vnder hand on the one side for to presse Charles his principall debtor and on the other side he cried out against the disorder of the Kings treasor so âll gouerned as there was not sufficient to furnish the ordinarie expences of his house pretending all these great summes to be wasted either by the Tresorers in gifts or in superflous expences This complaint was very plausible but it was a pitfall to catch his enemies to muâine this discontented people by reason of their great oppression 1413. being easie to be mooued at the name of the common weaâe He soone obtayned from the King a generall conuocation of the chiefe Citties to reforme the abuses of the Realme and
perplexed there fell out a fauourable occasion to raise him vp againe The Queene being much discontented with him incenseth the Daulphin This young Prince had some of his houshold seruants from the Bourguignon she vsing the authority of a mother The Queene discontents the Daulpin so as he writes to the Bourguignon takes them from him and puts them in prison the reason was for that she feared these men were of the Bourguignons faction The Daulphin takes this as an affront and writes to his father-in-law to assist him The Bourguignon imbracing this vnexpected occasion calls a newe assemblie of his subiects and shewes them these letters And making his profit thereof he giues them to vnderstand how needefull it was to leauy an armye to free the King and Daulphin whom the Orlean faction held in captiuâty and vppon this cause he writes to all the Citties of the Realme intreating them to assist him in so good a worke He abuseth the Daulphins letters and worthy of good subiects to their Prince Hereupon he leauies an armie and goes to field making a publike declaration That he takes armes to set the King and Daulphin at liberty and is followed by many French so as his armie increaseth daily Hauing passed the riuer of Some he enters into Compiegne doth summon Senlis to send him the keyes of their gates as maâching for the Kings seâuice but a countermand comes from the Daulphin which doth frustrate his desseine The Daulphin wonne by the Orleanois protesteth that he had neuer written these letters The Daulphin disauowes the Bourguignon and disauowes the Bourguignon He writes letters vnto him of a contrarye tenour requesting him to forbeare to torment the people vppon so vniust a cause protesting that he was not onely in âull liberty but doth also inioy his authority 1415. by vertue whereof hee commands him to dismisse his troupes and to leaue Francâ in quiet The Bourguignon goes on his course meaning to enter Paris and to stirre the people to a newe âedition and so hee marcheth with his troupes neere to the city He is ãâ¦ã and stayes at S. Denis but his proiect had no successe The Daulphin assures the Cittye walles and the peoples harts against him who seekes by all meanes to speake to the King or people approching himselfe neere the citty sending his Heralds with letâers planting his colours neere the gate and in the ende conuaies a staffe with letters âo it but all this would not preuaile The King doubles the battery of his Edicts against him as guilty of high Treason ãâã guilty or ãâã treason and a disturber of the publike peace commanding all men that were in his armye to leaue him vpon paine of confiscation Hereat the greatest part of his troupes flie away yea his Flemings abandon him who had alwayes protested vnto him in all his assemblies neuer to carry armes against the King nor Daulphin In the ende the King and Daulphin accompanied with the Princes of his bloâd maâch with a goodly armie they besiege Compiegne where the Bourguignon had left a garrison and takes it by composition from thence they march to Soissons a Towne of greater strength hauing taken it by force and Enguerand of Bournonuille his right hand in it The king mârcâeâh with an ãâã against the ãâã he leaues the towne in peace and cuts off Bournonuilles head at Paris with many of his companions to the peoples great content glad of this new bloud and in the ende he passeth to Arras the which he beseegeth with his victorious armie The Bourguignon amazed at these vnexpected euents demaunds peace of Charles obtaines it with much intreatie by the meanes of the Countesse of Hâinault his sister and the Duke of Brabant hir brother It is called the peace of Arras beeing made at that siege This was grieuous to the Dukes of Orleans and Berry who said He sues for peace that both the King and Daulphin had promised them not to laye downe armes before they had vtterly ruined the house of Bourgongne But God wiser then they would vnite all the French to oppose themselues with a common consent against the English their common enemie and will soone shewe that it is a meere vanity for mortall men to nourish immortall hatred against their enimies to satisfie their insatiable reuenge We haue said that Henry the 5. King of England watcht all oportunities to feede the confusions of this miserable raigne and to that end he did sometimes succour the Bourguignon sometimes the Orleanois still supporting the weaker And knowing well the Duke of Bourgongnes humor seeing the Daulphin incensed against him he leauies a goodly army to make a benefit of these diuisions The euent fauoured his desire but not his proiect for meaning to assist the Bourguignon hee findes that he had made his peace with ouâ Charles Hauing landed at Harââeu a sea Towrie seated vpon the Riuer of Sâine he sends his Herald to demaund his daughter Katherine This was a matter farre fetcht Henry the 5. King of ãâ¦ã France ãâã an aâmye and demands ãâ¦ã Kings daughters and a strange course but this daughter must be the ground of many miseries for this Realme and likewise an occasion to free this Realme absolutely from the English by a strange meanes and as wee may say admirable as the course of our History will shewe Henry takes Harfleu by composition Before he takes possession of this conquest he goes âate footed to the Church to giue God thankes He had not his whole armye with him one part attended him at Calais hauing an inrent to ioyne with them so to fortifie his troups With this resolution he lodgeth at Fauille passing through Caux to the county of Eu he comes to Vimeu to passe the riuer at Bâanquetacque an inâamous place by our losse where the passage beeing surprised he takes his way towards Arianes from thence to âaillu in Vimeu seeking to passe the bâidge at Remie but not able to force it he recouers Hangest vpon Some and so passeth the riuer at Voyânne Bâthencourt places ill garded by them of S. Quintin and then he lodgeth at Mouchy la Gaâhe towardes the riuer of Miramont He had in his army six thousand horse and twenty thousand foote That of King Charles was far greaâer of it selfe besides the Burguignons troupes which were drawne togither for another intent then to fight with the English They were in al aboue tweâtie thousand horse and threescore thousand foot The numbers of the English and French armye and therefore Henry did shunne the baâtaile and sought how to saue himselfe through the âennes Our accustomed rashnes and wilfull forgetfullnes of two experiences past against the same nation and in the like occurrents made vs to note with blacke and mournful letters that ouerthrow and calamitie Henry demanded passage to returne into England yeelding vp Haâfleu and other places conquered in this voiage
but we sought our owne decay The Constable Albret comanded âhe foreward that day and with him were the Dukes of Orleans Bourbon the Earles of Eu and of Richemont the Lord of Bouciquault Marshal of France the Lord of Dampierre Admiral The Battaile was led by the Duke of Bar and the Earles of Alenson Vaudemont Neuers Blamon Salines Grandpre and Roussy The Reerward by the Earles of Marle Dampmartin and Fouquembergue The King of England forced âo fight Henry being denied pasâage by the Constable resolues to fight puâting his trust in God and in his owne valour determining to vanquish or to die He made choise of a place of hard accesse and the better to fortifie his archers euery one had a sharpe stake planted before him The French ordered as before attended their enemies either looking who should begin the game Impatiencye forceth the weaker like desperate men the English Archers being in fight with such a furie as the French foreward cannot endure the violent fal of this furious storme the CoÌstable Albret was slaine fighting in the foremost ranke The Duke Anthony of Brabant brother to Iohn Duke of Bourgongne seeing this disorder leaues his troupe to redresse it but he was also slaine by the English bowe men And gets the victorie with his bâother Philip Earle of Neuers The battaile was likewise foâced after a great fight The reerward fled and saued them selues in the neerest places of retreate So as the losse was not so great as the shame and ouerthrow They number ten thousand men slaine but their rashenes was inexcusable The head smarâed for it and the Bourguignons brethreÌ had there an honorable tombe Charles Duke of Orleans Lewis of Bourbon the Eaâls of Eu Richemont Vendosâe the strongest pillers of the Orlean faction with many Noblemen and Gentlemen were taken and led into England This deâeat chancâd the 20. of Ocâober in the yeare The Battaile of Agincourt 1415. called the euill Battaile of Agincourt And as one mischief comes neuer alone the bodies at this defeat were scarce buried before Lewis the Daulphin dies This Lewis eldest Sonne to our Charles Sonne in Law Lewis the Daulpâin dies and a terror to the Bourguignon was little lamented of the people and lesse oâ his father in Law who hated him to the death A Prince of little valour and much toâle more busied with himselfe then with the affaires he managed the which he made troublesome by his insufficiencie presumptioÌ to know much His disposition vnwilling to learne fâom others what he vnderstood not for the good of the State and his owne duty Iohn Duke of Touraine his brother succeded him in the first degree of the Prince of the bloud The Duke of Berry dies and the Earle of Armagnaâ was made Constable in the place of Charles of Albret who shall minister good occasion to speake both of his life and death Iohn Duke of Berry brother to our Charles the 5. augmented these losses A wise Prince and louing Learning coÌmendable in al things but for his couetousnes the which made his vertues of lesse fame A blemish very il beeseming a generous and heroicke spirit These great losses should haue made the Bourguignon humble but he became more insolent making new practises to raise him selfe hauing no competitor Imbracing this ocasion he gatheâs togither what troupes he can with an intent to go to Paris The Queene and Constable of Armagnac vnwilling he shoud come armed comand him in the Kings name not to aproch The Parisiens were not then so well conceited of the Bourguignon being restrained by the court vnâuersitie but especially by the Kings authoâity being present who spake whatsoeuer his wife the Constable would haue him being then alone in authority in the Kings Councell The Bourguignons troupes kept the field 1416. committing all kinde of insolencies and spoyles against whom the King made Edicts as against common theeues The Bourguignon renewes the warre giuing the people liberty to kill them But this did nothing mollify the heart of this reuengefull Prince borne for his Countries misery hauing no other intent but to afflict it wâth new calamityes To this ende as in the Kings sicknesse the Daulphin had the name and authority of the State he sought to winne the fauour of Iohn succeeding in the right of his brother deceased This occasion was offered but the issue was contrary to his desseine The misery of our France was such as the common duty of humanity moued forraine nations to pitty foreseeing our ruine if the warre betwixt France and England continued In this common desire The Emperor Sigismond comes into Francâ the Emperour Sigismond by the consent of the Germans came into France His traine and the good worke he vndertooke deseâued an imperiall Maiestie but the ende will shew hâs intent to be other then he protested Being arâiued in France to the great content of all the French he findes our Charles at his deuoâion who receiued him with all the pompe he could giue to so great a Monarch making shewe of the great desire hee had to make a peace betwixt the French and the English for the generall good of both estates But this accord was but halfe made The Emperour hauing remained some time with Charles goes into England where he findes Henry of an other humour puft vp with the happy successe of his affaires the weakenesse of ours and in trueth the measure of our miseries was not yet full So Sigismond hauing perswaded Henry in vaine returnes into France Charles to honour him sends his sonne Iohn Duke of Touraine and Daulphin of Viennois into Picardie to meete him hauing married the daughter of the Earle of Hainault as great a friend to the Bourguignon as ill affected to the French The Emperour seeing his labour lost in seeking this reconciliation takes his shortest course into Germany leauing a reasonable subiect to the cleare-sighted The Daulphin Iohn fauours the Bourguignon to iudge that he had an other intent then to settle a peace in France by countenancing of the Bourguignon the instrument of her miseries for after this yong pâânce had spoken with the Emperour he is wholy changed in fauour of the Duke of Bourgongne and resolues to âandy with him against the Duke of Orleans This foundation beeing laid by the Emperours pollicy it was fortified by the Earle of Hainault father-in-law to Iohn the Daulphin Nowe he imbraceth the greatest and most dangerous enemie of all true Frenchmen with a wonderfull affection But the subtill is taken in his own snate the end doth often bewray the intent As all things tended to a manifest change by meanes of this yong Prince inchaunted by his charmes hauing a spirit like vnto waxe apt to receiue any impressions from so subtill an artisan as the Bourguignon behold death cuts off all these hopes The Daulphin Iohn dies cast in the mould of
men and gentlmen which had assisted these murtherers died of the plague except Lisle-Adam who was reseâued to receiue his punishment from King Henry of England although vpon an other occasion as you shall see here after And was not this God who reuenged this crueltie But let vs returne to our discourse for seeiâg the punishment was so sodaine we might not well remit the rehersall to any otherplace Charles lookes but coldly vpon his wife whome he loued not neither in health or sickenesse Hee welcomes the Duke of Bourgongne with a cheerefull countenance who had wonne his heart by framing himselfe to his weakenesse with mild speeches shewes of honour and apparant humility Impressions of common sense whereof phrensie for the most part doth not depriue mad men The Bourguiguon alters all at Paris The Kings councell assembled presently many things were propounded the first day they began with Officers the Constables place was confirmed to the Duke of Lorraine and the Channcellors hip to Eustache of Lastre Lislle Adam and Chastelus are made Marshalls of France for their well deseruing at the masaker at Paris Our Bourguignon creates Charles of Lens Admirall of France being Captaine of Paris and Phillip of Moruilliers the Queenes Aduocate first President of the Court of Parliament The English take all Normandie During this confusion Henry King of England makes other worke He was in Normandy taking Townes and Castles without any resistance Touques a Câstell held impregnable was forced by him during the passions of our mad-men as the first fruites of his conquestâ Louuiers Pont larche Caen Cherebourg Falaisse Argenton Alencon Constance S. Lo and other places followed to make the way open to Rouen without any great difficulty Rouen is besieged in a manner the very day of the massaker at Paris Henry doth assault it with all the force and policie he can as the Dongeon and chiefe strength of all Normandy Rouen besieged taken The cittizens giue a testimony of good and faithfull subiects by their valour and constancie They demand sucâours from the King with a protestâtâon of the euent The Court makes shew to stirre and to prouide for their defence but what remedy can the dead giue vnto the sicke In the ende after all their resistââce seeking to maintaine themselues vnder the obedience of France Rouen yeelds to Henry King of England vppon hard conditions All yeeldâ vnto King Henry To paye him three hundred sixty fiue thousand Crownes of gold and three Cittizens at his choise to doe his pleasure And so he suffered them to inioy their priuileges Of the three which he had chosen to punish he pardoned two and caused Alain âlanchart Captaine of the commons to bee beheaded worthy to be eternized in our history dying for the seruice of his Kââg and countrye in a time so famous for so desperate a confusion The sequile waâ great for not onely all the Townes of Normandy yeeld vnto him but also the Iââe of France was so amazed as all obey hiâ euen to the gates of Paris where the fuââe of our miserable dissentions prepared a Throne for the sworne enemye of ãâã Realme I am weary to report our shamefull losses as reuiuing our old soares Henry migât haue grauen in his triumph I came I sawe and oâcrââme onely Mont S. Michel in Normandy was maintained vnder the obedience of our crowne through the vallour ãâã some Gentlemen Normans whose names the history owes to posterity Iohn ãâã Montfort Duke of Britanie seeing this happie sucsesse makes composition wâtâ tâe English shrowding him selfe vnder his protection but he shall soone leaue him ãâã a more happie season shall make him turne to the Daulphin In this shipwracke the Queene and the Bourguignon had meanes to glut their ambition and furie at Paris beholinge the ruine of France hoping that in all extremities they should make their peace with the King of Ingland at their Countries cost hauing a daughter for a paââe and confirmation of this accord They send Ambassadors to Henry King of England being a Conquerour and âor a baite they carry the portrait of Katherine of France the Kings daughter a Princesse of excellent beauty who must likewise bee the Leuiân of our miserie But Henry finding this figure to be faire The Bourguignon treates with the English but in vaine desires to see the essentiall substance so as the Queeâe and the Borguignon gouerning the spirit of this poore sicke King conducts ãâã person with his daughter to their enimy neere to Meulan to aduise of a meanes for a generall peace but they departed without any conclusion by reason of the great demaunds which Henry made puft vp with this victorious successe seeking to sell âis friendship at too high a rate Yet the image of Katherine had made an impression in his heaât beeing much discontented that they had refused her with these conditions The Bourguignon likewise found lesse kindnesse then he expected and returned maleconânt for that Henry puft vp with these fortunate incounters and carried away with hope of future victorye spake more proudly then the Bourguignons humour could well digest which was the cause of his destemperature He growes discontented and seekes to reconcile himselfe to the Daulphin for Hânry said in his choler That he would haue both daughter and Bealme whosoeuer said nay and that there was no sufficient security for what they promised seeing the Daulphin did âot consent theâeunto A pill which the Bourguignon could not easily swallow So he chawed vpon this speech of the English which drewe him to his ruine for euen then he beganne to study by what meanes he might reconcile himselfe vnto the Daulphin hoping to fiâde a better composition with a yong Prince his kinsman and weary of the warres then with the English growne insolent by his victories Charles was not quâet in minde fearing least in these treaties they should conclude something to his preiudice So as they both inclined to an accord but vppon diuers causes to oppose against their common enimie with a common force But before we shewe the effect of this common desire we must see both the estate of our Daulphin since hee retired himselfe from Paris and of the Bourguignon since hee became Tribune of the people Although this terrible storme might haue shaken the young yeares of the Daulpâin Charles vnacquainted with the affaires of the world and his disposition inclining to pleasure seemed vnfit to indure much paine and toyle The Daulphinâ estate yet the effects at need shewed his constant resolution against all difficulties They attribute this consâancie and resolution to the faithfull councell of his seruants yet was it much for him to follow it Tannegay of Chastell Iohn Louuet president of Prouence the Vicont of Narbone and Robert Masson were those which serued him most for Councell in the beginning but God soone after did raise him vp strong hands to mannage armes couragiously and valiantly La Hire Pothon
loue of faire Agnes A blot which doth yet blemish the name of Charles the 7. in the generall conceipt of the French nation registred as a certaine truth by the writers of our time which haue described that raigne As it is my course to search the originalls The King reproched for the loue of faire Agnes and not to alledge any new writer for an Author so haue I carefully noted what the Ancients did obserue Alain Charretier the Kings Secretarie saies nothing Monstrelet speakes but vpon occasion in the end of this raigne And for as much saith he as the King did see her willingly the common fame was that he kept her dishonestly for the vulgar is more inclined to speake ill then well But the loue which the King did shew her was for her pleasing behauiour and eloquent speach and also for that she was of all faire creatures the fairest The Historie of S. Denis written by the Historiographer of France doth cleerly excuse him in these termes I a Chronicler desiring to write the truth haue duly informed my selfe and without falsifying of the truth doe finde by Knights Councellors Physitians Surgians and other domesticall seruants examined by othe as appertâined to my charge to the end to free the peoplâ from scandall That during fiue yeares that faire Agnes liued with the Queene the King neuer frequented her but in great companie nor in the absence of the Queene he neuer vsed any lasciuious countenance vnto her nor touched her beneath the chinne And after his sports Charles retired himselfe vnto his lodging and Agnes vnto hers But he loued her for that she was pleasant and young among the fairest seeking all kind of delights to sweeten his thoughts and cares These are his very words But howsoeuer this scarre remaines vpon Charles his face that he neglected his affaires loosing both his time and iudgment with this woman and in his Gardens the which blemished his reputation much euen with his enemies The subiect diâcontented against Charles who held him for an idle person and of small valour But as this report made him contemptible so the insolent behauiour of his Mignions made him hatefull for that vnder his authoritie these Horse-leeches oppressed the people and tooke all reward from such as had ventured their liues for the Kings seruice Thus this poore Prince surcharged with many difficulties was so discouraged as he had not any care to preserue himselfe by armes howsoeuer Charles desires an accord with Brittanie and Bourgongne but imployed all his spirits to finde some meanes of an accord at what price soeuer with the Duke of Bourgongne and Britaine But he was much deceiued for they had all conspired his ruine and euery one pretended a part in this confiscation The Duke of Sauoy looked for a share and Lewis of Chaalon Prince of Orange was in hope to make him selfe great with the remainders of this spoile But where the wisdom of man ended there the prouidence of God began who prouided meanes for Charles the which he could not foresee neither by his industrie or authoritie finde out that the restoring of this realme might be knowne to proceed from the miraculous bountie of God the Gardien of this estate We haue shewed with what care the Duke of Bedford had built an vnion with the Dukes of Bourgongne and Brittany to confirme the English affaires in France Arthur of Brittanie Earle of Richemont brother to the Duke of Brittanie began to make a breach in this alliance He had married one of the Burguignons Sisters and Bedford the other The League wâth England shaken This Arthur was a Prince of good iudgement who gouerned his brother peaceably and had a great interest in his Brother in lawe of Bourgongne Hee shall helpe much in the restoring of this estate vniting the hearts of Princes distracted from the King but his soure complections did much distemper Charles who shall pay deerely for the fruites of his seruice as the course of the Historie will declare The Duke of Bedford being at Paris mightily puft vp with his victories plaid the King this insolent greatnesse which made him odious to the French although they durst not shew it was likewise hatefull to his owne people Man hath alwaies the miserie that he seekes and is the plotter of his owne misfortune This pride bred a iarre betwixt him and the Earle of Richemont Bedâord and Richemont brother to the Duke of Brittaine at iarre being brothers in law and made a way to the generall diuision of these confederate Princes and reunion of the whole realme Richmont was come vnto him to be imployed in some honorable charge fit for his house perâon making great esteeme of his loue whereof their alliance seemed an assured gage But he found nothing but discontents Arthur was of a French humour nourished in the mildnesse of our Kings bred vp in their armes and had beene prisoner for them at the battaile of Azancourt the time onely had withdrawne him from the Kings seruice whom euery man held âost The pride of Bedford reuiued in him this first affection so as not able any longer to accord with the English he resolues to seeke all meanes to recouer the Kings good grace and fauour and to intangle his brother the Duke of Brittaine Thus he leaues the Duke of Bedford and retires to his house with this discontent There falles out a fit occasion to aduance this businesse Arthur of Bââttaine leaues the Engâish to the good liking of Richemont for the office of Constable was voide by the death of the Earle of Bouâqham slaine in the battaile of Vernueil Charles sleepes not at these newes but as if he had attended some good opportunitie hee presently sends a trustie Gentleman to the Earle of Richemont to offer him his loue and for a gage thereof the dignitie of the Constable of France with all aduantages that a King may honour his seruant with This first sommons Richmont tooke reasonable well but he answered That he could not doe any thing without his Brother the Duke of Brittaine with whom hauing conferred he would presently aduertise Charles of his resolution But as the Kings vrgent necessitie made him to reckon the minutes so the tediousnesse of the Brittons answer made him to languish His counsell likewise allowed well of this league the which shall proue more troublesome vnto him then honourable and more preiudiciall then profitable vnto France Charles without attending any answer from Richemont sends Iohn Louuet President of Prouence one of the chiefe fauourites then in credit but he remembred not that he was in dislike with these Princes so as Louuet returned without any effect Yet Charles lothe to loose this opportunitie and to giue the English time to reconcile himselfe to these Brittons sends to him with all speed a very honourable Ambassage which was Yoland of Arragon Charles sollicits the Duke of Brittâââ his brother wins them to his
seruice Queene of Sicile his mother in lawe with Tanneguy of Chasâell being very acceptable to these two bretheren Their comming did greatly aduance this businesse They preuailed so farre as the Duke of Brittaine the Earle of âichmont his brother were both ready to imbrace the Kings friendship and to doe him seruice so as the Duke of Bourgongne would yeeld vnto it and in the meane time to draw this businesse to some good end Richmont should go and treat with his maiesty vpon good hostages for his safety This condition was accepted by Charles and to loose no time the Lord of Albret and the bastard of Orleans were sent vnto him for hostages and the townes of Chinon Loches Lusignan Meung were giuen him for assurance vntill the end of the treaty and ample pasports made to go and come with all liberty This worke began this yeare in Nouember and shal end the next yeare with a notable successe But the Duke of Bourgongne imbraced an other notable occasion which shall more preiudice the English then this occurrent of Brittain We haue said that this leâain was layde in the yeare 1423. by the marriage of Iaquâline Countesse of Hainault Holland Zeland a wife contended for by two husbands the Duke of Brabant cousin germaine and a deere friend to the Duke of Bourgongne and the Duke of Glocester brother to the Duke of Bedford and vncle to Henry the 6. King of England two great parties which shall diuide the Dukes of Bedford Bourgongne and shall be the meanes to reconcile the BourguignoÌ to Charles A notable processe of Iaqueline against her husband supported by the Bourguignon reduce him to the obedience of this crowne expell the English out of France and restore the realme But the prouidence of GOD which goes insensibly by degrees aboue mans conceipt must be distinctly considered About the ende of this yeare Iaqueline of Hainault comes out of England with the Duke of Glocester her second husband foâtified with an armie of fiue thousand English She caused the Nobility and the Citties to renue their othes both to her and the Duke of Glocester her lawfull husband All the Nobilitie obeyes this commandement except the Earle of Conuersan Iohn of Iumont Angilbert of Anghien and all Townes except Hals The Duke of Bourgongne greatly affected this quarrell The Duke of Bedford foreseeing the danger that might growe by the Bourguignons discontent labors to suppresse it in the breeding and to that ende he drawes them to Paris with their friends but in vaine The one striues to inioy his estats and the other to hinder him So as whilest the cause is disputed in the Court at Rome the armies prepare on eyther side to ende it by bloud and spoile The Glocestrian begins the Bourguignon followes So the end of this yeare is the beginning of a warre of foure whole yeares but it shal be ended in fauour of the Bourguignon This newe yeare shal be spent in the altercations of the Court and Brittaine The Brittoâ made Constable of France The Earle of Richemont comes to Tours to Charles as he had promised to the Queene of Sicile but not able to resolue any thing without the consent of the Duke of Bourgongne as we haue sayed the King seeing it very necessary he should go to him doth sende to him with a very honorable Ambassage Iames of Bourbon Earle of Clermont and a Prince of his bloud the Archbishop of Rheims and the Bishop of Puy The ende of their negotiation was double That the Duke of Bourgongne should like of the alliance betwixt the King and the Princes of Brittain Charles sends an ambassage to Philip of Bourgongne and that hee himselfe should bee reconciled vnto him to liue and continue good friends as they were neere in bloud The first was fully concluded with the Bourguignons consent the other was surseased The causes are specified for that Philip could not with honestie let slippe the death of his father where of Charles was the Authour this reconciliation could not bee well efâected vnlesse that Charles did chase from him all such as had dipped their hands in this massacre eyther as fautors or as executioners They were specified by name Iohn Louuet President of Prouence Tanneguy of Chastel William d'Auaugour Iohn of Gyac son to that Lady of Gyac who perswaded Iohn Duke of Bourgongne to go to Charles at Monsâreau-faut Yonne where he was slaine But these were but colours for notwithstanding thâir absence from Court yet the Bourguignon seemed to be nothing inclined to the Kings seruice In effect he stood watching the oportunitie to effect his desseins and so entertayned time to keepe the stakes as the whole course of the Historie will declare Charles imploying all his friends and meanes intreats Amedee Duke of Sauoyâ to be a mediator of this accord In respect hereof he comes to Monuel in Cresse but in truâh this was but a shadow They all sought to get from Charles and so watched for oportunitie Yet the Bourguignon made all shewes of his seruice vowed to the King the establishment of France which he lamented infinitly to be fallen into the hands of Strangers He spared no cheere nor entertaynment for the Ambassadors and for a gage of sincere loue Philip giues his yongest Sister Anne in marriage to the Earle of Clermont but with an intent to winne a Prince of the bloud neere the King Thus the Bourguignon leueled alwayes at this marke did nothing but with an intent to maintaine his greatnesse at what price soeuer In the meane time the meaner smart for the follie of great men The Mignonâ chased from Court At the returne of these Ambassadours the Court is in an vprore Charles greeues to chase away his seruants which could not be done but in contempt of his authority And yet the Ambassadors cryed out that without it they should not effect any thing and the more they stayed the execuâion the more they hindered the Kings seruice d'Auaugour parted fââst with the good liking both of King and Court Gyac made his peace by the meadiation of the Queene of Sicile who had all power in this action The King was wonderfully discontented for the departure of Tanneguy of Chastel whome hee called Father A man beloued and of amiable conditions But there was no remedy Hee had giuen the chiefe stroake to Iohn of Bourgongne So likewise hee protested without any difficultie to retyer himselfe whethersoeuer his maister should command him Hee beseeched him to giue him an autenciall testimoniall that it was not for any fact of his 1425. but for the good of his seruice He obtaines it and a promise withall that his offices should be continued him Thus he retyers to Beaueaire in Languedoc and the office of Prouost of Paris remayned to him still with the fee and a good reputation with all men to haue beene a good seruant to the King and carefull of the publicke
for their deliuery changed the face of our affaires and dismaied the enemies And to conclude by a miraculous meanes gaue a happy successe both to our King and Realme and this was the ãâã A young Maiden named Ioane of Arâ borne in a village vppon the Marches of Barre called Domremy neere to Vaucouleurs of the age of eighteene or twenty yeares issued from base parents her father was named Iames of Arc Ioane the virguâ and her mother Isabell poore Country folkes who had brought her vp to keepe their cattell shee said with great boldnesse That she had a reuelation howe to succour the King how he might be able to chase the English from Orleans and after that to cause the King to bee crowned at Rheims and to put him fully and wholy in possession of his Realme After shee had deliuered this to her Father Mother and their neighbours she presumed to go to the Lord of Baudricourt Prouost of Vaucouleurs she boldly deliuered vnto him after an extraordinary manner all these great misteries as much wished for by all men as not hoped for especially comming from the mouth of a poore country maide whom they might with more reason beleeue to be possessed by some melancholy humour then diuinely inspired beeing the instrument of so many excellent remedies in so desperate a season After the vaine striuings of so great and famous personages At the first he mocked her and reproued her but hauing heard her with more patience and iudging by her temperate discourse and modest countenance that she spake not idlely in the ende he resolues to present her to the King for his discharge So she arriues at Chinon the 6. daye of May attyred like a man The disposition of Ioane She had a modest countenance sweet ciuill and resolute her discourse was temperate resonable and retyred her actions cold shewing great chastity Hauing spoken to the King or Noblemen with whom she was to negociate Shee presently retired to her lodging with an olde woman that guided her without vanitie affectation babling or courtly lightnesse These are the maÌners which the Original attributs vnto her The matter was found ridiculous both by the King and his counsell yet must they make some triall The King takes vpon him the habit of a countriaman to be disguised this maide being brought into the Chamber goes directly to the King in this attire salutes him with so modest a countenance as if shee had beene bred vp in Court all her life They telling her that shee was mistaken shee assured them it was the King although she had neuer seene him She beginnes to deliuer vnto him this new charge which she saies she had receiued from the God of heauen so as shee turned the eyes and mindes of all men vpon her This matter being referred to counsell it was concluded they should take the aduise of diuines They answer that in desperate diseases the prouidence of God doth commonly raise vp extraordinary remedies and imployes women when as men grow faint hearted as in the afflictions of Israell he hath mightily vsed Debora and Abigail The one to teach the people the other to kill a furious tyrant and Iudith which ãâã that great tyrant in the middest of his army So as necessity which made them to seeke all sorts of remedies caused the King to try if this maide spake trueth but without the hazard of any thing This Ioane holden for a prophetisse by many is reported by Girrard called Lord of Haillin Ioane held to be an impostor or mad and sundây other French writers plainely said to haue bin induced to this imposture by three Noblemen who had incited hir thereto and layed that plot onely to encourage King Charles to battaile dispayring of his state She is armed and sent to Orleans She desires of the Kâng that she may be conducted to Orleans to begin the worke which she said she had in charge A sword remaining in Touraine in a place called S. Katherine of Fierebois was brought vnto her to bee armed therewith They gaue her armes and horse with a sufficient troupe to enter the Citty Lewis of Cullent Admâral of France and Iames of Rieux Marshall had charge to accompany her with some victualls to the besieged and to haue a care that all should bee wisely carried without hazard She prepares her colours being armed at all points she went to take leaue of the King with a grace worthy of a great Captaine Beseeching him to trust in God in whose name she spake Thus she parts from Chinon the 12 of Aprill Now they reckoned the sixt moneth of the siege the âesieged crie out for hunger This victualing prouided at Blois is conducted by the abâue named commaunââ with great care as well for feare of the English who had their seââinels ãâã plâce as for the distrust they had of this new commander She marched in the foremost rank betwixt the Admirall and the Marshall very watchfully carrying the countenaâce of a very resolute personage She victualls and relieues Orleans They arriue with this prouisioÌ safely at Orleans the English making no shew of arming although she passed before their forts in viewe of the army yet had they scarce six hundred men in this supply The power of Gods prouidence is admirable in the hearts of men making them to yeeld insensibly to what he hath decreed 1426. This first blow stirred vp the spirits of the French Orleans begins to reioyce at the sight of this maide attired like a man standing vpon the point of yeelding This first releefe was not sufficient for so great a multitude They resolued to fetch more victuals and to that end would returne to Blois But before their departure the Maiden writes this Letter following to the chiefe of the English armie and sends it by a Trumpet I haue truly set it downe out of the originall in the owne proper stile both for the reuerence of antiquitie the noble courage of this Virgin and the truth and state of the subiect King of England doe reason to the King of Heauen for his bloud royall yeeld vp to the Virgin the Keyes of all the good Citties which you haue forced Ioan sends threats to the English She is come from heauen to reclaime the bloud royall and is ready to make a peace if you be ready to doe reason Yeeld therefore and pay what you haue taken King of England I am the chiefe of this warre wheresoeuer I incounter your men in France I will chase them will they or no. If they will obey I will take them to mercie The Virgin comes from the King of heauen to driue you out of France If you will not obey she will cause so great a stirre as the like hath not beene these thousand yeares in France And beleeue certainly that the King of heauen will send her and her good men at armes more force then you can haue Go in Gods name into
humble himselfe to all men doth nowe braue all them which had newely raysed him to this dignity He threatens to keepe them vnder and checks them with reprochefull wordes Otho Duke of Brunswick husband to Ioane Queene of Sicilie and Naples comes to congratulate his election and for a proofe of his great humilitie as Vrban called for wine Otho takes the cuppe from his taster and kneeling before the Pope presents it vnto him Vrban takes it leauing him on his knee with a frowning countenance without speaking any thing The pride of Pope Vrban the 6. This insupportable arrogancie displeased the whole Colledge but especially Queene Ioane holding this disgrace done to her selfe and made Vrban so odious as they all resolue to depose him and to choose another Pope wherunto Ioane doth promise her assistance They all ioyntly resolue to retire themselues quietly out off Rome into some place of libertie So vnder colour to auoide the heat of Sommer they take their leaues to go to Anagnia where hauing soiorned some weeke they go to Fundy a Cittie in the Kingdome of Naples a fit place to enioy their liberties vnder the Queenes protection Then began they to plant their batteâie against Vrban They set downe for the grownd of their right that the condition specified in the election of Vrban should bee auailable to those that did choose him to declare him incapable of the dignity whereof hee shewed himselfe vnworthy and to obserue all formalities they cite Vrban before them and write vnto the other Italien Cardinalles that their meaning is to name an Italien Pope Vrban deposed by the Colledge Clement chosen A meanes to drawe them to increase their number Beeing assembled they depose Vrban by the plurality of voices and beeing to choose another at the same instant they aduance Cardinall Rupert of the noble house of the Earles of Geneua and call him Clement the 7. This bred a great alteration both at Rome and in Vrbans minde for Rome is presently abandoned and Vrban so amazed as hee knowes not what to do Behold two Popes in one chaire which is too little froÌ them both seing the world wiâl not suffice them for in chosing Clement they found no more clemencie then vâbanity and ciuill conuersation in Vrban Clements disposition Clement yeelding nothing to the vices of his competitor an ambitious man willfull audacious sumptuous and poore hauing nothing rich but the heart pufte vp with the greatnesse of his house These two do worthy exploits especially Vrban whose name the people changed and for Vrban they called him Turban that is a troubler of world to note his barbarous and fierce nature louing troubles and confusion And that which made a way to this mischeefe Kings and Princes who should haue imployed their authorities to quench this fire were nothing affected therevnto for the Emperour Charles the 4. died soone after the breeding of this Schisme leauing an insufficient successor France and England were too far ingaged to determine their owne quarrells by the sword As for the particular of France during the imprisonment of Iohn the infirmity of Charles the 6. and the halfe shipwrake of Charles the 7. what helpe could the French bring to these confusions being almost drowned in their owne In the beginning Clement had all aduantages ouer Vrban The authority of the ordinarie and ancient College Canonically chosen followed by the Court of Rome and the Castle Saint Angelo by the which he might enter the Cittie All the French the greatest part of the Italiens many Germains al the Spaniards and English which were at Rome repaired vnto him and consequently all those nations followed him France Spaine England with a part of Germany and Italie There remayned the Hongarians some Germains who for feare of the affaires at Naples not daring to trust themselues in Anagnia were forced to continue in Rome a leuaine which shal soone cause great deuisions Vrban as much daunted in aduersitie as he was puft vp in prosperity humbles himselfe to all men he weepes and deplores his miseââe and craues ayde of euery man promising all fauour if they did helpe to restore him There is neyther Hongarien Germain nor Italien which belong vnto the Court but he sues vnto him By their aduice and direction Pope Clement vseth the Emperours Ambaââadors disgracefully he flies to the Emperour Charles the 4. and to Lewis King of Hongarie intreating them to be mediators to the Colledge of Cardinalles who were discontented with him But Clement growen ouer proude with this first successe gaue him means to repaire his estate He hath a desseine to surprise Rome by the Castell but as Bernard Cazal with a troupe of Neapolitans would haue seized vpon one of Rome gates hee was valiantly repulsed by the Inhabitants The Emperour Charles the 4. and Lewis King of Hongarie sent their Ambassadors to Clement and to the Colledge of Cardinalles Pope Vrtain makes a newe Colledge of 26. Cardinals to treat an accord Clement vseth them without all clemencie he checks them putts them in prison and in the ende sends them away with many indignities This affront mooued Charles and Lewis so as by their means both Germanie Hongarie Poland Denmarke Sueden Norway and Prusse were all affected to Vrbans faction Charles was a spectator of this first Scene and died three monethes after leauing vpon the stage dangerous actors against Clement Vrban being thus fortified grewe high minded and for a marke of his authority hee erects a new Colledge of six twentie Cardinalls all created in one day being Italiens Germains Hongariens Polonians and other nations that fauored him to haue a support of this authority in all parts Clement works likewise and to haue his reuenge for that hee could not seize vpon a gate of Rome hee resolued to send an armie to field to vexe the Romans and to force them to obedience but the successe of this desseine was not answerable to his desire for hauing sent the Lord of Montioux his Nephew with goodly troupes furnished by Queene Iane Clements forces defeated by the Romans the Romains led by Alberic of Barbiane defeated this army and tooke Montioux prisoner whome they beheaded as a disturber of the publicke quiet and so they chase the French out of the Castell Saint Angelo Clement finding himselfe nothing safe at Fundy meanes to retyre to Naples but the Neapolitans would not receiue him notwithstanding the Queenes perswasions and so he passeth to Auignon whether he brings the Pontificall sea for the second time as Clement the 5. had done at the first Clement comeâ to Auignon It was in the yeare 1384. that the Popes second sea was planted in Auignon fiue yeares after that Gregory had retired himselfe Clement frustrate of all hope of his returne to Rome faints not in these first difficulties finding himselfe in a place of safety where he might command at pleasure beeing proud by nature by reason of his great birth and by
In the end by the Dukes meanes yeelding him his libertie this quarrell was ended marrying the eldest sonne of René with the daughter of the Earle of Vaudemont But let vs reserue the rest to the following raigne About the end of this yeare a solemnitie was done in Paris which carried more shew then substance We haue said before how that Henry the 6. King of England Henry King of England crowned at Paris had beene crowned King of France when as our Charles was crowned at Poitiers after the decease of his father Henry was but two yeares old and came not out of England vntill that Charles had bin sollemnly crowned at Rheims to the great ioy of all the French but when as the Duke of Bedford found how much this autentike publication aduanced the affaires of Charles he caused Henry to be brought into France and to be crowned at Paris with an extraordinarie Maiestie to out-countenance Charles his Coronation by a greater shew of pompe But the bloud of France cannot dissemble no man was moued thereat no more then to see a Tragedie acted vpon the Stage This yeare is very barren of all memorable exploits but that this silence noted an entrance to an accoâd both parties being weary of pleading yet with great slacknesse as we see in diseases which come sodenly and passe away slowly we must therefore crosse this rough way before we come to Paris Montargis taken by the English as we haue said Montarâis taken and lost againe was noâ recouered by the French but after a diuers maner for the English lost the Toâne by the Castell and the French the Castell by the Towne yet were they three moneths in winning of the Castell Hauing taken all they lost all by the same meanes tâat made them so much to gape after the Castell which was the want of money This shamfull losse greeued many of the greatest in Court and bred a new trouble by this occasion Tremouille was yet in great credit with the King Tremouille taken and deliuered againe hauing by this meanes a great hand in the State they accused him to haue heaped vp great treasure to the preiudice of such as daily imployed their liues for the Kings seruice The greater men reâolue to take Tremouille prisoner and to punish him like vnto Giac and others before mentioned The King was at his Castell at Chinon Tremouille followes him as his ãâã but it chanced as he was in his chamber the Lords of Brueil Coytiuy and Fetard ãâ¦ã with 40. armed men enter and take him not one of a hundred of that sort could escape But six thousand Crownes saued his life hoping to returne againe into credât The Constable of Richmont growes into greater fauour then before Thus misfârtune is good for some thing Bedford puft vp with the successe of Montargis takes Mâlly in Gasâenois but hauing besieged Lagny in Brie he was repulsed· and at the same time Iohn of Luxembourg of the Bourguignon faction is dispossessed of Ligny in Barrots by the Gentleman of Comeâcy A disgrace which shall draw the Bourguignon to a ââmposition so much desired togither with the happy successe of the French in the Câuntry of Arthois the taking of S. Valery in Ponthieu The confusion of the warre and the generall wauering of ãâã câiefe Citties in Picardy tired with these confusions being so great as no man was ãâã of his person of what partie soeuer if he were the weaker The Cardes were so shuffled 1432. as an English man would become French to take a Bourguignon and a Frenchman become English or a Bourguignon to take a Frenchman These vnkinde treacheries were vsuall especially at Amiens Abbeuille and throughout all Picardie where the warres had been most licentious Which outrage hath been reuiued in ouâ miserable age through the crueltie of these wretched warres which causeth men to make shipwracke both of faith and honour This yeare had a plausible beginning but without any great effect The Councell of Pisa being assembled as we haue said to redresse the confusion of Antipopes and to reduce the Church diuided by this Schisme vnto vnion sends the Cardinall of Auxerre vnto the Kings of France and England to exhort them vnto peace Charles protested that he desired nothing more the English said the like They assemble to this end at Auxerre in great troupes but at their first meeting all this treatie was broken off for both the one the other stood vpoÌ the qualitie of King of France being the fundameÌtall point of all their quarrell The Duke of Bedford spake more proudly then Charles himselfe A treatie betwâxt the French and English as if the law of State which maintained this Monarchie had beene made in England an Iland become firme land and France changed to the Isle of Albion or of Brittanie of such force is error euen in matters of State when as passion ouer-rules the light of reason So as they all depart without any effect They onely conclude a truce for the great want of the poore people who could suffer no more But this truce was a pit-fall for many trusting the countenance of this courteous warre which making profession to meane nothing so is more to be feared when she smiles then when she frownes Ioân Duke of Bourbon dies in England Wee haue saied that Iohn Duke of Bourbon was taken prisoner in the battaile of Azincourt whom they could neuer redeeme at any rate This yeare he dyed in England and his sonne Charles succeeds him He had to wife the sister of the Duke of Bourgongne but they fall to words for their rights and so to warre Charles takes from Philip A quarrell betwixt the Dukes of Bourbon and Bourgongne Grancy Aualon Perepertuis Mucy-l'Euesque Chaumont and other places The Bourguignon had his reuenge and besiegeth Belleuille in Beauieulois belonging vnto Charles Mary Duchesse of Berry labours to reconcile these Princes and drawes them to a peace the which shall soone be a meanes of a generall accord betwixt the Bourguignon and France by the mediation of the Duke of Bourbon a profitable instrument of so good a worke This occasion not preuented was seconded by an other for the Duke of Bedford Bedford marrieth againe after the death of his wife being sister to the Duke of Bourgongne marries with Iaquelin the daughter of Peter of Luxembourg Earle of S. Pol who was no friend to the Bourguignon and moreouer the youth and beautie of this new spouse had so bewitched Bedford as he was easily drawne from Philip whose loue he entertained with great difficultie The Duke of Bedford and Bourgongne in dislike yet in respect of the generall cause they made a good shew and had met at S. Omer to that effect but this enterview encreased their discontents In the meane time the truce being ill obserued on either side is conuerted into a languishing warre Bedford makes warre in the Countrie of Maine by Scales and
the Countrie in alarme Occasions are offred of dayly skirmishes and daylie the English are beaten But the long stay of this little army and this thorne of Saint Denis stirred vp the people of Paris who loth to be so restrayned prepare a great power to force Saint Denis at what price soeuer The Marshall of Rieux loath to ingage himselfe beeing in all shewe the weaker retyres honorablie to Meulan without any losse The English beat downe the defences of Saint Denis being a common retreat to all men without any more labour eyther to keepe it or to recouer it The accord of Philip Duke of Bourgongne with Charles the 7. King of France IN the ende behold an agreement made with Charles so much expected so vnprofitablie sought after and nowe freely offred by the Duke of Bourgongne The deputies of the Councell presse both French English and Bourguignon to ende al quarrells by some good composition The Cittie of Arras is allowed of by them all to treat in The Assemblie was great from the Pope and the Councell of Pisa there came the Cardinalls of Saint Croix and Cipres An assemblie to treat of a peace with twelue Bishops For the King of France there was the Duke of Bourbon the Earle of Richmont Constable of France the Earle of Vendosme the Archebishop of Rheims Chancellor of France the Lords of Harcourt Valpergue la Fayette Saint Pierre du Chastell du Bois Chastillon du Flay de Railliq de Rommet Curselles and de Cambray first President of the Parliament at Paris with many wise and learned men as Iohn Tudart Blesset Iohn Charetier Peter Cletel Adam le Queux Iohn Taise and la Motte For the King of England the Cardinalls of Yorke and Winchester the Earle of Suffolke the Bishop of Saint Dauids Iohn Ratcliffe keeper of the great seale the Lord of Hongerford Ralfe the wise the Official of Canterburie and some Doctors of diuinity For Philip Duke of Bourgongne there came the Duke of Gueldres the Earle of Nassau the Bishop of Cambray the Earle Vernambourg the Bishop ãâã Leâge the Earles of Vaudemont Neuers Salines S. Pol and Ligây besides the deputies oâ many of his best Townes The pompe was great both on the deputies behalfe of the Duke of Bourgongnes who intertained theÌ with all the honour good cheeâe that might be ãâã But leauing these circumstances I make hast to the principal matter The Kângâ of France and England began the treaty The âundamentall question was to whom the Crowne of France belonged The English did challenge it The question for the crown of Fâanâe both for that he was ãâã from a daughter of France as also by the graunt of Charles the 6. who did instââce Henry the 5. and his successors heires of the crowne had disinherited Charles ãâã 7. whom he termed an vsurper The deputies for Charles answered that they ought ãâã to call in question the ground of the Estate which cannot stand firme without that ãâ¦ã heire to whom the lawe appoints and therfore without prouing of that which was apparent of it selfe they came to offers for the ending of all controuersies That if the King of England would both disclaime the title of King of France yeeld vp the countries held by him in diuers parts of the Realme he should inioy the Dâchies of Guiânne and Normandy doing homage for them vnto the Kings of France as his soueraigne and with those conditions which his Ancestors Kings of England had formerly inioyed theâ They stood vpon very different tearmes their authority was limited and possession puât vp the English But sometimes he refuseth that after sues He that striueth to haue all most commonly looseth all One moitie in effect had more auailed the English then all in imagination who in the ende shall finde that the soueraigne Iudge the preseruer of the lawe and of States giues and takes away Charles the English cannot agree appoints and disapoints according to his good and wise will and that there is no force nor wisedome but his Tâe mâtter was soone ended betwixt the Kings of France and England seeing right could do no good the sword must preuaile Thus the Ambassadors of England returne without any effect those of France stay to treate with the Duke of Buurgongne and his deputies amongest the which he himselfe was the chiefe as well for his owne interest as for his iudgement in affaires A man exceeding cunning who could imbrace all occasions to make his profiâ by an other as the discourse of his life hath made manifest Bât ãâã what ende serues all this morter and so great workemanship to frame a building which shall be ruined vnder his sonne and shal bury him in the ruines thereof It is a âoolish reason which thou calledst reasân hauing no ground of reason and doest not hearken to the voice of heauen O Foole all thy riches shal be taken from thee this night Man walâes in a shadow he toyles in vaine to ãâã âis name immortall in the graue he hunts with infinite labour and takes nothing As for Charles he sought to retire the Bourguignon from all league and alliance with tâe King of England and taking from him all occasions of discontent so to ingage him ãâ¦ã honours as he should resolue to follow his faction as the most profiâââââ knowing that his own priuate interest was the chiefe end of his desseins Matters ãâã cârried in shew according to the humour of that age the dâsposition of the court ãâã for the honour of Charles who must aske the Duke of âourgongne pardon hauing ãâ¦ã father to be slaine against his faith Charles sends a blank to the ãâã to ãâã what conditions he pleased But was it not true must not the crime be cânfessed by hiâ that was culpable Charles therefore resolues to send him a bâanke tâe accârd doth testâfie that the Bourguignon fiâled it with so many vnreasonable conditâons as it is strange so great a monarch should stoâp so much to his subiect vassall but necessity âath no law A presidânt for great men not to attempt any thing against reason least they bee constrayned to repaiâe it with reason and yet to know that it is an amendment of a fault to yeeld to necessity for the good of the state beeing a great thrift to loose for gaine The ââiginall sets downe at large all the conditions of this treaty wâo so please may reade ãâã Monstrellet in the history of S. Denis The summe is that the massacre ãâã ãâ¦ã person of Iohn Duke of Bâurgongne at Montereau-âaut-yonne ãâ¦ã repaired by confession and ceâemonies Great sommes of present money with goodly Seâgââuries are giuen to the Duke of Bourgongne so many assurances for him and hiâ ãâã a great volume is full of these scrupulous conditions The Duke of Bourgongnes promise is more simple that he should declare himselfe a friend to Charles the 7. King of France King Charles and the
Bourguignon reconciled enemy to his enimes that he should renounce all alliance and friendship with the king of England and promise both his person and all his meanes to expell him out off France The performance was according to promise Charles Duke of Bourbon and Arthur of Brittaine Earle of Richemont Constable of France in the name of Charles the 7. aske pardon of the Duke of Bourgongne for the death of his father and the Duke pardoned him for the loue of God The Cardinalls in the Popes name and the Counsels absolue the Duke from the oath which he had made vnto the English and eyther part sweares to maintaine the accord in that which did concerne him So the peace was published with great solemnity to the incredible content of all men The King the Duke of Bourgongne and the whole Realme reioyced exceedingly only Iohn of Luxembourg Earle of S. Pol wold not be therin coÌprehended he shall suffer for it and his house after him This was the 24. of September in the yeare 1435. a famous day for those things which happened in this raigne whereof this accord gaue the first occasion The marriage of Charles sonne to the Duke of Bourgongne with Katherine of France daughter to our Charles was concluded to seale this accord From this peace sprong a more violent war against the English The Duke of Bourgongne sends backe all his contracts to the Duke of Bedford and hauing shewed him the iust reasons which had mooued him to imbrace the Kings amity beeing his kinseman and Lord hee renounceth the alliance of England with a watch-word that euery one should looke to himselfe Euery man sharpens his sword and scoures his armes to recouer that by force which they could not obtaine by reason War very violent against the English The first fruites of this accord beganne to grow ripe euen in the heart of winter for Corbeil yeelds presently to the King with Briâ-Conte-Robert and the Castle of Bois de Vincennes The Bourguignon imployes all his friends and intelligences at Paris he vseth all his instruments meaning to set them to worke the yeare following All Normandy begins to reuolt Diâpe Fescan Monstier-Villiers Harfleu Tancaruille Bec-Crespin Gomusseule Loges Villemont Grasuille Longueuille Neuf-uille Lambreuille Charles-Mesnill S. Germain Fontaines Preaux Blainuille obey the King willingly chasing away the English receiuing the French for their safety all which was acted in two dayes What more To finish this worke God takes away one of the chiefe causes and one of the principall instruments of the misery which had so long afflicted this estate We haue seene what part Isabell of Bauierre played in this Tragedy wee haue sought her after the death of her poore husband and could not finde her for in trueth she was ciuilly dead Bedford fearing the spirit of this Medea seekes not onely to stay her hands but to keepe her eyes from the managing of affaires And for that shee had deuoured the treasure of the Realme he constraines herto keepe a diet He doth therefore sequester herto the house of S. Pol where she liued vntill the ende of this yeare in great pouerty no more assisted by the Bourgongnon then by the English Beeing dead they caused her bodye to be put into a small boate Queene Isabel dies and so transported by the riuer of Seine to S. Denis where she was buried without any pompe like to a common person A light put out whose sauour doth yet offende posterity In this yeare also died Iohn of England that great Duke of Bedford called Regent of France who hath noted many blacke pages in this volume and so much terrified our Ancestors Hauing seene the former accord and felt so sodaine effects in Normandy fearing the rest would follow he drowned himselfe in sorow and knowing no meanes to auoide this storme he dies at Rouen the 15. of December leauing to King Henry the 6. a bottome very hard to vntwist The Duke of Bedford dies and to his yong wife beeing sister to the Earle of S. Pol a cause of mourning the which continued not long for she married soone after with an English Aduenturer of small accompt giuing causeto laugh at her beeing but little pittied Charles being thus discharged of a heauy burthen by this accord hath more liberty to follow his honest delights He goes to Lions visits Daulphiné and stayes in Languedoc a Prouince which he loues aboue all the rest 143â hauing found it most denâââd to his seruice Montpellier was his aboad a place very pleasantly seated ãâ¦ã this time of ââreation he had left good lieutenants in France who shal soone send him ãâã of their exploytes The Citty of Paris yeelds to the King and expells the English THe Bourguignon prepares to annoy the English whilest that the Constable makes way for the reduction of Paris His intent was parting from Pontoise to put himselfe into S. Denis a Towne halfe dismantled but Thomas of Beaumont Captaine of the Bastille hauing intelligence of this desseine preuented the Constable and entred into S. Denis with a notable troupe of soldiers Richmont notwithstanding approcheth neere to S. Denis the sentinell hauing giuen warning of his approch Beaumont issues forth to the bridge vpon the little riuer which is towards Pierre-file where he met with the fore-runners who hauing drawne him forth ingage him in the battaile the which was led by the Constable marching from the valley of Montmorency This English troupe was easily vanquished most of them were cut in peeces The English vanquished S. ãâã and the rest taken hardly any one of them escapes to carry newes to Paris Thomas of Beaumont is slaine among the rest vpon the place The Constable makes vse of this good successe he presently marcheth with his victorious forces to Paris which stood amazed at this nere power wanting a Regent who was lately deceased and such as were left to command were more fit to handle an Oare then to gouerne the helme Now waâ the time for good Frenchmen to shew themselues whereof there were many in the Citty The Bourguignon faction being now become the Kings seruants imbrace this occasion and hauing consulted together they resolue to shake off the English yoake the which they ãâã too long endured The Duke of Bourgongne was then at Bruges but he had leât the Lord of Lislâ-Adam to ãâã with his partisans at Paris It is the same whom he had formerly imployed against Câârles and his father Iohn in the murther of the King seruants He had great credit ãâã the Parisiens of whom Miâhael Laillier was the chiefe Tribune Hee discouers by him the peoples affections being resolute to submit themselues to the King of whom they crââe onely a generall absolution of what was past This gentle demande beeing brought to Pontoise to the Constable and easily granted all prepare for the effects That quarter nere the Halles gaue the first signe of the French libertie at Paris by the meanes
who receyued him with all the good chere hee could desire Hee was taken at Azincourt in the yeare 1415. and was deliuered in 1440. the 25 of Nouember by the meanes of his sonne that had slaine his father and had done all hee could to ruine his house Beeing come to Philip hauing thanked him for this good will and protested to hold him for his father he swears a perpetuall league with him the which is confirmed by the marriage of Marie of Cleues the niece of Philip with the Duke Two great enemies become great friends and then he swears to the troaty of Arras except the article of the murther committed on the person of Iohn Duke of Bourgongne whereof he was innocent and for confirmation of this sollemne league he takes the order of the golden fleese from the hands of Philip and is admitted into the number of his Knights Behold two great enemies are become great friends by so memorable an occasion The reason that mooued the Duke of Bourgongne to do this good turne The Duke of Bourgongne had his priuate considerations for the safety and quiet of his house he sees himselfe raised to greaânesse But as it is no lesse vertue to keepe then to get and that his bloud profit dutie and necessitie commanded him to hold firme for the French partie as the greatest and most assured for the good of his affaires so likewise hee considered that he should neede some trustie friend neere the King on whome he might confidently relie And what greater personage then the Duke of Orleans the first Prince of the bloud and what greater bond then to free him from Captiuity necessitie also forseeing him thereunto for it was verie apparent that this Prince being freed from prison had the like action against Philip that Philip had against the King for although Philip had not slaine his father yet was he son to the murtherer and the quarell must needs be hereditarie in these great houses where discontents and wrongs go from father to sonne being also likely that the King discontented to haue beene forced by his subiect to aske him forgiuenesse in the viewe of al Europe would mayntaine the right of his bloud in a Prince that had neuer wronged him against his reconciled enemy whose friendship he had so deerely bought wherein he noted well the Kings humor being suspitious iealous and impatient of any new authority which being able to oppose it selfe hee would neuer faile to crosse in all occasions Philip wisely foreseeing all these difficulties preuented them in assuring himselfe of the Duke of Orleans loue vpon so good consideration suppressing thereby all doubt of danger which he might hereafter feare Herein we see a notable example that we must neuer despaire in the greatest crosses of this life that quarrells must be mortall whereas they die friendship must be immortall That the best meanes to vanquish an enemie âs to do him all the good we can The honour of this good worke was not attributed to the Duke of Bourgongne alone but to the Duchesse his wife who woone as great credât in drawing her husbaÌd to this reconciliation as her Predecessor did dishonor by the incensing of her husband against the house of Orleans whence grewe that infamy which poluted these two houses with two tragicall murthers The wiues honour is to pacifie quarrells betwixt the kinsemen and Allies of the house whereinto she is matched and contrariewise it is an importune iealousie to sowe dissention among kinsemen God also blest the mediation of this worthy Princesse in the marriage of Marie of Cleues Neece to her husbaÌd with the Duke of Orleans by whome he had Lewis .12 which shal be King of France two daughters the one Elenor which was married into the house of Nauarre of whome is issued Ioane Queene of Nauarre mother to our good valiant King Henry the 4. now raigning This yeare shal be full of warre and succesfull for Charles yet in the ende it shall minister occasion to enter into the former treatie of peace which hauing begunne the yeares before and little aduanced shal be ended in the following yeares after another manner then the English expected Charles seeing that the King of England by his cold delayes sought not onely to make his conditions better being sought vnto but also to drawe him into some inconuenience he resolues to armes The English had taken Creil vpon Oyze and could not bee dispossessed of Pontoise a Towne of importance for the neernesse of Paris The King resolues to take them both The Admirall of Coytiuy beseegeth Creil and forceth it in the Kings presence The memorable seege of Pontoise Thus the way is made to Pontoise the seege was memorable being well assayled and well defended but in the ende it was taken by Charles for the good of France He lodgeth at the Abbie of Maubuisson accompanied with his sonne the Daulphin of Viennois Charles of Aniou the Earle of Clermont the Constable of France the Marshalls of Loheaâ and Soloigne Lewis of Luxembourg Earle of Saint Paul and of Pigney who brought vnto the King a goodly troupe of men from the Duke of Bourgongne with them of the Cittie of Tournay who sent a gallant squadron of their Cittizens Thus vnitie brought both French and Bourguignons vnder the same enseignes against the common enemie of France There were also the Earles of Eu Albret and Vaudemont the Vidame of Chartres the Lords of Chastillon Tancaruille Ioigny Morneil in Brie Bueil Mouy la Tour Angesi Longeuall Moyencourt Suze Chabannes Flauy S. Symon Mailly Penesac Blanchefort and those braue Captaines la Hire Pothon and Floquet with an infinit number of the Nobility who added their valour to the number of the soldiars which they had brought vnto the King The Citty of Paris sent a goodlie troupe so as Charles had twelue thousand fighting men At the first approch the bastion vpon the bridge next to Maubuisson was taken by la Hire on the other side against the Abbie of Saint Martin they make a bridge with a great bastion where they lodge three thousand archers yet the Towne was not so straightly beseeged but Talbot sent in both men and victualls 1441. Whilest that Charles stood discontented with this error behold a greater brauado for the Duke of Yorke Lieutenant generall for Henry King of England comes to Cenery and Hotonuille places very neere to Pontoise with a goodly army of eight thousând men and sends his heraulds vnto Charles to offer him battaile Charles who by the aduice of his Councell would not commit this succesfull beginning of his affaires to the hazard of a battaile returnes them with no other answer The Duke of Yoââe goes with an army to âeleeue Pontoise but that he should haue his bellie full sooner then he liked The riuer of Oize was betwixt both armies Charles resolues to keepe the passages from Pontoise to Beaumont and the Duke of Yorke to passe the riuer in
excuses of his long delay and to crosse the Duke of Bourgongne hee giues his Cousin of Orleans towards the payement of his ransome a hundred and fiftie thousand frankes a very great some in those dayes the which was not giuen for nothing in so great a necessity of the Kings affaires Lewis of Luxembourg and the widowe of Iohn of Luxembourg partisans to the Bourguignon do homage to Charles and yeeld the Towne of Marle vnto him these be fruits no doubt of the victorie at Pontoise In the meane time the Princes assemble at Neuers the Dukes of Bourgongne Bourbon and Alençon with the Earle of Vendosme The Duke of Brittain sent his Ambassador not able to come himselfe for that he was not yet in the Kings good fauour There were for the most part priuate discontents The Princes admonitions to the King and their demands tending to euery mans priuate interest As not to be maintayned in their degrees to be called to Councelles respected in their aduises honored in their charges payed their pensions and eased in their lands But the zeale of the publike good shadowed all with a shewe of Iustice peace order and releefe of the people That it was fit the King should proceede more speedily in the treaty of peace with the English the which had beene too coldly followed That he should supplie his Parliaments with good and sufficient men and thereby prouide for the offices and not for the persons that by their faithfull diligence suites might be shortned and speedie âustice administred without delay or respect of eyther of the parties That he should prouide for the ease of the subiect ouercharged rule the soldiars preuent robberies ransomings and extortions the which were daylie committed vnder too apparent an excuse that the soldiar was not payed That he should giue honors without respect of forepassed diuisions and declare alâ his subiects capable of Offices and dignities indifferently not remembring what was past That he should haue a competent number of graue men in his great Councell worthy of that charge not to coÌmit the gouernment of the affaires of the Realme to two or three as had beene done in former times These are the chiefe points of their demands drawen word by word out of the Originall Charles was nothing pleased with these Assemblies made both in his absence and without his priuitie whereby many inconueniences must ensue all being done without his authority But being taught by his owne experience he digested this kinde of affront quietly being loath to alter any thing at such a season when as he had no neede of newe enemies and hauing eyther excused what had beene done or contented euery priuate person he proceeded to the principall which was the establishment of the affaires of the Realme The disorders of men of warre were insupportable the which must be reformed but that which troubled the King was the seege of Tartas remarkable by this circumstance Tartas is a Towne in Gasconie belonging to the house of Albret This Towne was beseeged by Captall de Buch a great Nobleman of that Countrie and of the English faction It was concluded for the extreame necessitie of the Country that there should be a surceasse of armes and lâbertie of free trafficke in that Prouince vntill midsomer following vpon condition that if the King did not succour the Towne by that day it should yeeld to the English or else the French should remayne in free possession without any controuersie And for assurance of this treaty the eldest sonne of the Lord of Albret should remayne in hostage The matter was of great waight being not onely a question of the losse of a place of great importance but of the Kings reputation who leauing his subiects was in danger to be abandoned by them so to loose all Gascoââe where the English had gotten many paâtisans Charles prouiding carefully for his affaires giues two blowes with one stone wherewith he strooke both the theeues and the English He armed with exceeding speede hauing drawen togither foure thousand horse eâght thousand archers and eight thousand other foote An infinit numbeâ of great personages and voluntarie Noblemen posted to this iourney as to a solemne assignation whereon depended the quiet and honour of France The Daulphin did accompany him in this voiage Charles of Aniou Earâe of Maine the Constable of Richmont the Earles of Marche Eu Castres Foix Lomaigne the eldest son of the Lord of Aâmaignac the Lords of Albert Gaure Cominge Estrac Tartas Tancaruille and Montgascon the eldest son to the Earle of Boulongne Auuergne Philip of Culant Admiâaâ of France with an infinit number of gallant Nobility Thus Charles parting from Parââ comes first to Saumur whither Iohn Duke of Brittaine sent his Ambassadors to offer him homage and men Shame to haue so often lest him in al his extremities would not suffer him to see the King although the Constable were a good mediator for him He restored to the King the forts of âssars Palluau which annoyed al the CouÌtry of Poââtou and Charles gaue them in gard to the Constable from thence he passed into Poiâtou and prouids that Marueil and Saint Hermine should no more trouble the people he then comes into Xaintonge which had beene much tormented by the Lord of Pons who humbled himselfe vnto the King promising to liue in peace Taillebourg was taken by force and the theeues punished Bretueil was taken and razed Thus Charles spent this yeare against theeues who had surprised some Townes The next yeare was haâpilie imployed against the English our open enemies making a great breach in Gasâânie and there abouts where the English had gotten deepest footing by the ancient and lawfull possession of his Ancestors In the ende by this breach the whole Prouince remained his but the prouidence of God imparts his blessings by degrees 1442. Hauing thus pacified Poitou and Xaintonge he comes to Limoges and so to Tholouse which was the Rendez-uous of all his troupes Being arriued hee giues notice to them of Tartâs that they should continue firme and that they should be releeued by the prefixed day but as he labors on the one side to settle his affaires so the English on the other side seeke to ouerthrowe them Behold Talbot comes out of England into Normandie with two thousand men and the Duke of Yorke hauing leuied men in the Countrie it selfe and places of their obedience goes to field with foure thousand men With these forces he thinks to take all that Charles held in that Prouince where he had left the Earle of Dunois and the Vidame of Chartres for the gard of those places but this enterprise had small successe Talbot beseegeth Couches and at the same instant the Earle of Dunois Galardon a place holding for the English to cause a diuersion Talbot hauing taken Couches the Earle leaues Galardon hauing no reason to hazard his small troupe against so great forces and putts them into garrison
libertie and the good cheere which Charles made her Vpon the report of her death Bernard Earle of Armaignac seizeth vpon the Townes of Cominges Duret Lile in Dodon Samathan and Lombres The Earle of Armaignac seizeth vpon the County of Commings and preparing to warre he leuies troupes in Arragon by Sâlezard a Captaine of that Countrie causing Iohn of Lescun a bastard of Armaignac to inuade the Kings teâritories This excesse might haue proued verie preiudiciall when as Charles sends Lewis his sonne into Languedoc with a thousand horse to quench this mischiefe in the breeding Being arriued at Rouuergue all yeelds vnto him Euerie thing is opposite to the Earle of Armaignac The Earles of Perdriac and la Marche the chiefe supporters of his insolence leaue him in the plaine field Salezard doth likewise abandon him of such force is a royall maister against a bad cause The Earle of Amargnac seeing himselfe thus abandoned shuts himselfe into Lisle-Iordan 1443. to dispute his pretensions with more aduantage The Earle of Armaignac taken by the Daulphin but he thrust him selfe into the toyle for he was taken by Lewis and led prisoner to Carcassone These happy exploytes did greatly recommend the Daulphins iudgement and valour whom all men held worthy of a great commande Charles hauing commended him for so well doing would haue sent him backe against the Earle of Somerset who had raised a great armie on the frontiers of Normandy Brittain the which was like vnto a fire of straw for hauing taken la Guierche by force he left it as soone for money so retired with his army without any other exploit The heate of the English grewe more temperate touching the chiefe points of their affaires They stood vpon tearmes in the two first fruitlesse asseÌblies made for peace but nowe they seeke the King The Earle of Suffolke writes vnto him that he hath commandement from the King his Master not onely to renue the treaty of peace discontinued but also to finde meanes to marry him in France hee receiues a fauourable answer from Charles and vnder his safe conduct comes to him to Tours Charles continued still in an humor to loue peace and to seeke it but the Earle of Suffolke the Lord Rosse had no charge but to treat of a generall truce A generall truce the which they concluded for a yeere a halfe but this shall be a goodly occasion to send home the English After a shower comes a sun-shine and euen experience teacheth that after a great raine comes a long drought Now we shall see nothing but truces one after an other marriages and aliances during fower yeares which is a preparatiue to a ciuill peace for aboue a hundred yeares This truce being made they must now seeke warres else where so fruitefull is our vanity of change so as we cannot liue without suffering or doing harme to others The French impatient of rest when as they treated of this truce it was demaunded by the Ambassadors of both Kings what their men of warre should do This truce say they will be more chargeable vnto vs then warre for they must liue They haue not beene accustomed to work and yet they will make good cheere neither can the poore people endure any more Moreouer if they haue no worke they will fight with themselues we must therefore calme this storme and send them to such as loue vs not The French English sent to warre in Suizerland This was the cause of the war in Suizerland whereof Lewis was Generall leading both French and English vnder the same Ensignes Matago was Collonell of the English forces for the King of England vnder the Daulphins command He entred with his armie into the territory of Basill the country of Elsas betwxit Basill and Strasbourg one of the goodliest and most fertill prouinces of Germany they terrified Metz tooke Montbeliard filled all those countries with feare and combustion The motiues of this extraordinary enterprise may well be obserued by that which I haue said but these causes were farre fetcht and not to be imbraced by two Kings who but euen now tormented one an other especially by Charles who hauing suffred so many crosses should haue horror to cause others to feele the like without constraint yet he found a pin for all these holes Charles would haue his sonne take Montbeliard to be reuenged of the Gouernour for the wrong hee had done him spoiling his country as farre as Langres in his greatest necessity The motiues of this war in Suizerland He assayled the Suisses and namely them of Basill being fauourers of Eugenius against Felix his compettitor that is to say against that Amedee Duke of Sauoy who had so crossed him in his affaires whom he could neuer loue what shewe soeuer he made in pollicy And for that Germany that quarter nere vnto Suisserland supported Felix against Eugenius he therfore hated theÌ And to gratifie René King of Sicile who had a priuate quarrell against the citty of Metz he turned his forces against it But what meaning soeuer Charles had herein he imbraced this voluntary warre with an incredible affection as if it had bin to defend the hart of his Realme He himselfe came to Espinall hauing sent his army before to Metz he continued the siege fiue moneths vntill the Cittizens had paide two hundred thousand crownes for the charges of the warre and acquitted king René of a hundred thousand florins of gold which they had lent him in his necessity Lewis the Daulphin parting from Montbeliard ruines Portentru in disdaine of the Bishop a great sollicitor against Eugenius from thence he enters into the territories of Basill with this goodly and florishing army 1444. tyed togither with so many strings hee incountred foure thousand Suisses being resolute to defend their Countrie The greatest part of them were cut in peeces but they sold their liues deere for the Germain histories report that we lost aboue fiue thousand men although wee had the victorie The Emperour Frederic the 3. a Prince which otherwise loued peace vpon the complaints of the Citties lying alongest the Rhin The Suisses fight valiantly and are defeated caused them to arme so as Lewis returned into Lorraine fearing to be too far ingaged in an enemies Country whome he had incensed against reason yet Frederic sent his Ambassadors to Charles to renue their ancient allyances So this cloude of people-eaters passed falling vpon diuers quarters like a shower of haile in a field of ripe corne leauing nothing memorable but a notable example of rashenesse making a warre which was neither necessarie nor iust afflicting quiet peaceable people without any occasion Whilest that France EnglaÌd made Suiserland to weepe Henry the 6. King of England married with Marguerite of Aniou daughter to René Duke of Aniou and of Lorraine and King of Sicile and Naples The Earle of Suffollk fetched her froÌ Nancy
where Charles was resident whilest that his army afflicted these poore people He feasted conducted this Princesse as his own daughter euen with tears of ioy The King of England marrieth but this ioy was sodenly coÌuerted into heauines by the death of the Daulphins wife his daughter in Lawe whom he loued deerely for her vertues which made her amiable to all France She was one of the chiefest in this great solemnity from the which she went to the bed of death her death was the sepulchre of her Mother the widowe of Iames King of Scotts who was come to see her and whilest her funeralles were making her Sisters ariue from Scotland to attend on her nay rather to descend with her into the graue if the humainty of Charles had not reuiued them giuing them honest meanes to maintaine their estats in France Thus passeth the Ocean of this miserable life in the which there is more cause of mourning then of ioy The Daulphins wife dies both in great and small The marriage likewise of England wherein were so great shewes of ioy shall end with a lamentable Tragedie as we shall see hereafter The truce was so pleasing to both Realmes A truce prolonged for fiue yeares that before it was expired the Kings of France and England renue it for fiue yeares more in hope of a perfect peace promising by their seuerall writings published generally to meete togither within six monethes in some conuenient place to confirme this peace so generally desired of all their subiects 1445. 1446. 1447. 1448. And to confirme the assurance of their promises the English deliuers Mans to Charles with all thee held in the Countrie of Maine but all is put into the hands of King René his father in lawe Francis Duke of Brittain doth homage to the King for the Duchie of Brittain and the Earldome of Montfort This was at Chinon but some monethes after there chanced a tragicall desaster in that house Francis suspecting that Gyles his brother would deale treacherously with him by the too familiar correspondency he had with the Engâish caused him to bee put in prison by the Councell and care of Charles who had sent him foure hundred lances vnder the comand of the Admirall Coitiuy But they dealt worse with him causing him to die in prison for hungar The history of Brittain describes this accident very plausibly The cruâlty of the Duke of Bâittany against his brother but it is true that Gyles died beeing prisoner with his brother Peter who suruiued him not long after hauing a great remorse for this tragicke accident In the rest of this yeare and the three following there is nothing memorable but the pursuts which Charles made for the reunion of the Church But not to breake off the course of our history which is properly to treate of that which concernes our Estate we reserue it for a more conuenient place A worke in truth not onely worthy of a great Monarke but of a peaceable time that in the peace of the State we may see the peace of the Church The soldiars insolencie was nothing abated by this voiage of Germany They returne more flesht then before against the poore laborer Charles made new orders to restraine them causing them to bee duly obserued but the ouerwening violence of the English increased daylie not onely by the negligence but by the command of such as had the charge The Duke of Yorke being called home into England the duke of Somerset succeeded him a proud man who thinking to do better then the rest did absolutely ruine the English affaires in France Hee dispenced with his soldiars in all their villaines 1448 and kept them ready to breake the truce vpon any profitable occasion The English breake the truce In the meane time the Souldiers ordinarie practise was to stand in Sentinell to surprise some good house in the countrie being ill garded to robbe it spoile it and carry away the prisoners by vnknowne wayes To this end they had their spies their guides and their retreats The fields were full of robberies by men disguised in strange and fearfull habits being masked when they espied their pray and therefore they called them counterfeit faces But to draw men into danger they marched like passengers expecting the commoditie to surprize them There is heard nothing but complaints and repulses All the pursuites which were made to repaire the breaches of truce did but increase the paine and charges of the interessed But of these small disorders committed by the Souldiars there grew so great an inconuenience as in the end it filled vp the measure against the English being hated and detested of all the French for their pride and insolencie Fougeres surprized by the English during the truce Fougeres a Towne of Brittanie vpon the confines of Normandie then very riche and populous being without garde vnder the assurance of the truce was easily surprised by Francis of Surienne called the Arragonois a Knight of the order of the Garter and a great Captaine vpon the marches of France obeying the English The Towne being surprised by him being accompanied with six or seuen hundred souldiers suffered all the miseries that might be They kill spoile and sack rauish women robbe Churches take prisoners and from thence they runne into Brittanie and fill all full of feare and combustion The Britton appeales to the King and both complaine to Henry King of England and to the Duke of Somerset his Lieutenant in France they presse them to repaire so notable a breach else they would seeke a meanes of reuenge But they receiue nothing but words disauowed by mouth and aduowed in effect for Somerset causeth S. Iames of Beueron to be fortified contrary to the treatie Charles receiuing these bare answers from England sees which way the chance would fall and that the game would not passe without blowes yet he restrained his men with great modestie holding it for a maxime that he must vse no force But when as moderate remedies can take no place with men not capable of reason then to oppose force against the iniurious passion of his enemie I read with ioy in the Originall that Charles conteined himselfe and was forced to this last warre To haue God on his side and the wrong on his enemie To conclude this moderate proceeding did so iustifie the good cause of Charles as it was continued with a happy euent not onely to abate the pride of the English but to expell them out of the whole realme as the iust iudgement of God pursued their arrogancie in this attempt by the breach of publike faith the vndoubted ruine of humaine societie which hath no certaine foundation but in perfect faith Here endeth the yeare but the controuersie shall begin more hotly by iust armes accompanied with a victorious sentence the which the Iudge of the world shall pronounce against the pretender of this estate Normandie reduced to the Kings obedience THe
Duke of Brittanie first interessed by the English begins first to resist him But Charles is drawne to force by constraint The Ambassadors of France and England were assembled at Louuiers to redresse the breach at Fougeres when as behold Pont de l'Arche a Towne vpon the riuer of Seine foure leagues from Rouen is surprized by the Lord of Breze for the Duke of Brittanie This troubled Somerset who presently sends to make complaint vnto the assemblie Charles makes him answer that it is a requitall but if he will render vp Fougeres and the goods that were stolne valued at sixteene hundred thousand Crownes he should haue Pont de l'Arche againe The which being disdainefully refused by Somerset Charles protests by his Ambassadors in open assemblie 1449. That if warre followed which God forbid the fault should not be his causing an autentike acte to be taken by certain Apostolike Imperiall Notaries for his discharge and iustification Seeing therefore that this milde course was skorned by his stout enemy hee resolues to haue his reuenge by force of armes Charles and the Duke of Brittain combine against the English To this end he combines with Francis Duke of Brittain to make warre against the English their common enemy vpon condition the Britton should not treate with him without his leaue A very needefull restraint hauing often failed as we haue seene All prepare to warre in euery place where the English had any footing in Gasconie in Normandie and in all other parts where there was any remainder of their ancient Conquests Guienne shall begin the game but it shall ende in Normandy to make perfect the French obedience whereof it offers these first fruits to Charles in the beginning of this yeare as to their lawfull King Cognac was surprised for him by Verdun a Gascon but the manner was notable The exploits of the French in Guienne Normandie Mondot an English Captaine was gouernor of the place he was absent when the Towne was taken Verdun keepes the gates carefully that no intelligence might be giuen vnto him so as he comes to the gates without knowledge of any thing but he found some which added him vnto their prise being taken prisoner wheras before he was a gouernor The same day Saint Maigrin was taken by Alliac likewise a Gascon The newes of Cognac and S. Maigrin were scarse brought to Charles when as the Lord of Moây giues him intelligence that he had taken Gerberond and the Bailiffe of Eureux Couches with great slaughter of the English Complaints are presently made by the English Talbot is the messenger Charles letts them know that they are in the sault seeing they began first Yet he offers to yeeld all that had bin taken by his commandement according to the lawe of reprisalles so as they would deliuer what they had takeÌ and suffer his friends and Allies to liue in peace Talbot answering that he had no such charge Charles lettes him vnderstand that he would redresse it by lawfull force that he did vnwillingly enter into waâ yet would he soone shewe the English that his myldnesse had a sting and so he goes to held with a goodly army There were three chiefe dens for theeues the Rendez-uous of al the English roberies in those parts Verneuil Mante and Loigny Verneuil an infamous place for our defeate was first taken a Miller gaue them entry by a hoale in the Towne wall by the which the water did run to his mill ioyning to the wal Townes in Normandie yeeld vnto the King The Towne began and the Castel followed a strong Tower deuided from the Castel held out some daies but it yeelded when as Charles arriued Mante yeelded in viewe of the army Loigny was surprised by scalado but the English intrenched in the base Court fought it out resolutely lost both liues and goods Vernon a Towne vpon Seine yeelded of it selfe by the voluntaây obedience of the Inhabitants Ponteau ââmer was forced by the Earles of Eu and S. Pol wheras many English men were lost But Lizieux by the graue aduice of their Bishop yeelds voluntary obedience and auoids the miseries of the vanquished Louuiers did the like Gournay was sold by an English Captaine that held it Essây was taken by a gentle stratagem of the Duke of Alançons The Captaine accompanied with the soldiars of his garrison was gon forth to fish a poole while he seeks for fish he is taken himselfe and his Lieutenant deliuers vp the Castell to the Kings seruice Fescampe is taken by the Abbot hauing intelligence with the Monks at the same instaÌt a ship arriues out off England being ignorant of this losse the French suffer them to land and take them all prisoners Harcourt makes shewe to resist but it yeelds by composition aâter the seege of eight daies The army marcheth against Neufchastell of Nicourt takes the Towne by force the Castel yeelds by composition The Earle of Clermont was desirous to recouer his chiefe house wherof he carried the name his subiects gaue him entry into the Towne and so by the Towne he wins the Castell S. Loo at the sight of the army demands and obtaines a good composition with all the neighbour Castells Carenten yeelds after three daies and Pont d'Oâë is taken by assault Constances and Gauray by composition Alenson freed it selfe from the English yeelds to the mild command of their good Prince the Duke of Alanson who shewed his mercie euen to the English being vanquished to whom he gaue both life and goods La Rochequien was yeelded vp by the Captaine of the Castell who of an English man becomes French by the perswasions of his wife who was a French woman Chasââangaillard a Fort of importance vpon the Riuer of Seine endured a siege of six weekes but the pâesence and good fortune of Charles made him maâster of the place Gisors so famous for the English quarrels was yeelded to the King by the Captaine who likewise came to the Kings seruice and in the end Valonges a place of importance the which hereafter shall come in question by a famous accident As the Kings armie made this progresse in Normandie so it increased daily by these new conquests René King of Sicile and the Duke of Brittanie arriue with goodly voluntarie tâoupes and some townes newly reduced to the Kings obedience with an infinite number of warlike people but aboue all the Court was goodly by the multitude of Noblemen who went not onely to honour the Kings good fortune but carried by an inward instinct of his right well gouerned as it were by a celestiall guide did runne to an assured victorie and to the possession of an heires lawfull right The Dukes of Bourbon Alanson and Brittanie were there with the Earles of Richemont Constable of France of Maine Eu Saint Pol Dunois Castres Tancaruille and Dampmartin The Duke of Lorraine and Iohn his brother augmented the traine of King René Iohn Iuuenall of Vrsins Baron of Treignel
their Cittie with exceding ioy the first day of August to the great greefe of the English who see themseues expelled out of the whole realme but they shall yet make a new attempt The oathe of fealtie was autentically made to Charles the All Guâenne swear vnto King ãâã 7. both by the Cittizens of Burdeaux and by all the Estates of Burdelois to their naturall King and lawfull Prince renowncing the English The Nobilitie held vp their hands first in this oath namely the Lords of Esparre Montferrand Duras Rosan Pugeols Lansac Lisle Anglade amongest the which how many proued treachers The Archebishop also did take the same oth of homage and fealtie to the King with Gaston de Foix only Captall de Buch would not take the oath for his person but he submitted all his Lands to the obedience of the Crowne an error which shal be preiudiciall to the whole Prouince Thus all Guienne was made subiect to the Kings obedience except Bayonne for the reduction of which Towne being needlesse to keepe togither so great an armie euery Nobleman was commanded to returne to his howse and that the Earle of Dunois should contynue there to imploie the forces of the Country at this seege So the Princes of the bloud depart accompanied with twenty thousand men whom they dismisse euery one into his Countrie The Earle of Foix ioyned with the earle of Dunois they beseege Bayonne the seege was long painefull and dangerous Bayone yeelds vpon hard conditions the which might haue bene more easie and spedie by means of the armie which was redie But in truth the nigard spends more then the bountifull man in euery degree yet in the end Bayonne submits to the obedience of the Crowne vpon these conditions That the tounesmen of Bayonne should deliuer Iohn of Beaumont their Captaine into the Kings hands with their own persons and their goods to be at the Kings wil discretion and to repaire their disobedience to purchase the Kings fauour they should pay fortie thousand Crownes whereto they are referred by the earle of Foix generall of the army This accord was coÌfirmed by the entrie of the said Earle into the Towne who tooke a sollemne othe in the Kings name Charles forgiues the inhabitants halfe their fine and confirmes halfe their priuiledges The three Estates of the Country of Burdelois send their deputies vnto the King who was then at Taâllebourg 1453. to confirme their othes and homages already taken by his Chancellor and the Kâng lâkewise doth ratifie their priuileges and receyues them into fauour so as Guienne âeemed to be reduced to the Kings obedience All Guienne reduced to obedience to the incredible content of the whole realme and so this yeare ended with an vniuersall ioy But seuen or eight moneths were scarse spent in this publike ioy such as the French might haue in euery corner of their country enioying peace the which they had not tasted these hundred yeares and which in outward appearance there was no hope to recouer the English and Bourguignons hauing taken such firme footing in all parâs when as behold a great surge which seemed to expose France to the mercie of a more horrible and dangerous storme For Talbot comes to the gates of Bourdeaux with goodly âroupes of English Talbot enters ãâã with new Englâsh troupes where he was receiued and tooke the Seneshall of Guienne prisoner being gouernour of the Towne and Iohn de Foux deputie Maior of Bourdeaux and in a maneâ the same day the Nobilitie which had giuen their faâth vnto the King noted befoâe by their speciall names deliuered all the chiefe places of the countrie to the English Fronsac Coloeuures Casâillon Chasteauneuf in Damedoc Cadillac Langen S. Macaire Libârne and Saint Millâon Many townes yeeld to the English And after Talbot who came but to discouer there arriued the next day in safetie foure thousand fighting men from England with foure score ships laden with Meale and Salt meates to victuall the Towne The amazement of this losâe was as great as the ioy had beene of gaine Charles was then at Tours the Earle of Clermont sonne to Charles Duke of Bourbon was gouernour of Guienne He commands him to haue a care to the preseruation of the rest of Guienne and presently he sends six hundred men at armes vnder the command of three Marshals of France and the Lords of Orual and Rouhault who were then neere the King and sends for the rest of his forces with all speed The motiues oâ the reuolt in Guiânne But whilest that all prepare to repaire this losse may we not examine the motiue of this great and sodaine change Some new writers accuse the ill vsage of the French to this people newly conquered which made them to wish for the English being more milde and temperate Lords others blamed the negligence of our French vnfit to keepe that which they had so valiantly gotten But who is he that can finde this first cause truly noted hearing the whole History speake and representing the discontent of the French nation against the gouerment of the English And why did the King dismisse his armie but to ease his people euen with the preiudice of his owne affaires As for our negligence in keeping of that which we haue gotten with much paine it is too well knowne by memorable examples but seeing the affâction of the people of Bourdelois had bin confirmed by many proofes in this voluntary obedience to what end had it serued to put them in fetters as a people vanquished by armes and force them to obedience But to find out the causes we must examine the effects L'Esparre Montâerrand Duras Anglade Rosans and others specified in the register of the oath will bee found straight waies reuolted in these places Captal de Buche protested openly that he was not the Kings seruant so as he might without reproch carrie armes against him for the King of England his maister He might remaine peaceablie within the country inioying his houses being vnder the Kings protection and so make his traffick for the English at his pleasure Iohn King of Nauarre an Arragonois both by birth and humour was an enemy to Charâes for two respects as hauing maried the heiâe of Nauarre and with that mariage the quarrels hatred of that Charles which was Grandfather to his wife The King of Nauarre an enemie to K. Câarles who had so much troubled the raignes of Iohn and Charles the â and as an Arragonois by reason of the quarrels of Naples against the house of Aniou These were two instruments to moue many mens mindes It could not otherwise be but the authoâitie and command of two hundred yeares had purchased England many seruants and such as had alwayes held the English party against France and were not reclaimed to the Kings obedience but by force could not beleeue that they had any such part in the Kings fauour hauing brought
nothing to his seruice but necessitie and constraint These men being wonne doe animate or rather force the people making themselues the strongest in places where there was no gards whereof they were not onely wearied but were plunged in the trust and assurance of a profound peace Who seeth not then but this made the way more easie for these disloyall treachers to surprize those Townes which they had deliuered to the English but from whence soeuer the mischiefe came 1454. this was the remedie Talbât was the Kings prisoner as we haue said at the taking of Rouen Charles had shewed him all the fauour a man might hope for of so great a Monarche he gaue him his libertie without ransome and had honoured him with goodly presents yet he is become head of the English armie which were esteemed eight thousand fighting men and marcheth directly against the Kings armie which made hast to recouer what had beene lost and to preserue what remained Castillon was become English The Earle of Ponthieure with the Admirall and Marshalls of France besiege it attending the King who came posting to quench this fire Talbot makes hast from Bourdeaux with the choisest of his men bearing an assured victory in his conceât and being ignorant that he went to seeke death At the first charge our men begin to wauer vpon the braue arriuall of Talbot but they gather themselues together againe with great resolution to stay the course of this streame Talbot on the other side incourageth his men as going to a banket and not to a battaile he beates out the heads of pipes of Wine to make his men drinke himselfe being drunke with presumption and making his Souldiers drunke with the vaine hope of victorie being mounted vpon a little Nagge but followed by six or seuen thousand men they come to fight The combate was fierce but the English are repulsed scattered and ouer-throwne There were two thousand slaine vpon the place and amongst the rest The English defeated and Talbot slaine Talbot was ouer throwne from his horse and slaine with his Sonne The Earle of Candal sonne to Captal de Buche Montferrand and Anglade are taken prisoners Esparre escapes for an other time In the end Castillon yeelds at discretion Saint Million and Liborne returne to the Kings obedience to the great content of the inhabitants being surprized to their griefe Charles did also warrant them from all losse in this reprise Cadillac Langon Villandras and S Maquaire shake off the English yoake at one instant and open their gates with their hearts The Kings armie goes from thence to Bourdeaux being full of Englishmen but fuller of feare seeing the English lothe to buy it so deare as Talbot had done so as they suffer the French to wander at their pleasure vp and downe the country of Medoc This victory was due to the presence of Charles who being arriued at Fronsâc the which was held a place inuincible by force it yeelds as vanquished The English haue their liues granted them with a white wand through the bounty of Charles Charles puââ to death the French Captaines that reuolted He doth not so intreate the reuolted French for the Captaine of Cadillac being taken is beheaded for an exemplatie punishment From thence he comes to Bourdeaux the which was the chiefe place of his affaires but the multitude that came vnto his seruice was admirable they came from all parts knowing that the King was present so willingly do the French obey their Prince There were foure thousand English remaining in the Towne Bourdeaux bââsieged and as many of their faction being drawne together from diuers parts of the country the siege continued two moneths Charles had built vp Bulwarkes to stop the entrie and to incounter the English defences but there were no memorable assaults The sicknesse which increased in the Kings armie hastened the composition for the Citty the which he might haue forced but that he desired to spare the bloud of his subiects The composition was thus made That all the English should passe into England with their goods that the Cittizens of Bourdeaux should be all in the Kings protection taking a new oath And yeelded by composition neuer to rebell against him their Soueraigne Lord. And for that some of the country and of the Citty of Bourdeaux had drawne in the King of England contrary to their oath the King pardoning the greatest number he should chose twenty at his pleasure to banish them out of the Realme their goods remaining forfeited to the Crowne of this number were Captal de Buâhe and Candal his sonne Duras Anglade Rosan and Esparre who in the end lost his head being found guiltie of a new treason a yeare after this pardon The Cittizens of Bourdeaux renue their oath of fidelitie with teares and receiue a great garrison to preuent all surprises they build two strong Castels to that end one towards the Sea called Castell Trompette an other towards the maine named Castell du Ha. The Earle of Clermont gouernour of Guienne remaines in the Citty to settle the Kings authority Charles carried this true commendation in the recouery of his losse to haue doubled his army by the good order which he caused to be carefully obserued and by his victorie in vanquishing his enemies not onely by force but by clemencie his subjects by loue and mildnesse So as both the treachery of these disloials and the rashnesse of his enemies with their new attempts were parts due to his victory so much the more admirable for that he doth vanquish when as he seemed vanquished he winnes when as in shew he was lost and forced as it were to warre for the desire he had of peace he reaped the âruites both of warre and peace The fruites of Charles his victorie in fighting valiantly and vsing the victorie modestlie to the eternall memorie of posteritie Charles returnes from Bourdeaux to Tours hauing happily finished so doubtfull an action But oh the inconstancie of this world England which had so much troubled vs takes occasion to trouble it selfe for the losses which they supposed to haue made of that which they had taken from vs and as affection is wayward and often blind so it sowes dissention vpon strange subiects Troubles in England The Dukes of Yorke Somerset and Glocester accuse one another and make factions within the realme Richard Duke of Yorke being of a branche of the bloud royall pretended the Crowne to belong more iustly vnto him then vnto Henry the 6. then raigning but contemned by reason of his great losses and of his naturall defects Somerset being fauoured by the King as the ringleader of his faction was pursued by Yorke and so cunningly as the Londoners hating him as the cause of all the losses in France put him in prison but in the end he was freed by the Kings authoritie This diuision burst out into open warre vnder the names of two factions Lancaster from whence
hundred horse with a sufficient number of foote to keepe the place The Cittizens of Colongne with their neighbours arme sixteene thousand foote and incampe vpon the Rhin right against the Duke to cut off his victualls that came out of Gueldres and to stay the boats with their Cannon The Emperour and Princes both spirituall and temporall do arme as the King had often solicited them they send vnto him to make a triall of his intent Lewis failes not to graunt what they demanded promising twenty thousand men when as the Imperiall army should be at Colongne But he had worke at home Edward King of England discontented The English prepare for France that Lewis had supported Henry and the Earle of Warwicke against him prepares in the Bourguignons fauour fifteene hundred maisters all Gentlemen well mounted and the most part barded which made a great number of horse 14000. Archers all on horse-backe with a great number of foote The Duke of Brittaine hauing already consented to rebellion should receiue three thousand English and ioyne his army with them as appeared by letters written by the hand of Vrfé sometimes master of the Kings horse and then seruant to the Britton the one letter to the king of England the other to Hastings great Chamberlaine of the said realme the which the King did buy of a Secretary of England for three score markes of siluer In the meane time the King treats of a peace with the Duke of Bourgongne to preuent this storme Lewis seekes for a peace of the Duke of Bourgongne is refused or at the least to prolong the truce The Duke excuseth himselfe vpon his word giuen to the English who labours to drawe the Duke from Nuz exhorting him to accomplish the conuentions considering his great charge and that the season fit for warre was almost spent To this ende the Lord Scales Nephew to the Constable makes two iournies to Charles who pretends by friuolous reasons that his honour is much ingaged in this siege and that hee could not rise without great blame Lewis procures to Charles many enimies Lewis to crosse him being alwayes his crafts master in any action eyther of warre or peace procures him many and new enimies It was no matter of difficulty to draw in René the sonne of the daughter of René King of Sicile the heyre of Lorraine by reason of his grandmother after the death of Iohn Duke of Calabria and Lorraine his Vncle and of the Marquis Nicholas sonne to the said Iohn For the Duke being dead Charles of Bouâgongne desirous to vnite thiâ Duchy to his country had caused him to be taken prisoner but he was deliuered in exchange for a young Germaine Prince who was taken studying at Paris and marching presently with his armye hee had easily deuoured that preie if the King following him had not forced him to passe on René Duke of Lorraine René therefore sends to defie him before Nuz and fortified by some French troupes commanded by the Lord of Craon he enters the Duchy of Luxembourg spoyles the country and razeth Pierre-forte a place of the said Duchy and neere to Nancie Sigismond of Austria Sigismond Archduke of Austria had in the yeare 1469. ingaged his country of Ferrete to the Duke of Bourgongne with all the lands he enioyed on eyther side the Rhin for threescore and ten thousand Crownes Charles had placed Peter of Hagenbach there for Gouernour a wicked man a violent extortioner and insupportable both to the nobility people who complaine to Sigismond beseeching him to succour them against the outrage concussions of Hagenbach Sigismond had beene long in dislike with the Suisses his neighbours but by the Kings meanes they were all easily reconciled So they conclude a league in the which the imperiall Citties ioyne Strausbourg Basill Colmar and Slestad and contribute to furnish the summe due by Sigismond to Charles And many Imperiall citties the which they consigne into the hands of a banker at Basill then the inhabitants of these ingaged lands signifie vnto the Duke of Bourgongne that they hold themselues freed of the oath they had made vnto him And holding themselues freed from the Bourguignons obedience they reiect his Lieutenant generals coÌmands To suppresse them he assembles a great troupe of Picardes Flemings Hennuiers and Lombards and on Chistmas day at night a good worke on a good day hee seekes to bring them secretly into Enshem The Cittizens beate them back kill and take many the rest flie to Brizac with Hagenbac The Brizançons arme and are the stronger they ââize on the gouernor expell the soldiars and then do they speedily informe of his mildemeanors giuing intelligence to all their allies and demand Iudges to iudge of the processe They depute some from Alsatia Strasbourg Basill Songoye of the blacke forest Fribourg Berne Soleure and other places who condemne Hagenbach to dâe vpon foure principall crimes The Duke of Bâââgongâââ Lieutenant executed by the Suisses for that he had caused foure men of honour to bee beheaded at âhan without any forme of Lawe to haue made and displaced officers at his pleasure contrarie to his oath to haue brought in forraine nations into places with all liberty and for that he had rauished women forced virgins and committed incest with Nunnes The Duke of Bourgongne aduertised of the death of Hagenbach resolues to be reuenged of such as had beene actors And herevpon Henry Earle of Vittemberg and Montbeliard is taken by the Dukes men Those of Basill aduertised hereof send a number of men with artillery to Montbeliard to stop the Bourguignons passage who suÌmons the Castell the which refusing to yeeld he sends six thousand horse vnder the commande of Stephen Hagenbach to reuenge his brothers death Open warre betwixt the Dukeof Bourgongne and the Suisses and to make war vpon the Bishop of Basill who whilest that Sigismond assembles his coÌfederats spoiles about thirty villages killes takes carries away and ransomes men women children and cattle Behold a strong party made against Charles of Bourgongne by the Kings policy whereby the Suisses entring into Bourgongne take Blasmont beseege Hericourt defeate the Bourguignons that come to succor it and kill two thousand which done they retyre The truce nowe expired as the King had vnderhand stirred vp the Duke of Lorraine Lewis his exploits the truce being expired the Germains and the Suisses against the Duke of Bourgongne sufficiently busied before Nuz he now by open force takes from him spoiles and burnes Tronquoy Montdidier Roye Montreul and Corbye and then sends the bastard of Bourbon Admirall of France Generall of this army before Arras and there abouts who spoiles and consumes with fire most of the places lying betwixt Abbeuille and Arras The Inhabitants of Arras force their men of warre to go to field vnder the commande of the Earle of Rhomont the Queenes brother But the Admirall hauing layed a strong ambush sends forth about
confusion of the Duke of Bourgongne Let vs generally confesse that it is not now alone that God doth shew his singular grace and fauour to this Monarchie The Britton was watchfull and ioyntly with the Bourguignon they practised crosses of dangerous consequence The English from a generall demand of the Crowne of France restraine himselfe to the Duchie of Normandie oâ Guienne But a franke demander requires a bold denier Lewis protests that hee would doo any thing to send the King of England out of this realme but to yeeld him the possession of any lands hee will rather put all to hazard Hee had a goodly and mighty army which they esteemed saith the Originall a hundred thousand fighting men and in shew might doo much the English being in bad termes with the Bourguignon But the quietest course is the best and both being willing to agree an accorde is soone made In the end the King graunts the English three-score and twelue thousand Crownes present paiment Paris lent the money vpon promises of restâtution by the feast of All Saints next following Articles of agreemeÌt with the English the marâiage of Charles with the eldest daughter of King Edward both being yet very young neither shall it take effect and for the estate of her house the Duchie of Guienne or fiftie thousand Crownes yearely payable in the Tower of London for nine yeares following at the end whereof hee and his wife quietly to enioy the reuenues of the sayd Duchie and the King should remaine discharged of the payment of 50000 Crownes to King Edward Moreouer the King promised sixteene thousand Crownes pension to some of Edwards fauorites who had much assisted in this reconciliation to Hastings two thousand to Howard to Iohn Chene Maister of the Horse to Sellenger Montgommeri and some others the remainder and besides there was great store of Siluer and Plate distributed among King Edwards seruants so euery Saint had his candle These conditions performed Edward should repasse the Sea and leaue Howard and the Maister of his Horse in hostage vntill he had recouered England yet not without an enterview of both Kings This peace should continue nine yeares comprehending the the Dukes of Bourgongne and Brittanie if they pleased The Bourguignon hearing these newes hastes his returne to the English followed onely with sixteene hundred Horse The Duke of ãâã come to king Edward At his âirst arriuall hee discouers his inward passions by his outward countenance But hee came too late to preuent it Edward tells him that hee hath made a truce for nine yeares and exhorts him to enter according to the reseruation he had made He reprocheth King Eâwaâd for making a truce Charles replies by fitts and after a reprochfull manner That Edwards Predecessors Kiâgs of England had performed many high exploits in France and with much sweare and toyle had woâne great reputation He checketh him that hee did not procure the English to passe for any neede he had but onely to giue them occasion to recouer their ancient inheritance And to make it manifest that hee had no neede of their comming hee would not accept of any truce with the King vntill that Edward had beeâe three monethes in his owne Country And hauing thus sayd heereturnes towards Luxembourg from whence hee came A brauadoe of ill digestion to the English and his Counsell but plausible to all the friendes of confusion But what is become of our Constable is there no speech of him during this treatie The Constaâââ perplexed Nowe is hee more incombred with feare then euer Hee knowes well that he hath displeased the King the English and the Bourguignon all alike and still hee apprehends the conclusion at Bouuines In the meane time hee seekes to please all and setts a good face on it Edward had freely made offer to the French Ambassadors to name some Noblemen that were Traitors sayd hee to the King and his Crowne and to proue it by their hand-writings The King holds a Counsell vpon this matter some maintayne Edward discouers the constables disseins that this accusation is fraudulent and that the English would make his demandes the greater with the wracke of an others honour as hauing good intelligence in France But Lewis his iudgement was more sharpe hee knewe the Bourguignons courses he considered the season that the English had not any one place in their hands and that the Bourguignon had deceyued them Moreouer he knewe well that the Constable would not giue them any entry and least he should bee farther imbarked in the league the King entertayned him with many letters and kept him in good humour and the Constable likewise sent often to the King yet alwayes swimmyng betwixt two streames vnderstanding that the treaty betwixt the two Kings grewe to some perfection he seemed well satisfied and sends Lewis of Creuille a gentleman of his house and Iohn Richer his Secretary aduising the King that to auoyde this threatning forraine tempest hee should procure a truce to satisfie the English it were good to graunt them one or two smal Townes to winter in Hee supposed in doing this the English should be beholding to him and to rest fully satisfied for the affront at Saint Quentin Note alwaies that Lewis was a wonderfull instrument of diuision when he pleased Lewis subtill industry Contây a prisoner at the defeate of Arras went and came vpon his faith to the Duke of Bourgongne to treat a peace Hee was by chance in Court at the comming of these two persons The King hides him in his Chamber behinde the hangings to heare and report to his master the speeches the Constable and his people held of him Creuille by the Kings commandement with a loud voice sayd that the Constable had sent theÌ to the Duke of Bourgongne with many instructioÌs to diuide him from the English and that they had found the sayd Duke so farre incensed as by their perswasions he was not onely readie to abandon them but to charge them in their retreat Creuille in speaking this did counterfet the gesture of a passionate Prince stamping and sweaâing S. George the oath of Charles of Bourgongne saying that he called the King of England Blanâborgne and the sonne of an Archer whose name he carried words accompained with all the indignities that might bee spoken This mooued laughter in the King who taking pleasure at the repetition thereof and seeming somewhat deaffe made him to straine his voice in the report Contay no lesse amazed then the King was pleased would neuer haue beleeued it if he had not heard it And although it grieued the King much to dissemble the Constables counsell to giue some places to the English yet would hee not discouer his discontent to these deputies but answered them gratiously I wil send to my Brother the Queene the Constables wife were Sisters and let him vnderstand my minde hauing cunningly drawen a promise from his Secretary to reueale
what did concerne him And at the same instâât hee dispatcheth Contay to the Duke his maister with letters of credit of the Kings owne hand and somewhat to satisfie the Constable he giues the English Eu and S. Vallery to lodge in during the treaty of peace In the meane time oh notable trechery behold one of the Constables ordinarie trickes hee sends his confessor to the King of England with letters of credit The Constables trechery and intâeats him earnestly not to trust to the Kings promises but rather to seize vpon Eu and Saint Valery and there to passe some part of the winter That within two monethes hee would lodge him better Yet he giues him no other security but much hope and an offer to lend him fiftie thousand crownes with many other goodly shewes Edward reiects the Constables counterfeit offers to drawe him from so profitable an accord Edward answers that the truce is concluded and that he will not alter any thing That if he had kept his word he would haue accepted it Thus our Constable dispaires on all sides The King foreseeing that the CoÌstable wold thrust Edward into iealousie resolued by his bounty to take away all cause of suspect 1465. for the effecting whereof he sends Edward three hundred carts laden with the best wine he could get Lewis his policie to preuent the Constables practises and within halfe a League within Amiens Edward lod ging within halfe a league for confirmation of the truce he causeth two long tables to be set vp at the entry of the Towne couered with exquisite meats and all kindes of prouocations to drink with men to attend all comeâs and goers at the table At euery table were fiue or six men of reputation fatt and big the better to incourage the Drinkers amongest others were the Lords of Craon Briquebeâ Bresme and Villiers gentlemen of a pleasant humour and wheresoeuer the English tooke any lodging they might not spend any thing This bounty coÌtinued three or foure daies during the which if Lewis had ment treacherously he had good means they entâcing into Amiens confusedly to the number of nine thousand for of this great multitude some did sing some slept ouercome with wine and drousines But contrarywise he comitted the gard of the gate to English Archers whome Edward at Lewis his request had sent to take in and put out whome they pleased It was then concluded to appoint a place for an entervewe of these two Kings It is done with lesse confusion and hazard in a smal place Picqugny vpon Somme was held conuenient an antient prophesie which the English obserued described this very place To this effect they build vpon the bridge two pentises of wood An entervewe of the Kings the one for Lewis the other for Edward either of them capable of ten or twelue men Betwixt both was a partition with grates to put through ones armes going ouerthwart the bridge that no man might go from the one to the other Lewis made his profit of fore-passed euents he knew that if the barre at Montereau had had no more passage then this Iohn Duke of Bourgongne had not ended his dayes so lamentablie in the narrowe bounds thereof The 28. of August Lewis comes fiâst to the barre accompanied with Iohn Duke of Bourbon the Cardinall his brother and followed only with about eight hundred men at armes Edward comes after hauing with him the Duke of Clarence his brother the Earle of Northumberland his Chamberlain Hastings His Chancellor others and behind him all his army in battaile Either King had twelue men about him foure of the which went from one part to an other to search if there were nothing practised to the preiudice of their maisters They imbrace each other through the grate and sweare vpon the holy Bible to obserue the articles agreeed vpon The othe taken Lewis mingling his serious discours with some mirth inuites Edward to come to Paris that he would feast him with the Ladies and giue him the Cardinall of Bourbon for his Confessor a pleasant man and of free life who willingly would giue him absolution if happily he should sinne in that case Then they conferre together a while without any witnesses And vpon the Kings demand whether the Duke of Bourgongne would not accept of the truce men take an oxe by the horne and a man by his word a nd with the like policie the Duke of Bourgongne might haue bin surprised at his departure from Liege Edward answered that he might doe as he pleased I will summon him againe he saith if he will not harken to it I will referre my selfe to you two This accord being made Lewis begins to play vpon an other string makes the like demande touching the Duke of Brittain for whome he cheefely made the motion But he findes the English resolute in his protection The politike proceding of Lewis as hauing found no friend so kinde in his affliction Lewis surceaseth and with a wonderfull curtesie takes leaue of the King of England contents all his folowers with some kinde words and giues presents to some priuate Noblemen the Heralds trompets who to shew their thankfull mindes began to cry Alargesse for the most noble and mighty King of France a largesse ãâã largesse He hath alwayes made it manifest that he was exceeding suspitious and that from an antecedent he could cunningly draw a good consequence He is no sooner on his way to Amiens but he studies of Edwards facility to harken to the going to Paris that he was a very goodly Prince and of an amorous complexion and that some nice Parisien might stay him longer then his estate required 1475. or at the the least drawe him to passe the sea an other time that his Predecessors had loued Paris and Normandie but too well He therefore desires to see their backes and must by some meanes bring him from this desire wishing rather to haue him his good brother friend beyond the seas then here The necessitie which forced the King against the Burguignon serued for an excuse Moreouer the King was grieued to see the English so resolute to defend the Brittons quarrell he would gladly haue obtained that freedome to make warre in Brittaine the which hee wonderfully affected and made a second motion vnto him by Bousâhâge S. Fierre who returned with this answere That whosouer doth attempt saith he against the Duke of Brittaine I will passe the seas in person and succour him So hee was no more importuned The reason why King Edward protects the duke of Brittanie Edward had an especial cause to entertain the loue of the Duke of Brittanie for at the defeat of Henry King of England as wee haue heard Henry Earle of Richmont and neerest kinsman to the said Henry after the death of his sonne the Prince of Wales saued himselfe with his vncle the Earle of Pembroke and hauing entred a barke in hast they
were with tempest driuen vpon the coast of Brittaine and there forced to take land where they were seized on and led with sure guards to Vannes A verie happie chance for the Duke for while hee holds this goodly gage hee was assured to commaund the forces of England but very vnhappy for the Earle for if hee might haue landed in France Lewis without doubt to crosse Edward would haue laboured to restore him This truce did wonderfully displease some of Edwards househould seruants Lewis of Brettailles among the rest a gentleman of Gascony Edwards seruants discontented with the truce was greatly discontented giuing out that the King his maister hauing in person wonne nine battails had gotten more dishonour by the voluntary losse of this tenth which was in a manner gotten then he had purchased honour in the former nine That the French might with reason laugh at Edwards credulous facilitie Lewis aduertised by the Lord of Argenton of this Gascons free discourse resolues to stoppe his mouth to the end he should not hereafter spend his tongue to the preiudice of this Estate He sends for him Lewis a free buier of meÌs seruices and makes him dine with him offers him great aduancements so as hee will serue him Vpon his refusall hee giues him a thousand crownes presently and promiseth to doe good for his brethren that remayned in France binding him to maintaine as much as in him did lie the friendship growing betwixt these two Crownes Bretailles did not iudge amisse Our Lewis had sometimes a more liberal tongue then was conuenient and feared much least some words had passed him whereby the English might discouer that he mocked him and so it chaunced yet behold how hee couered it The day after this enteruewe being in his Cabinet he fell to iest of the wines other presents he had sent to the English But hee discouered not a Gascoyne marchant dwellâing in England who by chance was crept in to obtaine a lycense of the King for the transporting of certaine pipes of wine freed froÌ impost This marchant might talke he must therefore be woon and staied in France vnder some apparent pretext The King sent the Lord of Argenton to talke with him aduaunceth him to a good office in the towne where he was borne hee giues him a thousand frankes presently to transport his familie the transport of wines he required and a man to condâct him to Bourdeaux but all vppon condition that not he but his brother should make the voyage into England Thus the King made amends for his rashe speech Edward is now vnder saile he was a newe Conqueror Causes that mooued Edward to passe and to returne home into England his presence was therefore more needful in England he did neuer much affect the voyage Two principal reasons dâewe him into the action The one was all his subiects gaping after the possession of this Crowne did sollicit him and the Bourguignon prest him An other was he might reserue a good part of the mony that should bee raysed for this voyage for the Kings of England leuie no thing aboue their reuenues but for the warres of Fraunce But see the policie of Edward he had of purpose brought with him ten or twelue of the chiefe bourgesses of the Cittie whose credit was great with the Commons and who had with all care procured this taxe These men were soone weary with this military toile Presuming that at the first arriuall a profitable battaile should decide the quarrell And to make them tast more fealinglie the sweetenesse of peace from the sharpenesse of warre Edward doth sometimes trouble their heads with doubts sometimes with feares to keepe them from murmuring at his returne into England On the other side he loued his pleasures was of a complexion not able to endure the trauells requisite for the conquest of this Realme and although the King was ouercharged with enemies yet had he prouided well for his defence But see the most vrgent reason of Edwards retreate The performance he desired of the marriage betwixt the Daulphin and his daughter A marriage which made him dissemble many things whereof Lewis will make his profit To conclude as they which haue beene deceiued in their friendship hate without dissembling Edward seâââs the Constables letters vnto Lewis Edward before hee parted from Calais sent the King those two letters of credit which the Constable had written vnto him with all other verball assurances which he had giuen him Sufficient testimonies to accuse and conuince him of those crimes wherewith he shal be hereafter charged Let vs nowe reconcile the Duke of Bourgongne and Brittain with the King Contay was now returned from the Duke of Bourgongne the day of the enterviewe and had found his maister in a good humour when as the English were returned Hugonnet Chancellor of Bourgongne other Ambassadors for the duke meete at a bridge midde way betwixt Auennes and Veruins in Hainault so well accompanied with Archers and other men of warre that one of the English hostages whome the King had led with him tooke occasion to say that if the Duke of Bourgongne had beene followed with many such men when he came to salute King Edward peraduenture they had not made a peace Discontent betwixt the English and Bougguâgnons The Viconte of Narbonne answered That the Duke wanted no such men and that hee had sent them to refresh themselues but six hundered pipes of of wine and a pension which the King gaue them made them hast home to their Country The English mooued herewith It is as euery mansaied replies he that you wold deceiue vs. Do you call the money the King giues vs a pension It is a tribute and by Saint George you may talke so much as we will returne againe This quarrell stayed their proceeding neyther did they preuaile any more the second time when as the King appointed Tanneguy of Chastel and the Chanceller Oriole to heare the sayd Ambassadors at Veruins but the third assembly which was in the Kings Chamber made a full conclusion and in truth Brezey had reason to say one day to the King that his horse was well laden when he was on him A truce betwixt Lewis and the Bourguignons for that hee carried all his Counsell with him for in deed he did effect more in his presence then al his Ambassadors togither where there was a truce accorded for nine yeares according to the other but by reason of the oath which Charles of Bourgongne had sworne to Edward in his choller it might not be published vntill the 17. of October following Edward discontented that the Duke of Bourgongne would treate a part sends Montgomery a Knight very inward with him to the King to Veruins Edward offers to ayde Lewis against the Bourguignon hee requires two things the one that hee would take no other truce with the Duke then that which hee had made the other that hee
ãâã in the King if he heard thereof he caused them to be trussed vp in packes of silke with cotton These armes passing vpon moyles through Aâuergne The Duke of ãâã armes ãâã Doyac Gouerâor âf the Country had some intelligence and aduertiseth the King thereof who dâclâreâ them forfeited to the benefit of Doyac This buying of armes made Lewis to gâpe more then euer after Brittain but he defâr the execution to practise the Gouernors of Gand by the Lord of Cordes and treats tâe mârrâage of the Daulphin his son with Marguerit the daughteâ of Maximilian and ãâã lately deceased The late suâprise of Aire by de Cordes amazed the Flemings and ãâã made theÌ willing to seeke an agrement with the King To this end Maximiââân they togither send a great Ambassage to Arras managed for the Arche-duke bâ the Lords of Bârgues and Launoye âiâh some Secretarâes and for the Comonalties bâ the Abbots of S. Bârtin and Saint Peter of Gand. âhe King appoints his Lieutenant generâll in Picardie to heare theÌ with la Vacquârie lately created first President of the ãâã of Paris and other graue peâsonâges A peace is concluded by meanes of ãâ¦ã marriage in fauor whereof they giue as a portion to the sayd Marguerit the ãâã of Arthois Bourgongne the Lands and Seigneuries of Mâsconois Auxerrois Chârolois Salins Bar Sens and Noyon to enioye them for euer A peace betwixt the King and Maximilian And in case that young ãâã Earle of Flanders should die Marguerite should succeed him in all the Lordships that belonged to her deceased mother the souerainty of Flanders remayning to the King By meanes hereof the Artesiâns that haâ beene confined returned to Arras and the Citty recouered her ancient name Thus Marguerite was conducted into France by the Lady of Rauastein the bastard dââghter of âhilip Duke of Bourgongne and receiued by the Duke Duchesse of Bourbon who lâd her to Amboise the place of the Daulphins abâade where the marriage âas solâemnly celebrated Eâward King of England was wonderfully inceâsed at this maâriage seing himâelfe depriued of hââ peâsion The Dâulphins mârriage with Maâguerite and fearing least this disgrace should bâeed him great contempt yea a rebellioÌ of his subiects seing the effects of that which he would not beleeue Moreouer he did finde the King had newly planted strong defences betwixt them two and his conquests did stretch very neere vnto him He concâââed so great a griefe vpon all these considerations as soone after he died partly for ãâã and partly of an Apoplexie Soonâ after the death of Edward Lewis recâââes letters frâm the Duke of Glocester Edward of England dies who by the murther of his two Nephewes tâe sonnes of Edward his brother had vsuâped the Crowne of England and was called Richard This Richard sought the Kings friendship but Lewis abhoring so barbarous a câuelâie would not vouchsaâe to answere his letters nor to heare his message But he enioyed not long this tirannous vsurpation Troubles it England Richard murthers his two Nephews vsurpes the Crowne God raised vp that Earle of Ricâemont whome we haue seene so long prisoner in Brittain who with some little money froÌ the King and 3. thousand men leuied in the Duchie of Normandy passed into Walles ioyned with his father in law the Lord Stanley with 26. thousand English with which forces he encouÌtred Richard fought with him and slewe him in the field then waâ câowned King of England At the same time William of Marche brother to him whom tâey commonly caâled the Boare of Ardenne to install his sonne in the Bishoprike of Lâege leaues a great number of foote and horse and beseegeth Lewis brother to the Duke of Bourbon being Bishop there The Bishop craues succors froÌ the Arche-duke of Austria and the Prince of Orange his brother in lawe who not able to come in time anâââest by some secret partisans of la Marche he goes forth in armes to fight with his enemy was slaine whereby la Marche entred into Leige but soone after he was surprised by the Lord of Montaigni aided with some troupes froÌ the Archduke sodenly beheaded 1483. Our Lewis is now well satisfied touching the affaires of Flanders there remained nothing but a reuenge of Brittaine The last act of Lewis his life But oh how doth suspition feare distrust and finally death breake off his great desseins He is now at Plessis neere Tours priuate solitarie and shewing himselfe to few He feares a decay of his estate and yet is become vnable to gouerne a great Estate The opening of a doore feares him his owne shadow amazeth him death terrifies him but the worst is his conscience troubles him Hee puts his most trustie seruants from him hee doubts his neerest kinsmen hee abhors them he suspects them suspects al the world Those whom he doubts most hee dismisseth His disposition in his declining age with a couple of his gard to guide them pensiue sad dreaming froward peeuish and cholerick euery thing displeaseth him all is vnseasonable all offends him he knowes not what is fittest for him either life or death and yet would he liue raigne He knowes that he hath many enemies and hath offended many that the greatest of the Princes loue him not that the meaner sort murmured and that the people hated him for he hath ouercharged them yea more then any of his Predecessors and hath not meanes to ease them and although he hath a will yet it is now too late Oh what a greeuous testimonie is the conscience of our misdeeds fewe enter at Plessis Consciencia mille âââtes but his houshold seruants and the Archers of his gard whereof there are fouâe hundred daily in gard at the gate No Nobleman lodgeth there none come there but his sonne in law Peter afterwards Duke of Bourbon by the death of Iohn his brother and few of his followers and yet he thinkes still that some one enters in to offer vâolence to his person or that by loue or force they will pull his scepter from him He causeth his sonne to bee straitly garded and will not suffer many to see him least hee should be made the head of a faction His daughter hath no accâsse to him His son in law no credit His sonne in Law returnes from the Daulphins marriage Lewis with a deuise makes the Captaine of his gard to search such as are entred with the Duke to see if they were not secretly armed He commands him to hold the Counsell then he dissolues it for in his abseÌce they would make Monopoles Who did euer see a mind more distract more vnquiet and fuller of cares Hee distrusts his sonne his daughter his sonne in law and generally all those that may commaund The Castle gate is safely garded but they may leape ouer the walls they must bee planted with gadds of iron with many points and so thicke as no man might
valiantly defended as assailed Gouiâquet thrust into the thigh with a pike is carried out of the fight The night brings counsell those which had withstood 2. assaults will be vnable for the 3. being now weakned of one of their chiefe supports who was made vnable to serue by reason of his hurt moâning being come a truce is graunted to take aduice of their Duchesse Rohan presseth it the Captaines seeing their men decayed in number as well by the taking of the suburbs as at the two assaults coÌpound for ten thousand Crownes to the Generall to retire his armie and to receiue them into his protection promising to furnish victuals and munition for the siege of Concq the which he had charge from the King to besiege and for want of present money by reason of the losses sustained by the warre Fougeres taken to giue hostages But this parle was friuolous During which time Captaine Boissel declares himselfe for the French seizeth of the gate of the Tower Quencile and brings in the Earle of Quintin who gaped onely for reuenge of this place hee takes and spoiles the Towne and ransomes the inhabitants and amongst them Captaine Chero Gouiequet saues himselfe at la Roche de Rien This chanced the 23. of Ianuarie after fiue dayes siege Concq yeelds vpon the approach and Brest followed a most strong place and the key of all the Countrie Thus Ploermel Ghasteaubriant Malestroit Vitré Fougeres S. Malo Dinan S. Aulbin Guingamp The pittifull estate of Brittanie Concq Brest and other places are in the Kings power The Nobilitie dispossessed for the most part of their best places shroud themselues vnder the conquerors there is small hope of succours The English are diuided amongst themselues the King of the Romains hath worke at home and those small succours that come from both preuaile nothing there is no money in the Treasury the Souldiers are not paid the Crowne is worth eight Frankes Anne is forced to sell of her reuenues for the maintenance of her house and to aggrauate these mischiefes her counsell is greatly diuided about her maâiage The Marshall of Rieux and the Lady of Laual hold for Alain of Albret· but she will none of him She protests that what soeuer she had done in her fathers life was in respect of him being loth to disobey him or to cause his griefe and causeth the said protestation to be signified vnto him The Chancellor the Earle of Cominges support her against the Marshall he flyes to armes and besiegeth the Chancellor at Guerrende being seized of Annes person to keepe her from falling into his hands who would marry her against her will where he pleased but he could not enter All these confusions made an easie way to the King for the execution of his enterprises Being thus oppressed she sends to her allies the Kings of England Castile and Romaines the English succours her and in a manner beyond her expectation with an army of nine or ten thousand men vnder the command of Chene Maister of the horse accompanied with the Comptroller and Ambassador of England not for any hatred he bare vnto the King but for feare of too mighty a neighbour if hee vnited this goodly Prouince to the Crowne The Marshall of Rieux hauing an other meaning a part seeking to tye the English commanders vnto him and to draw them to his faction sends the maister of the horse of Brittanie and the Lord of Kaërousi to Penmarch to receiue this Ambassador and to offer him a conuoy to go to the Duchesse who to haue this armie neere vnto her person makes it to land at Croisiâ a port neere vnto Guerrende And to haue the people at his deuotion Rieux giues out that the Earles of Dunois and Cominges the Chancellor and others had laied a plot to deliuer the Duchesse to the King of France Anne fortified with this new supply goes to field desirous her selfe being a Virgin to attend the Marshall of Rieux if he presented himselfe and being preuented of her entry into Nantes by the Marshall shee retires to Rennes to giue order for the recouery of Guingamp For this effect she assembles some troupes being assured that the French garrison could not be sodenly releeued the Kings armie being imploied farre off in the conquest of the Townes of base Britaine These troupes were seized of Pontrieu and to stop the courses of Guingamp had sent some Gentlemen with a number of the common people Those of Guingamp incouÌter them charge them ouerthrow them kill many of the chiefe gentlemen of note William of Rostrenen Lord of Breledi Yuon of Ploësqueler Seigneur of Kaërgabin Yuon of Lesuersault Kaërloët Pontglou Kaernechrion Botloy The Brittons ouercome ãâã Pontrieu Pregent the eldest sonne to the Lord of Lanechriou and an infinite number of the commons They presently take Pontrieu sack it and burne it This was the 7. of Aprill The next day Gouicquet aduertised that about 1500. men of the English armie appeared at the Isle of Brehat he went vnto them and so wrought with the commanders as they landed at Pontrieu The French hauing notice hereof being about 1500. horse being loth to ingage their honours in a place not to be held without succors and ill furnished with victuals and munition they set fire of many places of the towne carry away what they can exact 12. thousand crownes of the inhabitants and retire themselues leading eight hostages for the security of fifty thousand Frankes granted by the inhabitants to the Vicount of Rohan This English armie was presently followed by another of Spaniards commanded by Don Diego Peres of Sarmiento Earle of Salmas consisting of 2000. men at armes and a great number of foote Now Anne is strong Anne succoâred by the English and Spanish fortified with two new armies and the king feares that in steed of inuading another mans country he shall be forced to defend his owne To preuent all danger he fortifies his frontiers sends Francis of Luxembourg Vicount of Martigues Charles of Marigni to Henry the 7. K. of England to draw him from the alliance of Brittany considering his bond vnto the King by whose meanes he was installed in the royall throne but they were fruitlesse admonitions The King calls for his Nobilitie and all his companies of ordinary and resolues to enter Brittaine with the greatest forces of his Realme Iâ the meane time he putts two thousand foure hundred foote into Chasâeaâgontier and Prouence Iohn of Bellay with his company of fortie Lances into Brest into Coâcq Claude of Montfauson and Bongars Captaine of foote with artillery victualls and munition and foure thousand French and Suisses were distributed into Dinan Fougeres Saint Malo and Vitre But this was not sufficient to assure these places a man of seruice doth ofte times import more then the whole bodie of a Towne He therfore practiseth with Iohn of Quelleneâ Vicont of Fou The Admiral of Brittanie for the King Admirall
death of the Duke of Nemours for if he had liued it is likely that gouerning well his victory hee had with his helpe that giues and takes reaped the fruits worthie thereof But greatnesse comes neyther from the east nor from the west nor from the desert for it is God which gouerns he puls downe one and raiseth an other The Pope still gaped with his olde desire to haue Ferrare in his power But by the intercession of the Marquis of Mantoua the Ambassador of the King of Arragon for that Alphonso was borne of a daughter of olde Ferdinand King of Naples and the Colonnes Alphonso hauing demanded and obtayned pardon of the Pope vpon promise hereafter to do the deeds and duties of a faithfull feudatarie and vassall of the Church Iulius turnes his reuenge vpon the companies wherewith the Florentins had aided the King whome hee caused to bee spoiled by the Venetian soldiars with the consent of the Cardinall of Sion who notwitstanding had giuen them a pasport to passe safely into Tuscane And by the practises of the sayd Iulius who according to the ancient desire of all Popes sought to haue authority in this commonweale the Medicis with the helpe of the Confederats returned to Florence settled themselues by force in the dignity which their father was wont to enioye Italie being for this time freed froÌ the feare of the French forces the King holding nothing but Bresse Creme Legnague the Châsâelet and the Lanterne at Genes the Castells of Milan of Cremona and some other forts all these Confederats gaped after the Duchie of Milan and the Suisses on whome the Pope then partly depended opposing themselues not to suffer this estate to fall into the hands of any other Prince but of such a one as could not maintaine himselfe without their aide and succour Maximilian grandchild to Lodowike Sforce was named Duke of Milââ who made his entrie in the end of December receiuing the keyes from the hands of the Cardinal of Sion Sforce restored to Milan as confirming the sayd Maximilian That he held the possession of Milan in the Suisses name An honorable act and worthy of their generosity not to yeeld the honour which belonged vnto theÌ to the other confederats the which notwithstanding tâey should much esteeme and it may be might haue obtained it for money Nouarre returnes soone after to the obedience of Sforce Then the Genouois recouered the Chastelet of Genes forten thousand Ducats giuen to the Captaine and the Venetians beseeging Bresse Aubigni who defended it resolues to deliâer ât to the Spaniards to breed a iealousie betwixt them euen as a fewe dââes before Palisse had giuen Legnague to the Emperour to nourish a discord bred betwixt the Emperour and the Venetians who beseeged it Octauian Sforce Bishop of Lode and gouernor of Milan sent foure thousand Suisses to conquer Creme for Maximilian Sforce but Benedict Cribaâio corrupted by gifts deliuered it to the Venetians with the consent of the Lord of Duras who kept the Castell This was of purpose to breede a diuision betwixt the Suisses and the Venetians A counsell generally concluded by the French which remayned of this ship-wrake the which in the end wrought some effects but the losse fell vpon the French for with this first disdaine of the Venetians against the Emperour by reason of Legnague behold a newe leuaine of discontent is laied by the Bishâp of Gurce Maximilians âmbassador at Rome Hee made great instance that the Venetians should deliuer Vincence to the Emperour wherevnto neither soliciting intrâaâings nor the Popes threats could induce the Venetians The Pope desyring to gratifie Maximilian that in his fauour he should approue the CouÌcell of Lateran against that of Pisa protested to the Ambassadors of Venice A new League where the Veââtians are excluded That he should be forced to pursue their common weâle both with spirituall and tempoâall armes So as nothing moâed with this protestation the Pope the Emperour the Arragonois renue the league of Cambraye declaring the Venetians to be excluded So the Emperour by the Bishop of Gurce in the next session of ths Councell of Lateran disauowed all them that had vsed his name in the Councell of Pisa and allowed that of Lateran In the meane time the six thousand English promised by Henry King of England were arriued at Fontaraby a Towne seated vpon the Ocean frontier of the realme of Spaine towards France to asâaile ioyntly according to the conuentions of the two Kings of Arragon and England father in Lawe and sonne the Duchie of Gâienne vpon this pretext the Arrogonois had intreated Iohn son to Alain of Albret and King of Nauarre âbut by reason of Katherin of Foix his wife heire of the sayd realme to remayne a newrer betwixt the King of France and him and that for the assurance thereof hee should deliuer certaine places into his hands promising to redeliuer them when the warre should be ended But the Nauarrois knowing well the demanders intent obtaines a promise of succors from King Lewis who to diuert the Arragonois forces treated with the Duke of Aâbe Lieutenant generall for Ferdinand in this army But when the one partie is vigilant and politike and the other âlouthfuâl there soone appeeres great effects The Industry vigilancie of Ferdinand the slackenesse and too great facility of Lewis who abused with the policie and deuises of his Nephew did equally hurt the Nauarrois who suffred himselfe likewise to bee deceiued with the fradulent hopes wherewith the Arragonois entertayned him who seeing the succors of France farre off Nauarre vsurped by the Arragonois the realme vnfurnished of forces and the places not yet fortified enters into Nauarre takes Pampelune and the other Townes of the realme abandoned by Iohn being vnable to defend it and fled into Bearne And hauing no lawfull title to possesse it publisheth that hee is lawfully seized thereon by the authority of the Apostolike sea whereby the sayd realme was giuen to the first that should conquer it by reason of the alliance which Iohn had with the King of France a sworne enemy to the Church and by the Popes bull both beeing subiect to the censure as heretikes scismatikes Without doubt the Pope holds not this prerogatiue of Iesus Christ to giue kingdomes and to expose them in prey for he exhorted to yeeld and not to take from Caesar and the Apostles did not busie themselues to diuide earthly possessions Moreouer is it lawfull for the Pope to vsurpe an other mans right giue away that which is not his owne and consequently the spirituall sword against those he cannot iudge hauing declared himselfe a party After the Conquest of Nauarre the English perswaded Ferdinand to the seege of Bayânâe who without this place made no reckoning of the rest of Guienne But he held that which he long wished for as a commodious Country and very necessary for the safetie of Spaine and could not affect the warre
on this side the Pyrenâe mountaines So as the English seeing that Ferdinand did vse them onely to satisfie his priuat couetousnesse tooke shipping and sayled into England To recouer this vsurped realme the King sent Francis Duke of Longneuille gouernour of âuienne Charles Duke of Bourbon sonne to Gilbert late Viceroy of Naples Odet of Foix Vicontu of Lautrec Iohn of Chabannes Lord of Palisse Marshall of France Peter of âerrââl the Lords of Maugiron Lude Barbezicux Turene Escars Ventadour Pompadour and other valiant Captaines and Gascons which hee assembled from all parts But the army being diuided by the dissention of the Duke of Longueuille who as Gouernour of Guienne pretended the commande to belong vnto him and the Duke of âourbon vnwilling to yeeld vnto him by reason of his quality proued fruitlesse for the King of Nauarre Thus the realme of Nauarre was inuaded by the Spaniards who remayned master thereof The departure of the English and the enterprise of Nauarre being made frustrate ãâã affects the affaires of Milan with greater vehemencie whilest that the Castel and that of Cremona held good but the opposition of so many enemies bred many ãâã There were many hopes to drawe some one of these from this common alli ãâ¦ã Bishop of Gurce had courteously giuen eare to a friend of the Cardinall of S. ãâ¦ã whome the Queene of France had sent vnto him and held one of his people at ãâ¦ã Court to make a motion that the King should bind him selfe to aide the ãâã against the Venetiânâ that Charles grand-child to Maximilian should ãâ¦ã âingâ yongest daughter to whome he should giue the Duchie of Milan ãâ¦ã the King shoâld yeeld vnto them the rights he pretended to the realme of Naples 1513. and that the said Duchy being recouered Cremona and Guiaradadde should be held by the Emperour Moreouer the Veneââans were wonderfully grieued at the Popes new treaty with the Emperour which put the King in hope to draw the Venetians vnto him The Arragonois came betweene by a politike stratageme to assure his new Conquest of Nauarre he had sent two Fryers into France it is the Spaniards custome to manage affaires by the meanes of religious persons to make their negâtiations the more graue and to colour their policies with more subtilty to treat with the Queene touching a general peace or a priuate betwixt the two Kings The amity of the Suisses did import much But remembring that by their forces Charles the 8. had first troubled the peace of Italy Lewis his successor by meanes thereof had conquered the Estate of Milan recouered Genes and ouerthrew the Venetians that at this present the Pope and other Potentates of Italie payed them annuall pensions to bee receiued into their confederacie They grew obstinate in refusing the Kings alliance whâch he sought by the Lords of Tremouille and Triuulce In the end the King being reiected by the Suisses seekes the Venetians who conclude to make a league with the King according to the capitulations made formerly betwixt them by the which Cremona Guiaradadde should remaine to theÌ Robertet Secrettary of the State Triuulâe and almost all the chiefe of the Councell approued this league But the perswasions of the Cardinall of S. Seuerin opposite to Triuulce and the Queenes authoriây who desired much the greatnes of her daughter by the foresaid marriage so as sâe might remaine with her vntill the consummation thereof made the King and his Councell incline to the Emperours party But discouering that these were but practises of the Emperour to make the King proceed more coldly in his courses he soone gaue it ouer Whilest that armes ceased on all sides the Popes passions encreased He reuiued his desseines against Ferrare Sienne Luques Florence and Genes and as if it had beene in his power to beat all the world at one instant he thrust the King of England into warre in whose fauour he had dispatcht a Bull in the Councell of Lateran whereby the title of most Christian was giuen vnto him and the Realme of France againe abandoned to him that should conquer it But as he deuised of all these things and without doubt of many other more high secâââs according to the capacity of his terrible spirit howe great so euer death ended the course of his present toyles the 21. day of February at night Pope Iulius dies A Prince doubtlesse of courage of admirable constancie and most worthy of glory if he had directed his intentions to aduance the Church by peace as hee sought to grow great in temporall things by policies in war Iohn Cardinall of Meâicâs succeeded âim and was called Leo .10 The happy memory of his father his lawfull election free from bribes and Sâmonye his faire conditions his liberality and mildnesse of spirit A new election gaue great hope of the quiet of Christendome Yet soone after his instalment he shewed plainely that he was rather successor of his predecessors hatred and couetous passions then of S. Peter According to the treaty of the aboue named Friers the Kings of France Arragon concluded a truce A truce betwixt ârance and Arragon whereby our Lewis hauing more liberty to thinke of the warres of Milan resolued to send an army knowing well that the people of that estate oppressed with excessiue taxes leauied to pay the Suisses and with the lodging and payment made to the Spaniards desired earnestly to returne to his obedience And to make this enterprise the more easie the accord propounded before with the Venetians was againe renued so as the Venetians considering that a concord with Maximilian keeping Verona from them was not sufficient to protect them from troubles and dangers and that hardly they should get such an occasion to recouer their estate they binde themselues by Andrew Gritti Peace betwixt the king of Fâance and the Venetians To ayde the King with eight hundred men at armes fifteene hundred light horse and ten thousand foot to recouer Ast Genes and the Duchie of Milan And the King to assist them vntill they had recouered all they had possessed in Lombardie and in the Marquisate of Treuise before the treaty of Cambray The King knew well it were but labour lost to seeke the Pope who desired to haue no Frenchman in Italy Yet the deuotion he had to the Romaine sea made him sue vnto Leo not to hinder him in the recouerie of the aboue named places offering not onely not to paâse any further but also at all times to make such peace with him as he pleased But Leâ âreading the steps of his Predecessor perswades the King of England to ioyne with the Arragonois in the oppression of France according to the Bull gâuen by Iulio he protested to continue in the League made with the Emperour with the Catholicke King and with the Suisses The King thus frustrate of a peace with the Pope A royall army in the Duâhie of Milan sends the Lord of Triuulce with fifteene
hundred Lances eight hundred light horse and fifteene thousand foote halfe French and halfe Lansquenets The whole Countrie was already in a mutinie the Earle of Mussocque sonne to âohn Iames of Triuulce was entred into Ast and Alexandria the French had taken Cremona Sonzin Lode and other places neere and the Milanois had excused themselues to their Duke who was at Nouarre for that hauing no man to defend them they made their composition with the French yet giuing him hope to returne to his subiection when as the Suisses and his confederates should ioyne in field Bartholmew of Aluiane Generall of the Venetian armie had taken Valege Pesquiere and Bresse when as the Kings armie at sea approching to Genes and finding Othobon and Sinibaud the sonnes of Lewis of Fiesque leading foure thousand foote and on the other side Antonel and Ierome Adornes Genes taken with a gâeat number of the country men they tooke Genes from the Fregoses where the victors entring transported with the furie of reuenge the two Fiesques bretheren caused Zacharie brother to the Duke of Genes to be slaine and then to be tyed cruelly to a horse tayle and dragged through the Cittie being present a little before at the death of Ierome their brother who comming out of the Palace had beene murthered by Lodowike and Fregosin brothers to the Duke All this succeeded well but forty thousand Ducats lately sent by the Pope to the Suisses had drawne an infinite number into the estate of Milan thrusting themselues into Nouarre at the first bâute that the French meant to besiege it It was the same Nouarre wherein Lodowick Sforce father to this present Duke was taken prisoner In the Kings campe were the same Captaines Tremouille and Triuulce some of the same Ensignes and Colonels which had sold the father accompanied the sonne in this warre And these presumptions caused Tremouille to make this ouer-bold promise to the King That he hoped to deliuer him the sonne of prisoner in the same place where before he had gâuen him the father The remembrance of happinesse past comforts the hope but let vs take heed least vnder this colour we grow insolent and carelesse Now the arrogancie of our French findes a firme resolution in the Suisses whereof followes a strange catastrophe and an ouerthrow of the desseine The armie batters Nouarre furiously and layes a great part of the wall euen with the ground but whereas the descent was wonderfull hard and dangerous so as Tremouille aduertised that new Suisses were entred into it and that Altosasz a very famous Colonell brought a greater number which comming by the valley of Aoust approched to Iuree dispairing to take the Towne he retired his Campe to go fight with the succours that came making his accoumpt to breake the enemies rather by their owne disorders for want of pay then by the force of his armes But by the perswasion of Moâin one of their Captaines ten thousand Suisses issue forth in the night the 6. of Iune without horses and artillerie against a mightie armie and better prouided they set vpon our French not asleepe but in a lodging vnfortified The men at armes assemble at the first alarum of their Sentinels range themselues in battaile and the foote vnder their colours The artillerie laide many Suisses on the ground when as the sunne beginning to appeare the body of their armie resoluing rather to be cut in peeces then retire seuen thousand of them fall violently vpon the Laâsequenets who garded the artillerie and 3000. of them plant themselues with their Pikes charged against the horse The Suisses and Lansequenets thrust on with a mutuall hatred and a desire of victory hewe one another with a bloudy furie one while the one shrinkes is chased and recoiles and then the other filling the field with âead bodies wounded men and with bloud in view of the men at armes lodged so as they could not succour the foot by reason of brookes and ditches that were betwixt them So the Suisses after two houres combate remained victors winne the Artillerie turne the mouth of it against our men and put both foote and horse to flight of whom there is nothing remarkeable obserued but that Robert of la Marke Lord of Sedan vnderstanding that Floranges and Iamets his sonnes The memorable valour of Robert de la ãâã Colonels of the Regiments of Lansquenets lay among the dead carcases moued with furie and a fatherly affection he runs into the middest of the Suisses troupes and in despight of them laies the eldest vpon his horse and the yongest vpon one of his men at armes bringing them aliue out oft the conflict being reserued to shew future proofes of their valour There died about fifteene hundred Suisses with the Author of this glorious Councel Of ours the most part of the Lânsquenets fighting and of the French flying vnto the number as the Italian Authors say of ten thousand All the horse in a manner saued themselues the Suiâes not able to pursue them for want of horse all their baggage was lost and two and twenty pecees of great Artillery with all the horse appointed for the same Doubtlesse it was one of the most glorious battailes that euer the Suisses wonne whereby we obserue that to bee surprised and preuented takes away all iudgement of command from the best commanders daunts the soldiers courage breeds confusion in order This victory being gotten all places which had declared themselues for the French craue pardon and purchase their peace for money Milan for two hundred thousand Ducats the tâst according to their power to be distributed to the Suisses to whom was due the glory and profit of this victory gotten by their bloud and valour Octauiân Fregose aided by three thousand Spaniards commanded by the Marquis of Pâscare enters Genes and causeth himselfe to the preâudice of Iohn his brother to be created Duke of Genes Aluiane fearing least this happy successe of the Suisses and Spaniards should draw them vpon him retires himselfe takes Legnague from the Germaines besiegeth Verona but in vaine and then lodgeth his armie within Padoua The two chiefe Authoâs of the Councell of Pisa Bernardin Caruagial and Frederic of S. Seuerin amazed wââh this route went and craued pardon of the Pope and were restored to the ranâe oâ Cardinals In the end of the yeare the Castels of Milan and Cremona returned to the Duâe of Milans obedience so as the King held nothing in Italy but the Lanterne of Genes the which wee shall see taken and razed by the Genouois Without doubt he that seekes profit farre from his owne home is oft times forced to returne poore and naked Troubles in ãâã by the Engââsh The King thus dispossessed of his estates in Italy turnes his thoughts now armes to crosse the attempts of England Henry King of England hauing at the Popes perswasion resolued to inuade the realme of France agrees with the Emperour to giue him six score
thousand Ducats to enter Bourgongne at the same instant with three thousand horse and eight thousand and foote Germaines and Suissâs promising the Suisses a certaine summe of money to ioyne their forces with Maximilian being content they should reteâne a part of Bourgongne vntill they were fully satisfied According to this agreement the English enters the marches of Picardie camps before Therouenne with fiue thousand horse of combate and aboue fortie thousand foote But the English forces did not molest France at land only the Admirall of England ran along the coasts of Normandie and Brittanie And the King to resist their incursions caused foure Gallies to passe the straight of Gibralâar vnder the charge of Captaine Pregent At the first incounter the Admirall chased Pregent into Brest Here Pregent turnes his force fights with the Admirall and hurts him whereof he died within few daies after After that foure score English ships and twenty Normands and Brittons ships fought with equall forces ours hauing the winde But in the end Primauguet a Britton Captaine of the Nunne which Queene Anne had caused to be built beset by ten or twelue English ships and resolute to sell his death dearly grapled with the Regent the chiefe ship of the enemies fleete and fiering it burnt both the one and the other with all that was in them Therouenne was defânded by two hundred and fiftie Lances and two thousand foot whilest the King prepared two thousand fiue hundred Launces ten thousand Lansquenets led by the Duke of Gueldres sixe thousand others Thârouâââe beâeeged which the Duke of Norfolke brought being fled long before out of England and tenne thousand French to succour the beseeged who in the meane time molested the enemie day and night with their artillerie with the which the great Chamberlaine of England was slaine and Talbot Captaine of Calis lost a legge The troupes assembled the King sent them to Aire vnder the comand of Lewis of Longueuille Marquis of Rotelin Captaine of the hundred gentlemen of his houshold Victuals grew scant in Therouenne when as the Lord of Pieâes gouernour of Picardie and the French Captaines chose out the most resolute of all their troupes and gaue them charge to carrie victuals to the Towne And for that their enterprise had happily succeeded retyring too confidently and reproching the enemie of couardise hauing no intelligence of their intent the English hauing sent their horse and fifteâne thousand foote to cut off our mens passage who did ride on their nagges disarmed they charge them vnawares being readie to wade through a riuer that passeth at Huchin they kill about three hundred and take many prisoners amongst others the Marquis of Rotelin Bayard la Payete Clermont of Aniou and Bussy of Amboise all the rest casting away their Launces and trusting to their heeles and horses saued themselues by flight And therfore they call it the battaile of spurres which caused the yeelding of Therouenne the which was dismantled The incounââ of ãâã to take away all cause of discord betwixt the Archduke Charles who by ancient right pretended it and the English who challenged it as conquered from the enemie by the sword From Therouenne Henry went to campe before Tournay following in this resolution not so much the actions of a good Commander in the warre seeing the taking of this place lying within the low Countries brought him small profit as the perswasions of Maximilian hoping that this Towne pulled from the French might in time returne to the obedience of his grandchild Charles to whome they pretended it appertained Tournay taken Tournay vnfurnished of men of warre and dispayring of succours for that the King not being maister of the field nor of sufficient force to incounter the English could not succour it saued her selfe from spoyle paying a hundred thousand Crownes To crosse the English at home The Scots defeated the King had stirred vp Iames King of Scotland an ancient allie to this Crowne but the chaunce of armes was nothing fortunate for him neither at land nor at sea for ioyning with the English armie where Queene Catherine was present he was vanquished vpon Til and slaine with aboue twelue thousand Scots After these victories the end of October approching Henry left a great garrison in Tournai The English retire dismissed his strangers and toke his way towards England carrying no other recompence for so great and sumptuous a preparation for warre but the Cittie of Tournay But some desseins vpon Scotland fallen into a pupils hands hastned him home An other storme threatned France The Suisses armed according to the former conuentions the King sends Tremouille vnto them to disperse them vnder whome many of the Colonels had receiued the Kings pay But neither by presents not promises preuailed he any thing onely he had a secret intelligence giuen him from some Captains to prouide for the defence of his gouernment of Bourgongne whether the Pope the Emperour Sforee did thrust them And behold foureteene or fifteene thousand Suisses with the troupes of the French Countie a thousand horse The ãâã enter into Boââgoâne and the artillerie which the Emperour gaue them vnder the conduct of Vlric Duke of Wirtemberg camped before Dijon Tremouille was returned with a thousand Launces and six thousand foot who by his practises had greatly altered the Colonels when as the multitude doubting the faith of their Captaines takes the artillerie and batters the wall Tremouille not able to resist the force of this nation which increased daily flies to the last remedy and without expecting any authoritie from his Maiestie agrees with them That the King should renounce the rights he had to the Duchy of Milan should pay them 400000 crownes within a time prefixt which they preteÌded was due for their seruices in the former wars and for assurance therof he gaue for hostages his nephew of Mezieres Bailife of Dijon and foure bourgesses of the said towne who sauing themselues awhile after in Germanie escaped the threats of this people to cut off their heads if the King did not ratifie it Doubtlesse these were wise men to saue their heads from the Suisses choler A very preiudiciall accord for the King if he had beene constrayned to ratifie it But was it not better to lull the Suisses asleepe then to loose Dijon Our Lewis is now freed off two incombrances the English and the Suisses But the exemption of present dangers freed him not from a relaps for the English departing threatned to returne in the spring and prepared alreadie being loth to stay any more so long at the warre The Emperour had the like intent to annoy him The Catholike King deuised as was discouered by a letter written to his Ambassadour resident with Maximilian the meanes to draw this Duchie of Milan to Ferdinand their comon granchild yonger brother to Charles the Archduke shewing that by that meanes all the other estates of Italie should bee forced to take their law
from them that it should be easie for the Emperour assisted with the armes of Arragou and Naples The Emperoâr affects to be Pope to make himselfe Pope the which he had alwaies desired since the death of his wife being installed in S. Peters chaire he should renounce the Imperial Crowne in fauour of the said Archduke Moreouer the bad affection of the irreconciliable Suisses was apparent The flight of the hostages had newly incensed them who threatned Bourgogne or Daulphinè The Pope desired greatly the whole extirpation of the Counsell of Pisa especially for matters decreed either by the authoritie of the sayd Councell or against the Popes authoritie the which not reuoked must needs breed great confusions Yet could he not obteine this abolition before the King did ratifie it Three Cardinals were therefore appointed to redresse these disorders But the greatest difficultie was about the abolition of Ceâsures which the King said they had incurred thinking it a thing vnworthie of the Apostolike sea to graunt if the King did not demand it the which his Maiestie would not yeeld vnto whereby both his person and his realme had beene taxed of schisme In the end the King ouerruled by the earnest sute both of the Queene and his subiects wearied with so many crosses resolues to yeeld to the Popes will hoping heâeafter by this meanes to find him fauorable And therefore at the eight session of the Councell of Lateran which was in the end of the yeare the Kings agents in his name and by his command renounced the pettie Councell of Pisa adheâing to the Councell of Lateran and so obteined full reâiâsion of all things committed against the Romaine Church Amidst so many forraine vexations which infiâitely troubled the Kings mind there chanceth a home-bred affliction The death of Queene Anie the death of the Qâeene his wife A Princesse indued with most verâues incident to an honorable Ladie and for this cause greatly lamented of the whole realme This death was the accomplishmeÌt of the marriage betwixt Francis Duke of Valois and Earle of Angoulesnie and Claude the Kings eldest daughter the the which had bin deferred till then for that the Qâeene loued not Lowise of Sâuoâe mother to the said Francis affected more to haue Charles of Austria afterwards Emperour for her sonne in law The Realme being reduced to the obedience of the Church of Rome the Pope to whome the Kings greatnesse was commonly fearefull begins now to feare least his power should bee too much suppressed and that the enemies of France should hereafter ioine their forces to the preiudice of the Romain Court. To balance âhing in such sort as he might subsist in the middest and that the meanes which ayded ââe of his intentions should not hurt an other considering that the irreconciliable hatred of the Suisses might force the King to resigne his rights of the Duchie of Milan to the Emperour and Catholike King in regard of the marriage which they pretended a very preiudiciall thing to the common libertie of Italie and holding it also dangerous to haue the King to recouer it hee perswaded the Suisses that their extreame hatred might force the King to take a course no lesse hurtfull to the libertie of their common weale considering the little loue with Maximilian and Ferdinand did beare them then to the Church and all Italie Moreouer to make the Kâgs descent into Italie more difficult at all euents 1514 he labours an accord betwixt the Emperour and the Senate of Venice who being resolute either to haue a firme peace concluded or open warre would by no meanes giue care to any truce for that had beene to settle the Emperours affaires and busines in those Townes which hee inioyed The Popes perswasions were fruitlesse with the Suisses the Emperour and Venetians made him Iudge of their controuersies but without decision for either partie hee onely commands them to surcease from armes vntill the pronunciation of his sentence The Catholike King could not more firmely assure the realme of Nauarre then by a peace Our Lewis he proloÌg the truce for a yeare adding to the former articles one that was secret That during the truce the King might not molest the estate of Milan That which the Pope could not get of the Suisses hee obteyned of the King of England Henry discontent that his father in law had againe deceiued him by the prolongation of a truce without his consent grew daily more vnwilling to make warre in France The Pope desiring by some kindnesse to win the Kings loue and fearing daily that Lewis oppressed with enemies would allie himselfe both by a peace and consanguinitie with Maximilian and Ferdinand he sent the Cardinall of Yorke to perswade his King That remembring what correspondencie of faith he had found in the Emperour the Catholike King and the Suisses and contenting himselfe with his happie passage and returne hee should ceasse any more to afflict France with his forces The Cardinall finding Henry disposed to peace whome the Duke of Longueuille a prisoner taken in the warre had alreadie moued and Lewis desiring it with all hâs heart hauing sent the Generall of Normandie but more vnder colour to treat of the deliuerie of the Duke of Longueuille and his companions in prison they made an agreement betwixt the two Kings in the beginning of August for their liues and a peace after their death vppon condition A peace with the English That the King of England should enioy Tournay and the King of France should pay him sixe hundred thousand Crownes That they should bee bound to defend the estats one of another with tenne thousand foote if the warre were by land and sixe thousand if it were by sea That the King of France should furnish the King of England with twelue hundred Launces at need and the King of England with tenne thousand foote but at his charge that should haue neede This peace was confirmed by the marriage of Lewis with Mary sister to Henry Lewis King of France marries Mary of England But the Pope was not perswaded so great a hatred might so sodainly bee conuerted into amitie and alliance For as hee had made the first motion so did hee expect to bee made acquainted with the conclusion wherein hee made accoumpt to reserue this clause That the King should not inuade the Duchie of Milan for a time The Emperour and Catholike King were exceeding iealous yet the last assured hiâ selfe to receiue two contents The one that the Archduke his grandchild âas out of hope to giue his sister in marriage to Lewis The other that Lewis beiâg in possibilitie to haue heires males the succession of Francis Earle of Angoâlâsme should remaine doubtfull whome hee hated exceedingly seing him greatly inclyned to restore the Realme of Nauarre to the ancient estate The Suisses reioyced not for any affection they beare vnto the King but foreseeing that Lewis hauing truce with the Arragonois and peace with the
peeces Hereupon the English arriue at Calais The English land in France and at their first entry they become maisters of the Castle of Comtes betwixt Monstreuil and Hedin To preuent these incursions the Duke sent the foresaid Earles into the trench of Bologne Ardres was then ruined and desert who by the recouery of the said Castle put all to the sword they found within it except the Captaine and afterwards ouerthrew many other troupes that were dispersed in the land of Oye while the two armies English and Bourguignons assembled betwixt Ardres and S. Omer consulting vppon the first obiect of their forces Hedin seemed the easiest to be attempted yet it must needes cost blowes Hedin beseeged by the Imperialls and English The Lord of Biez commanded there with thirty men at armes and thirty Dead-paies Sercu with a thousand foote and La Lande with fiue hundred The battery continued fifteene dayes and a breach was made of forty fadome but no assault giuen the enemy beeing diuerted by continuall alarââes The Earles of Guise and Pont-dormy vnderstanding one day amongst others that foure hundred English were gone towards Biez and the Commander of Oison they part from Monstrueil with their companies and some of the Duke of Vendosmes they ouertake them charge them and kill or take them all Some fewe dayes after Pont-dormy incountring some other troupes which had burnt Fressin a house of his elder brothers Exploits of war he put them al to the sword Thus kept within their lodgings by continuall enterprises and afflicted with a generall flux which went through their army proceeding in part by the continuall âaine after six weekes seege they raised their Campe with shame to march towards Dourlans which was not defensible At that time there was no Castle and from the mountaine where it is now built they discouered the towne on all sides The Earle of S. Paul preuented the enemy and least the enemy should make vse thereof hee spoyled the victualls and tooke off the gates then hee retyred to Corby to withstand the attempts of the English Then arriued the Marshall of Montmorency bringing with him the two hundred Gentlemen of the Kings Chamber with authoritye from his Maiestie to rule and commaund at Corby if the enemy did beseege it But there was too great resolution in Corby the wayes were too foule the infirmities were many in the English and Bourguignons armies and winter approching it was about all Saints inuited theÌ to set saile Being able to do no worse they burnt Dourlans and the Villages about and retyred into Arthois putting the Bourguignons into Garrison and the English tooke their way for England Let vs conclude this yeare with an ignominious and fatall losse for the Christians The English turne hoâe Soliman did not forget to make his profit of these horrible confusions who by the painefull and constant siege for the space of eight moneths brought the Isle of Rhodes vnder his obedience Rhodes taken by the Turke where to the great contempt of our Religion he made his entrie the day of the birth of our Lord and Sauiour 1123. In the beginning of the following yeare The Casteâl of Mâielan yâeâded the Castell of Milan prest with diseases and want of all things compounded to depart with bag and baggage if they were not releeued by the fourth of Aprill But death preuenting most part of the garrison hindred them from enioying any benefit of the Capitulation At the same time Liuet a soldiar of the garrison of Guise treated with the Duke of Ascot to deliuer him the Towne but not according to the buyers intent by the consent of Nicholas of Bussu Lord of Longueuall Captaine of the Castell The party was well made and the plot cunningly layed to take the marchants when they should come for their possession The Lord of Fleuranges with three hundred men at armes and foure or fiue thousand foote should lie betwixt Auennes and Guise to stoppe the enemies retreat The Duke of Vendosme with fiue hundred men at armes foure thousand Germains and foure thousand French should cut off their way betwixt the Abby of Bonhourie and Guise so as the enemy seeking to retire had the one before him and the other behind The chiefe of all their troupes would be partakers of this enterprise When as newes comes vnto them that the King who would countenance this exploite with his presence was come in post to Genlis neere vnto Chaunis This made them turne head without any effect giuing him the strappadoe that sold it was their guide the which Longueual requited with the like to the hostages which the Duke of Arescot had giuen him for the performance of couenants His maiestie to make vse of these troupes which hee had assembled commanded them to victuall Terouenne the which âiennes beseeged with fifteene thousand Flemings and sixe hundred English the King had a little before repayred it Bailleul vpon the hill a strong place betwixt Arras and Dourlans and defended by three hundred Spaniards Bailleul beseeged by tâe Frâncâ was a hinderance to this desseine The Duke of Vendosme tooke charge of the armie whereof the Duke of Norfolke led the Germains the Lords of Sercu Bournonuille la Hergerie Fontâins and Heilli commanded the French Brion had foure hundred archers of the Kings gard and la Fayete commanded the artillery he made his approches at noone day without any trenches but with the losse of three gunners that were slaine and the Lord of Piennes shot into the arme hee battred it the same day gaue them their liues that were within it and razed the Castell The enemy lodged in Andincton and Dellente halfe a League from Therouenne and le Lude Marshall of the Campe hauing lodged his army at Fouquemberg to haue victualls more commodiously from Montreuil and to keepe them from the enemy did cut off the way to Saint Omer and the garrison of Terouenne that of Aire âiennes seeing them approch so neere dislodged in the night and went to campe at Elfaut The Duke of Vendosme followed with an intent to fight whilest that Brion marcking directly to Terouenne releeued it with such victualls as were brought from Montreuil The Earle of Dammartin and the Lord of Esguilly began the skirmish when a soden feare surprising the Flemings puts them in route towards the riuer of Coldes where many were drowned in the passage not able to be stayed although no man followed them for that Brion returning from Terouenne The Flemingâ put to âouâ brought commandement from the King to the Duke of Vendosme not to hazard a battayle but to keepe his forces whole for the voiage of Italie which his maiesty pretended to make in person But he must likewise prouide for the frontier especially for Terouenne being onely refresht for some dayes The victuall and carriages being ready and the troupes camping before Andincton vpon the riuer of Lis the foreward led by the Marshall of Montmorency was
to assaile the Duchie of Milan on that side and force the enemie to repasse the riuer of Tesin With this dessein the Admirall comes to lodge at Nouare But the ruine of our men approched Sforce sent Iohn de Medicis against the Grisons with fiftie men at armes three huÌdred light horse three thousand foot who ioyned with three hundred men at armes three hundred light horse foure thousand foot of the Venetians and stopt their passage so as being discontented hauing no escorte of horse not foot as Ranâe had promised them they returned to their Countrie This thorne pulled out of the Emperalls foote Iohn de Medicis takes Carauage baâters downe with his Cannon the bridge which the French had vpon Tesin at Bufalore and nothing remaining of all the Townes betwixt Milan and the Tesin but onely Biagras which lying vpon the great chanell that runnes to Milan did cut off the victuals which were wont to come to the Towne in great aboundance Sforce followed by all the youth of Milan beseeged it accompanied with Iohn de Medicis he battered it foure or fiue dayes was repulsed from the first assault âorced it at the second and spoyled it A spoile deerely sold to the Milanois Biagras was infected with the plague so all the houses of Milan whether any of the bootie caâe were infected with the same contagion which was the death of aboue fiftie thousand persons Biagras taken Biagras taken by the Milanois to stoppe all passages from the French the Viceroy went to lodge at Marignon and the Admirall considering that it was better to hazard the rest of his armie then to perish by famine and pestilence which had greatly diminished his troupes hee tooke the way of Romagnan to ioyne with eight thousand Suisses which were come to Yuree But they strook âhe last stroke They send him word That it should suffice them to retire their compagnions and conduct them into Suisse seeing the King had broken his promise with them by the which they should meet at âurâe with Claude of Longueuille and foure hundred Launces to accompany them Their Countrimen which remained in the campe vnderstanding that their companions were vpon the banks of the riuer of Stesie fled away for the most part to ioyne with them that were newly come In the meane time the Imperials by the perswasion of the Duke of Bourbon followed the Admirall at the heeles The Admirall defeated who to take from the enemie the knowlege of the Suisses disoâder endured the shocke with such men at armes as hee could gather togither but being hurt at the first charge with a shot in the arme and forced through the griefe of his wound to leaue the retreate of the armie to the Earle of Saint Paul and to Captaine Bayard Bayard and Vandenesse performing wondrous deedâ of armes died there Vandenesse presently Bayard thrust through the bodie caused himselfe to be layed at the foote of a tree by his steward his face turned to the enemie as he that neuer turned his backe The Duke of Bourbon poursuing the chase seeing him in this pittifull estate I am sorry for you said hee hauing knowne you so valorous a Knight Sir sayd Bayard drawing towards his end there is no pittie of mee A worthiie speech of Bayard being hurt and dying I die an honest man you are to bee lamented who serued against your Prince your Countrie and your oth and soone after hee gaue vp the Ghost Lorges arriuing with those few French which remayned repulsed such as pursued vnto the bodie of their armie and the Earle of Saint Paul hauing passed the riuer with the losse of few but the brauest of his men deliuered the artillerie to the Suisses who made their retreat by the valley of Aouste and himselfe by Turin Laude Alexandria Nouare and generally all which the King possessed in Italie remained at the victors deuotion The estate of Milan was thus freed from the French and Italie from their present calamities but the roots were not yet cut vppe it was but deferred for a time Then the Duke of Bourbon gaue the Emperour Councell to transport the warre into France The King of Englanâ did wilâingly giue eare vnto it The fauour the authoritie the many followers and the great intelligence which the Duke of Bourbon presumed to haue in France inuited him thereunto To this end the Emperour treated with the English and the Duke of Bourbon That the Duke should enter into France with a part of his armie which was in Italie That hauing passed the Alpes the King of England should pay him a hundred thousand Crownes for the charge of the first moneth and should continue the same monethly vnlesse hee would inuade the Realme with a mightie armie That France should bee conquered for the English and Prouence for the Duke of Bourbon according to the treatie wee haue before made mention of That the Emperour at the same instant should make warre vppon the confines of Spaine and should procure the potentates of Italie to concurre in this enterprise for the freeing of themselues for euer from the inuasion of the French Marseilles is a commodious port to annoy France and to passe from Spaine into Italy Marseilles beseeged by the Imperiaâs According to the Emperours desire and the former treatye the Duke of Bourbon and the Marquis of Pescara march to the conquest of Marseilles The King aduertised of their desseine sends Rance de Cere a man well experienced in warre and the Lord of Brion with two hundred men at armes and three thousand foote for the gard of Marseilles repayred his army and sent to make a leauie of foureteene thousand Suisses and six thousand Lansquenets The Duke and Marquis had now lâen six moneths before Marseilles the King hauing vnited his forces marched with an intent to fight with his enemies before Marseilles who seeing so great a power to approch imbarked their great Ordinance for Genes the lesser they laid vpon Moyles and so made a speedy retreat The Marshall of Chabannes who had the leading of the foreward The Imperiallâ reâââe ân disorder sent foure or fiue hundred horses after them who ouerthrew many and returned with great spoile euery one leauing his baggage behinde him and the Souldiars casting away their armes to bee more light to runne away The King seeing himselfe to haue a goodly army ready and his enemies retyred resolues to cut off their way or to come before them into Italy many disswaded him the season might well diuert him for it was in the middest of October the Regent his mother aduised him to make warre by his Captaines and not in person and the Bishop of Capoua came from the Pope to treate of a generall peace But the heate which transported this good Prince to his owne ruine and dishonour made him to say vnto the Bishop That hee should treat with him by letters and attend him at Auignon with his Mother The
off the victualls from the Imperialls the French should marche to Biagras the Venetians to Cassan and Sforce to Pauia but the Earle of Saint Paul did wonderfully affect the enterprise of Genes Andrew Dorie was departed the eight of Iune with his gallies to gard the Emperour who passed into Italie This absence put the Earle in good hope that Cesaer âregose to whome the King had promised the gouernment of Genes would make the Towne reuolt with some fewe foote This was to take a mightie wolfe by the eares which will bite them shreâdly that thinke to lay hold They had behind them too vigilant an enemie According to this desseine the Earle in steede of Biagras arriues at Landriâne the twentieth of Iune but in the night a great raine doth so swell the riuer as hee had no meanes to passe his artillerie Enterprise vpon Genes Anthonie de Leue aduertised of the Earles staie parts from Milan ouertakes the Earle who was busie in pulling downe an old house to haue some peeces of Timber to put vnder the carriage of a peece that was all duâtie and myred and chargeth him before hee had in a manner discouered him At the first the Earle forceth the Spanish shot to retire into the battallion of their Germains and the French Lansquenets had repulsed those that had passed a little riuer which diuided the two armies but pursuing and following them to the banke they were greatly annoyed by them that were opposite on the other side Guy Eârle of Rangon had in the morning taken the way to Pauia with the foreward so as hee had no notice of the fight vntill it was past time to succour them 1529. Iohn Thomas of Galere and the Castellan of Laude Colonnels of Italian foote were alreadie well aduanced and leauing them ingaged that were desirous to fight they retire on the one side and saue themselues likewise in Pauia Iohn Ierosme of Castillon and Claude of Rangon Commanders ouer two thousand Italians performed wonders But the Imperial horsemen hauing passed the riuer with a great battallion of Germans our Italians turne their backes our Lansquenets yeeld to their Countrymen the Earle and Annebault with those fewe horsemen which remayned made the retreat Fatall to the vndertakers alwaies turning their faces to the enemie vntill they were stayed by a brooke which the Earle was not able to passe through the weakenesse of his horse where as hee and almost all that followed him were put to the sword or prisoners except Annebault and some fewe Lances which leaped ouer the ditch the footemen were all defeated the artillery lost and the baggage taken After all these stormes and confusions after so many fatall sweats caused by the ââight of their armes was it not nowe time to take breath The Alpes and high pointed Pyrenee mountaines bee they not sufficient barres to restraine vs within our bounds content to enioy and defend that which belongs vnto vs was not so much bloud spilt sufficient to make all Italie dronke Such pittifull spectacles of French mens boanes where-with the plaines of the estats of Milan and Naples were made white âad they not force and vertue to take from vs all future desire to beare arâes in such mortall conquests Without doubt they had reason to make this complaiât with the ancient Church All our remaines haue opened their mouthes vpon vs they haue hissed gnasshed their teeth and sayd we haue coâfounded them this is the day which we expected we haue found it wee haue seene it And with the like repentance to crie Remember O Lord what hath chanced vnto vs behold and see our reproches Turne vs vnto thee ô Lord we shall be turned Behold now the pittifull reliks of our Frenchmen hatefull to strangers scorned of all the world beaten on all sides returning home with their shirts tied vpon their shoulders who hauing scarce brethed foure yeares wee shall so againe fall to armes This vnfortunate successe of our men hauing caused armes to cease in a manner throughout all Italie the Emperour and Pope both being bare of money treated of some articles of peace The Emperour had no inclynation therevnto yet hee could not graunt it in a season more beneficiall for himselfe The King sought it two notable afflictions drewe him therevnto the imprisonment of his children and the ruine of so many armies with the wasting of his treasor But one especiall consideration did mooue him If the confederats had discouered his intent they would haue preuented him and by their agreement with the Emperour excluded him from League with any of them and by consequence haue brought him to that point as hee should haue beene forced to accept farre lesse tollerable conditions of peace Louyse the Kings mother Marguerite Aunte vnto the Emperour by the Fathers side did treat it at Cambray furnished with authoritie and Councell from both their maiesties and finally they concluded That the King should paie two millions of gold for the freedome of his Children that is twelue hundred thousand crownes when as the sayd Children should bee in France and at libertie Hee should deliuer the lands which Marie of Luxembourg A Peace concluded at Cambray betwixt the Eââerour and French King mother to the Duke of Vendâsâe had in Flanders Arthois Brabant and Hainault and those which the Duke of Montpensier cousin germaine to the sayd Duke did possesse in the sayd Countries for foure hundred thousand Crownes to bee redeemed within a certaine time And for the other foure hundred thousand remayning hee should acquite the Emperour of so much to the King of England which hee had lent vnto him and fiftie thousand more which the Emperour did owe vnto the English for the indemnitie of the marriage betwixt the Emperour and Marie Daughter to the sayd King of England whome hee had left to marrie with the Daughter of Portugall Moreouer hee should vngage the âlower de Lis of gold inritched with pretious stoanes and a peece of the crosse which Philip the Emperours Father had ingaged to the King of Englands Father for fiftie thousand Crownes That tâe King should renounce the Soueraintie of Flanders and Arthois That he should mârrie wiââ Eleonor the Emperors sister and if they had a sonne he should haue the Duchy of Bourgongââ That hee should restore whatsoeuer hee possessed in the Duchie of Milan and the Râaâme of Naples That hee should disanull the Duke of Bourbons proces restore him to his honour and his Children to their inheritance and generally to all others that had beene spoiled by reason of the warres These articles thus coloured were read and published in the great Church of Cambray the 5. day of August But could the King renowâce such pretensions seeing they were inheritances purchased to the infants of France by the succession of Claude their mother daughter to Lewis the 12. Duke of Orleâns of whome depended the sayd succession of Milan This treatie did greatly mooue the confederats for that
to point beginning with rigour and ending with mildnesse they take a contrary course They feared sayd they in their iuââification that his Holynesse holding the Wolfe by the eares pressed on the one side sometimes with promises sometimes with threats by the Emperour and on the âther side in a maneâ despairing euer to finde grace or fauour with the King should in tâe end cast himselfe into the Emperours armes and runne the same fortune with him To drawe him therefore to the French party they offer the Pope in the Kings name To make him Iudge and Arbitrator of such controuersies and quarrels as hee had with the Genouois the which his Maiestie pretended were not conteined in his renunciation And the better to drawe him The Cardinals meanes to win the Pope they renued without any speciall commission the proposition first made by Pope Leo and after reuiued by Clement of the marriage of Henry Duke of Orleance with Katherine Daughter to the Duke of Vrbin This did greatly please Clement who then began to hold vp his head and resolued to strâke whilest the Yron was hotte This match was wonderfull honourable and beneficiall for his Holinesse and helpt much for the ratifying and support of his house the which he had in singular regard The Emperour did presently discouer that vpon the comming of these Cardinals the Popes affection to him was greatly altered And vpon the first discouerie of this tâeatie of marriage hee imployes the Lordes of Cannes and Granuelle to breake it in fauour of Francis Sforce with the sayd Duchesse of Vrbin and to perswade ââe Pope that his practices was artificially brought in by the King to entertaine him onely but not with any intent to conclude it considering the great disparitie of their degrees and qualities and seeing theâe two Cardinalls said he had no sufficient authoritie touching this allyance it was an euident proofe of the fraude But by meanes of this marriage the King thought to strengthen his house and to get new footing in Italie and the Pope did thereby free himselfe from the feare of a Councell wherewith he was threatned from France Germanie and England While the Cardinals attend a Commission from his Maiestie to conclude this marriage the Emperour continued his pursute for the assurance and declaration of his league comprehending the estate of Genes And the better to vnite it he required his confederates to make a taxe among them for the pay of such Souldiars as should be fitte to entertaine in Italie for the peace and quiet thereof that the first paiment should bee presently consigned into the hands of a Banker of Genes and that the Emperour should not be tied to any contribution in regard of his great charge to resist the Turkes inuasion and to preuent the attempts of such as would trouble the common quiet of Italy whereof there was now great likelihood By the force of his perswasions the matter was in a maner concluded But through the liuely reasons of the French Cardinals and the Lord of Velly Ambassador for the King shewing That the Emperour had no other desseine but to entertaine his armie vpon the frontiers of Italie at other mens charges being ready to assaile the King vpon all occasions without any charge to himselfe and that without doubt the King hauing reason to looke to his affaires would incounter him with another armie on the frontiers of Italy in the Marquisate of Salusse or in Daulphiné which would breed no quiet but troubles and combustions throughout all Italy for two armies being neere they willingly fall to blowes they concluded not to make any consignation but that euery one of the confederates should taxe himselfe for his portion any warre chancing in Italy and should giue a caution for his part the which did amount to a hundred or sixe score thousand Crownes a moneth So the Emperour sent three thousand men out of his Armie into Spaine as many likewise to Naples and the rest he dismissed Then came authority from the King to the Cardinals his Ambassador with an expresse clause for the confirmation of the marriage And the Emperour seeing himselfe frustrate of his intent to make the Pope declare himselfe openly against the King he imbarked the 8. of Aprill at Genes and sailed towards Spaine the Pope ãâã towards Rome The Emperor râtârâs into Spaine whether the aboue named Cardinals did accompanie him alwayeâââsisting by the Kings importunitie that the troubles of England might be pacified before the fall of that great storme which threatned the Churches But the King of England wearied with the Popes dissembling and delayes âhâm he then called but Bishop of Rome vpon the matter of his diuorce he caused it tâ ãâã decided by the English Church The Arch-bishop of Canterburie Primate of England being president where by sentenceof the said Church his marriage was declared voide The first motiue of the separation of England from the Church of Rome and the dispensation voide as giuen in a case that was not dispensable and which is not in the Popes power not in the Churches According to this sentence he left his first marriage and tooke to wife Anne Bullen and in her name did publish an ample Treatie against the authoritie and preheminences of the Church of Rome resolute to sequester himselfe wholy if the Court of Rome did him not iustice These newes being published the Emperour growes in choller threatens to raise all the world against England takes his Aunts cause in hand summons the Pope to administer the like iustice to her that was put away as her cause required if hee doth it not he protests with an oath to be reuenged The Colledge of Cardinalls stoââââ they enuiron the Pope and all with one voyce demand iustice against the attemâtâ ãâã the King of England and the Archbishops hauing taken knowledge of a cause the deciding whereof belonged to Iudges deputed by his Holinesse His Holynesse desired to temporise and to make a more quiet end He did ãâã that proceeding to condemnation and hauing no meanes to execute it really were a fruitlesse enterprise and would make his Apostolick authoritie contemptible ãâã no meanes to put it in execution without the Emperours assistance besides they âad a great let which was the strict alliance of the most Christian King with the ãâã who ioyning their mutuall forces offensiue and defensiue might ingage all Cââistândome in more mortall warres then euer Notwithstanding in the end as well tâ gratifie the Emperour as his Cardinalls The Pope censures the King of England he pronounced his censures against the King âf England if within a certaine time he made not reparation of the sayd attempts Tâen he prepared for his enterview with the King notwithstanding all the crosses ãâã the Imperialls gaue him transforming themselues into as many shapes as Proteus ãâã draw him from this resolution all which are to be read in the Originals Nice had beene appointed for this effect
treate with him So as hee begins to taste of some proposition of peace moued before Saint Disier by the Lord of Granuelle and his Confessor a Spanish Monke of the order of Saint Dominike and of the house of Gusmans A âreatie of peace A day is appointed for the meeting of the Deputies at La Chaussee betwixt Challons and Vitry For the King there came the Admirall of Annebault and Chemans Keeper of the Seale of France âor the Emperour Fernand of Gonzague and to know if the King of England would enter into it they sent the Cardinall of Bellay Raymond chiefe President of Rouan and Aubespine Secretarie of the State and Treasurer As the Emperour camped towards the riuer of Marne a league beneath Chalons and within two leagues of the French armie a riuer being betwixt both William Earle of Fursiemberg parted about midnight with a guide onely to view a âoard which hee had in former times passed when as he came into France for the Kings seruice Being come to the foard he leaues his guide vpon a banke sounds it findes it easie and passeth the riuer But he discouered not some Gentlemen of the Kings house and part of the Admiralls company who had the gard that night who without giuing any alaââm put themselues betwixt the riuer him take him without resistance lead him to the Campe know him and send him to the Bastille at Paris from whence he shall not depart vntill he hath payed thirtie thousand Crownes for his ransome In the meane time the Emperour sees his armie ready to breake for hungar they cutt off his victuals behinde and on either side And if that goodly Captaine whom the Daulphin had sent to draw into Espernay the victuals thereabouts to breake the bridge vpon the riuer and to spoile the Corne Wine and other prouisions which could not be saued had carefully executed his commission the Emperour disappointed of the munition and victualls which he found in Espernay and hauing no meanes to passe the riuer had not in the end enioyed those commodities which he found in Chasteau Thiery an other Storehouse of the French campe whereby his troupes languishing for hungar recouered some strength In the end the Daulphin being come to campe at La Ferté vpon Iouarre and hauing sent a good number of men to Meaux to hinder the Emperours passage who deuising to make his retreat by Soissons he takes his way by Villiers-coste-Retz vnder hand reuiues the proposition of peace with the King The King knowing that a battaile could not be giuen in the heart of his realme so neere vnto his capitall Cittie without a verie doubtfull and dangerous consequence and the losse of men and in case he should vanquish the King of England and the Earle of âures would encounter him with as mightie an armie as his owne that by the losse of one and perchance two battailes his realme were in danger that winning them hee should get little especially vpon England being an Iland Moreouer the Marshall of Biez was almost forced to yeeld vp Montrueil to the English âor want of victualls and succours the sufficiencie of the Lord of Verâein gouernour of Boullen as we shall shortly see was not without cause suspected and without a conclusion with the Emperour hardly could these two important Townes be releeued The King therefore sent the Admirall of Annebault againe to the Emperour being in the Abbie of S. Iohn des Vignes in the suburbes of Soissons where in the end was concluded A peace concluded That Charles Duke of Orleans should within two yeares after marry with tâe Emperours daughter or his neece daughter to Ferdinand King of Roâaines and at the consummation of the said mariage the Emperour should inuest the said Duke of Orleans in the Duchie of Milan or in the Earledome of Flanders and the Low Countries at the choise of the said Emperour And in exchange this done the King promised to renounce all his rights pretended to the said Duchie and the Kingdome of Naples and to restore the Duke of Sauoy to the possession of his Countries when as the Duke his sonne should eniây the said Duchie of Milan or the Earledome of Flanders and all things during the terme of two yeares as well on this as the other side the Alpes should remaine in the same estate as they were at the truâe made at Nice So the Emperour deliuered vnto the King on this side the mountaines Saint Desier Ligny Commercy and the King Yuoy Montmedy and Landrecy Steâââ was deliuered into the Duke of Lorrains hands and the fortifications razed On the other side the Alpes the Emperour had nothing to yeeld but Montdeuis and the King Alba Quieras Antignan Saint Damian Palezol Cresentin Verruë Montcal Barges Pont d' Esture Lans Vigon Saint Saluadour Saint Germaine and many other places which he possessed These treaties thus concluded and pâoclaimed beyond the Alpes the Duke of Anguien returned into France with as great glory and honour as a wise and valiant Prince could enioy and the Emperour retired his armie which the Earles of âeux Bures lead ioyntly with that of England he dismissed his owne and parting from Soissons tooke his way to Bruxelles accompanied beyond the frontiers by the Duke of Orleans the Cardinals of Lorraine and Meudon the Earle of Laual la Hunauday others The Emperour is now out of the realme let vs also seeke to send the King of England beyond the seas Henry the 8. King of England according to the League he had with the Emperour landing at Calais with an armie of thirty thousand men fortified with ten thousand Lansequenets and three thousand Reistres which the Earle of Bures lead and the troupes of the Earle of Reux chiefe of the army of the Low countries for the Emperour he found Picardie very much vnfurnished of men the King had withdrawne his forces towards Champagne to oppose them against the Emperour and the Duke of Vendosme being weake in men had fiue places of importance to furnish Ardre Boullen Therouenne Montrueil Hedin all equally opposed to the inuasion of the English Henry therefore seeing no armie to withstand him making his accoumpt to carrie a legge or an arme of the body of this realme sent the Duke of Norfolke and the Earles of Reux and Buries to besiege Montrueil The King of England besiegeth Boullen Montrueil and himselfe went and camped before Boulen The Marshall of Biez was gouernour But when hee saw the enemy turne the point of his armie towards Montrueil he left the Lord of Veruein his sonne in lawe to command in Boullen from which he was disswaded by some to whom his sufficiencie was well knowne assisted by Philip Corse a Captaine very well experienced in armes the Lords of Lignon and Aix otherwise called Renty young and without experience with their regiments and halfe the company of a hundred men at armes of the sayd Marshall and he put himselfe into
beseeged And the King relying vpon the assurance he had of the Marshall of Biez aduanced hoping that the Bulwarks and the Courtynes of the fort had beene in such defence as he might haue imployed his armie elsewhere But there are two reasons which diuert him The one priuate which was the death of the Duke of Orleans his yongest sonne who supprised with a Quotidian feuer Death of the Duke of Orleance which they held to be pestilentious died the eight of September in the Abby of Forest-montier betwixt Abbeuille and Montrueil being three and twentie yeares old leauing a second greefe to the father to haue lost two sonnes at such times as they grew capable to ease his decaying age and without doubt the the waywardnes which made this Prince melancholike and difficult will hasten the course of his life to bring him to his graue The other was publike the Prince of Melphe being sent to visit the fort hauing considered the time of the foundation and the terme it required to come to the perfection reported that winter would bee well passed before it should bee made fit for seruice without the assistance of an armie So the King seeing his hopes lost and the season spent for the effecting of his desseins he retyred towards Amiens to the Abby of Saint Fuscien Skirmishes before Boullen In the meane time the neernes of the Kings Campe at Monâ-Lambert did inuite both nations daily to make great skirmishes One day amonst the rest the Duke of Aumale seing our men withstand a charge of the enemies but faintly and were readie to be ouerthrown making a count hee should bee seconded by his troupe hee fals vppon a company of English which went to charge our French vpon the flanke at the first approch stayes them but being stroken with a launce betwixt the nose and the eye it breaks in peeces and left the tronchion halfe a foot within his head without doubt we may admire the generositie of this yong Nobleman who for so rough a charge lost neither stirops nor vnderstanding to free himselfe from those which had compassed him in and his admirable patience in induring the paine when they came to draw forth the three square head as constantly as if they had pulled but a haire from his head Winter approched and the King considering that his enterprise vpon Guines was ârâstrate aduertised moreouer that the English made a new leauie in Germanie of ten thousand Lansquenets and foure thousand horse with this supply to come and raise the siege at Boullen he fortified all the approches in the countrie of Tierache and aboât Aubenton Veruein and Guise to stop their passage He sent the Marshall of Biez to inuade ruine and burne the land of Oye for that Calais Guines and Hames which the English held vpon the maine land had no other reliefe but out of that Countie and to dispose of the affaires as occasion should serue he marched towards la Fere vpon Oize The land of Oye containes about foure leagues in length and three in breadth a marish very fertill in pastures Description and âark of the land of Oye hauing on the one side the sea and at the one end towards the sea Calais at the other end Grauelin of the land of Flanders towards the land and alongst the bankes of the Marish is the Towne of Guines and the Castle of Hames and at the end towards Arthois stands Ardres For the safetie of this land the English had made great trenches towards the firme land the which were commonly full of water and fortified with Rampars and to flanke them fortes and bastions well manned to defend the entrie into the countrie The affection which euery one bare vnto the Kings seruice made them to passe the channels which flowed into the countrie directly against the fortes They assaile them force them and put all to the sword they finde Two thousand English come to their succours the French men at aââes charge and defeate them and kill the most part the rest cast themselues into the trenches where the horsemen could not follow foure score or a hundred of our horse with manie men at armes test fâed by their deaths or wounds the furie of this incounter The English were strong both in high and base Boullen and in the Tower of Ordre this Tower was built by Iulius Caesar the second time he passed into England to haue a Lampe vpon the top of it to direct his ships if they should be diuided by any stoâme at Sea as in his first voyage and the retiring of our troupes made them to enterprise vpon our âorte wâich was made on the other side of the water right against base Boullen Seuen or eight thousand choise men come an houre before day and mount sodenly to the top of the rampar where they might easily enter in many places without any ladders Thibault âouhault Lord of Riou Lieutenant for the King within the fort finding his succours farâe off saies the originall watched in the night and rested the day If the enemy charged furiously he repels him with no lesse assârance kils all them that mounted ouertârowes the rest puts them in route so as by this gallant repulse he was afterwards freed from the attempts of the English We must now plant strong barres against the Lansquenets which come to succour the King of England A leuie of Lansquânets âor the English mâde fruitleââe They were lodged at Fleurines a great village in the countrâe of Liege ãâã leagues from Mezieres Mezieres was of great importance if the enemy had surprised it And the Emperor fearing that this great swarme of men finding his countries vnfurnished of souldiars would doe some harme had hindred their passage through his teââitories This refusall might haue made the Germaines to haue sought a passage by force through the realme So the King to crosse them sent Laâgey into Mezacres with a thousand foot and the horsmen of Bourgongne and part of Champagne he sent Longueuall his Lieutenant into Champagne to muster the Legion of the country manneâ the pâssages where he thought the enemie would attempt He sent the Duke of Angâien into Guise with three hundred men at armes and a number of foote In the end the Lansquenets hauing staied 3. weekes at Fleurines doubtfull where they should make their passage the day of their pay being come and the money yet in England they turne their enseignes returne home the same way leading with them the King of Englands Treasurers for assurance of their entertainment Our Francis is now freed of a great care By the death of the Duke of Orleans the chiefe conditions of peace made with the Emperour were voide so to enter into new treaties his Maiestie sent from Folambray neere to Coussy the Admirall Annebault and the Chancellor Oliuier âhe Emperour was at Bruges and determined to send an armie against the Protestants and commonalties of Germanie who yeelded him no
such obedience as hee required of his subiects and with this desseine he went to Antwerp to receiue money by imposition and borrowing This voiage is a cloake to delay our Ambassadors 1546. But in effect he ment to know the minds of theÌ of Antwerp that according to the course of affaires he might be more milde or sharpe in his answers And the sayd Ambassadors discouering his ordinarie delaies and dissimulations in the end tooke their leaue returning with no other assurance but if the King began no warre against him hee was not resolued to make any A word serues to a man of Iudgement What might the King conceiue of this cold entertainement but that the Emperour sought an oportunity to begin a new war with aduantage and if he had forced them to obedience whom hee threatned in Germanie he would bring al forces both Catholiks Protestants ioyntly against the frontiers of this realme To auoide a sodaine surprise hee giues the gouernment of Languedoc to the Duke of Anguien that of Piedmont to the Prince of Melphe lately created Marshal of France he sent to fortifie the weake places of Picardie hee made a fort aboue Maubert-Fontaine seauen leagues from Veruein and fiue from Mezieres at the going out of the wood and for that the frontier of Champagne lay most open to the Germains hee fortified Meziers and Mouzon built a fort vpon Meuze on this side the riuer within the realme betwixt Stenay and Dunle Chasteau the which hee called Villefranche he fortified the Castell of Saint Menehoult Saint Desier Chaumont in Bassigny Coiffy and Ligny and made Bourg in Bresse able to make head against a mighty army Thus the King prouided for his frontiers and places subiect to the enemies inuasions But the plague had so diminished the number of soldiars that were in the fort right against Boullen as of twentie enseigns not aboue eight or nine hundred men escaped this mortalitie A great plague in the âort before Boullen The soldiars notwithstanding are commended for their fidelity constancie and patience in the gard thereof The raine snowe and other iniuries of the aire the moistenes of their lodgings being but hoales in the ground coueâed with a pentise of strawe and when a whole household was dead the ruines serued to bury their carcases had bred these diseases But the spring time hauing tempered the season and stayed the plague the Lords of Essé and Riou being refreshed and supplied with men returned to their ordinary skirmishes to the enemies losse The fort wanted victualls Senerpont Lieutenant to the Marshall of Biez was appointed for this execution Three hundred English horse come to hinder this victualing He meetes them the day after Easter day neere to the bridge of bricke beneath mount S. Stephen the skirmish begins on eyther side the Lord of Tais and the Conte Reingraue ariue either of them with sixe or seauen score gentlemen the alarume comes to Boullen the English supplie their men with seauen hundred horse and foure hundred harguebuziers Senerpont chargeth the horsemen before they had ioyned with their shot the Reingraue is hurt at the first charge and ouerthrowen and on the other side the Marshall of Calais beeing chiefe of the enterprise is slaine with a hundred or sixescore English about two hundred horse on eyther side and threescore and fifteene English prisoners all in cassaks of vellet garnished with gold and siluer A while after the Marshall of Biez parted from his campe for the same effect accoÌpanied with fiftie men at armes the Reingraue with his regiment of foure thousand Lansquenets and two hundred French shot he incountred the Earle of Surrcy followed by six thousand English men with an intent to take from our men the meanes to refresh the fort with victualls and necessarie munition Here the combate was long and furious in the ende the English ouerthrowen retire to a little fort where they force them Seauen or eight hundred of their men are slaine Surrey saues himselfe by flight and leaueâ seauen or eight score prisoners Boullen was but a Church-yard for the English a wasting for their treasor The King oâ England considering how obstinate the King was in the recouerie of his Towne that moreouer the Emperour what league soeuer they had togither had his priuate desseins and regarded nothing but his owne interest he lettes the King vnderstand That he is resolued to haue hiâ for his friend and to ende all controuersies So the Deputies for âheiâ maisters meete betwixt Ardres and Guynes For the King came the Amirall Annebault and Raymond the first President of Roâan for the English Dudely ãâã of England and afterwards Duke of Northumberland and finally after many câââââtations a peace was made with these conditions That the King within eight daies sâould pay eight hundred thousand Crownes to the King of England as well for the arreriges of his pension as for many other expences made by the sayd King in the fortification of Boâlleâ of the Countrie And in regard of the said sum the King of EnglaÌd should deliuer vnto the King Boullen and all the Countrie belonging vnto it with the ancient places or newly ãâã by him Mont-Lambert the Tower of Ordre Ambletueil Blacquenay and others with all the artillerie victuals and munition in the said places This yeare is famous by the death of Anguien In the moneth of February the snow was very great The death of the Duke of Anguien and the Court being at Roche-guion some yong Noblemen attending the Daulphin made a challeng some to defend a house others to assaile it âith snow bals But this pastime ended soone with a pittifull and fatall spectacle As the Duke came out of this house a cofer full of linnen cast out of the window falls vpon his head and within few houres sends him to rest in the graue with his ancestors leauing a suspition of some great men being enuious and iealous of his vertue reputation and fauour which he had gotten with the King the people and men of warre of whome he was more then any other of his age esteemed beloued and respected The beginning is likewise remarkable by the decease of Henry the eight King of England The death of the King of England leauing for his successor his sonne Edward eight yeares of age This death bred a great alteration and change in the health of our Francis they were almost of one age conformable in coÌplections And our King taking this for a presage or fortelling that his turne should soone follow after grew then more melancholy and silent then before He fals sicke of a feuer for the auoyding wherof hauing passed many places fit for the pleasure of hunting la Muette S. Germain in Laye Villepreux Dampierre neere vnto Cheureuse Limours and Rochefort he came to lodge at Rambouillet and as the pleasure he tooke both in hunting and hauking stayed him there sometime his feuer increased and grew to a
the Emperouâ who besides the donation which he expected from the Emperour his brother of his right desired that during the life of Duke Iohn a Catholike Gouernour should be named and at his appoinment that after his death he might vnite these Duchies lying neere vnto the Lowe Countries the which he hoped should be giuen him in marriage and become Maister thereof But all the enterprises which hee made and all the ruiâes and spoyles which his army committed vnder his Lieutenant the Admirall preuayled nothing but his army was forced to reâire and to deliuer vp those places which they had taken vnto Duke Iohn who at this present is married with the daughter of the Duke of Lorraine as shall be said hereafter The fourth Demaund That the sentence giuen against them of the Towne of Aix should be presently put in execution It did much import the King of Spaine and Albert the Cardinall that the towne of Aix lying in the Country of Iuilliers nere vnto Lembourg should bee at the Protestants deuotion He therefore required the execution of the sentence giuen against them in the Imperiall chamber for the reestablishment of a Catholike Magistrate According to this demaund the Bishop of Leege was appointed by the Emperour to execute the sayed sentence To the fift Demaund That he prouide a speedy remedy for the Hans Townes to restrain the insolencye of English Pirats The Spaniard made this demaund for the townes of the East Country as Lubeck Rostoch Hambourg Breme Stode and others which did trafficke with his subiects and from whome he receiuâd great store of munition for the Warre Vpon this pretext the English ships did take and spoyle the Esterlings Whervppon the Emperour by an Imperiall decree did forbid the English to trafficke in the Hans Townes And the Queene of England did answer by proclamation that it should be lawfull for her subiects to take all ships that should carry any munition of War vnto the Spaniard By this answer we may see that the Queene did not greatly feare the Emperours prohibitions who answered vnto the said demand of the Admirall That hauing more ample complaints he would prouide as his duty and the equity of the cause doth require To the sixt Demaund That he would suffer him to leuy men in the territories of the Empire his Imperiall Maiesty made answer That the Catholike King should in no sort doubt of his good affection for that during so many yeares space he had suffered him to make the like leuies of men The which was neuer graunted vnto his aduersaries who notwithstanding haue leuied some but without his Maiesties pâiuity But for his Imperial Maiesty to graunt such a thing vnto the King of Spaine either by Letters pattents or by commission it was not conuenient for that they haue imployment for many souldiars against the Turke so as it was to be feared the whole Empire would murmure yet vnder hand his Imperiall Maiesty was coÌtent to assist him all he could And if the affaires of Hongary would permit to satisfie him fully openly But the Admiral did presse him much to haue Letters pattents with commission to leuie men notwithstanding the former reasons or any other respect seeing that the Emperour may leuy men in the Lowe Countries to serue against the Turke Whervnto the Emperour answered That he could not graunt the King of Spaine any Pattent generall or leaue to leauy as many regiments of Souldiars as he pleased seeing it had not beene vsed in former âimes But seeing that his Imperiall Maiesty was not of sufficient power to beare the burthen of this Warre without the assistance of the Princes of the Empire there was no doubt but at the first Campe and at the first occasion hee should bee charged and reproached therewith so as the contributions and support of those Princes would fayle him To conclude the Emperour intreated the King of Spaine as well in this regard as in all other things to rest assured of his loue and affection and how welcome his Ambassador was vnto him These were the demaunds the King of Spaine made vnto the Emperour To what ende they tended will appeare by the actions of the sayde Admirall of Arragon hauing entred the countries of Iuilliers and Cleues with the King of Spaines army as we shall shew in the ende of this yeare 1598. Whilest these things passed in Germany the most Christian King was at Nantes he pacified Brittaine discharged the new Garrisons and some Imposts and placed for Gouernour there Cesar Monsieur his base sonne nowe Duke of Vandosme who was betrothed to the onely Daughter of the Duke of Mercoeur He then graunted the Edict of pacification to them of the reformed Religion within his realme as wee shall shewe hereafter A Peace being concluded at Veruins betwixt the two Kings there was nothing yet agreed vpon for the Duke of Sauoy It seemed the King of Spaine had forgotten him and that hee did not acknowledge him for his sonne-in-lawe The French King helde him for neither kinsman nor friend so long as hee should detaine the Marquisate of Salusses The Marquis of Lullins who was there Agent for the Duke assured the Deputies that the Duke had no other intention The Duke of Sauoy desires to bâ comprehânded in the Treaây but to giue the King more contentment hereafter then forepassed occasions would giue him meanes Vppon this assurance he entred into the Treaty the which by his occasion was in a manner broken off three dayes before the conclusion For the King was resolued not to thinke of any accord with the Duke but by present effects without defferring the satisfaction of that which was due vnto him It was not likely the King would conclude a peace with the Duke of Sauoy with lesse honourable conditions then hee had done with the King of Spaine from whom he had recouered all his places But the Pope fearing that this Marquisate of Salusses would proue an Aetna to fire all Italy preuailed so with the King as he preferred the publike good before his owne priuate interest The King prefers the publike good before his priuâte interest beeing content for the finishing of this building of Peace that the Dukes Interest and his Right should be put to compromise It was agreed that the Pope should bee the onely Iudge of this discord touchâng the restitution of the Maâquisate of Salusses and that within a yeare So a Peace was concluded signed by the Deputies but it was not published till a moneth aâter only a general suspension of armes was proclaimed The King being at Rennes in Brittaine came post to Tours and so to Amiens for the better execution of the Peace A Peace concludâd the 2. of Mây 1598. coâteyning 37. Articles Proclaimed the 2. of Iunâ which was coÌprehended in 37. Articles the which Peter Mathew sets downe at large All which Articles conteyned in the Treaty and all that had beene concluded agreed and passed by the said
Iulliers after the decease of the Countesse of Valpurg He sommoned the Gouernor to yeeld who finding himselfe to weake abandoned the place The Gouernor complayned to his Master the Duke of Iulliers but the controuersies betwixt him Prince Maurice and the States were reserued to be determined by the Imperiall Chamber The Arch-duke beseeged Ostend Oâtând beseeged the which continued three yeares and eleauenth weekes it was noted for the most memorable seege that euer was in Europe whereas so many thousands of men ended their daies and which endured so many hundred thousand Cannon shot before it yeelded Ostend which hath beene the place whereas all the brauest subiects of Spaine for the Arch-dukes And al the valiant English and Hollanders for Prince Maurice and the States haue in emulation one of an other shewed their corrages and whereas many French according to their diuers affections haue âought Honour This Ostend is a Sea Towne in the CouÌty of Flanders two Leagues from Oudenbourg three from Nieuport and foure from Bruges vpon the riuer of Iperle the which runnes into the Sea making it a good port for shipping It was walled about but in the yeare 1572. and in the yeare 1587. It was better fortefied by the States of the vnited Prouinces The particularities of this seege I omit because they are written at large and published by others Ferdinand the Archduke being at the seege of Canisia demanded succors from the Pope and the Princes of Italy The Duke of Mantoa was Lieutenant Generall The Pope sent him his Nephew Iohn Francis Aldobrandino hauing deliuered into his hands the blessed Standard with Ceremonyes The King of Spaine sent him sixe thousand Germaines and the Great Duke of Tuscany two thousand foote the time was spent in contending for command betwixt the Duke of Mantoa and Aldobrandino who beeing Marshall of the Campe would receiue no direction from the Archduke Great men for the iealousie of command loose great occasions but death ended this quarrell Aldobrandino dying three moneths after of a Qâotidian feauer the Troupes which he conducted continued still at the seege The Pope disposed of his Estates to Siluester Aldobrandino his Sonne his obsequies were made at Rome with great pompe Rochepot beeing Ambassador in Spaine ãâ¦ã Ambaââaâor ãâã Spaine certaine French Gentlemen among the which his Nephew was had a quarrell with some Spaniards who did iniury them and cast their Clothes into the Water they being a swimming The Spaniards had the worst and some were hurt and slaine Their Kinsmen demanded Iustice of the King who commanded his Officers to doe it but the Ambassadors lodging was forced and the Gentlemen drawne forth to prison notwithstanding any thing that he could say or doe to maintaine the liberty of his place the which is inuiolable euen among enemies The King was so offended with this iniury as hee commanded his Ambassador to returne giuing the King of Spaine to vnderstand that hee assured himselfe that he would do him reason when hee had well considered what cause he had to complaine Wherevpon all Trafficke was forbidden betwixt these two Realmes The Pope fearing that this violence done vnto the Ambassador of France could not passe without some feeling and that this Coale might kindle the fire of Warre betwixt these two great Kings hee sent into Spaine to haue the prisoners the which were sent vnto him and the Pope deliuered them presently vnto the Lord of Betunes the Kings Ambassador at Rome and so the Peace was continued The Ambassadors of Venice were better intreated in France That great and wise Senate holding themselues bonnd by the Lawes of friendship An Ambassâge from Venice to deplore the misfortune and to reioyce at the prosperity of their friends hauing beene long troubled for the afflictions of France they send a great and solemne Ambassâge to congratulate the fruit of the Kings victories and the beginning of his Marriage The Ambassadors were chosen out of the Procurators of Saint Marck and of the cheife men of the State They came to Paris Donât Dâlphin Procureurs of S. Marck Ambassadors Donat was in election to be Duke the King sent the Marquis of Rhosny to conduct them to Fontainbleau and to intreat them to bee contented with their Reception in that place whereas the Queene was seeing their Ambassage was common to both and that for the indisposition of her greatnesse it could not bee at Paris which occasion did renue the ioyes of the Court the which was in so great Tranquilitye as it seemed neuer to haue beene in trouble The Great Turke sent Bartholomew de Cueur his Physition vnto the King Bartlemew de Cueur of Marseilles a Christian Renegado sent to the King by the Turke to acquaint him with the Estate of his affayres and to intreat him to mediate a Truce in Hungary When as this man spake of the Turkes power hee did so extoll it as if hee had beene able to vanquishe all the Princes of Christendome not expecting Pope nor Emperor so as the King of France did not meddle in it Hee presented a Dagger and a Cymiter vnto the Kings Maiesty whereof the Hilts and Scabberds were of Gold garnished with Rubies and a Plume of Herons feathers The King related vnto him what hee had done in Sauoy and complayned that to the preiudice of ancient Capitulations not onely the English were distracted from the Banner of France vnder whose guide and protection they were bound to trafficke but also the Flemings Hollanders and Zelanders were comprehended vnder the Banner of England To this complaint hee added an other against the courses and violencies of the Pirats of Algier and the Coast of Barbary saying that if the Iustice of the great Turke did not cause these Pirracies to ceaâse he should haue no reason to beleeue his friendship It was at such a time as the Great Turkes affayres were very confused and troubled in Asia The Seriuano reuolted in Asia by the reuolt of the Seriuano and almâst desperate in high Hungary The King of Persia had sent Ambassadors to the Christian Princes to animate them to make War against him promising to contribute an Army of a hundred and fifty thousand horse The King of Persia sent his Ambassador to the Pope Emperor King of Spaine and threescore thousand foote offering vnto the Christians liberty of Religion and free Trafficke in his Kingdomes His Spays and Iannissaries murmured against him and the bad carriage of the Empresse his Mother who during his Delights and Dissolutions held the reyns of Gouernment did alwayes through the mallice and frailty of her Sexe support the worst Councells and Resolutions They complayned dayly of the Mother and the Sonne speaking of her as the Romaines did of Agrippina crying out that they should intreat her worse then by a simple banishment and of him as the Souldiars spake of Gallienus whom they esteemed not to be borne but for the pleasures which are in and vnder the belly
head of the Albigeois in the raigne of Philip Augustus fol. 165. The Popes Legat slaine by the Albigeois ibid. An Aâmy against the Albigeois a great slaughter of them by Symân oâ Monfort ibiâ Count Raymond and his confederats defâated by Symââ of Monfort ãâã 167 The Councell of Latran The Eaâldome of Tholouse giuen to Symon of Montfort ibid Symoâ hated by his subiects of Languedock is slaine before Tholouse Count Raymond is receiued againe into Languedock ibid Warre in Guienne against the English fol. 168. Lewis compounds for Languedock with the Sonnes of Simon of Monfort ibid. Count Raymond submits himselfe to the Pope Desolation of the Albigeois ibid. Lewis dies ibid. Lewis the ninth called Saint Lewis the 44. King of France QVeene Blanche Regent of the King and Realme fol. 169. Afection in France for the Regencie ibid. Languedock annexed to the Crowne by marriage fol. 170. Blanch preuents the discontented princes ibid. Lewis in danger to be surprized by his rebels ibid. Prouence comes to Charles of Aniou a sonne of France fol. 171 Lewis his disposition the patterne of an excellent prince fol. 172 A happy peace in the raigne of Lewis the rest of of the Albigeois fol. 173 Estate of the Empire and of the Church ibid. The Pope seekes to driue the Emperour out of Italie ibid. The Emperour goes with an armie against the Pope and his confederats ibid. The Pope drawes the French to his succour fol. 174 The Popes pollicie to supplant the Emperours ibid. Fredericks happie successe in Asia ibid. The Popes hatred against the Emperour irrecoÌciliable ibid. The Emperour enters Italie with a great armie fol. 175 Gregorie turnes enemie to Fredericke beeing chosen Pope ibid. The Emperour Fredericke excommunicated and degraded the Germaines choose another Emperour ibid. The death of Fredericke fol. 176 Conrades sonne poysoned by Manfroy his bastard brother hee vsurpes Sicilia and Naples ibid. Lewis refuseth Sicilia and Naples offered him by the Pope ibid. Charles Earle of Prouence defeates and kills Manfroy in Sicilia ibid. The Empire without an Emperour by their ciuil confusions fol. 177 Charles of Aniou vicar of the Empire and king of Naples and Sicilia ibid. Conradin seekes to recouer his realme and is defeated ibid. He is cruelly beheaded by Charles with many others ibid. Lewis resolues to goe into Asia the confused estate of the Empire there ibid. The Empire of the Greekes translated to the French ibid. Three Emperours at one instant in the East 178 Lewis goes with an army into the East ibid. The Tartars refuse the Christian religion by reason of their ill life fol. 179 Lewis takes Damiette ibid. He besieged Caire indiscreetly The plague falls into his campe ibid. Lewis is distressed taken by the Sultan of Egypt and paies his ransome ibid. The French generally lament for their King fol. 180 Lewis makes good lawes ibid. Blanch his mother dies ibid. The English rebell against their King ibid. Lewis reconciles the English to their King ibid. Diuision in Flaunders pacified by Lewis ibid. Lewis goes into Barbarie fol. 181 Makes a league with England ibid. In danger at Sea ibid. His army infected with the plague ibid. Lewis beeing sicke giues his sonne instruction 182 His death vertues raigne children and posteritie ibid. The house of Orleans called to the Crowne ibid. Philip 3. called the Hardy the 45. king of France QVeene Isabel dies fol. 183 Richard sonne to Henry king of England slain traiterously ibid. Great contention for the election of a new Pope fol. 184 Lewis eldest sonne to Philip poysoned And the Countie of Tolouse annexed to the crowne ibid. The French expelled Constantinople by the Greekes fol. 185 Philips disposition and why called Hardie ibid. Charles king of Sicilia a turbulent Prince ibid. Peter of Arragon leuies an armie to inuade Sicilia fol. 186 Sicilian Euensong where all the French are slain ibid. Peter of Arragon Charles beeing expulst enters Sicilia and is crowned king fol. 187 The Pope supports Charles against Peter fol. 188 Philip succours his vnckle Charles and the Sicilianâ seeke to make peace with Charles but Peter politickly auoides all danger ibid. A combate appointed betwixt two kings ibid. Peter fortifies himselfe in Sicilia fol. 189 Charles the sonne called the Lame taken prisoner and Charles the fathers death ibid. Philip makes warre against Peter of Arragon is defeated and dies ibid. Philip set vpon vnawares in danger with his death and children fol. 190 Philip the 4. called the Faire the 46. King of France PHilips disposition and issue vnhappy in the mariage of his sonnes fol. 191 The Parliament of Paris erected the Palace and the colledge of Nauarre built fol. 192 Cause of warre in Flaunders and Guienne ibid. Occasions to renew the war with the English ib. A league betwixt Edward of England Guy of FlaÌders the Emperour the Duke of Bar against Philip. fol. 193 Philip seizeth vpon the Earle of Flanders daughter ibid. The English affaires succeeded ill ibid. A great assembly of Princes against Philip. fol. 194 Pope Boniface enemy to Philip. ibid. The Pope makes a decree against Philip and hee prepares to defend himselfe fol. 195 Philip hauing admonished the Earle of Flanders of his dutie inuades his countrey and defeats the Flemmings seizeth vpon all Flanders the Earle beeing forsaken by his confederates ibid. Guy put into prison and Flanders annexed to the crowne of France fol. 196 The people of Flanders oppressed reuolt and ioyne with the Nobilitie and kill the French ibid. Battaile of Courteay famous for the great defeate of the French fol. 197. A notable affront done by Pope Boniface to Philip. ibid. Arrogancy of the Popes Nuntio fol. 198. Philip subdues and makes peace with the Flemmings ibid. Guy Earle of Flanders and his daughter died fol. 199. Isabell the daughter of Philip married to Edward king of England ibid. Adolph the Emperor deposed and the Pope practiseth against Philip ibid. Pope Boniface his death and disposition fol. 201 The Colledge of Cardinals apply themselues wholy to please Philip. ibid. Pope Clement the 5. crowned at Lyons and remooues his seate to Auignon ibid. Philips death and the fruites of the Easterne voyages fol. 202 The Christians loose all in the East fol. 203. The estate of Sicilia ibid. Lewis the 10. callâd Hutin the 47. king of France THe maners of Lewis Hutin his wiues f. 204 Enquerand of Maââgny vniustly put to death ib. Ione the daughter of Lewis Hutin pretends the realme fol. 205 The Parliament made ordinary ibid. Philip the 5. called the long the 48. king of France COntrouersie for the crown of France fol. 206 Philips coronation childreÌ disposition ibid. Rebels calling themselues Shepards fol. 207. Flanders pacified ibid. Charles the 4. called the faire 49. King of France CHarles crowned without opposition fol. 208 His disposition and issue ibid. Isabel complaines of her husband Edward king of England fol. 209 The second parcell of the third race of the Capets containing 13. kings
in the second royall branch called of Valois from Philip of Valois to Henry the third The names of the 13. kings of the second royall branch of Capets called of Valois Philip. Iohn Charles the 5. Charles the 6. Charles the 7. Lewis the 11. Charles the 8. Lewis the 12. Frances the 1. Henry the 2. Frances the 2. Charles the 9. Henry the 3. and last of this royall branch Philip of Valois the 50. king of France fol. 1 His controuersie with Edward the king of England ibid. Preferred to the Crowne and installed king ibid. Setles his affaires in France fâl 2. Suppresseth the Flemmings ibid. A notable sute of the Parliament against the Clergie ibid. Takes homage of Edward king of England for Guienne ibid. King Edwards oth to Philip. ibid. He resolues to go to the holy land fol. 3 The Pope discontented with Philip. ibid. Edward king of England makes warre with Philip ibid. Robert of Artois the firebrand of warre fâl 3 He flies into England fol. 4 Warre in Guienne and Scotland ibid. Iames of Artevill ring-leader to the seditious Flemmings ibid. Edwards practises in Flanders and Germanie ibid. Battell of Scluse in fauour of the English fol. 5 The English and French Army retire without fighting Edward takes on him the title of King of France fol. 6 Ione Queene of Naples kils her husband and the kingdome is taken by Lewis King of Hungary fol. 7 Arteuil slaine by the Flemmings fâl 8 The French defeated at Blanquetaque ibid. The battell of Crery with many particuler accidents that happened in it fol. 10.11 King Edward besieges and takes Calice fol 12.13 Dolphin incorporate to the crowne fol. 14 Monpelier purchased to the crowne ibid. Queene Ione of France dies ibid. Philips death and disposition fol. 15 Estate of the Empire and Church ibid. Iohn the 1. and 51. king of France COnsiderable obseruations in his raigne fol. 16 His children and most remarkable personages in his raigne fol. 17 Charles of Nauars humors and discontents ibid. Charles of Spaine Constable of Fâance slaine in his bed by the king of Nauarre ibid. Nauars practises and force against the king fol. 18 Nauarre taken prisoner by the king and foure of his complices beheaded fol. 19 Warre in Normandie and Guienne betweene Iohn and the Prince of Wales sonne to Edward the 3. fol. 19. and 20 The battell of Poytiers where the French were ouerthrowne by the English and king Iohn taken Prisoner with the number slaine and taken fol. 21. and 22 Assembly of the Estates for Iohns deliuery with the insolencies of the people during his imprisonment fol. 23 The Kâng of Nauarr set at libertie comes to Paris and the Dolphin yeelds to him fol. 24 Iohns generous answere to King Edward fo 25 The Parisians comes into the Dolphins lodging solicite the Cities to rebell but they refused them fol. 26 The Dolphin leaues Paris fol. 27 The Nauarrois seekes to ruine him ibid. A Parliament Compiegne and the Dolphin declared Regent fo 28. Two French armies one against another fol. 29. The Parisians mutiny with the English that had serued them who beate them backe in sight of the Nauarrois fol. â0 The Regent is receiued into Paris with the Nauarrois attemps against him fol. 31 Edward repents an opportunitie neglected ibid. The desolate estate of France fol. 32 The Dolphin executes the Parisians and pacifies the rest ibid. Conditions for the Kings deliuery and preparation to defend the Realme ibid. Edward enters France with an Armie besiegeth Paris but in vaine fol. 33 Edward amazed with a thunder concludes a peace with Iohn at Bretigny ibid. The two Kings swear a mutuall league of friendship fol. 34 King Iohn brought to Calis and after receiued by his sonne with great ioy ibid. Iohn receiued into Paris fol. 35 Difficulties in the performance of the conditions of peace ibid. Iohns death in England the 8. of April 1â64 with his disposition ibid. Charles the 5. called the wise the 52. king of France HIs raigne and manners with the augmentation of his brethrens portions fol. 36 His Marriage and children fol. 37 Warre in Brytany where the French are defeated by the English ibid. He reconciles the pretendants for Britany fol. 38 Wars receiued in Britany Flanders and between France and England ibid. The Emperor seekes to reconcile them fol. 39 Charles proclaimes war against the King of England ibid. The successe of the French army in Guienne with the exploits of the Prince of Wales called the Blacke Prince ibid. Peter king of Castile murthers his own wife fol. 40 Charles sends an army against him as a muâtherer and a Tirant ibid. The king of England restores Peter and defeats the French ibid. Peter forsaken by the English taken prisoner and beheaded fol. 41 The English second passage through France vnder the Duke of Clarence ibid. Troubles in Flanders pacified by Philip. fol. 42 Sedition at Monpelier punished by the Duke of Berry with the sentence against them but moderated fol. 43 Charles his death disposition with some obseruations worthy to be obserued by Princes f. 44 The state of the Empire and Church with the originall of the Canto in Swisserland fol. 45 Diuision at Rome for the election of a new Pope And an Antipope chosen fol. 46 Charles the sixt 53. King of France NEcessarie obseruations for the vnderstanding of this raigne fol. 47 The minoritie of K. Charles the sixt Strange euents in the beginning of his Raigne fol. 48. Lâwis of Aniow Regent and Oliuer Clisson Constable fol. 49 Controuersie betweene his vncles at his coronation for precedence ibid. Tumults in France ibid. And in Flanders between the Earle and the Gantois fol. 50.51 King Charles succours the Earle of âlanders against the aduice of the Regent and his counsell fol. 52 He ouerthrowes the Flemmings and kils threescore thousand of them fol. 53 The Gantois appeased and a peace in Flanders fol. 54. Charles marrieth Isabell of Bauiere and concludes a peace in Brittany ibid. He sends men and munition into Scotland and resolues to make warre vpon England which the Regent dislikes of fol. 55 Preparation in France and England for war fol. 56 The Regent opposeth against this warre âol 57 The enterprise broken oâ and Naples offered to the Regent fol. 58 The seditious and cruell insolencies of the Parisians but they faint and âue to the King for pardon fol. 59 Lewis of Aniow crowned King of Naples fol 60 A schisme in the Church fol. 61 Queene Ioan ãâã Naples taken and smoothered and Lewis Duke of Aniow and adopted King of Naples dies ibid. The English enter Picardie and Charles makes a truce with them fol. 62 The King hauing consulted what course to take with the mutinous Parisians enters the city with an army executes many they cry for mercie and he pardons them fol. 63.64.65 Charles out of his vncles gouernement who grew discontented fol. 66 HE giues the Dutchy of Orleans to his brother Lewis and visits
Burgundy fol. 67 The maiâiâiâ of K. Charles the sâxt Complaints against the Duke of Berry and Bâtzac his Treasurer burnt fol. 68 THe tragicall end of Charles King of Nauarre ibid. âemaâkeablâ fâr âis health fââm tââ yeares 1â88 vnto 1â9â Peter of Craon being disgraced in court is perswaded by the Duke of Britainâ to murther the Constable whom he assaults but kils not fol. 71 He is condemned for his attempt foâ 72 Charles being distempered with choller his Vncles and Phisitions dissuade him from the war in Brittaine yet hee marcheth on against the Duke ibid. The duke labors to pacifie the king who parting from Mans a strange accident befell him fol. 73 CHarles fals into a phrensie the court in a pitiful case with a generall censure of this accident fol. 74. The second season remarkable fâr his sicknesse from the yere 1393 vnto 1422. The second causes of his phrensie his army dissolued and care taken of his person fol. 75 An order taken for the gouernment of the realm fol. 76 The disposition âf Philip Duke of Burgondy ibid. FActions and alterations in Court fol. 77 Philip Duke of Burgogne aduanced to the gouernment of the realme by a decree of the Estates The kings Minnions ill intreated ibid. The Constable flyes from Paris and is condemned beeing absent ibid. Charles fals into a relapse by a strange accident fol. 79 Richard king of England marrieth with Isabell of France fol. 80 Is put from his gouernment fol. 81 The French succour the Hungarians and are defeated ibid. Charles his children during his infirmitie fol. 82 Hatred betweene the house of Orleans and Burgundie fol. 83 The Duke of Brittaine and the Constable reconciled ibid. DIscentions between the Dukes of Burgundie and Orleans The beginning of the ciuile warre fol. 85.86.87.88 The duke of Orleans murthered by the Burguignon fol. 89 The sequele of this trecherous murther fol. 90.91.92 The faction of Burgundy and Orleans after some ciuile warre appeased by the Daulphin who dispossesseth the Burguignon and restores them of Orleans from the yeare 1409. to 1413. fol. 93 94.95.96.97.98 Iohn of Burgundy crost by the Daulphin and the house of Orleans stirs vp new troubles from 1412. to 1417. when as the Daulphin died but troubles ceased not The estate of the Court vnder Lewis the Daulphin fol. 100 The Daulphin takes vpon him the name of Regent fol. 101 The Duke of Burgundie disgraced and banished not admitted into Paris proclaimed guiltie of high treason the King marcheth against him and he sues for peace fol. 102.103 Henry the 5. King of England enters France with an army demands Katherine the Kings daughter and marcheth into Picardie fol. 103 The King of England forced to fight and gets the victorie at the battell at Agencourt fol. 104 The Emperour Sigismund comes into France fol. 105. The Daulphin Iohn fauours the Burguignon and his death ibid. Iohn of Burgundy ioines with Isabell the Queene who takes vpon her the regencie and makes warre against her sonne Charles the Daulphin seizeth vpon Paris kils the Constable of Armagnac Henry of Marle Chancelor of France but is slaine in the end by the Daulphin from the yeare 1415. to 1419. fol. 106 A strange confusion the Mother against the Son fol. 106. The Burguignon armes and drawes in the English fol. 107 The Daulphin encountred by three great enemies The Burguignon the English and his mother ibid. The King dislikes of the Queen and the Burguignon ioynes with her fol. 109 The Queene declares her selfe Regent of France erects new courts and officers fol. 110 Paris surprised the King taken and the Daulphin saues himselfe fol. 111 The Daulphin seekes to recouer Paris fol. 112 A horrible massacre at Paris with the number murthered and a plague ensues it fol. 113 Roan besieged and taken and all Normandie yeelds vnto the English fol. 114 The Burguignon and the Queene seeke to reconcile themselues to the Daulphin fol. 115 The Duke of Brittaine leaues the English and ioynes with the Daulphin fol. 116 The Parisians mutinie and kill the Burguignons seruants fol. 117 A peace betweene the Daulphin and Iohn of Burgundie ibid. The Daulphins proceedings reasons and resolution to kill the Duke of Burgundy fol. 118.119 The Daulphin causeth the Duke of Burgundy to be slaine fol. 120 Blood punished with blood with the Catastrophe of this miserable raigne fol. 121 During these occurrents Henry the 5. Charles the 6. dies leauing the Crowne in question betweene Charles the 7. and Henry the 6. proclaimed King of France at the funerals of Charles the 6. from the yeare 1419. to 1422. fol. 122. The exploits of the Daulphin and of Philip of Burgogne after this murther fol. 122 Queene Isabell hates her sonne deadly ibid. Henry the 5. proclaimed heire of France with his proceeding in his new royaltie fol. 123 The English defeated and the Duke of Clarence slaine fol. 124 The great exploits of Henry the 5. ibid. His sicknesse and death fol. 125 Charles the 6. dies ibid. Henry the 6. proclaimed King ibid. Charles the 7. the 54. King of France NOtable particularities of this raigne fol. 127 Charles his raigne his children manners and disposition fol. 128 The miserable estate of this Realme vnto the Coronation of Charles the 7. during 7. yeares  England Burgundy Sauoy Brittany enemies vnto Charles fol. 129 Charles aduanceth Scottishmen and makes a gard of them for his person ibid. The Dukes of Bedford and Burgogne conclude a great league against Charles fol. 130 Warre against Charles in diuers places defeated by the English and Meulan taken fol. 131 The cause of the diuision betweene the Dukes of Bedford and Burgundy fâl 132. The notable battell of Creuant where the French and Scottish were ouerthrowne by the Duke of Bedford ââl 133. ãâã 11. the eldest Son of Charlââ borne ãâã 134 New supplies âome out off Scotlâd the French growing weary of the Englâsh coÌplot agâiâst thâm ãâã 135 The Duke oâ Bedford sends a challenge to the Fâench Army who are in diuisâon ãâã 136. The French defeated at the battell of Veânuill f l. 137. The number taken prisonââs and slaine fol. 138. Câarlââ hiâ miseraâle âstate discântentes fol. 139. Bedforâ and Richmont brothers in law at variance f l. 140. Câarlââ sends an ambassage to Philip of Burgundy ãâã 141 The Duke of Bâittaiâe comes to Charles and ãâ¦ã English âol 142 Thââââttons dâfââted by their error fâl 14â The Kingâ mâgnoâs slââne by his Councâl 144. ãâã Duke of âurgondy made heyre of ãâã  Hamault Hollând ând Zelând ãâã 145. The Duke of âedford brings newe forces out of England ãâã Montargis beseeged by the English releeued by the French and the English defeated fâl 146 Pontarson taken by the English fâl 147. The famous sââge of Orlâans from ãâã 148. ãâã 156. THE Coronation of Chârlâs the 7. at Rheims 156. The desseigne of the âurguignon and Sauoyard against Daulphine and Languedoc fol. 1â7 All Champagne yeelds to
King Charles fol. 159 The âstate of the Empire and âhurch A horrible Schisme with the cause thereof fâl 160.161.162.163.164.165 The English seâke to crosse Charles in his affairs fol. 166. Iâare ãâ¦ã the Pucelle disswades ãâã from fighting is sore wounded and her meâ dâfâatâd fol. 167. The Institution of the order of the Golden-fleece by the Duke oâ Buâgundy ibid. I ãâ¦ã the Virgin called the Pucelle taken at CoÌpiegâe sent to Roan condemned for a Wâch and buâât fol. 168 Compeigne releeued by the French the ãâ¦ã fol. 169. The Duchesse ãâã Bedforâ dies fol. 170. ãâ¦ã by the English and Chartres by the ãâã ibid. Henry King of England ârowned at Paris ibid. A Treatâ ãâã the French and English fol. 172 A quarâell betweene the Dukes of Bourbon Bourgoânge and Bedford ibid. King ãâã goes into Daulphine and ãâ¦ã takes armes against the English fol. 173. The English defeated and the Earle of Aâundell slaine ãâã 174 The Accord of Philip Duke of Bourgoing with King ãâã the 7 ibid. Waâ very violent against the English fol. 176. Queene Isabell and the Duke of Bedford dies ãâã The Citty of Paris yeâldes to the King and expells the English ãâã 177. The Constable râcâiuâd into Paâis ãâã 178. The Daulphin ãâã marâied to a Daughter of Scotland ãâã 179 The Duke of Sauoye becomes a Monke ãâã 180. ãâã Son of ãâã of Bouâgongne ãâ¦ã of France ãâã 182. ãâã calles a Parliament at Orleance to treat of a gânârall Peace fol. 181. The Pâânces of the blâud makâ a League to aduââce thâ Daulphin ãâã 183. King ãâã goes with an Army against the Duke of Bouâbon and the Daulphin flies into Burgundy ãâã 184 The ãâã of ãâ¦ã Sorcery ãâã 185 A Tââaty ãâã the 2. Kiâgs for a Pâaâe but fruâtââsse ibid. Aââer the ãâã and ãâã of the Duke of O lâaâcâ the Duke of Bouâgânge and he becomeâ greât fâiends ãâã 186 The mâmorable seege of Penthoââe fâl 187. The Parliament of Tholouse erected ãâã 192. A generall Tâuce and the French and English make Warre in Suisseâland with the causes thereof ãâã 193. The Sâisses âight valiantly but are defeated fâl 194. The English breake the truce and suâprize Fougers fol. 195. ãâã and the Duke of Brittaine combine against the English and take townes in Guienne and Normandy fol. 196. Charl sends his Army to Roan ãâã 197. Takes it and bâseegeth the English in their Forts fol. 198. The Earle of Sommerset and Talbot yeeld and come to King Cââarles ibid. King Câarlââ deales honourably with Talbot fol. 199. The English defeated at ãâã fol. 200. All Normandy yeelds to Câarles ibid Guiââne returnes to the Crowne of France fol. 201. THE French Army in Guienne takes Blay Bourg Liborne Fronsack Boudâaux and Baionne fol. 202.203 Talbot enters with newe English troupes and takes Bourdeaux and all the Townes againe fol. 204. The English defeated and Talbot slayne fol. 205. Troubles in England fol. 206. The Councell of Basill with the miserable Estate of the Church fol. 208.209 Constantinople taken by the Turke and Constantine the Emperor smoothered fol. 210. Printing inuented fol. 221 King Charles and the Dolphin discontented one with another ibid. The king sends an armie against his sonne fol. 212. Lewis the Dolphin marries againe to the great dislike of his father fol. 213 Charles his waiwardnes his loues fol. 214 An enterprise vpon England and Sandwitch taken fol. 215. The tragicall death of Charles fol. 216 Lewis the 11. the 55. King of France HIs wiues and children fol. 218 He purchaseth the Countie of Rousillon fol. 219. The Common-weale makes a league against him which he discouers fol. 220.221 The warres of the Common-weale fol. 222. The battel of Montlehry fol. 223. Famous for running away fol. 224 Paris beleagred fol. 225 The confedârates and Lewis after much trouble make a peace at Coââans 226.227 Difference betweene the Duke of Britany and Charles Duke of Normandy fol. 228 Lewis discontent with the duke of Britanie fol. 229 He makes a league with the Liegeois ibid. A horrible outrage committed by them of Dinan fol. 230. He supports the rebellious Liegeois against their Duke fol. 231. He makes a peace with the Duke of Bourgogne fol. 233. Duke Charles besieges takes and ruines the rebellious citie of Leige fol. 234.235 Edward king of England and the Earle of Warwicke diuided fol. 236. Warwicke flies into France fol. 237. Is slaine and his whole army defeated by Edward ibid. Charles the 8. borne at Amboise ibid. S. Quintin taken by the duke of Bourgogne and by and by the king fol. 238. Charles of Bourgogne abandoned by his friends ibid. Submits himselfe and obtaines a truce fol. 239. A new league against Lewis fol. 240 The Duke of Guienne dyes by poison fol. 241 The Bourguigons practises against Lewis fol. 242 Perpignan deliuered by treason to the king of Arragon fol. 243. The Duke of Alonson condemned but pardoned by king fol. 244 The king and the Burguignon conspire the Constables death fol. 245 The Burguignon seekes to poison the king ibid. He marrieth his two daughters fol. 246 Adolfe the sonne of the Duke of Gueldres an vnkinde sonne fol. 247 The English prepare for France fol. 24â The Duke of Burgogns Lieutenant executed by the Suisses fol. 249 Open warre betweene the Duke of Bourgogââ and the Suisses ibid. Mournefull presages to the Constable fol. 25â Lewis sends an ambassador to the Emperor fol. 251 Charles in great perplexity leaues the siege of Nuz ibid. Edward King of England defies Lewis fâl â52 Lewis sends a counterfait Herald to King Edwââd fol. 253. Ambassadors sent from both Kings with âhe Articles of agreement between them ãâã 254 The Duke of Burgogne reprocheth King Edward for making a Truce ibid. Edward King of England discouering the Constables disseins reiects him fâl 255. An enterview of the kings at Picqugny with Lewis his politike proceedings fâl 256 King Edward protects the Duke of Brittaine and returnes home into England âol 257 King Edward being discontent with the Burguignon offers Lewis aide against him âol 258 The last act of the Constables tragedie with his pitifull and desperate estate fol. 259 The Constable yeeldes to the Burguignon is deliuered to the king and beheaded fol. 260 Campo-bachio a traitor to Charles of Burgogne offers Lewis to kill him which Lewis discouers to Charles fol. 262 Charles Duke of Burgogne makes warre against the Suisses ibid. Is ouerthrown at Granssen and looses al his baggage esteemed at 3. millions fol. 263. The Suisses reuenge the crueltie of Charles at Granssen fol. 264. Charles armes again besiegeth Morat and is ouerthrowne fol. 265. The battell of Nancy where Charles is ouerthrowne and slaine fol. 267. Lewis discouers the Duke of Brittanes practises with his Chancelor fol. 269. Townes in Pycardie yeeld to the king fol. 270 The Duke of Nemours beheaded fol. 271 Lewis his health decaies fol. 272 Arras Hedin Therouenne and Montreuill yeeld to Lewis fol. 273 The insolencie and barbarous crueltie
made Duke of Amou ibid. A treatie betwixt the Emperour and Lewis fol. 368 The beginning of diuision betwixt Lewis and Ferdinand fol. 369 Gonsaâue the great captaines vertues ibid. New broyles in Italie fol. 370 The Duke of Valentinois cruelty ibid. The exploits of the French in the kingdome of Naples fol. 371 The Valentinois fearefull to the potentates of Italie ibid. The Venetians oppose against him fol. 372 The King discontented with the Pope and his sonne fol. 373 A counterfeit peace with the Spaniard but not ratified fol. 374 The Duke of Atri defeated by the Spaniard fol. 375 A generall ouerthrowe of the French and the Duke of Nemours slaine fol. 376 The kings new armie for Naples fol. 377 The estate of the church and the death of Pope Alexander the 6. fol. 378 The Vrsins and Colonnois reconciled bandy against the Valentinois fol. 379 Iulius the 2. chosen Pope ibid. Borgia the Valentinois a prisoner fol. 380 A truce betweene France and Spaine the wars of Naples reuiued ibid. The Marquis of Mantoua general of the French giues ouer his charge of the army fol. 381 The realme of Naples wholly lost by the French fol. 382 Lewis makes peace with the Spaniard and Emperour against the Venetian fol. 383 The death of Fredericke of Naples fol. 384 Lewis seekes by all meanes to crosse the Emperor and his sonne Philip. fol. 385 Bântiuoll deliuers Bolonia to the Pope fol. 386 The death of Philip Archduke of Austria ibid. The death of Borgia duke of Valentinois ibid. An enteruiewe of the Kings of France and Arragon fol. 387 The Suisses forsake the Emperour and Maximilian is defeated fol. 388 King Lewis goes into Italie fol. 389 The Venetians excommunicated by the Pope and ouerthrowne at Agnadell by the French fol. 390.391 The Venetians begin to recouer their losses take Padua and surprize the Marquis of Mantoa fol. 392 Padua besieged againe by the Emperour fol. 393 The Venetians make warre against the Duke of Ferrara fol. 394 The Suisses forsake the alliaÌce of the FreÌch and ioyne with the pope fol 395 A French armie enters Italie and the pope seekes to expell them fol. 396 397 The Suisses retire and the Venetians make an attempt against Genoa fol. 398.399 Eight conclusions made by the French Church against the pope fol. 400 The siege of Bolonia fol. 401 The death of Charles of Amboyse Lord of Chaumont fol. 402 A Councel begins at Pisa and is transported to Millan fol. 403 Bolonia beseeged by the Spaniards where there happened a miracle fol. 404. Brâââe taken by the Venetians and recouered by the French fol 405. The French Army in Italy getts the battaile of Rauenna where ãâã of Foâx is slaine fol. 406.407 Rauenna taken and sackt fol. 408. The French Army disordered they loose Milan fol. 409. Lodowick Sforze restored to the Duchy of Milan fol. 410. Nauar vsurped by the Arragonois fol. 411. A royall Army in the Duchy of Milan and Genoa taken fol. 413. The memorable valour of Robert de la Marke fol. 414. Terouenne and Tournay taken by the English fol. 415. Charles the Emperor affects to be Pope fol. 416. Queene Annâ of France dies and Lâwis marries Mary of England fol. 417. The death of Lewis the 12. and his vertues fol. 418.419 Francis the fiâst of that name the â8 King of France HEE goes with a Royall Army into the Duchie of Milan and takes Genoa fol. 421. His first passage ouer the Alpes fol. 422. The inconstant treachery of the Suisses with the battell of Marignan âol 423. Milan yeelds to the French fol. 424. A League against the King broken by the death of Ferdinand fol. 425. Brescia and Verona taken by the French and deliuered to the Venetians fol 426. Francis Maria chased from Vrbin and Laurence of Medicis inuested in the Duchy fol. 427. Franââ the Daulphin borne fol. 428. A peace concluded with the English and Spaniards fol. 429. Charles the 5. elected Emperor 1520. fâl 430. The beginning of Lutâers doctrine fol. 431. Troubles in Spaine fâl 432. The Pope capitulates with the Emperour fol. 433. The King and the Emperor at open warre Tournay Meziers beseeged and Mouson taken fol 4â4 4â5 Mouson recouered Fontarabâe taken fâl 4â6 The Emperor retreating dishonourably Hedin and Turney are recouered by the French fol. 4â7 The Pope declares himselfe against France fol. 4â9 An ominous signe to the French at Milan Ibid. Errors of the French Army fol 440. Lautrâch odious to his Army fol. 441. Milan taken and sackt iâid Pope Leo his death with the altârâtions afterwards fol. 442 Adâian the 6 created Pope and the war reuiued fol. 443. Milan and Pauia beseeged by the French and Nouarre taken fol. 444. Lâutrech forced to fight by the Suisses and is ouerthrowne fâl 445. Laude and Cremona taken from the French fol. 446. The Venâtians foâsake the French Genoa is taken by the Spaniards fol. 447. Fontarabie beeseeged by the Spaniard and âeleeued by the French ibid. Wars in Picardy Douilans beseeged Teâigny slaine fol. 448. The English land in France take Hedin and returne fâl 449. Rhodes taken by the Turke ibid. The Castle of Milan yeelded fol. 450. A League betweene the Emperor and the Venetians fol. 451. The Duke of Bourbon reuolts and flies disguised fol. 452.453 The Milannois fâaude with the seege of their Towne fol. 454. The Castle of Cremona releeued Baionne beseeged ibid. Fontarabie taken from the French fol. 455. The valour of ãâã with the taking of Roy and Mont-didier by the English fol. 456. Pope Aâriaâ diâs and Pope Clement the 7. chosen in his place ibid. Iohn de Medicis stratagems with the death of Prosâer Colonââ fol. 457. The French charged and ouerthrowne by the Imperialls fol. 458. Briares taken by the Milannois and the Admirall defeated fol. 459. Marseilles beseeged by the Imperials froÌ whence they retreate in disorder fol. 460. King ârancis goes into Italy and takes Milan ibiâ The Esâate of the Imperialls fol. 461. The Pope makes a League with the King who sends an Army into Naples fol. 462. A notable victory gotten by the Marquis of Salusses ibid. The death and worthy exploytes of Pontdormy fol. 463. The Imperiall and French Army approch ibid. Sadde fore-runners of an ouerthrow fol. 464. Battell of Pauia where the French King is taken prisoner fol. 465. The King of England offers all loue to the French King beeing a prisoner fol. 466. The Emperors vnreasonable demands with the Kings resonable offers fol. 467. King Francis carried prisoner into Castile ibid. King Francis released fol. 468. The Marquis of Pescara dies fol. 469. The miserable estate of Milan and Cremona taken by the Confederates fol. 470. Rome surprized and sackt by the Imperialls where the Duke of Bourbon is slaine fol. 471.472 A newe League against the Emperor fol. 473. Genoa Alexandria and Pauia taken by thâ King and the Pope deliuered fol. 474. The King of England and France proclaime war against the