Angiers with an army of 50000. men came vnto him to demand a peace The King of Sicily was disposâ—est of his country of Anjou beeing forced to retire into Prouence with griefe to suruiue his Son Iohn D. of Calabria Lorraine Nicholas Marques of Ponte his grand-child Hee doth represent the estate of his age house in the deuice which he carried of an old stock which had no greene sprout to make it liue it was Rene D. of Lorraine Son to Yoland of Anjou his daughter The Constable who would diuide his heart in two to nourish entertaine the warre thrust the duke of Burgundy into fury the King into distrust of him hauing left the path of moderation wisedome he came vnto the king by that of pride distrust refusing to represent himselfe vnto his maiesty but armed nor to speake vnto him but by a barre vpon a causey well garded with soldiers The D. of Burgondy not able to liue idly during this Truce seekes for worke in Germany passeth to Treues propounds to change his dukes Crowne for a Kings is offended with the Emperor for refusing it He besiegeth Nuze and seeing that the crosses which he had in his affaires proceeded onely from the King he perswades the K. of England to passe the seas to renew the pretensions of his predecessors and to make a fatall combustion of all France But Lewis diuerts this storme and makes a bridge of gold for this King to repasse the sea sending him home as wel content with peace as he was come resolute to war The King reapt both honor profit and by his foresight disappointed the great designes which were laid vnder fauor of this army and although it had diuers pretexts as diuers branches of the same stock of sedition and ambition they were all dangerous all the kinds of this poison were mortall The Duke of Bourgundy was forced to accept a peace of the king against whom he had proclaimed warre The coale which entertained the fire of discord was quenched and this head that made the windes to blow which caused the quiet of France to tremble was cut off at the Greue The Duke of Bourgundy to reuenge a light iniury done vnto the Earle of Romond vndertakes a great warre against the Suiâ—les which by the vnfortunate euent of three battels made him to loose his baggage at Granson his reputation his forces and his hopes at Morat and at Nancy his life with a part of his estate The King reapt the fruit of this warre hauing fauoured and supported the Duke of Lorraine against the great designes of this Conqueror Hee seased vpon both Burgundies and vpon a part of Artois and had forced the Archduke Maximilian to leaue the low countries and to leade the Princesse his wife into Germany with repentance of his mariage if the battell of Guinegaste had not troubled the face of his affaires and changed the designes of warre into resolutions of peace which was confirmed by the marriage of Charles Dauphin of France with Margaret of Austria Age which neuer comes alone suffers not the King to vndertake any long and difficult conqueâ—s and binds him to thinke vpon the meanes to leaue his crowne peaceably vnto his Sonne as it was rich mighty and more assured then hee had receiued it from his father hauing beautified it with many goodly flowers as Burgundy Anjou Barre Prouence and the recouerie of the Townes in Picardy and of some in Artois Being prest with troubles of mind as much as with the languishing of the body and reduced to an estate more lamentable then lamented in the which he could not liue would not dye he straue foure whole yeares against the force of an incurable disease and repulst by strange meanes the approches of death to retaine life which was but too long for his miseries and infirmities as it had beene too short for his designes and hopes He was forced to yeeld himselfe to discretion the 30 th day of August 1483. the 22 th yeare of his raigne and of his age the sixtith He carried nothing from the place which hee left but the proud title to haue freed the Kings of France from subiection or wardship capable to command not a Realme only but the whole world He was interred at our Lady of Clery hauing obtained from Pope Sixtus the fourth an excommunication against all such as would lay his body in any other tombe then in that which hee had built for himselfe and Charlotte of Sauoy his wife He did often visit this last abode and did lye in it soÌ„metimes that by the meditation of death he might descend liuing into the graue The triumphant Chariot of the prosperities of his life was drawn by Wisdome Iustice Liberality and Reputation wisdome made him victorious ouer his enemies Iudge of the controuersie betwixt the Crownes of Castile and Nauarre Protector of the liberty of the Common-weales of Italy Arbitrator of the peace betwixt Rome and Florence and then betwixt Rome and Venice He added the county of Prouence to the Crowne Hee vndertooke strange impossible designes Iustice alwayes in heat by his extreame seuerity did more often put the sword of execution into his hand then the ballance of due consideration hee caused many great men to feele his rigour whose processe he began by the execution Liberality opened him the hearts and gates of townes which hee battered with his money caused many which were distracted from him to come like Bees at the sound of a bason hee vsed it to bind the English to his friendship the Suisses to his succors and the Brittaines to his seruice Reputation hath held all the powers of Europe in admiration of him and hath made him to bee redoubted of strangers and feared of his Subiects Yet the differences betwixt the priuate and publike fortunes of this Prince were great his fortunes were of long Time in fauour amidst his prosperities In his raigne he was a wise happy King a good and a bountifull maister a distrustfull friend a cruell enemy and a terrible neighbour in his house a bad son a bad father a bad husband he had no children by Margret Steward his first wife and by Charlotte of Sauoy his second hee had Ioachim Charles Francis Anne and Ioane The Contents of the first Booke of the History of Lewis the XI 1 Charles the 7. disinherited by King Charles the sixth his father by the perswasion of Isabel of Bauaria his wife A Table of the miseries of France by the diuisions of the houses or Orleans and Bourgondy 2. The birth of Lewis Dauphin of France sonne to Charles the seauenth His breeding and marriage with the Princesse of Scotland 3 Treaty of Arras betwixt King Charles the 7. and Phillip of BourgoÌ„dy 4 Reduction of the Citty of Paris 5 First Armes of Lewis the xi 6. He is carried from Loches Trouble of the Praguerie 7. The Duke of Bourgondy approues not this mutiny 8 King
Charles the seauenth armes against his sonne the Dauphin and takes S. Maixaint and Niort 9. Estates asseÌ„bled at Clermont euery man seeks to recouer the kings fauour 10 Repentance of the Dauphin and the Princes of his party 11. King Charles the seauenth pardons his sonne and refuseth to pardon them thut had corrupted him 12 A new order in the Dauphins house 13. Instructions which King Charles giues him 14. Seige of Pontoise the Academies of military exercises The taking of Tartas 15. The taking of Diepe The Kings armie in Languedoc 16. Montbeliard taken Basil besieged 17. Suisses defeated at the Hospitall of St. Iames of Basil. 18. Truce betwixt France and England 19. Death of Margret Steward wife to Lewis the eleuenth 20. Life of King Charles the seauenth The idlenes of peace 21 Lewis the eleuenth retires into Dauphiné Refuseth to returne at the Kings command 22 He passeth into Flanders to Duke Philip who lodgeth him at Gueneppe 23. Practises of Lewis the eleuenth 24. Hatred and contrariety of humors betwixt Lewis and the Earle of Charolois 25. Birth of Ioachim of Valois first sonne to Lewis the eleuenth 26. Army of Charles the seauenth The Duke of Bourgondy in alarum 27. Distrustfull and suspicious nature of Charles the seauenth 28. His death with a collection of his principall actions THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE HISTORY of LEWIS the XI ISabel of Bauaria Disinheriting of Charles the Dauphin an ambitious Princesse and a cunning woman but a cruell mother a Humane wisdome 〈◊〉 deceiued in matters which it thinkes iâ— hath foreseenâ— Charles the 5. had desired to seeke an alliance in Germany for his sonne to fortifie hâ—m against the English Hâ— married Isabell daughter to Stâ—phen Dâ—â—e or Bauaria 〈…〉 nature â—anded against Charles her sonne to transport he Câ—owne to strangers had so great power ouer the will and weaknes of Charles the sixt her husband as he disinherited the Dauphin his sonne and gaue the Crowne of France to Henry the fift king of England his son in lawe by a treaty made at Troie the xxi of May 1420. This declaration published at the Marble table was followed by another of the Kings Councell which promised to vse all the seuerities of Iustice against the Dauphin to punish him for the murder of Duke Iohn slaine at Monstereau A murther which making an altar vnto Mars of all France gaue him for offerings not prodigious showes of vices but an infinite number of braue men worthy of a more happy age and a better end He that knowes not the History cannot vnderstand that of the warres which it hath caused betwixt the kings of Fraunce and the house of Burgundy nor of those tragicall effects of malice and hatred which continued all the raigne of Lewis the xi But behold a true Table Charles the vi b Charles the 6. going from Mans in Iuly in the extreaâ—most heat of the day his head being couered with a great hood of scarlet he meâ— with a man 〈◊〉 â—eaded and bare-legged 〈◊〉 in white rugge at the enâ—ry of the forest who staying his horse by the reyacâ— said vnto him King ride no farther for thou art betraid These wordes to a spirit weakened with care watching distemperature and distrust turned his braine and made him mad O what misery did this poore head bring to the whole body of France for the infirmity and weaknes of his spirit Distraction of Charles â—he 6. suffered himselfe to be gouerned by Lewis Duke of Orleance his brother whom he loued dearely Philip Duke of Burgundy Vncle to the king by the father grew first iealous then an enemy to this great authority and his hatred tooke such deepe roote as it died not with him for Iohn his sonne was his heire and sware the ruine of the house of Orleance The two factions are framed Faction of Orleanois and Burgonians and the heads discouer their hearts by their deuises the motto of that of the Duke of Orleance was Ie l'enuie hauing a knotted staffe that of the duke of Burgundy was a Ioyners plan with this motto Ie le tiens th' one shewing how he would maintaine his authority and the other how he would ouerthrow it The Duke of Burgundies designes succeeded both to the ruine of himselfe and his house He grounded himselfe vpon the practice of the Townes and especially of Paris supplanting the Duke of Orleance of all c The credit and confidence which they haue in a man of commandement is the cheife support of his authority for from thence proceeds the loue of the people which is a buckler vnto the 〈◊〉 and a stâ—ong ramâ—iâ—e against 〈…〉 and wicked credit and loue and seeking to make him hatefull in the speeches but worse in the affections of the people who were otherwise incensed against him for some new subsidies which he had raised The first effect of this cruell hatred was that after many combustions both within and without Paris Death of Charles D. of Orleans and euen then when as they thought their minds were least inflamed the Duke of Orleance returning from the Queenes Palace where she then lay in and hauing past most part of the night by her on the 20. of Nouember 1407. fell into the hands of xviij murtherers which slew him It was a spectacle full of pitty the next day to see about this poore sicke King the widow d Valentine of Milan widdow to the Duke of Orleance Charles Philip and Iohn her sons Isabâ—l of Fâ—ance the Kings daughter married to Charles eldâ—st sonne to the Duke of Orleance the Kings of Sicile and Nauarre with the Dukes of Berry Bourbon demaund iustice of the murther and her three sonnes assisted by the three Princes of the bloud imploring iustice They seek out the crime but they finde not the offenders The Duke of Burgundies hatred is a great presumption that these were the fruites of his reuenge The Duke of Burgundy flies into Flanders all mens eyes were cast vpon his which his conscience made him to hould downe He drawes the King of Sicile and the Duke of Berry apart and aduowes the fact he leaues Paris with fiue more in his company and recouers his country of Flanders in great hast so as the suspition was changed into apparant proofe Sone after he e The Duke of Bourgondy returning into France with a great army carried in a table two lances in saltire the one hauing a sâ—arpe head for the warre the other a burrhead for the tourney giuing the choyce of war or peace returnes with a mighty army they that would haue condemned him He returnes to Paris are now forced to seek his friendship Paris receiues him as the Demon Gardian of her wals he maintaines puqlikely that he had caused the Duke of Orleans to be slaine to free the estate from oppressions A Doctor of the Sorbonne vndertooke to iustifie him before the Kings Counsell with so great impudence and flatterie
night through the streetes of Barcellona complaining that the Queene his mother in law had separated it from his bodie by the violence of poison The Queene who was come to Girona saw her selfe besieged with Prince Ferdinand her Sonne and the Tower wherein she was retyred furiously battered The king seeing this great reuolt of his subiects entreates Lewis the eleuenth to succour him with men and money hee ingageth the Counties of Rousillion and Sardaigne vnto him for three hundred thousand crownes King of Nauarre demaunds succors froÌ„ the French King The king sent vnto him Gaston Earle of Foix Prince of Berne z Gaston Earl of Foâ—x married the second Daughter of Iohn King of Nauarre and of Queen Blanch his first wife and sonne in law to the king of Nauarre who freed the Queene and raised the siege of Gironna The Cattellanes nothing tractable to endure the humors of their Prince made a proclamation against the king declaring him falne from all the authoritie which he might haue ouer them and a murtherer of his owne sonne and violating the lawes of the country a They of Cattellonia declaâ—ed the K. an enemy vnto the countrey by diuers informations proceedings against his actions and the murther of his son the which they sent to Pope Pius the second They sent to Henry King of Castile to embrace their defence and protection submitting themselues vnder his obedience and offering him the crowne of Arragon beseeching him to adde vnto the iust title which their election gaue him vnto the Realme the right of Armes they alone doe purchase Empires b There are fiue kindes of Titles to Realmes the first by Armes so Cyrus Alexander anâ— Caesar made themselues Monarches secondly by the grace of God and in this manner raigned Moses Dauid thirdly by succession fourthly by election and the fist by the nomination of the Prince Marc. Anthony named Lucius Verus for his successor Dioclesian Maximinian and Gratian Theodosius and being gotten defend and preserue them He gaue them for succors two thousand and fiue hundred horse vnder the command of Iohn of Beaumont Prior of S t. Iohn of Nauarre The K. of Castill aides the Cattellans when the French and the Castillians met neere vnto Ixar they would not fight c No man can dispose as hee pleaseth of Auxiliary troupes they haue respects coÌ„trary to the designe of such as imploy them and the French intreated the king of Nauarre to take it in good part if they sought rather to end then entertaine their quarrels The Earle of Foix who was brother in law to the king of Castill and sonne in law to the king of Nauarre disposed the two Princes to referre themselues to the iudgement of the French king They yeelded sending their embassadors to Baiona where the French king was an honor pleasing to the humor of Lewis who would be interessed in all things and very deere to the reputation of France which was in possession not onely to iudge of the controuersies of forraine crownes but also to giue kings vnto those which had not any d The realmes of Christendome haue taken Princes out of the house of France to raign ouer them Alphonso son to the Earle of Tollousaraigned in Spaine the house of Eureux in Nauarre the Dukes of Normandy in England they of Aniou at Naples and Sicilie The Empire of Constantinople was held three yeres by the French They haue raigned a hundred yeares in Sora Cipres Palestina Charlemain Lewis the gentle haue added vnto the Empire of the Gaules all Italy Bohemia Hungarie and Germany In a word the seat of Popes haue beene in France The king of Nauarre went not from Saragossa Lewis the French K. made arbitrator betwixt the Kings of Castill and Arragon nor king Henry from S t. Sebastians in the prouince of Guipuscoa relying vppon that which their Embassadors treated The king hauing conferred of the controuersie betwixt them and of the causes which had moued the Cattellans to reuolt did iudge in such sort as to reconcile the parties it was necessarie they should meete and speake together vpon the frontier The enterview was at Endaia whereas the sentence giuen at Bayona was read by Aluaro Gomes The Cattellans were not content with this Iudgement saying that as the king of Castille had abandoned them so his Embassadors had betrayed them The king of Nauarre being offended for that hee was condemned to yeeld the towne of Estella to the king of Castille Enteruiew of the Kings of France and Castill to the preiudice of the reuenues of the crowne of Nauarre made the estates of Nauarre protest of nullity King Lewis reaped the greatest profit of this action for he practised and drew vnto his seruice some Ministers of these two kings and made them his pensioners e The King of Castille suffered himselfe to be gouerned by the great master of Castille and the Archbishop of Tolledo King Lewis made much of them to be informed of the state of Castille or at the least to drew them to his deuotion It is the least a Prince can attend of one that comes to see him This assembly did not confirme the affections which the crownes of France Castill had had together f The friendship and alliance betwixt the French and the Castâ—llans haue continued long Vpon which assurance K. Charles the sixt sent his Embassadors to Iohn King of Castill in the yeare 1418. to 〈◊〉 succors against the English The Castillians who could not lodge at Bayona with the French without quarrelling did not forbe are to scoffe at them at this enteruiew vpon the Riuer of Vidasa g The riuer of Vidâ—so diâ—ides the two realmes the Spaniards hold it is all theirs The King of Castill past the Riuer and came vnto the king The Castillians seeing him attired in cloth and very short with a hat differing from the rest and for a Iewell an image of lead imputed it to miserablenes h Apparell doth often minister cause of laughter The Siciliens did not esteeme of Gilippus their generall seeing him simply apparelled in a poore cloake wearing long bayre yet Syâ—â—â—â—s saith that the ancient Kings were knowne and distinguished rather by the minde then the pompe and 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Syn Orat 〈◊〉 regno There are Nations whereas they contemne the Prince if hee bee not so gorgeously attired as if he should show himselfe vpon a theater It is impossible to abstaine from laughter looking vpon the portraites of the Emperors of Greece which are so couered with Pearle and precious stones as they can not bee knowne but by their beards The French finding also the habites of the Castillians vnpleasing their king very hard fauoured and their manners insolent and full of African pride Of all this there could grow no great Alliance for such enteruiewes are alwaies noted more by the alienation of mindes then by alliances of estates
to the toombe of his Father at the Celestins at Paris the 21. of February 1504. by the commandement of king Lewis the twelfth his sonne After the battell of Azincourt he remained fiue and twenty yeares prisoner in England The English would not deliuer this Flower-deluce without ransome and to redeeme him the D. of Bourgundy payed three hundred thouthousand crownes What a change Iohn Duke of Bourgundy depriues Lewis of Orleans of his life Philip Duke of Bourgundy his sonne giues libertie to Charles of Orleans and to make the bond perfect he giues him the golden fleece and marries him to his Neece Mary of Cleues shee was the third wife hauing before his imprisonment married Isâ—bel of France widdow to Richard King of England and Bonna of Armagnac x The afronts which are receiued from great persons must not onely be disgested patienâ—ly but also after a constant manner murmuring auailes nothing Many haue made of scratchings incurable wounds oftentimes the iniury is doubled and renewes when as they make it knowne that it is receiued according to the designe of him that doth it x By Mary of Cleues hee had Lewis the twelfth his onely sonne and two Daughters Mary was promised to Peter of Bourbon and afterwards married to Iohn of Foix Vicount of Narbonne father to that Achilles of France GastoÌ„ of Foix Duke of Nemours of Germaine Queene of Arragon Anne of Orleans was Abbess of Fonteueâ—aud The Duke of Bourbon hauing opened the passage to this designe of the warre of the common-weale The Duke of Berry retires into Brittany they attended no more but to see the head Charles of France the Kings brother beeing at Poictiers and making show to goe a hunting whiles the king was in his deuotions steales away and goes vnto the Embassadors of Brittaine Iohn of Rommille vice chancellor of Brittaine and Tanequy of Chastell who were come to haue a Prolongation for other three monthes to make answere to the kings demands carried him away speedily by the meanes of the Lord of Lescon a Gascoine and led him into Brittanie y The King being gone in deuotion to our Lady of Pont in Limosin the Duke of Berry retires into Brittaine He was but eighteene yeares old hee held life so short and that of Princes which liue in subiection so troublesome as if he did not speedily know what it was to bee a master the knowledge would euer come to late He was welcome for this was the firebrand which they must cast to set France on fire The Duke of Brittanie promised him the seruice of his person and all the succors of his forces Hee declared the cause of his departure by letters which hee wrote to the Duke of Bourgundy and to the other Princes of their intelligence The most apparent was drawne from the bad gouernment of the affaires whereof the Princes of the bloud z It concernes the Princes of the bloud to look into the disorders of the estate and to assist the King faithfully to rearesse theÌ„ whiles there is heat in tâ—is bloud wee may hope for the life and continuance of the body which haue the chiefe interest and care of the whole bodie should apprehend the dangerous euents and had subiect to complaine to see vnworthy men without honor or merit to deale in that which should passe by their hands and to leap ouer their heads to great offices That his armes and his desires had no other obiect but to restore order vnto the Realme and there withall to ease the people of their oppressions the which he could not otherwise hope for but in making the King know in the beginning of his raigne a At the Câ—mming of new Pâ—aces they make demands and pursuits for that which they dâ—sire the rest of the Raigne for when they are well settled they will no more beare speake That 〈◊〉 Petcennius hauing prepared his companions to mutine hee said Quando ausuros exposcere remedia nisi noâ—â—m et nutantem adhuc Principem vel armis adirent Tacitus lib. 1. Annal. the extreame necessity whereinto it was brought His will was manifested more amply by his letters to the Duke of Bourgundy which Monstrellet setts downe in these termes Most deere and welbeloued Vncle I recommend me vnto you I let you vnderstand that of late I haue often heard the clamors of the Princes of the blood my kinsmen and other Noblemen of this Realme in all estates of the disorder and pittifull gouernment which now doth raigne by the councell of men being about my Lord full of all lewdnes and iniquity who for their owne profit and priuate disordered affections haue drawne my Lord into iealousie and hatred against you me and all the Noblemen of the said Realme yea against the Kinges of Castile and Scotland so long allyed vnto the Crowne b The most ancient alliances of the French haue beene with the Scots and then with the Castilians The Crowne of France hath had pretentions vpon Castille at the inheritance of the Lady Blanch of Castile mother to St. Lewis as euery man knowes In regard how the authority of the Church hath beene kept Iustice done and administred the Noblemen maintained in their rights and priuiledges and the poore people supported and freed from oppression I write no more vnto you for I know you are sufficiently informed and I am greeued at the said thinges as I ought to be as he whom it doth so neere concerne as euery man doth know c The Children of one family are interessed in the 〈…〉 and the Princes of the bloud in the gouernment of the estate and desire to prouide for it by the Counsell of you of the said Princes and kinsmen and other Noblemen who haue all promised to aid and serue me not sparing body or goods for the quiet of the Realme and the publick weale thereof and also to saue my person which I found to be in danger For incessantly and openly my said Lord and they about him spake such wordes of me d The words of such as are neerest vnto a Prince make men iudge of his intentions The Duke of Berry hearing that the seruants of the K. his brother spake freely against him thought that their discourses were framed vpoÌ„ his Good words entertaine friendship and bad dissolues theÌ„ as I might with Reason haue cause to doubt I therefore left my said Lord and am come vnto my good Cosin of Brittaine who hath giuen me so good and commendable reception as I cannot sufficiently commend it and is resolued to serue me with body goods and all his power to the good of the said Realme and publicke weale And therefore my most deere and welbeloued vncle my intention and desire is to imploy my selfe with you and the said noblemen my kinsmen whose counsell I will vse and not otherwise to restore and redresse the said desolate Realme knowing that you are one of the greatest of the Realme whom
many in their obedience and dutie who suffering themselues to be carried away with this torrent of the league Sedition must be bee smothered in the beginning had become fooles for company and by infection For the people is a sea which moues with the winde yet neuer followes if some one goes not before b This beast the people have so many beads that although it hath great terrible forces yet it is base cowardly if it bee not stirred vp and led vultus sine rectore praeceps pauidum socors Tacit. but the number seemed but too great and it had multiplied speedily if the Kings wisedome had not foreseene it Conspiracie in the beginning is like vnto raine which enters into a small cranny on the top of the house and beeing neglected in the end expels the master thereof The King did consider hereof for being aduertised of his brothers retreat he knew well that the partie was made against him if hee did not oppose himselfe That what appeared not might be greater then what was in show and that besides the Princes of his bloud many Catylines had drunke in the same cup the wine and bloud of this conspiracie c Euery conspiracie hath crueltie and bloud hath been taken for the seale oath that bind the conspirators Salust saith that Catylâ—n mingled wine with bloud in a cup and presented it to his associates Iâ—de 〈◊〉 post execrationem omnes degustauissent sieuti in solemnibus sacris fieri consueuit aperuit consiliuâ—â—â—â— His first resolution was to diuide that which hee could not breake Hee sent to the Duke of Bourbon to come vnto him Who for that hee would vse no dissembling a great and powerfull vertue in these corrupted ages would not disguise his intentions nor represent them otherwise in words then they were in his heart He was the first mouer of all these spheares he had first giuen his voice and vowes to this generall reuolt of France he had offered to hang a bell at the Cats necke d In great resolutions there is danger to giue the first voice and hazard to execute that wâ—ich is resolued It is more safe to follow then to leade Insiita mortalibus natura propere sequi quae piget inchoare Tacit. And if they bee reduced to the conduct of an other it must be wâ—th the restraint of his owne wisdome Ne consilâ—is alterius regi recuses Est illius atque esto tuus tuumque serua In poste tuo velle modum in velle alieno when as euery man expected who should dare to doe it and had more desire to end then to begin If hee had made any show of repentance or feare in this beginning the rest which had martcht in his steps would soone haue turned their backes He answered that he had the same designe with the other Princes for the good and profit of the publike weale intreating the King to excuse him if hee came not to Court and for a greater declaration of his will he ceazed vppon the reuenues of Bourbonois and stayed Iuuenall des Vrsines Lord of Traynill Peter of Oriola and the Lord of Crussoll prisoners making it knowne that Ambition hath no other Law then the fancie of the Ambitious and takes away the maske from all respect When the King saw that there was no meanes to reclaime these Princes and that the Duke of Bourgundy was in armes he aduertised all the chiefe noble men of his Realme and wrote vnto the Clergie to the gouernours of Prouinces Letters froÌ„ the K. to the gouernors of the Prouinces and townes to the Magistrates and townes who faint and lose their courage for a little e As a little feare makes the people to faint so a weake hope makes them returne by nature they are fearefull and do not think what they shall doe to indure but to flye the danger that they should not suffer themselues to bee carried away with the false showes of the enemies of the estate who had suborned his brother to ingage France in those desolations from the which it was but newly freed That if they which had suffered themselues to bee abused in this reuolt did not bethinke themselues there wilfulnes would make them vnworthy the clemencie which he offered them That with the grace of God and the fidelitie of his good subiects hee assured himselfe to abate and disperse these bad designes Then considering that this league did consist of those who had sometimes called the English into France f He that hath two enemies must agree with the one the better to preuaile ouer the other The RomaÌ„ns did neuer fight against two Hercules could not do it After the Parthian warre they began that of the Marcomanians They would not breake with Antlochus who had wronged them before they had ended â—ith Philip. to haue a share of the shipwracke The King seeks to the King of England that the old enemies fauouring the new he might fall betwixt the Anuile and the hammer hee sent to the King of England dissembling cunningly the wrong which hee had done him when as in demanding Bonnâ— of Sauoy k Richard Earle of Warwick was sent into France in the yeere 1464. to demand Bonna of Sauoy in mariage of King Lewis the eleuenth for K. Edward The King granted it but during this negotiatiâ—n the King of England fell in loue with a meane gentlewoman widdow to one Grey a Knight Daughter to Richard Riuers and â—aqueline eldest Daughter to Peter of Luxemburgh Earle of S t. Paul the Queenes sister for his wife he had married an other He intreates and coniures him not to assist this new rebellion the which like to a puffe of smoke would vanish as soone as it should begin to rise Edward beeing already engaged to the Duke of Bourgundy let the King vnderstand that he was a sharer with him Edward the fourth declares himselfe for the Burgundian Hee sent the same letters which the King had written vnto him to the Duke of Bourgundy promising to assist him as constantly as his forefathers l Edward the third King of England wâ—nne the battell of Cressy the 26. of August 1346. France lost 1500. Gentlemen all were not slaine but all were defeated The Prince of Wales his Sonne wonne the battell at Pâ—icters ten yeeres after the 9. of September 1356. had done This young Prince felt a boyling desire in his heart to performe that in France which other Kings of his name had done He was glad to finde without the Iland an exercise for turbulent spirits to entertaine and quench that furious heate of fighting m He that commands a warlike Nation must finde exeâ—cise for his soldiers abroad if hee will not suffer them to take it at home There is not saith Tit. Liu. in â—is thirteenth booke anâ— great and mighty Potentate that caâ— leâ—g continue in peace for if â—ee hath not sâ—me enemie abroad hee shall finde
had troubled They propounded a peace with goodly conditions The Princes make show that they desired not warre but for the publike quiet and to liue without wrong They made many truces to treat that they which lasting but little was not much distinguished from warre d A short truce fauours more of war then peace Ignâ—uum tempus nec pâ—ce laetuÌ„ nec bellis exercitum Cognatae induciis Insidie sunt as the middest doth alwaies leane more to one of the extremes then to the other The treatie was begun by diuers but the King ended it who one morning came by the riuer to Conflans Before he went out of the boat hee said vnto the Earle who attended him on the banke Enteruieâ— of the King Earle of Charolois Brother doe you assure me that to whom the Earle of Charrolois answered I as a brother e The word of an enemie is a dangerous assurance K Lewis the eleuenth had no other to goe into the Princes Army which were iust against him If there coÌ„fidence hath vndone some it hath bin successefull to others and Scipio Africanus went vpon this assurance to Siphax who although he were abaroarian a cruell enemie to the Romane name yet the mildnes and generositie of Scipio made him a friend Ladislaus King of Bohemia went freely to Mathias King of Hungary his capitall enemy to end controuersies which could not be determined at Olmutz they became great friends Dubrau lib. 2â— He receiued the King with much respect and the King spake vnto him with great mildnes which made his heart apt for any impression so great is the force of words and so well hee could handle his tongue the which he vsed as a pensill for all coulours He that will haue effects according to his owne heart must not spare words to his liking that may giue them Mens spirits are gouerned by words as a ship is gouerned by the helme and a horse by the bit and wee cannot say what power the sweetnes of words haue ouer the minde of man f Words are the Instrument by the which the minde of man is animated thrust forward and held backe A Prince that knowes how to vse them hath a great aduantage in all that he treates and when it is acompanied with such sweetnes as grauity is not wronged it workes what it lists in the hearts of men The King framing his speech to this tune said vnto the Earle Brother I know that you are a Gentleman and of the house of France why my Lord answered the Earle For that said the King When the foole Moruillier spake so boldly vnto you you sent me word that I would repent the words hee had spoken before the yeare were past you haue not failed and before the time The King spake these words with a countenance so free and full of affection although his heart were full of indignation and spleene as the Earle tooke delight in it He disauowed Moruillier and tooke the seales from him Princes play with their subiects and disauow them when as their negotiations are not answerable to their hopes He did walke long by the riuers side betwixt the Earle of Charolois and the Earle of S t. Paul and heard their Intentions g The King who thought nothing wel done if he were not an Actor went to the Earle of Charolois preferring the necessity of his affaires before the consideration of his qualiâ—â— for he held that the honor and glory of an action depended on profit Yet they had deputed somâ— of either side to treat For the King were imployed Charles of Aniou Earle of Maine The Signeur of Pressigny President of the Acounts 10. Dauuet President of the Parlament of Toulâ—sâ— For the Princes the D. of Calabria the Earle of Dunois and the E. of S t. Paul The Earle of Charolois demanded the Dutchie of Normandie for the Duke of Berry and the riuer of Somme for himselfe little for the publike and much for priuate men The King told him plainely that he would neuer consent to dismember the Duchie of Normandie but he was content to restore him the Townes of Somme and finding that the Earle of S t. Paul was the Oracle of the Counsels and will of this Prince he offered him the office of Constable By these offers the strict bond of this league began to be dissolued for there is nothing so fast bound but it is vndone when as one string begins to slip The King did and spake all things so cunningly mingly offers with threats and curtesies with braueries as the Earle applied himselfe to his intentions The day after this first conference h This conference of the King and the Earle was the end of the war It was not thought fit the King should seeke vnto the Barle but to do his busines hee past all formalities would not comit that to hope which he might doe by discretioÌ„ What doth it import to ascend to any place to vse staires of wood or ston or whether the key bee of gold or iron so as it open the Earle of Charolois mustred his Armie Muster of the leagues Armie in view of the King whether the King came with thirty or forty horse commending those goodly forces The Earle of Charolois speaking vnto them vsed these words My masters you and I are for the King our Soueraigne Lord to serue him when soeuer hee shall haue need of vs. The Kings offers bred a iealousie betwixt the Princes of the league euery man cared for his owne affaires The Earle of Charolois saw one day vpon his conferences and propositions three Councels and three bands whereat hee was discontented saying that there should not be any thing secret in his presence During these conferences and enteruiewe Isabell of Bourbon Countesâ—e of Charolois died the Earle mourned and the King did comfort him This death gaue some more facilitie to the peace for the marriage of the Earle with the Lady Anne of France the Kings eldest Daughter was propounded with the transport of the Counties of Bry and Champagne i In marriages of the daughters of France Kings haue somtimes giuen money sometimes lands of the Crowne vpon condition they should returne Charles the fift gaue to his two eldest daughters a 100000. franks of gold and to the rest 60000. Charls the sixt gaue eight hundred thousand to Isabell married to Richard the second King of England King Iohn gaue the Contie of Somiers in Languedoc to Isabel his daughter married to the Duke of Milan Lewis the yong gaue to Margaret his daughter married to Henry the third King of England the Contie of Vexin for her dowrie and preferment which the Kings Predecessors had neuer done in marrying their daughters The Earle of Charrolois affected nothing more but vpon the doubt which was made vnto him of the alienation of these two Prouinces he sent William Hugonet and Iohn Carandolet to Paris to know if these two peeces
reciued shall bee maâ—e ready and laid before the Kings sâ—at vppon a Carpet of Crimson Tâ—ffata or Saâ—ten hanging dâ—wne at either â—nd and the said coller â—obes shall bee perfumed with incense after that the Preest hath perfumed the Altar Art 82. of the amplifying the Statutes of the Order in the yeaar 1476. hauing his hands vpon the Crosse and the holy Euangill which done the said Knight newly chosen shall come reuerently before the Soueraigne The Kings words in giuing the Coller who taking the Coller of the Order shall put it about his necke saying or causing these words to bee said The Order receaues you into this amiable company 〈◊〉 token thereof giues you this present Coller God graunt you may carry it long to his glory and seruice aduancement of the holy Church and increase of the honor of the Order and of your merrits and good â—ame In the name of the Father the Sonne and holy Ghost whereunto the said Knight shall say Amen God giue mee the grace After which the eldest Knight shall lead the said Knight newly receiued vnto the Soueraigne who shall kisse him in signe of perpetuall loue and in like maner all the Knights that are present shall doe the same in order Bonds of Knights reciprocall Besides this the knights are bound to certaine respects one towards another They did promise at their entrie into the Order to serue the King as their head in all occasions both within and without the Realme and the King did promise to maintaine them in their goods Lewis the elâ—uenth bound himselfe not to vndertake any warre nor any other matter of importance without making iâ— knowne to the Knights of the order lands and estates as his Bretheren and companions and not to attempt any warre without their aduise Hee thought to hold those hearts which had been distracted fast bound vnto him but infidelity was so bold and so contagious as all the respects of honor and conscience were too weake to restraine her from drawing them from their dueties who say the lawes of their birth were most bound vnto it It was a difficult thing for good men to bridle themselues from running into ill so licentious was the time To doc well when as vertue raignes good men are honored is ordinary and easie but not to suffer himselfe to bee infected with the corruptians of the time but to haue a good intent to dare vndertake it and effect it in a bad season is the true signe of a generous spirit and so hard a matter it is to do well when as euery man glories in doing ill and that crimes become examples and customes Iohn Duke of Bourbon continued his intelligence with the Duke of Bourgondy and aduertised him of what the King practised vppon the Townes in Picardy The Constable vsed all his practises betwixt the two Princes Intelligences continued betwixt Bourgondy and Bourâ—on fearing that if the Kings Choller found not some subiect to worke vppon abroad it would fall vppon the neerest that were about him That a long peace would cut off the entertainment of his soldiers making him vnproffitable to the King and without reputation in the realme promising vnto himselfe that whilst the warre continued hee should gouerne all The perpetuity of his charge which could haue no other end but with his life held him not in those apprehensions wherewith their mindes are troubled which hold them as a Wolfe by the eare u Charges which are aboue others should be short least they should grow insupportable and insolâ—nt Those which are but temporary hold them that enioy them in ther duties and the perpetuall makes them forgetfull Peace alone makes a ciuill warre in his soule wherefore he assures the King that when he pleased hee would recouer him St. Quentin by the meanes of some places which he held about it and would speedily execute the intelligences which he had in Flanders and Brabant Warre beeing concluded by the Estates at Tours Wars proclaimed it was as soone begun as proclaimed The Duke being at Gand receiued the Citation to appeare in person at the Court of Parliament who caused the Vsher of the Court to be imprisoned hauing adiourned him as hee was going to Masse and beeing madde to see himselfe made equall to the meanest of the Realme he resolued to appeare with his sword in his hand and to transport the warre as neere his Iudges as hee could The Kings practises began then to breake forth many declared themselues French Baldwine Bastard of Bourgundy retired himselfe vnto the Kings seruice The Duke is surprised The Duke of Brittanie had made an accord with him x Accord of the D. of Brittanie with the King at Anceâ—is the 18. of September 1468. The Duke of Guienne was satisfied and if hee could not haue all that hee desired hee was content with that which did suffice him y The ease of great Princes must be considered by their coÌ„tent They haue but too much so as they thinke they haue enough One demanded of Zeleuchus what Reuenewes hee had to whom hee answered As much as I need Plut. The Constable sent word to the Duke of Bourgundy that all was lost that there was no reliefe for him in England being fallen into the same convulsions which had in a manner smothered it in the yeare 1461. Edward being bound to the Earle of Warwicks vertue for his fortune made him a sharer Troubles in England and gaue him goodly peeces depending of the Crowne and the continuation of the gouernment of Calice with fourescore thousand Crownes rent to increase his reuenues Yet the Earle of Warwick did not hold these recompences proportionable to his great seruices beeing moreouer discontented for that the King hauing sent him into France to seeke the Kings Alliance by the marriage of Bonna of Sauoy z The King of England sent the Earle of Warwicke into France to demand Bonna of Sauoy daughter to Lewis Duke of Sauoy the Queenes Sister in marriage had mockt him in marrying with Grayes widdow the which Lewis made sensible to the Earle of Warwicke to the end this complaint might bee as a thorne of discontent in his heart And as Princes take delight to pull them downe whom they haue raised and aduanced and doe not willingly suffer such high heads of Poppie to grow in their gardens Edward grew iealous and an enemie to this great authority which had cherished made speed vnder the shadow of his He brake quite with him and some say that hauing attempted against the honour of a Kinswoman of his a Of wrongs which make the greatest impression in the hart those which regard â—he honor of Lâ—dies are most sensible Polidore Virgil wâ—ites thus of this attempt Nec abhorret a veritate EduarduÌ„ tentasse vt aiunt nescio quid in domo Comitis quod ab honestatâ— omnino abesset cum homo esset qui
house of Armagnac done to France against the English freed him from all suspition of intelligence with them being most certaine that they were neuer no good English men they haue alwaies resisted them they haue spent their liues and goods to expell them out of the realme and had detested them hauing slaine their Predecessors cruelly and inhumainly f Bernard E. of Armagnac Constable of France for maintayning the quarel of the Crowne was slaine at Paris and flead Hee serued the King so courragiously as all good Frenchmen were called Armagnacs But such was the misery of the Age as they must aduow that which was beleeued more by coniecture then by assistance He that is held of all men to be wicked is forced to doe wickedly All waters returne into the sea from whence they flow This goodly Prouince of Armagnac consisting in the lands which are called the Counties of Armagnac and Falensac base Armagnac Perdiac Biran and Baran in the Viconties of Lomagne Auuillar Fesensaguet and Brouliois In the Siegneuries of Lectoure Auzan the base riuer whereas Castellnau stands and Malbourquet Aure Magnoac Barrouce Nestes is wholly come to the crowne of Nauarre vnder the raigne of Henry of Albret King of Nauarre Earle of Foix and Armagnac FINIS THE CONTENTS OF of the sixth BOOKE 1 THe Duke of Bourgondies discontent for the death of the Duke of Guienne 2 Cruelties committed at Nesle in Vermandois 3 Memorable Seege of Beauuais 4 Spoile done by the Duke of Bourgondies Armie in Normandy 5 The King drawes the Duke of Brittaine from all intelligence with the Duke of Bourgondy 6 Ambitious desseines of the Duke of Bourgondy for the which hee goes to the Emperour Frederic to Treues 7 Assembly at Bouuines and the Resolution taken against the Constable 8 The King and Constable parle vppon a causey hauing a barre betwixt them 9 New desseignes of the Duke of Bourgondy in Germany 10 The King stirres vp the Arch Duke of Austria the Suisses and some Townes in Germany against the Duke 11 Peter of Hagembach the Duke of Bourgondies Lieftenant beheaded at Brissac 12 Army of the Duke of Bourgondies in the County of Ferrette and vppon the fronter of the County of Bourgondy 13 Places taken and burnt by the Kings troupes vppon the fronter of Picardy and in Artois 14 Ambassage sent by the King vnto the Emperour Frederic who makes answer by an Apologie 15 Continuation of the Siege of Nuze the Constables pollicy 16 Edward King of England passeth into France and sends Letters of defiance vnto the King 17 Wisdome of the King to auoid this storme 18 The Duke of Burgondy leaues the siege of Nuze 19 The Constable failes of his promis made to the King of England and the Duke of Burgundy 20 Ouerture of a peace betwixt the two Kings and conferences of their deputies 21 The King labours to make the Duke of Burgundy vnderstand the Constabels double dealing 22 Truce for nine yeares betwixt the two kinges where-with the Duke of Burgundy is discontented and the wordes he had vpon that subiect with the King of England 23 Good cheere made to the English at Amiens 24 Enteruiew of the two Kings vpon the Bridge of Pyquigny to sweare the peace 25 Wordes which escaped the King vpon the treatie of the peace THE HISTORY of LEVVIS the XI THE SIXTH BOOKE IF the death of the Duke of Guienne had not put this exception into the Kings mouth Matters are changed his word which was a The simple word of a Prince bindes him as much as othes doe priuaâ— persons AlfoÌ„so Panormi in his life as much as all the othes of his religion bound him to restore Amiens and S t Quentin to the Duke of Bourgundy The Duke who was then in Arâ—ues to recouer them seeing that the King had changed his minde resolued to loose all or to haue all Hee wrote vnto the Townes to rise against him and speakes more vnworthily of him Death of the Duke of Guienâ—e breakes the Treatie then Artaban K of Persia did of Tiberius b Suetonius writes that Artaban railed of Tyberius by his letters reproaching him with his muâ—thers Parricides cowardise veluptuousâ—esse Parricidia caedes ignauiam Luxuriam he exclaimes of him as a Tyrant ouer his subiects a Murtherer of his brother and periured of his promises and in this fury he begins to make war by fire which he had neuer done A kinde of hostilitie vnknowne to Christians and to those generous Nations which carry not their sword to kill but in fighting c To spoile the vanquâ—shed to put thâ—m toraÌ„some and to wast their countries is the iustice of warre but this was neuer allowâ—d â—fter a victorie wâ—en as an enemie yeelds It is a wicked thing saith Plato in his commonweale to burne spoile and make one an others countrie wholly desolate it sufficeth to carrie away their annuall fruiâ—s and who hold that the fewer they kill the more there remaine to honour their triumph He besieged Nesle in Vermandois Cruelties committed at the taking of Nesle into the which the King had put a Captaine called Pettie Picard with three hundred Archers of the Isle of France who defended the Bourguignons assaults valiantly but being prest by necessitie hee accepted of a composition for himselfe and his men to depart with their liues and Armes But the trecherie was strange beeing followed by an excesse of brutish cruelty As soone as the besieged were disarmed the Bourgundians â—lue them Euery man thought that the Church should haue been a Sanctuarie vnto him euery man ranne thither and the souldiers made such a slaughter as the bloud ranne in all places The Captaine and his companions were hanged The Duke was no lesse pleased with the bloud then the sacke of the Towne Entring into the Church he spake these words more fitting for a Busiris then for a Christian Prince and of the bloud of the most Christian Kings d In the Chronicle of Lewis the eleuenth these words are read vppon the desolation of Nesle On Friday the 12. of Iune 1472. the Duke of Bourgundy entred the church on horseback the which was halfe a foote deep with the bloud of poore Creatures which lay naked and dead there And when as the said Bourguignon saw them in this maner hee began to smile and said that he saw a goodly sight that he had with him many good butchers Behold this is goodly I haue good Butchers Inhumane words of the D. of Bourgundy The griefe for the death of Monsieur and for the losse of S. Quentin transported him to these outrages which then were noted by the Cassandras of those times to bee the chiefe cause which prouoked Gods Iustice to cut off the course of his daies in reuenge of innocent bloud e A cruel prince continues not long The Emperor Anastasius the fourth was so and had no religion In the end an old man with a sower countenance
mischiefe had bin greater if the Constable had not moderated it with an apparant falling from his duty and loyalty to his King who had commanded him that when as the Bastard of Bourbon should enter into Artois hee should beseege Auennes in Hainault He spent two or three daies in that seege very carelesly without watch or gard If there were courage and resolution in his troupes c Caesar said that he desired modesty and obedience as much in a soldiar as prowesse and courrage Caesar. lib. there was little order and obedience He retyred to Saint Quintin Intelligēce of the Constable with the Duke of Bourgondy fearing to loose that retreat he excused him-selfe vpon an enterprise which he said he had discouered d I heard his man my selfe by the Kings commandement who tould so many apparant signes as he was in a manner beleeued and that one of thē was suspected to haue said som thing vnto the Constable which he should haue concealed Phil. de Com. lib. 4. cap. 4. of two soldiers who brag'd that they had beene commanded and seed to kill him Hee remayned at Saint Quentin contynuing the traffick of his faith with the two Princes Hee sent the Duke word that he was very sorry the King made his profit of his absence and he did aduertise the King that the Dukes affaires were in good estate thinking hee should finde noe other safety then in the feares and alarumes which he gaue them But when as he saw that this Lyon e Aduersitie humbles great men and makes them mild as a quarte◠ague breaks the fury of a Lion notwithstanding any feuer or shaking that he had grew nothing more myld he thought that there was noe meanes for his safety but to keepe a loose and that his last refuge was to relie vpon his first maister to whome he had offered entry into S. Quintin thinking that his Brother Iames of Luxembourg would goe thether with some troupes and not carry Saint Andrewes crosse Hee made these bargaines when as feare prest him and that hee knew not whome to trust to diuert the Kings desseignes but when as the Danger was past he would noe more heare speake of his promises and keept both ware and siluer He abused the Duke of Bourgundy thrice with such fictions his brother being taken prisoner at Arras descouered it so freely vnto the King as it was a meanes to moderate the rigorous vsage f A gratious kind vsage maks the misery of a prison more easie and supportable Plut. in the life of Niceas which a prisoner of that condition might haue He was willing to shroud himselfe vnder the Duke of Bourgondies protection but he did foresee the storme would be so great as the leaues of the tree would drowne him that should creep vnder it Hee did apprehend nothing so much as the Kings quiet and peace of the realme He gaue aduise vnto the Duke to drawe in the English to his succor and to reuenge his Iniuries and vpon this aduise the English were sollicited very earnestly to passe the sea Edward King of England who was in his soundest yeares Edward K. of England passeth into France 1475 actiue and vigorous for a great designe layes hold of this occasion in the which he did hope to recouer the rights which his Predecessors had purchased for him vpon the crowne of France He was soone perswaded to passe the sea thinking he should haue no more paine to conquer a part of France then hee had to reduce all England vnder his obedience The remembrance of the succours which King Lewis the eleuenth had giuen vnto his enemie added to the old quarrels which haue made deluges of bloud in this Realme would not suffer him to pause and consider of the Iustice or iniustice g Traian said they should neuer enter into an vniust war He alone of all the Romane Emperors neuer lost Battell of his enterprise False Assurances giuen by the Duke a Constable The Duke of Bourgundy assured him to ioyne with his forces the Constable did represent vnto him the Kings weaknes and wants offring him S. Quentin to refresh him Behold a great Armie at Douer readie to passe It did consist of fiueteene hundred men at Armes fifteene thousand Archers on horseback and a great number of foote all good and resolute souldiours hauing once continued any time on this side the sea English very ready to passe into France It was in his owne will to make it greater h There are none more simple nor vnhandsome then the English when they passe first but in a short time they are very good soldiers wise and hardy Phil. de Com. l. 4. c. 5. for there is not any enterprise in England that is seconded with more vowes and voices then that which is made against France All the world runnes vnto it their purses are not tyed but with leaues of Leekes for the King cannot exact any thing of his subiects but with the common consent of his Parliament vnlesse it be when he makes warre in France True it is that hauing imployed some part of the money leuied for this warre about the affaires of his house and finding himselfe scanted he inuented a milde course to haue money calling together the richest of the Realme and representing vnto them the greatnes of his designe with the glorie and profit which the realme might hope for coniuring them to assist him with their meanes and that in this occasion he should know them that loued him although that hee should be but a dispenser or Stuard i A Prince is but a receiuer distributer of the publike money and they that giue it regard more the publike necessitie then the Princes priuate commodities Aristotle calles him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Custodem dispensatorem vt communium non vt propriorum Polit. lib. 1. cap. 11. A keeper or distributor of that which is common not proper of that which they should giue and he called this Tribute a Beneuolence some for shame others for vanitie and some through zeale filled his Coffers The Duke of Bourgundy sent ships out of Holland and Zeland to passe the Armie It made a number of fortie or fiftie thousand men and threatned to doe double effects The Constable gaue the King to vnderstand that this Armie of strangers should land in Normandie and his aduertisement seemed the more credible for that the King knew that the Duke of Brittanie had conspired with the King of Englands designes Herevpon there arriued a Herald who brought Letters of defiance from the King of England Letters of defiance frō the King of England Letters full of brauerie and boldnes and puft vp with the Duke of Bourgundies passion and the stile k Hee brought vnto the King a Letter of defiance from the K. of England in a gallat stile which I thinke was not done by any English man He required the King to restore him the
curiosity the King had of the markes of the greatnesse of the Maiesty of Kings when he saith that there was not a coate of armes to be found in all his campe and that they were forced to make one of the banner of a trompet to attyer this Herald Souueraigne powers were neuer without them f Princes haue alwaies had marks of greatnes maiesty The Senate ordained foure twenty Sargents to march before Augustus Before that the Roman Emperors had fire and a diademe for marks of maiesty they had maces and rods enuironed with boyes Excubiae arms cetera Anlae saith Tacit watching Armes and the rest of the Court. Being come into the army he was conducted to the king of Englands tent they demanded of him what he was whence he came and what he would His coate of armes made answer to the first demand and for the rest he said that he had commandement to speake vnto the King and to addresse himselfe to Haward and Stanley The King of England was then at diner in the meane time they made the Herald good cheere and then presented him vnto the King to deliuer his charge Instructed by the Signeur of Argenton Wee must stand to that which hee hath written that did instruct him and who hath reported it after this manner That the K. had long desired to be in friendship with him and that the two realmes might liue in peace and that neuer since hee was King of France The Heralds speech to the King of England he had not made warre nor attempted any thing against the King nor the Realme of England excusing him-selfe g These Prepositions seeme nothing generous they argue feare and ere vnworthy of a great Prince who should let his enemies know that he did not demand nor accord any thing by force But Phil. de Com. excuseth the K. and saith that If God had not disposed the King to choose so wise a party the Realme had been in great danger Then he addes Wee had then many secret matters among vs vvhence had sprung great inconueniences vnto the Realme and that sodainly if the accord had not been soon made as wel from Brittaine as other places And I verily beleeue by matters which I haue seene in my time that God had and hath a speciall care of this Realme for that he had formerly entertayned the Earle of Warwicke and said that it was onely against the Duke of Bourgundy and not against him Hee also let him vnderstand that the said Duke of Bourgundy had not called him but to make a better accord with the King vppon the occasion of his comming and if there were any other that had a hand in it it was but to repaire their errors tending to their priuate ends and touching the King of Englands interest they cared not what became thereof so as they might make their owne good Hee also layed before him the time and winter which approached and that he knew well he was at great charge and that there were many in England both of the Nobility and Marchants which desired to haue warre in France And if the King of England should doe his endeauour to harken to a treaty that the said king would doe the like so as he and his realme should remaine content And to the end he might be better informed of these things Hee demands a pasport for a Conference if he would giue a pasport for an hundred horse that the king would send Ambassadors vnto him well informed of his will or if the king of England desired it should rather be in some Village midway betwixt both Armies and that the Deputies of either side should meet there he would be well content and would send a safe conduct Many thought that King Edward would haue said vnto the Herald We will talke in Paris h Arsaces K. of the Parthians sent to tell Crassus that if he were sent by the Romans to make warre against him hee would haue no peace but if he came of his owne free will to possesse his Contry that then hee would suffer them to depart with their liues and goods wherevnto Crassus said brauely I will make you an ansvver in the Towne of Seleucia the Parthian Ambassador began to smile and shewing him the palme of his hand hee said Crassus thou shalt sooner see haire grow in this hollow of mine hand then the Citty of Seleucia in thine but this first ouerture was so pleasing Ouerture of a peace betwixt the two Kings as he granted pasports for the Deputies of the conference England had rather forced then perswaded him to the Chimeras of this war He had leuied great summes of money for his passage the warre drew them out of his cofers peace kept them there and added more Ciuill warre had so weakened and impouerished England as at need they could neither hope for men nor money Hee had caused some of the Deputies of the Commons of England to passe with him Reasons which perswaded the English to peace they were already weary of the warre and to lodge after the manner of Soldiers These men did allow of this proposition of Peace and said that it was iust and reasonable i It is a weakenes in a Prince to make it apparantly knowne that hee desires a peace It is indiscretion to refuse it when it is iust If a Peace bee iust and honest saith Polibius 4. it is in truth good and goodly yet must they not doe any thing that is vniust and vnreasonable nor suffer any shamefull thing to bee done to enioy it that it were indiscretion to refuse it and that they should be contented to haue reduced the French King to seeke a peace with the King of England for that a great King cannot humble himselfe more nor descend lower then to seeke his enemy for a peace Pasports were dispatcht of either part and the Deputies entred into conference in a Village neere vnto Amiens in view of both armies which were but fower leagues asunder The Bastard of Bourbon Admirall St. Pierre and Heberge Bishop of Ereux for Lewis Haward one Challenger and Morton who was afterwards Chancelor of England for Edward The Ouerture of the assembly was by a demand of the Realme of France which the English said did belong vnto them grounding their pretensions vppon those of Edward the third k Edward the third King of England sonne to Edward the second and to Marguerite or Elizabeth of France disputed the Regency and Royalty in the yeare 1328. who as sonne to Elizabeth daughter to Phillip the faire had first disputed the Regency and then the succession of the Crowne against Philip of Valois thinking to ouerthrow the ancient order of the Salike Law l The Salike law excludes woemen from the succession of the Crowne it carries these wordes Nulla portio hereditatis mulieri veniat sed ad virilem sexuâ—â— tota terrae hereditas perueniat Let
noe portion of the inheritance come vnto the woman but let all the inheritance of the land descend vnto the Male. The English from a Generall demand come vnto a particular and restraine it to the Dutchies of Normandy and Guienne It was answered that as Edward had no interest to the whole so his felony had depriued him of the parts m Edward the third did homage to Philip of Valois for the Dutchies of Guienne and Normandy calling him his deere Lord and Cousin in the Cathedrall Church of Amiens the 6. of Iune 1333. As the King was resolued not to giue them any land so would he not refuse whatsoeuer they reasonably demanded in money when there is no question but of money a Prince should not bee sparing nor difficult The safety and felicity of an estate is not measured by a certaine price n A Prince should not respect money to send away an enemy and rather then to giue him any part of his estate with the which hee may liue in feare to loose all he should hazard any thing Hee winkt at all that as well as at sundry other formalities which the maiesty of the Crown of France would not haue suffered to passe in another season for in all this negotiation Edward gaue him noe other stile but his Cousin Lewis of France Hee offers them threescore and fifteene thousand Crownes for the charges of the Army Articles of a peace betwixt FraÌ„ce and England the Crowne being 33. solz a peece the marriage of his Sonne the Dauphin with the Princesse of England and a Pension of fifty thousand Crownes yearely vntill the marriage be consummated These offers were accepted a Truce was concluded for nine yeares and Hostages giuen by the King of England for the retreat of his army There was also a Compromise vppon a penalty of three millions of Crownes to determine and compound their Controuersies within three yeares by the iudgement of foure Arbitrators Charles the seauenth had expelled the English out of France by the sword and Lewis hath sent them away with his penne o Wee come to one end by contrary meanes Charles the seuenth expelled the English by force and Lewis with store of crownes Hanniball by crueltie ruled Italy and Scipio by mildnes Spaine The Constable thought that these mists The Constable sends vnto the King entertained by the vapors of his pollicies would haue lasted longer and he was much greeued that the Sun-shine of peace had disperst them Hee sent Lewis Creâ—ille a Gentleman of his traine and Iohn Richer his Secretary vnto the King to let him vnderstand that he neuer had any designe but to serue him faithfully that the proofe or his seruice was the refusall he had made vnto his enemies of the entry into S t. Quentin The King descouers the Constables double dealing to the duke of Bourgondy but he was of opinion that they should find some meanes to send back this storme beyond the Seas The King who desired to haue the deceiuer deceiued p Deceiuers are alwaies deceiued They whom they deceiue watch to requite it and their owne deceit ruines them Hanniball after the death of Marcellus wrote to the Salapiens vnder Macellus name whose seale he had gotten that he would come vnto their Towne The next night Crispin Lieutenant to Marcellus who knew the deceits of Hanniball gaue notice of his death Hanniball came to the gates of Salapia the first ranks who could speake the Roman tongue demand entrance The gard being aduertised and making a good shew suffered six hundred to enter then letting downe the Port-cullis they cut them in peeces Plut. and that the Duke of Bourgondy should vnderstand how this man cosoned him with his double dealing he caused the Siegneur of Contay to be set behind a portall The Kin discouers the Constables double dealing to the Duke of Bourgondy he was an affectionate seruant to the Duke and then the Kings prisoner And with him stood Phillip de Commines to heare Creuilles charge which was nothing else but to yeeld him an accompt of the voyage which he had made vnto the Duke to withdraw him from the amity of the English and that he had so disposed him therevnto as hee was in a manner ready to charge them Creuille supposing by the Kings countenance and attention that he tooke delight in this discourse counterfeited the speech and gesture and reported the Dukes oath he stampt with his foot against the ground and sware by St. George calling Edward one-eyed white-liuer and the Sonne of an Archer who cairied that name If Contay had not seene and heard Creuille he would not haue beleeued that a man of any sence would haue spoke so vnworthily of his maister the King faining to be thick of hearing took delight in the repetition of the cheefe wordes of this tale and his heart seeming full of ioy gaue courage to Creuille to amplifie this discourse to the end that Contay might vnderstand it better Constables opinion to buy a truce and know that the Constable mockt his maister q Florence hath seene the like pollicy Peter de Medicis to make it knowne that Lewis Sforza Duke of Milan in counselling King Charles to passe the Alpes did not wish him any good successe He caused the Ambassador of France to stand behind a haâ—ging and saigning himself ill he sent for the Ambassador of Milan who entring into discourse of the designes of Lewis Sforza his Maister he told all â—e could to make it knâ—wâ— that the intentions of the French did not concurre with his maisters Guicciardin To conclude the Constable as Creuille said thought it fit they should purchase a truce of the English and that they should giue them some towne as Eu and St. Valery The King being content with that which hee had heard tould Creuille that the Constable should heare from him He set Contay at liberty to go and report vnto the Duke of Bourgondy what hee had heard behind the Portall of the Constables dissimulations who sent his Confessor vnto the King of England to aduise him not to trust vnto the Kings words nor to attend vntil he did willingly giue him Eu and St. Valery The Constable perswades K. Edward not to trust K. Lewis but to seaze thereon by force to winter his troopes in hope to lodge them better and more at large and hee offered fifty thousand Crownes to aid him to make warre Tell your Maister answered the King of England that he is a deceiuer that I repent me not of a peace seeing he hath repented him of that which he had promised me The King notwithstanding to let the Constable vnderstand that he did esteeme his Councells r There are some thinges wherein it is better to bee deceiued then to distrust The King was well informed of the Constables infidelities yet to entertaine him in good humor and not to giue him occasion to doe worse hee
Frontier I finde that Guerin le Groin Baliffe of Saint Peter le Moustier and Robinet of Quesnoy Either of them Captaine of a hundred Lances tooke a great Conuoy of Money which came to Doway and with a small Troupe defeated a great number of Horse which did gard it If the King of England had declared himselfe for the Princesse of Bourgundy there had beene a great alteration and she had lesse apprehended the power and hatred of the French King who had wisely preuented it Lewis entertaines friendship with the English He knowing that King Edward loued his ease and that he would not shew himselfe too passionate in his Neighbours quarrels caused his Embassadours to obserue him and entertained him often with Visits and Presents d To send wise and polliticke Embassadours to Princes whoÌ„ they feare vpon diuers pretexes is the true meanes to preuent their designes but especially with the hope of a Marriage betwixt his sonne and his daughter Whom in England they called the Dauphine He caused the fifty thousand Crownes due by the Treaty of Piquigny to be paied at the day in the Citty of London which the English called the Tribute of France He gaue great Pensions to the Chancellor Chamberlaine Admirall and Maister of the Horse in England This made some to speake and others to hold their peace touching the affaires of France e To cast Gold into a Princes Councell is a great charme for greedy minds Gold is a medecine which at one instant workes two contrary effects To speake and to be silent There neuer came any Embassadours but commended his bounty at their returne and held themselues in a manner bound to fauour his intentions by which proceedings hee held himselfe in a manner assured on that side This made the Princesse of Burgundy resolue to marry to follow the counsell of the Lady of Haluin Princesse of Bourgundy wil haue a maÌ„ to her husband her first Lady of Honour which was to take a man and not a child for she was capable to beare them f There was a great disparitie of age betwixt the Dauphin and thus Princesse who was mother of three children before the Prince was a eleuen yeares old Shee refused the king of Englands brother It was thought that if they had propounded the Earle of Angolesme father to King Francis the 1. she would haue hearkened vnto it g The Annales of Aquitane speake thus vpon this occasion King Lewis wanted indgment in this action for if he had not hee wold haue married her to Charles Duke ef Angolâ—sme father to King Francis that now is her affections inclining to haue a Prince of France although she were much discontented for that the King had beene the cause of the death of her two good seruants Hugonet and Imbercourt The Emperour Frederick sent his Embassadours vnto her to put her in minde of the letter which she had written by the commandement of Duke Charles her father carrying a promise of marriage to the Arch-duke Maxamilian his son The Duke of Cleues who had another designe instructed her to referre her selfe to her Councell h In a Councell held vpon the reception of the Embassadours the Duke of Cleues said that after they had deliuered their message the Princesse of Burgundy should say vnto them that they were very welcome and that shee would referre it to her Councell and no more Phil. de Com. and not to say any thing to the Embassadours but at the sight of this Letter and a Diamond which did accompany it she declared that she had written the Letter and giuen the Diamond Princesse of Bourgundy marries Maxmilian by her fathers commandement The marriage was treated and Maximilian came into Flanders to consomate it and before the yeare was expired Philip father to Charles the 5. was the first fruits of this marriage Maximilian was then but twenty yeares old i When as Maximilian came into Flanders he was but twenty yeares old Hee was borne in the yeare 1458. Elenor daughter to Edward king of Portugal was his mother desiring to shew that the loue of the Princesse of Burgundy was not blind in choosing him among so many Corriuals he sought to recouer that which she had lost The King sent Craon into Bourgundy Kings Army in the French County k Peter or George of Tremouile Lord of Craon Liuetenant of the Kings Army in Bourgundy who hauing a power and being assisted by Iohn of Chalons Prince of Orange reduced the Towne of Dijon vnder the Kings obedience The Prince of Orange seeing himselfe deluded by him and that he did not deliuer vp the places vnto him which he had taken according to the Kings commandement grew discontented reuolted and recouered in a manner all that Craon had wonne in the County and then cast himselfe into Gy. From thence Craon besieged Dole Dole besieged contemning them that were within it as men whom he held to be without courage or defence This contempt accompanied with carelessenesse made him to loose his honour the Kings fauour and the Towne which he might haue taken for the besieged made a sally in a night that was windy darke and rainy with such aduantage as they surprized him and forced him to ritire with the losse of some of his Ordinance and of three thousand men l The fault of a Generall of an Army is sufficiently punished by the losse of his honour and his Princes loue and fauour The Romanes had no punishment for such errours to the end their Commanders should not haue their minds troubled with the dangers and ordinary Inconueniences in such charges and with the examples of such whose faults had bene punished with death For it is impossible to resolue iudiciously betwixt feare and suspition Charles of Amboise Lord of Chaumont was substituted in his place who aduised the King to renew his aliance with the Suisses and thereby to weaken the house of Bourgondy The perswasion of this counsell was not difficult the King thought nothing more fit for the safety of his estate then to make his enemies weake of Intelligence and Friends He sent some to practise this league and pursued it with great vehemency He had receiued so great content in the ruine of the most obstinate of his enemies as after the Battels of Granson and Morat hee did nothing but speake of the Suisses valor m Lewis the â—1 greatly aduaÌ„ced the reputation of the Suisses After victories which they had wonne against Charles Duke of Bourgondy he caused them to bee much esteemed Hee sent Embassadours with rich presents hee gaue them after the battell of Granson vntill his death aboue a million of Florins of the Rhin and esteeme their Friendship He put them in greater reputation then euer they had beene although they had much honoured the establishment of their liberty with a triumph of nine or ten Battels and that we may say of them as Titus
dispose thereof by Testament h When as they say that women are incapable of dignities it is to be vnderstood of charges which consist in Functions and Offices A Woman cannot be a Consull a President or a Chancellour but when the dignity is patrimoniall and annexed to the Fee such a dignity may belong vnto a woman as wel as the iurisdiction The King caused a Consultation to be made of all the learned Lawyers of his Realme to know what his Neeces right was They found that it depended vpon this Maxime That the Nephew or Grand-childe represents his Father and Grand-father in the right of Primogeniture or first borne That this right is transferred to the children of the elder although hee die before the Father and holds the place of lawfull heire They did also consider the custome and common obseruation of this Realme where the eldest sonne dying and leauing a sonne hee succeedes the Grand-father as his Father should haue done The Grand-fathers second-sonne being excluded from all pretention for the Nephew excludes the Vncle and representation hath place in this Realme in Fees which are not diuisible In the time of King Charles the fifth his Maiesty sitting with the Peeres of France in his Court of Parliament Ioane of Brittany married to Charles of Blois i Charles of Blois and the Lady Ioane of Brittaine his wife did enioy this Dutchy fiue twenty years or thereabouts vntil that Iohn of Montford being succoured by the Forces of England slewe Charles of Blois in battle and expelled his wife out of the Dutchy was declared heire to the Dutchy of Brittany as representing her Father against Iohn Earle of Montfort her Vncle. She was daughter to the Duke of Brittanies second brother and the Earle of Montfort was the third brother Allain Lord of Albret as sonne vnto the eldest Vicount of Tartas who was deceased succeeded his Grand-father in the Landes of Albret and excluded from the succession the Lord of Sancte Bazille his vncle and the Lord of Oruall his Grand-fathers yonger brother k In the house of Albret there are many Earledomes The Earledome of Gaure the Earledome of Dreux the Earldome of Peyragore and many Vicounties and Baronies They held that house in the time of King Lewis the eleuenth to haue sixe thousand pound sterling of yearely rent King Philip in the yeare 1314. did iudge the suite betwixt Maud daughter to the Earle of Artois and Robert of Artois her Vncle and by his iudgement it was decreed that the daughter should succeed as the neerest vnto her father Lewis Earle of Flanders had but one daughter the richest heire of Chrstendome the which succeded her father in the Earledome of Flanders excluding the Duke of Brabant her Vncle and was married to Philip of France sonne to King Iohn and first Duke of Bourgondy l The Treaty of Marriage betwixt the Duke of Bourgondy and Margaret Princesse of Flanders was made the twelfth of Aprill one thousand three hundred sixtie nine the Dutchy of Guienne which comprehends all Gasconie as well that which is of the iurisdiction of Tolouse as of Bourdeaux and more was carried to the Crowne of England by the marriage of the daughter of William Duke of Guienne with Henry King of England m Elenor the onely daughter to William Duke of Guienne and Earle of Poitiers was married to Lewis King of France and beeing put away by him shee married againe to HENRY sonne to the King of England and Duke of Normandy Henry King of Nauare Earle of Champagne left one daughter who was married to K. Philip the Faire and succeded her Father in the Earledome of Champagne The last Earle of Poictou n The County of Poictou and the Towne of Poitiers were vnited to the Crowne by King Charles the seuenth in the yeare 1436. had one daughter named Margaret who was married to the eldest sonne of France and succeeded her Father notwithstanding that the Earle of Saint Valier her Vncle was then liuing Raymond the fifteenth and last Earle of Tolousa dying without Issue Male Ioane his onely daughter succeeded him and was married to Alphonso of France brother to the King Saint Lewis o The marriage of Alphonso of France and Ioane Coumtesse of Toâ—ouse was treated in the yeare 1228. Matthew Earle of Foix dying without children in the yeare 1398. his sister surnamed Isabel succeeded him and was married to Archambaut of Grailly Lewis of Luxemburge Earle of S t. Paul had many children but his eldest sonnes daughter who was married to to the Earle of Vandosme was sole heire of all his lands as representing her Father who was the eldest p They hold that the Countesse of Vendosme did not succeede in the Earledome of Saint Paul by right of succession but by a Treaty of peace and that her Vncles were all incapable of this sucession for that the Landes of Lewis of Luxemburg her father had been confiscate The Earle of Lauragais left but one daughter who succeeded in the Earledome whereof she made donation to the French King The Earle of Castres had one daughter who was married to a yonger sonne of the house of Bourbon Earle of Marche who after her fathers decease succeeded in the Earledomes of Castres and Vandosme and excluded them of Montfort who were her Vncles from the succession Of this marriage were borne two sonnes Iames of Bourbon the elder who was Earle of Marche and of Castres and the yonger who was Earle of Vandosme Iames of Bourbon married Beatrix of Nauarre q Iames of Bourbon Earle of Marche married with Beatrix daughter to Charles the second King of Nâ—uarre the fifteenth of August one thousand foure hundred and fiue Elenor their onely daughter was married to Bernard Earle of Armaignac and Perdiac who after her fathers death succeeded as well in the Earledome of Marche as of Castres and excluded the Earle of Vandosme from the succession True it is that these Earledomes haue remained in the house of Bourbon by transaction r The King made Donation of the Earledome of March to Monsieur de Bourbon and his wife The Duke of Nemours children beeing restored to their Landes there was a sute to ouerthrow this Donation and then an Accord was made by the which the Earledome of Marche remained to the house of Vendosme and Bourbon the Duke of Nemours children being otherwise recompensed William Vicount and Lord of Mountpellier although hee had many kinsmen of his name had no other heire but his daughter Mary wife to Peter King of Arragon Peronelle s Du Tillet saith that this Peronella of Bigorre had fiue husbands 1. Gaston of Bearne 2. Ninion Sance Earle of Sardaine 3. Guy of Montford 4. Raoâ—l Tescu 5. Boson of Mathas daughter to the Earle of Bigorre succeeded her father in the Earledome of Bigorre in the yeare one thousand two hundred sixty foure and was married to Boson of Mathas Vicount of Marsan and
Aduentures vnto the thirtieth yeare Predictions vpon the life of Lewis the eleuenth hee aduertised King Charles the seuenth of his rebellion and how his gouernment would be wonderfull to men k This man was much esteemed by Duke Amedeus the Pope hee foretold the Schisme of the Church and the warre betwixt France and England Manasses a lew of Valencia continued these predictions vnto the battel of Montlehery Peter of Saint Valerien a Chanon of Paris and a great Astrologian was sent in the yeare 1435. into Scotland for the marriage of the Lady Margaret during his abode in Flanders hee consulted alwaies with Astrologians of future things and these impostors more hurtfull to a Common-wealth then Players l Sights entertaine the people and breed them vp â—n idlenesse And therefore Phillip Augugustus by an Edict banisht Plaiers out of France Nihil tam moribus alienum quam in spectaculo desidere Sen. whom his predecessours had chased away were alwaies in his eares Hee caused many iudgements to be made by Iohn Coleman his Astrologian who taught him to vnderstand the great Almanacke and vpon the great Coniunction of Saturne and Mars which was the eighth of Aprill about ten of the clocke eighteene minutes in the yeare 1464 He spake plainely of the troubles of the League and so did in like manner Peter of Grauille whom Lewis the 11. caused to come out of Normandy Conrade Hermgarter a Germaine left the Duke of Bourgundies seruice for the Kings who gaue him great entertainements But aboue all hee made great esteeme of Angelo Catho a Neapolitan who came into France with the Prince of Tarentum m Iohn Spirink did also foretel the Duke of Bourgundy that if he went against the Suisses it would succede ill the Duke answered that the fury of his Sword should vanquish the course of heauen and had foretold the Duke of Bourgundy and the Duke of Guelders their misfortunes The King gaue him the Arch-bishopricke of Vienna wherein hee could not reside for the great crosses he receiued from them of Dauphiné but was forced to retire himselfe to Rome His Chronicle doth also speake of the death of Maister Arnold his Astrologian during the plague in the yeare 1466. the which hee had foreseene and which vnpeopled Paris of aboue 40000. persons France had other kinds of men which did better deserue the fauour and bounty of the King then these Deuiners God is offended at the rashnesse of this science which vndertakes the knowledge of future things which is onely reserued to his eternall Prouidence and which in regard of man is all composed in with clouds and impenetrable darkenesse Vanity of Iudiciary Astrology The curious are deceiued for they tell them things that are either true or false n Fauorinus with this Dilemma mockes at Iudiciary Astrology Aut aduersa dicunt prospera Si dicunt prospera fallunt miser fies frustra expectando Si aduersa dicunt mentiuntur miser fies frustra timendo Either they tell aduerse things or prosperous If they fore-tell prosperous things and erre thou art a wretch in vaine expectance if they tell aduerse things and lye thou wilt be a wretch in fearing without cause They make themselues miserable in the expectation of prosperity which neuer happens They are miserable also in the apprehension of aduersities which they feare incessantly happen not but when they least dreame of them thinking they haue escaped them and howsoeuer lying deceiues hope and augments feare o Iudiciary Astrologyis forbidden by the reasons which Epiphanius produceth against the Manicheans Basâ—le in his Exameron Chrisostome vpon Genesis Hom. 5. Augustin lib. 4. cap. 3. of 〈◊〉 Cofessionâ— and by the Counciles of Tolâ—do The Church which hath the eternall truth for the verticall Starre of her establishment which doth alwaies looke vnto the Sunne of Iustice and Constancie not gouerning her selfe like vnto the Synagogue by the inconstancy of the Moone hath religiously and iudiciously detested the practice of Iudiciary Astrology which filles the eares with vanity and curiosity and the conscience with amazement If the curiosity had had any reflexion to the aduancement and beautifying of learning Barbarisme had not tyranized so long ouer so many good wits Princes cannot adde goodlier Crownes to the Palmes and Bayes of their vertues then those which good wits do dedicate vnto them as an acknowledgement of their fauours to learning p The glory which a Prince doth get by Armes is great That which comes from the fauour and protection of learning is immortal Intâ—r omnia quae vertute principum ac felicitate recreantur sint licet for tasse alia magnitudine atque vtilitate potiora nihill est tameÌ„ admirabilius haec libertate quam fouendis honorandisue literarum studijs iâ—partiuÌ„t Among all the things which are delighted with the vertue and felicity of Prinalthough it may be there are some to be preferred in greatnesse and profite yet there is nothing more admirable then that liberality which is bestowed to nourish honour the study of learning Eumenes Rhoetâ—r in orat pro instau scho King Charles the seuenth father to Lewis and King Charles the eighth his sonne had some care of the Vniuersity of Paris The first set downe an order for the decision of causes referred to the Court of Parliament The last declared what men should enioy the priuiledges of the Vniuersitie and how they should be inrowled in the booke of Priuiledges But wee do not finde that Lewis hath done any thing either with it or against it The President Thou whose History Europe doth no lesse admire for his eloquence and boldnesse then Italy did Titus Liuius and Greece Thucidides speakes of Iohannes Vulceus of Groningue and saith that he reformed the Vniuersity during the raigne of this King and this reformation shewes that there was some disorder The negligence of men was not so much the cause as the violence of times full of troubles and confusion which did not permit them either to teach or to learne These clouds of Ignorance were as darke in other Nations Barbarisme in in the time of Lewis The misery of that age was so great as who so should represent the potrraite of that Barbarisme would moue the minds of men both to pitty of so great ignorance and to feare that our negligence would bring vs soone into the like The sweetenesse of the Muses was but bitternesse their flowers all withered and their light all confusion the men of those times did not onely contemne learning but they did abhorre her beauty and said that it did not agree with the grauity and seuerity of other Sciences q Barbarisme being banished the schooles whereas the taught good learning it remained long among the Lawiers King Francis the first hauing seene these words in a Decree debotauit debottat commanded that alâ— the Actes of iustice and contracts should be made in Lattine For this cause the purity of
the Kings Authority to restraine him from this liberty Hee made of men as an Auditor doth of Counters placing some for hundreds others for thousands some for ten and some for vnits He allowed many petty Companions in his Cabinet who could not remember the condition of their fore-fathers without blushing or disavowing them s Honor meeting with an vnworthy subiect hath lesse luster and esteeme When as the people of Athens saw that Yperbolâ—◠〈◊〉 decayed man and who had nothing to loose was intreatreated equally with good men they dissolued the 〈◊〉 an honorable punishment for those whose vertue was suspected In like manner they tooke it ill at Roma when as Flauius being freed by Appius was made Edilis Curulis But for all that he did not leaue to haue about him and to imploy in great charges Noble-men issued from houses which were then illustrious both by their owne vertues and by those of their fore-fathers Of this number was Iohn of Daillon Lord of Lude The Lord of Lude and Imbert of Baterney Lord of Bouchages They came in fauour with this Prince by diuers meanes and maintained it in like maner The Lord of Lude had been bred vp with this Prince and the affection which begins so soone doth not wither easily Philip de Commines addes this reason that he knew well how to please the King Fortune fauoured the merits of Imbert of Baterney Imbert of Baterney Lewis Dauphin of France retiring himselfe into Dauphiné and going from Moras to Romans hee staied in a valley vnder the Castle of Baterney to take the coole aire and demanding some refreshing in the heate of the season and the tediousnesse of the way the Lord of Baterney sent some things vnto him and came himselfe to doe his duty hee brought with him Imbert of Baterney being then but a youg man who carried a Hauke with the which hee kild some Partridges t The pleasure of hunting which had beene the raâ—ing of his fortune was in a manner the cause of his ruine Claude of Seyell saith that going to 〈◊〉 to see the Dauphin hauing had him to field to see his Haukes flye the king was much incâ—sed thinking that he had a designe to make him see the woâ—ld and to know it The Dauphin tooke pleasure in it and commanded him to come vnto him to Romans for that hee had a desire to see that Hauke flye againe He went and did so please this Prince as he demanded him of his father and from that time he neuer abandoned him vntill his death He made him great in riches and honor as he was in merit and vertue Charles of Artois Charles of Artoix Earle of Eu hauing remained three and twenty yeares prisoner in England returned into France and was much beloued of king Lewis the eleuenth for that he held nothing of the sower arrogant humors of his predecessors he continued in the Kings seruice at such time as the Noble-men left him to follow the Princes Armie He reconciled the King and the Duke of Brittanie and soone after died in Iuly in the yeare 1471. without any children Iohn of Bourgondy Earle of Neuers his Nephew was his heire u The accord betwixt the king and the Duke of Brittany was made at Saumur in the yeare 1469. and the difficulties were decided by the deâ—terity of the Earles of Eu and Dunois Iohn of Orleans Bastard of Orleans Earle of Longueville base sonne to Lewis Duke of Orleans was the greatest and most fortunate Captaine of his time he alone of all the Noblemen of the league of the Common-weale pursued the fruits which France expected of such an enterprise He was chiefe and President of the Commissioners appointed for the reformation of the disorders of the Realme and died before he could see the effects of that which hee had so earnestly pursued in the yeare 1470. Andrew of Laual Andrew of Laual Lord of Loheac Lewis 11. tooke from him the dignity of Marshall of France wherewith Charles 7 had honoured him and rewarded his seruice Hee restored it vnto him againe when as necessity made him know that none was more capable then he For his sake he gaue vnto his brother the Lord of Chastillon the Office of great Maister of the Waters and Forrests Alaine of Albret purchased the surname of Great by the same greatnesse of courage which gaue the sword of France to Charles of Albret his grand-father Alaine of Albret x Charles of Albret was not onely entreated but in a manner forced by the King to receiue the sword of Costable The king pâ—t it into his hand the Dukes of Orleans Burgondy Berry Bourbo girt him with it a little before hee had caried Charles the seuenth vnto the font He left the league of the Common-weale as soone as he was entred into it and remained more constant in the assurance of his word then the Duke of Nemours his great corage found nothing impossible He was often wont to say that he which had force in hand needed no other thing He married Francis Vicountesse of Limoges and was father to Iohn of Albret King of Nauarre Iohn of Bueil Iohn of Bueil Earle of Sancerre presently after the coronation of Lewis the eleuenth was dismist from his Office of Admirally y The Earle of Sancerre was Admirall of France by the death of Pregent of Coitiuy Son-in-Law to Giles of Raix Marshall of France for no other reason but for that he had serued Charles the seuenth He returned to Court and fauour but yet he stood alwayes vpon his guard against that Lyon which strooke with his paw when they least thought of him Iohn of Andie Iohn of Andie Bastard of Armagnac Lord of Lescun and Earle of Cominges was Admiral of France after the dismission of the Earle of Sancerre and then Marshall of France he chased the Brittains from Baieux and was Gouernour of Dauphine Ioachim of Rouvault Ioachim of Rouvault z Hee had done great sâ—ruices vnder King Charles the seuenth and had beene present at the battell of Fromigny and at the siege of Bourdeaux The King gaue him the place of Marshall of France and Monstrelet saith that Charles the seuenth made him constable of Bourdeaux and that hee tooke his oath in the hands of the Chancellors of France Lord of Gamasches serued him worthily and couragiously in the warre of the Common-weale and was the cause of the preseruation of Paris He alwayes coasted the Duke of Bourgondy his Army to keepe it from scattering to the hurt of the Kings subiects and that it should not make profit by the surprise of any places in passing Then he cast himselfe into Paris and by his presence fortified the courages which an accident rather feared then foreseene had much deiected The King gaue him the gouernment with a troope of two hundred maisters and made him Marshall of France Tanneguy of Chastel Tanneguy
he haue force and authoritie where he liues ouer others if he bee learned and hath seene or read it will either amend him or impaire him For the bad impaire with much knowledge and the good amend Yet it is credible that knowledge doth rather amend him then impaire him were there nothing but the shame to know his owne euill it were sufficient toâ—keepe him from doing ill at the least not to wrong any man whereof I haue seene many experiences among great personages whom knowledge hath drawne from many bad desseignes and also the feare of Gods punishment whereof they haue greater knowledge then ignorant men who haue neither seen nor read History IT is a great aduantage for Princes to haue read Histories in their youth Lib. 2. Chap. 6. where they may plainely read of such assemblies and of the great fraudes deceipts and periuries which some of the ancients haue vsed one against another hauing taken and slaine them that haue relyed vpon such assurances It is not said that all haue vsed it but the example of one is sufficient to make many wise and to giue them a will to stand vpon their gard And in my opinion one of the greatest means to make a man wise is to haue read ancient Histories and to learne to gouerne himselfe wisely thereby and by the example of our predecessors For our life is so short as it sufficâ—th not to haue experience of so many thinges Besides we are decayed in age and the life of man is not so long as it was wont to be nor their bodies so strong All the Bookes that are written were to no vse if it were not to reduce things past to memory where we see more in one booke in three monthes then twenty men liuing successiuely one after another can see by the eye or learne by experience Although that enemies nor Princes be not alwaies alike notwithstanding that the subiect be yet is it good to be informed of thinges past Nourishment ALl men that haue beene great Lib. 1. Chap. 9. and done great matters haue begun very yong And it coÌ„sists in the education or coms from the grace of God This is spoken by the Author vppon the good education of Lewis the eleuenth without the which it had beene impossible for him to haue surmounted those great difficulties which he had in the beginning of his raigne and to blame that of the noblemen of his time who were not bred vp but to shew their folly in their speach and apparrell They haue no knowledge of any learning and there is not a wise man among them They haue Gouernors to whom they talk of their affaires and not to themselues and they dispose thereof and there are such Lords which haue not sixescore and ten pounds starling yearely rent which take a glory in saying speake vnto my officers thinking by these wordes to seeme great men In like manner I haue often seen such seruants make their profit of their maisters giuing them to vnderstand that they were beasts And if happily any one returnes and desires to know his owne it is so late as it serues him to small purpose A Princes subiects haue cause to greeue when they see his Children ill bred vp and in the hands of bad conditioned men Nature A Naturall wit perfectly good excells al other sciences that may bee learned in the world Example of Lewis the eleuenth who without any knowledge of learning had the reputation and the effects of the wisest Prince of his age Hope ALL well considered our only hope must be in God In the end of the first Book for in him lies all our assurance and all bounty which cannot be found in any worldly thing But euery man knowes it too late and after that he hath need yet it is better late then neuer Age. THe fathers old Age makes him to indure the Insolencies of his sonne patiently Lib. 1. Chap. 2. Example of Philip Duke of Bourgondy who dissembled the bad vsage of his sonne the Earle of Charolois to them of thâ— house of Croy. Foresight VVIsemen discerne so farre off as their life is not sufficient to see halfe of those things which they haue foreseene Lib. 3. Chap. â— Carelesnes and vigilancy MAd and distracted Princes are not to bee blamed if they gouerne their affairs ill Lib. 6. Cha. 4. but they that haue their iudgments sound and are well disposed of their persons if they spend their whole time in idlenes and folly they are not to be pittied if they fal into misfortunes But they which diuide their times according to their age somtimes seriously and in Councell and somtimes in feasts and pleasure are much to be commended and the subiects are happy to haue such a maister An Alphabeticall Table of the principall matters contained in the first seuen Bookes of this History A ACcord betwixt the King of Castile Portugal fol. 220. Affaires of a Prince are then effected with most safety and aduantage when he hath won that person who is most in credit and authority with the other with whom he Treates 166. Affection of Maisters to bad seruants is the cause of much disorder 14. Alphonso King of Portugall comes to demand succours in France 215. But is refused by the French King 218. Alphonso proclaimed King of Castile 217. His death Ibid. Amazment breeds strange effects 80. Ambition hath no other law then the fancy of the Ambitious 77. Amurath puts Scanderbegs brethren to death 120. growes fearefull of Scanderbegs valour Ibid. Army of the Earle of Charolois 79. Articlâ—s of a peace betweene France and England 165. Attempt against the Duke of Bourgundies life discouered by the King 206. B Balue the Cardinall imprisoned in a cage of his owne inuention 132. Basile besieged by Lewis the Dauphin 22. Battell of Firmigny 30. Battell at Montlehery 81. Battell at Wakefield 56. Battell of Varna 121. Battell of Morat 213. Battell of Nancy 224. Beauuais besieged 164. Birth of Charles the eight 146. Boldnesse after danger past 86. Bothwell in great fauour with the King of Scotland 232. C Cadet rescueth the Earle of Charolois 83. Challenge sent to the Duke of Bourgundy 3 Charles the seuenth disinherited by his father Charles the sixt 1. Hee armes against his sonne Lewis the Dauphin 12. He takes the Castle of S. Maxiant 13. His reprehension of the Duke of Bourbon 14. His fragility 26. His Death 27 Charles Duke of Orleans led prisoner into England 3. He dieth for sorrow 69. Charles of Nauarre poysoned by his Mother in Law 61. Charles Duke of Berry retires into Brittany 70. His solicitatioÌ„ of the Duke of Bourgundy to assist him for reformation of disorders in France Ibid. Campobasse his treason against the Duke of Bourgundy 223. Charles Earle of Charolois afterwards Duke of Bourgundy his negligence in trayning his Army 82. Is in danger to be slaine or taken 83. His repast among dead bodies 84. Runs into vnseene danger 94.
His Humour disposition 105. Is constrained to grant the Gantois their demand 107. Is forced to raise the siege of Nuz and comes to Callice to the King of England 180. His profite and blame by the death of the Constable 205. His iourney against the Suisses 207. c. He looseth the battell but not his courage 211. Hee seizeth vpon the Dutchesse of Sauoy and her children 214. His affliction after the Battell of Morat 220. His defeat and death 224. An example of his Iustice 227. 227. Charles Prince of Nauarre makes warre against his father 151. Chastity and Beauty are rare companions 27. Choler and Praecipitation are two blind guides 67. Combustions in England 53. Complaints against Lewis the Dauphin 30. Complaints for the Pragmaticall Sanction 135. Confidence is the true cyment of friendship 187. Considerations of the King to haue a peace 179. Conspiracy against King Henry the sixt 54. Constantinople taken 123. Consultation taken to put the Hostages of Leige to death 108. Contention in Scotland for the Regency 230. Contentment of priuatemeÌ„ makes them forget the publicke 96. Councell of Basile seekes an accord with the Dauphin 24. Counsels in perplexity 85. counsels sauor of the passions of counsellours 173. counsell contemned drawes on destiny 223. Courage of the women at the siege of Beauuais 165. Courtesy proffered but not meant 189. Crosse of S. Laud. 179. Croysado published against the Turke 64. Cruelties makes Princes odious 125. cruelties committed at the taking of Nesle 163. cruelty base and villanous 227. D Death of Charles Duke of Orleance 2. Death of the Signior of Contay 108. Death is sweete when it is the end and not the punishment of life 204. Declaration of the house of Bourgundy 36. Delight in publicke miseries for profite sake 24. Desire of rule sets father and son at variance 60. Desire to haue things as we wold makes vs oftentimes accept appearances for the things themselues 87. Dignities change the Maximes of conscience 48. Disability supplyed by Deputy 216. Disobedience rightly punished 81 Displeasure of the Duke of Bourgundy against his sonne 34. Disposition of the Earle of Charolois 33. Distraction of Charles the sixt 1. Dutchesse of Bourgundy drawsher husband to the treaty of Arras 8 Duke of Bourgundy flies into Flanders 2. and is slaine by Taneguy Du Chastel 4. E Earle of S. Paul is made constable of France 97. His naturall affection Ibid. His bad conduct 98. His pollicy 143. His dissimulation to creepe againe into the Kings fauour 168. the manner of his comming to the King 169. His double dealing with the King of England 181 Is abandoned of all his friends 196. His grieuous perplexities 198. Is deliuered prisoner to the King 200. His confessions Arraignement sentence and execution 201. 202. c. Ease found in conference of troubles and afflictions 27. Education is as another nature 16 Edward 4. proclaimed King of England 57. He declares himselfe for the Bourgundian 77. Hee sends the Garter to the Earle of Charolois 88. Is defeated taken prisoner 141. His passage into FraÌ„ce 177. His repentance for his passage 182. Eloqueâ—ce naturall in Lewis the eleuenth 133. Embassage from the Frenâ—h King to the Emperor Frederick 176. Enemies that are ambitious must haue more work made theÌ„ then they can compasse 173. English well entertained at Amiens 187. Enterveiw of the Kings of France and Cistile 62. Enterveiw of the French King and Earle of Charolois 93. Enter veiw of the French King and King of England â—89 Estates assembled at Clâ—rmont 13 Exploits done by captain Salezard at the siege of Beauuais 165. F Faction of the Orleanoâ—s and Bourgonians 1. Famine extreame in Nancy 222. Fatality of names 6. Feare and the strange operation thereof 93. Ferdinand King of Naples seeks the alliance of the Queene of Cyprus 127. Fidelity deuotion of the French towards their Kings 5. France the Sanctuary of Popes 47 G Galeas Duke of Milan his death 229. His cruelties and whooredomes 230. Gantois profite by the Ligeois 110 George Castriot circumcised called Scanderbeg 120. Hee leaues the Turk ioynes with Iohn Huniades 121. Hee demands succors of the Pope 123 his death 124. His force and dexterity Ibid. Gyles of Brittany his Tragicall end 151. Good of a peace and necessity of affaires respect not formalities 9. Gouernement of Venice commended 129 Guienne giuen to the Kings brother 135. H Heirs teares are soon dryed vp 41 Henry the sixt King of England is crowned King of France at Paris 4. Hee flies into Scotland 57. Is imprisoned in the Tower of London 58. Is set at liberty againe 143. Henry King of Castile degraded 217. I Iames the first King of Scotland murdered 7. Iests should end when they begin to moue laughter 28. Iewes probationâ—waters 146. Impatience of the Earle of Charolois 67. Importance of the Office of the Constable of France 205. Indignities and insolences of people reuolted 103. Inequality of recompence after the battell of Montlehery 84. Inhumanity of the Duke of Bourgundy 164. Iniuries done to faith and reputation are not easily repaired nor recompenced 100. Insolence in victory punished 23. Institution of the order of Saint Michael 136. Intelligences continued betwixt Bourgundy BourboÌ„ 139. IntelligeÌ„ces of the Constable with the Duke of Bourgundy 177. Iohn Earle of Armagnac expelled his Country 154. accused by a Welchman 155. Desires a safe conduct to iustifie himselfe 156 Is reconciled to the King 157. And is afterwards slaine vnder the assurance of a Treaty 158. His incest 159. His superstition in holding it a bad presage to meete an Englishman with a Red Crosse. 160. Isabella of Cstaile marries Ferdinand of Arragon 218. K Katherine Cornari adopted by the Venetians 126. King Lewis in danger to be taken or slaine 116. His letters to the Lord of Lude 152. King and Queene of Cyprus driueÌ„ out of their owne Realme 126. King of Scotland giuen to Sorcery 234. and is slaine in fight by his Nobility 235. Knights habite of the Order of S t. Michael and the marke of the Order 137. Knowledge better how to die then to kill is the best and onely part of vallour 17. L League of Armagnac 2. Learning is silent when warre speakes 26. Letters from Amurath to Scanderbeg 121. And the answer ot it 122. Letters of the Soldaâ— to the King of Cyprus 125. Letters of defiance from Edward 4. to the French King 178 Lewis excited against his father by bad counsell 10. He soliciteth the good Townes of France to ioyne with him 12. Is reconciled to his father 14. He desireth rather to be held a bad son then a bad master 15. He takes Deipe 20. Is too true in his threats promises of reuenge 29. auoyding one danger he fals into another 31. Is dispossest of his reuenewes in Dauphiné 32 His wandring being in Hunting 34. His coronation 42. His voyage into Brittany 52. Is made Arbitrator betweene the Kings of Castile and Arragon 62. Is receiued
with great pompe into Tournay 64. His message to the Duke of Britany 65. Hee separates the heads of the League 107. Two errours which he cōmitted in the assurance of his person 111. 112 His politick dissimulation with the Constable 170. His iudgement to distinguish spirits 183 His message to the King of England Ibid. He discouers the Constables double dealing to the Bourgundian 186. His iests vpon the peace made with Edward 4 th and his feare to haue them related againe 191. Learning disalowed by the Turke 219. Liberty the ancient coulour for innouation 80. Lie especially in a Gentleman how to be punished 169. Leige reuolts against the Duke of Bourgundy 103. Is supported by the French king 107. Submits it selfe and demands pardon 109 Hath her wals beaten downe 110. Is againe besieged by the Bourgundian 114. Loue without regard of honour or profite 58. Loue continued towards children for their fathers sake 76. M Marriage of Lewis the 11 th 6. Misery of imprisonment mittigated by kind vsage 177. miseries of France for 70. yeares 5. Modesty of Blanch daughter to Iohn King of Nauarre 6. Mony leuied vnder the pretext of warre and ill employed 46. Multiplicity of Popes 38. Murder iustified by the Duke of Bourgundy 2. N Nauigation contemned by the French 180. Neutrality in a subiect is meere Treason 98. Normandy yeelded to the King 99 O Obedience in a Souldier is as much commendable as courage 177. Obseruations of the Duke of Guiennes life 150. Occasion which caused an ouerture of peace betwixt the French and English 182. Opinion causeth terrible motions in the soule 15. Opportunity of fight neglected 81 Ostentation of Maiesty not suteable with misery 6. P Paris reduced to the French Kings obedience 9. Famisheth the Army which would haue famished it 91. Almost vnpeopled 99. Parpignan besieged and wonne by famine 154. Parts which frame a Prince 16. Peace of Bourges 3. Peter Hagembach his crimes iniustice and death 174. Phillip Duke of Bourgundy wins Dinan by force and ruines it 104. His death the greatnes of his house Ibid. His bounty courage and moderation 105. Pius 2 presseth the abolition of the Pragmaticall sanction 44. His affection to the house of Arragō and his threat against France 45. He disauowes his own writings 48. His death birth fortune and dignities 72. Plurallity of chiefes is for the most part ruinous vnprofitable 88 Pontoise taken by assault 18. Power which is not feared by strāgers is not well obeyed by Subiects 32. Pragmaticke Sanction abolished and dragged through the streets of Rome 51. Praecipitation is a shelfe couered with the shipwrackes which she hath caused in great occasions 78. Princes are especially to provide that great houses vnder their gouernment ally not themselues against their liking 19 Princes seeme very weake or very fearefull which giue an Enemy-army leasure to make a bridg 89 Princes in marrying regard not their pleasure but the necessity and profit of their affaires 144. They are no lesse bound by simple words then priuate persons are by Oathes 163 Q Quality of Cardinals 50 R Reasons which perswaded the English to peace 184 Reformations of the disorders of the Realme 95 Reception of the King of Portugall into Paris 219 Representations ridiculous 43 Reputation of a generous Father makes a valiant sonne lesse remarkeable 20 Rigor of Lewis in the beginning of his reigne 53 Royalty endures no equall 8 Rubempre staid at the Hage by the Earle of Charalois 66 Ruine and desolation of the Legeois 118 S Sedition ought to be smothered in the beginning 76 Sedition cloked by Religion 106 Siege of Pontoise 17 Siege of Saintron 109 Siege of Nancy 221 Seuerity of discipline is hardly obseruable in ciuill warres 80 Son-in-law against father-in-law 3 Succours of Men and Money sent to the Earle of Charalois 94 Suisses before Zurich 21. defeated 23. they send succours to the Duke of Lorraine 222 Summe of the Pragmaticke Sanction 49 T Talbot relieues Pontoise 17 Temporising profitable 149 Thornes and Roses of Marriage 44 Trechery most damnable 158 Treaty made without Liberty bindes not 119 Treaty of peace between the Frēch King and the Bourgondian 192 Trifles want not their moment and serue many times to driue weightier matters out of the heads of the people 132 Troubles in England 140 Truce betweene France and England prolonged 24 Truth not to be found in an enemies tongue 25 Tumults in Cyprus 127 Turkes make their profit of the diuision of Christendome 46 V Valour and bounty of Lewis the Dauphin 9 Valour and fidelity of the Scottishmen 117 W Water not to bee digged for in a neighbours house before we haue sought for it in our owne 148 Wisedome and temporising surmount all difficulties Words of S. Bernard 49 Words of the Duke of Bourgondy 79 Words of K. Lewis at his departure from the Duke of Bourgondy 119 Words betwixt the King of England and the Duke of Bourgondy 187 Y Youth and Inconstancy are Sisters of one Mother 78 A Table of the principall Matters contained in the last foure Bookes ADmonition made by the king to the Dauphin 70 Age becomes couetous when it hath not any need of goods 64 Alponso King of Castille his death 87 Anaxagoras his speech of the Sunne 11 Andrew Archbishop of Krane preacheth against the Pope 58. and persisteth in his proposition 60 Armies are not to bee entertained without tribute 42. Arras yeelded to the French King by composition 14 Artillery inuented 43 Audiences of Henry the third at his returne from Poland 159 Authority of the King is an Ocean 135 B Balue the Cardinall his policy to get out of prison 66 Barbarisme in the time of Lewis the eleuenth 190 Basnesse aduanced forgets it selfe the fauor which raised it 10. Basill excommunicated by the Pope 58 Beginnings of the diminution of Flanders 76. Bishop of Liege trecherously slaine being abandoned of his owne people 37. 38 Boloigne vnder the virgin Maries homage 13 Bosio's errour in the History of Malta 137 C Changes of gouernment at Florence 2 Charlemaine founder of the Vniversity at Paris 124 Chauvin Chancellor of Brittanie his lamentable end 10 Chronicles often follow toyes and leaue out most famous actions 88 Claudius Seissel his hard iudgement 121. Comandements extraordinary of the King 110 Confession of the fault is the best rethorick to appease iust choler 9 Conspiracy against the life of the French King miraculously discouered 31. 32. c. Contempt is the fore-runer of sedition 65 Contempt of discipline in Souldiers 184 Controuersie for the Lands of Berne Foix and Bigorre 84 Cosmo de Medicis his great riches and bounty 167. his exile and returne 168 Credit of Astrologians 188 Cruelties of Mahomet at the taking of Constantinople 46 Curing of the kings euill 123 D Danger in employing forraigne Souldiers 39 Death of the Lord of Nantoillet 199 Desolation is the house of Bourgondy 161 Discourse of a powerfull charme 127 Discommodities of prouision for Horse-men 39
Disposition of Charles the 8 th 117 Dispute of the Authority of the Pope and Councell 61 Dissimulation of the Duke of Brittanie 9 E Edict to reforme Souldiers 185 Edward the fourth his death 81 Embassadours of France make Ouerture for a peace 5 Embassages ambitiously affected neuer succed happily 185. Error of learned men not to communicate 194 Estate of Lorraine 49 Estate of the Low-countries at the discretion of the Gantois 75 Estates that are popular haue alwayes some one priuat man more eminent then all the rest 2 Estates vnhappy which are forced to seeke strange Maisters 30 Example is a cleare light in doubtfull things 154 Examples of diuers disorders 114 Excesse esteems nothing but what is rare and chargeable 158 Expences ruled by occasions 176 F Fauours of Princes last not 148 Ferdinando base son to Alphonso of Arragon crowned King of Naples by Pope Pius the 2 d. 52. is ouerthrowne by Iohn Duke of Calabria Ibid. and restored by Scanderbeg 53 Flatterers pleasing to Princes 106 Florence in one hundred yeares changed estate seuen times 3 Formes of warre changed 43 France cannot bee disarmed of foot-men 40. it sends Spaine to the Indies 177 Francisco de Paulo an Hermit of admirable holinesse 105 G Garniers Oke 178 Generosity of a yong Boy of Sparta 47 God the Iudge of hearts 122 Grauity ridiculous 133 Griefe of Pope Sixtus for the peace betweene the Venetians and Ferrarois 57 H Henry the fourth the last French King his worthy commendations 143 Heralds creation 137 History should be free from loue or hatred 89 Hugonet and Imbercourt condemned to dye 15 I Iames of Luxemburg his generous answer to the King 172 Ignorance and Weaknesse feare any encounter 67 Impiety ouertaken by Iustice. 10 Ingratitude and Impiety of Adolph of Guelders 16 Inhumanity of Mahomet 45 Intelligences of the Duke of Brittanie discouered 8 Inuentions are not perfect in the beginning 44 Iudgement transported with choler is like a shippe without a Pilot. 67 Iudgements are free after death 120 Iudgement vpon the recompence of seruices 187 Iustice is the felicity of Empires 154 K Katherine of Foix Queene of Nauarre 84 Kings haue long hands and many snares to entrap their enemies 51 L Lewis counselled to make his profit of the diuision in Italy 1. He declares himselfe for the Florentines 3. Hee seeketh a peace of Maximilian 38. His designes vpon Lorraine and Prouence 48 Hetakes possession of Prouēce 54 He neglects the calling of a councell 57. His waywardnesse and melancholy 69. his visitation of his son at Ambois 70. he fals into new apprehēsions of death 95. his distrust 104. his deuotion 107. his curiosity 108. his last actions 109. he could not indure to heare of death 111. his superstition Ibid. his death 112. his children 115. his pilgrimages 122. the Latine which he would haue his sonne to learne 130. his custome at Ceremonies 134. his contempt of the markes of Maiesty 136. hee knew not how to pardon 144. his rigorus prisons 145. his feare of the reuenge of women 150. he was neither liberall nor couetous 171. his meane borrowings 175. his proper Science 185. his letters pattents wherby he gaue Armes to his base daughter 193. his great popularity 196. his delight in hunting 197. his fauorites and Contemporaries Ibid. c. Lightnesse Choler and Facility do not well become a Prince 37 Loyalty of the Earle of Vandosme 89 Loue of God and contempt of the world 106 M Magistrates should not quit their charge for any respect 153 Magnificence of the house of Burgondy 137 Magnificence of Lewis 11 th 140 Magnificence how far it extends 141. Religious Magnificence 142 Mahomet dies for griefe after the losse at Belgrade 48 Maiesty compared to Moses rod. 133 Mariages of France Sauoy 164 Mathias Coruinus his resolute answere to the Turkes Embassadors 28. his commendation 98. is chosen king of Hungary 100. his valor and conduct with other worthy acts 101. his war against the Emperour 103. his death Ib. Maxime of Machiuel 122 Miscounting in the History 74 Misery of the Duke of Brittanie 11 N Necessity of Horse-men 41 Neighbour-estates haue alwayes some disputes 38 New discipline for Souldiers Ib. Nobility of Hungary discontented 102 O Oath of the gouernment of Florence 3. an Oath should haue three conditions Truth Iudgement and Iustice. 32 Obedience is the Science of Princes 130 Obseruations of the aduantages of foot-men ouer horse-men 39 Offers of Bajazet to the King 95 Office of Heralds at Armes 137 Offices that are great should not be hereditary 138 Offices are to bee maintained if they be good 139 Oppression of the people 68 P Philip Earle of Bresse his marriages and children 165 Policie to bring an enemy into suspition of his owne people 2 Policie in England for the Titles of families 135 Popes bound to the Crowne of France 125 Pouerty of France in the time of King Iohn 176 Practise against the life of an enemy by any other meanes then by Armes is vnworthy of of a Prince 35 Predictions vpon the Life of Lewis the eleuenth 189 Presumption of Oliuer le Daine 12 Pride troden vnder foot 47 Princes rely vpon their Ministers 157 Priuiledges of the Parisians 170 R Relapse of the Kings sicknesse at Tours 69 René of Anjou his commmendation 53 Reputation grounded vpon great and eminent vertues 155 Reuenge taken by a woman 46 Rhodes besieged by Mahomet 25 S Sacke and desolation of Dole 166 Science of Treasure 179 Sentence against the Duke of Alençon 146 Sentence very rigorous 150 Sermons of sedition 126 Silence the soule of great actions 163 Simplicity of the eloquence in old time 129 Sleping for a Benefice 173 Stablishment of Posts 169 Sterrility of Suisserland 180 Suspension of Armes not alwayes necessary to make a peace 7 T Temperance wherein it consists 193. the fruits thereof 195 Treaty of peace and marriage between France Bourgondy 75 Tributes by which the meanes to make war are maintained may not be touched 42 Tristan his barbarous behauiour 145 V Valour is naturall to the French Kings 183 Vanity of iuditiary Astrology 189 Venetians contempt of the Popes fulminations 4. their Accord with the great Turke 6. They proclaime warre against the Duke of Ferrara and soone after conclude a peace with him 56 Vertue enuied for the lustre thereof 10 Vision miraculous 27 W Wisedome of the Lord Hastings 167 Witnesses of our faults and imperfections wee seldome desire to see 65. Workes of vanity and ostentation Z Zizimi reuolts against Bajazet 95. his letter to Bajazet 96. he repaireth to Rhodes and is conducted into France 97 FINIS
preuailed in Normandy and Guyenne Peace treated at Pouilly and then a peace was treated betweene the Dauphin and the Duke of Burgundy vnder the assurance whereof the Duke came vnto the Dauphin being at Montereau Faut Yonne m The Dauphin sent Charles of Poitiers Bishoppe of Valence to the Duke of Burgundy to draw him to Monsteâ—cau in Gasteacis for that he had refused to come by Tanneguy du Chastel saying that it were better for the Dauphin to com to Troye The 10. of Nouember 1419. he came was slaine vpon the bridge which was fortified with 3. barres The Duke hauing past the first entred into some apprehension of his fortune and meeting Tanreguy du Chastel he laid his hand vpon his shoulder saying Behold hâ—m in whom I trust and presenting himselfe vpon his knee Robert de Loire taking him by the arme sayd vnto him rise you are but too honourable who rising laid his hand vpon his sword to drawe it forward for that it hung too much back then said de Loire vnto him Doe you lay your hand vpon your sword before my Lord the Dauphin whereupon Tanneguy du Chastell stroke him so forceably vpon the face with a battell-axe as he made him to fall vpon his knee and cut off his chin another thrust his sword into his belly The body being stript was drawne into a mill and buryed the next day This death reuenged the house of Orleans but it gaue so great a share of the Realme to strangers as there remained very little for Charles who presently after the death of the Duke of Burgundy was declared by the king his father at the perswasion of his mother vnworthy to succeede vnto the crowne of France Hee might iustly haue appealed from these declarations to the Kings good sence but seeing him decay daily and that hee was still vnder the gouernment of this Medea he chose rather to appeale to God n Priuate persons haue many Iudges kings haue none but God saies M. Anthony Dion Niceâ—s the Iudge of Kings and to his sword lamenting with teares drawne from the bottome of his heart his owne miserie and that of France This disorder Death of K. Henry the fifth Charles the sixth contrary to the reason of nature the lawes of the realme was followed with strange changes Henry the fifth dies and 50. daies after Charles the sixth king of France Henry the sixth king of England is crowned at Paris Charles the seauenth at Poictiers there were two kings in one Realm two parties two armies but the English holde Paris and the first o In all factions the authority of the Senate is of great force Otho to shew the difference of his partie that of Vitellius said Nationes aliquas occupauit Vitellius imaginem quandam exercitus habet Senatus nobis cum est Sic fit vt hâ—c Resp. inde hostes Reip. constiterint Tacitus Hist. lib. 1. Senate who thought that all authoritie and soueraigne command was in effect on their side that the king had but the image some calling him for pitty sake Dauphin of Viennois and others in mocking King of Bourges or Earle of Ponthieu there remaining nothing to make him knowne to be the fourth sonne of Charles p Charles the 6. had 5. sonnes Charles who died of a â—â—â—sumption at 9. yeeres Lewis D. of Guyenne who died at 19. Iohn Duke of Touraine married to Iacquet of Bauaria in the yeaâ—e 1404. Charles the seuenth borne in the yeer 1402. the fiâ—th was he of whom the Queene was brought to bed when the Duke of Orleans was slaine the sixth but a peece of the crowne He goes to field weake of all things of armes friends men and mony but strong in right and courage to maintaine the quality of his birth which the enuy of fortune and the conspiracie of his enemies could not take from him for his mother had brought him into the world vnder purple q The Emperors of Constantinople ordained that their wiues should bee brought in bed vnder purple 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nicetas lib. 5. and the flower deluce There is nothing so powerfull as a good cause maintained with a good sword nothing doth so much comfort the soule in aduersity nor moderate it in prosperitie as the iudgement of conscience when as she feares not to haue her intentions knowne to God and men But seeing himselfe forced to vanquish before he raigne that victories depend of the force of Armes and that the triumphant Chariot of Mars is not moued but by the force of gold and iron r Fower things do perpetually follow warre men iron siluer and bread but of these 4. the two first are the most necessary for that mâ—n and iron cannot furnish siluer bread but bread and siluer may find men and Ironâ— that the springs of his treasure are drawne dry and the royall reuenues held by his enemies he procures his subiects to assist him with taxes Taxes ordained The French who haue alwaies excelled other nations in fidelitie and deuotion towards their Kings not knowing what it is to haue good when they want did contribute freely cheerefully to the necessities of Charles who like a good Shepheard was content to fleece his 〈◊〉 and not to flea them France which had beene besieged 70. yeares Miseries of France last 70. yeares with the miserie and calamitie of warre might well haue beene without this cruell diuision which was no other thing then a conspiracie of the Children s Ciuill warre is a mortall seuer in an estate This ardent desire in the Graecians to make warre in Greece is called by Plutarch a conspiracy against themselues by the which they staid with their own armes the fortune which led them to the height of felicity and turned their weapons against their owne bowels to turne the points of their swords against their owne bowels to inuite their Ancient enemies to the funerals of her liberty and to bring back those cruell and bloudy dayes for the which England hath giuen to the two Edwards the proud titles of Lightening Edward the third and the Prince of Wales and Eagle There was nothing in generall but miseries confusions amasements and desolation The pesant being stript both of flesh and fat had nothing left but bones and they were bruised The Historie admires that euen the cattell hearing the bell a signe of the enemies approch fledde of themselues to recouer their retreates She had so lost her first excellence as she seemed a building of whose beauty no man could iudge but by the peeces that remained of her ruines Vertue and Fortune t For the greatnes and continuance of an Empire fortune or to speak better prouidence and destiny must agree with vertue Roma vt ageretur sublimibus incrementis faedere pacis aeternae virtus conuenit atque forâ—una quarum si altera defuisset ad perfectam non venerat summitatem Ammianus which in the beginning
of the Arsacides it was discouered and preuented by the Scotchmen of whom afterward he made his guard of his royall person She past notwithstanding the ambushes of the English more by the prouidence of God then the foresight of men for whiles the English were busie in fighting with a ship which was lade with wine for Flaunders the Scotts vessell past freely and landed the Princesse at Rochell f Reuenge runnes alwaies against the enemie that hath most offended and in the contention of three Nations there is alwaies one that saues himselfe and does his busines She was conducted to Tours whereas the marriage was solemnized the 24. of Iune Murther of Iames King of Scotland But this ioy lasted not long in her fulnes newes comming of the death of the king of Scotland being miserably murthered with sixe and twenty wounds by his Vncle and Cousin in the sight of the Queene his wife who presenting herselfe vnto the murtherers and making a buckler of her body to defend her husbands receiued two wounds The thoughts of Lewis were in those dayes more inclined to Armes then to Ladyes Nature did dispence them from their seruitude and his breeding had diuerted him from all intemperance which makes men inferior to beasts and bound him to the exercise of vertue which makes Princes superior to Men. He had learned by the infancie of King Charles the 6. g Charles the fift meaning to try the generous disposition of his sonne did set a crowne of gold a scepter vpon a veluet cushion and on another an helmet and a sword Charles made choice of the sword and the helmet his Grand-father to lay hould of a sworde as soone as of a Crowne They did gird him with it sooner for necessity then to grace him more to defend himselfe then to adorne him So it is fit that a Prince should carry an honorable marke h In places whereas armes are in a degree of excellencie and necessitie the Prince and they of his bloud should make great esteeme of them which make profession of the most excellent and necessary profession of his estate He could no more draw it but against the English the French and the Burgundians were in the way of an accord The Dutchesse of Burgundy Duches of Bourgundy drawes her husband to the treatie of Arras Infanta of Portugall a good Frenchwoman was the cheef instrument She tould the Duke that he should be generally blamed if he refused a peace offered with honor and profit that indiscretion would not excuse the repentance of so preiudiciall a refusall She drew the heart of this Prince to her intention making it knowne that burning iron is not soner quencht in water then the heat of coller and reuenge is lost by the perswasion of a milde and moderate spirit and that nothing is vnpossible to Princesses of courage when as their vnderstanding hath power ouer their husbands i The effects are 〈…〉 they 〈◊〉 good to good and bad to bad Tamerlâ—nes wife flaid him long fâ—â—m making warre against Buazet but being incensed by an iniurious wish which hee had made shee did animate her husband by an extreame fury against him Chalcondylas By her perswasions the Duke yeelded vnto the Kings youth the blowe which he had caused to be giuen being Dauphin and the excesse of his offence to the greatnes and maiesty of the King considering that forgetfulnes is an Antidote against the deadly poyson of Iniuries which may ruine the soule when it doth too egerly seeke reuenge and that it is a great folly to continue immortall hatred amongst mortall men k Reuenge continues iniuries makes them hereditarie A strange distemperature of men Quid iuuat tanquam in aeternam genitos it is indicere breuisfimam aetatem dissipare Sen. libr. 3. De ira What doth it auaile to make hatred eternal and to leade a short life The Counsell of Basil imployed it selfe seeing that whiles France was not in peace Christendome should be still in trouble They sent two Cardinals to mediate this peace to exhort the Kings of France and England and the Duke of Burgundy to cause their discords to cease to accord their wils for the defence of the Church To strayne their courages and tackle against the force of the winds that did shake that vessell that they should haue pitty of themselues and of their subiects The English growing obstinate not to leaue any thing had no part of this peace There is nothing so difficult in a Prince as restitution they left the Dutchies of Guienne and Normandy l King Charles the seuenth offered to the K. of England the Dutchies of Normandy and Guienne to hold them by homage of the Kings of FraÌ„ce as soueraignes and vpon such conditions as the Kings of England his Aneectors had enioyed them in the beginning to the King of England to quite the rest but the prosperity of his affaires doth preiudice him of the possession and the desire to continue a reueng trouble the soules of so many persons as reason had no more commaund Wilfulnes of the English opinion held the scepter A Royalty endures no equall The great God of peace who is all spirit all light all eye all seeing all hearing all m Treaties of peace are concluded when as men hold them broken and impossible they bee the effects of the eternall prouidence of that great God whom Clement Alexandrious cals 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 totus mens totus luâ— totus oculus all minde all light all eye knowing inspir'd the hearts of these two Princes with the holy resolution of Concord and a ful forgetfulnes of iniuries so as the Duke seeing the King of England too difficult made his treaty apart They contented in euery degree the interests both of dead and liuing The Kinge transported to the Duke of Burgundy the Townes vpon the riuer of Somme whereof mention shall be often made st Quintin Corbie Amiens Abbeuille and others vpon condition to redeeme them for the summe of foure hundreth thousand old Crownes of gould The marriage of the Earle of Charolois and of Catharin the Kings Daughter was the seale of this treaty n The marriage of the Earle of Charolois with the Kings Daughter was the seale of this treaty hee was then but two yeares old and when he come to age he married isabel of Bourbon The Lady Catherine who was promised dyed at eighteene yeares of age the 28. of Iuly and was interred at Brusseis in S. Gould Charles Duke of Bourbon and Arthur Duke of Brittany with the Earle of Richmond Constable of France craued pardon of the Duke of Burgundy for the death of his father in the name of King Charles the vij It is a cruel thing when he must take a Law from his inferior but the good of a peace and the necessity of the Kings affaires forced him from all these formalities without this satisfaction a peace had not
corpus super humeros recipit et 〈◊〉 hostibus 〈◊〉 ad suos AEneas Sil. Munsterus It is not certaine how many were in the Suisses Army Haluuil the Suisse saith that they were 4000 the Chronicles of France speake of 5000. But whatsoeuer it were neither France nor England had any great cause to triumph for this Battell For they lost as many men as they must kill of the enemies to merit a triumph a A Triumph was not giuen for any victory except they had slaine 5000. enemies Valâ—â—ius saith Neither did they giue it vnto the Victors when as the victorie had nad cost much bloud therfore Titus Liuâ—uâ— ia his 16. saith that it was refused to Artillius The Army that was before Farnsperg hearing of this defeat raised the 〈◊〉 and retired The Dauphin continued three daies vpon the place of Battell and to couer the nomber of men which they had lost caused them to be buried in diuers places as at Arlesheim Reinach and Esch Two Earles were interred at Montbelliard two at Isenheim The grand Pryor of France was slaine at this Battell with many other Noblemen They of Basill demand leaue to take a view of the dead men and to bury b Among the Grecians hee that demanded a dead body to bury it lost the fruit of the victory end renouned the triumph Plut. de Niceas Ageâ—lâ—us them he would not refuse peace vnto the dead seeing he was willing to grant it vnto the liuing c Aeneas said vnto the Laâ—ius who came to intreat him to haue their dead bodies to bury them Pacem me exaâ—â—mis Martis sorte perempti oratis equidem 〈◊〉 concedere velim you pray to men slaine in the warres I peace should giue yea willingly I would grant it them that liue and that there was no likelihood that he would grow obstinate at the siege of Basil nor against the Suisses The begging Fryars were appointed for this act of pietie They made three pits to bury them in There were some that did breath three dayes after the battell They found some halfe burnt in the ruines of the Hospitall many in the hedges and a great number in the Riuer of Birs The Dauphin went to refresh himselfe in Alsacea His Court was at Ensisheim and the Armie lodged so at large in the country as it held from Montbelliard to Haguenaud Counâ—â—l of Basil seekes an accord with the Dauphin The Emperor assembled the Princes of the Empire at Ments to consult of the meanes to expell the strangers out of Germany The Councill of Basill sent d The Counciâ—l of Basill sent the Cardinall of Arles and Bishop of Basill vnto the Dauphin who did mediate a truce for twenty daiâ—s Embassassours vnto him to perswade him not to trouble the assembly to the which France was bound for the peace it had with the house of Bourgundy His Deputies were at Basil to vnderstand the will of the Fathers vpon this accord They of Berne and Soleure came thither yet there was nothing concluded but a truce of some few daies The Emperor Frederick gaue the Dauphin to vnderstand that if he did not retire himselfe the Empire would proclaime warre against him The Nobilitie of Germanie who had drawne the French and English into the country began to bee weary of their guests who dranke their wine without paying and made vergys of their Vines Mulhouse e Mulhouse was sometimes an imperiall â—own the Bishâ—p of Strausburge was gouernor and it was called 〈◊〉 It allied it selfe with the Suisses in the yeare 1464. and then in the yere 1506. it was made fellowburgis with all the Cantons Stump lib. â— of the Suisses commonweale freed it selfe from this storme refusing to receiue the Dauphins troupes When as hee saw that all the Empire began to rise against him The Dauphin retires into Lorraine and that the Suisses were like to haue their reuenge for the battell of S. Iames of Basill he went into Lorraine to see King Charles his Father who was before Mets being resolued to reuenge the King of Sicile who was much incensed against this Towne for that they had fauoured the Earle of Vaudemont against him The English who had refused a peace 1445 Truce betwixt FraÌ„ce and England prolonged tooke such taste in a truce f A truce is the baitâ— and charme of peace It is in the libertie of Princes to make it but when as the people 〈…〉 therof it is hard to 〈…〉 as it was prolonged for fiue yeares Such as tooke delight in the publike miseries for that they were profitable vnto them were not content they would haue the tempest cease but they still desired some winde to raise the storme Wee doe not alwaies finde spirits of that integritie but they preferre their priuate profit before the publike good Men of this excellencie haue been euer ingaged in great tempests the number of them which haue come to a safe port to make others haue been very small They grow like the Phenix at the end of fiue hundred yeares g A wise man such as the Stoicks discribe him neuer was nor neuer will be Quis sapipiens sit aut fuerit nec ipsi Stoici solent dicere Cic. And as great things happen rarely Seneca saith that fortasse tanquam Phaenix semel 500. annis nascitur Sen. Whiles that Rome was well gouerned the profession of Armes was in time of peace for an exercise and in the time of warre for necessitie and glorie euery man returned to his affayres hauing yeelded an account of his Armes witnessing still that hee carried them not for his owne priuate good but for the seruice of his country The ciuill warres troubled this order and therefore they said that Caesar and Pompey were held better Captaines then good Citizens and greater in valour then in integritie France was neuer fruitfull of such spirits as haue willingly made warre to haue peace and haue not troubled the peace to make warre h Marshall disciplin should be wel obserued if it did alwaies consist of men who after the war made no difficultie to return to their trades and labour but the libertie and disorder in warre is so great as it is hard to draw them to the rules of Duty and therefore warre makes theeues and peace hangs them During this Truce a marriage was made betwixt Henry the sixt King of England Marriage of Henry the sixth and Margaret of Aniou and Margaret of Aniow Daughter to Rene King of Sicile The Earle of Suffolk came to fetch her at Nancy the King was there present and the ioy was great but as any great ioy hath still some great sorrow attending it and pleasures strangle when as they imbrace most straightly i Ioy is commonly the beginning of sorow at riuers of fresh water die in the salt sea the sweetnes of life ends with sorrowes that are bitter King Charles receiued so great an affliction for the death
he was freed from taxes Necessitie in whose schoole hee had learned great experience dispenst with him for the obseruations which are made in the choice of souldiers These were called Franke Archers who being well led did great seruices being able to indure all paine as beeing bred vp in discommodities and wants without cunning or malice They beganne their profession at the siege of Vernon The defects which are obserued in the life of this Prince as the griefes of Kings n The raignes of Princes doe not continue and end alwaies as they haue begdnne The first fiue yeares of Neroes raigne were iust Constant was good ten yeares cruell twelue and prodigall ten doe not alwaies incounter ends like vnto their beginnings His loues and his diuersions could not hinder it but that France hath giuen him the well deserued title of Victorious The end of the first Booke THE CONTENTS OF the Second BOOKE 1 KIng Lewis his going into France His entrie and Coronation at Rheims 2 The Duke of Bourgundy doth him homage and followes him at his entrie into Paris magnificence of the Parisians vpon this occasion 3 Estate of the Kings affaires with Pope Pius the second Reuocation of the Pragmatique Sanction 4 Discontent of the Noblemen of the Realme vpon the Kings first actions An obseruation of his Humors 5 His voyage and designes in Brittanny 6 Oppression of the people by new inuentions of Subsedies 7 Strange and furious reuolutions in England betwixt the houses of Lancaster and Yorke 8 Edward the fourth expels Henry the sixt King of England 9 Hee seeks to marry the Queene of France her Sister and takes a widdow in England 10 The King goes to Bourdeaux and there treates a marriage betwixt his Sister and the Earle of Foix. 11 Troubles betweene the Crownes of Castill and Arragon The Earledome of Rousilion engaged to the King 12 The Kings of Castille and Arragon referre their differences to the King 13 Enteruiew of the Kings of France and Castille vpon the Riuer of Vidaazo 14 The King returnes to Paris redeemes the Townes vpon the Riuer of Somme and visits the Frontiers 15 The Duke of Bourgundy comes to the King at Lisle to demaund his aduise touching a voyage which he pretended to make against the Turke 16 Ariuall of Lewis Duke of Sauoy at Paris 17 The King declareth his pretentions vpon the soueraigne rights of Brittany 18 The Earle of Charrolois stayes the Bastard of Rupembrâ— at the Haage 19 Ambassadors from the King to the Duke of Bourgundy vpon diuers complaints 20 The Duke of Bourbon first author of the league of the common weale Death of Charles Duke of Orleans 21 Charles Duke of Berry the Kings brother retires into Brittany 22 His Letters to the Duke of Bourgundy and his declaration vpon the taking of Armes 23 Death of Pope Pius the second to whom succeeded Paul the second a Venetian THE HISTORY of LEVVIS the XI THE SECOND BOOKE A Death which brings Scepters Crownes 1461 doth not alwaies meete with sorrow and teares When there is a question of the succession of the Realme An heyres teares are sone dried vppe a desire to raigne doth presently dry vp the teares which the law of Nature drawes from the eyes a There is no water whose spring is sooner dryed vp then that which flowes from a profitable mourning Lewis longed too much to be at home to be grieued when as they brought him newes that Charles the seuenth had quit him the lodging Hee had already spent two third parts of his age in obeying hee held the rest very short to command and to end at in great enterprises worthy of his qualitie b Life is very short for great entrriprises and inconstancie makes it much shorter Hee entertained the Iuie of his hopes in the ruines of this old building he did not hope for any light but by the ecclipse of this Sunne and his vowes were no let that his Father was not already among the God c The Romans held their Fathers dead in the number of the Gods and their Images were reuerenced as persons deysied Wherfore among the predictions which Antonin had of his adoption and successim to the Empire they note that In somrio saepe monitus suit penatibus suis Adriani simulacrum inserere Capitol Hee was often admonished in his sleepe that hee should place Adrians Image among his boushould Gods And what can a Kings eldest Son desire but to raigne euery obiect lesse theÌ„ a crown is vnworthy of his birth Lewis comes into France but the wishes are vnnaturall monstrous vpon vniust effects To desire for a crownes cause the death of him of whom he holds his life is ingratitude impiety The same day that Charles dyed Lewis was aduertised of his death d They that haue written that these newes were sent by Charles Duke of Aniou Father in lawe to Charles the seuenth are mistaken both in the name and matter for Lewis Duke of Anion liued since the yeare 1417. He went presently to horse to goe into France fearing least Charles his brother should make his profit of his absence The Duke of Bourgundy and the Earle of Chartolis accompany him with foure thousand horse chosen out of the flower of all the forces of their Estates and the Princes their friends He makes his entry into Rheims Hee entred into Rheims the fourteeene of August e The King arriued at Rheims the 14. August and caused himself to be annointed the next day A remarkable diligence They cannot goe too speedily to so great a Feast The Duke of Bourgundy being followed by the Earl of Charolois the Earle of Neuers the Earle of Estampes the Duke of Cleues the Earle of S t. Pol and many other Noblemen went out of Rheimes to the Abbcy of Saint Thierry to meet the King being attired in white and crimsin damask vpon a white courser caparonessed with the armes of France The next day he was anoynted and crowned The peeres of the Church were there in person The Duke of Burgundy Deane of the peeres The Duke of Burbon held the place of the Duke of Normandy The Earle of Angolesme for the Duke of Guienne The Earle of Eu for the Earle of Tholousa The Earle of Neuers for the Earle of Flaunders and the Earle of Vandosme for the Earle of Champagne The King is anoinâ—ed and Crowned The ceremony of his coronation was beautified with an other which they found very new and strange The King is anointed and Crowned The King drawing his sword presented it to the Duke of Bourgundy and intreates him to make him Knight He gaue this honour of Knight-hood to an hundred and seauenteene Gentlemen the first were the Lord of Beauieu Iames of Burbon the Earle of Geneua the Earle of Pontieu the Earle of Witembergh Iohn of Luxembergh and to the Marques of Saluces Sonne From the Coronation they went to the Royall feast whereas
of all the other members The complaints of the Rigor d When as the people are opprest they dare not accuse the Princes rigor but cast their complaints vpoÌ„ that of the time of the time became murmurings against the seueritie of the Prince Euery one lamented the Raigne of Charles and desired rather the end then the continuance of that of Lewis Great men beganne to make it knowne that they could not liue long in that seruitude shewing themselues more sencible of the contempt e The nature of man is more sensible of contempt then of losse The Senators of Rome were more discontented for that Caesar entred into the Senate without saluting them then for the enterprise which hee made vpon their libertie which was done them then of the miseries which the meaner sort suffered yet they found no better pretext of their priuate interest then that of the publike The King did not attend the consent of the Realme to haue money hee tooke it without asking They were not tributes of Loue f Princes finde pleasing names for things which are bittâ—r and hard Edward the fourth in posed vpoÌ„ the Realme of England a tribute which hee called a Bâ—â—euolenâ—â— Euerie one did contribute as hee pleased and according to his gifts they did iudge of his Loue to the King He that gaue much loued much Edward made vse of this tribute against the French found great succors Polid. lib. 24. 26. but of Rigour and constraint thinking that France was a meadow which he might mowe at all seasons A great sedition troubled the citie of Rheimes against those which had raised customes The Commissaries were slaine and their Commissions cast into the fire The King sent Souldiers disguised like Marchants and labourers who entring by diuers ports ioined with the Lord of Mouy their commander who caused a hundreth of the most seditious to bee hanged suppressed the sedition g The most frequent and knowne causes of sedition and mutenâ— grâ—w from new charges and excessiue impositions reuenged the Kings seruice and setled his authoritie there the which had not beene impugned but for the naturall impatiencie of the people to endure that whereunto they were not accustomed All France was quiet Combustions in England and beheld as from the shore the tempests which were in England and Arragon The King was glad to entertaine the warre farre from him and to assist the house of Lancaster in England and the house of Arragon in Spaine whiles that the clouds and windes prepared to draw the storme vpon his owne head England for the diuision of the houses of Yorke Lancaster saw at that time such terrible changes and accidents as it is a wonder the Realme did not passe vnder some forraine command and that they did not cry quittance with him seeing there is no surer meanes to ruine an estate then ciuill discord h Ciuill Diuisions transport and change estates Spaine vnder the raigne of fourescore and twelue Kings hath beene torne in as many peeces as it hath had Realmes France hath changed thrice England hath been commanded by the English Danes Saxons and in the end by the Normans The Empire hath been past from the East vnto the West Naples hath been vnder the power of the French Germans Arragâ—nois and since of Castitians But France had yet so many bad humors in her body as her disposition was more dying then liuing When as the English ceast to afflict her they began to quarrell and to ruine one another The end of forraine warres was the spring and renewing of ciuil Henry of Lancaster sonne to Henry the fift found himselfe without a crowne notwithstanding that in his infancie he had been crowned with that of France and England Richard Duke of Yorke an Ambitious Prince and who had both credit courage i Good things and which are commendable of themselues applied to il are perâ—itions Sepius industria acvigilancia noxiae quoties parando Regno fingatur Tac. lib. An. lib. â— industrie and vigilancie qualities to bee suspected in an Ambitious spirit became head of a great faction the intentions whereof he couloured with the onely zeale of the publicke good to change the bad gouernement of the Realme to deliuer England from the insolencie of the Duke of Somerset who alone gouerned the helme of the affaires whilest that the King suffered his spirits to be transported not to delights and voluptuousnes but to carelesnes k An idle Prince is a waies contemned Three things saith Zeâ—ophon make him excell ouer his subiects 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His carelesse life incensed his subiects hearts and his idlenes distasted all men of his raigne The estate was like vnto a sicke body which is so prest with his infirmitie as he is forced to trust him that comes to let him bloud and cannot attend the Phisitions which are farre off l In violent diseases wee may not attend far fetcht remedies although they answere him that they will come and cure him Such as were discontented with the present Conspiracy against King Henry the sixt and desired to see some change applyed them-selues to the Duke of Yorks desseigns and intentions and among others Richard Neuell Earle of Salisbury and Richard Neuill Earle of Warwick his brother who had wisdome and courrage rare parties for a great desseigne and therewith such great credit among the people as it was thought that not any one in England durst doe that which these would vndertake The Duke of Yorke hauing cast his bell made the sound thereof to be generally heard hee strake such a terror into the Court and made the wicked so audacious as the King who had neuer tasted of Domesticke troubles his spirit beeing like vnto a ship m Courages tried in dangers are to bee commended A ship is neuer esteemed which hath neuer felt of a storme which had neuer sailed but in a calme was amazed and confounded and not holding himselfe safe in the Citie of London by reason of the inconstancie of the people and the great credit which this faction had gotten resolued to leaue it The Duke of Yorke besieged S t. Albons n The battell of S t. Albons began early in the morning and continued vntil 9. of the clock in the yere 1556 Edmund D. of Sommerset and Henry Earle of NorthumberlaÌ„d were slaine the two armies meet Henry the sixt defeated and the Kings is put to rout with the losse of their chiefe commanders Hee lamented greatly for the Death of the Duke of Sommerset After this victorie the Duke of Yorke who had made declaration thâ—t hee had no other intention then the publicke good of the Realme and that his armes were not to offend the Prince accompanies King Henry to London as a Conqueror and freed from the Rule of the Duke of Sommerset which shewes that he had not taken armes but to free the King and the Realme who was ready
which belonged vnto him The Parlament did then consider the iustice not the fortune and respected the Maiesty of the King though hee were a prisoner intreating the King to rest satisfyed with the Regency of the Realm and to assure the succession to his house after the death of Henry He accepted the declaration of the Parlament but considering that Queene Margaret had a great Army on foot to set her husband at liberty Battell at Wakefield he resolued to fight with her He gaue her battell at Wakefield against the aduise of his Councell who intreated him to stay vntill the troupes which his sonne Edward Earle of March brought him were arriued Presumption troubleth his spirits with a motion contrary to that of Reason which should haue diswaded him from fighting y The violence of courage is dangerous vppon the point of a battell for it darkens the clearenes of Iudgement doth easily change it to the trouble of reason and to that perturbation which the Philosoph call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â— Some haue written that the Queene caused the head of the Duke of York to bee cut off carrying a Crowne of paper others say it was the Lord Cliffords deed for their forces were not equall although in the courage of the Commanders there was no other difference but that of sexe No no it shall not be said that the Duke of York who had so often fought in France without any other trench or defence then his owne armes is shut vp that he attends a woman and doth not go forth to fight with her He spake this and went forth with 5000. men and met her The Combate in the beginning was terrible and furious The Queen cuts off the Earle of Salisburies head The Queene shewed her selfe among the troupes exhorting the Souldiers to honour glory Richard Duke of York was slaine Richard Earle of Salisbury whose head soon after the Commons who hated him cut off the which with many others of the same faction was set vpon the walles of York to bee a terror and an example to other Rebells After this victory the Queene whose courage was eleuated vppon the apprehension of all sorts of dangers 2. Battell at St. Albons and who held them lesse then the captiuity of her husband resolues to loose her life or to restore him to liberty She goes directly to London and comming to S. Albons she encounters the Earle of Warwick who aduanced to succour his generall with the same courage that she had defeated the Duke of Yorke shee chargeth the Earle of Warwick puts him to rout and frees the King a The excellency of courage shewes it selfe when as the soule is carried beyond all showes and apprehensions of dangers fortitudo contemptrix est timendorum Senec. Epi. 89. Edward Earle of March being aduertised of the death of the Duke of York his father refused not to tread in his steppes and to imbrace the toile Edward Earle of March succeeds the Duke of York his father in his authority from whence he expected his greatnes and glory He staid in the Prouince of Wales and expelled Iasper Earle of Pembrooke The Earle of Warwick ioyned with him and with all their forces he came to London where he was receiued with incredible ioy and acclamations He was one of the goodliest Princes of his time and in great reputation his bounty courage and liberality were powerfull charmes to winne mens hearts the English thinking that hauing him they had all and that their felicity was tyed to the long continuance of his Raigne b A Prince can desire no greater proofes of the affection of his people then when hee beleeues that nothing can saile him so as hee faile not them From thence are come these goodly acclamations Augusto Constantine Dâ—te nobis seruent vestra salus nostra salus â—od Theod lib. 7. tit 20. In te omnia per te omnia Antonine habemus A El. Lamprid Dion reports an excellent one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we haue all in hauing you He is proclaimed King and for that hee would haue no companion in his royalty hee resolues to fight with King Henry and marched directly to York lodging in a little village called Touton Henry being prepared to receiue him would not shew himselfe for that it was Palme sunday desiring to spend that day in the seruice of God but the souldiers seeing themselues so neere would not referre the partie vntill the next day They come to hands the combat continued tenne howers and the victory hauing beene long doubtfull and in ballance betwixt both Armies sodainely inclined to Edward The King and Queene seeing all their troopes put to flight they saued themselues in Scotland with their seruants c The Regent of Scotland led K. Iames the third to meet with King Henry the 6. and Q. Margaret The good reception with the succor which he receiued caused him to restore Barwick to the Realm of Scotland and from thence Margaret passed into France to her father to demand succors Henry the 6. flies into Scotland Edward returned triumphing to London and caused himselfe to be crowned King at Westminster the 28. of Iune 1461. he called a Parlement where all that had bene decreed by King Henry the sixt was reuoked After that Henry had gathered together some forces in Scotland he returnes into England being followed by a great number of his ould seruants The Iustice of his cause gaue him good hope d Hee that hath reason on his side is alwaies accompanied with good hope hee pursues his quarrell with more courage and assurance be exposeth himselfe to all dangers and his subiects serue and succour him more willingly and in all accidents the iustice of his cause doth comfort him but he was repulsed with great dishonor by Iohn Marques of Mountague King Edward beeing aduertised of the practises of Margaret both in France Scotland and England to restore her husband to his crowne he sets guards vpon the Ports and passages of Scotland to stop her entrie but as there is no miserie more insupportable then the remembrance of what we haue been King Henry bare this change of condition so impatiently as not apprehending the danger neither of his life nor of his first captiuitie and not considering that fortune had neuer done him so much good but might doe him more harme e Miseries doe but begin when as they seeme to end There is not any man but may haue more harme then hee hath had good Neminem eo Fortuna pronexit vt non tantum illi minaretur quantum permiserat Sen. Epi. 4. he returned into England in a disguised habite where hee was discouered taken and presented to Edward Hen. the sixt put into the Tower of London who lodged him in the Tower of London If he had thought that he had gone forth as hee did to get the crowne hee would haue giuen him one of copper made fast
to his head with foure nayles f The Emperor Henry the sixt beeing in Sicile discouerâ—d some conspiracie against him and his estate He caused the chief of them to bee apprehended to punish his ambition he set a crowne of copper vpon his head caused it to be fastened with foure nayles Nic. li. 2. Queene Margaret to effect her designe had drawne some succours from Rene King of Cicile her Father The King lent her sonne two thousand pound sterling at Chinon vpon condition that as soone as King Henry should recouer Callice hee should deliuer the gouernment thereof to Iasper Earle of Pembroke or to Iohn of Foys Earle of Candalles paying him moreouer fortie thousand crownes But all this preuailed nothing the King remained a prisoner and the Queene had much adoe to saue her selfe with the Prince of Wales her Sonne g Monstrellet saith that Queene Margaret her Son La Varenne were met by theeues that she said vnto a theefe that met her bold my friend saue the son of thy King that shee went to Scluce and from thence to Bourges and that the Duke of Bourgundy caused her to be coÌ„ducted to her Father The Princes of the house of Lancaster retired themselues whether their feete and dispaire carried them Some were seene in the Duke of Burgundies Court in miserie Misery of the house of Lancaster begging their bread Fortune how cruell soeuer can doe no worse vnto a Prince then to reduce him to the apprehensions of hunger h Ph. de Commines saith hee had seene a Prince of this house of Lancaster follow the D. of Bourgundyes traine and without hose begging his bread from house to house and that being knowne they gaue him a small pention to liue on The beasts are freed from it The fishes pay no tribute to passe from Riuers into the sea Swallowes flying through so many regions dyed not of Hunger It is a pittifull thing that men and the chiefe among men haue difficultie to liue and to finde what to eate and drinke and wherewith to cloth themselues i Nature comprehends all the necessities of the world in these three words Non esurire Non sitire Non algere not to be hungry thirstie and cold all the rest is superfluous Edward in this great prosperitie of affayres troubles not his iudgement but considers that the house of Lancaster was ruined without hope of recouerie and the Red Rose withered That it was impossible euer to rise againe if it were not assisted with the forces of France Wherefore he desired to make his alliance with the king and sent the Earle of Warwicke to demand Bonna of Sauoye the Queenes sister in marriage Edward fals in loue with a Widdow But during this negotiation Loue which may be held a kinde of furie k Loue is put in the ranke of Melancholly diseases and kindes of fury it peruerts the iudgement and confounds the good with the euill for that it troubles the iudgement carried the affections of this Prince to the seruice of a Ladie who would haue held her selfe much honoured to haue serued the Queene of England and yet she had the ambition to be so Fortune agreed with her beauty Being widdow to Sir Iohn Grey her age bound her to follow rather the life of the Doue then of the Turtle l The Empresse Barba wife to Sigismond the Emperor being told after the death of her husband that she should imitate the Turtle If I must said shee initate beasts why rather the Turtle then the Doue or the sparrow Aeneas Sil. de dict Sigismondi et Frederici Imper. for her first marriage had scarce touched the flowers of her beauty nor of her youth Edward did not liue but for her his heart receiued no law but from her eyes to whom he did submit the full disposition of his fortunes She being powerfull in the charmes of loue let him presently vnderstand that she did not accept of the sacrifice of the hearts of Kings but of the Altar of honour that he might not hope to haue her for a Mistris if he would not assure her to make her his Queene They that loue ardently are easie and tractable m Hee that loues refuseth not any thing In loue there is force and pleasure force constraines the will and pleasure deceiues the iudgement they spare neither wordes nor oathes Edward transported with this fury forgets the sute which he made in France and changeth all his wills into the obedience of this Lady who seeing her selfe to command ouer the Kinges heart assures her selfe to raigne soone in his Realme He is not capable to refuse her any thing The wind of her disdaines and the couldnes of so faire a mistris may well quence the fire in the beginning but being once kindled it giues it nourishment and increase In the end Edward promised to make her Queene and his promise was presently followed with the consumation of the marriage to the great amazement of the Nobility of England who thought the King was bewitcht n Beauty and grace are the mighty charmes of loue said Olimpias the mother of Alexander Loue which growes from amorous drinckes continues not Plutarch gueth these Epithites 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 short toublesome changeable And he saith it doth easily change into hatred and disdaine and wisht him a more honorable alliance Lewis tooke it ill and the Earle of Warwick was so greeued as from that time he was wholly the French Kings who by his counsell plotted a reuenge which shall shew it selfe in the yeare one thousand foure hundred seauenty one Marriages and alliances vnworthy of the greatnes of Princes cause murmurings and discontentments in the people o The people which loue their Princes reioyce at their victories and prosperities They are aflicted at their losses especially if they do any thing which may impaire their honor as when they treat of alliances vnworthy the greatnes of their houses Tot luctibus funesta ciuitate pâ—rs maeroâ—is fuâ—t quod Iulia Drusi filia quondam Neronis vxor dempsit in domum Rubelliâ— Blandi cuius Auum Tiburtem equitem Romanum plerique meminerant Rome did mourne generally when as Iulia daughter to Drusus the sonne of Tiberius and widdow to Nero son of Germanicus married with Rubellius Blandus whose Grandfather had carried no other title then of a Knight The great Calme which was in France King Lewis goes into Guienne did notwithstanding presage a great storme and gaue the King meanes to visit some of the prouinces of his realme he went to Burdeaux whereas he treated of a marriage betweene the Lady Margret his sister and Gaston of Foix who was sonne to Elenor of Aragon daughter to Iohn King of Aragon and Blanch Queene of Nauarre He accepted this Alliance for that this yong Prince was valiant and coragious and that the successions of the Crowne of Nauarre Foyx Berne Bygorre and other Lands lying in
France did belong vnto him The Earle of Foyx sent his Ambassadors and Deputies to the King being at Bordeaux to conclude the treaty p The cheife condition of the Marriage was that the children which should be borne without distinction of malâ— or female should succeed in the counties of Foix and Bygorre He past to Bayonne to end a controuersie betweene the 2. Kinges of Nauarre and Aragon 1462. and Henry King of Castile his Nephew A controuersie begun with great spleene and was continued with the like and had not ended without excesse if he had not dealt in it for the parties flattered themselues in their pretentions were blind in their interests and found that the obscurenes proceeded rather from the thing then their owne blindnes But behold the causes and the effects After the death of Charles the third q Charles the third King of Nauarre taking delight to build at Olîta died suddenly in September 1425. the threescore and foure yeare of his age and the thirty nine of his raigne he was buryed at Pampeluna King of Nauarre the Crowne past from the house of France and Eureaux into that of Castile and Aragon not without trouble and discord Iohn second sonne to Ferdinand of Aragon married Blanch Infanta of Nauarre presumptiue heire of the Realme of Nauarre and widdow to Martin King of Sicilie and it was agreed by a treaty of marriage that in case she should die before her husband hee should raigne the rest of his life in Nauarre after king Charles the third his father in law Of this marriage was borne at Pegna Charles Prince of Viana born Charles Prince of Vianna a title belonging to the eldest Sonne of the King of Nauarre r Charles the the third King of Nauarre ereected Viana into a principalitie and did affect it to the eldest son of Nauarre in the yeere 1421. as Dauphin to that of France The Asturiez in Castille and Wales in England Charles the third his grandfather made him to bee sworne heyre of the Realme by the Estates after the death of Iohn his Father Charles being dead Iohn was declared King of Nauarre by some and Blanch his wife was acknowledged Queene by others yet both were crowned at Pampeluna Iohn had great warres with his brother the King of Castille Marriage betwiâ—t the Prince of the Asturies and Blanch of Nauarre who did confiscate the lands which he held in Castille Iohn Earle of Foyx reconciled them by a marriage betwixt Henry Prince of the Asturies sonne to Iohn King of Castille and Blanch Daughter to Iohn king of Nauarre s By the constitution of the marriage of this Princesse which was of 42112. Florens of gold wee may iudge in what estate K. Charles the third had left the Realme of Nauarre The marriage was celebrated with great pompe and solemnitie but the Prince was vnable to consummate it The which the Princesse did long dissemble Shee had great cause to complaine of this want and to wish her selfe to be a widdow or her husband vnmarried t The dissembling of couiuâ—all imperfections is very seemly especially in a woman Tullia a great Romane Lady is blamed for her ordinarie complaints murmùring at her husbands disabilitie De viro ad fratrem de sorore ad viruÌ„ se rectius viduam illuÌ„ caelibem futurum Tit. Liu. but like an other Eusebia shee did long suffer for the disabilitie of Constans desiring rather to wrong her youth and beautie then her modestie A while after Blanch Queene of Nauarre died and king Iohn married againe with Ione Henriques Charles Prince of Viana fearing that his alliance would keep him back from the hope of raigning and from the inheritance of the Queene his Mother did not dissemble his discontent u A desire to raigne makes the father iealous of the sonne Plutarc saith in the life of Demetrius that the greatest and most ancient of all Alexanders successors did glorie that he feared not his sonne but suffered him to approch neere his person holding a Iauelin in his band pretending that by the lawes of the Realme his Father by marrying againe had lost the fruit of the Crowne Behold all naturall affection is altered betwixt the Father and the Sonne The desire of rule makes them enemies the Father growes iealous and would not suffer his Sonne to come neere him armed On the other side this second wife seeing her selfe mother to Ferdinand did what she could to show that she was mother in law to Charles x What will not an ambitious mother doe and vndoe for her children D. Ioane lying in the bed of death by reason of a Cankar which did consume her remembring what she had done to assure the Realme vnto her Sonne spake often these words with sighes which are reported in the 21. booke of the history of Spaine O my Son thou hast cost me deare For him she had caused Don Charles to bee poysoned and neuer ceast vntill this young plant were quâ—â—â—ht by the nipping cold of her bad intentions seeking to haue a share in the regencie of the Realme in the absence of the king who had reuiued the warre in Castille Hence sprung those two great factions Factions of Beaumont and Grandmont that of Beaumont which followed the intent of of the Prince against the King and that of Grandmont which was for the father against the sonne so as presently the Realme was diuided into two kings two constables Lewis of Beaumont Earle of Lerin was Constable to the Prince and Peter of Perault was Constable to the king The kings cause as the better and more iust remained victorious the Prince beeing twice ouerthrowne is forced to flye to Alfonso king of Arragon Valencia Sardinia Maiorca Minorca and Sicile hee had recourse vnto his clemencie and besought him to pardon him The king who could not forget the loue of a Father vnto him who shewed the dutie of a Sonne receiues him but hee had new aduertisments that hee made secret practises to trouble him wherefore he sent him prisoner vnto the Alferie of Saragossa from whence hee was drawne by the Cattallans who tooke armes for his libertie Charles of Nâ—uarre poisoned by his mother in law but he went out of the prison to enter into a graue y Charles Prince of Viana died being forty yeares old a valiant Prince a great Historian a subtill Philosopher and a good Poet hee translated Aristotles Ethicks into the Castilain tongue and hee wrote the History of Nauarre vnto the time of King Charles his Grandfather For the very day of his deliuerie he was poisoned and dyed with much repentance for that hee had rebelled against the king his father The Infant Don Ferdinand was acknowledged heyre of the crowne of Arragon They of Cattellonia tooke armes to reuenge the death of Prince Charles The seditious who blow the cole of this desection said that his soule walked in the
foundation and to raise it for it canâ—otlast vpoÌ„ light actions That of the E. of Warwiâ—k must needs be great hauing twise changâ—d the estate of EnglaÌ„d and as it were disposed of the Crowne sent vnto the King to receiue him The King seemed to haue a great desire to see him and succour him He landed at Diepe and was conducted with all his troupe to Amboise The people flockt vppon the high-wayes to see those mournefull relikes of Troy Euery man had heard speake of the desolation of the house of Lancaster they did regard them as Prodigies of fortune whom she had chosen to be pittifull examples of her inconstancie Within six monethes the King gaue them meanes to returne into England The K. giueâ— succors to K. Henry with such forces as Edward durst not affront them Hee was forced to quit the partie and seeing how dangerous it was to stay vntill the Earle of Warwick came vnto the gates of London hee retired into Holland to the Duke of Bourgundie carrying nothing with him but a hope to returne k It is a poore equipage for a Prince which goes out of his estate with hope to returne but a retreat of this sort against a Prince that is stronger is honorable Valentinean the second left Aquilea to Maximin and fled into Thessalonica with Iustina his mother where he obtained succors of the Emperour Theodosius who restored him to the Contrie Sigon Lib. 9. Imp. Occident Behold Henry the sixt drawne out of prison and set in the royall throne Henry the sixt 〈◊〉 it lâ—bertie and Edward expelled but he continued but six monethes for Edward being relieued with ships and men from the Duke of Bourgundy returned into England and presented himselfe before the gates of London where he entred victorious The Duke of Clarence left the Earle of VVarwick l The Duke of Clarence being in France was sollicited and wonne by a Gentlewoman which came out of England from the King his Brother and he 〈◊〉 that belong in England he would turne to his side side King Henry was murthered in the Tower his sonne was detained prisoner Death of King Henry the sixt and soone after slaine The Earle of VVarwicke was slaine vpon the place and the Queenâ— was a prisoner Thus the Realme which Edward had lost in eleuen dayes was recouered in one so true it is that Estates change in a moment m The euersions and conuersions of the estates are most commâ—â—ty 〈◊〉 Breui bus momentis suÌ„ma verti possunt Tac. lib. 8. An. that it is hard to make good vse of things ill 〈◊〉 During these Tragedies the King who wisht they had continued longer the more to weaken the Dukes designes and to humble his thoughts continued the warre which he had begun in Picardie The Constable who would needs be a necessarie euill n Hibrea a wise Cittizen of Messala a Towne in Caria said smiling to Eutidianus a man very profitable but difficult and insupportable in the gouerment of publike affairs that hee was a necessary euill to the Towne for that noâ— manâ— could indure him for his roughnes nor â—liue without him for his good gouermeÌ„t to these two Princes was glad to let the Duke vnderstand what he could doe Amiens S t. Quentin taken He took S t Quentin Amiens opened her gates vnto him Abbeuille the Cittadell of Picardy had entred into the same partie if Philip of Creuecaeur Lord of Cordes had not entred The Duke not holding himselfe safe in the middest of the Constables friends retyred to Dourlans and from thence to Arras Being there he receiued a letter from the Duke of Guienne containing these wordes Labour to content your subiects and then care not for you shall find friendes The Duke seeing himselfe thus surprised and dispossest of the Townes which he did so much esteeme intreated the Constable not to presse this warre so hotly nor to doe the worst he could and to consider that the King without any precedent offence had taken armes and broken the treaty of Peronne before that he had disclaimed his friendship o The Romans before they made war Renunciabant amicitiam Germanicus being wronged by Piso Gouernour of Soria sent him word that he was no more his friend The Constable beeing glad to see the pride of his first maister humbled Pollicy of the Constable of S t. Paul makes the danger greater then it was hee threatens him with an ineuitable ruine if he did not open his eyes to those expediments which he propounded vnto him letting him know that in the darknes of his infidelity he did alwaies reserue a good day for his seruice p I neuer knew saith Phil. de Commines that man haue a good end that sought to terrifie his Maister and keep him in Iealousie Yet will he not declare himselfe to be other then a good Frenchman for to mannage his busines with honour the leape was too dangerous from S t. Quintin to Brussels The passage from one contrary to another is neuer made without violence q MeÌ„s thoughts passe not sodainly from one extreame vnto an other they goe by degrees there must be a meane betwixt both to vnite the two extreames He promiseth to serue the Duke in effect in seruing the King in shew and to make knowne the fruites of his seruice by the bad intelligence and diuision which hee would still entertaine and was already framed betwixt the two brethren the King and Mounsire the only means for him to be in safety and his estate in peace r The hatred and discord of brethren is the ruine of States all well as of priuate families This mischeefe hath bin long in the world the examples are borne with it And if two brethren could not agree together in their mothers womb it is no wonder if two brethren being armed quarrell But to end this war which was begun and would continue with such cruell effects Hee councells the Duke to giue his daughter to the Kings Brother against him there was no other help but to win Monsieur in giuing him his daughter in marriage that all his desires should ayme at this marke as the true end of his contentment from the which he might wander by many waies s They say we may come to one end by diuers meanes But to hit one marke there is but one direction the straightest lines are the shortest we may misse by diuers meanes ayming too high or too low on the right hand or on the left It is euen so in the actions of men and could not attaine vnto it but by this Allyance that if he were so resolued hee would follow his party and bring his head to his seruice with the Towne of S t Quentin and a good number of his seruants In a word that he would doe any thing yea set fire of the Temple of peace t There are seruants â—ound sit for all assaies
that any other should deale in it Hee represented vnto him the greatnes and commoditie of the Estates which this marriage would bring him after the death of his brother and father in law makes him to apprehend it in such sort as this yong Prince who filled not his fantasie with small imaginations continued his first poursuite of an alliance with duke Charles assuring him that it would produce great effects for their common fortunes and profit o An apparent and important profit is a great motioÌ„ to diuert the effect of a promise The Duke of Brittanie promised vnto himselfe the honour of the mediation for a matter which did profit few men and offended many The King had no desire his brother should be so great p Tâ—e Kings of France haue in former times repented themselues for that they had made their brethreâ— so great Charles the â—ifu gaue to Philip the hardie the Duchie of Bourgundy which K. Iohn had vnited vnto the Crowne maâ—ied â—im to the heyre of â—landeâ—s The house of Bourgundy grew so mighty as it would equall it selfe with that of France The King of England sent often to the Duke of Bourgundy to diswade him from this alliance entreating him to consider that the Duke of Guienne Designe of the King of England succeeding the King who had no children and holding the countries belonging to the house of Bourgundy England did foresee her ruine and destruction The Duke of Bourgundy would haue no such sonne in Lawe he gaue a desire and appetite to all men with one hand and tooke all hope from them with the other he promised her to all gaue her not to any he made vse of his daughter to entertaine the loue of Princes and to passe ouer his affaires with more successe to repaire by pollicy the defects he found in his owne strength thinking that his weaknes did dispence him of his word and that fraud was glorious against his enemies q Deceit which makes an enemy receiue an affront is as commendable as it is to bee blamed when it deceiueth him that is not so declared whereas they say that fraud is glorious in warre it is not to be vnderstood in breaking words and promises but of politick fained and artificiall stratagems But he had no desire to marry her propounding vnto himselfe in this marriage more the aduancement of his owne designe then the contentment of his daughter hee promised her to Maximilian sonne to the Emperour Frederic Princes pretending to marry the Daughter of Bourgundy and inclined much to that party to doe his busines in Germany where he desired to purchase some credit for at the same time Sigismond ArchDuke of Austria had ingaged vnto him for fourescore thousand florins the Country of Alsatia and Brisgaeu with the County of Ferette r The Country of Alsatia Brisgâ—â— the black Forrest the Contie of 〈◊〉 or Forrest Were ingaged by Sygismond Arch-duke of Austria for 80000. floriâ—â— vpon condiâ—ion that the D. of Bourgundy should not alter any thing of the Lawes and Customes of the Country in the yeare 1496 Hee promised her in like manner to Nicholas sonne to the Duke of Calabria to draw him from the Kings allyance who had promised him his eldest daughter To the Duke of Guienne to trouble the Kings of France and England and to Phillip Duke of Sauoy for an other designe Yet the practise was so followed by the Duke of Brittaine and the Constable who promised in regard of that marriage to draw him into Amiens and S. Quintin as he gaue his word to consent vnto it and at the same instant hee assured the King of England that hee would not doe it his words vppon this subiect were neuer of one tune s It was a witty comparison of him that said that mens actions were like notes of musick sometimes in spaces sometimes in lines sometimes aboue and sometimes beneath and neuer or seldom straight for any long coÌ„tinuance and did not accord with his heart The Dukes of Guienne and Brittanie being well aduertised that their hopes were crost by the King of England gaue the Duke of Bourgundy to vnderstand by their Ministers that without the assistance of the English they were strong inough and had sufficient intelligence to force the King to doe him right and that the principal end of their Armes being for the publike good of the realme they could not haue that successe which they expected imploying their ancient enemies and that so long as they had forces and meanes in France it was not needfull to seek them in England t Wâ—ilest that wee may passe without succors we should not seek them Plato in his Lawes forbids to dig for water in a neighbors house before that hee had sought it in his owne These words were deliuered vnto him by Vrfe in the behalfe of Monsieur Wherevpon the Duke said to Philip de Commines Behold the Lord of Vrfe presseth me to make mine armies as great as I can and tels me that we shall doe great good vnto the Realme doe you thinke if I enter with the company that I shall lead that I shall doe any good Philip de Commines answered smiling In my opinion no Then the Duke said I loue the good of France better then my Lord of Vrfe thinkes for whereas there is but one King I would there were six He would gladly haue had the whole peece u Ambition striues to diuide and teare in peeces that which shee can not breake nor carry wholly away but knowing the impossibilitie that the ascent was too steepe and the top too slipperie hee had no care but to breake that which he could not wholly enioy x There is not any one of so great a courage but thinking to make himselfe a King he trembles the ascent vnto a royaltie is slipperie the top shaking and the precipise fall fearefull He prepared great forces and the King sent his into Guienne being incensed that his Brother had restored the Earle of Armagnac to his lands which had been confiscate and hee spoyles both the one and the other He wins his cheife seruants the more easely to chase him out of Guienne The Duke of Guienne prest the Duke of Bourgondy to succor him the Duke sent vnto the King to intreat him to suffer Monsieur to liue in peace The King answered that hee had no intent to alter any thing of his brothers portion but to keepe him from attempting beyond his bounds And behold a remarkable poynt of wisedome in this Prince whilest the Duke prepared his army he sent Peter D'oriole Chancellor of France vnto him and the Lord of Craon to make an ouerture of an accord A Peace treated and a promise made to restore Amiens A peace was treated and the King promised to restore Amiens and Saint Quentin the duke was so much greeued for the losse of these two townes and had so great
realme of FraÌ„ce which did belong vnto him to the end hee might restore the Church the Nobilitie the people to their ancient liberty and ease them of their troubles and charges and in case of refusall he protested of the miseries which should follow after the manner and forme accustomed is like cases CHRONIC of some bad Frenchman He demanded the Realme of France as his ancient inheritance he declared his Armes to be iust to recouer it and to set the French at libertie and to deliuer them from the oppressions which they endured The Letter being read the King drew the Messenger apart and spake vnto him alone with words of such Emphesie as hee left an opinion in him that the King of Englands enterprise hauing no support but the weaknesse of the Duke of Bourgundy the dissembling Constable and the passion of some English would not finde any great credit in France and so he sent him back with a present of three hundred Crownes and thirty elles of Crimson Veluet so full of good will as hee promised not to returne but to offer him a peace The Chronicle saies that the King sent vnto King Edward the goodliest Courser he had in his stable And after that an Asse a Woolfe and a wilde Beare all signes of affection and of other thoughts then warre and hatred for it is as great a testimonie of friendship to receiue a present as to giue l He that giues offers friendship he that receiues it accepts and binds himself to loue Wherefore among all the pride of the Romans they haue noted this to disdaine the presents which came not from friends Pharnax sent a Crowne of gold to Caesar who sent him word that hee should first doe that which hee was commanded then send him presents which Roman Emperors after the happy successe of their enterprises were accustomed to receiue froÌ„ their friends This great Prince desiring rather to saue a Cittizen then to kill an hundred enemies was resolued not to hazard any thing but money preferring the price of an assured Peace before a doubtfull victorie and notwithstanding that his Armie was great and mightie being in number aboue an hundred thousand men yet would he shew himselfe a Hercules m The Priests of Hercules Temples in Sicile told the Syracusans that they should bee victors if they did not affaiâ—e first but did onely defend themselues for that Hercules had preuailed in all his Enterprises defending himselfe when they câ—me to assaile him Plut. rather in defending then assailing Hee knew the body was not well purged from those vicious humours Considerations of the K. to haue a Peace that there were yet great windes to raise tempests Earthquakes that France was not without it like vnto Egypt This descent of the English had three great passions to moue it Ambition Reuenge and feare The King of England commanded in his Armie and Ambition commanded the King of Englands heart who promised vnto himselfe the conquest of the whole Realme The Duke of Bourgundy reioyced to see the English reuenge his quarrel as they had before a wrong done vnto his Grandfather The Constable thought that he could not otherwise appease the growing feare which presented vnto him an infallible losse both of life and fortune but in kindling these troubles The King found himselfe much troubled to auoide this storme Wisedome of the King to auoid the storme he must needs content these three passions He had many seruants of whose fidelitie he did not doubt n It is a great aduantage for a Prince against the discontentment of great men to haue the hearts and affections of his subiects firme He may well assure himselfe against few enemies but against a generall what safety Quello che ha per nemici pochi facilmente senza â—olti scandali si asâ—icura ma chi ha per nemico vniuersale non si assicura mai Guicciard lib. 11. Cap. 16. He that hath few for enemies may eaâ—sly and without any great scandall recouer himselfe but he that hath a generality for 〈◊〉 can never be secnred there was no rebellion discouered within any townes yet there were many great men which promised vnto themselues that the English would take reuenge of their discontents He feared that S. Quentin would be a prey to his enemies He was no lesse troubled to keepe the Constable from failing then to seeke meanes to punish his fault He sent to haue him come vnto him The King sends for the Constable to ioyne their Councels together and to prepare for a iust defence against his enemies promising to giue him the recompence which hee demanded from the Countie of Guise The Constable let the King vnderstand that he desired nothing more then to be neere his Maiestie to yeeld him the dutie of his seruice and to make new vowes of fidelity and obedience vnto him so as it would please him to sweare vppon the crosse of S t Laud that he would not doe Hee will haue the K. sweare for his safety not suffer any harme to be done vnto him o Constantine would not go to the Court of Michel Paphlagon Emperor of Constantinople before he had made him sweare his safety vpon the wood of the true Crosse vppon the Image of our Sauiour and vppon the letter which hee had written Angarus Cedren Ann. Pa. 607. It is in the Cittie of Angiers where the people hold this old beleefe that whosoeuer sweare vpon this crosse and forsweare themselues die miserably before the end of the yeare The King sent the Constable word that he had sworne neuer to take that oath to any man liuing and that there was not any other but hee would willingly take although he should relye vpon his word p Princes will be trusted of their word It is a great rashnes in a subiect to make his Prince sweare euery oth as Plutarke saith is like a torture giuen to a free man This refusall did sufficiently discouer the Kings intent and the Constable knowing that hee had once made no difficultie to take the same oath for the Lord of Lescun thought that there was no other safety for him then not to come neere the King and not to see him but by his picture In the meane time the English armie past the sea and landed with so great difficulties as they spent three weekes there and if it had incountred any let with that speed and diligence that the affaires q Caesar being ariued in England hauing cast another admonished his Lieutenants and Colonels to dâ—ligence for sea causes being very sodaine mutable they must be executed in an instant and in the turning of an eye of the sea which is sodaine and mutable requires it had been disperst of it selfe One ship alone of Eu tooke two or three English But the King vnderstood not sea-matters and they that had charge of his armies lesse then himselfe The French haue neuer
done any great exploits by sea although that their coast be greater then that of their neighbors and that it is hard for a Prince that is not strong at Sea r To bee strong at sea is much more auaileable the â—t land for the getting and keeping of a great estate The realme of Portugall is growne mighty by Nauigation The Common-weale of Genouâ— had extended her limits farre is ciuill dissâ—ntions had not stayed their designes by Sea euer to ecrease or maintaine his Empire If France had tooke delight at sea she had made the Flower-de-Luce to flourish farre off The French haue contemned Nauigation but this contempt of nauall expeditions hath clipt her wings with the which she should haue flowne so high as all the world had been amazed They did beleeue in those daies that who so was valiant at Land could not be so at Sea A verie preiudiciall errour for a Captaine that hath been accustomed to fight with the windes sea and men will sooner become a Captaine at Land where they fight onely with men then a land souldior will become a good Sea-man When as the King of England was landed at Calice The D. of Bourgundy is prest by the English and found not the Duke of Bourgundy he held it for a scorne and euen then he discouered his weaknes and sent him word that if he did not aduance he would force him to thinke of that which hee did not desire Behold this Prince reduced betwixt two extremes all the wisedome of man could not shew him a meane He found it dishonorable to dislodge from before Nuz and hee found it dangerous not to ioyne with the English God had stroken him with an amazement for the good of France for if hee had attended the English at their passage and not vndertaken the voyage of Germanie those two Armies ioyned together had been able to doe that which diuided was impossible When as the King of England prest him to come with speede the Emperor offered him battell to make him raise his seege from before Nuz At the same time when as both Armies were in view and that Albert Duke of Saxonie who carried the Standard of the Empire and Albert Marquis of Brandebourg prest the Emperor to command a chargr the Trumpets whom they attended to giue the signe sounded the publication of a peace He is forced to raise the siege of Nuz the last day of May. The secret Article carried this condition that the Duke should giue his Daughter to Maximilian and declare her heyre of al his Estates if he dyed without any sonne Munster saith that the Emperor for the desire he had of this mariage did not all the harme he could unto the Duke and that hee gaue him ten thousand florins The Duke said that he did not retire but to obay the admonition which the Pope gaue him by his Legate to whom the place was deliuered to coulour his dislodging with some shew the which was the more troublesome vnto the Duke s It is a disgrace to dislodg after a long coÌ„tinuance which alone should force Townes But he gaue the Duke this contentment that his enemies were not comprehended in this Treatie A conditionibus Pacis exclusi sunt Lud. Franc. Rex Sigismundus Exarch Austriae Out of the conditions of peace were excluded Lewis the French King Sigismond Archduke of Austria Rene Duke of Lorraine and the Suisses for that he knew the towne was reduced to extremities hauing neither patience not bread for aboue ten dayes hauing endured a whole yeare all the attempts of the assailant and all necessities which doe afflict and make desperate Townes which are sharply besieged He came posting with a small traine to Calice He comes to Calice to the King of England being loth to let the King of England see into what estate his wilfulnes at this siege had brought his Armie t The Duke of Burgundies armie had beene weakned at the siege of Nuz with the losse of foure thousand men the remainders did ouerrunne the countries of Lorraine and Bar whilest with a small traine he went to K. Edward to Calice The Constable who had presented a planke to passe the English into France now drawes it back He had promised that as soone as the Armies were ioyned hee would open the gates of S. Quentin and hee shootes at them that approch by the Dukes commandement And yet to giue a goodly name to a deformed thing u It is a great pittie said Cato 〈◊〉 his opinion against Catelyue that wee are come vnto those times where they doe attribute the name of wicked things to good Salust in Catel he seekes to make him beleeue by Lewis of Creuille whom he sent vnto him expressely that he had shewed reason and discretion in the fayling of his word that if he had receiued his men without some kinde of resistance he should make himselfe vnprofitable for his seruice loose the credit which he had with the French and the opinion esteeme which the King made of his fidelitie The Constable assures the Duke of his seruice That nothing could change his affection whereof he would giue him such infallible proofes against all men and without any exception beseeching the Duke that the Letter which he sent him might serue for an assurance of the same intention to the King of England These words vowed and sworne with vehemencie held the spirits of these two Princes in ballance notwithstanding that they doubted the contrarie x There is nothing difficult to beleeue when it is affirmed constantly and boldly sworne by any one although he were held a deceiuer The efficacy of an oath if it do not beget credit in the mind at the least it breedes a suspension and doubt of the contrary Guiceiardin saies in his first booke â—o non credo puâ— quasi â—ssere quâ—llo che multo eâ—â—icacimentes afferma non faccia 〈…〉 negli animi de terminati a credere ill contrarie I do scarce beleeue it can be but that which is 〈◊〉 with great efficacy will breed some doubt and ambiguity even in those mindes that were resolued to beleâ—ue the contrary Charles assured Edward that if they did aduance S t. Quentin was theirs They that presented themselues first with an opinion to enter The Constable failes of his promise to the K. of England and Duke of Bourgundy were forced to returne their backs with speed and retire to the Armie which followed The King of England cryed out of treason and euen then resolued to be mindfull of reuenge y A failing in 〈◊〉 and faith is 〈◊〉 forgotten and the remembrance hath alwaies for assessors Choller and Reuenge Darius for that he would not forget the wrong which the 〈…〉 done him had alwaies a Page 〈◊〉 â—â—uld him in his care when he sale downe to meat Sir remember the Athenians The Duke of Bourgundy gaue excuses and said that the Constable had a good
to moue humours not to purge the bodie It was told Pompey that there were amoÌ„g Stertorius papers many Senators Letters who exhorted him to come into Italy and to attempt against Rome but Pompey did an Act not of a yong man but of a graue setled inâ—gement causing all his Letters to be burnt and not suffring one to be read Plut. but the King who contemned not any thing thought that it was an Arrow shot against the Constable therefore he desired to be satisfied from Edward who dissembling not his great discontentment against the Constable related vnto him the whole History of his preuatications and for proofe thereof deliuered two Letters into his hands After a long discourse accompanied with infinite shews of loue honor and respect the two Kings parted Edward past by the Sea leauing Hostages in the delights and feasts of Paris and the chiefe Noble men of his Court talked of nothing but the Kings bountie The Heralds and trumpets of England at their parting cryed out A largesse a largesse h Liberalitie is like the Sunne amoÌ„g the other lights of a royaltie It is the myâ—rhe which preserues the reputation of Kings incorruptible for the most noble and mightie King of France A largesse a largesse The King went to lie at Amiens by the way he entertained himselfe with that which he had obserued in this Action speaking these words to Phil. de Commines confidently A wise obseruation of the king I found the King of England so willing to come to Paris as it did not please me Hee is a goodly King and loues women much hee might finde some Mignion at Paris who would tell him so many goodly tales as he might haue a desire to returne His Predecessors haue beene too much in Paris and Normandie His company auailes me nothing on this side the Sea but on the other side he is my good brother and friend Being come to Amiens and ready to set downe to meate Haward one of the Hostages thinking to doe him a great pleasure came and told him in his eare that if he pleased he would draw the King of England vno Amiens and it might bee to Patis to make good cheere there with his Maiestie The King who hauing saued the Capitoll i It is good to see an enemies back The Gauls demanded boats to passe the Riuer of Tyber and the Senate commanded to giue them some beeing put to rout they assured them the way to saue them Poliâ—nus Lib. 2. had no care but to make a large way for the Gaules to passe receiued this speech with a good countenance although it did not please him and as if he had thought of other matters he began to wash and to speake of other things Haward remembred him after supper hauing not obserued the Kings intention by the first euasion The King being prest by his importunity said that he was then ready to goe to horse to see what the Duke of Bourgundy would doe and to make him runne the hazard of Armes seeing he had contemned the opportunitie of an accord They that past the Sea vnwillingly would haue beene glad to haue found some occasion to haue stayed longer in France they had some reason for the good of their estate and that Paris might be to London as Carthage had been to Rome k Estates maintaine theÌ„selues by the common feares and iealousies they haue one of an other And therfore Scipâ—o Nasiâ—a did aduise theÌ„ to preserue Carthage notwithstanding that she had put the 〈◊〉 of Rome to comprimise Ne metu ablato aemula vrbis luxuriarâ— felicitas vrbis inciperâ—t Least being freed froÌ„ the feare of a Citie that was enemy the Citie in her prosperitie should fall to â—yot Flor. Lib 2. de Bello Punice They had such hot spirits among them as if they had not some imploiment without the Iland they were capable to beginne the Earle of Warwicks game During the Kings abode at Amiens he was visited by the English especially by those that would not returne without some present The King giues preâ—â—mâ—s to the English The Duke of Glocester who seemed much discontented with this Truce found it good after that the King had giuen him plate and horses This Prince did sow euen in barren groundes the feare of ingratitude did not stay his handes from giuing vnto them who being gone neuer gaue him thankes l They doe not forbeare to sow after an â—â—n fertill haruest hee must not leaue to binde one after ingratitude although the benâ—fit perish with the other he must not suffer it to perish with himselfe He was very well pleased with that day but he was greeued that the King of England had shewed so much passion for the Duke of Brittaine for his desire was not to suffer him in peace Edward declares the Duke of Brittanâ— to be his friend Hee caused him to bee sounded againe by the Lords of Bouchage and St. Pierre but they brought nothing back but rough wordes sweating that he would repasse the sea againe if they quarreled with the Britton m Besides the bond which K. Edward had to the D. of Brittany for that hee had assisted him in his greatest necessiâ—y he feared to discoÌ„tent him least he should set Henry whom he held prisoner at libertie The King seeing that he could not diuide them thought to make him a good friend whom he could not declare a iust enemy Peace betwixt the King and the Du of Brittany seing that he was comprehended in the Truce Wherefore there was a Treaty of peace betwixt them signed and concluded in the Abbey of Senlis the 16. of October 1475. published in the Parliament of Paris and at the estates of Brittaine The King of England was not more content to see his realme againe then the King seemed ioyfull to haue sent him out of his Princes somtimes let slip free speeches in their Cabinets which are obserued and reported againe The King being some dayes after King Edwards departure with his seruants reioyced at the happy successe of his affaires saying that there was nothing to be compared to vanquish without fighting n The victorie which costs least bloud is mâ—st glorious said Alphonso K. of 〈◊〉 Panorm in his life and that they which returned from the place whether they came to make warre without doing any thing were vanquished Words escaped the K. vpon the Treatie of Peace He iested that with wine and money he had sent away the English This flowing of words with more truth then wisedome came to the hearing of a Gascon Marchant remaining in England who was come into the Cabinet to craue leaue to transport a certaine number of pipes of wine Impost free Heard by a Gascon Marchant The King would haue been glad that this man hauing seene the Palace of his Councels bare and vncouered had been blind deafe but he made no shew of it acknowledging
shall seldome see a great spirit without some medley of fâ—lly wherof the purest comâ—s froÌ„ the finest wisdom and therefore Thucidides will not haue the choose high aspiring spiriits into the Counceller of Princes nor to the maâ—naging of affâ—ires but those that are meane who are lesse obstinate Hee thought to make a perpetuall warre betwixt the King of France the King of England and the duke of Bourgundy behold he is amazed to see them reconcyled and against him He hath made him-selfe vnworthy of grace with the first of succors and defence with the second and of all hope with the third and in opinion with all three that hee would play the companion b As it is dangerous to contend with ones equall so is it madaâ—sto quarrell with his superior and to seeke to go hand in hand with him with them raise his reputation and merits vpon the ruine of their affaires mingle his ashes with those of their Estates and eternize his memory not in burning one Temple alone Ill with the King but the Estates of them all three The King had done him good not in respect of his person but of the seruices which he might doe him and when as he saw his affections altered his will also grew could making it knowne that great hatred proceeded from great friendship c The fauors benefits of Princes are not for the respect of the persons but in consideration of seruices and merits which they find in their seruants when these qualities change it is not strange if in like manner their fauors and affections alter Hee could not forget the practises which hee had made to keepe France in trouble and combustion nor the arrogant and insolent shew of armes vpon the Causey of Compiegneâ— nor the letters written to the King at the sight whereof he sware his great oath which hee did neuer violate that he should die Nor so many acts of a spirit which made it selfe miserable for that he could not beare his felicity The Duke had neuer pardoned him the taking againe of Amiens and Abbeuille Ill with the Duke the desire of his reuenge was a riuer d Reuenge runnes on still although it appeares not Plutarque compares it to riuers which runne vnder the earth and afterwards hurst forth with more violence which had his course through the rockes of the difficulties of his affaires He could not forget his cunning practise to marry his daughter to the Duke of Guienne nor his refusall to receiue his men into Saint Quentin after that he had caused them to come Moreouer he was incensed e Offences often renewed end with immortall paynes for that he had first made warre in his country by fire the rest being contented to vse the sword for whilest he lay incamped before Amiens the Constable had made a roade into the country of Haynault and burnt the Castell of Seurre belonging vnto Baldwin of Lannoy whome the Duke loued Ill with the King of England The King of EnglaÌ„d was offended with him for that hauing councelled and perswaded him to come into France to tryumph there hee had returned without tryumph All three would rather haue made an other hell then haue suffered such trecheries vnpunished All things seemed to bandie and conspire his ruine hee could not keepe himselfe vp firme seeing so many persons about him ouerthrowne The Constables perplexity after the peace f It is no wonder not to bee mooued in traÌ„quillity but we may be amazed to see a man rise when as all others shrinke and to stand firme amongst them that stuÌ„ble Sen. Epist. 73. The disgraces which fortune hath done him in the publike ruines are augmented by many other priuate crosses His wife the only support of his greatnes is dead Iames of S. Paul his brother prisoner la Scala his nephewe returning out of England was taken by the Kings men and found seazed of daungerous Instructions the Earle of Roucey his Sonne in the duke of Burbons hands The Earle of Dammartin his enemy with the Kings forces neere vnto S. Quentin And the Prince of Orange at liberty carrying the title of Prince by the grace of God g Ielousie and enuy worke strange diâ—â—emperatures in their mindes which martch hand in hand The Constable of S â— Paul could not indure the prosperity of some greate men in court He is grieued that the prince of Orange is set at liberty for thirty thousand Crownes and that the king hath suffered him to carry the title of Prince by the grace of God to coyne money and to pardon all offences except heresie and treason All these things were so many thornes in his bed to keepe him from sleepe he doth not dreame wake nor thinke but how to stand firme against all these violent stormes of fortunes but he seekes to cure his harmes h A pernitious remedy to cure one mischiefe with another and to think to be cured by disorders which caused diseases the intemperance of the Patienâ— causeth the cruelty of the Phisition by other mischefes He is like vnto an earthen vessell which must needes breake if it fall vppon a stone or a stone fall vppon it The nedle of his Compas turnes toward the Kings Clemencie as to his north He sends Rapin his secretary vnto him with silken words humble and milde beseeching him to beleeue that the King of England and the Duke of Bourgundy desired nothing more then to draw him to the extremitie of dispayre The Constable seeks the Kings fauor and to seeke his safty of them beeing that he could not finde it with the King That a desire to bee reuenged of him who had not offended theÌ„ but in that he had not offended his maiestie had giuen way vnto the slanders which had bin published against him and fauoured by the il will of his enemies which were about his maiestie namely by the Lord of Dammartin and Lude who did not loue him and that his heart could not bend vnto that diuine rule to loue his enemies i To loue ones enemies is a diuine Action to loue his friendes humane but to hate his friendes is bruitish But men are of that disposition especially great men they cannot indure the prosperity of their enemies Good workemasters know one anothers worke one line makes them iudge by whome the picture was made The King his craftsmaster in dissembling did iudg that whatsoeuer the Constable pretended to doe was but couÌ„terfeit Aristotle speakes of a rock which burnes hauing oyle cast vppon it that an ambitious spirit dissembles as he list k It is dangerous to giue credit to the wordes and actions of those that haue any designe 〈◊〉 a desire to attaine vnto it makes them to faigne any thing that a wicked man is neuer worse then when hee will counterfeit to be good wherfore all the oyle of his goodly l words doe not allwayes serue to open but to couer the
France Parricides and cruelties with his wife Daughter to the Earle of Bullen being forced to make that his contrie where he found his fortune thinking to see the same sunne euery where which he saw in Scotland He besought K. Lewis the eleuenth to assist him with sufficient forces to make war in Scotland t Euery soile is the Countrie of a great courage Quo modo lucem noctem que omnibus hominibus ita omnes terras fortibus viris natura aperuit As nature hath opened the day and night for all men so hath she al contries for men of courage Tac. lib. 4. The bad vsage he had receiued froÌ„ his brother caried him to these motions to ouerthrow all that hee could not remoue The K. thought it not fit to ground a war against his allies vpon an other mans passions so as the Duke of Albany seeing that he could not obtain that he expected froÌ„ the king he past ouer into England and perswaded K. Edward to make war against the K. of Scotland u It is alwaies dangerous to make warre vpon the Councels of men that are banished from their countries and reduced to those extremities to ruine it for reuenge Passion doth easily transport them they promise that which they cannot hold and their wils are subiect to change The Noblemen of the Realme apprehending this storme assembled together by night in a Church where they resolued to cast all that into the Sea which was the cause of this tempest and which made the King to play at tenis with his subiects heads x Nothing is of so little respect to a cruell Prince as the bloud of his subiects Stratocles seeing them buy the heads and nâ—ckes of beasts for his supper said it was that wherwith they that gouerned the commonweale played at tosse-ball Plut. in Demet. being necessary to rid himselfe of domesticke enemies before he did incounter strangers The King who had spies in all places was aduertised of this assembly and sent Cocheran one of his fauorites to discouer it he was met by Archembald Douglas Earle of Anguse Conspiracie of the Nobilitie executed who took him by the neck and made him fast with the same chaine of gold which he himselfe ware and then he gaue him in gard to certaine soldiors vntill it was day at the breake of which hee was carried vnto a gibbet lamenting his hard fortune which had raised him vp to ruine him Some cried out to haue him dispacht others were moued to pittie y In these changes of fortune some sing others weâ—p wâ—â—n Radamystus caused Mithridates to bee taken vnchained the people remembering the rigour of his coÌ„mandemenâ—s added blows to his misfortune others lamâ—nted the change of his fortune Vulgus duto Imperio habitum probra ac verbera intentabat Et erant contra qui tantuÌ„ fortunae commutationem miseretentur The common people required his hard command with reproches and blows And there were others which Pittied the change of his fortune Tac. lib. 4. To be wise we must fly the conuersation of fooles Magna pars sanitatis est hortatores Insaniae reliquisse Sen. Epist. 94. It is a great part of health to haue left the perswades to madnes All reioiced to see the Court purged from this contagious plague He goes directly to the Kings Chamber and seazeth vpon all these Empericks of state vnder whose gouernment impietie had so raigned and iniustice been in such credit in Scotland and causeth them all to be hanged The King of England made his profit of these broiles King of England sends an armie into Scotland for hauing sent Richard Duke of Glocester his brother into Scotland with a mighty Armie he forced the King to restore him Barwick which the Scottishmen had kept one and twenty yeares by meanes wherof a Peace was treated and sworne The Nobilitie of Scotland thought that the King would grow wise hauing no more these instruments of folly about him z but hee made them to change their opinions for hauing setled his affaires abroad he began to call them to an account at home and to be reuenged of them which had prescribed him a law This caused anew reuolt to pacifie the which the King fled to the Pope who sent a Legate to draw the Rebels to their duties and hee intreated the King of France and England by his Embassadors to assist him to quench a mischiefe the contagion whereof might creep in among their subiects Not holding himselfe safe in Edinbourg hee would haue retired to Sterling but the Gouernour would not giue him entry He was then forced to keep the field hauing no retreat his enemies incounter him he accepts the Battel which they presented King of Scotland â—â—airne and fought valiantly but finding his horse wounded he retires vnto a Mill whether hee was pursued and slaine in the yeare 1488. the 31. of his age and the eight and twentith of his raigne FINIS THE CONTENTS OF of the eighth BOOKE 1 THe King is aduised to make his profit of the diuisions of Italy but he will not heare of it 2 Troubles at Florence and conspiracies against the house of Medicis 3 The Pope excommunicates the Florentines and for their sakes the Venetians arming the King of Naples against them 4 The King declares himselfe for the Florentines and forbids to send money to Rome The Venetians ioine in league with the Florentines 5 He sends his Embassadors to Rome and is arbitrator of the controuersie Ouerture for a Peace The lets of the Venetians side 6 The Popes complaint against them 7 Intelligences of the Duke of Brittany discouered and Letters surprized by the King 8 Punishment of Peter Landais 9 Townes of the Riuer of Somme recouered by the King 10 Negotiation of Oliuer le Dain at Gand. Taking of the Towne of Tournay 11 Princesse of Bourgundy sends Embassadors vnto the King to haue his Peace and protection 12 The King wins the Embassadors Restoring of the Townes of Hesdin Therouenne and Monstreuil Siege of Bullen two and twenty Deputies of Arras hanged 13 Arras yeelds vpon a composition which is not obserued 14 The Gantois rise against their Princesse and will haue part in the gouernment of affaires Their Embassadors sent vnto the King bring back a letter which the Princesse had written contrarie to their Embassage 15 The Princesse Chancellor and the Lord of Himbercourt Gouernor of Liege put to death 16 Ingratitude and impietie of Adolpe of Gueldres against his father 17 The King entertaines friendship with the King of England and keepes him from inclining to the Princesse of Bourgundy 18 Marriage of Maximilian Archduke of Austria with the Princesse of Bourgundy 19 The Kings armie in the Franch Countie 20 The fiâ—st alliance of France with the Suisses 21 Estate of the affaires of Castille vnder the new raigne of Ferdinand and Isabella 22 Death of Iohn the second King of Nauarre and Arragon 23 Peace and alliances renued
paine his basenesse was the cause of it and that death might giue him a free passage he changed his patience into dispaire so as on the Thursday after Saint Martins day in yeare one thousand foure hundred foure score and foure hee was found strangled with the cord of his bed This execrable kind of death was kept secret vntill that they vnderstood the Popes minde after which the executioner of Iustice entred into the prison put the body into a pipe and cast it into the Riuer of Rhine c To kill himselfe hath beene held an act of courageâ— Plato forbids it in his Lawes The Thebians detested it and the Athenians did cut off his hand that had slaine himselfe did cast it on the common dunghill The Popes Deputies returned to Basill and the Excommunication hauing beene obserued three daies was taken away and the Towne deliuered from the Popes censures Yet for all this they did not cease to wish that the Pope would earnestly embrace the reformation of the disorders of the Church Desires of this kind are iust but wee may not presse them with heate of passion and indiscretion of zeale An example shewing that it is not reasonable in such sufferings and perplexities of the Church that the pride of any priuate person should presume to reforme it Wee must leaue those thoughts to Princes and Magistrates The simple multitude must attend with patience at the foote of the Mountaine vntil that Moses descend to let them vnderstand the will of God The Ship wherein that holy Family is included which hath neither sight nor day but towards heauen shall in the end appeare most glorious ouer the waues of the deluge and shall come vnto the Mountaine of a happy tranquillity * ⎠* ⸪ The end of the ninth Booke THE CONTENTS OF the tenth Booke 1 VVEakning and alteration of the Kings health in the beginning of the yeare 1480. 2 An Apoplexy seazeth on him His actions to maintaine his authority and to keepe himselfe from contempt 3 Liberty of Cardinall Balue and his pollicy to obtaine it 4 Generosity of the Cardinall of Estouteville to maintaine his dignity and that of the Clergy His death 5 Oppressions of the people 6 Desire of the King to reforme Iustice and tedious Sutes 7 Relapse of his sickenesse at Tours he goes to Saint Claude in his returne passeth by Salins and there setteth a Parliament for the Franche County 8 Death of Mary Dutchesse of Bourgundy wife to Maximilian the Emperour 9 Admonition made by the King to the Dauphin at Amboise 10 Estate of the Low Countries at the discretion of the Gantoies 11 Treatie of peace and marriage betwixt the Dauphin and Margaret Princesse of Austria 12 Death of the King of England and troubles for his succession 13 Earle of Richmond prisoner to the Duke of Brittaine comes to the Crowne of England by the Kings assistance 14 Death of Francis Phoebus King of Nauarre suite for the succession 15 Death of Alphonso King of Portugall 16 Lewis fals into new apprehensions of death and shuts himselfe into his Pallace at Plessis 17 Zizimi son to Mahomet reuolts against Bajazeth flyes to Rhodes and is conducted into France 18 Commendation of Mathias Coruinus King of Hungary 19 Impairing of the Kings health 20 Hee sends for Francis Paulo a Calabrois strange distemperatures of his sickenesse 21 His aistrust of Iohn Duke of Bourbon 22 Publication of the peace betwixt the King and Maximilian of Austria Marriage of Charles the Dauphin with the Princesse Margaret Magnificence at their entrance into Paris 23 The third and last relapse of the Kings Infirmity his last actions His perfect sence euen vnto the last gaspe His death ⧠THE HISTORY Of LEWIS the eleuenth THE TENTH BOOKE IN the beginning of the yeare 1480. 1480. Lewis beganne to dye and to feare death the which comes neuer so fitly but it brings with it terrour and amazement a Life must bee considered by the end If it bee good and glorious all the rest is proportionable Quomodo fabula sic vita non quandiu sed quam bene acta sit refert Nil ad rem pertinet quo loâ—o desinas quocunque voles desine tantum bonam clausulam imponas Life is like vnto a fable It imports not how long but how well it be acted It skils not where thou leauest leaue where thou wilt so thy conclusion be good Sen. His forces grew weake but his courage was fortefied strong vpon an apprehensioÌ„ which he had that they would make designes vpon his graue and that they would not stay vntill hee came to the end of his Carriere Hee desired to end it with the Authority Maiesty and Reputation that he had begonne and would not that they should know him dying nor that they should hold him mortall Hee workes so as in the West of his life the shadow of his reputation and respect is as great as at the Noone-day of his raigne Yet he finds that his iudgement hath not the force and vigour which it formerly had that the remainder of his life is become sower Age is alwaies accompanied that age comes not alone b When as wine and life grow low they become sowre Antiphanes hauing brought him diuers discommodities an incorrigible melancholy agitations of the minde a slow Feuer and the paines of the Emerauds He hath more prouision then he hath way to go he gathers and laies vp when hee should abandon and let go c Age becomes couetous when it hath not any need of goods it feares the earth should faile it One demanded of Symonides why he was so sparing in the extremity of his age for that said he I had rather leaue my goods after my death to my enemies then in my life time to haue neede of my friends His designes are great and spacious and his desires grow yong hee cannot free himselfe from new hopes his soule is as it were hung betwixt the feare of death and the hope of life his vnderstanding is a Milstone which the continuall course of affaires doth turne day and night And although his life passeth away in languishing and griefe yet had he rather endure the paine then not to be desiring rather to be freed from it then from life the which how painefull soeuer it be hath some houre of ease d There iâ— no life so languishing and full of paine but it is supported by some hope freed from the feares of death When aâ— Antisthenes the Philosopher was in extreame paine hee cryed out Who shall deliuer me froÌ„ these miseries Diogenes presenting a knife vnto him said This if thou wilt and that soone I do not say of my life replyed the Philosopher but of my paine For if paines be violent they are short and if they be short they giue no leasure to complaine Going to heare Masse at a little Parish neere to the Forges of Saint Chinon The King suddenly and
reiected by a Decree of Parliament giuen the 22. of February The same hath beene obserued in other Portions of the Princes of France for the Prouinces of Berry Orleans Anjou Maine the Countie of Clermont Artois Alançcon Perche and Eureux The Deputies did not agree vpon these points and the proofes could not be so cleere but there would be still found some exception or diuersity Moreouer they treated for two Princes who stood not vpon words but held all things doubtfull wherefore they thought it fit for the good of a peace to giue more power to trust then to iealousy i In Treaties it is neccessary to vse all the cautions which wisedome and foresight can inuent but in the end wee must trust them with whoÌ„ wee treate else it is impossible to resolue any thing which is a shelfe against which affaires suffer ship-wracke They did winke at many things and did turne from that which the necessity of affaires did forbid them to encounter For in Treaties of this sort Hee that can giue must giue and hee that cannot must seeme liber all of that which hee can neither sell nor keepe He that will haue all looseth all Matters past as they desired not by the rigor of restitution but in fauour of the marriage of the Dauphin Charles with Margaret Princesse of Flanders k Margaret of Austria was married to the Dauphin but shee was not his wife for in the yeare one thousand foure hundred foure score and twelue He sent her backe and married the Dutchesse of Brittany Shee was married to the Prince of Castile who dyed in the first yeare of his marriage For the Arch-duke and the Estates representing Prince Phillip as Heires to the Princesse Mary appointed for her Dowry and promised the Counties of Artois Bourgundy Mafconois Auxerrois Salins Bar-sur-seine and Noyers for her and her Heires Males and Females For want whereof all the afore-named land should returne to Prince Phillip and to his Heires l Phillip the first was married to D. Ioane of Castile and had many children Charles the fift Emperour Ferdinand King of the Romanes then Emperour and King of Hungary D. Elenor Queene of Portugall and France D. Maria wife to Lewis king of Hungary D. Isabella Queene of Denmarke D. Katherine wife to D. Iohn King of Portugall That if the lands returned to any other but Prince Phillip and his Heires then the King might retaine them vntill the controuersy were decided for the Townes of Lisle Douay and Orchies the which should be done within three yeares after the case should happen The said Signiory should be gouerned vnder the Dauphin who should make satisfaction for the mony borrowed in the Counties of Artois and Bourgundy and suffer that the pensions granted by former Princes should take effect And if the marriage were not consummated all those places should returne to Prince Phillip reseruing onely a Dowry of fifty thousand Florins by the yeare assigned vpon Bois de Vincennes Montargis Crecy and other places of Champagne Bry and Touraine That during the minority of Prince Phillip and before his marriage the King nor Dauphin should not demand the gouernement of his Low Countries There was a generall pardon granted to all banished men of either side and euery man should re-enter into his possessions without restitution of fruits m It was also agrâ—ed that be Prince of Orange the Earle of Ioigny Leonard of Chalousiâ—uâ— Maister William of Baume Signior of Ilain and Claud of Theolongeon Signior of Bastie comprehended in the peace should returne into the possession of their lands in Bourgundy Dauphinè and the Realme The King also promised to fauour the Signior of Romont for the recouery of his lands All priuileges giuen by the Princes should remaine to them that had obtained them The houses of Flanders at Paris and Conflant should be restored to Prince Phillip and that of Artois to the Lady Margaret This marriage was the gate by the which many Families of the Franch-County past into France The Signiors of the house of Chalon Iohn Dandelot Maister of the Kings horse and Balife of Amont Iames of Colligny father to Gaspard of Colligny High Admirall of France Guy of Rochefort Signior of Pluuant Chancellour of France Iohn of Ache Signior of Verreu Captaine of Dijon Balife of Auxois and Chamberlaine to King Lewis Iames of Vaudre and some others of the house of Mouy and of Saint Fall These Conditions of such aduantage were yeelded vnto without any difficulty for the King had wonne them of Gand who had the children in their n If they of Gand could haue giuen vnto the King the Counties of Namur and Henalt with all the subiects of that house which speake French they would willingly haue done it saith Phillip de Commines to weaken Maximilian possession and whose onely care was to weaken Maximilian and to take from him all meanes to arme against them not considering that flying one mischiefe they did runne into another giuing the King meanes to haue them at his discretion and that they were like vnto the horse which suffred it selfe to be bitted and backt by man to encounter the Stagge During this Treaty the King was growne soâ—leane pale and disfigured as a man could hardly know him and in an other Religion they would haue commended him more to haue encountred death then to attend it Hee was nothing but a shadow and a voyce in the hottest daies of Summer his body was content with his owne coldnesse without seeking any other refreshing Hee made difficulty to signe any Articles not for that he did not allow of them but to hide the deformity of his griefe o When as age or sickenes causeth any deformityin a Prince he should suffer himselfe to bee seldome seene Tiberius did therefore liue out of Rome Facies parum decora aetas grauior valetudo imbecillis saepe risui fastidio sunt A deformed face old age and 〈◊〉 are often subiect to be laught at and loathed L. Lips ex Tacito and there was not any one that durst speake vnto him nor demand any thing of him When as the King of England receiued aduertisement of the resolution of this marriage Death of the King of England he was so much grieued as hee dyed he saw his hopes frustrate in France and his actions contemned in â—ngland repenting that hee had not giuen credite to his Councell who thought it necessary to breake betimes with the King not to suffer him to fortefie himselfe with the ruines of the house of Bourgundy seazing vpon the Townes so neere vnto England for the taking of Bollegne did threaten him with the losse of Callice and Guines Towards the end of his daies he recompensed the toiles of his life and plunged himselfe in delights taking care how to make himselfe fat That which was superfluous became necessary to him p The increase of a Neighbours power holds a Prince in perplexity and
incense Princes a Discourses of affaires of State in a troublesome and difficult time enter into seditious Spirits as burning nailes do into greene wood They be Conduit Pipes saith the President Du Vair by the which destâ—ll the affections wherewith the people are seasoned and afterwards thrust on to good or bad actions and are like vnto the arrowes of Thrace which were shot against heauen to appease it He was aduertised that Frier Anthony Fradin a Franciscan born at Ville-Franché in Beaujollois spake too boldly of the bad gouernment of affaires He sent Oliuer le'Dain to Paris in the beginning of the yeare 1479. to forbid him to Preach The multitude which runnes as it is led mutined against this pursuite and followed this Preacher in troupes to defend him b The people go like troupes and consider not Quo eundum sed quo itur Whether they must go but whether they go yea the women carryed stones and kniues to vse against such as should come to offend him From one liberty they saw diuers spring as faults follow one another and this sedition was ready to cause great tumult c Light faults should be repaired by pardon and great by seuerity and a Prince as Iulius Agricola saith must not alwaies bee pacified with the punishment he must rest oftentimes contented with the repentance of such as haue â—rred Nec poena semper saepius poenitentia contentus esse debet Tac. The Court of Parliament preuented it in such sort as they gaue the King subiect rather to content himselfe with the repentance then the punishment of this silly multitude They commanded the Frier to go out of Paris and not to Preach seditiously in any other Prouince They did consider that France had seene and suffered terrible agitations by the violence of these spirits and that England had beene violently afflicted vnder the raigne of King Richard by the seditious Sermons of one onely man who seeking to confound all Orders by a pernicious equality Preaching alwaies in his Sermons that when as Adam did eate the Apple there were no Gentlemen that Nature the Minister of God had created all men of the same forme and had cast them in the same mould as brethren and companions lodged on the same earth d The Bishops of England hauing forbidden the Pulpit to Iohn Ball an English Priest he went to Preach seditiously in the fields causing himselfe to be followed by the people where in the hearing of 200000. he began with these tearmes and if God would haue made this distinction amongst men he would haue ordained this difference from the beginning A great man of that time spake these words vpon that subiect which are so worthy and true Discourse is a powerfull charme as the History shall not stray to step a little out of the High-way to consider them In truth saith he the force of speech is a powerfull thing especially hauing life giuen it by passion for you would say that it doth in a manner mould and fashion mens soules and that it is a fire kindled which incountring another body inflames and sets it on fire When Adam delu'd and Eue span Who was then the Gentleman how farre off soeuer it bee like vnto Naphte which kindles at the very sight of the fire e What cannot Eloquence do in the mouth of an honest man and of credit seing that comming from a seditious spirit it workes such great effects One word of a man of credite saith Polibius may diuert men from bad enterprises and draw them to good The eloquence of a wicked man is like poyson in a cup of Gold I haue often obserued when not with any eloquent discourse but with words which were scarce intellegible and without any discourse of reason they haue put the people that heard them into choler for that they were so so easily do passions coÌ„municate by words and passe from him that speaks to him that heares The same iealousy which a husband hath for the honour of his wife the feeling which the son hath for the loue of his father the same motions which a faithfull Minister hath for the loue of his Prince a Preacher should haue for the Glory of God he should dry away for the zeale of his house and for the increase of his seruice any other passion that transports him is but fury Next to the seruice of God piety respects the obedience and honour which we owe vnto our parents How Lewis was towards his father It is true that Lewis offended against this Law not onely in his first age whose weaknesse facillity to the impressions of other men might excuse his errour but in his full vitility which made him inexcusable when as hee could not be ignorant that his duty towards his father was so naturall so religious and so strictly commanded by Diuine and Humane Lawes as all other duties yeeld vnto it f All the offices of Piety yeeld to that of the child to the father the sonne which sees his father his sonne in danger of their liues if he cannot relâ—â—ue both he must abandon his sonne to saue his father for the dutie which hee owes him is more ancient then the love which he heareâ— vnto his children Cymon being vnable for his pouerty to bury his father before he had paid his debt sold his owne liberty The ioy which King Charles the 7. had of his birth did not continue so long as the sorrow he had for his disobedience when he was borne he had cryed Noë like others and this word which in the beginning did signifie rest consolatioÌ„ was a presage of the crosses toiles which he endured It is true that this sowre seuerity wherwith he controuled his actions was cause of his disorders excesse g The rough seuere and imperious proceeding of fathers towards their children makes them to grow insolent and disordered It is a Diuine counsell which Saint Paul giues vnto fathers Parentes he prouâ—cetis ad iracundiam filios ne despondeant animâ—m Parents prouoke not your sonnes to anger least they turne away their minds For being vnwilling to dis-ioyne the authority of a father from that of King he chose rather to keepe him in feare and obedience by the seuerity of the one then by the mildenesse of the other He thought that he had no better meanes to enioy this spirit then by keeping him short and restraining the violent motions of his courage and that being in necessity he should be alwaies in obedience He was eighteene yeares old before he had any portion allowed him no not that which did belong vnto him from the day of his birth for the father considered that if at the age of twelue or thirteene yeares when as he had no part in the Estate he should haue beene had of some great faction the increase of meanes and yeares would haue drawne him to great enterprises The first example of his
act the part of Kings of France for many yeares made him to take Armes and to ioyne the reuenge of this death to the defence of the Crowne Hee was taken prisoner at the battell of Agincourt and carried into England where hee remained fiue and twenty yeares His liberty and rest came from thence from whence proceeded the causes of the miseries of his house and of his captiuity Phillip Duke of Bourgundy paied two hundred thousand Crownes for his ransome married him to Mary of Cleues his Neece and gaue him the Order of the Golden Fleece y The Duke of Orleance receiued the Order of the Duke of Bourgundy after his returne out of EnglaÌ„d in the yeare 1440. Hee was not receiued by King Charles the seuenth according to his hopes and the greatnesse of his quality Assembly at Neuers in the yeare 1442. This discontent made him to ioyne with the intentions of the Dukes of Bourgundy Brittany Alençon and other Noble men who assembled at Neuers to make King Charles the 7. regard them better then he did and to reforme the disorders of the Realme z The discontented Princes assembled at Neuers in the yeare 1442. The Archbishop of Rheims Chancellour of France was sent to moderate their choller and to assure them of all they desired This was presently repaired for the English made their profite and the Duke of Orleance recouered the ranke and authority which the dignity of his birth gaue him neere the King Who employed him in the conference which was made at Tours for a Truce betwixt France and England vnder the fauour whereof hee vndertooke the conquest of Milan after the death of PHILLIP MARIA The successe of this enterprise did shew that hee had beleeued them too lightly who had represented it so easy as the first day hee should arme Lombardy would giue him the Castle of Milan Hee past into Italy to take possession of the Dutchy a It is a great errour in a Prince to beleeue that lightly which is represented vnto him of the facillity of a great designe notwithstanding that the most temperate are subiect to suffer themselues to bee carried away with these goodly perswasions Credulitas error magisest quam culpa quidem in optimis cuiusque mentem facillimè irripit Credulity is an errour rather then a fault and it doth easily creepe into the best mens minds Cicero But as it hath beene alwaies reproached vnto the French neuer to thinke of their returne when they passe the Mountaines being there hee was presently vnfurnished of all necessary meanes to worke any great effect and was forced to end his enterprises as soone as they beganne The conquest of the County of Ast was the fruite of his voiage the rest remained to FRANCIS SFORCE This County of Ast serued him for a retreate for some time after the greatnesse of his courage not suffering him to remaine neere the King Cause of the Duke of Orleans death for the small esteeme he made of him A contempt which did wound his heart with so sencible a griefe as CLAVDIVS of Seyssell finds no other cause of his death Lewis Duke of Orleance was successour to this bad vsage and to the end that this contempt might bee a counterpoise to the greatnesse of his courage hee would haue his breeding lesse exquisite then his generous disposition could beare and forced him to marry his daughter who was weake and crooked b The Author of the remembrances of the Royall House of Bourbon saith that Lewis the eleuenth caused Lewis Duke of Orleance to bee bred vp as grossely as he could to abate that generous heart of the house of Orleance Claudius of Seyssell saith that he vsed him very roughly and sought to kill him giuing him a boane of griefe and repentance to gnawe for aboue twenty yeares According to the Maxime to humble the Princes of his bloud hee intreated the Earle of Angoulesme no better and would not suffer him to thinke of marrying the Princesse of Bourgondy desiring rather that that great and mighty Estate should be in the power of a forraigne Prince Hee doubted the courage of them that were neerest allied vnto him and held them as it were ouerwhelmed vnder the rocke of contempt and necessity and kept them from great charges The springs of his bounty were drawne dry for them for he vsed France like vnto an Orchard where as they cut pull vp and transplant trees at their pleasure That great and wonderfull house of Bourbon which alone can reckon as many triumphes as France hath had enemies and which before all others carried a Ducal Crowne auoided these stormes c This royall family of Bourbon hath bin so much esteemed by our ancieÌ„t Monarks as it was the first among the Princes of bloud that was honoured with the Title of a Duke for although the Dutchy of Bourgondy were long before the erection of the Dutchy of Bourbon yet it was neuer compreheÌ„ded in the house of France but since Charlâ—s the fift and the Dutchie of Bourbon was erected by Philip of Valois Grand-father to Charles the 5. He would haue vsed it with the like rigor but hee found it more firme Greatnes of the house of Bourbon forcing him to conuert his spleene and hatred into other effects of loue and affection For he he gaue the first Coller of the Order to Iohn Duke of Bourbon his brother who had married the Lady Ioane of France daughter to Charles the seuenth and the Lady Agnes his daughter to Peter of Bourbon to whom he committed all his important affaires hee gaue him the inheritance of the Earle of Armagnac yet he would not haue him carry the Title of Earle Maiesty Next to the duties which binde a Prince to serue God and to loue his Allies there is not any thing which should keepe his spirit more in action then the care of Maiesty for it is so delicate a spring as if it slip or breake the whole frame of authority is in disorder and he becomes a king of a Tragedie When I speak of Maiesty I meane not that to maintaine that a Prince should liue like vnto the Kings of Persia in a Castle with three Ditches Ridiculous grauitie of Princes and as many Walles d The Kings of Persia were rather worshipped then reuerenced by their subiects They remained in a Castle with three Ditches three walles speaking to few and yet had news daily from all parts of their Empire from the straight of Hellespont to the East Indies by Centinels which were set vpon the mountaines that they should not speake vnto him but through a trauers like vnto the Kings of Borney that hee should not see his subiects but bare-headed and couered with ashes or that hee should not shew himselfe but once a yeare like to the first Kings of France But my meaning is to speake of that inuiolable and glorious respect which bindes a Prince not to say do or
month a Porter a Pastry man a Baker two Carters to either of them sixe pounds a yeare To a Groome of the Stable and two to assist him eight and forty shillings a month A Farrier twelue pounds The Maister of the Chamber of the Kings Treasor had sixe score pounds and the Comptrouler fifty i King Lewis the 11. gaue thirty pounds of increase to Martin Barthelot Maister of the Chamber of his Treasure but the chamber of Accompts would not allow of it without a speciall command the which was dispatched at Paray le Moinat the sixt of Aprill 1481. They gaue but fiue shillings for the Groomes Liuery and foure and twenty shillings for Cloakes for the Clarkes Notaries and Secretaries of the house and Crowne of France His expence was not all in one place many did profite by it and did draw their commodities out of the liuely Springs of the Princes Magnificence Lewis remained little at Paris but most at Plessis I haue obserued in the Accomps of the Chamber of the Treasure k By the Accompts of the Kings house which were made monthly we find that in twelue yeares they were made but twice at Paris the one in the Kings house and the other in that of Maister Iohn of Popin court that there past not any yeare but hee made many voiages and that Paris saw him but seldome In the meane time he kept not his Chamber to liue at his ease neither did hee imitate the first Kings who did not shew themselues vnto their subiects but like the Images of the Gods which they drew once a yeare out of their gilded boxes He did visite his Prouinces hee spent not the twelue monthes in one sole lodging of the Zodiake Neither did hee send his affaires to the Maior of the Pallace l Clouis the 2. the 12. King of France beganne to giue to his successours vntill Charlemaigne the name of idle They were seene but once a yeare Magnificence doth not alwaies consist in the priuate expences of a Princes house Magnificence how farre it extends in numbers of Horses and Dogs nor in the shew of Lyons Tygers Leopards or Elephants it should appeare in Receiuing Lodging Feasting and defraying forraine Princes and their Embassadours This Prince in such occasions made it knowne that Magnificence doth not dwell but in Kings houses and that Frances was the Theater Hee receiued in this manner the King of Portugall the Queene of England and the Prince of Wales her sonne René of Aniou King of Sicile the Duke of Sauoy and the Princesses of Sauoy Anne Louyse and Mary m The expence of these three Princesses came to forty two pounds eleuen shillings and a peny from the 28 of October to the 24 of Nouember By the same respects of Magnificence which will that a Prince labour to content the eyes and minds of others as himselfe n A Prince doth many things wherewith hee might dispence if hee had none to content but his owne s◠lf Magnum est personam in Repubtueri principis qui non animis solum sed occulis ciuiū seruire debet It is a great matter to maintaine the person of Prince in a state who is not onely bound to serue the Cittizens minds but also their eyes Cic. hee made many other expences which were esteemed and commended both by his Subiects and Strangers He did often and for many daies feast and defray the Embassadours of England Hungary Arragon and Naples In the yeare 1477. in March the king of England sent the Lord Howard to visite him being followed by three score and tenne persons whom he defrayed all the time of his abode in France The good cheere hee made vnto the English at Amiens after the Treaty of Pyquigny and the twelue pipes of wine of the growth of Fay Monjan which hee caused to be conueyed to Deipe to giue to Edward King of England bound the English to those cries of ioy which were heard in their Army and at their departure A largesse for the Noble King of France But as there is one kind of Magnificence which is all in shew and doth purchase great applause among the people so there is another which is not so glorious and hath much fruite It is that which giues pensions to strangers and doth bind them to serue the Prince o He doth gratefie his memory in binding learned men vnto him who haue credit with posterity Senec. which doth nourish aduance and recompence good wits entertaines excellent Artists fauours good inuentions and all those that haue any credite with posterity There is also an other which is Religious Religious Magnificence and which hath not beene knowne but by the most Christian Kings who without wronging the greatnesse of their Maiesty made their houses a refuge for the miserable Robert sonne to Hugh Capet had commonly a thousand poore men in his traine hee gaue them horses to follow him and to pray for him p Lewis the 9. was founder of 28. Colledges in France who dying commanded his sonne to bee deuout to God and charitable to the poore Lewis the eleuenth had ordinarily sixe score and in Lent two hundred and forty whom he fed with meate from his Table And yet this is not the whole extent of Magnificence it goes farther and will be seene in Plaies Shewes and Iousts and in things which are rare and not common q In publicke calamities the Greeks and the Romans did vow Hecatombs they did sacrifice a hundred beastes vpon so many piles of wood Si verò Imperatorum votum esset centū Leones centumque Aquilae vnà mactabantur If it were the Emperours vow then were there a hundred Lyons and a hundred Eagles slaine together when as the people did vow Hecatombes of hundred Oxen and a hundred Sheepe the Emperours did offer a hundred Eagles and a hundred Lions But the expence which is wholy employed for sight entertaines the people but till they thinke of the belly A remembrance which dispenceth with all other things and hath no share in publicke cares but that which doth prouide meanes to content it r The multitude cares not for the conduct and good successe of affaires so they find corne at Market Vulgo vna ex republica Annonae curae The common people haue no care of the Common-weale but for Corne. when it endures any want all Sights all Plaies all Sports are tedious and makes them say that the Feast is made at their charge The Princes Magnificence must therefore shew her effects in things whereas the pleasure incounters with profite and which passe not with the contentment which the spirit takes in admiring them like vnto the daughter of Maruell which inamels her halfe circle vnprofitably in the Aire The Prince must not imitate the pride of the Pharaohs of Egypt who employed the sweate of their Subiects and the treasure of their Cofers in workes of Ostentation s They say that
great Princes good and wise going before this who had continued sixescore yeares or more and liued well and vertuously God gaue this duke Charles who continâ—ally held his Subiects in great warres toyle and expence and in â— manner in Winter as much as in Sommer so as many rich men were slain or ruined by imprisonment in these warres The greatlosses began before Nuz and were continued by three or foure batels euen vnto his death so as in this last battell all the force of â—is Country was consumed and his men either slaine or taken prisâ—ners who might and would haâ—e defended the State and honour if his house And so as I haue said it seemes that this losse hatâ— beene equall to the time that they were in felicitie for as I haue said to haue seene it great rich and honoured so I may say to haâ— seene it all in his Subiects for I thinke that I haue seene and knowne the best part of Europe yet haue I not knowne any State or Country so much for so much nor of larger limits that did so much abound in riches moueables and buildings nor in prodigaliti expence feasting and good cheare as I haue seene during the 〈◊〉 I was there And if it seeme to any one who was not there in â—ose times that I speake too much others that were then preseâ— will happily say that I speake but little It is God which made this great and sumptuous building to fall suddenly that powerfull house which hath fed and maintained so many good men and hath been so much honored both far off and neere by so many trophees and victories as not any Neighbour in those times hath receiued the like And this felicity grace of God continued an hundred and twentie yeares when as all their Neighbours did suffer as France England and Spaine and they haue all come thither to require aide as you haue seene by experience of the King our Maister who in his youth and during the life of King Charles the seuenth his Father liued sixe yeares there in the time of the good Duke Philip who receiued him louingly From England I haue seene King Edwards two Brethren there the Duke of Clarence and the Duke of Glocester who afterwards called himselfe King Richard and of King Henries partie who was of the house of Lancaster I haue seene in a manner all that race there I haue seen this house honoured from all parts and then suddenly fall and to be the most desolate and ruinous house both in Princes Subiects of all her Neighbours Enemies THere is not any thing which a Prince should not doe to send an Enemie out of his Realme Lib. 4. Chap. 8. but he must not yeelde to giue him any land by the example of king Lewis the eleuenth to haue Edward the fourth repasse the Sea who said that hee would hazard all rather then giue him any places Enterprises WE must be slow and fearefull in Enterprises Lib. 2. Cha. 10. pursue them in such sort as we may be sure to be the stronger Such was Lewis the eleuenth In all Enterprises we must relie cheefely vpon God Lib. 2. Chap. 1. Battailes THe cheefest things in battailes are Archers Lib. 1. Chap. 3. 〈◊〉 as there be thousands for beeing in a small number they are not of any force and that they be ill mounted to the end that the bee not greeued to loose their horses or that they haue not any at 〈◊〉 And it is better for this kind of armes in a day of battaile to haue â—hose that neuer saw any thing then others that haue had much praâ—ise The English hold this opinion who are the flower of all the â—rchers of the world Battailes are in the hand of God Lib. 1. Chap. 3. who disposeth 〈◊〉 victories at his pleasure Matters succeed not in the field as they are coâ—cluded in a Chamber Example of the battaile of Montlehery whereaâ—he Earle of Charolois did quite contrarie to that which had been resolued It is dangerous for any one to hazard his estate vpon a battell Lib. 2. Chap. 2. if he may auoide it For although the number be small that he loose yet the hearts of his men are danted and the change more then can be imagined as well in feare of their enemies as in contempt of of their Master and of their trustie seruants and they fall into mutinies and practises demanding more boldly then they were wont and they grow angry if they be refused One Crowne before would haue satisfied them better then three wil now And if he that hath lost be wise he will not at such a time hazard any thing with them that haue fled But onely stand vpon his gard and seeke out something easie to vanquish whereas they may be Masters to put fresh courage into them and take away feare Howsoeuer a lost Battell hath alwaies a great traine and bad for the looser True it is that Conquerors should seeke it to shorten their worke especially they that haue good footmen and better then their neighbours as wee may say at this day the English or Suisses I speake not this to contemne other Nations but those haue had great victories and their men are not to hold the field long without imploiment as the French or Italians can doe who are wiser or more easie to leade Contrariwise he that gaines growes into greater reputation and esteeme with his men then before His obedience encreaseth among his subiects In this estimation they grant him whatsoeuer he demands and his men grow more couragious and hardie Also the said Princes do sometimes grow so glorious and proud as they miscarry afterwards and hereof I speak vpon knowledge But such grace comes onely from God Euery one should be fearefull to hazard a battell that is not forced Lib. 2. Chap. 4. But if there be no remedie before he come to it he must cast all the doubts that can be thought on For commonly they that doe things fearefully make prouision for all euents and gaine oftener then they that proceed with pride yet when God will haue a hand in it nothing can preuaile Euery man should doe what he may Lib. 2 Chap. 3. and what he ought in a day of Battell and acknowledge that it is one of the accomplishments of the worke of God begun sometimes vpon small occasions and giuing victorie sometimes to the one and sometimes to the other And this is so great a misterie as Realmes and great Siegnories are sometimes ruined and others increase and begin to raigne Warre IT is an easie matter to begin Warre betwixt two great Princes but hard to pacifie it by reason of the accidents which happen For many exploits are done of either side to anoy his enemy which on the sudden cannot be recalled It is a great folly in a Prince to submit himselfe to the power of an other especially when they are in warre It is a great show of
had agreed to settle and maitaine her Empire held no more accompt of her and conspired with her enemies to ruine her And as too much greefe makes men to loose all feeling the excesse of her miseries which had no ease but custome u Custome is the onely case of ineuitable miseries and those calamities which are growen into a custome giue some contents vnto miserable men made the French so accustomed to the darknes of seruitude as they grew ignorant of the light of libertie and they which were borne vnder the yoke did lay a foundation of this forraine domination by the length of their sufferance In this terrible ebbing and flowing of calamities capable to make the strongest men faint and effeminate x Great courages grow resolwe against misfortunes take aduersiâ—â—â—s for exercises of their vertue others are presently deiected Tacit. Ann. l. 4 Charles continued still constant in his resolution and God did comfort him by the birth of the Dauphin at Bourges the sixt of Iuly 1423. the twentieth yeare of his age the first of his raigne the nineteenth of his marriage with Mary Daughter to Lewis Duke of Anjou and King of Sicile The ioy was great the Historie sayes they generally cryed Christmas an ordinarie cry at publicke ioyes in those daies It is a great proofe of the peoples loue when as they reioice at their Princes issue and hold the want of it a misfortune y It is a great testimonie of the bounty of a Prince wâ—en as they reioyce at the birth of his children or when as the want of them is accounted amongst the miseries of the coÌ„mon wealth They went not to seeke godfathers in the soueraigne houses of Europe Iohn of Alancon godfather to Lewis the eleuenth the ioy past with lesse brute Iohn Duke of Alençon first Prince of the bloud carried the new Prince to be baptised and gaue him the name of Lewis If they made some scruple to giue him his fathers or his godfathers name as it was an old pagan error that there was some fatallity in names z The ancients had great respect to names They had certaine dares for the impesition and profession of names feasts which they called Nominales holding for a good signe the encounter and choise of a goodly name as Valerius Saluius Statorius and in the leuie of men of warre the Consul had a care vt primus miles esset bono nomine That the for most souldiour should haue a good name and was then in credit it may bee they remembred the captiuitie of King Iohn in England and the stormes wherewith his descendants called Charles had beene shaken Ignorance was so bould and generall in those dayes as all they that haue dealt in the historie beeing neither curious nor diligent haue not left any mention of the education of the Princes of France whereon notwithstanding is grounded the hopes of the rest of their liues For such as they haue shewed themselues in their first inclinations such are they knowne to bee afterwards Seldome do they hate that in the end of their daies which they haue loued in the beginning The care of such deere and Important persons hath alwaies beene very great in the house of France they suffer nothing that is pestilent or infectious to approche a The Egyptians did not suffer any about the Kings children but such as were well bred and of a generous disposition they were alwaies serued and followed by their Priests Children attired in habites fit for their profession of great modestie and aboue twentie yeares ould to the end that beeing alwayes guiled by the Ministers of their gods they might bee retained within the bounds of maiestie and vertue HERODOT This spring must water the whole State and it is hard for them to erre and faile among so many examples of vertue valor and courage which are like whetstones to giue an edge to generous natures He gaue such timely proofes as he made it knowne that Iudgement reason appeared sooner in Kings children b Great natures discouer themselues soone So Plutarch said that Pompey did in the flower of his youth show a venerable greatnes of reall maiestie in his actions and manners then in others that lyllies put forth sooner then common flowers at the breake of his morning they saw that which they should expect of him all the rest of the day Marriage of Lewis the eleuenth His Father married him at thirteene yeares to the Lady Margaret Steward daughter to Iames the first King of Scotland as King Charles the sixt had married him at eleuen yeares The Ambassadors being sent into Scotland to bring this Princesse were crossed by the English being iealous and offended at this alliance which renewed and confirmed those which since Charlemaine c Charles the great Emperor and King of France hauing bene assisted by Achaius king of Scotland in Spaine against the Sâ—rasâ—ns and in Germanie against the Saxons made an offensiue defensiue league with him and gaue him his daughter to wife in the yeare 777. had been betwixt these two Crownes and put them into a great apprehension that whilest they should be busie in France wheras their affayres began to decline the Scots might trouble them in England They offered to yeeld him Barwick and Rosbourg with all other places which were in question if he would dissolue the promise of this marriage The estates of Scotland assembled vpon this proposition Parlement in Scotland The Clergie was diuided most part saying that it was iust and profitable that the refusal would be pernicious and that to attaine vnto a good peace with their neighbours they must not so much regard things past as the future and the incertainty of euents The Nobilitie did couragiously resist the designe of the English crying out that their enemies counsell was poison presented in a cup of gold a goodly pretext to ruine them a practise to diuide Scotland from their ancient friends and then subiect them more easily to their enemies d We must not onely consider matter which are past but those which are also to come And in truth they to whom fortune hath neuer turned her backedâ—e not without cause feare the doubtfulnes of variable euens so as a certaine peace were alwaies to be preferred before a doubtfull victory for that the first is in our will and disposition and the last in the hand power of the immortall god The words of Hannibal to Scipio Tit. Liâ— The English being refused of their request they fall to threates and declare that they had shipps at sea to stop the Princesse passage Mary Steward sent into France This made the King resolue to send her soner then he had intended the estates beseching him not to deferre to trust his Daughter to his Sonne who trusted them with the guard e St. Lewis being at the holy land escapt a conspiracy made against his person by the King
facile puellas oculis adiiceret easque deperiret the Earle of Warwick being wounded in so sensible and tender a part began to distaste the seruice which he did him and repenting him of that which he had formerly done hee retired from Court into his Earldome of Warwicke The Earle of Warwick reuolts whereas his hard fortune made him know the difference of his friends b In the disgrace and crosses of fortune friends are knowne Namertes answered him that required a rule to know them by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plut. and where he shews that a great courage had rather die reuenged then liue with the reproch of a wrong or an affront The Duke of Clarence the Kings Brother the Archbishop of Yorke and the Marquis of Montague came vnto him Euery one brought his complaint with him and the vlcer he had in his heart against Edward The Earle of Warwick represented vnto them the miserable estate they ranne into if they did not labour to restore King Henry to his Fathers throne and themselues to libertie To binde the Duke of Clarence to this designe hee giues him his Daughter He makes a league with the Duâ— of Clarence Proximitie of bloud did sufficiently binde the other two being his Brethren whose friendship he might account among the sweet fruits of his felicitie c It is a part of the sweetnes felicitie of life to see Telemachus recounting his miseries amoÌ„g which he reports that he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without a broâ—â—er Plut. The partie was made and the resolution taken vpon the consideration of things present to come was that he should goe to Calice and in his absence they should make some stirres in the Prouince of Yorke to the end hee might haue a subiect to come thither and to arme The pretext of rising was for the deniall of some Corne which they of the Earle of Warwicks faction refused to pay for the entertainment of St Leonards Hospitall in Yorke and there were others which did murmure giuing it out that what should serue the poore was spent by great men d Sedition can haue no iust causes but the most apparant are wheâ— as priuate men make their profit of that which belongs to the publike In a word it is inequalitie and Iniustice This refusall did so incense the people Commotion in Yorkshire as in a short time there were fifteene thousand men in armes which marched directly to Yorke to haue reason of them which refused to pay what they ought vnto the Hospitall But when as they found themselues too weake An Armie at the gaâ—es of London being a multitude of seditious and mutenous fellowes who are naturally cowards and hauing no Canon to force an entrie they past to London to demand Iustice of the King with torches of rebellion in their fists e Seâ—ition is alwaies saint and cowardly and cowards are euer most seditioâ—s QuantuÌ„â—abes ad â—ustinendum laboreÌ„ miles tanto ad discordias proÌ„ptior Tac. Hist. Lib. 2. The Earle of Warwick was no sooner aduertised of these broiles but he parted from Calice with the Duke of Clarence and came and ioined with this multitude who wanted not any thing but a head King Henries presence and the Earles did countenance the faction and increase it with a greater number with the which he resolued to giue Battell to recompence the errors ruines and occasion past f Hee that knowes how to giue a Battell recouers â—is reputation if it were blemished it restores him if he be ruined excuseth all errors which he hath coÌ„mitted in warre for a Battell won defaceth all misfortunes reproch of other precedent actions The Earle of Pembroke whom the King of England had sent not to fight but to punish those rebels was put to route and they had the victory Richard Lord Riuers father to Queene Elizabeth and his sonne Iohn Wooduille with some other Gentlemen lost their heads The King sought to make some accord with the Earle of Warwicke and vpon the assurance which he gaue him neglected to keep good gard in his Campe the which should not bee omitted euen among friends Loue goes naked by day and armed by night g Crates said that loue went al day naked but at night hee caried a Cuirasse that a prince which trusts in the loue of his subiects may by day goe in safety and without feare but by night he should haue his gard The Earle of Warwicke hauing obserued this carelesse guard by his spies he vndertooke to charge him by night â—dward defeated and taken prisoner with so great aduantage as killing all he found in the trenches hee came without any resistance to the place where the King was whom he tooke prisoner and led away But for that they could not make good vse of this fortune they ruined themselues and vndid King Henry for whom they had taken Armes God who hath a speciall care of Kings depriued them of Iudgement for although they knew well that it was impossible to settle King Henry peaceably in the Realme during Edwards life yet could they not keep him so well but hee escaped hauing corrupted his gards with hopes and goodly promises whereof great men are no nigards when they haue need of their inferiors Edward being at libertie recouers Yorke where he was receiued with ioy which was as great as it was vnexpected From thence he went to London to confirme their wils whom his captiuitie had made to wauer and considering that victory doth alwaies fauour them which haue the aduantage both of Councell and force h A prince hath a great aduantage ouer his enemie when he exceeds him in Armes and that hee hath the CouÌ„cels executions sooner readie then he he raised a might Armie and went to seeke out the Earle of Warwicke Earle of Warwick defeated whom he put to rout and returned triumphantly the victorie was made famous by the death of ten thousand men Queene Margaret Prince Edward her Sonne the Duke of Clarence and his wife the Earle of Warwick with their children and friends were forced to flye They came to Calice but the Earle of Warwicks Lieutenant would not receiue them nor scarce suffer them to carrie two bottels of Wine for the Duchesse of Clarence who was deliuered of a Sonne whilest the ship rode at an Anchor This rudenes and indiscretion did so please King Edward and the Duke of Bourgundy as the one sent him authoritie to command as Gouernor of Calais and the other a good pension to increase his entertainement The Earle of Warwicke who was much esteemed in France and in great credit with the King for his worthy deeds which had made his reputation great and not easie to bee shaken i ReputatioÌ„ is a Colosse which is hardly raised by reason of its waight buy wheÌ„ it is vp it staÌ„ds firme and supports it selfe by his owne heauines It is hard to lay the
notwithstanding that discretion had not beene arbitrator betwixt his tongue and heart that the Marchant had seene and heard too much o There haue beene Princes which haue put their seruants to death hauing heard wordes the report whereof was dangerous Alexander dealt therein more discrectly for finding that Ephestion had seen in his letter an aduice of importance he only toucht his lippes with his seale without any word speaking and Lewis deâ—lt more royally who bought them at a deer rate which might haue carried words that had escaped him inconsiderately and that Edward might cause this first flower of Peace which was but in the bud to wither Cause not foreseene of a good fortune if these words were reported vnto him He therefore resolued to buy this Marchant vpon some pretext of seruice He imployed Philip de Commines who wonne him offering him an office in the towne where hee was borne the transport of the wines which he demanded and a hundred pounds starling to send for his family but vpon condition that he should not goe into England the King condemning himselfe willingly in the penaltie for that he had spoken too freely The most couragious but especially the French which were retired into England blamed this peace Many held it for a worke of heauen saying that it had accomplished the Prophesies which the holy Ghost had made p Men draw great Predictions from small matters In the Conclaâ—e held for the election of a Pope after the death of Paul the fourth a Doue flying rested vpon the Cell of Cardinal Iohn Ange Mediguin who was named Pius the fourth and it was taken for an assurance of his election that a white Doue the day of the enteruiew of the two Kings had sat vpon King Edwards tent and that all the noise of the Armie could not driue her away A Gentleman Gascon called Bretailles who serued the King of England was discontented at the Peace and mockt at his iest He said that this Doue being beaten with the raine had fallen vpon this tent as the highest to dry her selfe in the Sunne He talked with Phillip de Commines who knew him and said You had reason to laugh at vs. To whom Commines but not touching that said How many Battels hath your King woon Wisedome of Phil. de Com. to auoid a needlesse discourse Nine answered Bretailles q K. Edward the fourth was in nine Battels fighting on feet to assure the Crown of EnglaÌ„d on his head and to ruine the house of Lancaster And how many hath he lost one onely which is that vvhich hee might haue woon in France so great a losse as it hath blemished the honour of nine which hee hath wonne for this tenth vvas the crowning of all the rest They came and told the King that this Gascon was a free spoken man and that in the libertie of his speech he might make his masters thoughts knowne and alter the mindes of many The King sent for him caused him to dine at his table and by his purse stopt his mouth and made him say as the rest that the holy Ghost had made the Peace In one houre Bretailles setled an assured reuenue for euer vpon the timiditie of this Prince r We may say of King Lewis as Plutark did of Nicias he gaue not lesse to theÌ„ that might doe ill then to those that deserued well who were worthy to taste of his bounty so as his feare was a reuenue rent vnto the wicked as well as his bounty was vnto good men The Duke of Bourgundy seeing that the King of England was farre off began to bethinke himselfe He had seene the inconstancie of the English Contay had represented vnto him that of the Constable and the discourse which hee had heard behind the Portall All this would not suffer him to grow obstinate against reason and moreouer the King is armed against the frontier of Hainault who demands it and offers to doe it and he hath a liuely impression of the great perplexitie which an irresolute soule doth suffer that liues in suspence betwixt hope and feare s Whilst our soules are in suspence betwixt hope and feare wee doe not enioy the present and the future torments vs. Hugonet the Dukes Chancellor sent the King word that if it pleased him to send his Deputies vnto the bridge Treatie of Peace betwixt the King the D. of Bourgundie mid-way betwixt Auennes and Veruins the Dukes should be there to resolue vpon that which was presented The King would be present notwithstanding that his Councell disswaded him and hee led with him Haward and Cheney Hostages which the King of England had left One of them being sorrie for the Peace seeing the Deputies for the Duke of Bourgundy accompanied with a great number of soldiers well mounted and armed said that if the Duke of Bourgundy had shewed many such to the King of England hee had not so suddenly repast the Sea Philip de Commines to whom these words were spoken answered not any thing he had so great patience in hearing and such stay in his speech as it was no paine for him to hold his peace in occasions where the tongue sometimes escapes t He that is not patient to hold his peace can not be discreet in speaking The Vicont of Narbonne who had heard them said that without doubt the Duke of Bourgundy had a good number but the English had so great a desire to returne into England as they were contented with six hundred pipes of wine and a pension which the King gaue them This English man who was much altered with this Peace found his griefe doubled with this flout and all fuming with choller hee said It is true that was told vs that you would iest at vs call you the money which the King giues vs a Pension u Euery man giues what names hee pleaseth to things That which in effect was a pension the English call tribute An insupportable word to a free Nation Saluian lameÌ„ting the condition of the Empire of Rome which payed Tribute vnto the FreÌ„ch who had newly seazed vpon Gâ—ul saith Aurâ—m quod peÌ„dimus munera vocamus dicimus donum esse quod pretium et quidam coÌ„diâ—onis miserimae The gold we bestow we cal reward we terme that a gift which is a price and of a most wreâ—ched condition It is a Tribute and by S t George you may speake so much as we shall returne Philip de Commines O the wise man brake off this Discourse and from serious and biting as it was and might haue been worse for the French would neuer haue endured that they should haue termed France tributarie to England turned it to a Iest. But the Englishman was discontented and complained to the King who was much offended with the Vicont of Narbonne who had not considered that to bad demands good answeres cost little and profit much and that a small matter cals back
inteÌ„tions Archidamus sonne to Agesilaus said that sheepe knâ—w but one note but Kings had many to vse as they pleased words did but inflame the flint of his reuenge the more and from the concurrence of these two contraries rose the last tempest which ruined the Constable Yet he made shew to approue his Intentions he said they were good and called a secretary vnto him to write a letter The King sends for the Constable by the which he gaue him aduice of all that had past with the English and that for the troble of minde wherein he was to dispatch many great affayres he had greate neede of his head If he had promised to saue him he would haue accepted the neck of his promises he was so constrained to make an example of the trechery of a bad subiect Rapin was not cunning enough to obserue two things which past at this instant m Paul Erizze gouernor of Negrepont hauing yeelded in the yeare 1470. vppon condicioÌ„ that they should saue his head Mahomet caused him to be sawne in two and when he reproched him with the breach of his word he said vnto him that the flanks were not comprehended in the promise to saue his hed Iustinian the one was that the king turning to the Lord Haward deputie for the King of England and the Siegneour of Contay expounding vnto them the counterfence of this letter saied I doe not meane that we should haue his body but his head only The other was that the Lord of Lude demanded of Rapine if he knew where his masters ready money was a word which should haue condemned the mouth from whence it came to perpetuall silence n By the law of the Gymnosophists they that haue once accused the vse of the tongue are condemned to perpetuall sylence It was sooner deliuered then considered there are witts which betraie wisdome and discretion their suddainesse stayes vppon the first obiects they are not allwayes ready This speech should haue serued as a Trumpet to giue the Constable an Alarum who vnderstanding what Rapine had done and heard chose rather to commit his safty to a good place then to the Kings good words He had caused the Castell of Han to be built and within it a Tower six and thirtie foote thick Castell of Han built by the Constable vppon the porte whereof there was seene a corde wouen with two tassells hanging on the one side and the other and this motto of his humor Mon Mieux He assured himselfe to finde his best alwayes in that place in the worst estate of his fortune and from thence hee should see as from a safe shoare the waues and winds play vppon France But there is no rock nor Acrocorinthe that can hould at the presence of a Prince which meanes to punnish the infidelity of his subiect Against a iust enemie they must make it knowne that a greate courage hath not lesse Clemencie beeing discouered then valour in Armes o Mithridatus king of Bosphorus being defeated vanquishâ—d he intreated the Emperor to make him fire warre his answere was short and generous That at Rome there was as much clemency against the vanquished as courage against an armed enemie But against disloyalltie and ingratitude all pitty is crueltie Hee had propounded to retire himselfe thether but considering that hee should bee beseeged by the Kings forces and the Duke of Bourgundies hee resolues to goe into Germany to imploy his mony in the pourchase of some place vppon the Rhine or else to passe into Spayne Perplexities of the Constable There was not any Sainct in paradice in whom hee durst trust By Sainct Quentin hee had alwaies shrowded himselfe from the thunderclaps of these two Princes By Saint Quentin he did hope to passe without touch amidst so many arrowes that were shot at him He would haue kept these Princes in feare doubt and they now driue him into an amazement p A dangerous course to keepe his maister in feare and iealousie Although that euery man saith Phil. de Com seekes to free himselfe from suspition and feare and that euery man hates him that keepes him in it yet there is not any one that in this point comes neere to Princes for I neuer knew any but did mortally hate them that would keepe them in feare and to the sad thoughtes of his ruine This Castle of Saint-Quentin was but a prison vnto him q Great men in the gouernemeÌ„t of publike affaires must make themselus famous and not enuyed by their pride and insolencie hee neuer heares it named but his soule is tormented Hee added to these meditations publike hatred raysed against him by the Insolency of his carriage hauing vsed his great offices to purchase enuy of the great and to oppresse the meaner sort besides the libells scandalous songs which had been heard publickly throughout Paris the which had had more credit and course beeing prohibited then if the reading had beene allowed for such drogues do presently loose their sent when they are vented the trouble to recouer them augments the currosity Beeing prest and opprest with these difficulties all resolution abandons him as he had abandoned himselfe There was danger in going forth and danger in staying France threatned him with death England with captiuity and Flanders with scorne In these trances and amazements which are not so great without as those which his Conscience giues him inwardly to see that he is held of all men as r It were much better not to be in the number of men then to be held among those that are borne for the ruine of the coÌ„mon-weale borne to the ruine of the Common-weale he cast his eyes to that part whereas nature had first opened them The Constable reâ—ires to to Mons in Hainault desiring rather to giue himselfe vnto the Duke then to suffer himselfe to bee taken by the King hee goes to Mons in Henault vppon a pasport which they gaue him with fifteene or twentie horse not considering that the firmest frendship doth not passe the Altars nor the respects of dutie which we owe vnto superiors and that in Accidents of iniustice the proofe is s It is dangerus to trie frends against Princes and lawes Alcibiades to make this triall one a time called them whom he held to bee his friends and led them one after another into a darke place shewing them the Image of a dead body and saying that it was a man whome hee had slayne intreating them to helpe to bury him but hee found but one among them all that would yeeld vnto it and that was Callias Happy is hee that hath manie friends but vnhappy that hath neede of them daungerous He trusted in the Lord of Emery Balife of Henault his surest frend who commanded there for the Duke It is hard to take an old fox Mucho sabe la Raposa pero mas el que la toma A she Fox knowes
haue relinquished our owne right and thought good to surcease The Embassadours of Venice and Florence fall to an examination of the Articles They finde not any pleasing vnto them they make new demands wil haue all restored which had ben taken during the war they passe ouer the Popes interests respects highly and say plainely that the affaires are changed being no more in the estate they were in before they had made a peace with the Turke the which they declared they would maintain constantly and fully ConditioÌ„s of Peace refused As for demanding absolution after the forme of the Church there was no such meaning d Pia insuper sanctaque impiè nefandissimè occisorum Christianorum Domini suffragià Cardinalis legati detensioneÌ„ ambagibus quibusdam praetereunt Qui vero monumentuÌ„ declinandum existiment si nostram eam infamiam putant aequo animo per Deum superflui officij curam deponant Nam conscientia pluris est nobis quam omniuÌ„ sermo benefactis quorum testis est Deus maloruÌ„ calumnias veras nobis laudes adscribimus Discrimen iniustae criminationis malumus subire quam tot defunctorum animas refrigerio iusto carere Qui si ad seipsos eam infamiam referunt imièque factoruÌ„ delere de ciuitaâ—e memoriaÌ„ cupiunt sunt haud dubiè in seipsos mortuos duri Ad iterandam enim contritionem proximisque praebendum exemplum subleu andumque imprimis extinctorum animas stare ante oculos peccatum volunt durae nimirum recusationis suae culpa haec est non misericordis postulati nostri They thinke it would be no honour for them to entertaine an odious remembrance of things past causing Anniuersaries to be said for the soules of the dead to giue new assurance of their affection toward the Church there was no mention When as the Pope saw this Popes coÌ„plaint against the League he assembled the Consistory with the Embassadors e Vertimur ad vos Itali CoÌ„federati Oratores quoruÌ„ causa haec agimus lamentamur primo 〈◊〉 Deo fratribus nostris ceterisque Legatis in hoc loco presentibê° vocem patris plena salutis coÌ„silia ad hunc diem non audita esse Clementia nostra vestâ—os Principes pie non vsos plus apud eos armorum belli fiduciam quam Matris vestrae Apostolici Sedis charitateÌ„ obseruantiam valuisse Angimur quoque tam longinquam missionem amicissi Regis curamque eius vigilias pro viribus susceptas sanctumque pro fide proposituÌ„ successum per vos non habuisse of the Emperour Frederick of Lewis the French King of Edward King of England of Ferdinand King of Arragon of Maximilian Arch-Duke of Austria and of the Confederates He complained of the contempt of his authority and told the Embassadors of the league that he lamented the obstinacy of their Princes who would not hearken to the voyce and wholesome counsell of their father whose bounty they did abuse and had more confidence in their owne Armes then affection to the Church their mother That he was exceeding sorry that the Kings Embassage and the good Offices which he had done to the holy Sea should remaine without effect that for his part his conscience should neuer accuse him to haue contemned any thing for the good of the Church that his armes were alwayes open to receiue them that would repent And for that the Embassadors of Venice Florence and Millan demanded leaue to depart he declared that they were free that he would not force the necessity of their returne but if they would stay they might with all safety that it might be time and their presence might make those things easie which seemed difficult IntelligeÌ„ces of the Duke of Brittaine discouered and that sometimes Treaties were broken off to be vnited againe more firmely But it is more time to repasse the mountaines and see how the King makes his profite of these last accidents Estates are like vnto ships all things are not so well but there is still some disorder It seemed that the Duke of Bourgundies death had brought France to that estate as she could not desire any thing else to make her felicity perfect But there is yet another Duke which hinders this perfection It is he of Brittany who since the Treaty made at Victoire neere vnto Senlis hath not discontinued his practises in England forgetting that the English had alwayes reserued this Prouince for the exercise of their Armes when they should be weary of peace f Edward the third King of England would not haue the Duke of Brittaine compreheÌ„ded in the Treaty of Bretigny to the end he might haue meanes to vent in this prouince the boiling humours of his Realme haue where to discharge himselfe of his Souldiers and that they haue taken delight to see him in bad tearmes with the King The Duke was more earnest and carefull hereof when he saw that he had lost the Duke of Bourgundy assuring himselfe that the King would fall vpon him and that it would be verified of him what the Fable sayes of the Larke in the Hawkes tallants g The weake receiues from one that is more strong what Law he pleaseth The Larke saith Hesiodus demanded of the Spar-hawke why he offered him violence Miserable answered the Spar-hawke why dost thou complaine a stronger hath thee in his power Wherefore he sent often to visit the King to entertain him in a good opinion of his pains and the fidelity of his promises and yet he continued his practises with the King of England The secret of this practise depended of Peter Landays Disposition of Peter Landais Superintendant of the Dukes affaires and Treasure an able and sufficient man to manage such Monopolies He had Flattery for great men arrogancy and brauery for Inferiors and he was difficult and seuere to them that were his equals h These three qualities attributed to Landays haue been giuen to Cutius Râ—fus a man whom Tiberius to â—â—de the bâ—sâ—nesse of his extraction said to be borne of himselfe Curtius Rufus videtur mihi ex se nâ—tus Curtius Ruâ—us seemes to me to be borne of himselfe Tacitus addes that hee was Aduâ—rsus superiores tristi adulati ne arroâ—aâ—â—s minoribus inter pares difficilis To his superiours a sowre flatterer arrogant to his inferiors and difficult to his equals Tacit. Animal Lib. 11. He imployed and called Maurice Bromell who carried and recarried the Packets The King who had spies euery where discouers the messenger and wins Bromell who by meanes of a Norman that could counterfeit the King of Englands hand the Duke of Brittaines and their Secretaries sent the originall letters vnto the King and carried the counterfeit Copies into England The Duke of Brittaine who thought he had no other witnesse in this action then the Sunne and that the king could haue no knowledge therof i In Actions which
yeeld to any thing contrary to the dignity of his Crowne which cannot endure to be forced and doth neuer shew himselfe in publicke actions but with what is fit and necessary for his greatnesse and power e The words and actions of Princes are so considered and the people iudge of them as they vnderstand them and therefore should alwayes appeare Maiesticall and if it may bee Diuine And ancient Grecian said That a Prince should not speake before the people but as if hee were vpon a stage in a Tragedy This Maiesty is like vnto Moses Rod Maiesty compared to Moses rod. the which being held in the hand was the Instrument of admirable things but creeping on the earth there was nothing but horror and contempt Lewis the eleuenth was alwayes very carefull to maintaine this Maiesty being wonderfull desirous of reuerence respect and reputation and yet his priuate and familiar actions were very contrary This care was the last garment he put off hee shewed it vpon the tigpe of his lippes when as hee thrust forth the last words of his life He gaue it two supporters Feare and Admiratition f 〈…〉 that greâ— God who the Prince doth represent It is the support and protecâ—sion of an estae and confâ—â—â— bee contemned nor wronged but the whole body will be distempered maiestas Imperij solutis tutela Maiestly is the guardian of the Empires health another would haue maintained it with Loue and Authority but hee mist this first way at his comming to the Crowne and could neuer after recouer it hee found such sauadge humors and so accustomed to liberty that as the intemperance of the Patient iustifies the seuerity of the Physitian he was forced to vse fury to make mad men wise Thus his Maiesty was feared of the greatest Princes of Europe it was not contemned of any man without punishment and it was reuerenced of all his subiects This Maiesty was like vnto those Pictures which seemed fairest farre off It was admired in forraine Prouinces but it was something blemished by his carelesnesse and facility wherewith he did often wrong his greatest actions The Castillians at the voyage of Bayone scoffed at him to see him with so little pompe and maiesty Custome of Lewis 11 at ceremonies Vpon dayes of great shew hee caused some one to bee attired like himselfe g At the enterview of King Lewis the eleuenth and Edward the fourth at Piquigny Philip de Comines was attâ—â—ed like the King And yet a Prince should neuer doe any thing that should cause him to bee sought for among his subiects and seruants the brightnesse of his Maiesty must shine like vnto a Planet ouer the lesser starres Great men which inuiron a Prince giue a lustre to the greatnesse of Maiesty Offices of the crown The Offices of the Crowne are ordained to that end and the great dignities which France doth impart to great merites addes reuerence and doth incite their mindes to merit them It is like vnto the Garden of Phaeaces which abounds with all sorts of fruites It is not vnfitting to set downe heere who tasted of them during this Reigne h When as king Lewis the eleuenth came vnto the Crowne there was no Constable Arthur Duke of Brittanie Earle of Richmond was vnder the Reigne of Charles the seuenth Constable Lewis of Luxembourg Earle of Saint Paul no other carried the Sword during this Reigne Chancellour Peter of Moruilliers Iuvenall of Vrsins Lord of Treynell and Peter of Oriole Lord Steward The Lord of Nantoillet IOHN of Croi CHARLES of Melun ANTHONY of Croi sonne to IOHN of Croi and ANTHONY of Chabannes Earle of Damartin Chiefe Chamberer IOHN the second Duke of Bourbon i The Office of chefe Chamberer or Gentleman of the Chamber continued long in the house of Bourbon The King Saint Lewis gaue it to Robert of France his sonne Lewis the first Duke of Bourbon Charles the first Iohn the second Peter the second Dukes of Bourbon Lord Chamberlaine IOHN of Orleans Earle of Dunois ANTHONY of Chasteauneuf Lord of Lau. Marshals of France ANDREVV of Lauall Lord of Loheac IOHN Bastard of Armagnac Earle of Comminges Ioachim Rouant Lord of Gamasche of Boismenard and Peter of Rohan Lord of Gye There were but two vntill King Francis the first Admirall Iohn Lord of Montauban Lewis Bastard of Bourbon Earle of Rousillon Lewis Lord of Grauille Maister of the Crosse-bowes k The maister of the Ordinance of France or the Coâ—oncll of the Infantery haue succeeded in this charge Iohn of Estouteuille Lord of Torcy Great Butler the Lord of Lau. Wee finde not that hee had any Maister of his Horse or Maister of the Pantry Ioachim of Rouant was Maister of the Horse at his Coronation Yuon of Fau his chiefe Hunts-man Lewis of Lauall Lord of Chastillon was maister of the Waters and Forrests The ancient order of France was that Knights Banneret the Maister of the Pantrie the chiefe Caruer and the chiefe Cuppebearer should serue the King at the foure Annall Feastes and to either of them was giuen foure poundes sterling but when as Lewis the eleuenth neglected this Gratuity they forgot the Dutie It is one of the precepts of Maiesty that the markes of Soueraignty bee not imparted to any l A prince shold not be more sparing of any thing then of honours which depend of his maiesty yet hee suffered the Prince of Orange to stile himselfe Prince by the grace of God Here P. Mathew is deceiued and to René King of Sicile to seale in yellow Waxe in the yeare one thousand foure hundred sixty nine the which doth onely belong to the Kings of France other Princes of Christendome seale in waxe of diuers colours and to Charles Earle of Angoulesme to release prisoners when hee made his first entry into any Towne where he commanded m In this priuiledge but for once to Charles Earle of Angoules me prisoners for high Treason were excepted It was granted in the yeare 1477. Hee was very staied in giuing Titles of Honour and Dignity to great Families a Prince cannot bee too warie therein for it falles out often that the considerations which fauour the priuate merite of any one end with him when hee dies but when the dignitie is tyed vnto the person as the feodall titles of Dukes Marquises Earles and Barons bee the Family for the which the gratification was made is dispossest thereof when as the Landes goe away n Many disallowed that the feodall Titles of Dukes Marquises c. should bee giuen in France to the Land and not vnto the Bloud for it happens that some one loosing the land doth also loose the meanes to maintaine the Title which remaines Hence it comes that in England such dignities are not annexed to the Landes and Fees Policy in England for the titles of Houses but to the Bloud and the Descendants of the Familie The German doth not impart it to the
They might forbid them that were no Gentlemen to carry Armes which were not fit for their profession or for Gentlemen to carry any other Crests then their Fathers had done or to open the Helmet or to crowne them without permission It was also their duty to keepe the Blason of Armes of Houses u There were great considerations in the forme of Scutchions and in the Crests of Armes A Knights Scutchion might bee cut square or voided at his pleasure wherevnto a Crest was added taken out of part of the Armes and the Helmet shut and standâ—ng straight A Squires Scutchion was round like vnto a Rondache and had had no Crest but his Helmet onely shut turned on the one side to haue recourse vnto them vpon any dispute that might growe vpon differences and conformities Office of Heralds at Armes They kept a Register of the Deuices and Colours of Soueraigne Houses as White for France Blacke for England Red for Bourgondy Blewe for Savoy Yellow for Lorraine and Greene for Anjou The King at Armes in the house of Bourgondy had a care that such as were made noble should not carry a field gueles for that it was the colour reserued for the Prince This house did greatly obserue the Respects and Ceremonies of a Soueraigne pompe Magnificence of the house of Bourgondy When the Duke did eate at any solemne Feast besides all the ordinary state of Kings he had behinde him the Kings at Armes and Heralds with their Coates and Crownes and before him were set at a low Table two Vshers and two Sergeants with their Maces who had alwayes their eyes vpon his to execute his commandements vpon the least signe he should make yea to take the greatest prisoners which could not be taken else-where These Charges haue beene contemned by the contempt of persons which haue not desired them but to couer the indignity of their birth In former times they were not held but by Gentlemen whose honour carried them vnto dangers with the same courage that they which are lesse generous flye from them They had the guard of the Kings Chamber and had that charge which since the Archers of the Guard haue x The Sâ—rgeanâ—s at Armes by day carried a Mace before the King and guarded his Chamber by night and therfore du Tillet thinkes that they held the place of the Archers of the guard They shewed good proofe of their valour at the battell of Bouuines vnder Philip Augustus by reason whereof Saint Lewis did build the Church of Saint Katherine du Val des Escoliers and King Charles the fifth appointed the brotherhood there whereas at this day many Tombes are to bee seene which haue preserued the ancient forme of their habit and Armes That which Philip de Commines obserues of a Gascon which came into the place where as the King was at the stoole with three or foure confirmes this opinion of the small care hee had of the formes befitting Maiesty for although there were no Vshers at the doores Duty of Chamberlaines yet this facility to enter euen into the Cabinet was dangerous His Predecessors had prouided for it and the Chamberlaines were bound y The first care of the kings person belongs to the Lord Chamberlaine he was bound to lye at the Kings feete wheÌ„ the Queen was not present and so Peter Lord Chamberlaine to the king S. Lewis was buried at Saint Denis at his maisters feet as hee serued him liuing And at this day in the Assembly of the Estates when as the King sits in Iustice the Lord Chamberlaine sits at his feet by the duty of this charge not to suffer it but hee contemned it all the time of his reigne vntill the end when hee was more carefull of it then was needfull passing from a great facility and confidence to a rigorous seuerity and distrust to keepe his gates shut wee finde these words very remarkeable in the Ordonance of King Philip the long After the care of the soule they must not bee so negligent of the body as through negligence or bad guard any perils arriue especially when for one person many troubles may happen Wee therefore ordaine and doe therewith especially charge our Chamberlaine that no vnknowne person nor boy of poore estate enter into our Wardrope nor lay their hand nor bee at our bed making and that they suffer not any strange sheetes to bee layd on And wee command the Steward of our house that our Pantrie or Kitchin and all other Offices of our house bee so well and carefully kept as no danger may arriue and these things wee will haue obserued in the houses of our Company and of our Children The other precept of Maiesty Great Offices shold not be hereditary is not to continue great Offices in one Family z The perpetuity of great charges is dangerous They that haue commanded long are loath to obey Antiquitas voluit Prouinciarum dignitatem amica successione reparaâ—i ne diutina potestate vnus insolesceret Antiquity would that the Gouernments of Prouinces should be supplyed yearely least that any one by a continuall command should grow insolent and to make them hereditary The Order and iustice of the state will that a distribution be made of those who by the quality of their birth or the greatnesse of their merite are capable The perpetuall Dictatorship did ouerthrow the state of Rome the great authority giuen to the Mayors of the Palace did ruine the first Family of our Kings To those that are ambitious of the same Offices their Predecessors enioyed wee should wish the like moderation and integretie that Quintus Fabius Maximus had who hauing beene fiue times Consull and vndergone many great charges intreated the Senate not to conferre that Honour vnto his sonne not that hee thought him vnworthie but that hee knewe well that the Common-weale should receiue preiudice by the perpetuity of great Offices in one Family a In an other occasion Quintus Fabius Maximus did shewe that in the election of great Charges there should be no respect had but of the publicke good hee would not consent that T. Octacilius who had married his wiues daughter should bee Consull for that hee held him not capable of that charge nor of courage to make head against Hanniball T. Liu. lib. 24. This was to loue the State more then himselfe Lewis the eleuenth tooke more delight then hee receiued content or profite to change his Officers often When as a place is executed worthily and profitably by any one his dismission is vniust and the Princes seruice is wronged Offices are to bee maintained if they be good for if the place bee not supplyed by a man of the like experience and sufficiencie the Common-weale is damnified b As the ruine of Families comes commonly from new seruants so the fall of Estates proceedes from new magistrates which enter into Offices without experience those that are new come beeing greedy of
Gand to giue him a fauourable end of his suite and to haue infringed the priuiledges of Gand Hogonet Imbercourt condeÌ„ned to die the which may not be changed nor broken without paine of death Vpon these accusations or rather slanders the Maior AldermeÌ„ of Gand condemn theÌ„ to loose their heads In 6 daies their processe was made the number of their freinds nor the appearance of their innocency which in those extremities is the last refuge could not saue them n Innocency is the last refuge of the miserable helps him much that hath nothing else remaining It hath sometimes set the condemned in the Iudges place Neri sonne to Vgucione of Fagiuola Lord of Luga condemned Castrucio to death and the people freed him going to execution and set him in Neris place Three houres after the sentence was pronounced they were executed without any respect to the appeale which they had made to the Court Parliament at Paris Brother in law The Pope and Emperor offended at this impiety at whose instance the Pope and the Emperour Fredericke send vnto Adolph to set the Country at liberty and to yeeld obedience to his father and vpon the contempt of this commandement they write vnto the Duke of Bourgundy not to suffer this impiety any longer The Duke was then about Dourlans he commanded Adolph to come and to bring his father Adolph durst not displease so mighty a Neighbour The Duke heares them in their complaints and confronts them together The sonne accuseth the father of villanous and wicked actions Duke of Bourgundy Iudge of the quarrell whereof he presently purgeth himselfe and by the testimony of Noblemen that were there present at this confrontation the sons slander was discouered and detested then the father transported with extreme griefe presented the single coÌ„bat vnto his son The Duke would not allow it for the vncertaine euent could not be where soeuer the victory fell without a certain crime Hauing conferred of this businesse with his Councell hee ordained that the father should retaine the title of Duke with the Towne of Graue and 3000. Crownes for his entertainment the son should haue all the rest Notwithstanding that this iudgement was so fauourable for the sonne as all men thought that the Iudge was more affected to him then to the father x Adolph had maried Catherine of Bourbon daughter to Iohn Duke of Bourbon and Anne of Bourgundy sister to Phillip The Sig r. of Argenton saith that the Duke fauored Adolph in respect of this marriage yet this vnnaturall sonne straying from all obedience duty y Decius was commended for that hee refused the Empire saying that being Emperour hee should forget to be a sonne Imperet pater meus meum imperium sit parere humiliter imperanti Let my father rule my Empire shall be humbly to obay him that rules Val. Max. lib. 4. would not be satisfied saying That his father had raigned long enough and that he should content himselfe with the pension of 3000. Crownes and that he should neuer set his foote in the Countrey of Guelders To be short that hee had rather cast his father into a Well and himselfe headlong after him then consent to the conditions of this sentence z It is an impious thing saith Plato for any one to force his father and his Country he saith more-ouer that the child should haue a care not to offend him for there is not any praier which the Gods heare sooner then that which the fathers make against their children The Duke being prest to go vnto his Army before Amiens leaues them in this dispute and would not alter his iudgement The sonne fearing that his obstinacy might bring him to the place where he had put his father and knowing that few men affected him stale away in a disguised French habite and tooke the way to Graue Adolph steales away and is taken prisoner But passing the Riuer at Namur with one man in his company he was knowne by a Priest and staied by others and conducted to the Duke of Bourgundy who sent him prisoner to Villeuor and afterwards to Courtray where he remained miserable and no man pittied him in his misery a It is a cruelty and inhumanity to pitty a parricide The punishment which he endures how great soeuer doth not giue so much amazement as the crime causeth horror and execration vntill that the Gantois set him at liberty to be their Generall in the warre of Tournay The father dying had giuen the Dutchy of Guelders to the Duke of Bourgundy The warre being vndertaken by them of Gand against Tournay and the Mutiny growing insolently violent against the Dutchesse of Bourgundy they had need of a Head for without it their hands were not much to be feared He is set at liberty by the Gantols They cast their eyes vpon Adolph draw him out of prison and like mad-men as they are thinke that this cruell wretch who could not loue his father will haue a care of their affaires b What piety can bee expected of him that hath beene impious and inhuman to his owne father Qui fallere audebit Parentes qualis erit in ceteris He that dares deceiue his Parents what will hee bee to other men Casiod They giue him absolute command being resolued to aduance him higher then his Predecessours and to make him husband to the Dutchesse People in such distractions haue played madder prankes and made more indiscreete elections He lead them to Tournay where hauing burnt the Suburbs he was slaine His death was not more honourable vnto him then his life The Princesse was not sorry for this action For if hee had returned tryumphing from this exploite the Gantois had forced her to mary him and rather then to haue had a husband of their choice she would haue taken one by chance as the heire of Bohemia had done Primislaus a Laboâ—er becomes King of Bohemia who marryed Primislaus and drew him from labour to the honour of her Marriage and Crowne c Lybussa daughter to Gracus second King of Bohemia declared in an Assembly of the Estates held in an open field that shee would take him for husband before whom a horse shold stay which she should let go without guide or force He stayed before Primislaus who was tilling his Land They tooke him and led him to the Princesse who made him her husband and gaue him to the people for their King His wodden shoes were long kept in the Cathedrall Church of Prage and shewed to the Kings of Bohemia to make them remember their beginning The Princesse of Bourgundies affaires impaired Many Physitions vndid the Patient The King had a mighty Army which kept all the Low Countries in awe in his absence it was commanded by the Bastard of Bourbon Admirall of France There was nothing attempted by the enemy but was defeated In many exploits of warre which were made vpon this