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
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
to submit himselfe to the mildest yoake seeing that hee could not remaine free o The miseries of ciuill diuision reduced Rome to that estate as hauing no hope euer to recouer her liberty she sought for nothing but for the mildest serâ—itude Hee left vnto Henry the name of King onely for all the authoritie was in his hands he gaue to the Earle of Salisbury the Office of Lord Chancellor of England and to Richard Neuell his Sonne the gouernment of Callis He disposed of publike charges as he pleased still giuing them vnto those of his faction In the end the king discouers the Duke of Yorkes designe Queene Margaret his wife who had been aduertised thereof le ts him vnderstand that he did temporise but vntill the partie were made to ceaze both of the king and Realme and among his partisans the king was held but for a Tyrant As if his Raigne had been by vsurpation or constraint p Among many differences betwixt a King and a Tyrant they put this that a King raigns with the loue anâ— consent of the people and a Tyrant rules by constraint The king imparted this to his principall seruants D. of Yorke retires from the Court of England who were of aduise to restraine this great authoritie which the Duke of Yorke had within the Realme The Duke beeing suddenly aduertised thereof retired secretly to Wigmore in Wales Richard Neuell to his Castle of Midleham in the North Countie and Richard Earle of Warwicke to Callis so as the cruell seditions in England grew more violent then before during the which the French spoiled the coasts of Kent and Iames king of Scotland inuited by the same occasion entred by Roxborge The same cause which made this warre ended it q The shaâ—pest Ciuill wars are pacified when as strangers meddle to gaine by them The two parties agree against the third and although the Prince be offended yet it is better to remit the punishment The king of England let the Duke of Yorke vnderstand that the ciuill discord and the bad intelligence which was betwixt them had opened a gate to the enemies to inuade England that the common danger did binde them to vnite their forces to defend it and that hee was contented to forget all matters past vpon hope of a better conduct hereafter English cease their ciuill discords to war against the French excusing himselfe that matters had not alwaies gone directly being impossible for a Prince to obserue all the kinds of Iustice and equitie r Many things vniust of themselues are made iust when they are countenanced by necessitie or profit wherfore Plutark obserues That if there were question to accomplish al the kindes of iustice Iupiter himself might not in that case bee a Prince The Kings intention was allowed by all men the Duke of Yorke being loth to be the author of the ruines of the Realme declared that all his affections tended to his greatnes and quiet and to take away all occasions of doubt He came vnto the King to London with the chiefe of his faction The feare of a forraine warre quenched the ciuill s There is no such indiscretion as to hazard ones own to get another mans and to draw forth the bloud which is needfull for the life of the bodie It is more glorie for a Prince to maintaine himselfe them to grow great Preseruation safety is the essence of an estate profit it but an accessary Mens mindes altered with things past grew milder and all their wills were vnited in one accord for the defence of the Realme detesting the discord which had drawne them into a warre which was not necessarie nor could bee happie and made them a prey and triumph to their auncient enemie But as the fire of sedition is neuer so well quenched but there remaines some sparks in the ashes Troubles renewed in England which kindle again if they be a little blowne that there be alwaies some which delights in troubles for that it is their rest t Seditions commonly are fed supported by three sorts of men First the heads of factions Secondly they that cannot liue in safety in the time of peace Thirdly they which are out of the presse find themselues free from dangers and in danger for that they come not neere them being like vnto those riuers which enter into the sea and doe not mingle their streames the Duke of Yorke and the Earle of Salisburie being retired to their houses after this accord were presently forced to leaue them to reuenge an affront done to the Earle of Warwick at VVestminster where he had been set vpon by the kings guard and forced to saue himselfe by the Riuer of Thames with the hazard of his life They said that Queene Margret was the author thereof being very desirous to ruine the Nobility of England and to ouerthrow the cheefe howses u A King should maintaine great families neither can hee suffer theÌ„ to be wâ—onged but hee shal weaken the greatnes of his maiesty wherof the Nobility is the cheese piller In all estates the Nobles haue beene respected and distinguished from others euen amongst the Thracians the genlâ—emen went only vppon horseback and at Rome Noblemens wiues went in Littors who were the pillers of the Realme The warre began as soone as it was declared The three Richards are in field King Henry hauing leuied great forces comes to York Andrew Trollop who was come from Calleis with the Earle of Warwick thinking to serue the King when as he saw their armes turned against him left the Earle of Warwick to follow the King who in moment scattered his enemies and forced the Duke of York to passe into Holland there to attend vntill his Partisans had raised the ruines of that party Battaile before London whereas K. Henry was defeated Presently after the three heads of the faction returne into England with an intent to vanquish or to dye they present themselues at the gates of London they giue and winne a great Battell whereas the Victors saw tenne thousand men slaine and as many prisoners King Henry who seemed to haue beene raised vp to show the inconstancy of Fortune and the misery and vanity of man remained at the Victors discretion The English remembring that his grandfather had caused King Richard to dye in prison began to acknowledge the iudgements of Gods iustice who punisheth the Children for the offences of their fathers x Henry Earle of Harford and Duke of Lancastre tooke armes against Richard the 2. seazed on him puts him into the Tower of London and caused himselfe to bee crowned King and after that he had forced him to resigne the Crowne hee sent him to Langleâ— where hee was murthered In this great prosperity the make falls from the Dukes face He speakes plainely Duke of York declared Regent that whatsoeuer he had done was grounded vppon the rightes of the house of Yorke the
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
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
that before his death he saw all things new or renued in all other Kingdomes of Europe as if the eternall prouidence of God had not left him in the world but to consider these great changes which did amaze England Arragon Nauarre and Scotland And although they were things farre from his sight yet could he not but be passionate and informe himselfe as interressed in all things His curiosity notwithstanding was staid by the respects of his Religion Offers of Bajazeth to the King in contemning the offers of friendship which Bajazeth made vnto him who sent him a list of all the Reliques which his father had found at the taking of Constantinople and of the Holy Land promising to deliuer them vnto him so as hee would assure him of Zizimi his brother who had yeelded himselfe to the Knights of Rhodes This peece is worthy to bee related Zizimi reuolts against Bajazeth Mahomet left two sonnes Bajazeth x Bajazeth was the elder and Zizimi the yonger who said that he was the Emperours son for that hee was borne during the raigne of Mahomet and Bajazeth before the elder surnamed by the Turkes Ildrimy that is to say Lightning he coÌ„manded in Paphlagonia towards the black or Euxin Sea Iohn called Zizimi that is to say Loue was at Conio a city in Licaonia the Ianisaries were diuided which of the two should succeed the first was held effeminate and dissolute the other led a more manlike and martiall life The controuersy was followed by a great sedition and the great Turkes Treasury was spoiled many desiring that the Scepter should bee giuen to him that had the best sword y The Law of Nations hath alwaies preferred the â—lder bâ—fore the yonger what aduantage of force or vallour soeuer he hath and â—lthough that Pirrhus had ordained that which of his children had the sharpest sword should succeede him Yet notwithstanding the eldest was lesse valiant and carried it The faction of Bajazeth by the wisedome of Acmet Basha remained victorious and Zizimi was forced to retire himselfe into Asia the lesse from whence he passed to Ierusalem and then to the great Caire towards the Souldan of Egypt The great Caraman hearing of the diuision which was betwixt these two brethren held it a fit occasion to be embraced to recouer the Realme of Cilicia which Mahomet had taken from him whereupon he inuites and solicites Zizimi by letters and Embassadours to ioine with him They make an Army and present themselues neere vnto Mount Taurus to giue Battell vnto Bajazeth Zizimi considering the inequality of their forces for the Army of Bajazeth consisted of two hundred thousand men and that if hee fell into his brothers hands he would put him cruelly to death he thought there was no other retreate for him but to the Christians z In any sencible griefe or when any execrable thing was spoken the Iewes and Mahometans rent ther garments Among the acts of choller and fury of Maximin obserued by Capitolinus are these Incurrere in parietes vestem cindere gladium arripere quasi omnes posset occidere To runne against the wals to cut his garments and to draw his sword as if hee would kill all men This was not without doing great violence to his conscience breaking his habits in signe of breach of his heart in such resolution for he was a great obseruer of his religion and so iealous as hee fell into fury when hee saw a Turke drunke Hee dranke water with sugar and sometimes wine so as it were mingled with spices and other liquors saying that this mixture did alter it in such sort as it was no more wine There is not any Law whereas humane pollicy doth not finde some exceptions By the aduice therefore of Caraman hee left his wife and children with the Soldan of Egypt and resolued to seeke his fortune and succours among the Christians and to retire himselfe to Rhodes hauing written this letter to Bajazeth Zizimi King to Bajazeth his most cruell brother DEmanding of thee that which was iust and honest a a Bajazeth receiuing this letter and hauing read it remained two daies retyred and would not bee seene shewing a wonderfull griefe that his brother had retired to the Christians especially to the Knights of Rhodes the greatest enemies hee had in Christendome thou a breaker of all Diuine Letter of Zizimi to Bajazeth and Humane Lawes and a contemner of Mahomet doth force thy brother to flye vnto the Christian name and to them in particular which weare a Crosse for the great hatred they beare vnto our powerfull House I am forced to retire my selfe vnto them to saue my life and thou art the onely cause of this mischiefe If thou hadst granted me that which I desire so iustly I had remained peaceably vpon the frontier and thy brother a Mahometane as thou art and of the same bloud should not be forced to ioyne with Christians with whom it would be impossible for him to serue God according to the ceremony of our Law Zizimi was alwaies sad and melancholicke being depriued of the exercise of his Religion At the first feast which the great Maister made him there was Musicke of all sorts of Instruments yet hee was nothing the merrier They brought before him a scullion of the Kitchin a Turk who was a slaue who sung or howled out a song after the Turkish manner whereat he took a wonderfull delight I attend from God the reuenge of so great a wickednesse and do pray vnto our great Prophet to giue thee a punishment equall vnto thy crime If our father had fore-seene thy impiety I assure my selfe that with his owne sword or by poyson he would haue taken away thy life Hee hath exalted the house of the Ottomans and it seemeth thou takest delight to ruine it But it is impossble that an Empire which thou hast vsurped with so great tyranny and cruellty should continue long the building cannot be firme vpon so bad a foundation The day will come when to reuenge thine impiety some one will do the like to thee and thy children that thou attemptest against me and mine Adue and looke to the ruine which threatneth thee Zizimi was well receiued at Rhodes the 24. of Iuly 1482. the great Maister sent Aluaro of Estuniga Prior of Castile with the Gallies of the Order to conduct him Zizimi comes to Rhodes he went himselfe to meete him with all his Knights Zizimi was amazed to see himselfe receiued with so great honors in a Towne which his father would haue ruined Hee made it presently knowne that hee had a desire to go into France and to cast himselfe into the Kings Armes although he were inuited by many other Princes to come vnto them He is conducted into France The great Maister hauing thereupon receiued commandement conducted him thither They tooke Saye before him c The Say which is taken to Princes is ancient Xenophon in the first of
est à Domino potestas vobis virtus ab Altissimo qui interrogabit opera vestra cogitationes quoniam cum effetis Ministri regni illius nō recte iudicastis nec custodistis legem Iustitiae◠neque secum dū voluntatē Dei ambulastis Heare ◠yee Iudges of the earth vnderstand c. To demaund Iustice of a King is to do him a kind of homage which doth not belong to any other and to confesse that he holds the ranke ouer men that God doth ouer Kings But for that they cannot participate with euery thing see all heare all not bee euery where Princes relye vpō their Ministers they relye vpon the dilligence and fidelity of their seruants whereof some assist them with their wits counsell and tongues and others with their hands swords and fortune France hath alwaies beene seconded by men of this quality it brings more forth daily and is not weary of so many Childe-birthes Princes are like worke-men their Officers are the Iustruments with the which they may cut and fashion as they please And although all charges bee distinguished and haue their bounds that the Trowell may not do the office of the Hammer yet they tend all to one end the seruice of the Prince whereon depends the publick safety which is the perfection of the worke The Princes eare is like vnto the Temple of the Goddesse Horta which was alwaies open but the prayers must be short and guided by reuerence and humility for Iupiter of Crete hath eares at his feete Those which are vniust are dead towards the King and mortall towards God for him that makes them Wee must speake vnto the King as if God vnderstood it and none must speake vnto God as if we were vnderstood by men There are some which demand things of Kings which they would not giue to them that aske them and others that would blush if the prayers which they make vnto God were knowne Wherefore a Prince sends such petitions to whom hee pleaseth to see if they bee iust and ciuill It were impossible for him to heare them and determine them without doing wrong to those affaires which require no delay to resolue on The greatnesse of his Maiesty is wronged when as they make him discend into the care of base things d It is importunity to a Prince to giue him an account of base things When as Pliny wrote to Traian De seruis damnatis quise Ministerijs publicis immiscuerunt Of slaues condemned who had wrought in the publike workes Hee addes this Preface to his Letter Salua magnitudine tua Domine descendas oportet ad meas curas cùm ius mihi dederis referendi ad te de quibus dubito My Lord sauing your Greatnesse you must descend vnto my cares hauing giuen me leaue to impart my doubts vnto you Wisedome which is the light of his actions and the Serpent which shadowes his fore-head e Bochoris King of Egipt being by nature rough sowre and violent the Goddesse Isis sent him a Serpent which wrething about his head did make a shadow to the end his iudgement should bee seasoned with Prudence and Iustice. forbids them to trouble their heads for all sorts of affaires the which are often represented by men which neither see farre off nor much behind them who confounds their discourses in the beginning and speaking without reason would be heard with patience Wee must beautify this discourse with the same authority which gaue lustre vnto the precedent The discourses which are held at the Table of the Chancellours of France are alwaies vpon some goodly Subiect pleasing to learne and profitable and necessary to vnderstand and wee may say that delicacy of wits findes that there which excesse did furnish to the appetite of men for foure monthes to deliuer into his hands the foure chiefe Townes of Brabant Brussels Antwerpe Macklin and Louan and to leaue him the Country of Flanders in Soueraignety without homage if he could conquer it These offers proceeding rather from the necessity of affaires then from the Kings intention who desired nothing but to aduance his affaires in Bourgundy and Artois and to diuide and weaken his enemies forces were well and wisely weyed by the King of England y The lesse which is profitable and certaine is to be preferred before the more which is vnprofitable and vncertaine The King of England desires rather the Countries of Bullen in effect then Brabant Flāders in hope neither could the English consent vnto a warre which did interrupt their Trafficke with the Low Countries who answered that if the King were so well minded to make him a sharer of his conquest he had rather haue some of those which were already conquered in Picardy and that in deliuering him Bulloine hee would declare himselfe for him against the Princesse of Bourgundy The King then hauing contemned the way of mildenesse and reason to follow that of force and fortune neglected also the occasion which this first amazement of the Princesse and her people put into his hands and leauing her the liberty to marry her selfe and to carry those goodly Prouinces to a strange house all things became impossible Maximilian hauing married the Princesse raysed with great solemnity the order of the Golden Fleece z Oliuer dela-March reports the ceremony which was made at the raising of this Order and saith that they wondered the King had not preuented the Arch-Duke to shew that he would also restore the affaires of that house Yet for all this they do not leaue to giue him the honour of the wisest of his age Partes of wisedome He made his wisedome appeare in that he could consult and deliberate well he could iudge and resolue well and he could leade and execute wel This wisedome was wholy his and depended not of the motion or discourse of any other Wherefore when as he demanded of Brezay Seneschall of Normandy the reason why he said that his horse was great and strong being but little and of a weake stature For that answered Brezay hee carries you and all your Counsell It is a very singular grace of heauen when as the actions of Princes vnfurnished of Councell succeede happily For as a Prince hath need of a soule to liue by so is it necessary for him to haue counsell to raigne a Euery Prince hath two Councels one interior and the other exterior The interior is that which growes in his head from his owne knowledge and vnderstanding The exterior is of those that assist him in the managing of affaires It is weake councell which consists onely of yong heads Yong men may well haue some good points but they are like vnto those of the eares of corne The force of councell consists in wisedome which is not gotten but by experience and experience comes not but with time A man may be borne capable of wisedome but onely time makes the wise Yong Vines carry Grapes aboundantly but the
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
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
of the Dauphins wife Death of Margaret Stuard and his heauines was so apparent as the whole Court did participate thereof But there was more then teares to witnesse that hee loued this Princesse and that the remembrance of her should not end with weeping k Affection is not tryed by teares onely To ceace to weepe is not to forget the remembrance is too short which lasteth no longer them teares for he receiued the Princesses of Scotland her Sisters with all kindes of honor whom she had greatly desired to see They came at the time of her Funerals and finding themselues as it were vnknowne in a country whereas that which should make them to be knowne and respected was wanting they dyed for griefe All consolations made their greefes comfortles l We must giue time and ayre to sorrow to euaporate it In those which are extremâ— it is a part of the griefe to heare of consolations and made them desire that the Queene their sister being in the bosome of the earth had them vpon hers But the King to witnes that the affection which he bare vnto their Sister was not dead made them to feele the effects He married the one to Francis Duke of Brittaine and the other to Sigismond Archduke of Austria m Iohn Duke of Brittanie sent Ambassadors into Scotland to treat the marriage of his Sonne with Isabel daughter to the King of Scotland at whose returne he enquired what the Princesse was Who made report That shee had beautie sufficient a bodie well disposed to beare children but shee had no ready speech To whom he answered That she was as he demanded and that he held a woman learned enough if she could make a difference betwixt her husbands doublet and shirt Annal. of Aquitaine It is impossible to finde truth in an enemies tongue The iudgement of two Historians of England Hony how sweet soeuer it be is sharpe and offensiue to a mouth vlcered with passion and slander Edward Hall and Grafton two writers of England seeing that their imposture would take no hold vpon the manners and actions of this Princesse haue indiscreetly written that she was vnpleasing to her husband n Buchanan in the tenth booke of the Historie of Scotland saith that two Historians of England hauing as little sufficiencie as modestie haue beene so Impudent as not finding any thing wherewith to slander this Princes haue said Ob oris graueolentiam marito fuisse ingratam But there are records yet to be seene both in France and Scotland of the griefe which Charles the seuenth and the Dauphin his Sonne had for her death and Monstrelet speakes as of a Princesse who excelled in beautie both of minde and bodie She fauoured the good wits of her age Alain Charretier was held at that time one of the first of the Court and this Princes did esteeme him so rare as shee honoured him with a singular fauour for passing by a Chamber whereas he slept vpon a forme she kist him and to satisfie the amazement of the Ladyes of her traine she added I kisse not the man I kisse the mouth from whence haue come so many goodly Discourses Yet it was one of those mouthes which haue learned to talke and not to bee silent o There is no such itching of the spirit as a desire to write It is not cured but by silence Eusenius demanded of Apolonius Thianeus why hee did not settle himselfe to write for that said hee I haue not yet learned to hold my peace This warlike and Marshall season was debarred both of learning and learned men For whereas warre speakes learning is silent The Prouinces troubled by armes neither teach nor are taught and the money which should serue for the stipend of publicke Readers is imployed for the musters of souldiers p The Emperor Leon made an answere to one that counselled him to imploy his treasure in the entertainement of souldiers vtinaÌ„ meis temporibus eueniat stipendia militum in doctores artium absumi I would it might happen in my time that the stipends of souldiers might bee imployed vpon Doctors of Arts. The yeares of Truce being expired The warre renues the warre was renued with all violence against the English The Historie speakes nothing of the actions of Lewis vntill his retreat into Dauphine neither are the causes thereof well exprest Shee hath well obserued his discontents His Father held him somewhat short and his actions were not so temperate The wretched life of a great King but they gaue him some cause of suspition that he had a desire to be master q The opinions of children should be limitted in that sort as it is not lawfull for them once to thinke to aduance the time they must suffer heauen the order of nature to work The King being come to an end of his affayres would recompence the troublesome nights which hee had past r A troubled youth requires a quiet age he that hath liued in the waues desires to dye in the Port. when as melancholly had dryed vp his bones that all his demeanes were engaged the chiefe forts of the Realme in the power of the English that his table often fayled and that hee liued in such frugalitie as hee had no need of excellent Cookes such as those of the Romans were 1446 for they found him not with three or foure Dishes like vnto Charlemaine but with a messe of Pottage made with a rumpe of Mutton and a couple of Chickens rosted for his whole seruice s The sobrietie of Charlemaine hath beene commended he had but foure dishes hee dranke but thrice and neuer betwixt meales he did eate some fruits after dinner Eghinard The great toyles which hee had past deserued some good daies but he sought them not in his family nor in his children t Rest after their trauels is iust and lawfull but it is most sweet in his owne house And therefore Hercules was represented playing with a little Child The familie hath consâ—iations Bella planè accinctis obeunda sed reuertentibus post laborem quid honestius quam vxorium leuamentum TAC. His spirit plunged it selfe in delights He giues himselfe to delights and to Ladies for the which like vnto another Iupiter he transformed himselfe into diuers shapes vnworthy of his Maiestie and although he was impatient of seruitude as all Kings be yet he vowed himselfe to the seruice of Ladies which followed the Queeene Aboue all their appeared the fayre Agnes beautifull in the flower of her age and as louely as worthily to bee beloued u The Obiect of Loue is Beauty and Beautie is the marke of many desires It is for blind men to demaund why Kings loue fayre things She stole the Kings heart who made her Mistris of the Castle of beautie as she was Queene of all the beauties but beauty was in her a bad Hostes in a goodly lodging The Historie which
the one had beene depriued of his benifice the other two saw their Sisters dishonoured by the voluptuousnes of this Prince y Galeas Duke of Milan defloured the Sister of Charls Viscount master of his ward robe and then gaue her to one of his Mignons to abuse Paul Iou. The conspiracie being resolued and they furnished with courage and armes for the execution they go to him being at the doore of St. Stephens Church in Milan approching neere him He is slaine at the Church doore making shew to salute him Iohn Andrew Lampognano strook him in the windpipe z They write that Lampognano to accustome and incourage himselfe to this execution did euery day stabbe the Dukes picture with a dagger and after his cruell meditations executed his desseigne Ierosme Olgiato in the throat and stomacke and Charles Viscount wounded him in the belly It was impossible to escape presently the Dukes Seruants seazed of them The first being content to die seeing that Galeas was dead cried out as they cut him in peeces After this manner I desire to die Ierosme was taken aliue and being condemned to be fleied and quartered vpon a scaffold aliue he saied making no other repentance for this crime that of so cruell a death the reputation would be perpetuall a Ierosme Olgiati beeing strecht out vpon the scaffold to be quartered said Mors acerba fama perpetua stabit vetus memoria facti Burt. Lib. 5. Hist. Florent A bitter death but a perpetual fame the memory of the fact shall remaine old The King was not so much greeued for the death of Galeas as he had beene for that of Francis Sforce Lewis xi a friend to Francis Sforce the best of his good friendes froÌ„ whom he receiued 500. men at armes and 3000. foot led by Galeas against the league of the Commonweale and to whom he was resolued to retire if he might not haue entred into Paris When as the King saw himselfe freed of one enemy Lewis sends an Ambassador into Scotland he studied what he should do to be reuenged of another and remembring that K. Edward had past the seas for the D. of Bourgundies passions hee desired to cry quittance with him and therfore he sent Robert of Ireland a Scottishman and a Sorbonist with two French Gentlemen to perswade Iames 3. King of Scotland to make warre against England but the Estate of Scotland was so full of bad humours as they could not stir this bodie without danger of an incurable disease b Whilist that a body is found it feeles not the putrified and corrupted humors which are disperced into diuers mebeâ—s but as soone as one part is grieued all gather together run thither It is euen so of states whilst they are in peace but vpon the first trouble any thing that is wicked seditious and rebellious discouers it selfe The King was but seauen yeares old when he succeded to his Father ContentioÌ„ in Scotland for the Regency and the diuision was great to know who should haue the Regencie and Gouernment of the Realme Some were for Queene Marie his Mother Others were for Iames Kenneth and George Douglas Earle of Anguse The Queene caused her selfe to be declared that which she would be they that were for her saied that if they regarded Proximitie there was not any neerer vnto the Sonne then the mother If they did consider the good of the childe not any one could haue more care then she If they could not contend with her in the degree of Proximitie it were indiscretion to call her affection and fidelitie in doubt hauing therein nature for her Caution If they respect the common good the condition of her birth was considerable for that being a stranger no way possest with loue nor passion they should not finde that she would support the one to the preiudice of the other as they might doe which had Alliances Kinsmen and Intelligences within the Realme who carried their dessignes beyond the Kinges life and might builde vpon his toombe As for her the death of her Son could bring her no other fruits but a perpetuall sorrow and therefore she was bound to desire his health and preseruation Kenneth seeing this ScottishmeÌ„ hate the commaund of women stirs vp the people to apprehend the iniurie which was done vnto the Lawes of a Realme which had alwaies detested the rule of Women as contrary to that of nature c Gynecoratis or the gouernment of women is directly against the laws of nature which hath giuen vnto men seâ—ce wisedom arms and commaundment and hath taken it from womeÌ„ and the law of God hath wisely decreed that the woman should bee subiect vnto the man not onely in the gouernment of realms and Empires but also in euery mans priuate family Bodin Lib. 6 cap. 5. and which had seen the raigne of an hundred Kings and not any one of their Daughters that succeeded Shall wee not finde saied hee among so many thousands of men one man that is capaple to commaund men must a Nation which hath no other experience but armes beforced to subiect their swords to the lawes of a distaffe and suffer themselues to be gouerned at the discretion of a woman and of a strange woman d The first woman which opened the waie for the rule of women in Scotland was Mary Stuard and Mary the Daughter of Henry the 8. in England To pacifie this discord they resolued to leaue all matters as they were for a moneth during the which the passions of both parties were but the more enflamed Many within the Realme desired rather to obey the Queene then any other that should be of an equall condition or superior vnto them But as in such occasions a man of credit and authority workes wonders drawing the hearts and opinions of men as he pleaseth Iames Kenneth Archbishop of St. Andrew giuing the Parlament to vnderstand e Cato desirous to let the Romans vnderstand that the commandemeÌ„t of women was shameful spake these wordes vnto them All men coÌ„mand women wee coÌ„mand men and women command vs. Plut. that to giue the authority to the Queene was to contradict the auncient Lawes of the Realme to expose Scotland to dangers and Scottishmen to the scorn of a shamefull gouernment and who should iustifie the reproach which might be made vnto them to commaund men and to be commaunded by women That Scotland neuer knew what the gouernment of women was they found no names in their language to expresse it they had neuer seene woman preside in their Councels nor Parliaments nor to dispose of Iustice nor of the Treasure and that which other Nations call Queene Scotland cals the Kings Wife f The history of ScotlaÌ„d reports the wordes of Iames Kenneth Mairoes nostri adeo erant a cura publica muliaeribus mandanda alieni vt si omnia reruÌ„ vocabula excutias ne mulâ—ebus quidem imperii nomen opud eas
returned into Denmarke past into Germanie and so into France to intreat K. Lewis the eleuenth to make his peace with the K. of Scotland but wheÌ„ he saw that the king would not do any thing he retired to the Duke of Bourgondie and did him great seruices But he did not long enioy the peace and quietnesse which hee thought to finde there for the King of Scotland who desired to see this house vtterly ruined commaunded his Sister to leaue her Husband m An extreme hatred from an extreme loue which forceth the K. of Scotland to breake a bond which could not be dissolued but by death An example that tâ—er is nothing assured in the great fauour of Princes and an instruction to ground our felicitie vpon our selues and not vpon an other Man begins to be subiect vnto Fortune when he settles his felicity without himselfe She was fullie resolued to runne her Husbands fortune but hee himselfe intreated her to goe vnto the King her Brother thinking that he could not haue more fauour nor better sollicit an end of his exile then by her As soone as euer she came to Court the King married her to another and makes her to send for her children which were in Flanders Thomas Bothwell died for greefe at Antwerp and the Duke of Bourgoundie his heire made him a rich tombe not so much for any care of his memorie as to erect vnto Fortune the trophee which she had gotten by the ruine of a house n The house of the Bothwels was as soon ouer throwne as raised The History of Scotland saith Ita Bodiorum quae tum erat in Scotia florentissima familia intra paucos annos creuâ—t corruit magno posteris documento quam sint lubricae Regum adolescentium Amicitia So the familie of the Bothwels which then did florish much in ScotlaÌ„d within few yeares did both rise and fall a great instruction to posteritie how slipperie the loue of yong Kings is against the which it seemed she had no power The King in the meane time who had been bred vp in great libertie King of Scotlands good inclination corrupted suffred himselfe to goe whether his humors led him and puts his Estate into such confusion as there was nothing in a manner firme nor well setled The Truce with England was expired it was feared they should fall to war for that the same time the English had taken and spoiled a great ship of Scotland but K. Edward who after that he had ended his busines with FraÌ„ce had no care but to take his plesure made no difficulty to restore that which had been taken to the end the Truce might be coÌ„tinued the mariage of one of his daughters treated with the Kings eldest son the better to Cyment this accord The King of Scotland sent two Embassadors to the Duke of Bourgundy to haue iustice of some complaints made by the Marchants which did traffick vpon his coast Being arriued in Flanders there came a Phisition called Andrew to visit them Hee was a great Sorcerer and one of those who to steale diuination thinke to imitate Diuinitie Andrew a Scottish Phisition a great Sorcerer and to abuse the world with illusions wherewith their Demons abuse them o The diuels inspire illusions into Sorcerers minds to the end they should not see that which is see that which is not Quicquid miraculi ludunt per Dae mones faciunt What miracle soeuer they play they doe it by their Diuels Min. Felix They are Apes of Diuinitie theeues of Diuination Emulantur Diuinitatem dum furantur Diuinationem They imitate Diuinitie whilest steale Diuination Tert. Apolo c. 22. He met them with amazement for he told them that they needed not to make suâ—h hast for that within two daies they should haue newes of the Duke which vvould make them to change their resolution The two daies vvere not expired before the newes of the Dukes death vvas brought to Gand. An accident which ouerthrew their embassage and sent them home into Scotland where they did not forget to tell the King as Courtiers doe willingly discourse of that vnto their Master which pleaseth him that Andrew a Phisition had foretold them of the duke of Bourgundies death King of Scotland giuen to Sorcerie Curiositie and idlenes had already framed this Princes spirit to receiue these vanities for infallible sciences beleeuing that he could not be a King if hee were not a Magician p Apuleius saith that to be a King in Persia hee must be a Magiâ—ian Vili inter Persas concessum est Magum esse hand magis qnam regnate The brauery of the Court was all in these Impostures if there were any spirit corrupted with these errors he was presently led into the Kings Cabinet whose spirit was like an infected Lyuer which draws out of a great glasse of water a drop of wine to corrupt it more q When a spirit begins to be depraued it seekes the ill although it be shut vp enuironed with good and conuerts the good into bad nourishment some of his learned women had foretold him that the Lyon shold be smothered by the yong Lyons To haue more knowledge of this prediction he sent for this Phisition he gaue him Benefices great entertainments to make him stay in Scotland and consulting with him as the Oracle of his fortune hee had this answere from him That the dangers which threatned his life should come from the conspiracie of his owne These words made so strange a Metamorphosis in this Prince as being gentle milde and courteous he became inaccessible iealous and distrustfull r Crueltie giues vnto a Prince the â—itles of Cyclops Busyris Phalaris and others wherewith Maximin was defamed for his cruelty and to make it a Maxime Nisi crudelitate Imperium noÌ„ retineri An Empire is not held without crueltie Iul. Cap He thought that crueltie would purchase feare and feare would assure him and disappoint the designes which should be made against him Hee held his neerest kinsmen for enemies and the greatest of the Realme to be traitors Hee made new creatures and gaue himselfe to be gouerned by base men who managed the state at their pleasures and neuer did well but when as they thought to doe ill The Nobilitie of the Realme beeing offended at this bad gouerment The Noblemen conspire and to see that the King was a slaue to men who could not remember their fathers condition without blushing and who held him coopt vp like a sauage beast that he might not grow tame they resolued to free him but to preuent it these petty tyrants of the Kings will seaze vpon his Brethren s Iohn Earle of Marre the Kings brother was slaine in prison he was accused to haue sought to bewitch the king they caused twelue Sorcerers to be burnt they make the yonger dye by bleeding the other was put in prison but the escaped and got into
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