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
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
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
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
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
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
bad frâ—tâ— and yeâ— wee see that from â—ood fathers come bad children The Iewes prouerb is Homets ben iin vâ—neger is the son of wine Natum crebro tanquam ex industria malis ebonis agrestes â— doctioribus ceteris â—u vic torin Caliguls Impressions were very easie in this lightnesse The rigor which King Lewis the eleuenth shewed vnto him made him giue eare to such as sought to finde their owne contentments in his discontents It is Iniustice in a Soueraigne brother not to prouide for the entertainment of his yonger whom he should put in the number of his forces and felicities They are of the same bloud and grounded vppon part and portion of the successiue rights but they haue neuer prospered which haue troubled the house for this and conspired with the members against the head Twenty yeares before this death France had seene a notable example in Brittaine Tragicall end of Giles of Brittaine There is no danger to lay the History a little aside Giles g Iohn the fift Duke of Brittaine left three Sonnes Francis Peter and Giles sonne to Iohn the fifth Duke of Brittaine and Brother to Francis the first being not well pleased with his portion retired himselfe to Guildo a Castle neere vnto the sea by Matignon The Duke his Brother makes King Charles the seuenth beleeue that he was there to fauour the English with aduice and intelligence h Vpon the first suspition of any ones fidelity they presently ad the communicatiâ—n of friends They doe exactly reuise actions past which deface or confirme the doubt of the present A beliefe which might easily bee setled in the soule of a iealous King for that this Prince had beene bred vp in England and the king had giuen him the Order of the Garter and the office of Constable Proces made to the Prince of Brittany Vppon this first impression the king sends to take him and deliuers him into the Dukes hands who sends him prisoner to Chasteau Briant commanding his Attourney Generall i The Duke demanded of the Atturney Generall what should be done in this processe The good man answered that he did not see what might be done that by the custome the elder had no criminall iustice ouer his yonger brother and that the Duke could not call him to his Iustice. An answer which was more simple theÌ„ true Hâ—st of Brit. lib. 11. to make his processe for treason but there was no crime nor any accuser The hand which had hurt him sought to cure him The king beeing informed of his innocencie laboured for his deliuerance The Duke durst not refuse him but being ready to be set a libertie his enemies suppose letters from the king of England wherevpon the king changeth his aduice and causeth him to bee kept more straightly in the Castle of Touffort There he is made to languish and endure greater extremities then those of the Quarries of Siracusa k The vsage of such as were shut vp in the Iayle of the Quarries of Siracusa was very straâ—ght for they had but two dishfuls of barley and one of water allowed them by dayâ— lut in the life 〈◊〉 for they refused him water and if he had bread they were the scraps of a poore woman who hearing him cry for hunger put them in at a window which was vpon the ditch side His gardes who had vndertaken to starue him seeing it continue to long Gilles of Brittany adiournes his Brother before God strangled him They gaue him leysure to thinke of his conscience hee charged a Friar to adiourne his Brother to heauen seeing there was no Iustice on earth for his innocencie l Gilles of 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 speech charged a Friar to goe vnto D. Francis the first and to tell him in what estate hee had left him the miseries he endured by iniustice that he could haue no right but referred all to the iudgement of God before 〈◊〉 he called him The Duke appeared Death pulling this thorne out of the kings heart gaue him meanes of more rest if his spirit had been capable of rest It carried him into many places m A spirit which is not restrained to certaine designes liues in continuall disquietnes Phil. de Commines speaking of this Prince saies these words The time that he rested his vnderstanding laboreâ— for â—e had to doe in many â—aces and did as willingly busie himselfe with his neighbours affaires as with his owne and thrust him into sundry designes medling with his neighbours affaires as with his owne True it is he had great crosses by them that were neerest vnto him Imprisonmenâ— of the Duke of Alencon Iohn the second Duke of Alençon the first Prince of the bloud was sent prisoner to the Louure for conspiring with the Kings enemies and at the same time they saw other Princes afflicted with the like Domesticke diseases Lewis was nothing sorrie to disquiet them he did what he could to fill vp the measure of their cares hauing no respect to make enemies so as they came to his Mill. Iohn the second King of Nauarre and Arragon had prosperities and aduersities Troubles in Nauarre both publike and priuate so variable and diuers as it could not be said whether he had more of the one then the other his youth was tost and his age was not quiet but still his courage remained inuincible in the greatest fury of the storme n They that make profession of wisedome faint in aduersitie are like vnto Pilots which grow sick during a storme Charles the onely Sonne and presumptiue heyre of the Crowne of Nauarre tooke Armes against him to bee King Charles Prince of Nauarre makes war against his Father Henry the fourth King of Castille who had married his eldest Daughter fauored his rebels of Barcelona and Gaston Earle of Foix husband to Elenor his second daughter seeing him busied against the Castillans sought to dispossesse him of the Crowne of Nauarre D. Pedro of Portugall was chosen King dyed at the siege of Tortosa o After that the Aâ—ragonis had declared K. Iohn vnwortâ—y the crown as the murtherer of his own son they did choose D. Pedro the third CoÌ„stable of Portugal son to D. Pedro D. of â—imbra Rene of Anjou Duke of Lorraine and Earle of Prouence being desirous to recouer the Title of a king which he had lost at Naples accepted the same election by the aduice of King Lewis the eleuenth and sent the Duke of Calabria his Sonne into Spaine with French troupes which ioyning with them of the countie of Roussillon besieged Girone The French besiege Giâ—onne The Arragonois were beaten and defeated and the Prince D. Ferdinand sonne to the King of Nauarre in danger to be taken prisoner p At the Battell of Denia the Prince D. Ferdinand was prisoneâ— Roderic of Rebâ—ledo caused himselfe to â—ee taken in his place to giue him meanes to escape and the King redeemeâ—
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
the imbecillitie and weaknes of his Nature for whereas hee should haue opposed himselfe against those mutinies he suffred them to get such credit and authoritie as the Archbishop of Toledo being sent for to come vnto him to the end hee might pacifie those troubles he said vnto him that brought him this charge Tell your King that I am weary of him his affaires and that he shall shortly see who is the true King of Castille The Grandos of the Realme assembled in a great plaine neere vnto Auila to degrade the King from the royall dignity That which they could not doe vnto his person Alfonso proclained K. of Castille they did vnto his statue d When as King Henry vnderstood of this degradation which was in Iune 1â—65 he said I haue bred vp children and they haue contemned me I came naked from my mothers wombe and the earth atâ—ends me naked No man can liue so poorely as hee is borne and it God expels mee now for my fins he wil comfort and preserue mee afterwards for his infinite power is that which kils and restores to life which wouÌ„ds and cures that which giues Siegneuries takes them away which raiseth vp Kings puls them downe when he pleaseth which they presented vpon a scaffold when as the Herad said that D. Henry was degraded from the royall dignity the Archbishop of Toledo tooke the Crowne from his image the Earle of Plaisance the sword and the Earle of Beneuent the Scepter this done Diego Lopes cast it out of the royall seat Alfonsos standard was aduanced and poore Henry shouted at and contemned They would end the quarrell by a battell before Olivedo e The Battell of Oluiedo was in the yeare 1467. They doe not agree who had the victory D. Alfonso was seen armed aâ— all peeces incouraging his men D. Henry appeared not in the fight but entered triumphing towards night into Medina del Campo The two Armies fought by order one squadron against another The Archbishop of Toledo led his army hauing a white stole vpon his armes The combat continewed three houres and ended with so great disorder of either side as both parties made bonfiers for the victory The Pope sent his Legat f Anthony de Veneris Bishop of Lyon the Popes Legate being in Spain coÌ„manded them to lay downe Armes vpon paine of excommunication the great men of Spaine opposed themselues said that they appealed to a Councill The Licentiat Iohn D. Alcacer and Doctor Alphonso of Madrigall were committed for this appeale to pacefie these troubles during the which King D. Alfonso hauing raigned three yeares died of the plague at Cardegnosa Death of Alfonso King of Castille The League would haue declared Isabella heire of the Realme the which she would not accept the King her brother lyuing wherevpon a peace was made by which she was declared Princesse of Castille the nineteenth of September 1468. vpon condition that she should not marry without the consent of the King hir brother They would haue married her to Alfonso of Portugall who was a widower and D. Ioane to Iohn the eldest Sonne of Portugall vpon condition that if there came no children of the marriage of the Pincesse Isabell g D. Isabella was sought for in marriage by the brother of King Lewis by the King of Englands brother She made choise of D. Ferdinand Prince of Arragon He came to see her vnknown D. Guttiere of Cardona who coÌ„ducted him shewed him her saiing in Spanish Esse es It is he To whome the Princesse answerered sodenly and S. Shal be thine armes vpon this cause the family of this knight doth at this day carry an S in tâ—eir armes and deuice those which issued from the marriage of D. Ioane should succeed to the realme Castille But D. Isabella had other thoughts she loued Ferdinand sonne to Iohn King of Navarre and Arragon whome shee caused to come to Vaillidolet in a disguized habit and marryed him the eighteenth of October 1469. Isabella of Castille marries Ferdinand of Arragon King Henry was so incensed at this marriage as hee declared his Sister fallen from all the rights which shee might pretend to the crowne of Castille and caused Ioane his daughter to be proclaymed his true heire who was married to Charles Duke of Guienne as hath beene formerly said This treaty of marriage was broken by the death of the Dukd of Guienne King Henry died also h The death of Henry the 4. King of Castille was in the yere 1474. the one and forty yeare of his age and the on twenteth of his raign Hee was interred in the great Chappell of the Monastery of Guadalupe He appointed 52. lampes of siluer to burne day night vpon his tombe And notwithstanding that the Crowne were assured to Ferdinand and Isabel yet Ioane continued the title of Queene of Castille Troupes sent out of France into Castille and in this quality she married with Alfonso King of Portugall which was an occasion of great warres The French King being discontented with the house of Arragon and the warre of Pergignan sent troupes to the King of Portugal vnder the command of Aman of Albret i Ambassadors haue oste ingaged their Maisters in very ruin ous voiages Philip de CoÌ„mines who had treated with them of the K. of Portugall saith that if they had beene well aduised they would haue informed themselues better of matters here before they had councelled their Maister to this voiage wâ—ich was very preiudiciall vnto him But the King of Portugal hauing lost his enterprises and his Partisans was forced to retyer himselfe into Portugall carring away no other triumph of the warre of Castille but the Princesse D. Ioane his wife whome notwithstanding hee would not mary before hee were assured of the Realme of Castille and therefore he went into France to implore ayde from King Lewis with whome he had treated an alliance by his Ambassadors who vnder the good chere which was made them and the good words which were giuen them during the treaty without any other intent perswaded their Maister to come into France assuring him that he should doe more by his presence for the succors which he demanded then by the mediation of his servants and that there might bee a marriage made betwixt the Dauphin and D. Ioane his Neece He landed at Marseille Alfonsâ— K of Portugall comes to Tours came to Lyons and so went downe the riuer of Loire to Tours where he acquainted the King with the cause of his voyage k Necessity â—orceth Princes euen to things vnworthy of their quality They write that this Prince besought the King to succor him with such vehemency and humanity as hee fell on his knees at his heete It had not beene secret though he had beene silent Kings come neuer to the gates of other Kings to offer or to giue but to demand and entreat He carried a Lampe in
we think to keepe most secret there is alwaies one witnesse irreproueable our owne Conscience sent his seruants often vnto him to assure him that he was wholly at his deuotion and would not depend of any but of him When as the King had meanes to verifie the contrary by the proofes which the Norman put into his hand hee caused Chauuin Chancellour of Brittanie to bee stayed with all them that did assist him in his Embassage to the number of sixe or seuen of the Dukes Councell and committed them to close Prison for ten or twelue dayes the reason whereof they did not vnderstand k When as an inferior Prince deales not plainly and sincerely with one that is mighty he must not thinke it strange if hee makes knowne the knowledge he hath of his subtilties euen vpon them that know not any thing and who by the Law of Nations should not be drawne in question For this reason Lewis the eleuenth commits to prison Chauvin the Chancellour the Seneshall of Vennes and sixe of the Duke of Brittanies Councellers Chauvin seeking to iustifie his Maisters Actions and imputing this imprisonment to the power which some standerous suggestion had ouer the King they did shewe him all the Letters which did witnesse the strict intelligence which was betwixt the King of England and the Duke of Brittaine Your Maister said the King is much too blame who assuring me of his affection shewes the contrary in seeking the ancient enemies of this Crowne I haue told him often Letters of the Duke of Brittany shewed to his Chancellor that so long as he should hold the English for his friends hee must needes bee an enemy to France and to the end hee shall not excuse himselfe nor contradict this truth behold two and twenty Letters vpon this subiect Chauvin viewes them and considers of them All his Rethoricke is not able to excuse the Duke he had rather calme the Kings iust choler by confessing and yeelding then to incense him more by contradicting The Duke of Brittanny seeing that by the treachery of his Seruants his faith could not bee vntainted with the King hee sent for Peter Landays Peter Landays suspected of treason who alone had the charge of this Negotiation Being much confounded he had no other answere but a protestation of his Innocency submitting himselfe to the rigors of Iustice if hee were found tainted with any such disloyalty then remembring that hee had not employed any therein but Maurice Bromell who had carried the Letters and the answeres hee caused him to bee apprehended This miserable wretch confest all and vpon his confession he was put into a Sacke and cast into the Riuer to the end the King should discouer no more Peter Landays was vpon the declining of the precipice of his life and of this great fauour which hee had with the Duke of Brittaine if Bromel had not beene found but hee was not contented to haue escaped this danger Hatred of Landays against the Chancellor Chauvin his diuellish malice engaged the Chancellour Chauvin whose Iustice and Integrity hee could not endure being mad to see him so honest a man l An honest man is a great torment to malitious and wicked mindes for although they blame and flye Vertue yet they consider the glory and light and that whatsoeuer is goodly in the world as tributary to it All the gold that is aboue or vnder the earth is not comparable to Vertue Plat. Plut. The meanest Vertue may procure Greatnesse that is vitious to enuy Hee thought that the Wheele of his Fortune could not well be staied but being obserued by so quicke and piercing an eye to discouer and censure that which hee did and that which hee did not But hee had more paine to accuse him then to slander him Chauvins actions were like vnto well polished Tables the flyes of detraction could not sticke vpon them they rest vpon rough and vneuen places Hee makes the Duke beleeue that without Chauvin the King had neuer discouered the Negotiation of England that hee had Intelligence with him depended of his Commandements and was his Pentioner The Duke was so hooded by Landays as he did not see but by his eyes giues eare to this slander chargeth the Innocency of this good seruant Death of the Chancellor in prison in great pouerty puts him in prison and makes him dye there with griefe languishing and hunger m Chauvin Chaunceller of Brittaine after two yeares and a halfe imprisonment dyed of languishing and want in prison foure poore Beggars carried him to be buried in the Franciscans Church at Vennes He was so old as he could not liue many yeares but his memory shall liue euer as a memorable example of the iniuries which Fortune hath done to Vertue Soone after Landays appeared vpon the Theater of Gods Iustice to make knowne the shame which attended him at the last step of his greatnesse The Duke could not preuent it but he must iustly feele the same fortune which he had caused Chauvin to run Landays processe made for he was taken prisoner euen in the Dukes Chamber his processe was made and hee did insolently and arrogantly confesse all the excesse of his life vpon assurance which the Duke had giuen him to saue him and to draw him out of the Hang-mans hands In the end for his Concussions Violences Thefts Outrages and other Crimes And hanged at Nantes the 19. of Iuly 1485. he was condemned to be hanged and the Iudgement executed before the Duke had any aduertisement the Castle gates were guarded vntill the execution was done to the end that not any one should enter n It was thought fit that the Earle of CoÌ„minges should go and entertaine the Duke during the execution when as the Duke sawe him he demanded in what estate Landays processe was he answered That the Iudges wold come and speake with him They shall do well said the Duke for whatsoeuer he hath committed I pardon him and will that hee shall not dye When as hee vnderstood of the execution hee said that his ereherous Gossip the Earle of Comminges had deceiued him He was therewith so troubled in minde as few men saw him This Landays came of base parentage hee was the Dukes Taylors Boy he had charge of his Ward-robe and by little and little grew to haue the absolute command of the afffaires of Brittaine When as men of base condition are aduanced to great places they forget themselues they abuse their fauour and respect not their fortune with that humility and moderation which they ought Brittaine had no need to haue so great a King for enemy Misery of the Duke of Brittain o The Duke of Brittaine shâ—â—s the pittifull estate of his imprisonment in a Sentence giuen against the Earle of Ponthieur in these wordes The Windowes of our Chamber were shut close and wee made a little hole with a Pinne through the cloth that was
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