few daies he arriued at the Almaines campe with small force three or fower howers before the battell began which voiage as before I haue said turned to his great honor and profit for if his successe had beene bad I thinke he should haue found but cold entertainment in any place At the very instant that he arriued the battel 's marched on both sides For the confederates had lien in campe three daies or more in a strong place hard by the Duke of Burgundie who was at the very first discomfited and put to flight 4 neither had he so good lucke heere as in the former battell wherein he lost but seuen men of armes which happened bicause the Swissers had then no horsemen but at this battell neere to Morat whereof I now speake they had fower thousand horsemen well mounted the which pursued fiercely the Burgundians that fled Further their battell of footemen ioined also with the Dukes battell which was mightie and strong for besides great force of his own subiects and certaine English men that serued him diuers bands were newly come to him out of Piemont and the Duchie of Milan So that the Prince of Tarente at his being heere with the King told me that he neuer saw in his life so goodly an armie for he himselfe and diuers others by his commandement numbring the force as it passed ouer a bridge had told to the number of 23000. soldiers taking pay besides those that followed the armie and were appointed to serue at the artillerie which force me thinke was great notwithstanding that many talke of millions and report they wot not what making armies fiue times greater than they are The Lord of Contay who came to the King immediately after the battell confessed in my hearing that the Duke his Master lost there 8000. soldiers taking pay besides the straglers so that the wholenūber of the dead for ought I could euer learne to the contrarie amounted to 18000. 5 which is not incredible cōsidering both the great force of horsemen that diuers Princes of Almaine had there and also the great number of men that were slaine in the Dukes campe lying still at the siege before Morat 6 The Duke fled into Burgundie vtterly discomforted and not without cause and held himselfe close in a towne called La Riuiere where he assembled all the forces he could The Swissers followed the chase but that night and then retired without further pursute of their enimies The Notes 1 The Duke after the battell of Granson retired first to Ioingne from thence to Noseret and then to Losanna La Marche 2 This prooueth both Vitia animi scatere ad corpus animam sequi temperaturam corporis which proceedeth of the great sympathie between the minde and bodie Liuie lib. 1. decad 1. writeth thus Longinquus morbus Tulli mores prorsus immutauit 3 The Duke laid his siege before Morat called in Dutch Murten the 9. of Iune 1476. with 40000. men Annal. Burgund and so had the Swissers also Idem Meyer saith the Duke had but 24000. and the Swissers 30000. 4 This battell was fought 22. day of Iune 1476. Annal. Burgund Meyer 5 Others write 17000. others 22700. others 26000. and of the Swissers but 50. Meyer saith the Duke lost 14000. 6 For better vnderstanding of this place we must know that after the Dukes vaward was ouerthrowen they within Morat issued foorth and ioined with the Duke of Lorraine and entred perforce the Duke of Burgundies campe lying before the said towne of Morat where they made a great slaughter as our author heere maketh mention How after the battell of Morat the Duke of Burgundie tooke the Duchesse of Sauoy and how she was deliuered and sent home into hir countrie by the Kings meanes Chap. 4. THis misfortune draue the Duke into vtter despaire for he well perceiued by the sequele of the first battell at Granson between the which and this second there was but three weekes space 1 that all his friends would abandon him Wherefore by the aduise of those that were about him he made the Duchesse of Sauoy and one of hir children now Duke of Sauoy to be led by force into Burgundie but hir eldest sonne was conueied away by certaine of hir seruants for those that committed this outrage did it in great feare and vpon a sudden The cause that mooued the Duke heerunto was partly feare least the Duchesse should retire to the King hir brother and partly bicause all these misfortunes were happened to him as he said for succouring this house of Sauoy Thus was the Duchesse led to the castell of Rouure neere to Dyion where a small garde was appointed ouer hir Notwithstanding euery body that would went to visite hir and among others the Lord of Chasteauguion and the Marquesse of Rotelin that now are betweene the which two and two of the Duchesses daughters the Duke of Burgundie endeuored to make two marriages which afterward were accomplished Hir eldest sonne called Philibert then Duke of Sauoy was led by those that stole him away to Chambery where the Bishop of Geneua lay who was also of the house of Sauoy This Bishop was altogither giuen to sloth and wantonnes and gouerned wholy by a Knight of the Rhodes 2 but the King so practised with him and the Knight his gouernor that they put into his hands the said Duke of Sauoy and a little brother of his called Le Prothonostaire togither with the castels of Chambery and Montmelian and held also to the Kings vse another castell where all the Duchesses iewels lay When the Duchesse was come to Rouure accompanied with all hir women and a great number of hir seruants she perceiuing the Duke of Burgundie to be busied in leuying men and those that garded hir not to stand in such feare of their Master as they were accustomed determined to send to the King hir brother to reconcile hir selfe to him and to desire him to deliuer hir out of this thraldome For notwithstanding that she feared much to fall into his hands bicause of the great and long hatred that had been betweene them yet the miserie wherein she was forced hir in the end thereunto Wherefore she sent to him a gentleman of Piemont called Riuerol being steward of hir house who was directed to me When I had heard his message and aduertised the King thereof he commanded him to come to his presence and after he had giuen him audience answered that he would not forsake his sister in this extremitie notwithstanding their former variance and that if she would enter into league with him he would send for hir by the gouernor of Champaigne called Master Charles of Amboise Lord of Chaumont The said Riuerol tooke his leaue of the King and returned with speede to his Mistres who reioiced much at this newes Notwithstanding she sent yet againe to the King vpon the returne of the first message to desire a safe conduct and assurance therein that she should depart out of
this house of Burgundy where he receiued a yeerely pension of sixe thousand guildons wherefore besides that he was their kinsman he resorted thither ofttimes as a pensioner to do his dutie The Bishop of Liege and diuers noble men were there also partly to wait vpon this yoong Lady and partly for their owne particular affaires For the said Bishop entertained a sute there to discharge his countrey of a paiment of thirtie thousand guildons or thereabout which they gaue yeerly to Duke Charles by the treatie they made with him when the wars aboue mentioned ended All the which wars began for the said Bishops quarrell so that there was no cause why he should mooue this sute but rather seeke to keepe them still in pouertie for he receiued no benefit there more than of his spirituall iurisdiction and of his demaines which also were but small 2 in respect of the wealth of his countrey and the greatnes of his dioces The said Bishop brother to the Dukes of Bourbon Iohn and Peter now liuing being a man wholie giuen to pleasures and good cheere and little knowing what was profitable or vnprofitable for himselfe receiued into his seruice Master VVilliam de la Marche 3 a goodly valiant knight but cruell and of naughtie conditions who had been enimy of long time both to the said Bishop and also to the house of Burgundie for the Liegeois cause To this de la Marche the Ladie of Burgundie gaue fifteene thousand guildons partly in fauor of the Bishop and partly to haue him hir friend but he soone after reuolted both from hir and from the said Bishop his Master and attempted by force through the Kings fauor to make his owne sonne Bishop Afterward also he discomfited the said Bishop in battell slewe him with his owne hands and threw him into the riuer where his dead corps floted vp and down three daies But the Duke of Cleues was come thither in hope to make a mariage betweene his eldest sonne and the said Lady which seemed to him a verie fit match for diuers respects and sure I thinke it had taken effect if his sonnes conditions had liked the yoong Ladie and his seruants for he was descended of this house of Burgundie and held his Duchie of it and had been brought vp in it but peraduenture it did him harme that his behauior was so well knowen there The Notes 1 This Duke of Cleues vvas called Iohn vvhose father Adolph had married Marie sister to Duke Philip of Burgundie Meyer lib. 17. pag. 257. but Annal. Burgund saie that Adolph was sonne to one of Duke Philips sisters but corruptly as the pedegree in the end of this vvorke vvill declare 2 The Bishop of Liegeois reuenevves are nine thousand pound starling Guicchiar 3 This de la Marche vvas named Aremberg hovv he died after this murther reade Berlandus fol. 77. How they of Gaunt after their ambassadors returne put to death the Chauncellor Hugonet and the Lord of Himbercourt against their Princesses will and how they and other Flemmings were discomfited before Tournay and their generall the Duke of Gueldres slaine Chap. 17. NOw to proceede in the historie After these ambassadors were returned to Gaunt the councel was assembled and the Princesse sate in hir chaire of estate accompanied with all hir noble men to giue them audience Then the ambassadors made rehearsall of the commission she gaue them touching principally that point that serued for their purpose and saying that when they aduertised the King that she was determined to followe in all points the aduise and counsell of the three estates of hir countrey he foorthwith answered that he was sure of the contrarie and bicause they auowed their saying offered to shew the said Ladies letters in that behalfe The Princesse being therewith mooued suddenly answered in the presence of them all that it was not so assuring hirselfe that the King had not shewed hir letter Then he that spake being Recorder of Gaunt or Brucels drew the letter out of his bosome before the whole assemblie and deliuered it hir Wherein he shewed himselfe a lewde fellow and an vnciuill in dishonoring openly after such a sort this yoong Ladie who ought not so rudely to haue been delt with for though she had committed an error yet was it not publikely to be reformed It is no maruell if she were greatly ashamed thereof for she had protested the contrarie to the whole worlde The Dowager of Burgundie the Lord of Rauastain the Chauncellor and the Lord of Himbercourt were all fower there present also The Duke of Cleues and diuers others who had beene put in hope of this yoong Ladies marriage stormed maruellously at this letter then began their factions to breake foorth The said Duke was euer perswaded heeretofore that Hymbercourt would further his sute for his sonne but now perceiuing by this letter his hope to be frustrate he became his mortall foe 1 The Bishop of Liege and his minion Master VVilliam de la Marche who was there with him loued him not for the things done at Liege whereof the said Hymbercourt had beene the chiefe instrument The Earle of Saint Paule sonne to the Constable of Fraunce hated both him and the Chancellor bicause they two deliuered his father at Peronne to the Kings seruants as before you haue heard at large They of Gaunt also hated them both not for any offence made but bicause of the great authoritie they had borne whereof vndoubtedly they were as woorthie as any man that liued in their time either heere or there for they were euer true and faithfull seruants to their Master To be short the same day at night that this letter was shewed the aboue named Chancellor and Hymbercourt through the furtherance as I am perswaded of their enimies aboue named were apprehended by the citizens of Gaunt which danger notwithstanding that they were forewarned of by their friends yet had they not power to auoid as it hath often happened to diuers others With them was also apprehended M. VVilliam of Clugny then Bishop of Therouenne since of Poictiers and all three imprisoned in one place They of Gaunt proceeded against them by colour of processe contrarie to their accustomed maner in their reuenge and appointed certaine of their Senate to heare their cause with whom they ioined in commission one of this house of La Marche deadly enimie to the said Himbercourt First they demaunded of them why they caused Monseur de Cordes to deliuer the citie of Arras to the King but thereupon they stood not long notwithstanding that they had nothing else iustly to charge them with But this was not it that grieued them for neither cared they to see their Prince affeebled by the losse of such a towne neither had they the wit to consider what great damage might ensue thereof to themselues in tract of time Wherefore they rested chiefly vpon two points 2 the first they charged them that they had receiued bribes of the
these conditions that if the marriage were accomplished they should permit him quietly to enioy the counties of Burgundie Auxerrois Masconnois and Charolois and he for his part would restore vnto them Artois reseruing onely to himselfe the citie of Arras in such sort as he had fortified it for the towne was now nothing woorth considering the fortification of the citie For before the King tooke Arras the towne was fortified with ditch and rampire against the citie but now the citie was fortified against the towne and held for the King by the Bishop wherein the King did contrarie to the Princes of this house of Burgundie For they alwaies at the least by the space of these hundred yeeres made Bishop whom they listed and placed a captaine in the towne besides but the King to increase his authoritie did cleane contrarie and caused also the towne wals to be beaten downe and the citie to be fortified so that now the citie shutteth vpon the towne a great ditch being betweene both Wherefore the King indeed offered nothing for whoso hath the citie hath the towne at commandement Of the Duchie of Burgundie the countie of Bolloin the townes situate vpon the riuer of Somme the territories of Peronne Roye Montdidier no mention was made After these ouuertures were once set on foot they of Gaunt furthered them to the vttermost of their power and vsed very rudely the Duke and Duchesse his wife as did also diuers other great townes of Flaunders and Brabant which were fully bent to follow the proceedings of them of Gaunt especially Brucelles which was growen so wealthie bicause of the continuall residence that Duke Philip and Duke Charles of Burgundie had made there as did also at this present the Duke and Duchesse of Austriche that the wealth â—nd quietnes wherein they had liued vnder these two Dukes aboue named made them forget God and their dutie to their Prince so that they procured themselues that misfortune which afterward as you haue seene fell vpon them The Notes 1 The old copie saith but 500. men of armes 2 There were slaine at the battell of Guinegate 11000. Burgundians and 5000. French men Gaguin How King Lewis being visited with sicknes lost his wits and lay speechlesse somtime recouering and eftsoones falling into his disease againe and how he behaued himselfe in his castell of Plessis les Tours Chap. 7. ABout this time in the yeere 1479. in the moneth of March truce was made betweene these two Princes The King was verie desirous of peace especially in those parts so that it might be altogither for his aduentage For he began now to waxe old and sickely so far foorth that once being at dinner at Forges neere to Chinon he was suddenly taken in all parts of his bodie and lost his speech he was taken vp from the table and held to the fire and the windowes shut to the which notwithstanding that he desired to go yet some of his freiends held him and would not suffer him so to do meaning all for the best This disease tooke him in the yeere of our Lord 1480. in the moneth of March he laie altogither speechlesse he knew no man and his memorie was wholly taken away At the which instant you my Lord of Vienna came thither and serued him at that time in steed of a Phisition for you gaue him a glister and caused the windowes to be opened and the aire to be let in whereupon immediately he recouered his speech and his memorie after a sort and tooke horse and returned to Forges for this disease tooke him in a village a quarter of a league thence whither he went to heare masse He was diligently tended made signes what he would haue done among other things he desired that the officiall of Tours might be called to shriue him and made signes also that I should be sent for for I was gone to Argenton being ten leagues thence when I came I found him at the table with Master Adam Fumee who sometime had beene King Charles the seauenths Phisition and was at that present Master of the requests and another Phisition called Master Claude he vnderstood little what any man saide notwithstanding griefe he felt none he spake plainely almost neuer a word but made signes that I should be in his chamber I waited vpon him the space of 15. daies 1 at his table about his person as one of the groomes of his chamber which I accounted great honor to me and thought my self in dutie bound so to do After two daies he recouered his speech his memorie after a sort and bicause he thought that no man vnderstood him so well as my selfe his pleasure was that I should alwaies be by him and he confessed himselfe to the officiall in my presence otherwise they would neuer haue vnderstood one an other He had not much to say for he was shriuen not long before bicause the Kings of Fraunce vse alwaies to confesse themselues when they touch those that be sicke of the Kings euill which he neuer failed to do once a weeke If other Princes do not the like they are to blame for continually a great number are troubled with that disease After he was somewhat recouered he began to enquire who they were that held him by force from going to the windowes whose names when he heard foorthwith he banished them the Court so that they neuer came afterward to his presence some of them also he put out of office From others namely the Lord of Segre and Gilbert de Grasse Lord of Champeroux he tooke nothing but commanded them to depart Many woondered at this toie blaming him for so vsing them considering that all that they did was for the best and they said truth but Princes imaginations are strange and a number are bold to prattle of them that vnderstand them not The King feared nothing so much as the diminishing of his authoritie being maruellous great for the which cause he would not be disobeied in any point Further he remembred that when King Charles his father fell into the disease whereof he died he entred into suspition that his seruants sought to poison him at his sonnes request 2 which phansie sanke so deepely into his head that he refused his meate Wherefore it was concluded by the aduise of his Phisitions and of his chiefest and trustiest seruants that he should be forced to eate the which was executed verie orderly and aduisedly by those that serued him for cooliz was powred into his mouth but soone after this force he died The King our Master who had euer misliked this ordering of his father stomacked maruellously that he had been held thus perforce but yet made shew of much greater displeasure than indeed he had conceiued therof The chiefe cause that mooued him so to do was feare least they should Master him in all other things especially in the expedition of his waightie affaires vnder colour of the imperfection of his wits After
after the abouenamed Ambassadors departure Iohn Duke of Bourbon that last died arriued at the town of Lisle pretending that he came to visit his vncle Duke Philip of Burgundie who aboue all houses loued especially this house of Bourbon and no maruell for this Duke of Bourbons mother was Duke Philips sister She had liued a widow many yeeres and soiourned there at that time with hir brother both hir selfe and diuers of hir children to wit three daughters and one sonne notwithstanding this was not indeed the cause of the Duke of Bourbons arriuall but his comming was to perswade the Duke of Burgundie to suffer an armie to be leuied in his dominions assuring him that all the Princes of Fraunce would do the like meaning thereby to giue the King to vnderstand how euill and vniust gouernment he vsed in his realme purposing to make themselues so strong that they might constraine him by force to redresse this inconuenience if praiers could not preuaile This war was afterward called THE WEALE PVBLIQVE bicause the authors thereof vsed the common wealth for colour of their enterprise The said good Duke Philip for so is he surnamed since his death agreed that an armie should be leuied in his dominions but the bottom of the enterprise was neuer discouered to him for he thought not that the matter shoulde haue come to hand strokes as after it did Immediately began the musters through all the Dukes dominions and the Earle of Saint Paule afterward Constable of Fraunce accompanied with the Marshall of Burgundie being of the house of Neuf-chastell repaired to Cambray where D. Philip then lay to the Earle of Charolois who immediatly after their arriuall assembled his fathers Councill and a great number of his subiects in the Bishops palace at Cambray where he proclaimed all the house of Croy traitors to his father and him And notwithstanding that the Earle of S. Paule alleaged that by this proclamation he should be greatly indamaged bicause long before this he had giuen his daughter in mariage 1 to the L. of Croies sonne yet was the said house of Croy al that notwithstanding forced to abandon the Dukes dominions 2 where they lost great riches With the which dooing Duke Philip was much discontented especially bicause his chiefe chamberlaine afterward Lord of Chimay a yoong man well disposed and nephew to the Lord of Croy was forced for feare of his life to depart without leaue taken of his master being aduertised that if he did otherwise he should either be slaine or apprehended but the Dukes old age caused him to beare this matter more patiently than otherwise he would All this trouble hapned in his house bicause of the restitution of the territories aboue mentioned situate vpon the riuer of Somme which the Duke had restored to King Lewis for the sum of 400000. crownes by the perswasion of this house of Croy as the Earle of Charolois laide to their charge The said Earle after he had pacified his father and reconciled himselfe to him the best that mought be put his whole force incontinent into the field being accompanied with the Earle of S. Paule the principall gouernor of his affaires and he that had the greatest charge in his armie for he had vnder him by the Earle of Charolois commandement 300. men of armes and 4000. archers besides a number of valiant knights and esquires of Artois Haynalt and Flaunders Like bands and as great were also vnder the leading of the L. of Rauastin the D. of Cleues brother and the L. Anthony bastard of Burgundie other captaines for breuitie I passe ouer but aboue all the rest two knights there were especially in great credit with the Earle of Charolois the one named the L. of Hault-bordin an ancient knight bastard brother to the Earle of S. Paule the other the L. of Contay They had both been trained vp in the long wars betweene Fraunce and England at the same time that Henry the 5. of that name King of England raigned in Fraunce being confederate with this Duke Philip of Burgundie They were two valiant and wise knights and had the principall charge of the whole armie of yoong gentlemen there were a number but one especially very famous called master Philip of Lalain issued of a race that hath euer been so valiant and couragious that they haue in maner all died in the wars in their princes seruice The Earles force was great for his men of armes were to the number of 1400. but euill armed and vntrained bicause of the long peace these Princes of Burgundie had liued in For since the treatie of Arras by the space of 36. yeeres and more they neuer had war that indured nor almost taste of war saue a few broyles against the citie of Gaunt which were soone pacified Notwithstanding his men of armes were well mounted and well accompanied for few or none should you haue seene without fiue or sixe great horses of his retinue 3 The archers 4 were eight or nine thousand and when they mustred they were more vnwilling to depart then to giue their names but the ablest were chosen and the rest dismissed 5 The subiects of this house of Burgundie liued then in great prosperitie partly bicause of their long peace and partly bicause of their Princes goodnes who leuied but few subsidies vpon them so that these Seniors seemed comparable to the land of promise in those daies for they flowed in wealth and had continued in great quietnes the space of 23. yeeres to wit till the beginning of these wars now mentioned which till this day endure vnended their expenses in apparell both of men and women were great and superfluous 6 their feasts and banquets more sumptuous and prodigall than in any countrey that euer I sawe their bathes and other pastimes with women wanton and dissolute yea somwhat too shameles I meame of women of low estate To be short the subiects of this house thought at that time no Prince able to withstand them at the least none too mightie for them but at this present I know no countrey in the world in so great miserie and desolation as theirs and I doubt me the sins they committed in their prosperitie cause them now to suffer this aduersitie bicause they acknowledged not all these gifts and benefits to proceede from God who disposeth and bestoweth them as to his heauenly wisdome seemeth best The Earles armie thus furnished euen in a moment of all things necessarie marched forward 7 the whole force being on horseback saue those that conueied the artillerie which was mighty and strong for that time and the straglers appointed for the cariage the which was so great that the Earles owne cariage inclosed the greatest part of his campe he marched first towards Noyon and besieged a little castell called Nesle which was soone taken notwithstanding the resistance made by the garrison that was within it The Marshall Ioachin one of the fower Marshals of Fraunce issuing out of Peronne
the rest of their talke certaine words that passed the Duke of Berry who was yoong and vnacquainted with such exploits were especially marked for he seemed already to be weary of this enterprise alledging the great number of the Earle of Charolois men that he had seene in the towne hurt and maimed of whom to shew that he had pitie and compassion he brake foorth into this speech and said that he had rather the matter had neuer been begun than that so much mischiefe should arise by his occasion and for his cause which words displeased greatly the Earle of Charolois and his men as heerafter you shall heare Notwithstanding they concluded in this assembly to go before Paris to prooue whether the towne would enter into league with them for the benefit of the common wealth which they al pretended to be the onely cause of their assembly being fully perswaded that all the townes in the realm would follow the example thereof The words aboue mentioned vttered by the D. of Berry in this assembly put the Earle of Charolois and his men into such a dumpe that they said thus one to another heard you this man speake he is discouraged for seuen or eight hundred hurt persons that he seeth in the towne who are none of his but meer strangers to him he would be otherwise troubled than if the matter should touch himselfe in any point and easely be won to agree with his brother and leaue vs in the mire and bicause of the long wars that haue been in times past betweene King Charles his father and the D. of Burgundie my father both the parties would soone consent to turne their forces against vs wherefore it is good to prouide vs of friends in time And vpon this suspicion onely VVilliam of Cluny Prenotarie who died Bishop of Poictiers was sent to England to King Edward the 4. then raigning to whom the Earle of Charolois had euer before been mortall enimie supporting the house of Lancaster against him of the which he was issued by his mother 2 And the said Clunies instructions were to treat with King Edward of a mariage betweene the Kings sister called Margaret and the Earle of Charolois not to conculde the matter but onely to put the King in hope thereof for the Earle knowing how greatly the King desired this mariage supposed by this meanes to win him to take his part if he needed his helpe at the least to staie him from attempting ought against him And notwithstanding that he ment nothing lesse then the accomplishment thereof bicause as feruently as he loued the house of Lancaster as extreemly hated he the house of Yorke yet was the matter so labored that many yeeres after the mariage was accomplished 3 and the Earle receaued also the order of the Garter and ware it till his dying day Many a such deed is often done vpon suspicion onely especially among great Princes who are much more suspicious then other men bicause of the doubts and reports that are daily brought vnto them oftentimes by flatterers vpon no occasion The Notes 1 The Britaines army was of 10600. men Anna. Aqui. and the archers here mentioned were all mounted one horsebacke otherwise the men of armes could not arise to sixe thousand 2 Charles D. of Burgundie was of the house of Lancaster after this sort Iohn of Gaunt D. of Lancaster had issue by Blaunche his first wife daughter and heire to Henry D. of Darby and Lancaster Philip which married with Iohn King of Portugall bastard of Ferraude by whom she had issue Isabell married to Philip D. of Burgundie by whom she had issue this D. Charles 3 Margaret king Edwards sister arriued in the Lowe countries 25. Iunij Ann. 1468. Meyer How the Earle of Charolois and his confederates with their whole army passed the riuer of Seine vpon a bridge made of botes how Iohn D. of Calabria ioined with them and how they all encamped before Paris Chap. 6. ALl these Princes according to their determination departed from Estampes hauing soiourned there certaine daies and marched to Saint Maturin of Larchant and Moret in Gastinois in the which two little townes the Lord Charles of Fraunce and the Britaine 's lodged but the Earle of Charolois encamped in a great medow vpon the riuer of Seine and made proclamation that euery man should bring a hooke with him to fasten his horse therewith he caried also with him seauen or eight small boates in cartes and great store of pipeboorde meaning therewith to make a bridge ouer the riuer of Seine bicause these Princes had no passage there The Earle of Dunois accompanied him riding in a litter for bicause of the goute he could not sit on horsebacke notwithstanding his ensigne was borne with him When they came to the riuer they launched foorth the boates they brought with them and tooke an Iland in the midst of the streame where certaine of our archers landed and skirmished with a companie of horsemen that defended the passage on the other side vnder the leading of the Marshall Ioachin and Sallezard The place was much to their disaduantage bicause it was high and in a goodly vine country besides that the Burgundians had great store of artillerie vnder the charge of a notable gunner named Master Girald whom they tooke prisoner at the battell of Montl'hery being then in the Kings seruice To be short the aboue mentioned horsemen were forced to abandon the passage and retire to Paris The selfesame night the bridge was made from the side of the riuer where we lay to the Iland where incontinent the Earle of Charolois caused his pauilion to be pitched and lodged there all night with fiftie men of armes of his house by day breake a great number of Coopers were set on work to make casks of the pipe boord we brought with vs who so bestirred themselues that before noon the bridge was made from the Iland to the other side of the riuer Incontinent passed the Earle of Charolois and caused his tents whereof he was well furnished to be pitched ouer the same bridge passed also his whole armie and artillerie and lodged vpon the side of a hill hanging towards the riuer by means whereof his campe made a goodly shew to those that came after It was that whole daies worke to conuey ouer the Earles owne forces but the next morning by day breake passed also the Dukes of Berry and Britaine with their whole armie commending this bridge to be very commodiously and speedily made and marched when they were passed a little beyond the Earle and encamped also vpon the hill When it was darke night we discouered a great number of fires as far from vs as we could well discerne which diuers supposed to be the Kings forces but bofore midnight we were aduertised that it was Iohn Duke of Calabria 1 onely sonne to King Rene of Sicilie 2 with nine hundred men of armes of the Duchie and Countie of Burgundie The said Duke had
day all men were in great feare and muttered vp and downe the towne the second the Duke was somewhat pacified and sate in counsell almost the whole day and part also of the night The King caused all those to be laboured that he thought could aide him in this extremitie making them large offers and promises commanded also fifteen thousand crowns to be diuided among the Dukes seruants but he to whom the charge was committed acquit himselfe not faithfully thereof for part of the monie he retained to his owne vse as the King afterward vnderstood The King fearing especially those aboue named that came with this armie of Burgundy who in times past had beene his owne seruants but were now his brothers the Duke of Normandies as they said In this councell aboue mentioned this matter was diuersly debated some were of opinion that the safe conduct giuen the King should not be broken seeing he offered to sweare the treatie as it was articled in writing others gaue counsell rudely to imprison him without farther ceremonie and others to send for his brother the Duke of Normandie and to conclude a peace for the aduantage of all the Princes of Fraunce They that gaue this aduise thought if their opinion tooke place that the King should be restrained of his libertie for euer and held continually vnder garde bicause a great Prince being in the hands of his enimie and vsed after such sort neuer or very hardly recouereth his libertie for feare of reuenge This last opinion failed not much to take effect for the matter was so far forward that I sawe a man booted and ready to depart with a packet of letters to the Duke of Normandie being then in Britaine and staied onely for the Duke of Burgundies letter notwithstanding all this was dashed againe The King caused certaine ouertures to be made offering to leaue there in hostage the Duke of Bourbon and the Cardinall his brother and the Constable with diuers others vnder this condition that the peace being concluded he might depart to Compiegne promising incontinent either to cause the Liegeois to repaire the harmes done or to declare himselfe their enimie They whom the King named for hostages outwardly made earnest offer of themselues I know not whether they meant as they said and I doubt me they did not for I verily beleeue if the King had left them there they should neuer haue returned into Fraunce All this night being the third after the newes brought the Duke neuer vnclothed him but lay downe twise or thrise vpon his bed and then rose and walked for such was his maner when he was troubled I lay that night my selfe in his chamber and communed with him diuers times In the morning he was farther out of patience than euer before vsing terrible menaces and being ready to execute some great matter notwithstanding in the end he was pacified and resolued to hold himselfe contented if the King would sweare the treatie and go with him to Liege to helpe to reuenge the iniuries the Liegeois had done him and the Bishop of Liege his cosen with the which message suddenly he departed into the Kings chamber whereof the King had a priuie watch word by a friend 1 who aduertised him that nothing was to be feared if he agreed to these two points otherwise that he should put himselfe in so great danger that none could be greater When the Duke came to the Kings presence his voice trembled and euen there he was like to fall into a newe rage so much was he troubled His behauior towards the King was humble and lowly but his countenance furious and his language sharpe for he asked him in few words wherher he would obserue the treatie concluded and also sweare it Whereunto the King answered that he would For you shall vnderstand that the said treaty as touching the Duke of Burgundy himselfe was altred in no point otherwise than it was concluded before Paris and as touching the Duke of Normandies partage it was much amended for the King For it was agreed that in stead of Normandy he should haue Champaine and Brie and certaine other places there about for his partage Then the Duke asked him againe whether he would go with him to Liege to helpe him to reuenge the treason the Liegeois had wrought by his meanes and by his comming thither putting him also in minde of the neere kinred that was betweene the said King and the Bishop of Liege being of the house of Bourbon wherunto the King answered that after he had sworne the treaty which was the thing he most desired he would accompany him to Liege and lead thither with him as small or as great force as the Duke should thinke good at which words the D. much reioiced and incontinent the treaty of peace was brought and the selfe same crosse that Charlemaigne vsuallie ware called the crosse of victory taken out of the Kings coffers and there the two Princes sware the treaty 2 wherupon all the bels in the town rung and all men were glad and reioiced It hath pleased the King since to attribute this honor to me that I did him great seruice in furthering this accord The Duke sent these newes foorthwith into Britaine and the treatie with all wherein he seuered not himselfe from the said two Dukes but named them his confederats And sure the Lord Charles had now a good partage in respect of the treatie made in Britaine whereby he should haue but a pension onely of fortie thousand franks as before you haue heard The Notes 1 It vvas Commines himselfe that gaue the King aduise not to refuse to go to Liege vvith the Duke Annal. Burgund 2 The peace of Peronne vvas svvorne the fovverteenth day of October anno 1468. Meyer lib. 17. fol. 346. pag. 1. vvhere read also the conditions of the peace How the King accompanied the Duke of Burgundy making war vpon the Liegeois who before were his confederates Chap. 10. THe next day after the treaty sworne the King and the Duke departed from Peronne and went to Cambray and from thence into the countrey of Liege in the very beginning of winter and in a maruelous foule season The King had with him few soldiers or none others than the Scottish men of his garde but gaue commandement that three hundred men of armes should folow after him The Dukes army was deuided into two bands the one led by the Marshall of Burgundy so often already mentioned in the which were all the Burgundians and the noble men of Sauoye aboue named besides great forces of the countries of Haynault Luxembourg Namure and Lamburge the other band the Duke him selfe lead when they drew neere the citie of Liege they debated in the Dukes presence what was to be done Some gaue aduise to dismisse part of the army considering that the gates and wals of the citie were rased the yeer before and the citizens in vtter despaire of succour the King him selfe being
ciuill dissentions and factions among themselues encreased daily in the great townes especially in Gaunt which bare the greatest sway in the countrie as you haue heard For the Lady of Burgundie diuers marriages were mentioned for all men were of opinion that either she must get hir a husband to defend that she yet held or marrie the Daulphin thereby quietly to possesse all Some desired greatly that this marriage with the Daulphin might take effect she hir selfe especially before the King deliuered the letters aboue mentioned sent vnto him by hir Chauncellor and the Lord of Himbercourt but others disallowed of this marriage both bicause of the said Daulphins yoong age for he was but nine yeeres olde and also bicause of the marriage promised in England and these labored for the Duke of Cleues sonne Others there were that trauelled for the Emperors sonne Maximilian now King of Romans The said Lady had conceiued extreme hatred against the King for the deliuerie of the letters aboue mentioned which was the onely cause of the two noble mens death and of the dishonor she receiued when hir letters were openly redeliuered hir before the assemblie whereof you haue heard Further the deliuerie of the said letters seemed also to be the onely occasion that mooued them of Gaunt to banish so many of hir seruants from hir to remooue from about hir hir mother in lawe and the Lord of Rauastaine and to put hir women in such feare that they durst not open a letter before they of Gaunt had seene it nor commune with their Mistres in hir eare Wherefore she began now to remooue from about hir the Bishop of Liege who was of the house of Bourbon and an earnest suter for hir marriage with the Daulphin which sure had been a very honorable match for hir had not the said Daulphin been so yoong notwithstanding the Bishop had no regarde thereof To be short the said Bishop departed to Liege whereupon euery man gaue ouer that sute It had been hard to deale in this busines to the contentation of all parties and I thinke who so should haue intermedled in it should haue had but small thanke for his labour in the end wherfore euery man forbare to speake therin Notwithstanding before hir marriage was fully concluded there was an assemblie held about it wherat the Lady of Halleuin the Princesse of Burgundies principall woman was present who said as I haue heard reported that they had neede of a man not a child and that hir Mistres was a woman growen and able to beare children which should be the onely stay of the countrey This opinion tooke place notwithstanding some blamed this Lady for speaking thus frankly but others commended hir saying that she had spoken but of such mariage as was most necessary for the estate of the countrey There was now no more to do but to finde a fit man And I thinke verily if it had so pleased the K. she would willingly haue married the Lord of Angoulesme that now is 1 so much desired she to continue hir alliance with the house of France But God was minded to make another match wherof peraduenture the sequel is yet vnknown Notwithstanding this we are able to say by that is already past that of the said marriage many great wars haue arisen both heere and there which perchance had neuer happened if she had married the Lord of Angoulesme wheras by reason of this other match both the countries of Flaunders and Brabant haue suffered great afflictions The Duke of Cleues was at Gaunt with the said Lady making friends there in hope to conclude a marriage betweene hir and his son but she had no fansie therunto for both she those that were about hir misliked much his sons conditions Wherfore some began to motion a marriage betweene hir and the Emperors sonne now King of Romans the which in times past had been so far foorth treated of betweene the Emperor and Duke Charles that it was concluded betweene them two Further the Emperor had a letter written with the Ladies owne hand by hir fathers commandement and a ring set with a diamond The contents of the which letter were that according to the pleasure of hir Lord and father she promised to the said Duke of Austrich the Emperors sonne to accomplish the marriage concluded betweene both their parents in such manner and forme as hir said Lord and father should appoint From the Emperor came certaine ambassadors to the said Lady being at Gaunt who receiued letters at Bruxels commanding them to stay there bicause Commssioners should be sent thither to treat with them which was the Duke of Cleues doing who was loth of their comming and sought to send them home discontented But the said ambassadors passed foorth that notwithstanding for they had good intelligence in the Ladies court especially with the Dowager of Burgundy who was remooued from the said Lady as you haue heard bicause of the letter aboue mentioned She aduertised them as it was reported that they should not stay at Bruxels notwithstanding these letters instructing them further what they should do at their comming to Gaunt and assuring them that the said Lady and diuers about hir were well disposed to their sute The Emperors ambassadors followed hir aduise and rid straight to Gaunt notwithstanding the message aboue mentioned Wherewith the Duke of Cleues was not a little discontented but he was not acquainted with the disposition of the said Lady and hir women The Councell concluded that these ambassadors should haue audience their message being heard the Princesse should bid them hartily welcome tell them that she would take aduise with hir Councel which words being vttered she should withdraw hirselfe without farther communication Whereunto she agreed The ambassadors when audience was giuen them presented their letters and declared their message which was that hir mariage had been concluded betweene the Emperour and the Duke of Burgundy hir father with hir consent as appeered both by hir letters written with hir owne hand which they there shewed and also by the diamond which they said she had sent and giuen in token of marriage Moreouer the said ambassadors required hir on their Masters behalfe that it would please hir to accomplish the said marriage according to the will and promise both of hir said Lord and father and also of hirselfe Further desiring hir to declare before the assembly there present whether she had written the said letter or not and whether she minded to performe hir promise Whereunto the said Ladie without further deliberation answered that she had sent the saide diamond and written the letter by the commandement of hir Lord and father and would performe all that was conteined therein Then the ambassadors gaue hir humble thanks and returned with ioifull minds to their lodging But the Duke of Cleues was highly displeased with this answer being cleane contrary to hir councels resolution and told hir that she had done vnaduisedly
King was yet at Rome where he remained about twenty daies busied with a number of matters He had with him at the least eighteene Cardinals besides diuers others that repaired to the citie from all parts The names of these Cardinals were the Cardinall Ascaigne the Popes vicechauncellor and brother to the Duke of Milan the Cardinall Petri-ad-Vincula the which two were deadly enimies to the Pope and great friends each to other the Cardinals of Guese 3 Saint Denis Saint Seuerin Sauelli Coulonne and diuers others all the which would needs haue proceeded to a new election and deposed the Pope being within the castle of Saint Ange against the which the artillery was twise bent as I haue heard the noblest personages there present report but the King of his goodnes euer withstood it The place was not of defence for the seate thereof is vpon a little hill made by force of man besides that these Cardinals alleaged that the wals thereof were fallen down by miracle and charged the Pope that he had obtained this holy dignitie by simonie and they said true but Cardinall Ascaigne himselfe was the chiefe merchaunt that solde it and receiued a great summe of money for his part togither with the Popes house where he lodged before he was Pope being then Vicechauncellor and all the furniture thereof and his said office of Vicechauncellor with diuers places of the patrimonie of the Church For there had been great controuersie between them two for the said dignitie 4 Notwithstanding I thinke they would both willingly haue agreede to chuse a newe Pope of the Kings naming yea and a French man so that I know not whether the King did well or euill in concluding peace though all things considered I suppose he tooke the best course for himselfe was yoong and vnprouided of men sufficient to manage so waightie a matter as the reformation of the Church though I confesse his power to haue been sufficient thereunto Sure if he could haue reformed it I thinke al men of wisedome and vnderstanding would haue accounted it a good a woorthie and a holie worke But there were too many things requisite to so high an enterprise notwithstanding the Kings will was good and yet is if he had good assistance The King being in Rome made a treatie with the Pope which could not long endure for it was vnreasonable in some points and serued for the chiefe colour of the league whereof heereafter you shall heare By the said treatie peace was concluded betweene the Pope and his Cardinals and all other their adherents and partakers And it was agreed that the Cardinals should receiue all rights and duties belonging to their Cardinals hat as well absent as present and that the Pope should lend the King fower places to wit Terracine Ciuita-vechia Viterbe which the King already held and Spolete but this last he neuer deliuered notwithstanding his promise All the which places the King sware to restore at his returne from Naples as also he did notwithstanding that the Pope had abused him By this treatie he deliuered also into the Kings hands the Truks brother for the safe keeping of whom he receiued yeerely of the Turke sixtie thousand ducats and held him also by meanes of his said brother in great feare 5 He promised further to put no Legate into any fortified place or towne of the Church without the Kings consent Certaine other articles there were touching the consistorie or college of Cardinals which I ouerpasse For the performance of all these conditions the Pope deliuered his sonne the Cardinall of Valence in hostage to the King who accompanied him as his Legate and the King did vnto the Pope the dutie of a sonne with all humilitie and obedience Further the Pope created two Cardinals at his request the one the generall Brissonnet so often before named lately made bishop of Saint Malo and the other the bishop of Mans of the house of Luxembourg who was heere in Fraunce The Notes 1 He meaneth in their voiages to Naples vnder the house of Aniou 2 This riuer is called Liris or Gariliano 3 Gurcense Gazzo and I suppose our author write it Gurse but the letters of the ancient copie being defaced the vnskilfull corrector at the first Printing gessing but at the vvord changed R into E. Guicciar hath Gurce 4 The Pope before his papacie had been Vicechauncellor Ascanio and he stroue for the dignitie but in the end Ascanio relented being recompensed as heere is mentioned Notvvithstanding seeing an occasion against the Pope offered by the Kings comming his rancor brake foorth a newe 5 Gemes or Gemin Ottoman heere mentioned brother to Baiazet the second rebelling against his brother fled to the Soldan of Aegypt for aide but being vanquished he fled to Rhodes from whence he was sent into Fraunce to King Lewis the eleuenth to the end he might not escape for the Turke for his safe keeping paid yeerely to the knights of the Rhodes 40000. crownes K. Lewis gaue him to Pope Innocent the 8. So her remained till this present that he was deliuered to K. Charles at Rome in the Popes hands How the King departed from Rome towards Naples what hapned in the meane time in diuers parts of the said realme and through what places he passed till he came to Naples Chap. 13. THese matters being thus ended the King remooued from Rome in great amity friendship with the Pope in apparance at which time eight Cardinals departed also out of the citie highly displeased with this treatie namely the said Vicechauncellor Ascaigne and the Cardinall S. Peter-ad-Vincula with sixe of their faction But many thought that Ascaigne did but dissemble and that in deed he was in good amitie with the Pope notwithstanding I am able to affirme nothing thereof for his brother had not as yet declared himselfe our enimie From Rome the King remooued to Iannesanne and from thence to Belistre where the Cardinall of Valence escaped away The next daie the King tooke Chastelfortin by assault and put all that were with in it to the sword bicause the place belonged to Iames Comte who was reuolted from the King notwithstanding that he had taken his pay for the Comtes haue euer been partakers with the Vrsins From thence he marched to Valmonton a town of the Colonnois and from thence remooued and lodged about fower miles from mont Saint Iehan which is a towne held of the Church but belonging to the Marques of Pescaire and very well fortified notwithstanding after it had beene beaten seauen or eight howers with the cannon it was taken by assault and all that were within it or the greatest partslaine and there the Kings whole force ioyned togither 1 Then he marched towards Saint Germain sixteen miles thence where this newe King Ferrande as you haue heard laie in campe with all the force he could leuy And indeed this was his onely refuge and the place where he must fight or neuer bicause it was the
their towne reared vp againe the armes of Arragon and Dom Frederick being at Brandis sent a garrison thither To be short fortune began now to frowne vpon vs which but two moneths before so highly had fauored vs in such sort that through the whole realme they began to reuolt as well bicause of the league as also of the Kings departure and the small forces he left behinde him which was nothing in respect of the number of soldiers though diuers of the captaines were of great valor He appointed for his lieutenant generall in the said realme the Lord of Montpensier of the house of Bourbon a valiant and a hardy knight but of no great sense and so careles that he kept his bed euery day til noone In Calabria he left the Lord of Aubigny a Scottish man borne a vertuous wise honorable a valiant knight him he created high Constable of the realme and gaue him as before you haue heard the Earldome of Acri and the Marquisat of Squillazzo He had made Lord great Chamberlaine of the realme at his first comming thither the Seneschall of Beaucaire called Stephan de Vers who was also captaine of Caietta Duke of Nola and Lord of diuers other seniories Further all the treasure of the realme passed through his hands so that his charge was much too waightie for him but sure he was well affected to the defence of the realme He created the Lord Don Iulian Lorrain a Duke and left him in the towne of Saint Angelo where he behaued himselfe passing well He left in Manfredonia Master Gabriell of Montfaulcon a man of whom he made great account and to all these he gaue goodly possessions but this Gabriell behaued himselfe very childishly for at fower daies end he yeelded the towne for lacke of victuals notwithstanding that at his entrie into it he found it very well furnished besides that it was seated in a countrie abounding with all kinde of graine Diuers sold all the prouision they found in the castels and the report went that this Gabriell fled himselfe and left VVilliam of Vilneufue for defence of the towne whom his owne seruants sold to Dom Frederick who put him into the gallies where he remained a long time At Tarente the King left George of Suilly who carried himselfe there very gallantly and died of the plague and this citie held for the King till famine forced it to yeeld In Aquila he left the bailife of Vitry where he did great seruice and in Abruzzo master Gracian des guerres who likewise made good proofe of his valor there They were all left vnfurnished of monie for order was giuen that they should receiue their pay there of the reuenues of the crowne but all was too little Notwithstanding the K. left the Princes of Salerne and Bisignan very well appointed who did him good seruice as long as they were able He delt also very bountifully with the Coulonnois for he granted them al their demaunds put aboue thirty places into their hands their friends which if they would haue defended for him as both by dutie oth they were bound they had don him great seruice and purchased to themselues both honor and profit For I thinke they were not so highly aduanced these hundred yeeres as by the King at that time yet notwithstanding before his departure they began to practise with his enimies True it is that they serued him in fauour onely of the Duke of Milan bicause they haue euer been of the faction Gibilin but they ought not in respect thereof to haue dealt faithlesly with him who so highly had aduanced and pleasured them not only this way but diuers others For in their fauor he had prisoners with him vnder garde the Lord Virgill Vrsin and the Earle of Petillane 3 with diuers others of the Vrsines their enimies yea and that against all right and reason for notwithstanding that they were taken prisoners yet knew the King right well that they had a safe conduct the benefit also whereof he meant they should enioy as himselfe well declared for he was determined to leade them no further than Ast and there to release them All this did he at the Coulonnois request and yet before his returne to Ast they shrunke from him yea they were the very first that reuolted though they could alleage no cause that mooued them thereunto The Notes 1 Guicciar saith the King left behinde him halfe his Swissers part of his French footmen 800. French launces and 500. Italian men of armes 2 These are certaine ships hauing both saile and ore the which are very much vsed in the meridionall seas 3 Virginio Vrsin and the Earle of Petillane followed the King onely vpon their word not to depart without leaue How the King departed from Naples and passed againe through Rome whereupon the Pope fled to Oruiette of the communication the King had with Monseur D'Argenton at his returne from Venice how he tooke aduise whether he should restore the Florentines places to them or not and of the Sermons woorthie of memorie of Frier Ierom of Florence Chap. 2. THe King hauing giuen order for his affaires as he thought good put himselfe vpon the way homeward with the rest of his forces 1 being as I suppose nine hundred men of armes at the least comprehending therein the ordinarie retinue of his house two thousand and fiue hundred Swissers so that I thinke the whole armie contained seuen thousand men taking paie besides the traine of the Court being to the number of fifteen hundred able to do seruice 2 The Earle of Petillane who tooke the iust muster of them told me after the battell whereof you shall heare that the whole force was nine thousand men The King marched straight to Rome where the Pope would not tarie his comming but was first determined to haue gone to Padua into the Venetians dominions so far foorth that his lodging was made there But afterward he altered his minde for both the Venetians and the Duke of Milan sent him certaine bands of men to Rome where though they arriued in time yet durst he not abide notwithstanding that the King meant him no harme but would haue done him all honor and seruice and had also sent an ambassador thither purposely to desire him to staie But he retired to Oruiette and thence to Perouse leauing the Cardinals at Rome to receiue the King who staide not there 3 neither harmed any man The K. wrote vnto me that I should meet him at Sene whither I repaired accordingly he receiued me of his goodnes verie graciously and asked me somewhat merily whether the Venetians would send to stop him vpon the waie for his army consisted altogither of yoong men who thought none in the world comparable to them I answered that the seniorie told me at my departure in the presence of one of his secretaries named Lourdin that they and the Duke of Milan would put forty thousand men into the field not
nor so well placed to haue succoured it as the day before Further bicause the Marques of Mantua who was entred into the plaine and past the riuer was directly vpon our backe about a quarter of a league behinde our rereward marching with his force softly and close togither which was a maruellous pleasant sight to behold the King was forced to turne his backe to his vawarde and his face towards his enimies and so to approch neerer to his rereward and retire from his vaward I was then with the Cardinall attending an answer of our letter but I told him I perceiued it was no time to staie any longer there wherfore I departed being hard by the Swissers and went to the King But before I could come to him I lost a page who was my cosin germaine and a groome of my chamber and a lackey which followed a prety way behinde me so that I saw not when they were slaine I had not riden aboue a hundred paces when suddenly a cry began to arise in the selfe same place from whence I was departed or but little beyond For you shall vnderstand that their Estradiots at this very instant came to our carriage anâ— entred into the Kings lodging where were three or fower houses in the which they slew or hurt fower or fiue soldiers but the rest escaped they slew also about an hundred of our straglers and put our carriage in great disorder When I came to the King I found him dubbing of knights but bicause the enimies were at hand we caused him to cease and then I hard the bastard of Bourbon named Mathew who was in good credit with the King and one Philip de Moulin a poore gentleman but very valiant call the King saying passe foorth sir passe foorth whereupon he went into the forefront of his battell and placed himselfe before his standard so that the bastard of Bourbon excepted I sawe none neerer the enimies then himselfe Our enimies marched lustely forward in such sort that within lesse than a quarter of an hower after my arriuall they were come within a hundred paces of the King who was as euill garded as euil waited on as euer was Prince or noble maÌ„ but mauger the deuil he is wel defended whom God defends And sure the prophesie of the reuerend father frier Hierom prooued true who told me as before you haue heard that God led him by the hand His rereward stood vpon his right hand being recoiled somwhat from him the neerest companie to him on that side was the D. of Orleans companie being to the number of 80. launces led by Robinet of Frainezelles and Monseur de la Trimoilles company being about forty launces and the hundred Scottish archers of his garde who thrust themselues into the presse as men of armes I my selfe stood vpon the left hand with the gentlemen pensioners and seruants of the Kings house This rereward was led by the Earle of Foix but as touching the names of the other captaines I passe them ouer for breuitie Within a quarter of an hower after my arriuall the enimies being so neere the King as you haue heard charged their staues and began a soft gallop They were diuided into two troupes one of the which charged the two companies of our horsemen and the Scottish archers standing on the Kings right hand and the other the King himselfe so that both they and the King were charged almost at one instant we that stood vpon the left hand charged them vpon the flanke greatly to our aduantage and vndoubtedly it is impossible for men to meete roughlier than we met But the Estradiots that accompanied them seeing our mules and carriage flie towards our vaward and their companions 4 get all the bootie turned their horses that way and forsooke their men of armes who by meanes thereof were vnfollowed whereby it manifestly appeered that God meant to preserue vs for if these fifteene hundred light horsemen had broken in amongst vs with their Cimeterres which are terrible swords like to the Turks vndoubtedly we had beene defeated our number being so small The Italian men of armes immediately after they had broken their staues fled and their footemen or the greatest part shrunke aside and fled also At the selfesame time that they charged vs the Earle of Caiazze gaue a charge also vpon our vaward but they met not so roughly as we for at the very instant that they should haue couched their staues they began to faint and disordered themselues in such sort that fifteene or twenty of them being scattered amongst our bands were taken and slaine by our Almaines the rest were but easily pursued for the Marshall of Gie endeuored to keepe his forces togither bicause he saw yet a great troupe of enimies not far from him Notwithstanding part of his men followed the chase and part of the Earle of Caiazzes men that fled passed ouer the place where the Marques we had fought with their swords in their hands for they had throwne awaie their staues But they that assailed the King fled immediately after they had charged and were maruellous swiftly pursued for we all followed the chase part of them tooke â—way to the village from whence we were departed the rest fled the next way to their campe we all pursuing them saue the King who staid behinde with a few men and put himselfe in great danger bicause he followed not after them with vs. One of the first that was slaine of their side was the Lord Rodolph of Mantua vnckle to the Marques who should haue sent word to the aboue named Master Anthonie of Vrbin when he should march for they thought that this battell would haue endured as their battels in Italie do which their error serued the said Master Anthonie for a good excuse but to say the truth I thinke he saw ynough to stay him from marching We had a great number of straglers and seruants following vs all the which flocked about the Italian men of armes being ouerthrowen and slue the most of them For the greatest part of the said straglers had their hatchets in their hands wherewith they vsed to cut wood to make our lodgings with the which hatchets they brake the visards of their head peeces and then claue their heads for otherwise they could hardly haue beene slaine they were so surely armed so that there were euer three or fower about one of them Moreouer the long swords that our archers and seruants had did that day a great execution The King tarried vpon the place where the charge was giuen accompanied with seuen or eight yoong gentlemen whom he had appointed to attend vpon him for neither would he follow the chase neither retire to his vaward bicause it was somwhat farre off He escaped wel at the first encounter coÌ„sidering that he was one of the foremost for the bastard of Bourbon was taken within lesse then twenty paces of him 5 and led prisoner to the
and returne to our owne particular sorrowes and troubles in Fraunce which notwithstanding were pleasant newes happily to those that gained by them I will write of the sudden death of King Charles the 8. who being in his castel of Amboise had begun the sumptuousest building both in the castell and the towne that any King tooke in hand these hundred yeeres as appeereth by the towers vp to the which men ride on horsebacke and by the foundātion laid in the towne the platformes whereof were drawen of such exquisitenes that they well declared it to be a worke of maruellous charge and that could not haue beene finished in long time For you shall vnderstand that the King had brought with him from Naples many excellent workmen in all kinde of arts especially grauers and painters and sure it seemed by the foundation an enterprise of a yoong King that thought not to die but hoped of long life for he ioined togither all the goodly things that were commended to him were they in Fraunce Italie or Flaunders Further he continued still desirous to returne into Italie and confessed that he had committed many errors in his voiage thither and oftentimes rehearsed them determining if his fortune were to returne againe and recouer his losses to giue better order for the defence of the countrie The recouerie also wherof bicause he had great intelligence in all places he purposed to attempt and to send thither fifteene hundred men of armes Italians vnder the leading of the Marquesse of Mantua the Vrsins the Vitellies and the Prefect of Rome brother to the Cardinall Saint Peter ad Vincula Moreouer Monseur d' Aubigny who had done him so great seruice in Calabria was ready to take his iourney towards Florence for the Florentines offered to beare the halfe of these charges for sixe moneths to the end the King with these forces aboue mentioned might first take Pisa 1 at the least the small places about it and then all togither enter into the realme of Naples from whence messengers came daily to him Alexander the Pope that now is practised with him and offered to become his perfect friend for there was a breach betweene him and the Venetians so far foorth that he sent a secret messenger into Fraunce whom myselfe conueied into the Kings chamber a little before his death The Venetians were ready to practise against Milan as touching Spaine you haue heard how it was affected to him The King of Romanes desired nothing so much as his friendship and that they two might ioine their forces togither to recouer that which appertained to them in Italie for the said Maximilian was great enimie to the Venetians bicause they withhold diuers things both from the house of Austrich whereof he is heire and also from the empire 2 Moreouer the King was wel disposed a little before his death to lead his life according to the commandements of God to reforme al abuses in the law the Church and to diminish his receits reuenues purposing to leuy of his people onely twelue hundred thousand franks ouer and aboue his demains which sum the three estates granted him by way of subsidie at Towers at his first comming to the crowne and this money he meant to employ vpon the defence of the realme But as touching himselfe he would haue liued vpon his demaines according to the maner of the ancient Kings of Fraunce and so might he well haue done for the demaines are great yea so great if they were well ordered that they surmount a million of franks certaine customes and subsidies being annexed to them If this his determination had taken effect he should thereby much haue eased his people who pay at this present aboue two millions and a halfe of franks by way of subsidie Moreouer he tooke great pains in reforming the abuses of the order of Saint Benet and other orders of religion he called neere about him holy religious men and often heard them preach he would willingly haue brought to passe if he could that a Bishop should haue had but one bishopricke and a Cardinall but two and that the clergie should haue beene resident vpon their benefices but it had been a hard matter to reforme the church men He gaue great almes to poore people a little before his death as his confessor the Bishop of Anger 's who was a woorthie prelate enformed me Lastly he had built a publike audience where himselfe heard the sutes of all men especially of the poore and dispatched many matters I my selfe sawe him in this place two houres togither but eight daies before his death which was the last time that euer I sawe him no matters of great importance were dispatched there but by this meanes he held men in feare especially his officers some also of the which he displaced for extortion and briberie But the eight day of Aprill the yeere 1498. vpon Palme sunday euen the King being in this glory as touching the world and in this good minde towards God departed out of the chamber of Queene Anne Duches of Britaine his wife leading hir with him to see the tennice plaiers in the trenches of the castle whither he had neuer led hir before and they two entred togither into a gallery called Haquelebacs gallerie bicause the said Haquelebac had in times past held watch and warde in it It was the vncleanest place about the castell for euery man made water there and the entrie into it was broken downe moreouer the King as he entred knocked his browe against the doore notwithstanding that he were of very small stature Afterward he beheld a great while the tennice playing talking familiarly with al men I my selfe was not present there but his said confessor the Bishop of Anger 's and those of his chamber that were neerest about him haue enformed me of this I write for as touching my selfe I was gone home eight daies before to my house The last word he spake being in health was that he hoped neuer after to commit deadly sin nor veniall if he could in vttering the which words he fell backeward and lost his speech about two of the clocke at afternoone and abode in this gallerie till eleuen of the clock at night Thrise he recouered his speech but it continued not with him as the said confessor told me who had shriuen him twise that weeke once of ordinarie and once for those that came to be cured of the Kings euill Euery man that listed entred into the gallerie where he laie vpon an old mattresse of strawe from the which he neuer arose till he gaue vp the ghost so that nine howers he continued vppon it The said confessor who was continually by him tolde me that all the three times he recouered his speech he cried My God and the glorious virgin Marie Saint Claude and Saint Blase helpe me Thus departed out of this world this mightie puissant Prince in this miserable place not being able to recouer one poore