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
to his heires males till they were redeemed for fower hundred thousand crownes 11 How these matters passed I know not perfectly but true it is that in the D. old age he was so gouerned by the Lords of Croy and Chimay being brethren and others of their house that he agreed to take againe his money restore the said territories to the King greatly to the Earle his sons discontentation for besides that they were the frontier townes of their dominions they lost in them a number of able men for the wars The Earle of Charolois charged the house of Croy with this fact so far foorth that after extreeme age was growne vpon his father whereunto he euen then approched he banished all the said house out of his dominions and confiscated all their lands estates and offices The Notes 1 Commines vvhen he came to the Earle of Charolois seruice vvas 19. yeers of age 2 Charles Earle of Eu Peter of Moruillier and Iohn de Harcour bishop of Narbonne vvere the ambassadors heere mentioned they arriued at Liste the 5. of Nouember Annales Burgundiae 3 VVhether the king ment to haue taken the Earle of Charolois prisoner by this Rubempre reade Annal. Burgund lib. 3. pag. 880. and Meyer lib. 16. fol. 334. vvho flatly charge him vvith it 4 Sir Oliuer de la Marche heere named vvrote a Cronicle of these times 5 The cause vvhy the King sent Rubempre into Holland vvas not as he said to take the Earle of Charolois but the Vicechauncellor of Britaine named in Meyer Iohannes Rociuilla and by our author in the 3. Chapter of this first booke Rouuille vvhom the Duke of Britaine had sent into England to make a league betvveene the realme of England and him and bicause the King supposed this Vicechauncellor vvould visit the Earle of Charolois in his returne he sent this Rubempre into Holland to take him and bring him into Fraunce Annal. Burgund Meyer 6 For the better vnderstanding of the Dukes ansvvere I am forced to passe the bounds of a note VVherefore it is to be vnderstood that in the declination of the Romaine Empire the Burgundians anno 408. being chased out of Almaine vvhere they inhabited the countries novv subiect to the Palsgraue of the Rhyne inuaded Fraunce and conquered the countries novv knovvne by the names of the Countie and Duchie of Burgundy togither vvith Sauoy Daulphine Prouince and the greatest part of Svvitzerland and anno 414. chose them a king named Gondiachus vvith vvhom after diuers battels fought vvith changeable fortune Aetius the Emperour Honorius his lieutenant in Fraunce at the length made peace And Gondiachus remained King of Burgundy and ayded the Romaines against Attila Soone after failed the male line of Gondiachus and by the mariage of Clotilde daughter to Chilperic Gondiachus his sonne vvith Clodoneus King of Fraunce Burgundie fell to Clotarius sonne to the saide Clotilde and Clodoneus and so continued in the house of Fraunce till the yeere 843. vvhen the sonnes of the Emperor Lodouicus Pius vvarring togither Burgundy vvas deuided into Burgundiam Transiuranam and Cisiuranam Transiurana containing Sauoy Daulphine Prouince and Lyonnois remained to Lotharius the Emperor vvith the title of King of Burgundie Cisiurana conteining the Countie and Duchie of Burgundie vvas also dismembred for that part novv knovvne by the name of the Countie of Burgundie fell also to Lotharius share but that part novv knovvne by the name of the Dutchie of Burgundie vvas togither vvith the Realme of Fraunce yeelded to Carolus Caluus But after the death of the Emperor Lotharius his tvvo sonnes Lodouicus and Lotharius made another partition of their part of Burgundie for the realme of Austrasia vvith the Countie of Burgundie fell to Lotharius after vvhose death his vncle Carolus Caluus King of Fraunce ambitiously through violence conquered also that part of Burgundie and ioined it to the crovvne of Fraunce so that the said Carolus Caluus possessed all Burgundie Cisiurana that is both the Countie and Dutchie of Burgundie Loduicus the other sonne of the Emperor Lotharius possessed vvith the Empire all Burgundie Transiurana togither vvith the title of King of Burgundie and left behinde him one onely daughter named Hermingarde maried to Boson brother to Richilde Carolus Caluus his vvife in respect of vvhich mariage the said Caluus gaue to Boson all Burgundie Cisiurana vvhich he the said Caluus then held And thus had Boson all the realme of Burgundie viz. Transiurana in the right of his wife and Cisiurana by his brother in lawes gift Farther the said Caluus being both Emperor and King of France created the aboue named Boson King of Burgundie anno 879. to whom succeeded Lodouicus his sonne from whom Ralph King of Fraunce sonne to Richard that first intituled himselfe Duke of Burgundie wan the greatest part of Burgundy Cisiurana To this Lewis succeeded his sonne Ralph King of Burgundie who not being able to defend his realme gaue it to the Emperor Conradus 2. who notwithstanding obteined the least part thereof for as touching Transiurana Beralde Duke of Saxe had before this gift woon from King Ralph Sauoy and a great peece of Switzerland Daulphine Lyonnois Poruince Guigue le gras the first Daulphine had likewise conquered And as touching Cisiurana by treatie made betweene the Emperour Conradus 2. and Henry King of Fraunce onely the County remained to the Empire and the Dutchie to the crowne of Fraunce This I haue written bicause some hold opinion that the County of Burgundy ought also to be held of the crowne of Fraunce whereas in deede rather the Dutchy with all Transiurana the greatest part whereof the French King at this day possesseth ought to be held of the Empire from whom the said French Kings haue pulled so many prouinces that now as one properly speaketh the Eagle hath lost so many feathers that hardly he can flie 7 Lahaie in our author and in Annal. Burgund where Rubempre should haue taken the Earle of Charolois is named in Meyer Gorkem 8 The pension the Earle of Charalois had of the King with the gouernment of Normandy was 36000. franks Annal. Burgund La Marche Meyer 9 A franke is two shillings and six pence sterling after eight souse to an English shilling so that the carles pension after that rate amounted to fower thousand fiue hundred pound sterling 10 The townes and territories vpon the riuer of Somme engaged to Duke Philip by the treatie of Arras which was in the yeere 1435. are named in the articles of the said treatie rehearsed in Annal. Burgund pag. 760. and 761. and in the first booke of La Marche and in the 16. booke of Meyer and others 11 They were engaged as our author and Annal. Burgund write for 400000. crowns but Meyer saith 450000. but they were redeemed for 400000. anno 1463. La Marche Meyer Annal. Burgund How the Earle of Charolois and diuers noble men of Fraunce leuied an army against king Lewis vnder colour of the weale publique Chap. 2. SOone
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
as the Duke of Sommerset did with the house of Lancaster To be short these wars indured so long that all they of the houses of Warwick and Sommerset were either slaine or beheaded in them King Edward caused afterward his owne brother the Duke of Clarence to be drowned in a Butt of malmesey charging him that he ment to make himselfe King but after King Edwards death his other brother the Duke of Glocester murthered the said Kings two sonnes proclaimed his daughters bastards and vsurped the crowne Immediately after the which cruell deed the Earle of Richmond now King who had been prisoner many yeeres in Britaine passed into England and discomfited and slew in battell this bloody King Richard late murtherer of his two nephewes Thus haue there died in England in these ciuill wars since my remembrance aboue fowerscore persons of the blood Royall part of the which I my selfe knew part vnderstood of by the English men resident with the Duke of Burgundie at the same time that I serued him Wherfore you see it is not at Paris onely nor in Fraunce alone that men fall at variance for worldly goods and honors But sure all Kings and great Princes ought to take heed that they suffer not factions to arise in their courts for thereof kindleth the fire that consumeth their whole countrey in the end Notwithstanding such alterations happen not in mine opinion but by Gods disposition for when Princes and realmes haue long florished in great wealth and prosperitie and forget from whence all these benefits proceede God raiseth vp an enimie against them whom they neuer feared nor stood in doubt of as appeereth by the Kings mentioned in the Bible and by that also which hath hapned and daily doth happen not onely in England and in these countries of Burgundie but in diuers other places also The Notes 1 The last of Iuly arriued the French Kings ambassadors at the treaty of Arras Annal. Burg. so that the treaty began in the beginning of August and the English men departed discontented the 6. of December Annal. Bur. and the treatie ended the 21. of September but De la Marche saith the 10. of December Meyer 11. Calen. Octob. which agreeth with Annal. Burg. 2 At the treatie vvas present Philip D. of Burgundie himselfe La Marche Meyer 3 Our Chronicles report that the Duke of Yorke vvith diuers others slaine in the battell and the Earle of Salisbury father to the Earle of VVarvvick vvho vvas taken prisoner in the battell vvere behedded and their heds sent to Yorke in derision but I remember not that the Earle of VVarvvick vvas behedded after he vvas slaine and I suppose the vnskilfull corrector hath here omitted a vvord or tvvo and that vve must read in place of Luy le Comte de Warwic Luy le pere du Comte de Warwic 4 The Earles of Marche and VVarvvick vvent to Calice before the Duke of Yorke vvas slaine or ouerthrowen in battell for they fled from Ludlovv lying in campe there against the kings force bicause they found themselues too vveake and their counsels betrayed by Andrew Trowlop vvho fled from them to the King How King Lewis entred into Paris while the Princes of Fraunce practised with the citizens Chap. 8. I Haue been long in this discourse and it is now time to returne to the historie After the Princes were come before Paris they began to practise with the citizens promising offices and great rewards to diuers and omitting nothing that might further their purpose At three daies end the citizens assembled togither in the towne hall where when they had long debated these matters and heard the Princes requests demands made openly to them for the benefit of the whole realme as they pretended they determined to send ambassadors to them to treate of peace according to the which determination a great number of the best citizens came to Saint Mor where the Princes lay and Master VVilliam Chartier then Bishop of Paris a notable prelate declared the citizens embassage and for the Princes the Earle of Dunois was appointed to be mouth The Duke of Berry the Kings brother was president of this Councill sitting in a chaire and all the other Princes standing about him On the one side stood the Dukes of Britaine and Calabria and on the other the Earle of Charolois armed at all peeces saue the head peece and vantbrases and wearing vpon his quirage a short cloke maruellous rich for he came from Conflans and Bois-de-Vincennes being well manned was held for the King wherefore it stood him vpon to come armed and well accompanied The Princes request was to enter into Paris to confer with the citizens about the reformation of the state which they said was euill gouerned charging the King with diuers disorders The citizens gaue them very lowly and humble language desiring respite before they could make any resolute answer yet notwithstanding this delay the King was afterward discontented both with the Bishop and the rest that accompanied him Thus returned these ambassadors into the towne continuing still their former practise for euery one of the Princes talked with them apart and I am of opinion that some of them had agreed secretly to suffer the Princes in their owne persons to enter the towne and their men also if they so thought good by small troupes which practise if it had taken effect had not onely been the winning of the towne but the atchieuing of the whole enterprise For the citizens would easily haue been brought for diuers considerations to reuolt to them and so consequently all the other townes in the realme But God put wise counsell into the Kings head which also he executed accordingly being alreadie aduertised of all these practises Before the ambassadors that were returned from the Princes had made their report the King in person entred the towne of Paris accompanied like a prince that commeth to relieue his people for he brought with him into the towne two thousand men of armes all the nobles of Normandie a great number of franke archers and all his owne seruants pensioners and others that vse to accompanie the King in such affaires Thus this practise was broken off and all the people altered their mindes neither durst any of them that had been with vs make farther mention of the Princes demaunds Some of them also sped but euill for that they had alreadie done notwithstanding the King vsed no extremitie towards them 1 but some lost their offices and others were sent to dwell in other places for the which easie reuenge the King vndoubtedly deserued great commendation considering that if this practise begun had taken effect the best that could haue happened to him had been to forsake his realme which also was his resolution For as himselfe hath often told me if he could not haue entred into Paris but had found the towne reuolted he would haue retired to the Switzers or to Francis Duke of Milan whom he accounted
his especiall friend and so also the Duke shewed himselfe as well by the aide he sent him being fiue hundred men of armes and three thousand footemen vnder the leading of his eldest sonne Galeas afterward Duke of Milan who came as far as the countrey of Forrestz in Auuergne where he made war vpon the Duke of Bourbon and afterward returned home bicause of his fathers death as also by the counsell he gaue him at the treatie of peace held at Conflans where he sent him word to refuse no condition of peace but to seuer his companie and retain his owne forces still about him We had hardly been three daies before Paris when the King entred the towne immediately after whose arriuall sharpe war was made vpon vs especially vpon our forragers whom we were constrained to garde with great forces bicause they went far from our campe Now to speake somwhat of the towne of Paris we must needes confesse that it is maruellous well situate in the I le of Fraunce seeing the countrey about it was able to victuall two such huge armies for as touching vs we neuer lacked and they within the towne found nothing enhaunced saue onely a denier 2 vpon euery loafe of bread the reason wherof was bicause we held not the riuers aboue the towne being these three Marne Yonne and Seine besides diuers small streames that run into them Wherefore all things considered this towne is situate in the best and fruitfullest soile that euer I sawe yea it is almost incredible how great the prouision is that commeth thither I my selfe was resident there since the time I now write of halfe a yeere togither with K. Levvis being lodged at the Tournelles and ordinarily eating and lodging in the court Since his death also by the space of twentie moneths full sore against my will I was held prisoner in his pallace where I saw daily out of my windowe the prouision that came vp the streame out of Normandie and likewise downe the streame which was so great that I would neuer haue beleeued it had I not seene it Diuers bands as you haue heard issued daily out of Paris the skirmishes were great our watch being of fiftie launces stood neere to la Grange aux Merciers but our escouts rode as neere Paris as was possible the which were often beaten backe to our watch and eftsoones the enimie on their backe as far as our cariage retirng somtime a softpace and somtime a fast trot Then vsed we to renforce them with new supplies which beat backe the enimies hard to the towne gates and this was daily and howerly done for within the towne were aboue 2500. men of armes in verie good order and a great number of gentlemen of Normandy and franke archers besides that they sawe daily their Ladies which encouraged them to put foorth themselues Our force was also verie great but in horsemen we were not so strong as they for we had with vs onely the Burgundians being about two thousand launces good and bad nothing so well armed as they within Paris bicause of the long peace wherein they had liued as before is mentioned of the which number also two hundred men of armes were at Laigny with the Duke of Calabria but of footemen we had great force and those very good The Britains armie laie at Saint Denys making war on that side the towne of Paris all the waies they could and the other noblemen were disparkled some heere some there to make prouision of victuals In the end the Duke of Nemours the Earle of Armignac the Lord of Albret came to vs but their forces lodged a good way from our campe bicause they had no pay and should haue famished our armie if they had taken ought without money This I am sure of that the Earle of Charolois gaue them fiue or sixe thousand franckes and tooke order that they should come no neerer vs. They were at the least fiue or sixe thousand horse that did maruellous much harme in the countrey The Notes 1 Yet Meyer vvriteth that the King aftervvard poisoned the Bishop but Meyers vvords are no Gospell 2 A Denier is the tvvelfth part of threehalfepence starling How the Earle of Charolois artillerie and the Kings artillerie shot the one against the other neere to Charenton and how the Earle of Charolois caused another bridge to be built vpon boates ouer the riuer of Seine Chap. 9. NOw to returne to the campe before Paris you may be sure that no day passed without losse on both sides but no great exploit was done for the King would suffer no great force to issue out of the towne neither ment to hazard the battel but desired peace and wisely to disparkle this assemblie Notwithstanding one morning very early 4000. archers came and encamped along by the riuer side vpon the very banke directly ouer against Conflans The gentlemen of Normandie and certaine of the Kings ordinarie men of armes laie in a village but a quarter of a league from them and betweene them and their footemen was onely a faire plaine The riuer of Seine ran betweene them and vs and they began to dig a trench hard by Charenton which ran in length to the very end of our campe directly ouer against the which the riuer being betweene vs and them as you haue heard they built a bulwarke of wood and earth and thereon mounted greatstore of artilirie which at the verie first shot chased the Duke of Calabrias men out of the village of Charenton and forced them in great haste to come and lodge with vs with losse both of men and horses But the Duke of Calabria himselfe laie in a litle house betweene the riuer and the Earle of Charolois lodging directly ouer against the enimies This artilerie shot also into our campe and put the whole armie in great feare for the verie first shot slew certaine of our men and twise it strake through the Earle of Charolois chamber as he sat at dinner and slew a trumpetter vpon the staires bearing vp a dish of meate Wherefore after dinner the Earle remooued into a low parlor resoluing not to depart thence The next morning the Princes met at his lodging to consult what was to be done for they euer sate in counsell there and at their rising dined also there togither The Dukes of Berry and Britaine sate next to the wall vpon the bench and the Earle of Charolois and the Duke of Calabria ouer against them The said Earle placed euery one of them aboue himselfe as reason was he should some of them yea all of them seeing they were in his lodging There they deuised to countermount all the artillerie in their armie against the Kings wherof the Earle of Charolois had great store as had also the Dukes of Calabria Britaine for accomplishment of which their purpose they pearced the wals along the riuer side behinde Conflans and there mounted all the best peeces of their artillery saue the
was honorably and dutifully receiued especially of the citizens of Gaunt who before his voiage to Liege had after a sort rebelled against him with certaine other townes but now they receiued him as a conqueror with so great lowlines and humilitie that certaine of the best citizens came on foote to him as far as Bruxels bringing with them all the banners of their towne which they did for this cause Immediately after his fathers death he chose the city of Gaunt for the first towne he would make his entrie into for supposing that to be the towne where he was best beloued and therefore looking for all dutie and obedience at their hands he hoped also by that meanes to finde the like in all the other townes of his dominions assuring himselfe that they would all follow the example of this which opinion prooued true as touching this latter point But you shall vnderstand that the next day after his entrie they came in armes vpon the market place bringing with them a Saint called Saint Lieuin with whose shrine they beat downe a little house called La Cueillette where a custome of corne was receiued for paiment of certaine dets the towne ought to Duke Philip by the treatie of peace called the treatie of Gaures 2 for two yeeres they had been in wars with him To be short they saide this Saint would passe through this house without stouping and in a moment beate downe the house which disorder the Duke seeing went himselfe to the market place a great number of noble men in armes offering to waite vpon him as he passed through the streetes which he refused commanding them to stay before the towne-house and attende him there Notwithstanding by litle and litle the throng of people forced them at length into the market place also whither when the Duke came he went vp into a house to speake to these rebels commanding them to take vp the shrine and beare it into the church which some obediently did but others caused it to be laid downe againe Then they presented supplications to him against certaine of the towne touching paiments of money wherein he promised to do iustice But when he sawe they would not depart he returned to his lodging and they abode in armes vpon the market place the space of eight daies The next morning they brought articles to him demanding the restitution of all their priuiledges that Duke Philip had taken from them by the treatie of Gaures of this one especially that euery company in the town being threescore and twelue in all might haue a banner according to their ancient custom The Duke seeing the danger he stood in granted them all their demands and all such priuiledges as they required which word was no sooner passed him but they reared vp all their banners vpon the market place being all readie made whereby appeered that they would haue had them perforce if he had not granted them His opinion at his first entry into Gaunt prooued true that all the other townes would follow their example for indeede diuers rebelled as the towne of Gaunt did slew his officers and committed diuers other disorders But if he had beleeued his fathers prouerbe that the citizens of Gaunt loue their Princes sonne well but their Prince neuer he had not been deceaued and to say the truth next to the citizens ' of Liege these of Gaunt are the most inconstant in the world Notwithstanding one good property they haue among so many bad that they neuer lay hands vpon their Princes person 3 besides that the best Burgesses of the towne are very honest men and much offended with the peoples insolency The Duke was forced to digest and winke at all these rebellions fearing to enter into a dooble war at one time with his owne subiects and the Liegeois Notwithstanding his meaning was if he sped well in his voiage to Liege to teach them their duty at his returne as also it hapned for as I haue already made mention they brought to him on foote to Bruxels all their banners priuiledges and writings as well those they made him grant at his departure from Gaunt as others all the which in a great assembly held in the hall of Bruxels in the presence of diuers ambassadors they presented to him to do with them at his pleasure Than the Haralts of armes by his commandement tooke the said banners from the staues whereto they were fastned and carried them to Bullen a hauen towne eight leagues from Calis where the other banners yet remained that D. Philip his father tooke from them when the wars ended wherein he vanquished and subdued them Farther the Duke Chauncellor tooke all their priuiledges and rent one of them concerning the election of their Senate for in all the other townes of Flaunders the Prince euerie yeere choseth the Senate and receiueth their accounts but by this priuiledge he might chose but foure in Gaunt and the rest being two and twenty they themselues chose when the Senators of the townes are freinds and faithfull subiects to their Prince he liueth that yeere in peace and they willingly graunt him all his demands but if they be otherwise commonly some rebellion happeneth Lastlie the citizens of Gaunt paied the Duke thirtie thousand gildons and sixe thousand to his principall seruants and banished certeine out of their towne but all their other priuileges were restored them the rest of the townes bought also their peace with money for they had attempted no great matter against the Duke By this example a man may perceiue how great good ensueth victorie in a battell and how many inconueniences the ouerthrow Wherfore a Prince ought to beware how he hazard his estate vpon a day vnlesse necessitie force him thereunto and if that happen then must he bethinke him selfe before the hower of all doubts and dangers that may be imagined For those that feare a matter commonly prouide well for it and haue oftener good successe than they that proceede with a carelesse contempt vnlesse God be fully resolued to strike the stroke against whom mans wisedome cannot preuaile Which point is sufficiently prooued by the example of these Liegeois aboue mentioned who had been excommunicated the space of fiue yeeres for their variance with their Bishop whereof notwithstanding they made no account but continued still in their folly and naughtines mooued thereunto onely through wealth and pride Wherefore King Lewis was wont to say that when pride rideth before shame and dammage follow after a very wise saying in mine opinion and sure for his part he was free from that vice The Notes 1 The Duke entred into Liege the 11. of Nouember 1467. Meyer 2 The French corrector through vnskilfulnes had corrupted this place somtime calleth it La paix de Gand and somtime nothing but I haue heer restored it out of Meyer Annal. Burgund This peace was concluded 3. Calend. Augusti 1453. wherof reade Annal Burgund lib 3. pag. 829. Meyer lib. 16.
fol. 314. and others 3 Yet the citizens of Gaunt anno 1338. constrained Lodouicus Niuernensis Earle of Flanders to flie for the safety of his life into a castell in Gaunt called Petra Comitis where they also besieged him Againe anno 1346. they constrained Lodouicus Maleanus perforce to go with them to Bergen and against his will to giue his faith to Isabell daughter to King Edward the third they set a gard also about his person but he escaped and fled into Fraunce Meyer How the King seeing what had happened to the Liegeois made war in Britaine vpon the Duke of Burgundies confederates and how they two met and communed togither at Peronne Chap. 5. THese troubles being thus ended the Duke went to Gaunt where he was receiued with great pompe and triumph for he entred in armes and the citizens made a posterne into the fields by the which he putmen in and out at his pleasure manie messengers ran betweene him and the King and likewise betweene the Duke of Britaine and him and thus passed this winter The King traueilled continually with the Duke of Burgundie to suffer him to inuade Britaine at his pleasure making him diuers offers in consideration thereof whereunto the Duke would not condescend for the which cause partly and partly for the ouerthrow giuen to the Liegeois his confederates the Kings displeasure was so kindled that longer he could not forbeare but in the very beginning of sommer entred into Britaine at the least his forces for him and tooke two small castels the one called Chantosse the other Anseny whereof the Duke of Burgundy was incontinent aduertised and earnestly pressed by the Dukes of Normandy and Britaine with all speede to leuie his armie for their aide whereupon he wrote to the King humbly beseeching him to relinquish his enterprise seeing these two Dukes were comprehended in the truce as his confederates but receiuing such answer as liked him not he encamped with great force neere to Peronne The Kings army was still in Britaine but the Court lay at Compiegne from whence the King sent Cardinall Balue to the Duke within three daies after his arriuall at Peronne who staied not long with him but made certaine ouertures of peace aduertising him also that they in Britaine could make their composition welll ynough without him for the Kings drift was to seuer them The Cardinall was honorably receiued well feasted and soone dispatched and returned with this answere that the Duke was not come forth into the field to endammage the King in any respect but onely to succour his confederates so the messages that passed betweene them were very courteous on both sides Immediately after the Cardinals departure a heralt called Bretaigne arriued at the Duke of Burgundies campe with letters from the Dukes of Normandie and Britain wherin they aduertised him that they had made peace with the King and renounced all leagues and confederacies and namely their league with him and farther that the Duke of Normandie had surrendred Normandie lately giuen him for his partage to the King and should receiue in recompence thereof and of all other partages the yeerely reuenues of three score thousand franks which conditions though neuer so vnreasonable necessitie forced the Lord Charles of Fraunce to accept The Duke of Burgundie was woonderfully abashed at these newes for he had put himselfe into the field onely to aide the said Dukes And sure the heralt was in great danger for bicause he passed by the Court the Duke suspected that the King had forged these letters notwithstanding he receiued immediately after the like aduertisement from other places The King thought now his enterprise halfe woon and that he should easily perswade the Duke of Burgundie to forsake these two Dukes as they had him whereupon secret messengers ran betweene them and the King gaue the Duke sixe score thousand crownes whereof he paid the one halfe presently the better to content the said Duke who had consumed great summes in leuying this armie Farther the Duke sent to the King a groome of his chamber very neere about him named Iohn Vobrisset whereupon the King conceiued great hope of his enterprise and seemed desirous to commune with the Duke in person trusting to obtaine of him all that he required both bicause of the two foresaid Dukes ingratitude towards him and also bicause of the great summe of monie he had giuen him Wherefore he aduertised the Duke of certaine matters by the said Vobrisset and sent backe with him Cardinall Balue and Master Tanneguy du Chastell gouernor of Roussillon who gaue the Duke to vnderstand by their words that the King desired greatly that they two might commune togither in person They found the Duke at Peronne who seemed to haue no great deuotion to this meeting bicause the Liegeois made shew as though they would rebell anew being sollicited thereunto by two ambassadors sent thither by the King for that purpose before the truce was made which he and the Duke concluded for certaine daies betweene them and their confederates But Cardinall Balue and the other ambassadors put this doubt out of his head alleaging that the Liegeois durst attempt no such thing considering he had vanquished them rased but their wals the yeer before and farther if they had any such desire yet when they should see this amitie betweene him and the King they would soone alter their mindes Thus in the end it was concluded that the King should come to Peronne seeing it pleased him so to do and the Duke sent him a letter written with his owne hand containing sufficient suretie to come and go at his pleasure And thus departed the ambassadors and returned to the King being then at Noyon But the Duke minding to make all sure in the countrie of Liege sent thither their Bishop for whose quarrell all the wars aboue mentioned first began and in his company the Lord of Hymbercourt the Dukes lieutenant in those parts with certaine bands of men You haue heard how it was concluded that the King should come to Peronne according to the which determination thither he came without his garde for his pleasure was wholy to put himselfe vnder the garde and suretie of the Duke and that Monseur de Cordes who then serued the Duke should conuay him thither with the said Dukes archers which was done accordingly The Kings traine was very small notwithstanding he came accompanied with diuers noble personages namely the Duke of Bourbon the Cardinall his brother and the Earle of Saint Paule Constable of Fraunce who had not busied himselfe about this meeting but much misliked it For he was now waxed proud and high minded and behaued not himselfe to the Duke of Burgundie with such lowlines and humilitie as he was accustomed wherefore there was no good will betweene them twaine Thither came also Cardinall Balue the gouernor of Roussillon and diuers others And when the King drew neere to Peronne the Duke with a goodly traine issued foorth
to receiue him and brought him into the towne and lodged him in a goodly house neere to the castell being the receiuers for the castell was a little old thing naught woorth War betweene two great Princes is easily begun but hardly ended bicause of the number of accidents depending thereupon for each partie dispatcheth messengers to and fro to hurt his enimie which suddenly cannot be staied nor reuoked as appeered by these two Princes who concluded this meeting vpon a sudden not aduertising their seruants thereof who were far from them executing the charge their Masters had giuen them For you shall vnderstand that the Duke had sent for his armie into Burgundie being furnished at that time with a number of gentlemen namely the Lord of Bresse of the house of Sauoy his two brethren the Bishop of Geneua and the Earle of Remont for the Sauoyans and Burgundians haue euer borne great loue one to another In this armie were also certaine Almaines borderers vpon Sauoy and the county of Burgundy Now you shall vnderstand that the King in times past had held the Lord of Bresse in prison bicause of two Knights he commanded to be slaine in Sauoy wherefore there was no good will betweene them two In this armie were also the Lord of Vrfé Master of the horse afterward to King Charles Master Poncet of Riuiere and the Lord of Lau whom the King after speciall good liking of him had also held long in prison but he escaped and fled into Burgundy All this company aboue mentioned arriued neere to Peronne euen at the very instant that the King came thither and the Lord of Bresse with the three aboue mentioned euery one of them wearing the Saint Andrewes crosse entred the towne supposing they had come time ynough to accompanie the Duke when he should go to receiue the King but bicause they came too late they went straight to the Dukes chamber to do their dutie to him where the Lord of Bresse humbly besought him that the three aboue named notwithstanding the Kings comming might be there vnder his safegard and protection as he had promised them in Burgundie at their first arriuall into his dominions adding that they were ready to serue him against all men none excepted which request the Duke granted with his owne mouth and for their good wil thanked them The rest of this army led by the Marshal of Burgundy lodged without the towne as they were appointed The said Marshall hated the King no lesse than the others aboue named bicause of Pinall a towne in Lorraine which the King had once giuen him and afterward taken from him to bestow vpon Iohn Duke of Calabria so often mentioned in this historie The King being foorthwith aduertised of these noble mens arriuall and the apparell they ware 1 fell suddenly into great feare and sent to the Duke desiring him that he might lodge in the castell bicause all these aboue named were his enimies The Duke reioiced to see him in such feare and caused his lodging to be made there willing him to be of good cheere and doubt nothing The Notes 1 He meaneth by apparell the Saint Andrewes crosse A discourse wherein is declared how greatly learning especially in histories profiteth Princes and noble men Chap. 6. IT is greatfolly for one Prince to put him selfe vnder the power of another especially when they are in war togither as those Princes well know that haue studied histories in their youth wherein they finde diuers examples of great falshood and treason vsed in times past at such enteruiewes and of diuers that haue staied as prisoners and slaine those that haue come to them vnder their surety 1 I say not that all haue vsed so to do but the example of one is sufficient to teach a number wit how to looke to themselues I my selfe for my part haue seene some experience in the world hauing been by the space of eighteene yeeres and better emploied continually in Princes seruices and priuy all that while to the waightiest and secretest affaires that haue passed in this realme or the countries bordering vpon it and sure in mine opinion the best way to learne wisedome is to read ancient histories which will teach vs by example of our auncesters wisely to behaue our selues safely to defende our selues and aduisedly to attempt any enteprise For our life is so short that experience cannot sufficiently instruct vs considerlng withal that our yeers are abridged and neither our liues so long nor our bodies so strong as were our ancesters in ages past which way as we are weakned so is our faith also each to other much diminished 2 in such sort that I know not how one man may assure himselfe of another especially great Princes who are commonly inclined to all wilfulnes without any regarde of reason and which is woorst of all haue for the most part such men about them as study onely to flatter them and sooth them in al their dooings be they good or bad and if some one endeuor himselfe to redresse this inconuenience all the rest will straight be vpon his top Farther I must needes blame ignorant and vnlearned Princes in this respect also they haue all commonly about them great clarkes and lawyers as it is requisite they should if they be good but if they be otherwise they are the dangerousest people in the world to be about a Prince for they haue euer a law or an history at their fingers ends which be it neuer so good they writhe and wrest in such sort that they wil make blacke white and white blacke But those Princes that be wise and haue read as well as they will not suffer themselues to be abused by them neither dare they be so hardy as to report vntruths to such Princes Farther thinke you that God hath established the office of a King or Prince to be executed by such beasts as glory in saying I am no scholer I trust my Councell well enough and refer all matters to them and so without farther answer depart to their sports and pastimes No no if they had been well trained vp in their youth they would vse other language and seeke to be esteemed for their owne vertues and woorthines I say not that all Princes are serued by euill conditioned persons but sure the most part of those that I haue seene haue not alwaies had their courts vnfurnished of such although some I confesse I haue knowne that in time of necessitie could make choise of their men and vse the seruice of the best and wisest Wherein sure the King our master far passed all the Princes of his time for neuer Prince aduanced so highly nor made so great account of wise and woorthy men as he did He was himselfe reasonably well learned 3 he was very inquisitiue and desirous to vnderstand of all matters and had an excellent wit which passeth all learning attained to by studie for as reading profiteth two maner of waies the one by
acquainting vs with ages past and the other by teaching vs more in a booke in three monthes than twenty men liuing successiuely can learne by experience so if a man lack wit to put that which he readeth in practise his reading serueth to no purpose Wherfore to end this discourse me think the greatest plague that God can lay vpon a realme is to giue them an vnwise Prince the roote and fountaine of all mischiefe for first diuision and ciuill wars arise thereof among his subiects bicause he giueth his authority to others which especially aboue all things he ought to reserue to himselfe After diuision ensueth famine and mortality and all other euils that accompany the wars wherefore heereby we may consider how much a Princes subiects ought to lament when they see his children wantonly brought vp and gouerned by euill conditioned persons The Notes 1 Of treasons in treaty we haue numbers of examples First of Iugurtha taken by his father in law Boccus and deliuered to the Romaines Sertorius slaine at a banquet by Perpenna In England we haue the treason of Hengist to Vortiger In Scotland we reade of William Earle of Douglasse slaine by Iames King of Scots in treaty In Germanie Albert Earle of Franconia betraied in treaty by Ottho Bishop of Mentz Iohn of Angieu slaine by Albertus Bauarus Earle of Henault and Flanders notwithstanding his safe conduct In Fraunce Iohn Duke of Burgundie slaine by Charles the 7. William Duke of Normandie by Arnulph Earle of Flanders Lewis King of Fraunce taken prisoner by the Normans and Danes at Roan Iohn Duke of Britaine taken at a banquet and imprisoned by Margaret Countisse of Pontibera Guido Earle of Flanders twice taken prisoner vnder safeconduct by Philip le Bell King of Fraunce Charles the simple slaine by the Earle of Vermandoys VVhat should I speake of the tresons of Ferrande and Alfonse Kings of Naples or of Christiern King of Denmarke with numbers of others recorded in histories as our author heere very truly reporteth 2 Others be of a contrarie opinion that our life is as long as in Dauids time appeereth by the 90. Psalme where he sheweth the vsuall age of man in his time to haue beene 70. and sometime 80. yeers which men reche to at this day also and if mans life be as long now as then it is a good consequent that his body is as strong as is to be prooued by manie reasons too long to reherse Now that our faith is as good as theirs appeereth also by the ancient histories for if this be a true saying Regis ad exemplum totus componitur orbis And the Princes in times past were so euill as none could be worse as who so list to reade without partiality shal be forced to confesse I see no reason that the world should be worse now then in times past although it seeme so to many bicause we see the worst of our owne age yea and feele too many times but commonly the histories deliuer to vs but the best of times past and burie the worst and though they did yet the euill seene with our eie is more liuely imprinted in minde then the euill we conceiue by our eare which is the cause men euer thinke better of the times past then the present estate 3 Imaruell if King Lewis were learned he would haue his sonne to learne onely this lesson Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare How and for what cause the King was staied and held prisoner in the castell of Peronne by the Duke of Burgundies commandement Chap. 7. YOu haue heard how the King and this army of Burgundie arriued at Peronne both in one istant for the Duke could not countermand them in time bicause they were well forward vpon the way when the Kings comming was first communed of Their arriuall troubled the feast bicause of diuers doubts that sprang thereof Notwithstanding these two Princes appointed certeine of their seruants to negotiate togither about their affaires in most louing and freindly sort But after three or foure daies communication these strange newes came from Liege which I will now reherse The K. comming to Peronne had cleane forgotten the two ambassadors sent to Liege to sollicite them to rebell against the Duke who so diligently executed their charge that before the Kings arriuall at Peronne the Liegeois had leuied great force and were gone to surprise the towne of Tongres where the Bishop of Liege and the Lord of Hymbercourt lodged accompanied with two thousand men and better and the said Bishop and Hymbercourt they tooke with certein other of the Bishops familiar friends but few they slew neither was the number of the prisoners great the rest fled as men discomfited leauing bag and bagage behinde them This done the Liegeois returned towards their citie not far distant from Tongres and vpon the way thitherward the Lord of Hymbercourt compounded for his ransome with a knight called Master VVilliam de Ville named by the French Le Sauuage who fearing lest this furious people should kill him suffered him to depart vpon his word which notwithstanding he neuer chalenged for soon after himselfe was slaine the people reioiced much for the taking of their Bishop Farther you shall vnderstand that they hated extremely certaine chanons of the Church taken prisoners that day of whom for the first repast they slew fiue or sixe one of the which was named Master Robert the Bishops speciall friend whom I my selfe haue often seene armed at all peeces waiting vpon his Master for such is the maner of the Alemaigne Prelates 1 The said Master Robert they slew in the Bishops presence and hewed him into a number of small gobbets which they threw one at another in dirision To be short before their returne to Liege which was but eight leagues from Tongres they slew sixteen chanons and others all in maner the Bishops seruants This done they receiued aduertisement that the treatie betweene the King and the Duke was alreadie begun wherefore they dismissed certaine Burgundians supposing to excuse their fault by seeming to haue attempted nothing against the Duke but only against their Bishop whom they led prisoner into the citie Those that escaped put all the countrie in an vprore as they went by means whereof this newes came soone to the Duke some said all were slaine others the contrarie for such aduertisements are neuer reported after one sort At the length certaine arriued that saw these chanons slaine who supposing the Bishop and Hymbercourt to be of the number auowed constantly that all were murthered and farther that they saw the Kings ambassadors in the companie whom also they named All this was told the Duke who foorthwith beleeued it and fell into an extreme furie saying that the King was come thither to abuse him and gaue commandement to shut the gates of the castell and the towne spreading a fond rumor that he did it bicause of a budget with iewels and monie that was lost The King
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
Duke returned to the pallace The King had already dined and seemed greatly to reioice at the taking of the towne and commended also much the Dukes courage and valiantnes knowing that report thereof should be made to him and that these good words would somwhat further his returne into his realme which was his speciall desire After diner the Duke and he met and communed togither very pleasantly and if the King commended his valiantnes behinde his backe I warrant you he dispraised it not before his face which the Duke tooke in very good part I must now returne to speake somwhat of this miserable people that fled out of the city for proofe of a discourse I made in the beginning of this history touching inconueniencies I haue seen ensue a battell lost by a King a D. or a meaner Prince These miserable soules fled through the countrey of Ardennes with their wiues and children But a Knight dwelling in those parts who euer to fore had taken part with them slew now a great number of them and to recouer the conquerors fauor sent word thereof to the Duke reporting the number of those that were slaine and taken to be much greater then in deed it was Notwithstanding that it were great whereby he made his peace with the Duke and saued him selfe Others fled towards Meziers vpon the Maz being within the realme of Fraunce but vpon the way two or three of their Captaines were taken one of the which was named Madoulet who were lead to the Duke and by his commandement put to death Some of these people died also of hunger some of cold and some for lacke of sleepe The Notes 1 Some write that there were slaine in one day at Liege 100000. and Munster writeth 40000. and 12000 women drowned in the riuer which seemeth to disagree with Commines who reporteth not aboue 200. to haue beene slaine notwithstanding our author must heere not be vnderstood so strictlie as though there had not died aboue 200. in all for his meaning is onely that at the entrance into the towne there were not slayne aboue two hundred othervvise considering the number that vvere slaine in Churches houses and flight it cannot be but that manie thousands died neither is our authors meaning othervvise 2 Some copies haue Saint Lavvrence but the old copie Saint Lambert vvhich Annal. Burgund and Guicci report to be the principall Church in Liege 3 The Duke slue before the Church of Saint Lambert tvvo or three archers vvith his ovvne hand La Marche 4 There vvere in Liege to the number of 32. Churches and eight Colleges of priests Meyer fovver abbies fovver frieries three nunneries and vvithout and vvithin the tovvne aboue an hundred Churches Guicci Hubertus How King Lewis returned into Fraunce with the Duke of Burgundies consent and how the Duke proceeded in destroying the countries of Liege and Franchmont Chap. 14. FOwer or fiue daies after the taking of the towne the King began to sollicite such of the Dukes seruants as he held for his friends to mooue their Master for his departure but he himselfe first brake the matter to the Duke after a sage and a wise sort saying that if he could stand him in any more stead he should not spare him otherwise he desired to returne to Paris to cause the treatie to be recorded in the Court of parlament for the maner in Fraunce is to record all treaties there otherwise they are of no force notwithstanding the Kings authority may do much therein He required also the Duke that the next sommer they mought meete againe in Burgundy and make mery a month togither whereunto the Duke in the end agreed mumbling somwhat to himselfe Farther the Duke commanded the treatie to be read againe before the King to know whether ought were passed in it that he misliked putting him to his choise to alowe or disalowe thereof at his pleasure Somwhat also he excused himselfe for bringing him to this siege Lastly he besought him that one article mought be added to the treaty in fauor of the Lords of Lau and Vrfé and Poncet of Riuiere to wit that they mought be restored to all their estates and offices that they enioied before the wars began which request misliked the King for there was no reason why the Duke should require to haue them comprehended in the treaty both for that they were none of his partakers in the wars aboue mentioned 1 and also bicause they serued the Lord Charles the Kings brother not the Duke Notwithstanding the King answered that he would grant his demand vpon condition that he would accord the like to the Lords of Neuers and Croy wherunto the Duke replied nought This was a very wise answer of the King for the Duke hated these Lords by him named so extremely and held so goodly possessions of theirs that he would neuer haue condescended to restore them of the other articles the King answered he would alter none but confirmed the whole treaty as they two had sworne it at Peronne Thus was it agreed that the King should returne home and the Duke accompanied him about halfe a league But at their leaue taking the King said thus vnto him if my brother who is now in Britaine will not accept this partage that I haue giuen him for your sake what will you that I do 1 Whereunto the D. answered thus sodainly without farther deliberation if he will not I refer the order thereof to you two of the which demand and answer sprang a great matter as heereafter you shall heare Thus returned the King in great ioy being safe conducted by the Lords of Cordes and Meriens 2 great bailife of Haynault to the frontiers of the Dukes dominions The Duke abode still in the city of Liege which was extremely handled I must needs confesse but sure they had well deserued so to be delt with bicause of the great cruelties they had cōtinually vsed against the Dukes subiects euer since his grandfathers daies Besides that they neuer performed any promise nor kept any treaty they made and this was the fift yeere that the Duke himselfe had been there yeere by yeere in person and concluded peace which ordinarily the next yeere they brake Farther they had continued excommunicated of long time for their great cruelty against their bishop whereof notwithstanding they made no account neither would obey the commandements of the church on that behalfe Immediately after the Kings departure the Duke with small force determined to go into Franchemont a countrey alitle beyond Liege lying among sharpe rockes and thicke woods From thence came the best soldiers the Liegeois had and of this countrey were they that made the desperate saly aboue mentioned Before his departure a great number of poore prisoners that hid themselues in houses at the taking of the towne were drowned Farther it was concluded that this citie heeretofore so populous should be burned at three seuerall times 3 and three or fower thousand footmen of the
should do no good vnlesse he wan those that were in credit with his brother fell in communication of this matter with Oudet of Rie Lord of Lescut afterwards Earle of Comminges who was borne and maried in the countrey of Guienne desiring him to perswade his master to accept this partage being much better than that he demanded that they mought be friends and liue togither like brethren adding also that this partage should be much more beneficiall both for his brother and his seruants especially for the saide Oudet than the other and farther assuring him that without faile he would deliuer his brother quiet possession of the said countrey By this means was the Lord Charles won to accept this partage of Guienne to the Duke of Burgundies great discontentation and his ambassadors there present And the cause why cardinall Balue bishop of Angiers 1 and the bishop of Verdun were imprisoned was for that the said Cardinal writ to the Lord Charles aduising him to accept none other partage than that the Duke of Burgundy had procured him by the treaty of Peronne which also the King had sworne and promised laying his hand within the said Cardinals to deliuer him alledging withall such reasons to perswade him thereunto as he thought necessary wherein he did cleane contrary to the Kings purpose Thus the Lord Charles was made Duke of Guienne the yeere 1469. and the possession of the countrey togither with the gouernment of Rochell deliuered him and than the King and he sawe one another and were togither a long time The Notes 1 The Cardinals imprisonment was bicause he perswaded the King to go to Peronne and aduised the Duke of Guienne to beware of poison and not to take the partage of Guienne Meyer and for disclosing the Kings secrets by letters to the Duke of Burgundie Gaguin But if the Duke of Guienne had been wise he would of himselfe without perswasion haue refused this partage For when a mans enimie offereth him that that hath an apparance of good let him euer refuse it nam latet anguis in herba as the sequele of this matter well declared for the accepting of this partage which the King alleaged and that truly to be better than the other the Duke demanded cost the Duke of Guienne his life as heer after shall appeere THE THIRD BOOKE How the King tooke occasion to make war anew vpon the Duke of Burgundy and how he sent a purseuant of the parlament of Gaunt to sommon him to appeere at Paris Chap. 1. THe yeere 1470. the King determined to be reuenged of the Duke of Burgundie supposing he had now found a time conuenient so to do for he priuily sollicited and caused also others to sollicite the towns situate vpon the riuer of Somme namely Amiens Saint Quintine and Abbeuille to rebell against the Duke and to send for succours into France and to receiue them into their towns 1 For all great Princes if they be wise will seeke euer some collour for their doings And to the ende you may perceiue what cunnig is vsed in Fraunce I will shew you how this matter was managed for the King and the Duke were both abused whereof arose whot and sharpe war which endured thirteen or foureteen yeeres The King desired greatly to mooue these townes aboue named to rebellion pretending to the end he might haue the better means to practise with them that the Duke aduanced his limits farther then the treatie would beare whereupon ambassadors ran to and fro who vnder colour of their ambassage practised continually as they passed through these townes to the end aboue mentioned In the said townes were no garrisons but all was quiet both in the realme in Burgundie and in Britaine And the Duke of Guien liued to all mens iudgments in great amitie with the King his brother Notwithstanding when the King first mooued this war his meaning was not to take one or two of these towns onely but sought to stir all the Duke of Burgundies subiects to rebellion trusting to atchieue his enterprise by this means Diuers to obtaine his fauor entertained these practises and reported their intelligence to be far greater then it was for one promised to take this towne an other that and yet indeed all was nothing Wherefore notwithstanding that the King had iust cause to be displeased for his euill vsage at Peronne yet if he had thought this enterprise would haue fallen none otherwise out then it did he would not haue broken the treatie nor mooued war for he had made the peace to be proclaimed at Paris three months after his returne into his realme and began this war with some feare but the great hope he had conceiued of it pricked him forward and marke I pray you what cunning was vsed to further it The Earle of Saint Paule Constable of Fraunce a very wise man and certaine of the Duke of Guien his seruants with diuers others desired rather war then peace betweene these two great Princes for two respects The one they feared least their great offices and pensions should be diminished if peace continued For you shal vnderstand that the Constable had vnder his charge 4. hundred men of armes or launces paied by his owne hands euery muster without controuler farther besides the fee and profits of his office he had a yeerely pension of thirty thousand frankes and better and receiued also the reuenews of many goodly places that he kept The other respect was this they sought to perswade the King and talked also to the like purpose among themselues that his disposition was such that his head could neuer be idle wherefore vnlesse he were busied with great Princes abroad he would be in hand with his seruants and officers at home For these two reasons therefore they sought to intangle him with wars whereunto the better to perswade him the Constable promised to take Saint Quintine at all times when him listed bicause his lands lay round about it vaunting further that he had great intelligence in Flanders and Brabant so far foorth that he would make a number of townes to reuolt from the Duke The Duke of Guienne also being there present and all their principall seruants offered very earnestly and promised very faithfully to serue the King in this quarrell and to leade with them fower or fiue hundred men of armes that the said Duke held in ordinary pay but their drift was other than the King supposed as heerafter you shall heare The King bicause he would seeme to proceede with due aduise and deepe consideration called a Parlament of the three estates of his realme at Tours in the moneths of March and Aprill in the yeere 1470. which was the first and last Parlament that euer he assembled But to this Parlament came onely such as were purposely named and such as the King knew would not gainsay him in any point There he caused diuers enterprises to be discouered that the Duke of Burgundie had attempted against the crowne
hatred and war as all those haue been that I haue knowen or been conuersant with in my time sure there is great danger therein Notwithstanding mine aduise is that ambassadors be well intertained and honorably receiued for to send to meete them to lodge them well to appoint trusty and wise men to accompanie them are not onely points of great curtesie but also of great safetie For thereby you shal both vnderstand who they are that resort to them and also stay such as be light headed and discontented with the present estate from bringing them intelligence for there is no Princes court wherein all haue contented mindes Further they must haue speedie audience and soone be dispatched For me thinke it a perilous matter for a man to harbor his enimie in his house but to defray them to lodge them well and to giue them presents is but curtesie Further in time of open war no practise nor ouerture of peace must be altogither broken off bicause peraduenture the lest of them may serue vs to good purpose but all must be continued and intertained and all ambassadors heard vsing them as before is said and appointing sure watch to espie who go to beare them intelligence and are sent to them either by day or night but this must be done as secretly as may be Further for one ambassador they send to you send you two to them and though they be wearie of your ambassadors and forbid any more to come yet send still when time occasion serueth For no spie shall haue such libertie to inquire and vnderstand of all matters as they And if you send two or three togither it is impossible for your enimy to haue so good watch I meane vsing them with good termes as ambassadors are to be vsed but that some of them shall haue conference and intelligence with one or other Lastly a wise Prince must alwaies endeuor himselfe to haue some secret friend or friends about his enimie and beware as neere as he may for in such cases men cannot alway do as they would that his enimie haue not the like about him You will say peraduenture that by such often sending I shall increase mine enimies insolencie and pride But I force not thereof for by this meanes I shall vnderstand his secrets and in the end all the profit and honor shall redound to me And notwithstanding that mine enimy may deale with me after the same sort yet wold I not cease from sending but intertaine all ouertures and breake off none to the end I may alwaies haue occasion to send For all men haue not like wisedome like cunning nor like experience in these affaires neither like occasion to trauell for experience and in these cases the wisest win the garland whereof I will giue you a manifest example In all treaties of peace concluded betweene the English and French nations the French haue alwaies shewed more finenes subtiltie and cunning than the English so far foorth that the said English men haue a common prouerbe as once they told me when I treated with them that in all battel 's fought with the French euer or for the most part they haue obtained honor and victorie but in all treaties that haue been concluded betweene them they haue euer receiued losse and dammage And sure in mine opinion I haue knowen in this realme especially of King Lewis his training vp men as sufficient to negotiate in a treatie of peace as any in the world For those that are imploied in these affaires must be milde men and such as can beare patiently all rude words to compas their purposes for their Masters profit and such onely would King Lewis imploy I haue beene somwhat long in discoursing how ambassadors actions must diligently be obserued but not without cause for I haue seen and knowen so great falshood and treacherie vsed vnder colour thereof that I could no sooner end my discourse This mariage between the Duke of Guienne and the Duke of Burgundies daughter was so earnestly laboured that in the end some promise was made therof both by mouth and letter But I haue knowen the like done to Nicholas Duke of Calabria and Loraine 1 sonne to Iohn Duke of Calabria so often aboue mentioned and to Philibert Duke of Sauoy that last died and to Maximilian Duke of Austrich now King of Romans onely sonne of Frederike the Emperor who also receiued a letter written with the damsels owne hand by hir fathers commandement and a diamond therewith All which promises were made in lesse than three yeeres space yet am I well assured that during the Dukes life none of them should haue been accomplished at the least with his consent But this letter aboue mentioned furthered much Duke Maximilians sute as heereafter you shall heare I write not this to charge thereby the Duke of Burgundie or any of those aboue mentioned but onely to rehearse the course of these affaires Further I perswade my selfe that rude and simple men will not busie their braines about the reading of this historie but Princes and Courtiers shall finde in it good lessons and aduertisements in mine opinion During this treatie of marriage diuers newe enterprises against the King were in communication With the Duke of Burgundie was the Lord of Vrfé Poncet of Riuiere and certaine other meane personages that ran to and fro for the D. of Guiennes affaires In like maner the Abbot of Begarde afterward Bishop of Leon was resident with him for the Duke of Britaine These aduertised the Duke of Burgundy that the King practised to corrupt the Duke of Guiens seruants and to withdraw them from him partly by loue partly by force adding also that he had already razed a certaine place belonging to the Lord of Estissac the Duke of Guiennes seruant and had begun diuers other attempts against his brother so far foorth that he had withdrawne from him certaine of his houshold seruants whereby appeered manifestly as they said that he ment to take Guienne from him now as in times past he had done Normandy once granted him for his partage as before is mentioned The Duke of Burgundy sent diuers ambassadors to the King about these affaires who euer excused himselfe 2 and accused his brother saying that for his part he minded not to touch his brothers partage but that his brother by seeking to inlarge his limits was author of all these troubles We haue heer to consider how troublesom dangerous and far from all good end the affaires of this Realme are when it is in discord and ciuill dissention for notwithstanding that at the beginning of the troubles all men hope shortely to see them at an end yet is the contrary greatly to be feared for though the fire be kindled at the first but betweene two or three Princes or men of meaner estate yet before two yeeres be exspired all our neighbours shall be bidden to the banquet as plainly may appeere by this that followeth At this very instant
had taken from him And further to aduertise the said Duke that the Duke his Master would send an honorable ambassage to the King so soone as he should be seized of that he demanded humbly to beseech him to end this war and relinquish his enterprise against the said two Dukes and not to giue credite to the oth he had sworne which he was no more determined to obserue than the King had obserued the treaty â—ade before Paris called the treatie of Conflans and the treatie which he had sworne at Peronne and long after confirmed also Further desiring him to call to remembrance that he tooke these townes against his faith and promise in time of peace wherefore he must hold himselfe contented if he recouered them after the same sort And as touching the Earle of Saint Paule Constable of Fraunce and the Earle of Neuers whom the King had permitted him to vse at his pleasure he would protest that notwithstanding he hated them as he had iust cause to do yet would he forgiue all their offences and let them liue in quiet desiring the King to grant these two Dukes the like and that it would please him to suffer all men to liue in peace and safetie in such maner and forme as he had sworne at Conflans when they were all there assembled togither which if he refused to do he would then succour his confederates And it was determined that the Duke should be in campe when this ambassage should be sent to the King But God disposed otherwise of these purposes for death which departeth all things and changeth all determinations set them otherwise a worke as partly you haue vnderstood already and shall heerafter perceiue more at large for the King restored not these two townes and yet had the Duchie of Guienne by his brothers death as reason was The Notes 1 The Duke of Guienne died the 12. of May but Meyer saith the 24. Annal. Aquit the 11. Of his death reade Annal. Burgund lib. 3. fol. 946. Meyer lib. 17. fol. 353. writeth thus of it Rex fratri venenum miscet per Iordanum Abbatem Diui Ioannis beenedictini nominis where reade also what Thomas Basinus Bishop of Lisieux writeth of the Dukes death who compareth King Lewis to Cain Atreus Thiestes Polinices and Eteocles Hollandiae scriptor saith thus Rex ille inquit idem fecit quod Cain qui vnicum fratrem suum Abel interfecit Dedit enim Rex mortiferuÌ„ Carolo fratri venenum quo noÌ„ statim extinctus est sed mensibus aliquot miserabiliter afflictus Gaguin a French historiographer saith thus The King was aduertised of his brother D. Charles his death who died at Bordeaux poisoned by a certaine Abbot but not without the Kings consent as the report went Annal. Aquit written by a French man seeme to make King Lewis accessorie to his brothers death The Duke was poisoned as he sat at the table with the Lady of Mount soreau whom he entertained and who was also poisoned with him The King commanded the Abbots processe to cease and the rest which were suspected whereby he plainly bewraied his owne guiltie conscience How the Duke of Burgundy seeing that he could not take Beauuais before the which he had laid his siege went to Roan Chap. 10. NOw to returne to the war you haue heard how certaine poore franke archers were handled at the taking of Nesle thence the D. departed and went before Roye within the which were 1500. franke archers and certaine men of armes of the Arriereban The Dukes force was neuer so great as at that present The next day after his arriuall these franke archers fearing their liues leapt downe the wals and yeelded themselues to him and the third day they that yet remained within rendered themselues and the towne by composition leauing behinde them both horse and harnesse saue that euery man of armes brought foorth a trauelling nag The Duke left men in the towne and went to Mondidier which he began to raze meaning vtterly to destroy it lay it desolate but bicause of the good wil he perceiued the people of those parts 1 to beare him he caused it to be repaired and left a garrison in it From thence he departed meaning to march straight into Normandie but as he passed hard by Beauuais the L. of Cordes who led his vaward rode to the towne and at his first arriuall the suburbs before the Bishops palace were taken by a couetous Burgundian named Master Iames of Montmartin who had vnder his charge one hundred launces and three hundred archers of the Dukes ordinarie retinue The Lord of Cordes scaled the towne on the other side but he lacked ladders and those few he had were too short He had two canons which shot twise at the towne gate and brake downe a peece thereof and if he had been furnished to haue continued the shot vndoubtedly he had entred the towne but he was vnprouided bicause he came not for any such exploite At his first arriuall none were in the towne but the citizens themselues and the captaine of the towne called Loyset of Bailligny with certaine soldiers of the Arriereban but not ynow to defend the place Notwithstanding it pleased God miraculously to preserue it as he manifestly declared For the Burgundians that were with the Lord of Cordes fought hand to hand with the French at the breach made in the gate whereupon the said Lord of Cordes sent word diuers times to the Duke of Burgundie to make haste thither assuring him that the towne was his owne But in the meane time while the Duke was vpon the way one within deuised to throwe flaming fagots in their faces that were about to breake downe the gate whereof they threw so great plentie that the gate and the porch tooke fire in such sort that the Burgundians were forced to retire till the fire ceased Soone after arriued the Duke himselfe who in like maner held the towne as taken the fire being once quenched which was very great for all the porch was on fire And vndoubtedly if he had lodged part of his army on the other side of the towne towards Paris no man could haue entred to releeue it But it pleased God he should make doubt where none was for bicause of a little brooke that was to passe he made difficultie so to do then and yet afterward when a great number of men were entred the towne he would haue done it and was hardly disswaded from it notwithstanding that thereby he should then haue endangered his whole army All this happened the eight twentith of Iune in the yeere 1472. The fire aboue mentioned continued all day and in the euening ten launces onely of the Kings ordinarie retinue entred the towne as I was afterward informed for I serued yet the Duke of Burgundie but we saw them not enter both bicause euery man was busied in making his lodging and also bicause we had no force on that side the towne By
him how I had wrought with this good fellow naming diuers others who in mine opinion seemed fitter for this purpose than he but the King would none but him Wherfore he came and talked with him himselfe and confirmed him more with one word than I had with an hundred None entred into the chamber with the King saue onely the Lord of Villiers then Master of the horse and now bailife of Caen. When the King perceiued this good fellow to be well perswaded to go he sent the said Master of the horse to fetch a trumpet banner thereof to make this counterfet herault a cote armor for the King bicause he was not pompous as other Princes are had neither herault nor trumpeter with him Thus the Master of the horse and one of my men made his cote armor as well as they could which being finished the said Master of the horse fetched a scutchin of a little herault of the Lord Admirals called Pleinchemin which was fastened to our counterfet herault his bootes also and his cloke were brought priuily to him and likewise his horse whereupon he mounted no man vnderstanding any thing of his iourney Further a goodly budget was tied to his saddle bowe into the which he put his cote armor Thus being well instructed what to say he rode straight to the English campe where when he arriued with his cote armor on his backe he was staied incontinent and brought to the King of Englands pauilion Where being demanded the cause of his comming he said that he came from the King to speake with the King of England and had commandement to addresse himselfe to the Lord Hovvard and the Lord Stanley whereupon they led him into a tent to diner and made him good cheere After the King of England was risen from the table for he was at diner when the herault arriued the said herault was brought before him and the King gaue him audience His message was chiefely grounded vpon the great desire the King had of long time to be in perfect amitie with the King of England to the ende both the realmes might liue togither in peace and quietnes adding further that since the time he was first crowned King of Fraunce he neuer had attempted any thing against the King of England or his realme 1 secondarily he excused himselfe for receiuing in times past the Earle of Warwicke into his dominions saying that he did it onely against the Duke of Burgundie and not against him Further he declared vnto him that the said Duke of Burgundie had for none other cause called him into Fraunce but that by the occasion of his comming he might conclude a better peace for himselfe with the King And if happily any others were furtherers thereof it was onely to amend the broken state of their owne affaires and for their owne priuate commoditie but as touching the King of Englands good successe they were altogither carelesse thereof he put him also in minde of the time of the yeere alleaging that winter approched and likewise of the great charges he sustained lastly he said that notwithstanding a great number in England as well gentlemen as merchants desired war with France yet if the King of England would incline to peace the King for his part would condiscend to such conditions as he doubted not but he and his realme would allow of lastly to the ende he might the better be informed of all these matters he said that if the King of England would grant a safe conduct for an hundred horse the King his Master would send ambassadors to him well informed of their Masters pleasure or if the said King of England should like better to assigne the place of treatie in some village betweene both the armies and to send Commissioners thither on both sides the King his Master would willingly agree thereunto and send the like safe conduct for his part The King of England and part of his nobles liked these ouuertures very well and granted our herault as large a safe conduct as he demanded gaue him fower nobles of gold 2 in reward Further an English herault was sent backe with him to the King to bring the like safe conduct from him as the King of England had granted And the next morning in a village neere to Amiens the Commissioners of both Princes met being these for the King the bastard of Bourbon Admirall of Fraunce the Lord of Saint Pierre and the Bishop of Eureux called Heberge and for the King of England the Lord Howard one called Chalanger 3 and a Doctor named Morton at this present Chancellor of England and Archbishop of Canterbury Some may thinke peraduenture that the King humbled himselfe too much but those that be wise will easily perceiue by that I haue aboue rehearsed in how great danger the realme stood had not God put to his helping hand as well in causing the King to take this wise course as also by troubling the D. of Burgundies wits who committed so many errors as you haue heard in this action lost now through his owne follie that which so long he had wished for and desired Many secret practises lay hidded at that time among our selues as well in Britaine as elsewhere which would soone haue broken foorth into great inconueniences had not this peace beene speedily concluded Wherefore I assure my selfe by that I haue seene in my time that God had then and yet hath a speciall regard of this realme The Notes 1 King Lewis had forgotten that before this time he had attempted to restore Queene Margaret daughter to King Rene. Annal. Burgund 2 Hall reporteth that the French herault had giuen him a gilt cup and an hundred angels 3 This Chalanger our chronicles name Sentleger How truce for nine yeeres was treated of betweene the Kings of Fraunce and England notwithstanding all the lets and impediments that the Constable and the Duke of Burgundy made Chap. 8. THe Commissioners of both the Princes met as you haue heard the next day after our heraults returne for we lay within fower leagues or lesse togither The said herault was well cheered and had his office in the I le of Ré where he was borne and the sum of mony that was promised him Many conditions of peace were treated of betweene our Commissioners The English men after their woonted maner first demanded the crowne at the least Normandie and Guienne but they were no more earnestly demanded than strongly denied Notwithstanding euen at this first meeting the treatie was brought to a reasonable point for both the parties desired peace whereupon our ambassadors returned to the King and the others to their campe The King heard the English mens demands and last resolutions which were these That he should pay to the King of England presently before his departure out of Fraunce 72000. crownes 1 That the King that now is then Daulphine should marrie King Edwards eldest daughter at this day Queene of England and that she should
came on the one side of the bridge and the Duke on the other being both accompanied with a great number of men of armes especially the Duke They fell in communication togither vpon the bridge at the which were present on the Dukes side onely three or fower 5 But after they had talked a while the Duke either through earnest sollicitation of those that were with the King or of a desire he had to humble himselfe before him vnboulted the wicket on his side and the others on theirs Three of the Dukes men went through before him and then himselfe passed being the fourth and was immediately slaine 6 and they also that accompanied him wherefore ensued great miseries and calamities to this realme 7 as all the world can witnes This historie was before my time wherefore I forbeare further to speake therof but thus the King rehearsed it to me word for word at the same time that this enteruiew with King Edvvard was appointed saying that if there had beene no wicket no occasion had beene to desire the Duke to passe through the grate and then that great misfortune had not happened The authors whereof were certaine of the Duke of Orleans seruants that was slaine who were then in great credit with King Charles The Notes 1 The King vpon a super slition kept holy twelue daies in the yeere viz. euerie moneth one in remembrance of the Innocents day and the day heere mentioned was one of them 2 These eleuen yeeres was in the text but one yeere the Printer for onze ans auoit hauing printed vn an auoit For the Duke of Orleans was slaine ann 1407. the 22. of Nouember and the King of England laid his siege before Roan 1418. the last of Iuly but Meyer saith in Iune and it was yeelded to him the 19. or 16. as some write of Ianuarie 1419. which was eleuen yeeres and somwhat more after the Duke of Orleans death 3 All authors report that not onely Roan but tall Normandie was taken before D. Iohn of Burgundie was slaine for Roan was yeelded to the English 1419. the 19. of Ianuarie and the Duke slaine the same yeere in Nouember September or August for authors so diuersly report the time but Commines maner as himselfe writeth is not to stand so exactly vpon times Further authors agree not among themselues about this matter Lastly this place may be vnderstood that when Duke Iohn leuied his armie his meaning was to raise the siege before Roan though he could not come time ynongh to execute his enterprise Of the Dukes death reade Meyer lib. 15. fol. 255. 256. Chron. Fland. fol. 281. Annal. Burgund c. 4 Note that this notwithstanding he was not King yet but Daulphin 5 The French writers say each of them hauing ten Knights 6 The French to excuse the Daulphin say that Tanneguy du Chastell somtime seruant to the Duke of Orleans that was slaine slue Duke Iohn with one blowe of a battell axe bicause of certaine arrogant words vsed at that time to the Daulphin wheras Commines and Meyer report that too great humilitie was cause of his death Tanneguy du Chastell Oliuer Layet Peter Frotier and William Batilier slue Duke Iohn and the Lord of Nouaille with him who drew his sword in the Dukes defence Annal. Burgund Introduct de la Marche Meyer 7 For Duke Philip of Burgundie to reuenge his fathers death entred into league with the English men How the two Kings met and sware the treatie before concluded and how some supposed that the holy Ghost came downe vpon the King of Englands pauilion in the likenes of a white pigeon Chap. 10. OVr grate being finished as you haue heard the next day the two Kings came thither in the yeeere 1475. the 29. of August 1 The K. had with him about eight hundred men of armes and arriued first at the grate on the King of Englands side stood all his armie in order of battell which vndoubtedly was great both of horsemen and footemen yet could not we discouer his whole force We on our side seemed but a handfull to them and no maruell for the fourth part of the Kings armie was not there It was appointed that each of the Kings should be accompanied at the grate with twelue persons which were alreadie named of the noblest personages and such as were neerest about them Moreouer on our side were fower of the King of Englands seruants to view what we did and as many of ours on their side The King as I told you arriued first at the grate and twelue of vs waited vpon him among whom were the late Duke Iohn of Bourbon and the Cardinall his brother It pleased him that I should weare that day a sute of apparell like his owne for he had vsed of long time and that verie often to command one or other to be apparelled like himselfe The King of England came along vpon the causey aboue mentioned with a maruellous goodly traine as was conuenient for the maiestie of a Prince he was accompanied with the Duke of Clarence his brother the Earle of Northumberland and diuers other noble men namely the Lord Hastings his Chamberlaine his Chauncellor and others But there were not past three or fower besides himselfe apparelled in cloth of golde Further he ware on his head a black veluet cap with a maruellous rich iewell being a Flower de luce set with stones He was a goodly tall Prince but inclined now to be somewhat grosse I had seene him before much beautifuller than at this present for sure when the Earle of Warwicke chased him out of England he was the goodliest gentleman that euer I set mine eie on When he came within fiue foote of the grate he tooke off his cap and bowed downe within halfe a foote of the ground the King in like maner who was leaning vpon the grate vsed great reuerence towards him when they came to embrace each other through the grate the King of England againe made low obeisance Then the King began the talke and said Cosin you are most hartily welcom there is no man in the world whom I haue so much desired to see as you and praised be God that we are met heere to so good a purpose heereunto the King of England answered in good French This talke ended the Chancellor of England who was a Prelate and Bishop of Elie began his oration with a prophesie whereof the English men are neuer vnfurnished 2 which said that in this place of Picquigny an honorable peace should be concluded betweene the realmes of Fraunce and England The Bishops oration being ended the letters were opened that the King had deliuered to the King of England touching the conclusion of the treatie and the said Chancellor asked the King whether they were written by his commandement and whether he auowed them whereunto the King answered yea Then the Bishop asked him againe if he held himselfe contented in like maner with those letters and
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
Prince of Wales sonne to King Henry attempt to set vp againe the house of Lancaster passe with the said Prince into England discomfited in the field and slaine both he his brethren and kinsfolks and diuers other noble men of England who in times past had done the like to their enimies After all this the children of these when the world turned reuenged themselues and caused in like maner the others to die which plagues we may be assured hapned not but by the wrath of God But as before I said the realme of England hath this speciall grace aboue all other realmes and dominions that in ciuill wars the people is not destroied the towns be not burned nor razed but the lot of fortune falleth vpon the soldiers especially the gentlemen whom the people enuy to too beyond reason for nothing is perfect in this world After King Edvvard was quiet in his realme and receiued yeerely out of Fraunce fifty thousand crownes paid him in the tower of London and was growen so rich that richer he could not be he died suddenly as it were of melancholy bicause of our Kings mariage that now raigneth with the Lady Margaret the Duke of Austriches daughter For so soone as he was aduertised thereof he fell sicke and began then to perceiue how he had been abused touching the mariage of his daughter whom he made to be named the Lady Daulphinesse Then also was the pension which he receiued out of Fraunce taken from him which he called tribute although indeed it were neither the one nor the other as before I haue declared 10 K. Edward left by his wife two goodly sonnes one Prince of Wales the other D. of Yorke and two daughters The D. of Glocester his brother tooke vpon him the gouernment of his nephew the Prince of Wales being about ten yeeres of age and did homage to him as to his soueraigne Lord and lead him to London pretending that he would there crowne him King hoping by that meanes to get the other brother out of the Sanctuary at London where he was with his mother who began already to be iealous of his proceedings To be short by meanes of the Bishop of Bathe who hauing been somtime of K. Edwards Councell fell afterward into his disgrace and was put in prison and made to fine for his deliuerance the D. of Glocester executed this exploit which you shall now heare This Bishop aduertised the Duke that K. Edvvard being in loue with a certaine Lady promised hir mariage vpon condition that he might lie with hir wherunto she consented so far foorth that the said Bishop maried them togither none being present but they two and he himselfe Which matter this Bishop being a iolly courtier neuer disclosed during K. Edvvards life but caused also the said Lady to conceale it so that it was kept secret After this the said King falling againe in loue maried the daughter of an English knight called the Lord Riuers being a widow and mother of two sonnes But after K. Edvvards death this Bishop of Bathe reuealed this matter to the D. of Glocester whereby he egged him forward not a little to the executing of his mischieuous pretended enterprise For the said D. murthered his two nephewes crowned himselfe King by the name of Richard the third proclaimed his brothers two daughters bastards in open parlament tooke from them their armes and put to death all the faithull seruants of the late King his brother at the least as many as he could lay hands on But this cruelty remained not long vnpunished for when the said King Richard thought himselfe safest and liued in greater pride than any King of England did these hundred yeeres hauing put to death the Duke of Buckingham and hauing a great army in a readines God raised vp an enimy against him of no force I meane the Earle of Richmond then prisoner in Britaine but now King of England of the house of Lancaster though not This error of Commines touching K. Henry the 7. you shall finde controuled by the peâ—egree in the end of this booke the neerest to the crowne 11 whatsoeuer men say at the least so far as I can learne The said Earle told me a little before his departure out of this realme that from the fift yeere of his age he had liued continually like a prisoner a banished man And indeed he had been fifteene yeeres or therabout prisoner in Britaine to Duke Frances that last died into whose hands he fell by tempest of the sea as he fled into Fraunce accompanied with the Earle of Pembroke his vncle I my selfe saw them when they arriued for I was come of a message to the D. at the same time The Duke entreated them gently for prisoners after King Edwards death lent the said Earle great force of men a great nauie with the which he sent him hauing intelligence with the Duke of Buckingham who for this cause was afterward put to death to lande in England but the winde was against him and the seas so rough that he was forced to returne to Diepe and from thence by land into Britaine From whence soone after he departed with his band into Fraunce without taking leaue of the Duke partly bicause he feared to ouercharge the Duke for he had with him fiue hundred English men and partly bicause he doubted lest the Duke would agree with King Richard to his preiudice for he knew that King Richard practised with him to that ende Soone after the King that now is appointed three or fower thousand men to waft him ouer onely and deliuered those that accompanied him a good summe of money and certaine peeces of artillerie and thus passed he ouer in a ship of Normandie to land in Wales where he was borne King Richard foorthwith marched against him but a kinght of England called the Lord Stanley who was married to the Earles mother ioined himselfe with the Earle and brought vnto him at the least 26000. men 12 The battell was giuen King Richard slaine and the Earle crowned King in the field with the said Richards crowne Will you saie that this was fortune No no it was the iudgement of God and for further proofe thereof marke this also Immediately after the King had murthered his two nephews he lost his wife whom some say he murthered also Further he had but one onely sonne who died in like maner incontinent after this murther This example would haue serued better heereafter when I shall speake of King Edwards death for he was yet liuing at the time my former Chapter treateth of but I haue rehearsed it heere to continue my discourse which I am fallen into In like maner we haue seene of late the crowne of Spaine altered after the death of Dom Henry that last died For the said Dom Henry had to wife the King of Portugales sister last deceased by whom he had issue a goodly daughter which notwithstanding succeeded not hir father but was
Glocester who had vsurped the crowne of England signing his letters by the name of Richard cruelly murthered the King his brothers two children This King Richard sought the Kings friendship was desirous as I suppose to haue this pension paid also vnto him But the K. would make no answer to his letters neither giue his messenger audience but esteemed him a wicked cruell tyrant For after K. Edvvards death the said Duke of Glocester had done homage to his nephew as to his soueraigne Lord and King and yet immediately thereupon committed this murther and caused in open parlament the said King Edvvards two daughters to be degraded proclaimed bastards vnder colour of a certaine matter which he prooued by the testimonie of a bishop of Bathe who somtime had been in great credit with King Edvvard but afterward fell into his disgrace and was laid in prison and made to fine for his deliuerance This Bishop affirmed that King Edvvard being in loue with a certaine gentlewoman in England whom he named promised hir marriage to haue his pleasure of hir which promise he said was made in his presence and thereupon the King lay with hir minding onely to abuse hir Such pastimes are very dangerous especially when such poofe may be brought foorth But I haue knowne many a courtier that would not haue lost a good aduenture that liked him in such a case for want of promise This wicked Bishop buried reuenge in his hart the space of twenty yeeres But God plagued him for his wickednes for he had a sonne whom he loued entirely and whom King Richard so much fauored that he meant to giue him to wife one of these two daughters degraded from their dignitie at this present Queene of England and mother of two goodly children The said sonne being in a ship of war by King Richard his Masters commandement was taken vpon the coast of Normandie and bicause of the contention that fell betweene those that tooke him led to the court parlament of Paris and there put in prison in the petit Chastellet where in the end he starued for hunger and pouertie As touching King Richard he liued not long vnpunished for God raised vp an enimy against him euen at This error you are admonished of before that very instant being poore hauing no right to the crowne of England as I suppose and of no estimation saue that as touching his owne person he was well conditioned and had endured many troubles For the greatest part of his life he had been prisoner in Britaine to Duke Francis who entertained him well for a prisoner from the eighteenth yeere of his age This Earle of Richmond being furnished by the King with a small summe of money and three thousand men leuied in Normandie of the vnthriftiest persons in the countrey passed ouer into Wales where his father in lawe the Lord Stanley met him with sixe and twenty thousand men at the least And within three or fower daies after he encountred this cruell King Richard who was slaine in the field and the Earle crowned King and raigneth yet at this day in England Of this matter I haue made mention before but it was not amisse to rehearse it heere againe to shew thereby how God hath plagued in our time such crueltie almost immediately after the fault committed Diuers other such like punishments hath he shewed also in this our age if a man would stand to rehearse them all How the King behaued himselfe towards his neighbors and subiects during the time of his sicknes and how diuers things were sent him from diuers places for the recouerie of his health Chap. 10. THis mariage of Flaunders so much desired by the King was thus accomplished as you haue heard by meanes wherof he had the Flemmings at his commandement Britaine which he so much hated was in peace with him but liued in continuall ielousie bicause of the great number of soldiers he had in garrison vpon their frontiers Spaine was quiet and the King and Queene thereof desired nothing more then his amity and friendship for he kept them in feare and continuall charge bicause of the countrey of Roussillon which he held from the house of Arragon being engaged to him by Iohn King of Arragon father to the King of Castile now raigning vnder certaine conditions yet vnperformed As touching the Princes Seniories of Italy they desired to haue him their friend and were in league with him and sent often their ambassadors to him In Almaine he had the Swissers as obedient to him as his owne subiects The King of Scotland and Portugale were his confederates part of the realme of Nauarre was wholie at his deuotion his subiects trembled before him and his commandements were executed incontinent without delay or excuse As touching those things that were thought necessarie for his health they were sent him out of all parts of the world Pope Sixtus that last died being informed that the King of deuotion desired to haue the corporall vpon the which Saint Peter song masse sent it him incontinent with diuers other relickes which were conueied backe againe to Rome The holie viole which is at Reims and neuer had been remooued thence was brought into his chamber to Plessis and stood vpon his cupboord at the hower of his death he was determined to be annointed therwith as at his coronation But many supposed that he wold haue anointed all his body with it which is vnlikely for the said holy viole is very small and containeth not much oile I saw it both at the time I now speake of and also when the King was buried at Nostre-dame-de-Clery The Turke that now raigneth sent an ambassador to him who came as far as Rhiue in Prouence 1 but the King would not heare his message neither permit him to passe any further The said ambassador brought him a great role of relickes remaining yet at Constantinople in the Turks hands all the which he offered him togither with a great summe of money if he would keepe in safe custodie the said Turks brother who was then in this realme in the hands of the knights of the Rhodes and is now at Rome in the Popes keeping By all this aboue rehearsed a man may perceiue how great the King our Masters wisdome and authority was how he was esteemed through the whole world and how all things 2 as well spirituall of deuotion and religion as also temporall were imploied for the prolonging of his life But all would not helpe there was no remedy needes he must go the way his predecessors went before him one great grace God shewed him that as he created him wiser liberaller and more vertuous in all things than the Princes that raigned in his time being his enimies and neighbors and as he surmounted them in all good things so did he also passe them in long life though not much For Duke Charles of Burgundy the Duchesse his daughter King Edvvard Duke Galeas of
it with a great oath Which words put the King in such feare that euer after he flattered him and bestowed gifts vpon him which was a maruellous purgatorie to him in this world considering of how many noble men and gentlemen he had been obeied Moreouer he had caused diuers cruell prisons to be made as for example cages being eight foote square and one foote more than a mans height some of iron and some of wood plated with iron both within and without with horrible iron works He that first deuised them was the Bishop of Verdun who incontinent was himselfe put into the first that was made where he remained fowerteene yeeres Many haue cursed him for his deuise and among others my selfe for I lay in one of them vnder the King that now reigneth the space of eight moneths He had also caused certaine Almains to make terrible heauie irons to lay men in among the which there was a fetter to put on their feete very hard to be opened like to a carquan with a waightie chaine and a great iron ball at the end thereof heauy beyong all measure These irons were called the Kings nets Notwithstanding I haue seene diuers gentlemen lie in them as prisoners who came foorth afterward with great honor and were aduanced by him to great estates as for example a sonne of the Lord of Grutuze of Flaunders taken prisoner in the wars whom the King afterward richely maried and made one of his chamber Seneschall of Aniou and gaue him charge of a hundred launces and in like maner the Lord of Piennes and the Lord of Vergy taken prisoners also in the wars who both had charge of men of armes vnder the King and other goodly offices and were of the priuie chamber either to him or his sonne The like happened also to the Lord of Richbourg the Constables brother and to one Roquebertin of the country of Cathelonie being likewise taken prisoners in the wars whom he afterward highly aduanced with diuers others of diuers countries too long to reherse But now to returne to the matter As in his time these diuers and sundrie cruell prisons were deuised euen so he before his death laie in the like yea in a much crueller prison than any of them and was in greater feare than they that stood in feare of him which I account as a great grace towards him and as part of his purgatorie and rehearse it onely to shew that euery man of what estate or condition soeuer he be is punished either secretly or openly especially those that punish others Further the King a little before his death enclosed his castel of Plessis with a grate of iron bars and at the fower corners of the said castell caused fower strong-watch houses of iron to be built The said grate was made directly ouer against the castell wall round about the castell on the outer side of the ditch which was very steepe He caused also to be masoned into the wall a great number of iron speares each of them hauing diuers heads set close togither Moreouer he appointed ten crossebowe men to be continually in the said ditches and to lie in the fower iron houses built in the bottome of the said ditches and gaue them commandement to shoote at euery man that approched neere to the grate before the gate opened He knew well that this fortification was to no purpose against a great force or an armie but that he doubted not his onely feare was that certaine noble men of his realme hauing intelligence in the castell would attempt to enter into it in the night partly by loue and partly by force and take the gouernment vpon them and make him liue as a man bereft of his wits and vnwoorthie to rule The castell gate neuer opened before eight of the clocke in the morning neither was the drawe bridge let downe till that hower and then entred his officers and the captaines of his garde placed the ordinarie warders and appointed archers to the watch both at the gate and within the court as if it had beene a frontire towne straightly kept neither entred any man without the Kings commandement but by the wicket saue the stewards of his house and such like officers that went not to him Is it possible then to hold a King I meane vsing him like a Prince in a straiter prison than he held himselfe The cages wherein he held others were about eight foote square and he being so great a Prince had but a little court in the castell to walke in yea and seldome came he into that for vsually he kept himselfe in the gallerie from whence he neuer stirred but when he went to masse at which time he passed through the chambers and not through the Court. Thinke you that he was not in feare as well as others seeing he locked himselfe in after this sort kept himselfe thus close stood in such feare of his children and neerest kinsmen and changed and remooued his seruants from day to day whom he had brought vp and whose good estate depended wholy vpon him in such sort that he durst trust none of them but bound himselfe in these strange chaines and bands The place I confesse was larger than a common prison so was his estate greater than a common prisoners But a man will say peraduenture that other Princes haue been more suspicious than he whereunto I agree but none sure in our time neither any so wise as he nor that had so good subiects as he had as touching them peraduenture they were cruell tyrants but he neuer punished any without desert All this aboue written I haue rehearsed not so much to publish the suspicions of the King our Master as partly to prooue that the patient enduring of these passions being equall with those he had caused others to endure and of this sicknes being sharpe and troublesome to him and the which he feared greatly before he fell into it is to be accounted as a punishment God gaue him in this world to ease him in the world to come and partly to giue an example to those that shall come after him to haue some more compassion on their people than he had and to be lesse rigorous in punishing than he was Notwithstanding for my part I am not able to accuse him neither saw I euer a better Prince for though himselfe pressed his subiects yet would he suffer none other so to do friend or foe After all these feares sorrowes and suspicions God according to his accustomed goodnes wrought a miracle vpon him healing him both in soule and bodie for he tooke him out of this miserable world being perfect of sense vnderstanding and memorie hauing receiued all his sacraments without all griefe to mans iudgement and talking continually euen within a Pater noster while of his death so that he gaue order for his funerall and named those that should accompanie his bodie to the graue saying euer that he trusted to die
said The towne was spoiled by the soldiers bicause Maximilian was behinde with them for certaine moneths paie Saint Omers was also taken at the same time though some refer it to an other time but whensoeuer it was taken this is most certaine that the negligence of the watch was the losse thereof For the enimies being led by George Deberfin made shew at their first comming before the towne as though they would haue scaled it at which time the French soldiers were ready to withstand them vpon the wals being strong and very defensible both by nature and by Arte whereupon the enimies vnder pretence of feare retired into their campe yea and further when the French issued foorth to skirmish with them they euer retired faining the like feare which dissimulation they vsed by the space of eight daies and by this their pollicie caused the French to remit much of their accustomed industry and diligence which when the Burgundians and Almaines perceiued they with great expedition reared ladders against the wals and bulwarks of the town which they easily entered the watch being fast a sleepe and in some place no watch at all Then brake they open the gates slew the French soldiers and the citizens and so became Masters of the towne At the same time was Amiens also attempted by the Burgundians in the night and like to haue been surprised by the like negligence of the watch but Katherine de Liques a woman of a manlike courage awaked the watch out of their dead sleepe by meanes whereof the alarme was sounded and all the towne arose in armes and part went to defend the wals and the rest issued foorth and skirmished and put to flight Maximilians bands who plainly confessed that the diligence and industrie of one woman had wrong the victory out of their hands Of the restitution of the Counties of Roussillon Parpignan to the King of Spaine of the Emperor Fridericks death of the peace between the King of Romaines and the King and of the Duke of Orleans deliuery out of prison Chap. 8. FErdinand King of Arragon desired nothing more than to recouer 1492 out of the Kings hands the counties of Roussillon and Parpignan engaged by him as he said to King Lewis the eleuenth for fiftie thousand crownes But the nobles of Fraunce would not condescend to this restitution bicause the two Counties were a rampier for the realme on that side towards Spaine adding that they were not engaged to King Lewis but absoulutely solde And notwithstanding that the King of Spaine alleaged that King Lewis by his last will and Testament had commanded the said Counties to be restored knowing that they were wrongfully withheld yet his perswasions and allegations little auailed Wherefore he perceiuing that this way no good would be done fell to practise with men of religion hoping by their preaching of conscience to King Charles to win that of him that otherwise he saw no meanes to obtaine Wherefore he corrupted with a great summe of mony Oliuer Maillard or as others write Iohn de Mauleon a frier Franciscane confessor to the Lady of Beauieu the Kings sister who vnder his coule of religion cloking his hypocrisie and couetousnes perswaded hir that except restitution were made of these territories to the King of Spaine the King hir brothers gouerment could not prosper nor please God She being mooued in conscience by this friers perswasions brake this matter to Lewis of Amboise bishop of Alby the Kings schoolmaster who togither with hir so terrified the Kings conscience that he did not onely make restitution of the said territories by the hands of the said bishop whom he sent thither to deliuer them but also freely released to the King of Arragon all the money that King Levvis his father had paid for them with these conditions that the said King of Arragon and his successors should euer after loue and honor the realme of Fraunce that he should make no war against it nor aide with money victuals or councell any of the enimies thereof nor permit them to haue passage through his dominions And thus were these countries restored greatly to the French mens griefe and dammage but in truth the King the rather inclined to restore them bicause hee began already by the perswasion of those that were about him to phansie a voiage into Italie for the recouerie of the realme of Naples which afterward tooke effect though the King both now long after this kept his purpose secret to himselfe and one or two more which voiage I thinke was the principall cause that induced him to restore the foresaid countries thereby to tie the King of Spaine to him that he should not trouble him in his enterprise but he misreckoned himselfe for he was no sooner past the mountaines but the King of Spaine forgot all his kindnes and fell to practise a league with his enimies While these matters passed thus in Fraunce Friderick the Emperor died to The Emperor Frederick died 19. of August 1493. whom his sonne Maximilian succeeded who notwithstanding was neuer crowned neither greatly desired so to be although with a small request he might haue obtaied it The Emperor Maximilian purposing to quiet the state of the Empire troubled by his fathers death seemed more enclined to peace with the King than heertofore he had beene which happened verie fortunately for the Kings affaires for without Maximilian were pacified his voiage into Italie must of force haue staide but both the parties by this meanes inclining to concord the peace was soone concluded the Emperors daughter was restored vnto him and the countie of Artois togither with all the townes he quarrelled And thus the King being in peace with all his neighbours namely with the Emperor and the Kings of England and Spaine and possessing the Duchie of Britaine quietly by his mariage and by that meanes hauing no body to feare began wholie to dispose himselfe to his voiage into Italie whereupon his minde was altogither fixed Further about this verie time the King at the earnest sute and continuall teares of his sister Iane a Ladie of singular pietie and chastitie restored not onely to liberty but also to his fauor and familiaritie Lewis Duke of Orleans husband to the saide Ladie taken prisoner at the battell of Saint Albin in Britaine as before you haue heard whereby as the King deserued great commendations for his clemencie in preseruing his enimie taken in battell and restoring him to his former dignitie and honor so did he also thereby prouide that no discontented subiect at home should trouble his estate in his absence in his voiage to Naples whereunto the historie of Commines now calleth vs which from the death of King Lewis the eleuenth till this present I haue supplied out of other good authors bicause the said Commines being imprisoned or in disgrace almost euer sithence King Lewis his death till the saide voiage of Naples whereat he was present was silent and left nothing
successe this voiage was like to haue had if God alone had not guided the enterprise The King abode at Ast a certaine space 2 That yeere all the wines of Italie were sower which our men much misliked neither could they away with the great heate of the aire To Ast came the Lord Lodouic and his wife with a goodly traine to visite the King where they abode two daies and then the said Lodouic departed to a castell of the Duchie of Milan a league from Ast called Nom whither the Kings Councell repaired daily to him King Alphonse had two armies abrode in the countrie the one in Romaine 3 towards Ferrara vnder the leading of his sonne accompanied with the Lord Virgill Vrsin the Earle of Petilhane and the Lord Iohn Iames of Trenoul who is now become French Against these the King sent the Lord d'Aubigny 4 a valiant and wise Knight with two hundred men of armes French and fiue hundred men of armes Italians being in the Kings seruice vnder the leading of the Earle of Caiazze so often before mentioned who was there as the Lord Lodouics lieutenant and feared greatly the discomfiture of these forces which if it had happened we had repaired homewards incontinent and he should haue had his enimies vpon his necke whose intelligence was great in the Duchie of Milan The other armie was vpon the sea vnder the leading of Dom Frederike King Alphonses brother and lay at Ligorne and at Pise for the Florentines tooke part as yet with the house of Arragon and furnished them of certaine gallies Moreouer with the said Dom Frederike was Breto de Flisco and certaine other Genuois by whose intelligence he hoped to cause Genua to reuolt 5 And sure they had almost obtained their purpose at Specie and Rapalo neere to Genua where they landed a thousand of their faction by meanes whereof they had vndoubtedly atchieued their enterprise if they had not been very speedily assailed But the selfesame day or the next day Lewis Duke of Orleance arriued there with certaine ships and a good number of gallies and one great galliasse being mine the patrone whereof was one Master Albert Mely and it caried the said Duke and the principall of the armie and manie goodly peeces of artillerie for it was very strong and approched so neere the shore that the very artillery almost discomfited the enimies who before had neuer seene the like for artillerie was at that time strange and new to the Italian nation The soldiers landed also that were in the other ships and from Genua where the whole armie laie came a band of Swissers by land led by the Bailife of Digeon who had ioined with him certaine of the Duke of Milans forces vnder the leading of Master Iohn Lewis de Flisco brother to the forenamed Breto and of Master Iohn Adorne the which notwithstanding that they were not at the skirmish shewed themselues valiant soldiers in defending a straight against the enimies To be short bicause our men came to hand-strokes with the enimies they were discomfited and put to flight and a hundred or sixscore slaine and eight or ten taken prisoners among the which was one Fourgousin sonne to the Cardinall of Genua Those prisoners that were dismissed were all stripped to their shirts by the Duke of Milans bands and other harme had they none for such is the law of armes in Italie I saw all the letters that were sent both to the King and to the Duke of Milan making report of this skirmish Thus was the enimies Nauie repulsed which afterward approched no more so neer At our mens returne the Genuois thought to haue raised a tumult and slew certaine Almaines in the towne certaine also of them were slaine but the matter was soone pacified I must heere speake a word or two of the Florentines who had sent twise to the King before his departure out of Fraunce meaning onely to dissemble with him with their first ambassadors being the Bishop of Arese 6 and one named Peter Sonderin the King commanded me the Seneschall and the Generall to negotiate Our demands were onely these First to giue the King passage through their countrie and secondarily to serue him with a hundred men of armes paying them after the Italian intertainment which was but ten thousand ducats the yeere 7 These ambassadors depended wholie vpon Peter of Medicis a yoong man of small wisedome sonne to Laurence of Medicis who was dead and had beene one of the wisest men in his time and had gouerned this citie almost as prince as did also at this present his sonne for their house had continued thus already two mens ages namely Laurence the father of this Peter and Cosme of Medicis the first roote and founder of this house a man woorthie among the woorthiest And sure of their trade being merchandise I thinke it hath beene the greatest house that euer was in the world for their seruants and factors haue had so great credit vnder their name that it is woonderfull I my selfe haue seene the proofe thereof both in Flaunders and England For I knew one called Gerard Quanuese by whose onely helpe in a maner King Edward the fowerth kept the crowne on his head when ciuill wars were in the realme of England for he lent him at times more then sixscore thousand crownes little for his Masters profite notwithstanding he recouered his principall in the end Another also I knew named Thomas Portunay who was pledge at one time betweene the said King Edward and Duke Charles of Burgundie for fiftie thousand crownes and at an other time in another place for forwerscore thousand I commend not the wisedome of merchants in thus doing but I commend Princes that vse merchants well and keepe daie with them for they know not when they shall need their helpe and sometime a little money doth great seruice It seemeth that this house of the Medicis fel to ruine as mighty houses do in realms and Empires for the great authoritie of this Peter of Medicis predecessors did him harme notwithstanding the gouernment of Cosme the first of this house was milde and gentle such as was agreeable with a free state But Lavvrence this Peters father whom we now presently write of bicause of the great variance before mentioned in this historie that was betweene him and them of Pisa and others diuers of the Lib. 6. cap. 5. which at that time were hanged tooke a garde of 20. men for the defence of his person by the commandement and leaue of the Seniory who commanded nothing but at his pleasure notwithstanding he behaued himselfe in this great authoritie very discreetly and soberly for as I before said he was one of the wisest men in his time But this Peter who succeeded his father supposing the like authority to be due to him of right became terrible by meanes of this guard and vsed great violence in the night beating men as they went in the streetes and abusing their common treasure
they would go as far as the mountaines to meete him But one that stood by wished that neuer King of Fraunce might come into Italy for he had seene a poore man of the house of Aniou scourge it shrewdly meaning Duke Iohn sonne to King René King Ferrand had trauelled very earnestly the yeere before by his ambassador called Camillo Pendolfo to stay the King in Fraunce offering to pay him yeerely a tribute of fiftie thousand ducats and to holde the realme of him by homage and fealty But when he saw that he could by no meanes obtaine peace nor pacifie the estate of Milan he fell into the disease whereof he died notwithstanding in the midst of his pangues he confessed himselfe and as I trust repented him of his sinnes His sonne Alphonse who had been so terrible a Prince so cruell and so long trained vp in the wars before the King departed from Rome resigned his crowne and was stroken with such feare that in the night he neuer ceased to crie That he heard the French men comming and that the trees and stones sounded Fraunce He neuer was so hardie as once to issue foorth of Naples but vpon his sonnes returne from Rome put him in possession of the realme and caused him to be crowned and to ride about the streets of the citie accompanied with the nobliest personages that were there namely with Dom Frederick his brother and the Cardinall of Genua between whom the new K. rode and with the ambassadors there resident He caused also all other solemnities belonging to the coronation to be accomplished then fled himselfe sailed into Sicily with his mother in law sister to K. Ferrand of castile now raigning to whom the said realm of Sicily was in subiection to a house that she had there which was strang news through the whole world especially at Venice where I then was Some said he went to the Turke others thought his departure to be to the end his son who was not hated in the realme might the better win the harts of the people But mine opiniō was euer that he fled for very cowardise for a cruel man was neuer hardy as appeereth in histories by Nero others who before their death fel into great feare and desperation To be short this Alphonse made such haste to be gone that he said to his mother in law the selfe same daie that they departed as diuers of his seruants haue told me that vnlesse she would depart with speede he would leaue hir behinde him And when she desired him to staie but three daies onely to the end she 6 might be a whole yeere in his realme he answered that rather than he would tarie any longer he would throw himselfe headlong out at the windowes asking hir if she heard not how euery man cried Fraunce Thus he embarked in his Gallies with his said mother in law and departed carieng with him all sorts of wines whereunto he was maruellously giuen and of all kinds of seeds for gardens But as touching his mooueables and goods he left no order for them but the greatest part remained in the castle of Naples notwithstanding certaine iewels he carried also with him and a little money And in this estate sailed he and his mother in lawe to hir said house in Sicilie whence he departed and went to Messine whither he called and led with him diuers religious men vowing himselfe to be no more of this world Aboue all other orders of religion he loued especially those of the Mount Oliuet who are clad in white as they themselues told me at Venice where the body of Saint Heleine lieth in their cloister Moreouer he began to lead a maruellous holie life to serue God howerly both daie night with the said religious men as they do in their couents He vsed also great feasting abstinence and almes and soone after fell into a sharpe sicknes of excoriation and the stone in such sort that the said religious men reported that they neuer saw man so tormented Notwithstanding he endured patiently all these pangues being fully resolued to haue spent the rest of his life in an Abbey at Valence the great in Spaine there to haue registred himselfe a religious man But he was so tormented with this disease that he died soone after and it is to be hoped bicause of his great repentance that his soule is ioifull in Paradise his sonne also died soone after him of an ague ioyned with a fluxe and I trust they are both in better case then they were in this world But marke heere by the waie that in lesse than two yeeres space fiue wore the crowne of Naples to with the three aboue named Charles the 8. King of Fraunce and Dom Frederick brother to the said Alphonse now raigning The Notes 1 That is since the time that they rebelled vvhen they sent for the Duke of Lorraine vvhereof mention is made in the first chapter of this seuenth booke 2 Iouian Pontan in the vvars betvvene Duke Iohn of Aniou and this old Ferrand maketh the Duke of Sesse and prince of Rosane but one 3 The Italians haue Ischia vvhereof Plinie vvriteth thus lib. 3. cap. 7. Ischia insula est è Regione Veliae alio nomine aenotris dicta others vvrite that it vvas first named Aenaria Iouius vvriteth that the I le is named Aenacia and that Ischle is the name of the castle in the I le it is thirty miles from Naples Guicciar Sabellicus saith Procyta alias Ischla but Plinie maketh Procyta and Ischia tvvaine 4 These were soldiers so named of Bracio de Fortibraci a great captaine in his time 5 Hovv this booke vvas strangely reuealed by a vision of one Cataldus who had been bishop of Tarente more than a thousand yeeres before to a yoong childe vvho thereof enformed the King read Alexander in diebus genialibus lib. 3. cap. 15. 5 This she Guicciar vnderstandeth he meaning that she desired Alphonse to tary three or fovver daies to the end he might haue been King a vvhole yeere How the yoong Ferrand after he was crowned King of Naples went and encamped at Saint Germain to resist the Kings comming and of the treatie that King Charles made with the Pope at Rome Chap. 12. NOw to the end all these things may be plaine and euident you shall vnderstand that K. Ferrand being crowned became as it were a newe man supposing all old iniuries and offences to be forgotten by his fathers flight wherefore he leuied all the force he could aswell horsemen as footemen and came to Saint Germain which is the very entry into his realme and a strong place and of great defence through the which the Frenchmen had passed twise before 1 There he encamped and manned the towne and then his friends began somwhat to recouer their spirits The towne is strong both bicause of a little riuer 2 which somtime is passable on foote somtime not and also bicause of the hill hanging ouer it The
vpon a sudden as the Romaines did for their bodies cannot endure such labor and trauell as theirs could bicause they are vnaccustomed therunto by reason that none of them go into their wars vpon the firme land 16 as the Romaines did saue their prouisors and paimasters which accompanied their generall 17 assist him with their counsell and prouide all things necessary for their armie True it is that their armies vpon the sea are led 18 by their gentlemen who are captaines of their gallies and ships and consist wholy of their owne subiects Moreouer another good order haue they as touching these prouisors whom they send in person with their armies vpon the land whichis that they imploie in that seruice no man of such courage and vertue as may seeme woorthy to be their Prince as the Romaines did whereby they auoid all factions in the citie which sure is a great point of wisedome And vndoubtedly against ciuill contention they haue maruellously well prouided diuers and sundry other waies for they haue no Tribunes of the people as they had in Rome which partly were cause of their ruine But the people at Venice beare no swaie neither are called to counsell in any matter 19 for all their officers 20 be gentlemen saue their secretaries 21 And the greatest part of their people be strangers Moreouer they vnderstand by T. Liuius what imperfections were in the state of Rome for they haue his historie and his body lieth buried in their palace at Padua For these reasons and diuers others which I could alleage I say yet once againe that they are in the way to be great Lords in time to come I must now declare the cause of mine ambassage to them which was to thanke them for the good answers they had made to two ambassadors sent thither by the King and for the good comfort they had giuen him in willing him vpon their word to proceede with his enterprise All the which was done before he departed out of Ast At my arriuall I discoursed vnto them of the ancient league that had beene betweene the Kings of Fraunce and them And further I offered them Brandis and the towne of Orante vnder this condition that when we deliuered them better townes in Greece they should be bound to restore these They vsed very honorable termes both of the King and his affaires supposing that he could not enter far into Italie And as touching the offer I made they answered that they were his friends and seruants and would not sell him their friendship and in deede as yet we had not the places offered Further they said that they had force sufficient in a readines to moue war against him if they were so disposed but they would not so do notwithstanding that the ambassador of Naples daily sollicited them thereunto and offered them in consideration thereof whatsoeuer they would demaund Moreouer King Alphonse who then raigned confessed that he had many waies misbehaued himselfe towards them and declared vnto them the great danger themselues should be in if the King obtained his purpose The Turke on the other side sent an ambassador to them with all speede whom I my selfe saw diuers times the which at the Popes request threatened them vnlesse they declared themselues the Kings enimies They gaue euery one of these good answers notwithstanding at the first they stood in no feare of vs but laughed at our voiage and the rather bicause the Duke of Milan sent them word by his ambassador that they should not trouble themselues about this enterprise for he would finde meanes to send the King home with emptie hands The like message sent he also to Peter of Medicis as himselfe told me But when both they and the Duke of Milan sawe all the Florentines places especially Pisa in the Kings hands they began to feare to consult how to stop him from passing further but their matters were long in debating and in the meane time while ambassadors passed to and fro betweene them the King marched forward The King of Spaine in like maner began to feare bicause of the yles of Sicilie and Sardinia And the King of Romaines enuied our Kings good successe for diuers there were that put him in doubt of the crowne imperiall saying that the King would take it and had required the Pope to giue him leaue so to do but this was most vntrue Notwithstanding for these doubts these two Kings sent honorable ambassages to Venice I being there as you haue heard The King of Romaines bicause he was their neighbor sent first the principall of his ambassage was the Bishop of Trente accompanied with two knights and a doctor of the law they were very honorably and solemnly receiued and their lodgings made and furnished as mine Moreouer they had ten ducats a day allowed them for their diet and their horses which they had left behinde them at Treuis were kept vpon the Seniories charge Soone after arriued also a worshipfull knight of Spaine 22 well accompanied and well apparelled who was in like maner honorably receiued and his charges defraied The Duke of Milan besides his ambassador there resident sent thither the bishop of Come and Master Francis Bernardin Viscount all the which began at the first to negotiate togither couertly and in the night by their Secretaries for they durst not as yet openly discouer themselues against the King especially the Duke of Milan and the Venetians bicause they doubted what successe the league which was in communication should haue These ambassadors of Milan came to visite me and brought me letters from their Master pretending that they were come bicause the Venetians had sent two ambassadors to Milan whereas they were woont to haue but one resident there no more had they in the end and this was but a colour of their lying deceit and false dealing for they were all assembled togither to conclude a league against the good King but so many strings could not be tuned on a sudden They desired me afterward if I could to informe them what the cause was of the King of Spaines and the King of Romanes ambassadors arriuall to the end they might aduertise their Master thereof But I had intelligence already from diuers places both by the said ambassadors seruants and others that the ambassador of Spaine had passed through Milan disguised that the Almaines gouerned their affaires wholy by the Duke of Milans counsell and aduice and that the ambassador of Naples deliuered howerly packets of letters from his Master For you must vnderstand that the treatie of their league was begun before the King departed from Florence and I spent monie largely to haue intelligence of all their doings and wrought by good instruments so that I knew already all their articles which were propounded but not agreed vpon for the Venetians are very long in their resolutions For these causes I seeing the league in such forwardnes would no longer pretend ignorance therein but answered these ambassadors
sped euill and the Duke of Milan who had been greatly distressed if Master Iohn Iames had beene suffered to inuade him with the whole force was now strong for the Venetians had sent diuers bands to his aide Whereupon our armie retired our footemen were dismissed and these little townes that were taken abandoned and thus ended these wars finally to the Kings profit who consumed infinite treasure in them The Notes 1 Vnderstand against the Venetians by the which meanes he might haue recouered the Polesan and the rest that they withheld from him 2 For you must vnderstand that these practises began before their places were sold 3 This Cardinall was borne at Sauonne Of certaine controuersies betweene King Charles and Ferrande King of Castile and of the ambassadors that were sent to and fro to pacifie them Chap. 16. WHat happened from the Kings returne out of Italie which was about 3. or 4. moneths before the end of the yeer 1495. till the beginning of the yeere 1498. I haue already rehearsed for all that space I was resident in the Court and present at the dispatch of most part of those affaires The King rode about from Lyons to Moulins and from Moulins to Tours holding tourneies and iusts in all places and minding nothing else Those that were of the greatest authoritie about him were so diuided that more they could not be for some of them would that the conquest of Naples should still continue bicause their profit and credit depended thereupon namely the Cardinall 1 and the Seneschall 2 who gouerned all the Kings affaires on the otherside the Admirall who before this voiage had borne all the sway with the yoong King would in any wise that these Italian enterprises should cease and trauelled to ouerthrowe them knowing that the quailing of them would turne greatly to his profite and be a meanes whereby he might recouer his former credit and authoritie and the others fall into disgrace Thus passed the Kings affaires about a yeere and a halfe during the which space he sent ambassadors to the King and Queene of Castile who were in war with him and whose friendship he greatly desired bicause they were mightie both by sea and land And notwithstanding that they did no great exploit vpon the land yet had they sent great aide by sea to King Ferrande and King Frederick of Naples for the yle of Sicilie is distant from Reges in Calabria but a league and a halfe so that some hold opinion it was once firme land with Italie 3 and that the sea breaking in made this straight 4 now named the Far 5 of Messine The said yle of Sicilie was then and yet is in subiection to the King and Queene of Castile who sent from thence great aide to Naples as well of great ships called Carauels that came out of Spaine as also of men Moreouer in the yle of Sicilie itselfe a companie of men of armes was leuied the which passed into Calabria with a certaine number of genetarios 6 and made war vpon the Kings forces there Besides this their ships were continually with the confederates nauie by means whereof when all their forces were togither the King was much too weake for his enimies vpon the sea but otherwise the King of Castile endammaged him not much True it is that once a great companie of horsemen entred into Languedock and spoiled the countrie and lodged in it three or fower daies but other exploit did they none Then the Lord of Saint André in Bourbonnois who defended those frontiers for the Duke of Bourbon the Kings lieutenant in Languedock attempted to take Sausses a little towne in the countrie of Roussillon bicause on that side they had inuaded the Kings dominions about two yeeres before For you shall vnderstand that the King had restored vnto them the said countrie of Roussillon 7 whereof the territorie of Parpignan is parcell in the which this little towne of Sausses is situate His enterprise was great and dangerous for the towne was well manned though it were but small and a great number of gentlemen of the King of Castiles house were within it besides that their armie being stronger than ours lay abrode in the fields encamped within a league of the place yet notwithstanding the said Lord of Saint André so wisely and closely guided his enterprise that within ten howers he tooke the towne by assault as my selfe can witnes and at the breach were slaine thirtie or fortie Spanish gentlemen of marke among whom was the Archbishop of Saint Iames his sonne besides three or fower hundred common soldiers They thought not that the towne could haue been taken so suddenly for they vnderstood not the feate of our artillerie which vndoubtedly is the best in the world This is all the exploit that was done between these two Princes whereof though the effects were but small yet great was the shame and dishonor the King of Castile receiued thereby his armie being so strong as it was but where God is disposed to punish commonly such small scoruges run before For the said King and Queen of Castile were shortly after otherwise punished and so were we also But sure as touching them they much stained their honor in violating their othe giuen to the King who had dealt so bountifully with them by restoring them the countrey of Rousillon the fortification and defence whereof had beene so chargeable to his father who had it in pawne for three hundred thousand crownes which summe also the King forgaue them all to the end they should not impeach nor hinder his voiage to Naples Moreouer they renued the ancient league betweene Fraunce and Castile which is between King and King realme and realme and man and man of their subiects and promised not to hinder his said conquest nor marie any of their daughters into Naples England or Flanders which straight offer of mariage proceeded of themselues for a Frier Franciscan called Frier Iohn de Mauleon made this ounerture on the Queene of Castiles behalfe Yet all this notwithstanding so soone as they saw the war begun and heard that the King was at Rome they sent ambassadors round about to enter into league against him and namely to Venice I being there present where the league aboue mentioned was concluded betweene the Pope the King of Romans them the Seniore of Venice and the Duke of Milan immediately whereupon they inuaded the Kings dominions alleaging that such a promise was not to be performed meaning the marriage of their children being fower daughters and one sonne into the houses aboue mentioned which ouuerture notwithstanding proceeded of themselues as before you haue heard But to returne to the matter After these wars in Italy were ended and all lost in the realm of Naples saue Caietta which the K. yet held when these treaties of peace began betweene him and the King and Queene of Castile but soone after lost also and the wars in the countrey of Roussillon being in like maner
Francesco Gonzaga 2 Nicholas succeeded Borso but his vncle Hercules right heire expelled him and seeking to recouer the state he was taken and beheaded by Sigismundus his other vncle 1 Borso a bastard succeeded his brother bicause his brothers son was yoong he was created the first Duke of Ferrara by the Emperor Frederic 3 Hercules expelled Nicholas his nephew he was generall to the Florentines Venetians and Milanois This is he so often mentioned in this historie m. Leonora daughter to Ferdinand King of Naples Betrice married Lodouic Sforce Duke of Milan Alfonse m. Lucretia daughter to Alexander the 6. Biâ—â—op of Rome Franciscus Hippolitus a Cardinall 5 Hercules m. Renee daughter to Lewis the 12. King of Fraunce 6 Alfonsus D. of Ferrara Luigi Cardinall of Este m. Laura Alfonsus Alfonsinus â— Elizabeth married Francis Gonzaga the Marquesse of Mantua mentioned in this storie Sigismundus The pedegree of Francis Marques of Mantua so often mentioned in this historie The familie of Gonzagua had gouerned Mantua before this Francis from the yeer 1328. vnder this Francis Iohn Galliazzo besieged Mantua a yeere but preuailed not this Francis serued the Duke of Milan and the Venetians Francis died anno 1407. Iohn Francis first Marques of MaÌ„tua made by the Emperor Sigismundus was thrice generall to the Venetians died anno 1443. m. Paola daughter to Malatesta Lord of Rimini Luigi liued in the time of Frederick the third m. Barbara daughter to the Marques of Brandenburg Luigi Francis a cardinall Frederick was generall to the Duke of Milan and the Venetians m. Margarita Tedesca Francis in the age of 38. yeeres fought with Charles the 8. at Laro died 1520. m. Elizabeth daughter to Hercules Duke of Ferrara Hercules a Cardinall Frederick made general of the Church by Pope Leo and so confirmed by his successors made D. by Charles the fift he died 1539. Montferrat m. Margaret daughter and heire of William Paleologus marques of Montferrat William Francis Lewis Frederick Ferdinandus generall of Milan to the Emperor Charles the fift Iohn Francis Rodolfe m. Margaret daughter to the Duke of Bauiera Charles troubled his brother but was chased away by him died in very poore estate Lucedus was mishapen Alexander croked backed was a monke How Ferdinand King of Arragon had more right to the realme of Naples than the Kings of the house of Arragon that possessed it as writeth Commines Lib. 8. cap. 17. 1 Iohn the first of that name King of Castile m. Daughter to Ferdinand the first King of Portugale Castile 2 Henry the third King of Castile and Leon. Mary wife to Alfonse King of Arragon and Naples 3 Iohn the second 4 Henry the fourth married a daughter of the King of Portugale Elizabeth put froÌ„ the crowne by hir aunt Commin Lib. 5. cap. 7. 5 Elizabeth succeeded hir brother putting hir neece from the crowne as a bastard Castile and Arragon vnited 4 m. Ferrand King of Arragon and Castile by his wife so often mentioned in these Italian wars Katharine wife to Henry the eight King of England Iane married Philip Archduke of Austrich 6 Charles the fift Emperor Iohn married Margaret daughter to Maximilian the Emperor died before his father m. Elenor daughter to Peter King of Arragon Arragon 1. Ferrand Earle of Medina del Campo K. of Arragon This Ferrande obtained the realme of Arragon anno 1407. bicause his mother was daughter to king Peter whose heire male failed in Martin his nephew and notwithstanding that Martin had a daughter yet Ferrande obtained the crowne to hir preiudice 3 Iohn succeeded his brother in Arragon but in Naples Ferrand his brothers bastard succeeded Ferrand King of Arragon and Castile by his wife so often mentioned in these Italian wars Castile and Arragon vnited 4 m. 5 Elizabeth succeeded hir brother putting hir neece from the crowne as a bastard Katharine wife to Henry the eight King of England Iane married Philip Archduke of Austrich 6 Charles the fift Emperor Iohn married Margaret daughter to Maximilian the Emperor died before his father Charles King of Nauarre sans issue Iane Queene of Portugale Mary married Iohn the secoÌ„d K. of Castile 2 1 Naples Alfonse adopted by Iane Queene of Naples who after adopted Lewis Duke of Aniou 2 Ferrande the bastard succeeded his father in the realme of Naples died a little before King Charles came into Italy 5 Frederick succeeded his nephew Ferdinand led after into Fraunce by Lewis the 12. Ferdinand married Germain widow to King Ferdinand of Arragon 3 Alfonse fled when K. Charles came into Italy 4 Ferdinand chased from Naples by King Charles but after recouered the realme died sans issue Isabella wife to Iohn Galeas Duke of Milan Elizabeth wife to Hercules Duke of Ferrara The King of Spaine had better right to Naples than Alfonse that possessed it when King Charles came into Italie bicause Alfonses father was a bastard King Ferrands father being the first Alfonses brother ought to haue succeeded him before his base sonne Further you shall vnderstand that after Frederick was led into Fraunce by Lewis the 12. the said K Lewis enioied Naples but within fower yeeres Ferrande King of Arragon by the great captaine Consaluo chased King Lewis out of the realme and left it to his nephew Charles the Emperor from whom the French K. could neuer recouer it but at this day it is in the possession of the King of Spaine sonne to the said Emperor Charles FINIS Faults escaped Page 3. line 1. reade to wit a pag. 7. lin 13. r. armie Of ead lin dele lin 28. r. Seniories pag. 8. l. 9. dele and ead p. l. vlt. r. of Coulches p. 11. l. 28. r. with them p. 13. l. 22. r. the best ead p. l. vlt. r. Seniories p. 14. l. 41. r. and La Marche p. 17. l. 8. r. flying p. 18. l. 12. r. them not ead p. l. 13. r. before My ead p. l. 32. r. aduise p. 19. l. 21. r. and in a p. 24. l. 46. r. of Aniou p. 27. l. 4. r. 6. of September ead p. l. 38. r. quirace p. 28. l. 32. r. this companie p. 29. l. 5. r. scouts p. 31. l. 43. r. ditch notwithstanding the truce No p. 38. l. 5. r. florens ead p. l. 26. r. cordingly p. 39. l. 31. dele with p. 40. l. 2. r. his campe p. 46. l. 9. r. the canon ead p. l. 44. r. Noone drew p. 47. l. 8. r. stayning ead p. l. 31. r. 6 ead p. l. 32. r. 5 p. 49. l. 7. r. vpon our ead p. l. 38. r. After these p. 50. l. 4. r. of the which p. 54. l. 32. r. goodly p. 59. l. 2. r. rased their wals but ead p. l. 35. r. Romont p. 61. l. 36. r. Angien p. 63. l. 42. r. or Herbart p. 64. l. 38. r. Estelle p. 66. l. 5. r. Ferrette p. 68. l. 34. r. haue had but ead lin r. sixtie thousand p. 69. l. 25. r. hardinesse ead p. l. 43. r. bounds of p. 74. l. 47. r. foorthwith p. 77. l. 1. r. touching the p. 78. l. 23. r. and Desmeries p. 79. l. 9. r. Polence p. 80. l. 13. r. bounds p. 82. l. 4. r. to Gaunt p. 83. l. 9. r. his principall ead p. l. 24. r. to repaire p. 84. l. 41. r. and receiued p. 85. l. 48. r. in feare p. 87. l. 44. r. foorth on foote p. 91. l. 24. r. the very p. 94. l. 13. r. what port the ead p. l. 38. r. three thousand p. 98. l. 35. r. the others p. 106. l. 20. r. cause p. 107. l. 2. r. foade p. 109. l. vlt. r. six score soldiers p. 111. l. 12. r. the onely p. 117. l. 17. r. these Dutch p. 118. l. 5. r. than in any p. 120. l. 2. r. church Then ead p. l. 7. r. 1474. Meyer p. 127. l. 2 r. is it p. 134. l. 2. r. stoutly denied p. 138. l. 43. r. a marrish p. 139. l. 32. r. whereof p. 150. l. 23. r. debebant p. 154. l. 21. r. preparation p. 155. l. 38. r. most of the which p. 16◠〈…〉 p. 164. 〈…〉 p. 165. l. 32. r. great p. 176. l. vlt. r. Burgund pa. 988. p. 179. l. 13. r. ride p. 186. l. 36. r. had good p. 196. l. 33. r. begin p. 201. l. 39. r. to the king his p. 205. l. 40. r. Burgundish p. 208. l. 21. dele had p. 224 l. 6. r. This second p. 227. l. 23. r. in the towne p. 240. l. 16. r. to proceed p. 243. l. 18. r. a number ead p. l. 37. r. which is called p. 253. l. 33. r. vantmures p. 254. l. 25. r. Fougieres p. 260. l. 45. r. was sent p. 261. l. 30. r. Dabecsin p. 263. l. 16. r. commendation p. 267. l. vlt. r. foorth to p. 274. l. 17. r. Proctor ead p. l. vlt. r. they lawfull p. 276. l. 21. r. first voiage p. 278. l. 41. r. Treuâ—ul p. 280. l. vlt. dele Duke p. 281. l. 3. dele Duke p. 284. l. 21. r. also of the p. 291. l. 16. r. Caballiau p. 292 l. 40. r. Caballiau p. 293. l. 19. r. vantmure ead p. l. 43. r. Rosanes p. 294. l. 9. r. Picinino p. 295. l. 12. r. ride about p. 296. l. 14. r. for cruell p. 297. l. 4. r. Aenaria p 306. l 38. r. their other ead p. l. 48. r. places than they p. 307. l. 8. r. accompanie ead p. l 31. r. Otrante p. 313. l. 4. r. or Musiua p. 316. l. 17. r. and two p. 318. l. 16 r. and voluntarily p. 319. l. 39. r. Luques p. 325. l. 18 r. Albanie p. 335. l. 7. r. the Florentines p. 342. l. 4. r. enimies nauie p. 350. l. 3. r. they might p. 380. r. Iane daughter heire to Robart of Bar E. of Marle p. 391. r. Cosmus died the 80. yeere of his age We must intreate the Readers patience for these faults escaped and that he will amend the booke according to this table before he enter into the reading thereof
writings that were deliuered him on the King of Englands behalfe whereunto the King answered as before Then was the missall brought foorth and opened vpon the which each of the Kings laide one of their hands and the other vpon the true holie crosse and sware both of them to keepe and obserue the articles concluded betweene them namely the truce for nine yeeres wherein the confederats of both parties were comprehended and the marriage of their children to be accomplished in maner and forme as was comprehended in the treatie After they had both sworne the King who had his words at commandement began to enter into pleasant talke with the K. of England saying that he should come to Paris to solace himselfe there with the Ladies and that he would giue him the Cardinall of Bourbon for his confessor who would easilie assoile him of that sinne if any were committed The King of England tooke great pleasure in this talke and answered with a merry countenanee for he knew the Cardinall to be a good fellow After some such like speeches passed betweene them the King to shew that he had authority among his men commanded those that were with him to withdraw themselues saying that he would commune with the King of England in secret which they that accompanied the King of England seeing retired without commandement After the two Kings had communed awhile togither the King called me to him and asked the King of England if he knew me who answered that he knew me well and named the places where he had seene me adding that in times past I had taken paines to do him seruice in Calais during the time I was with the Duke of Burgundy Then the King inquired of him if the Duke of Burgundy would not be comprehended in the truce as it was to be presumed bicause of his froward answer that he would not what it would please him that he should do The King of England said that he would offer it him yet once more and if he refused to accept it that then they two should do as they thought good Afterward the King fell in talke of the Duke of Britaine which was the onely end why he mooued this question asked him in like maner of him The King of England desired him earnestly to attempt nothing against the D. of Britain saying that in his necessity he neuer found so faithfull a friend whereupon the King ended this communication and then calling the company togither againe with the most curteous and gratious language that might be tooke his leaue of the King of England giuing very good words in like maner to euery one of his seruants And so the two Princes in a maner both at one instant departed from the grate and tooke horse The King returned to Amiens and the King of England to his campe whither we sent from the court all kinde of prouision necessary for him so far foorth that torches and lights were not forgotten At this enteruiewe the Duke of Glocester King Edwards brother and certaine others were not present bicause they misliked the peace Notwithstanding afterward they were well ynough perswaded to allow of it so far foorth that the said Duke of Glocester came to Amiens to the King who gaue him many goodly presents of siluer plate and horses with all kinde of furniture After the King was returned from this meeting vpon the way he debated two points with me the one he found the King of England so willing to come to Paris that it liked him neuer a whit For he is quoth he a goodly Prince and much giuen to loue he may peraduenture meete with some dainty dame at Paris that will entertaine him with so many sugred words that she may happily make him desirous to returne thither againe But his predecessors haue soiourned too long both at Paris and in Normandy I like not his company on this side the sea but so long as he keepeth home I wish to haue him my good friend and louing brother The other point was this he was sory that he found the King of England somwhat hard when he made mention of the D. of Britaine for the King was so desirous to perswade him to suffer war to be made in Britaine that afterward he sollicited this matter anew by the Lords of Bouchage and Saint Pierre But the King of England seeing himselfe thus earnestly pressed answered in fewe words that who so should make war vpon the Duke of Britaine he would passe the seas yet once againe in his defence which answer being heard the matter was no further mentioned After the K. was returned to Amiens euen as he was going to supper arriued three or fower noble men of England such as had furthered the peace and the Lord Hovvard who was one of them began to talke with the King in his eare saying that if it pleased him he would finde meanes to bring his Master to Amiens and peraduenture to Paris to make merry with him which offer though the King liked neuer a whit yet made he shew of great good liking thereof and began to wash not answering much to that point but tolde me softly in mine eare that the thing he most feared was hapned meaning this offer After supper they fell againe in communication of the selfesame matter but with wise words the enterprise was broken off for the King said that with all speede he must depart to go against the Duke of Burgundy Although these affaires were of great importance and sagely ordered on both sides yet you see merry toies hapned also among them which are not to be forgotten But as touching the K. who will maruell considering the great harmes the English men haue done in Fraunce but of late yeeres if he trauelled his body and spent his money to rid them friendly out of the realme to the intent heereafter he might keepe them his friends at the least not haue them his foes The next day after this meeting a great number of English men repaired to Amiens some of them affirming that the holy Ghost had made this peace for they grounded all on prophesies The reason that mooued them so to say was for that a white pigeon sate vpon the King of Englands pauilion the day of the enteruiew and would not remooue thence notwithstanding any noise made in the camp The cause whereof as some men iudged was for that it had rained a little and afterward the sunne shining very hot the pigeon lighted vpon this pauilion being higher than the rest to drie hir selfe which reason was giuen by a gentleman of Gascoine seruant to the King of England named Lewis of Bretailles who was not a little offended with the peace And bicause he and I were of old acquaintance he talked familiarly with me saying that we would deride the King of England for this treatie I asked him how many battel 's the said King had woon he told me nine in the which himselfe had beene in