must say that with the end of the last yeare the King began the foure and fifteth yeare of his age a tearme which Cato held to bee ripe and well aduanced whereunto few Kings of Francâ— had atteyned The Kingâ— age and yet it hath nothing abated the vigour and strength of this Prince who is actiue and disposed and as liuely as hee was at the age of thirtie yeares Cares and yeares hauing only made his beard white it is true that now he begins to feele some flâ—x of the gout A disease which breeds with ease and which comes to Princes rather by excesse then by trauell in their youth and which is sooner gotten by the case of Venus then by that of Diana there beeing no pleasure in the world which doth not carrie some displeasure behind it The best course is to repent the euill before they commit it that is to say to haue onely intended it and the meanes to growe old is neither to doe nor to eate any thing through voluptuousnes A great Condition or Qualitie to whom all things are lawfull that please will find this rule of gouernment very hard Great men commit great excesse and in the end they tast the fruits which they haue sowne It is reaâ—on that after a time infirmities should cease and cleere the troubles of their soules as thunder and lightning doth purge the ayre that diseases as fore-runers of death and porters of the prison wherein they are inclosed should teach them that are men and subiect to humaine miseries that they are not raysed vpon the clouds to be free from a world of miseries that are dispearsed vpon the earth and that they should remember that the more their delights abound the more their strength decayes and that hee that doth least doth least harme and passeth the last yeares of his life with more content and lesse greefe The King would not complaine much of that little touch of the gout for that it had beene but gentle and when that after his recouerie the Courtiers did see him to weare furred boots they saâ—ed it was more to hould the greefe in some reputation then for any need he had Hee did a publike Act which hath particularities worthie to bee knowne I doe not forget these occasions for that they supsupplie the discourse of this Historie Peter 〈◊〉 without the which it should bee constrayned to seeke for matter farre without the Realme for of secret things and which are treated of in the Councel of the Cabanet we must atttend the knowledge therof by the euents which time shal discouer and not trouble our selues to seeke out the springs of Nilus A father how great powreful soeuer cannot thinke too soone nor to often to breed vp the youth oâ— his child in vertue nor to assure his fortune I say a child without distinction for although the Law doth distinguish Bastards from them that are lawfully begotten yet nature makes no difference The King hauing determined to make Alexander Monsieur his Bastard Son of the order of the Knights of Malta resolued to do it in time that he might receiue the name the effect The great Master reputing it an honor to haue a Prince of their Company issued from so valiant and couragious a race 1604. sent all necessarie expeditions The King hauing receiued them would haue the execution to be accompanied with a sumptuous and stately ceremonie An Assembly of the Knights of Malta He caused the great Commander of France and that of Champaigne to come to Paris and commanded them to call the greatest number of Commanders and Knights they could thither The King had chosen the Augustines Church for this effect but the Commander of Ville-Dieu being Ambassador of their Order beseeched him that it might be in that of their Temple There were at this Ceremonie 2. Grand-Priors twelue Commanders and sixteene Knights as one of the cheefe houses of the Order On the Sunday morning the King and the Queene went in one Carosse hauing Alexander Mounsieâ—r betwixt them who was deliuered by the King vnto the Grand-Prior who attended him at the first gate with all the Commanders and Knights As the Church was hung with the richest Tapestrie that could bee found so was it filled with that which was of greatest worth in Paris The Princes the Princesses the Cardinall of Gondy the Popes Noncio many Bishops the Ambassadors of Spaine and Venice the Constable the Chancellor the seuen Pesidents of the Parliament and the Knights of the order of the holy Ghost The Ceremonie began by the blessing of the sword and by the change of his habits to let the Knight vnderstand that hee did bind himselfe to change his life and to take vpon him the true ornaments of vertue without the which aâ—l the pompe and felicitie of the world is but wind and vanitie for being aâ—tyred in white â—atten layed thicke with gold lace the sleeues whereof were garnished with rich Medailles a Carkanet of stones crosse vnder his arme a blacke veluet Cappe with a little white feather and a band couered with great pearls he put on a roabe of blacke taffata and was conducted neere vnâ—o the great Altar being accompanied by the Duke and Duchesse of Vendosme and followed by the Commander for the conduct of this Ceremonie Saincte Foy Bishop of Neuers made him a little admonition of the greatnes and excellencie of the order whereinto he entred It is the first of Christendome as that of the Germaines is the second Oâ— Calatraua the third Of S. Iaques in Spaine the 4. Of Saint Marie de la Mercede in Arragon the fift Of Iesus Christ in Portugall the sixth Of Saint Lazare and Saint Maurice in Sauoy the 7. Of Saint Stephen in Toscane the eight This exhortation ended the Masse began and after the Gospell Alexander Monsieur presented himselfe vppon his knees before the Grand-Prior of France with a burning torch of white waxe in his hand to demand the Order Hereat the King who was â—et vnder a ritch cloth of Estate of Purple veluet imbroydred in the midest of the quier left his place and comming neere to helpe him to answere he sayd aloud that he left the ranke of a King to doe the office of a Father The Grand-Prior gaue him the Order after the accustomed manner and after Masse was done as a new Knight he presented himselfe the second time to make profession The King aduanced againe and promised for him that comming to the age of sixteene yeares he should make the vowes and profession perfect The King doth the office of a Father They be the same vowes which religious men doe make Obedience Pouertie and Chastitie Hee did his Obedience in the same place and then being disrobed the Grand-Prior set vppon his brest a plastron of blacke satten with a great white Crosse and so the Ceremonie ended with great ioy and sounding of Trompets The new Knight feasted the Grand-Priors of France
Graue and a part of his Armie beeing mutined for their pay and seized vpon Hoochstraten retired himselfe into Spaine where hee was receiued with small grace and countenance hauing serued his Master ill in the Lowe Countries This yeare all the Elements did contribute to the prosperity and blessings of the Peace the Earth did let the King see a newe production of his Treasor Mines of gold dâ—â—couered They discouered in many partes of the Realme mines of Gold Siluer Copper and Lead In the Country of Lionois neere vnto â— village called Saint Martin the plaine which depends of the Country of Saint Iohn of Lions there was a Mine of Gold found by a Countryman who laboring in his Vineyard found a flint stone intermixt with Gold whereby they gathered an infallible assurance that this member was not without a bodie De Vic Superintendant of the Iustice at Lions had commandement from the King to set some to worke in it The first production was admirable and among many goodly peeces one was shewed vnto the King very riche in the which the Gold did appeere and put forth like vnto the budds of a Vyne as fine as that of Carauana so as it might bee sayd that these fiue thousand yeares the Sonne had made nothing more perfect in the bowells of the Earth For it was not Gold in Pepin nor in Poulder as in the running streames of the newe found Land nor mixt with sand as in Bohemia but in Stoanes and in Rockes all pure Gold or pure Siluer for alwaies the one goes with the other perfect of it selfe without mixture of any other mettels The King immitating his Predecessors who had alwaies fauored the workes of Mines which bring infinite commodities made a generall Edict for the ordring of the worke and worke-men An Edict for the ording of the Minâ—â— Hee created a great Master and a Controuller generall ouer all the Mines of France with priuiledges to drawe in forraine worke-men which they could not want Bellegarde was the first great Master of the Mines who resigned it to Ruse Beaulieu Secretary of State Bellingin first grome of the Kings Chamber was Controller generall The newe allyance with the Suisses beeing concluded they deputed fortie two among them to whome they gaue power to sweare the obseruation thereof They came into France in September beeing honorablie receiued in all places The fourth of October they came to Charanton a League from Paris where they were Royally feasted at the Kings owne charge in Senamys house After diner the Duke of Montbazon and the Lord of Montigny Gouernor of Paris went out of the Citty with a hundred or sixscore Gentlemen to meete them and to welcome them in the Kings name At S. Anthonies Gate Bargelone Prouost of Marchants with the Sheriffes Councellors of the Citty Quarter-Maisters chiefe Bourgesses and the three Companies of the Archers of the Citty Their reception receiued them and conducted them to their lodging in S. Martins Streete The next day they dyned with the Chancellor after Dâ—nner he went to his Maiesty to the Lovure desiring them to haue a little patience vntill the King sent for them Soone after the Duke of Esguillion accompanied with fifty young Gentlemen of the best Houses that were then in Court went to fetch them and to conduct them vnto the King entring into the base court of the Lovure the Duke Montpensier with many Knights of the Holy Ghost and Noblemen of mâ—ke receiued them in the Kings name at the Stayres foote going vp to the Hall the Count of Soissons with many Gouernors of Prouinces and old Knights of the Order receiued them and so conducted them into his Maiesties Chamber where they did their obeysance the King taking euery one of them by the Hand Then the Aduoyer of Bearne who was their speaker said vnto him in his owne language That the cause of their comming was to sweare the renewing of the Alliance and to assure his Maiesty of their faithfull seruice Viger did interpret vnto the King who after hee had answered them and witnessed the content which he had of the Declaration they had made in the behalfe of their superiors he told them that they were welcome from thence they went to kisse the Qâ—eenes hand who was in her Chamber with all the Princesses and Ladies of the Court presenting their seruice vnto her and the good affection of their Superiors for the which she thanked them Before the oath was taken they intreated the King that it would please him to heare some particular charges they had from their Superiours The Chancellor was appointed to heare what they demanded The Suisses demands the which the Aduoyer of Bearne deliuered vnto him in three Demands The first was that it would please his Maiesty to augment the summe of foure hundred Crownes which was appointed to be distributed euery yeare among them being not sufficient to pay their interests The second was that the priueleges of those of their Nation which trafficked in France might be confirmed The third was to giue them the declarations that were promised as well vnto the fiue petty Cantons for the continuance of their alliance with Milan and Sauoy without infringing that of his Maiesty as to the Protestant Cantons that they might not be forced to giue men to make Warre in France against them of the Râ—ligion To the first his Maiesty made answer that the ciuill and forraine Warres where-with his people had beene ruined would not giue him meanes to do better yet and that they must content themselues with that which had beene promised The second and third were granted and the declarations required by them signed Sunday the 12. of October was appointed for the swearing of the Alliance in our Ladies Church whether the Ambassadors were conducted by Monsieur de Vic. The King being come to the Church and set in State the Princes of Condé and Conty went to fetch the 42. Ambassadors in the Bishops Hall and conducted them to their places All beeing set the Archbishop of Vienne approched to his Maiesty carrying a booke of the Euangelists in his hands and at the same instant the Ambassadors drewe neere also Before them was Vaguer Secretary of State at Soleuvre betwixt M. de Sillery de Vic he carried betwixt his armes a Cushion of Crimson Veluet garnished with Gold on the which were two treaties of the Alliance Treaties of Alliance presented to the King the one in French the other in the Germaine tongâ—e sealed with his Maiesties seale and those of the Cantons and their Allies After they had all done their duties and saluted his Maiesty Monsieur de Sillery saide vnto the King That these Treaties of Alliance were the same which his Predecessors had made with the Seigneuries of the Cantons and that whatsoeuer was added was for the honour and profit of his Maiesties seruice The Aduoyer of Bearne who delâ—uered the speech The Aduoyers speech vnto the King
and Champagne with the Commanders and Knights at the Temple and the King went to dine with Zamet This order hath alwaies affected two kinds of Knights some for seruice and others for honor The Order of Malta hath of the cheeâ—e houses of Chrâ—sâ—endom and both for the greatnes defence and support of the Order There haue beene children of the greatest and mightiest houses of Christendome who although they doe no seruice in effect being diâ—pensed withall yet they profit their profession much by the entertaynment and communication of friendships and respects of their houses to the common good of the Order Others that are issued from the noblest families of all the Nations of the world are bound vnto actuall seruice in the Iland they haue all the Mediteranian Sea for the Carire of their exercise and all the world for witnesses of their glorie After that they haue done the seruice which they owe vnto the Order they cannot grow old in pouertie and in this assurance they goe more willingly to all occasions that demand a proofe of their valour being reasonable to hazard themselues in great enterprises to merit great recompences The Knights neuer growe old poore â—he season is fayre vnder the newe raigne of the Emperor of the Turkes who although hee were a childe and entring into the foureteenth yeare of his age yet he gaue generous proofes of his disposition to War The Turkes â—hâ—nâ—â— their Emperor will proue an other Soliman and the Turkes thinke to see â—pring vp in him the Hatred and Fury of Sultan Soliman against the Christians and that hee should begin his raigne by the Conquest of Maltha as the other did by Rhodes Although â—he desire of these Barbarians to subdue the Christians be insatiable yet if they could gette Maltha they would hold themâ—elues content There is none but this Morcelâ— that can satisfie them the Wolfe would be no more a Wolfe if hee were full La Valette great Maâ—â—er forced Seliâ— to 〈◊〉 the seege in the yeare 1565. but Selim thinking to swallow it once had like to haue choked and so may all they doe that do attempt it Amet then the newe Emperor of the Turkes presently after the death of Mahomet his Father who ended his life with the ende of the last yeare went to the Mosquee neere vnto Constantinople to put on the Sword of his Fore-fathers By their example hee should haue put his brother to death Amet Emperor of the Turkes but he reserued him vntill he was of age to haue children so as the byrth of the first child of this Prince shall bee the ineuitable death of the brother He let them presently see that his youth should not be incapable of affayres as they thought He seizeth vpon his Grandmothers Treasure Hee caused his Grand-mother to bee sequestred who would rule as she had done in the life of Mahamet her Sonne beeing Ambitious Proud and Imperious in her passions hauing great authority and great Treasure to maintaine it and to get more being supported in her desseignes by the worst and most factious of the Eâ—pire He said that he would go to the Wars of Hungary in person he made many goodly Orders to reforme the Discipline and to ease the people He fell sicke of the small poâ—kes and kept his Chamber for some dayes After his recouery he shewed himselfe often vnto his people The present hee gaue vnto his Souldiars as the newe Emperors doe was of two Millions and a halfe The Saphis which are the Horsemen had ten Crownes a man and fiue Aspres a day more to increase their pay the Ianissaries had thirty Crownes and one Aspre more of pay The cheefe Officers of the Court did also taste of this liberality His Father had caused his first Visier to bee strangled Aly Bascha Gouernor of great Caire entred into this charge the Fall and Ruine of the one was the rising and settiâ—g vp of the other There is no place so great among the Turkes as the dignity of the first Visier Hee alone holds the Reynes and Helme of the Empire He is the first of the Baschas whose name is a Diminitiue of Padachaas that is to say Great Emperor Cygale represented vnto this young Prince the quality of his deserts to merite this charge but hee was answered That it was reserued for Aly Bascha and that hee should content himselfe with the Admiralty of the Seas That which did much helpe to raise Aly Baschas fortune was the treasure which he brought out of Egypt and the great reputation of Iustice and Wisedome that he had gotten in that Prouince the gouernement wherof is no lesse affected among the Turkes then it was in former times among the Romaines In his way he had caused a Rebel of some countenance and authority to bee strangled who had presented himselfe vnto him to haue a pardon He entred into this charge setled the affayres with great order in the conduct whereof hee left great proofes of his Wisedome and Iustice. But he presently left the place vnto another The death of Mahomet was not published in the Army of Hungary by any other then by the Generall Great accidents may not be sodainly deliuered vnto the people nor without good consideration for the Inconueniences which the sodaine amazement doth cause This death did not breake of nor any thing alter the Treaty of a Truce or of a Peace in Hungary The negotiation was coÌ„tinued in an Iland aboue Buda and Pesâ—e but with small effect The Emperor distrusting the King of France who onely had the meanes to ende it happily and profitably But it were to Treat of impossibilities to make the Princes of the house of Austria trust vnto the Councels of the French and it is an act of great indiscretion in Christians to trust vnto these Barbarians who haue neither Faith nor Truth The first enemy that shewed himselfe against Ameth was the King of Persia The King of Peâ—sia in armes who came neere vnto Babilon giuing the Souldiars to vnderstand that were within it that it was onely to deliuer theÌ„ from the yoake and oppression of the Turkes to change their condition into a better and their seruitude into Liberty This made the people of Asia to conceiue some hope of better vsage vnder the raigne of this young Prince But euery one desired to change his Maister vppon a conceit that this change should be profitable notwithstanding that any alteration in an Estate is mortall He tooke Tauris the cheefe Citty of Persia and Anziron a strong place in the Mountaynes of the Georgians and others which remayned to the Turkes by the Treaty of Peace This yeare died the Archbishop of Mentz Whervpon the Chapter tooke vpon theÌ„ the Administration of the Archbishopricke The Archbishop of Mentz dies according to the antient rights and gaue a day to assemble for the election Many Noblemen were there present the Bishop of Wirtzbourg came not vpon an
mountaines deluded the Kings commandements who knew well how to hunt him out of his Rockes and to send him prisoner to Beaucaire with his Wife and Children there to disgest his fellonie and to teache more mightie Vassalls and Subiects what it is to dallie with their Soueraigne Hauing tamed him with a whole yeares imprisonment and drawne from him proofes of a serious confession of his fault hee grants him lâ—bertie his Earledome and his fauour making good vse of him in his affaâ—res But the quarrell of Nauarre was of greater consequence Henry King of Nauarre Earle of Champagne and Brie Troubles in Nauarre had married Isabell the Daughter of Robert Earle of Arthois brother to Saint Lewis and at that time dyed leauing one onely Daughter his heire named Iane with his Widow to whome hee had appointed the regencie of his realme After the decease of Henry which was in the yeare 1274. at Pampelune the Nobility were greeued to bee gouerned by a Woman 1274. shee flies to Philip as to her neere Kinsman The King sends Eustace of Beau-marais a Knight to assist her with his Councell the which encreased the discontent of the Nauarrois who take Armes and beseege the Mother the Daughter and this newe Councellor in the Castle of Pampelune hoping to become Maisters thereof and to settle the gouernement at their pleasures Philip hastens thether releeues the Beseeged punisheth the Rebells setleth the Gouernement furnisheth the Forts and sends Ioane the Heyre of Nauarre into France with the good liking of the Nauarrois by the assurance which Philip gaue them to make her Queene of France in marrying her to his eldest Sonne Nauarre continued thus without any alteration wholy at Philips disposition whose authority was confirmed in all those Prouinces and his Name grewe great throughout all Spaine This worke thus easily ended an other taske began which brought much misery to this raigne The French affayres succeeded not well at Constantinople we haue shewed into what extremity the successors of Baldwin Emperor of Constantinople were brought and now behold the last act of this borrowed Empire Baldwin the sonne of Robert in the life of Iohn of Breyne his Father in Law made head against his enemies so as hauing imployed all his meanes and exhausted his treasure he flies to Frederick the 2. his Brother in Law but in vaine and this was the period of his ruine for his absence gaue his enemies meanes to attempt and his fruitlesse labour was a proofe of his weakenesse at his returne Michel Paleologus a Lord of the Country great both in meanes and courage after the death of Theodore Lascaris The French expâ—â—â—ed Constantinople by the Greekes of whom we haue spoken had so managed this occasioÌ„ as Baldwin could scarse enter into Constantinople to prouide for the safety of the Citty when he was beseeged by Paleologus and so hardly prest as he saued himselfe with difficulty in the I le of Negrepont and from thence went into Italy leauing Constantinople with all this imaginary Empire threescore yeares after the taking thereof by Baldwin the first Thus the Greeks are repossessed vnder the gouernement of Michel Paleologus who in the end seized on the Empire of the East But the comming of Baldwin into Italy was the cause of a long and painefull taske wherein our Philip was so farre ingaged as he shall leaue his life there and cause much trouble to his subiects His Vncle Charles King of Sicilia shall be the motiue Philips disposition but his owne disposition shall thrust him forward Philip was a great vndertaker oftentimes of other mens affayres as the whole discourse of his life will shew wherby it seemes the Title of Hardy was giuen him Not so discreet therein as his Father Why he was called Hardâ— who carried himselfe alwayes coldly a neuter in his neighbours dissentions but when hee found meanes to reconcile them with mildnes Let vs now returne whence we parted Baldwin thus dispossessed of Constantinople flies to Charles King of Sicilia a Frenchman to a French but he had a more strict gage his Daughter Bertha whom Charles had married after the death of Beatrix Countesse of Prouence Moreouer he addressed himselfe to one whose spirit was neuer quiet but in Action A strange man hee was Earle of Prouence King of Naples and Sicilia Vicar of the Empire Senator of Rome holding Tuscane at his deuotion almost all Italy 〈…〉 baâ—enâ— Prince in as great reputation as any Prince of his time yet not satisfied Baldwin arriued presently after this shipwracke perswading him to hope for better he tryes all meanes to leuy a goodly army to go into Greece and to restore him with the rest of the French Nobility to their Estates and Seigneuries whereof Paleologus had dispossessed them not foreseeing how much more necessary it was for him to gard his newe conquests of Sicilia and Naples and to keepe his credit in Italy in well intreating his new Subiects and imbracing polletikely the Italians loue As Charles deuised the meanes to attempt so his enemies sought the meanes to preuent him They were not small nor fewe in number Pope Nicholas Peter King of Arragon and Michell Peleologus Emperor of Constantinople but there wanted a Soliciter There was one found out proued a notable instrument Iohn Prochite one of the greatest men of Sicilia being dispossessed he imployed his whole study to recouer his Estate by expelling of Charles his capitall enemy Pope Vrbain a Frenchman 1280. borne at Troyes in Champagne had called Charles to these goodly Kingdomes and contrary wise Pope Nicholas an Italian borne at Rome plotted this Tragedie to dispossesse him although his successor Martin borne at Tours did fauour him seeking to restore him againe to his possessions but it was too late Such is the ebbing and flowing of the fauour of the Sea of Rome subiect to receiue diuers persons and by consequence diuers humors Peter of Arragon had married the daughter of Manfroy whome Charles had dispossessed of Sicilia as we haue sayd and therefore had reason to attempt any thing against Charles for the recouery thereof A party made against Charles King of Sicilia holding his title better then the Popes guift Michel Paleologus sought to preuent this storme which Charles prepared against his new purchase and therefore had reason to imploy all his forces against him But that which did most preiudice Charles was his carriage and his officers towards the people of Naples and Sicilia whome hee discontented by all kindes of excesse impoâ—itions rigorous exactions of money insolencies against their wiues and daughters and outrages against their persones This vniust and vnchast libertie which exceeded in the manners of our men bred a iust choller against them in the mindes of this poore Captiue people which made them to seeke all meanes to shake off their yoake and to be reuenged But they had cheefely offended the Soueraigne Iudge of all the
in a common-weale who hauing power in the soueraigne authoritie abuse the people with a shew of the common good an ordinarie cloake for such as fish in troubled waters We shall see by the vnruly euents of the contempt of royall authoritie the King being eyther a prisoner or sick in iudgement what a body is without a head a realme without a King well obeyed and a multitude gouerned by it selfe A subiect susceptible of all impressions but of bad rather then good though alwaies couered with a shew of good an instrument of all mischiefes in an Estate when as transported by violent and disordred passions couered with a shew of common good it is not restrained with the reynes of a lawfull authoritie I meane a multitude a dangerous beast with many heads doing commonly more harme then good We shall see heere what councellours of State the ambition and couetousnesse of great men be especially when women entermedle armed with the sâ—ew of publike authoritie and to conclude we shall confesse by a sound iudgement of this discourse that all things done in our age were done before A briefe preface for the greatnesse of the subiect yet necessary for that which is represented in these raignes the which we will note according to thir occurrents The raigne of Iohn Iohn the eldest sonne of Philip of Valois succeeded his father in the yeare 1350. and raigned fourteene yeares He had made a long apprentiship in managing the affaires of the Realme vnder his father Philip but he neither ruled better nor more happily His manners shall be known by his actions He had for sonnes by Ioane Countesse of Boulogne His children and the most remarkable personages in this raigne Charles Lewis Iohn Philip and one Daughter named Ioane Charles his eldest sonne was Dauâ—phin of Viennois in his fathers life and Duke of Normandy and after him King of France Lewis Duke of Aniou Iohn Duke of Berry and Philip called the hardy first he was Earle of Toâ—raine and after through his brothers fauour Duke of Burgongne and Earle of Flanders in the right of his wife Ioane was married to Charles King of Nauarre and Earle of Eureux Princes which shall play their partes vppon this Theater in euery scene of the Tragedy that I am to represent and for this reason they are to be obserued in the beginning This Charles King of Nauarre was sonne to Lewis Earle of Eureux and of Ioane daughter to King Lewis Hutin who by the sufferance of Philip the long her vncle Charles King oâ— Nauarâ—e the scourge of thâ—◠〈…〉 The humors of Câ—arles of Nauaare succeding to the Crowne remayned Queene of Nauarre and by this right Charles her sonne carried bâ—th the title and effect of the Realme with many other great inheritances A Prince of the blood royall both by father and mother and sonne in lawe to King Iohn hauing married Ioane his onely Daughter A man of a subtill spirit eloquent actiue vigilant but 〈◊〉 vnfaithful malicious reuengefull armed with the prerogatiue of his blood and the great meane he inioyed to be a pernitious instrument to trouble the King his Realme beyond all measure but in the end he shall receiue a due reward for his actions by a death worthy of his life After Iohns coronation at Rheims with his wife Ioane being returned to Paris he began his raigne by a famous act of an vnfortunate presage for he caused Raoul Earle of Eu and of Guines to be beheaded in prison vpon light accusations A mournful beginning of his raigne as hauing intelligence with the English and that he betrayed his affaires for that he had passed and repassed into France vpon his faith giuen during his imprisonment He was Constable of France Iohn aduanced Charles of Spaine to his place grand child to the King of Castile and son in Law to the Earle of Blois and so allied to the King and exceedingly beloued of him amongst all his greatest fauourits He shal be the first fruites of many miseries when as this raigne promised some rest vnder a King of age and experience fit to gouerne a Realme Fâ—r as Iohn was busye to institute the order of the Knights of the Starre in the ende growne so common as it remaines a badge for the Knight of the watch and his Archeâ—s vnto this day there chanced a great misfortune to this Constable Charles of Nauarre complained that the King detayned froÌ„ him the Counties of Champaigne and â—rie belonging to his mother by the same title that the kingdome of Nauarre did This was true but by reason of their neerenesse vnto Paris Charles of Nauarre discontented the Kings counsell had â—â—â—ted these Earledomes vnto the Crowne and giuen in exchange the Townes of Mante and Meulan with a pension answerable to the reuenues of the said Earledomes without any preiudice to the Nauarrois But he sought an occasion for a cause smothering some mischâ—uâ—u pretence in his hart the which he discouered by many effects Not dating to complaine directly of the king he quarrelled with the Constable as the chiefe of the Councel Charles of Sâ—aine Constable of FraÌ„ce slaine in his bed by the King of Nauarre of whom he was exceeding iealous for the priuate fauour the King did beare him Hauing taken Councel with his passioÌ„ he caused the Constable to be slaine in his bed at Aigle in Normandie but with so great a presumption as he himselfe came vnto theplace accompanied with his brother Philip of Nauarre Iohn Earle of Harcourt and his brethren and with many Gentlemen his followers This murther thus audaciously committed he retires himselfe easily to Eureux whereof he was Earle from whence he writes to the good Citties of the Realme auouching this murther as done by his command and iustifying it as lawfull and reasonable King Iohn found himselfe much wronged but not able then to redresse it An imagined pardon he promised to remit the fact so as he would aske pardon with the reuerence due to his royall maiesty The which Charles is content to doe but vpon good gages holding the Kings word insuffâ—cient to secure his person So as Iohn giues him Lewis his second sonne for hostage The Nauarrois comes to Paâ—is he presents himselfe to the Kings Couâ—cell and seeks to giue some reason for this murther yet the Councell condemnes him as guilty of high Treason decrees that he should be commited to prison Iames of Boâ—rbon Earle of March newly aduanced to the office of Constable laie hold on him and puts him in gard but all this was but for a shewe to maintaine the publike respect for presently the three Queenes go to the King Ione daughteâ— to Lewis Hutin his mother in law Blâ—nche widow to Phillip of Valois and Ione daughter to King Iohn Queene of Nauarre his wife Charles likewise came himselfe and falls vpon his knees before the King both he and they seeme to weepe and to sue for mercy of
much eased This prouision came happily for the preseruation of France against the which Edward made then great preparatioÌ„ at the instance of the Nauarrois The truce expired he did forbid the FreÌ„ch to trafficke into England in the meane time his army laÌ„ds at Calais himself follows in persoÌ„ with a goodly traine Being landed resolued to take possession of the realme of France or by force to turne it he marcheth directly to Arras the which he takes in 3. daies Edward enters France with an army hauing assured it with a stroÌ„g garâ—ison he goes towards Champagne where passing onely he besieged Sens which yeelds without resistance and by their example Neuers All Bourgongne was strooke into such a terror as they redeemed their country froÌ„ spoile with a great summe of mony Hauing thus found means to intertaine his armie at his enimies charge enriched his souldiers with an inestimable booty he marcheth towards Paris as the head city of the whole realme the chiefe end of his desseâ—â—e the certain triumph of his conquest the goodly theater of his victories Our â—egent was nothing amased at these threats of Edward for hauing asseÌ„bled a goodly army with great expeditioÌ„ he atteÌ„ds him at Paris where the whole burthen of this was did lie He lodgeth his army in the suburbes fortifieth against approches being taught by the examples of his grandfather father not to hazard any thing resoluing only to defend himselfe within his trenches This resolutioÌ„ succeeded happily He besiegeth Paris but in vaine for Edward seeing the impossibility to draw the regent to fight notwithstaÌ„ding al his alarums raiseth his siege marcheth into Britany to refresh his army to the great conteÌ„t of the ParisieÌ„s who could not sufficiently coÌ„mend the wisdom of their regent hauing so politikly auoided this storme The regent imbraceth this occasion he furnisheth Paris with aboundance of victualls commands the souldiers to liue orderly without oppression of the inhabitants he fortifies the weakest places with all speed and doth so incourage the people as they are ready to sacrifice theÌ„selues for the preseruation of the State Edward supposing the great wast caused by the men of warre resident in this great citty would haue taken from them al means to coÌ„tinue haue bred an impatiency in the minds of this vnconstant people giuing him the better meanes to enter it he returnes with his army being strong lusty by this good refreshing of Britaine Being returned he finds things better ordered then before so as preuailing nothing but walking about the citty beholding a far off the great towers and the admirable masse of so many buildings as a briefe of the whole world he resolues to leaue the siege returne no more Thus experience teaching him what the strength of our chiefe citty was he packes all vp and goes towards Chartres meaning to besiege it But whilest he lodged there his army making a horrible spoile of the whole couÌ„try there chanced an occasioÌ„ as the worke of heauen which sodainely quailed his ambitious disseine to ruine France for behold a horrible extraordinary tempest of haile thuÌ„der and lightning falls with such violence as many horses men in the armie perished as if that God had stretched forth his hand from heauen to stay his course Edward amazed with thunder He resolues to conclude a peace with King Iohn This amazemeÌ„nt causeth Edward to vow to make a peace with King Iohn and the regent his son vpon reasonable conditions He which had thus thundred did likewise opeÌ„ the Duke of Lancasters mouth shewing how reasonable it was to limit humane attempts within restrained bouÌ„ds not to attend an infinit perpetuall prosperity in wordly affaires beeing more safe to content himself with a meane successe theÌ„ to be traÌ„sported with the violent course of humane hopes cast in the mould of indiscreet desires He likewise laied before him the impossibility of so extraordinary a desseine as to make himselfe maister of all France a notable example for Princes to behold their own infirmities and the greatnes of God to whoÌ„ they owe the homage of their enterprises being theÌ„ most happy when they are most sober â—â—â—rate without imagining an infinite power in the short weaknes of this mortal life wherevnto they are subiect like other men A peace concluded at Bretignie The Articles This lessoÌ„ mollified Edwards hart inclining to the deliuery of K. Iohn his prisoner to a general peace the which was concluded at 〈◊〉 a village nere vnto Chartres in the yeare 1360. the 8. of May vpoÌ„ these coÌ„ditioÌ„s That the country of Poitu the Fiefs of Thouars Belleuille the couÌ„tries of Gascony Agenois Peregort Limosin Cahors Tarbe Bigorre Rouergue and Angoumois in soueraignty with the homages of the two next yeares after 1360. at reasonable paâ—ments And for the consideration the said King of England and the Prince of Wales his sonne both for themselues 〈◊〉 successors should renoâ—â—â— all rights pretended to the Crowne of France the Duchie of Normandie the countries of Tourance Aniou and Maine the soueraingty and homage of Brittâ—ine and the Earldome of Flanders and within three weekes they should deliuer King Iohn at Calais at their charge the expences of the Kings house onely excepted The hostages giuen for the performance of the conditions For assurance of which agreement there should be deliuered into the King of Englands hands these hostages Lewis Duke of Aniou Iohn Duke of Berry sonnes to the King of France Philip Duke of Orleance the Kings brother Philip Duke of Bourgongne the Earles of Blois Alanson Saint Pol Hâ—â—court Porcian Valentinois Grandpre Denne and Forest the Lords of Vaudemont Coussy Pyennes Saint Venant Preaux Montmorency Careneieres Boâ—â—â— guion Estoute-ville the Daulphin of Auueigne Andregel and Craon A choâ—â—â— of well selected personages to be a sufficient caution for the money and conditions that were to be performed The Deputies that treated The Deputies for King Iohn were Iohn of Dormans Bishop of Beauuais and Chanâ—eller of France Iohn of Melun Earle of Tanearuille the Lord of 〈◊〉 Marshaâ—â— of France â— the Lords of Montmorency and Vigny Iohn Croâ—â—â—e Simon of 〈◊〉 Iohn Marâ—â—â— Lawyers and Iohn Maillard and Stephen of Paris Bourgesies of Paris For the King of England were Iohn Duke of Lancaster the Earles of Northampton Warwicke and Suffoâ—â—â— Renauâ—d of Celâ—sâ—an Gualtâ—r of Maâ—ny Knights with certaine learned men for their Councell This treatie of a generall peace signed by the two Kings was ratified by their two eldest sonnes Charles and Edward and proclaimed by Heraulds first at the wiâ—dowâ—â— of the Kings and Princes lodgings and then at the corners of the streetes in great solemnitie The hostages were deliuered to Edward the father who imbarked at 〈◊〉 and lead them into England leauing the Earle of Warwicke in France to see the execution of the peace King Iohn brought to Calis
who was yet liuing The Inhabitants of Gand a mutinous people by nature who neuer want matter to mutine Troubles in Flanders pacified by Pâ—ilip had then a great discontent both against their Earle in generall by reason of some new impositions and against them of Bruges in particular iealous to see them in so great fauour with their Prince by reason of a Chanell which they had drawne from the riuer of Lis for the commodity of their country which Riuer crossing the riuer of Gand the Gantois supposed it was all theirs in proper so as none might vse it without their liking This iealousie grew so great that this great citty as big with their wayward and contenâ—ious humors as it was populous and rich being thus moued resolues to make shewe thereof and in this fury they make a League and choose a head bearing a marke or token of their faction and from words they go to blowes One called Leon a bold practiser of popular seditions was found fit to be the Ringleader of this tumult their marke was a white cap for all the troupe These Gaâ—tois gather together they hinder the worke of this chanell and the gathering of the custome beeing the cause of this quarrell they kill Collecters and receiuers and in the ende the gouernour of the cittie called Roger who being there for the Earle laboured to teach them their duties Their fury exceeded so farre as they spoyle the Earles Pallace fire it and in their rage pull it downe to the ground They run in great troupes to other townes to draw them to their league They beseege 〈◊〉 held by the Earles men crying in al places Liberty as hauing a meaning to change their Lord and then to seize vpon Flanders This cruell disorder amazed the Earle when as behold Philip Duke of Bourgogne his sonne in law flies vnto him to quench this fire and as men admire rather the Sunne rysing then sitting and that the name of the house of France and the greatnesse of his goodly portion gaue him great authority so it chanced that he pacified this rebellion to the content both of the Earle and cittyes taking a happy possession of this great inheritance by a famous and profitable occasion But Flanders alone was not subiect to these madde mutinies for those of Montpellier newly reduced to the obedience of our King Sedition at Montpelâ—ier grew into so great a fury as they slew Iames Pontel a Knight of the order and Chancellor to Iohn Duke of Berry Gouernour of the Country Guy of Scery Senâ—shal of Rouergue Arnauld of Montelaur Gouernour of the said citty and other officers of the Kings and Dukes to the number of fower score and cast their bodies into a well As the outrage was odious so the punishment was memorable The Duke of Berry comes with forces assisted by the whole Prouince detesting so â—oule an insolency so as the Inhabitants calling to minde their audacious phrensie resolue to submit themselues to punishment and not to stand desperately against force The Consuls of the Cittie hauing halters about their necks and torne cloaths The Duke of Berry comes to Montpellier to punish the seditions the keys of the citty in one hand and a red cap the marke of their office in the other met with the Duke their gouernour being followed by the Clergy carrying a crosse all crying for mercy and weeping with a lamentable noyse In this mournefull sort the Duke enters the citty gates being without any gard he finds the streets full of poore and desolate people vpon their knees men and women olde and yong crying for mercy and redoubling their pittiful cries as witnesses of their repentance Then the Duke commands they should presently bring all their armes into one place nere vnto his lodging placing a gard at the gates and vppon the walles The next day he caused a scaffold to be made in the market place where hauing sharply rebuked the people for their rebellion he pronounced a sentence in the Kings name whereby he declares That all their priuileges were taken from them their Consulship Towne house The sentence pronounced against them of Montpellier common Arches vniuersity their Bells Saltpannes and all Iurisdictions of the cittye eyther of soueraigne courts or of the commonalty six hundred Inhabitants to be chosen at aduenture condemned to die that is two hundred to loose their heads two hundred to be hanged two hundred burnt their children declared infamous and slaues for euer their goods confiscate The commonalty should pay six score thousand franks of gold and the charges of the Dukes voyage and his armies The Consuls with certaine Councellers that were named should drawe the bodies of such as had beene massacred out of the well and bury them A Chappell should be built for their obsequies With the same Bell which did sound the alarum The gates and citty walles should be beaten downe and their armes burnt publikely This was their doome but it was moderated at the intercession of Pope Clement The sentence moderated then resident in Auignon by the meanes of Cardinall de la Lune The same was qualified the priuileges restored the gates and walles preserued but the Aurhors of this sedition were put to death that the rest of the Inhabitants might liue in safety A notable president for subiects to suppresse their fury euen when they thinke to haue a iust cause of complaint feeling themselues surcharged or otherwise grieued considering the errours are sooner committed then repaired And for commanders that it is a dangerous resolution to let loose the raines to a mad multitude which augments the mischiefe supposing to cure it Queene Ioane wife to our wise Charles daughter to Peter of Bourbon dies about this time Queene Ioane dies to the great griefe of her husband to whom she left two sonnes Charles Lewis both very yong for Charles was borne the 3. of December 1371. and was carried to the Font by Charles of Montmorency and baptised by Dourmans Bishop of Beauuois and Chancellour of France Lewis was Duke of Orleans She leâ—t him also one daughter Isabell marryed afterwards to Richard King of England Necessary obseruations for the course of our history Her children This good Prince after his wiues death was nothing healthfull so as broken with poyson the which had much weakened him with the tedious toiles of his youth more then with age he decayed dayly and he himselfe perceiued it so as feeling the ende of his life to approach remembring what troubles he had past during the mournefull imprisonment of his Father by the contempt vsed of his yong age least the like should happen to his sonne Charles vnder colour of his minority gouerned by tutors he decreed in a general assemblie of the States by a lawe and an irreuocable Edict That after the decease of the king of France his eldest sonne should succeed him presently and at the age of 14. yeares should be
daughter named Katherine all by Elizabeth of Bauiere Charles vnworthily married one of the chiefe fier brands of this Tragedie an outragious woman an vnnaturall mother and altogether vnworthy of this crowne These three sonnes were Daulphins one after another in their fathers life but Charles succeeded him notwithstanding all crosses and difficulties and Katherine his sister was married to Henry the 5. King of England a mournfull gage of a horrible confusion for this Realme But alas how many cruell acts of ambition vanitie and treacherie of such as held the helme of this estate being either royall persons or setled in the highest dignities How many changes and reuolutions of these froward humors daring any thing vnder the libertie of this raigne the King being eyther a child or sick and alwayes weake and vnable to gouerne so great a charge Strange â—uents In the first Scene of this Tragedie we shall see the Vncles of this young King in diuision one against another Lewis Duke of Aniou declared Regent as first Prince of the bloud is crossed by his bretheren the Dukes of Berry and Bourgogne and he abuseth his authoritie imperiously Lewis Duke of Aniou being dead Lewis Duke of Orleans brother to King Charles the sixt shall take his place as the first Prince and shall fall to quarrell with Philip the Hardie duke of Bourgogne his Vncle who dying shall leaue Iohn his sonne successor of his iealousie against Lewis Duke of Orleans his cousin Iohn shall exceed all humanitie and kill him but the hatred shall not dye being transplanted into Charles Duke of Orleans sonne to Lewis massacred the which shall breed infinite troubles The Daulphins shall play their parts sometimes friends and sometimes enemies one to another Iohn who had murthered Lewis of Orleans shall be slaine by Charles the Daulphin who shall be King but from Iohn shal spring another Philip of Bourgongne who shal kindle a new fire to be reuenged of his fathers death The Stranger is ingaged in these ciuill warres women augment it by their furies On the one side Valentine Dutchesse of Orleans on the other Isabel Queene of France The Constables of Clisson and Armagnac are likewise drawne in and the subiect growes licentious in these disorders Passion preuailes with such furie as the mother forgets the birth of her owne wombe and so abuseth her authoritie as she dares attempt against the fundamentall law of state to giue the realme to a Stranger who was crowned and proclaimed King in the heart of France by her boldnesse These be the contents of this wretched raigne with these two parcels distinctly to be obserued the Kings Minoritie and his Maioritie and thereby we shall diuide our whole discourse THE MINORITIE OF KING Charles the sixt From the yeare 1380. When as Charles receiued the Crowne by the decease of his Father vnto the yeare 87. that he dismissed his Vncles to rule alone with absolute authoritie THe generall estates assemble at Paris 1380. presently after the death of Charles called the Wise to prouide for the gouernment of the King and realme and to auoide all apparant iealousie betwixt the Kings Vncles they decree That according to the declaration made by their good King deceased Charles his sonne should be annoynted and crowned King and that vntill he were of competent age to gouerne so great an estate Lewis Duke of Aniou as eldest of the house of France and so the first Prince of the bloud should be Regent Lewis of Aniou Regent and haue the authoritie of Councell and royall command And likewise by vertue of King Charles his will Clisson Constable Oliuer of Clisson a braue and valiant Knight borne in Brittanie was made Constable of France Oliuer of Clisson tooke possession of his charge preparing for the Kings Coronation And the Duke of Aniou receiuing the Kings treasour which they say was eighteene hundred thousand Crownes A very great summe for those times and after so wretched a â—eason He forced Sauoisy the head Treasurer to deliuer those summes into his hands and by this excesse laide the ground of a great presumption which followed Charles is anoynted at Rheâ—ms and Crowned after the custome of France the 25. of October in the yeare 1380. in a sollemne assemblie of his Princes of the bloud A controuersie for precedence betwixt the Kings Vncleâ— at his coronation Princes allyed and Officers of this Crowne The Dukes of Aniou Beâ—ry and Bougrongne the Kings Vncles Wencelin Duke of Brabant the Dukes of Lorraine and Barre the Earles of Sauoy of Marche and Eu friends and confederates to our Kings did assist At this solemnitie there was some question for place whether should take it the Duke of Aniou as Regent of the Realme or the Duke of Bourgongne as first Peere of France and Deane of the Peeres distinguishing the degrees according to their qualâ—ties to whom the order was giuen The King to crowne his installment by some notable act tooke vpon him to decide this controuersie and decreed That for as much as at the Kings annointing the Peeres of France ought to hold the first ranke in all ceremonies the Duke of Bourgongne as the first Peere sâ—ould take place of the Duke of Aniou And so Philip was preferred before his elder brother continuing the possession of the name of Hardie the which he purchased in defending his father Iohn so stoutly at the battaile of Poitiers But he encreased this name of Hardy too much in his carriage leauing it hereditarie to his children conuerting this stoutnesse into an imperious presumption which bâ—ed a huge deluge of miseries to the great preiudice of the whole realme The day after the coronation the States beseech the Regent to prouide for the releefe of the poore people whose burthen was too heauie for the great arrerages they were to pay of debts growne in former raignes and the rather for that there was no warre which imposed the necessity of so great a charge The Regent did not yeeld therevnto Tumults in France but continued these leauies of money more and more which was the occasion of tumults in diuers Prouinces of France as if this popular humour had beene like vnto a pestilent feauer or an infectious disease Flanders likewise kindled great fiers vpon sundry occasions which were quenched with much trouble after memorable combustions Flanders shall imbarke first in this misfortune and shall come last to land not without danger by strange accidents To teach Princes how farre they should presse their subiects And for subiects with what respect they should reuerence their Superiours in seeking out remedies for their afflictions for in the ende amiddest all these tumults the victors weepe and lament in the ruine and notable losse and ouerthrow of the vanquished Flanders We haue sayd that Philip Duke of Bourgongne made a composition for the Gantois with the Earle of Flanders his father in lawe But this accord lasted not long for the Earle disdayning the
Brittain All â—re sent for euery man doth march the Râ—ndezâ—uous is at Mans. Peter of Craon retyers from Sablé whilest this storme â—iseth but the King marcheth on assuring himselfe that he was in Brittaine although some say that he was in Arragon and that the Queene of Arragon had giuen him intelligence that she held a French Knight prisoner at Peâ—pignan who would not discouer his name This distempered choller had much impayred the Kings health who carried in his face the disease of his minde His Physitians disswaded him from this voyage as most preiudiciall for his health and the Duke of Brittain by a new excuse The King marched against the Duke of Brittain beseeched him to beleeue that he had no dealings with Peter of Craon The King could not bee diuerted by all these difficulties from passing on in this iourney so willfully vndertaken by him although his Vncle 's found newe deuises to stay him both at Chartres and at Mans imploying his physitians to shewe vnto him how dangerous it was to march in Sommer beeing extreamely hot 1393. considering the debility of his health much impayred sence his burning choller the which had altâ—red all his bloud whereof he had proofe by daylie feauers His phisâ—â—ions diswade him But this passion of cholleâ— had so possessed his poore afflicted spirits that such as were about him besides himself perceiued his griefe to be the more weake in that he was insensible of what he suffred his seruants espied that which they could not but see in him by the extreame apprehension they had of the harme which was at hand Moreouer the Duke of Brittain to calme this great storme which was readie to fall vpon him although in truth hee had hidden Peter of Craon at Susmet and was â—oâ—y that he had not slaine the Constable Clisson sends a certaine Bishop of his Country to the King called the Bearded a very famous man for the integrity of his life The Duke of Bâ—ittain labors to satisfie â—he King to beseech him to beleeue that he was nothing guilty of this attempt neyther did he knowe what was become of Peter of Craon whome he would send vnto him with his hands and feete bound if he were in his power That he should not make warre against his owne Country and against a poore people which must suffer for an other mans folly In the ende this man pronounceth the threats of Gods iudgement against Charles if hee should proceede vnto warre so lightly vndertaken against his vassalls and subiects and against the articles of marriage concluded betwixt his daughter and the Dukes sonne as a seale of their loues This Bishop was heard in Councell and the Duke of Berry speaking more boldly then the rest for the authority which his degree and white haires gaue him layed open all that mâ—ght hinder this voyage But Charles stopt his eares to all good Councell hauing his braine disposed to the distemperature which shall presently seize vpon him running headlong into the mischieâ—e which should afflict him and all France He parts from Mans in Iuly in an exceeding hot day as the history sayes as if all things had conspited to affâ—â—ct this poore Prince The King parts frâ—m Mans. at nyne of the clocke in the morning to receiue the coolenesse of the greatest heate at Noonetyde weake in head and minde distempred with choller griefe despight and languishing his bodie weaâ—ied with watching and distast not able to eate nor sleepe hauing his head muffled with a great cap of Scarlet and his body couered with a thicke Ierkin of Veluet too waighty for a sharpe winter marching on a sandie plaine so scalt with the sunne beames as the strongest did melt in sweate and were out of breath Being entred the forest of Mans behold a man bare headed and bare legged attired in a coate of white rugge stepps sodenly forth betwixt two trees A strange aâ—cident bâ—falls the King taking hold of the reynes of his horse he stayes him and sayes vnto him King ride no farther but returne backe for thou art betrayed Charles whose spirits were otherwise dulled was amazed at this voyce and his bloud greatly disteâ—pered His seruants runne to this man and with blowes make him leaue the reines of his horse and so without any farther search the man vanished After this accident there presently followes an other Charles and his Noble men did ride in troupes deuided by reason of the dust and he himselfe was all alone pensiue with the pages of his chamber who were so neere vnto him as they troad on his horse heeles He that was neerest carried his helmet vpon his head and the next his Lance being garnished with crimsen silke As the heate of the Noone day makes men drousie on horse backe it chanced the Page which carried his Lance beeing very sleepy let it fall vpon him which carried the helmet making a great noyse like the rushing of armes The King starts with amazement at this noyse and seeing the crimson bandeâ—olle of the Lance hauing his spirits weakned with the former distemperatures transported with the imagination of this voyce sleepy with labour and heate he imagined himsâ—lfe to be compassed in wâ—th many armed men which poursued him to the death The second season from the time of the Kings sicknesse From the yeare 1393. to the yeare 1422. This time of his infirmity is distinguished into many acts whereof this is the first Scene of a long and mournful Tragedie THVS Charles transported with this phrensie layes hold on his sword drawes it runnes violently after his pages and cryes amayâ—e Charles falles into a phrenâ—ie At these Traitors The pages conceyuing at the first that he had beene displeased for the disorder of the Lance flie from him The King followes after doubling his crie At this noyse the Duke of Orleance runnes towards him to vnderstand the cause The King layes at him not knowing him the Duke flies and the King followes The Duke of Bourgoâ—gne â—ides to him Al gather togither with great outcry Squiers knights compasse in the king till that being wearied and his horse out of breath his most trustie Chamberlaine takes hold of him gently behind and stayes him cheering him with flattering words and speaking vnto him with that familiarity that befitts a faithfull seruant to a good master Then all drawe neere vnto him they take his sword from him they lay him on the ground and disroabe him of his thicke velluet ierkin and his scarlet cap to giue him breath His Brother and Vncles salute him but he knowes them not neyther makes he any shewe to moue The first fitt of the Kings phrensie being pensiue his eyes troubled turning vp and downe mute sighing panting mouing both body and head with great amazement All signes of phrensie appered in this poore Prince The Physitians are sent for in hast they come but hee knowes them not The pittifull estate of the Couâ—â— Brother
hee met Lewis Bourdâ—a Knight going to Bois-de-Vincennâ—s who coÌ„ming neâ—re to thâ— King bowed himselfe on horse-backe and so passed on lightly without any other reuerence The King sends presently his Prouost of Paris after him commanding him to apprehend him and to keepe him safely The Prouost executing his charge tooke the sâ—ied Knight and brought him to Chastâ—leâ— where by the Kings command he was cruelly tortured and dâ—owned in the riuer of Seine and some fewe dayes after by the commandement of the King the Daulphin and such as then gouerned at Paris â—he Queene accompanied with her Sister in Lawe the Duchesse of Bauiere was sent to Blois and so to Tours to remaine there in meane estaâ—e William Torel The Queenâ— sent with a gard â—o 〈◊〉 Iohn Picard and Laurence Dupuis were appointed for her gard without whose consent shee durst not attempt any thing no not to write a letter These bee the wordes of the Originall Thâ—s her imprisonment was aggrauated by a newe rigour All the treasure which she had in Churches or priuate houses within Paris was seized on by the Constable of Armâ—gnac a free executioner of these proceediâ—gs This shewes a notable dislike betwixt the husband and the wife and the mother and sonne but the cause is not specified If it be lawfull to serch into this secret shall we say that Queene Isabel mother to our Daulphin louing the one better then the other as the variety of the mothers affection to her children is too common had strained all her credit to countenâ—nce Iohn after the death of Lewis being thus ingaged with the Bourguignon whome she dâ—d hate deadly by reason of the imprisonment of her brother Lewis of Bauiere but as she had fiâ—st loued and after hated him might she not in like sort receiue him againe into fauour as the diuersitie of her passions did moue her by newe occasions to loue or hate the same man The Emperour Sigâ—smonds proceeding made it very suspitious beeing the greatest instrument of the allyance betwixt Iohn and the Bourguignon And to what ende did the â—ourguignon go to him into Sauoie after all this It is likewise to be considered that the sodaine death of Iohn encreased this womans furie against her sonne Charles holding it for certaine that by the Constables councell hee had caused him to bee poysoned Ambition and choller are furious beasts not to be restrayned by respect especially in a woman in whome hatred and reuenge make deepe impressions Iealousie might likewise be a violent councellor vnto Charles As if Charles animated by the Constable of Armâ—gnac fearing least his mother had some great practise with the Bourguignon and his associats had incensed the King against her hauing mooued him with some other pretext But in effect it was wholy to restraine this womans power depriuing her both of libertie and treasure But the euent will shewe that she was not alwaies busied at her distaffe or in her deuotion The search of the motiues is necessarie in a History especially in famous actions but the doubtfull coniectures are free to euery mans iudgement This is all the certaintie of this actâ—on The â—ourguignon beeing called by Isabel leaues the siege of Corbeil lodgeth his footemen in the Townes of Beausse â—hat were most fauorable vnto him and with his horse which were aboue ten thousand hee goes into Touraine The Bourguignon ioynes with the Queenâ— when as behold the Queene beeing one morning at her deuotion in the Abbie of Marmoustier according to her custome hee arriues with his horsemen at an hower appointed He meetes the Queene receiues her and enters the Cittie with her without any difficultie hauing first cunningly seized vpon the gats Being entred he proclaimes an exemption of charges in the Queenes name and being accompanied by the people hee pâ—esents himselfe before the Castel which opens vnto the Queene being exceeding glad to see her selfe at liberty and to command freely 1418. She referres her seâ—fe wholly vnto the Bourguignons will who likewise seekes to vse her name to make his desseines more plausible Hâ—uing therefore assured Tours they march to Chartres a more conuenient Towne for their affaires lying so neere vnto Paris Being there hauing assembled all the clergie Nobility three estâ—tes and such Citties as they could of theâ—r faction she causeth Philip of Morueliers to make knowne vnto them That by reâ—son of the ill gouernement of the Realme through the great weakenesse of the king her huâ—band and according to the degree whereunto God had raised her The Queene declares her selfe Regent of Fâ—ance being Queene of France shee desired infinitely to reforme it And the rather for that Charles her sonne corrupted by thâ— ill coâ—ncell of the enemies of the state shewed her not the dutie of a child to her great griâ—fe Soâ—s to prouide good and wholesome remedies for the preseruation of the state and for the seâ—â—â—e of the king her husband by the good aduice of her cousin the Duke of Bourgoâ—gne a Prince of the bloud she declares her selfe Regent of France The which was pleasing vnto them 〈◊〉 with this title Isabell â—y the grace of God Queene of France hauing by reason of the king my Lords infirmity the gouernement and administration of the Realme by an irreuâ—câ—bâ—e graunt made vnto vs by our said Lord and his councell And for confirmation of this neâ— authority she caused a seale to bee made whereon was grauen her image standing right vp with her armes hanging downe to the earth as one wâ—thout comfort and requiring helpe on the one side were the armes of France and on the other that of France and Bauiere quartered with these words This is the seale of Causes Soueraignties and Appellations for the King There were two Soueraigne Courts of Iustice erected one at Amiens and the otâ—er at Troye in Châ—mpaigne New Courts erected new officers made with expresse charge not to go to Paris The office of Constable was giuen to the Duke of Lorraine by the depriuatâ—on of the Earle of Armagnâ—â— and the Chancellourship of France to Eustache of Basâ—re by the giuing ouer of Henry of Marle As these things begâ—n to kindle a new fire of miseries there were certaine Bishops which laboured to reconcile the Queene and Daulphin The Bourguignon accepts of the motion but the Constable of Armagnâ—c breakes off the treaty An article which shall make him more odious with the people The Bourguignon hauing retyred hiâ— armye and put his men into garrison goes into Sauoy where at that time the Emperour Sigâ—smond was who erected the Earledome of Sauoy into a Duchye and there did confeâ—â—e with him at Mommellain This was not without some great desseine In his absence Philip of Bourgongne his sonne held a Parliament to resolue vppon the meâ—nes to make warre with more aduantage Thus the Bourguignon wrought â—or his part The Daulphin seeing the fields freed and without any enemie thinkes good that the
the greatest dignities of the realme· for he made Charles Steward Earle of Boucquam his Constable and Iames Earle Du-glas Marshall of France and to honour the Scottish-mens faith he gaue them the gard of his person an institution which continues vnto this day He institutes a gard of theÌ„ for his person He had likewise some friends in Spaine and Italie who succoured him in due time according to their meanes We haue shewed what Prouinces followed the partie of our Charles amongst the which Languedoâ— was a principall The importance of this countrie did much aduance his affaires This reason moued both the Bourguignon and the Sauoiard against this Prouince The instruments fit for this enterprise were Iohn of Châ—â—lons Prince of Orange and the Lord Bochebaron a Nobleman of Velay one of the 22. diocesses of Languedoc The first by the commodity of his neighbourhood did win Nismes Pontsaint Esprit Aiguesmortes and all the rest of base Languedoc vnto Beziers Warre in Languedoc except the Castell of Pezenas the tower of Villenefue by Auignon the castell of Egaliers now wholy ruined neere vnto Vzez This losse was somewhat repaired by the fidelitie of the inhabitants Aiguesmortes set vp their ensigne of libertie by the direction of the Baron of Vauuerbe and killes the garrison of Bourguignons which the Prince of Orange had placed there To this day they shew a great tub of Stone wherein they did salt the Bourguignons The example of this strong and important Citty A strange cruelty whereby they are called Bourguignons sallies to this day awaked the rest and euen vpon the approch of the Earle of Foix who came with a goodly armye all the Townes yeeâ—d vnto him except Nismes and Pont S. Esprit Townes of great importance in that countrye the one beeing the head of that Seneshauce the other a passage vpon the Rosne towardes Daulphiné But as the libertie of time made the seruant presume aboue the Master so it chanced that the Earle of Foix hauing tasted the sweet of command and transported with the common humour of men seeking to make their profit of the common confusions of France deteined the reuenues of Languedoc by his absolute authority imparting none to Charles being exceeding poore in this confused time This necessity was accompanied with a cruell warre stirâ—ed vp in Velay by the Lord of Roche-baron a partisan to the Dukes of Sauoy and Bourgongne who furnished him both with men and money for this rebellion for it was rather a horrible theuery then a warre These 〈◊〉 occasions drew Charles into Languedoc to confirme his authority and his voyage succeeded according to his intent for he chased the Prince of Orange out of Nismes and Pont S. Esprit he pacified the troubles of Velay and put the Earle of Foix from his gouernement giuing the place to Charles of Bourbon Earle of Clermont a Prince of the bloud to the great content of all the people Hauing thus happily prouided for his affaires he takes the way of Velay to returne into France beeing arriued at Espaly a Castle belonging to the Bishop of Puy he is aduertised of his fathers death Charles mouâ—rnes for the death of his father after Henry the 5. his Competitor He falles presently to teares and mourning yet he buries not his affaires in care His Councell aduiseth him to change his blacke roabes into Scarlet to set vp the banner of France in his name and to proclaime himselfe King for the first fruites of his coronation the which being performed at Puy to the peoples great ioye Charles goes to Poitiers where he caused himselfe to de crowned King and receiued the homage and oathes of the officers of the Crowne Princes Noblemen and gentlemen that were about him with such pompe as the strictnesse of time would permit Then he intituled himselfe King of France and made shew of more authority and greater pompe But on the other side the Duke of Bedford beganne to bandy more strongly against him Henry the 6. his pupill a yong infant was in England He caused him likewise to bee crowned King till the seauen yeares after he should be solemnely installed at Paris in the yeare 1430. He set his name vpon the money of France making a new stampe but without any other change then of his name So that hereafter two Kings two factions two armies shall contend for this goodâ—â— Crowne The heire being the weaker shall fight against a strong pretender Law â—â—uours the one and force the other but the Protector of this estate will giue a fauourable doome for the weaker The Dukes of Bedford and Bourgongne hold a counsel aâ— Amiens that the honour of so memorable a preseruation of this monarchy apparently drawne out of the graue may be giuen to him who rules the deluge of our confusions by his miraculous prouidence Scarse had Charles receiued the first fruites of his royall authority when as the Dukes of Bedford and Bourgongne his capitall enemies assemble at Amiens to crosse his new dignity in the breeding There shall be seaueh yeares of exceeding bad time but after this sharpe winter there will come a goodly spring when as all seemed lost and in the ende Sommer shall follow with a plentifull haruest of rest to this Realme whereof the lawfull heâ—e shall remaine in quiet possession and the pretender expelled with losse euen of that which he might haue ciuilly inioyed In this assembly at Amiens great plottes are layde against Charles whose ruine was their soueraigne end All is done at the charge of the English Peter Duke of Brittaine and Arthur Earle of Richmont his brother are there present Amedee Duke of Sauoâ— sends his Ambassadors A great league against King Charles consumed by alliances vnder an other colour but he casts the stone hides his arme The Dukes of Bedford Brittaine and Sauoy make a defensiue offensiue league agaiâ—â—â— Charles The soueraignty of the Crowne should remaine to the English the commoâ—â—ties to the Dukes They set the seale of marriages to this alliance Iohn Duke of â—edford marries with Anne the sister of Philip Duke of Bourgongne and Marguerit his other Sâ—ster takeâ— Arthur the Earle of Richemont Then they seeke the fruits of this alliance with the preiudice of Charles Euery man takes his quarter to torment him on all sideâ— The Bourguignon vndertakes Picardy where he settles Iohn of Luxembourg to expel the Daulphinois out of some places which they held there Henry of Lancaster Earle of Salisbury went into Champagne and Bry to clense the Country about Paris and to budâ—e Orleans The Earle of Warwick vndertooke Guienne to make war against those toâ—nes that held the Daulphins party Lewis Prince of Orange had charge to arme in Languedoc and Daulphiné Behold a great storme rising against the lawfull heire of this crâ—â—ne Amidst all these difficultyes Charles must needs be in great perplexitie but I reade with ioy that he whom God had chosen to
Bourguignon reconciled enemy to his enimes that he should renounce all alliance and friendship with the king of England and promise both his person and all his meanes to expell him out off France The performance was according to promise Charles Duke of Bourbon and Arthur of Brittaine Earle of Richemont Constable of France in the name of Charles the 7. aske pardon of the Duke of Bourgongne for the death of his father and the Duke pardoned him for the loue of God The Cardinalls in the Popes name and the Counsels absolue the Duke from the oath which he had made vnto the English and eyther part sweares to maintaine the accord in that which did concerne him So the peace was published with great solemnity to the incredible content of all men The King the Duke of Bourgongne and the whole Realme reioyced exceedingly only Iohn of Luxembourg Earle of S. Pol wold not be therin coÌ„prehended he shall suffer for it and his house after him This was the 24. of September in the yeare 1435. a famous day for those things which happened in this raigne whereof this accord gaue the first occasion The marriage of Charles sonne to the Duke of Bourgongne with Katherine of France daughter to our Charles was concluded to seale this accord From this peace sprong a more violent war against the English The Duke of Bourgongne sends backe all his contracts to the Duke of Bedford and hauing shewed him the iust reasons which had mooued him to imbrace the Kings amity beeing his kinseman and Lord hee renounceth the alliance of England with a watch-word that euery one should looke to himselfe Euery man sharpens his sword and scoures his armes to recouer that by force which they could not obtaine by reason War very violent against the English The first fruites of this accord beganne to grow ripe euen in the heart of winter for Corbeil yeelds presently to the King with Briâ—-Conte-Robert and the Castle of Bois de Vincennes The Bourguignon imployes all his friends and intelligences at Paris he vseth all his instruments meaning to set them to worke the yeare following All Normandy begins to reuolt Diâ—pe Fescan Monstier-Villiers Harfleu Tancaruille Bec-Crespin Gomusseule Loges Villemont Grasuille Longueuille Neuf-uille Lambreuille Charles-Mesnill S. Germain Fontaines Preaux Blainuille obey the King willingly chasing away the English receiuing the French for their safety all which was acted in two dayes What more To finish this worke God takes away one of the chiefe causes and one of the principall instruments of the misery which had so long afflicted this estate We haue seene what part Isabell of Bauierre played in this Tragedy wee haue sought her after the death of her poore husband and could not finde her for in trueth she was ciuilly dead Bedford fearing the spirit of this Medea seekes not onely to stay her hands but to keepe her eyes from the managing of affaires And for that shee had deuoured the treasure of the Realme he constraines herto keepe a diet He doth therefore sequester herto the house of S. Pol where she liued vntill the ende of this yeare in great pouerty no more assisted by the Bourgongnon then by the English Beeing dead they caused her bodye to be put into a small boate Queene Isabel dies and so transported by the riuer of Seine to S. Denis where she was buried without any pompe like to a common person A light put out whose sauour doth yet offende posterity In this yeare also died Iohn of England that great Duke of Bedford called Regent of France who hath noted many blacke pages in this volume and so much terrified our Ancestors Hauing seene the former accord and felt so sodaine effects in Normandy fearing the rest would follow he drowned himselfe in sorow and knowing no meanes to auoide this storme he dies at Rouen the 15. of December leauing to King Henry the 6. a bottome very hard to vntwist The Duke of Bedford dies and to his yong wife beeing sister to the Earle of S. Pol a cause of mourning the which continued not long for she married soone after with an English Aduenturer of small accompt giuing causeto laugh at her beeing but little pittied Charles being thus discharged of a heauy burthen by this accord hath more liberty to follow his honest delights He goes to Lions visits Daulphiné and stayes in Languedoc a Prouince which he loues aboue all the rest 143â— hauing found it most denâ—â—â—d to his seruice Montpellier was his aboad a place very pleasantly seated 〈…〉 this time of â—â—reation he had left good lieutenants in France who shal soone send him 〈◊〉 of their exploytes The Citty of Paris yeelds to the King and expells the English THe Bourguignon prepares to annoy the English whilest that the Constable makes way for the reduction of Paris His intent was parting from Pontoise to put himselfe into S. Denis a Towne halfe dismantled but Thomas of Beaumont Captaine of the Bastille hauing intelligence of this desseine preuented the Constable and entred into S. Denis with a notable troupe of soldiers Richmont notwithstanding approcheth neere to S. Denis the sentinell hauing giuen warning of his approch Beaumont issues forth to the bridge vpon the little riuer which is towards Pierre-file where he met with the fore-runners who hauing drawne him forth ingage him in the battaile the which was led by the Constable marching from the valley of Montmorency This English troupe was easily vanquished most of them were cut in peeces The English vanquished S. 〈◊〉 and the rest taken hardly any one of them escapes to carry newes to Paris Thomas of Beaumont is slaine among the rest vpon the place The Constable makes vse of this good successe he presently marcheth with his victorious forces to Paris which stood amazed at this nere power wanting a Regent who was lately deceased and such as were left to command were more fit to handle an Oare then to gouerne the helme Now waâ— the time for good Frenchmen to shew themselues whereof there were many in the Citty The Bourguignon faction being now become the Kings seruants imbrace this occasion and hauing consulted together they resolue to shake off the English yoake the which they 〈◊〉 too long endured The Duke of Bourgongne was then at Bruges but he had leâ—t the Lord of Lislâ—-Adam to 〈◊〉 with his partisans at Paris It is the same whom he had formerly imployed against Câ—â—rles and his father Iohn in the murther of the King seruants He had great credit 〈◊〉 the Parisiens of whom Miâ—hael Laillier was the chiefe Tribune Hee discouers by him the peoples affections being resolute to submit themselues to the King of whom they crâ—â—e onely a generall absolution of what was past This gentle demande beeing brought to Pontoise to the Constable and easily granted all prepare for the effects That quarter nere the Halles gaue the first signe of the French libertie at Paris by the meanes
forty Lances to draw forth the Townsemen who sallying out as an assured victorie are compassed in like partriges in a net defeated chased and slaine to the number of foureteene or fifeteene hundred many are taken prisoners and of the better sort Iames of S. Paul the Constables brother the Lords of Centay Carency and others At that time the King did set the Prince of Orange at liberty being of the house and bearing the armes of Chalon taken in warre being set at thirty thousand Crownes ransome the which the King did moderate to ten thousand and caused it to be presently payed to the gentleman that held him by meanes whereof he became the Kâ—ngs Liege man and did him homage for the sayd Principality So as the King gaue him power to intitle himâ—eâ—fe by the grace of God Prince of Orange Priuileges granted to the Prince of Orange by Lewis and to coyne money of gold and siluer of as high a standard as that of Daulphiné to grant all graces remissions and pardons but for heresie and treason This transaction with the former prises did wonderfully discontent the Constable iealous of the Kings good successe and fearing likewise some checke by so mightie an army which the Admirall and the Earle of Dammartin had at his gate The Constables malice For the auoyding whereof he giues the King a false intelligence that the English were at sea reâ—die land at Calais he perswades the King to prouide for the places of Normandie he promiseth faithfully to defend the marches of Picardie and in his Masters absence to reduce Abbeuille and Peronne to his obedience But let vs heare an other notable part of trechery hee seekes by all meanes to weaken the King 1475. and yet would he not fortifie the Bourguignon but that the English should crosse both their Estats that his owne might stand firme in the miâ—est of their confusions With this desseine he procures the Duke of Bourgongne to send Philip Bouton and Philip Pot Knights to the Duke of Bourbon and he for his part sends Hector of Escluse The Constable seekâ—s to suborne the Duke of Bourbon to signifie vnto him that the English would soone land that the Duke of Bourgongne and he the Constable ioyning all their powers togither would easily conquer the Realme exhorâ—iâ—g him for the auoiding of his owne ruine and his Countries to ioyne with them the which if he refuse and that it fall out ill for him he was not to be pittied The Duke of Bourbon sends the King two letters of this tenor brought to him at diuers times by Escluse who makes answer to the Duke and Constable that neyther promises nor threats should drawe him from the obedience and faithfull seruice hee did owe vnto his maiesty Lewis will produce these letters to the Constables confusion in the end of the next yeare For the present hee must assure his frontiers There is no newes yet of the English Lewis markes well this chase and will cause the Constable who supposed himselfe to haue the aduantage of the game to loose the partie Poore Nobleman Mournâ—ul presages to the Constable howe many misfortunes foretell they approching ruine Thy Brother prisoner Thy wife dead at the same instant one of the chiefest pillers of thy house who as sister to the Queene might at neede haue preserued thy head Thy Nephewe Scales prisoner with the instructions he brought from England to the Bourguignon And to fill vp the measure thy sonne the Earle of Roussy defeated at Grey in Bourgongne and prisoner with the Duke of Bourbon who shall not leaue him vntill the end of the yeare for fortie thousand Crownes ransom with the losse of two hundred men at armes Lombards the Baron of Couches and many others The Marshall of Bourgongne sonne to the Earle of Saint Martin two sonnes of the house of Viteaux whereof the one was Earle of Ioâ—gny the Lords of Longey Lisle Digoine Montmartin Ragny Chaligny the Bayliffe of Auxerre the Enseigne bearer to the Lord of Beauchamp and many others escaped death but not imprisonment Sufficient warrnings to amaze a resolute minde Hereafter the Constable is afflicted with strange distemperatures fed with the neighbourhood of the Earle of Dammartin being lodged neere S. Quentin whome he knewe to be none of his friends And fearing least the King should assault him he sends to take assurance of the Duke of Bourgongne intreating him to send him his brother Iames of Saint Paul the Lord of Fiennes and some other his kinsmen and friends to put them into Saint Quentin and to keepe the Towne at the Dukes deuotoÌ„i without bearing the Saint Andrewes crosse the which he promised to restore vnto him within a prefixed time They come they present themselues within viewe of Saint Quentin once twise and thrice The Constable seekes to the Duke of Bourgongne deceiues him but the Constable suspects them and sends them backe They came still eyther too soone or too late so as at the bruit of these forces the Admirall casts himselfe into Arras whereof followed the taking of Iames of Saint Paul who being brought before the King hauing liberty to speake he confessed that at the two first iourneyes hee came onely with an intent to comfort his brother but at the third time seeing the Constable had deceyued both his Master and him if he had beene the stronger hee would haue kept the place for his Master without offering any violence to his brother wherevpon his maiestie set him at libertie very well appointed seruing him vnto his death Lewis dissemâ—les with the Constable And although the Constable had lately done a notable disgrace vnto the King yet his maiesty dissembled it wisely and to take from him all cause of iealousie he willes him to go and make warre in Hainault and to beseege Auennes whilest that the Admirall was busied in Artois He goes but very loath and with exceeding feare and staies but little he retyres betimes being aduertised as he informed the King of two men in his army whome he described by apparent signes suborned to kill him He accuseth 〈◊〉 that he â—ought to kill him This newe feare accompained with distrust bred a terrible distemperature in the Constables head who hauing lost his credit both with the King and Duke will yet entertayne himselfe by both and perswade them that he is seruant but to one He sent often to the Bourguignons campe to drawe him from the seege of Nuz that he might ioyne fitly with the English at coÌ„ming on land then vpon the returne of his messengers he gaue the King some plausible intelligence to cause him to like of his conference with the Duke sometimes disgracing his affaires to winne the credit of an affectionate seruant with Lewis sometimes extolling the Duke to terrifie the King But oh policie simply shadowed On the other side hee knewe well that he had greatly offended the King by his last action He sees
great persecuter of the enemies of the Clergie curteous and officious to his friends busie for the enriching of the Church a great builder And finally as hee was readie to depart from Ancona to march in person against the Turke who was then entred Italie a Cotidian ague seized on him whereof hee dyed in the yeare 1464. Of him we reade thus much as Platina and Sabellicus doe report Preests are forbidden to marrie for a great reason but yet there is a greater for the which they should bee suffered In the second booke of the Councel and moreouer Paraduenture it should not be the worse if many Preests were married for many being Priests and married should bee saued the which in their barren Caelibat are damned Hee likewise would haue abolished some Nunneries of Saint Brigit and Saint Clare caâ—sed the Nunnes to come forth to the end saith Caelius secundus that vnder the habit of religion they should not hide their adulteries Paul the second borne at Venice before named Peter Barbo Cardinal of Saint Marc succeeded His first calling was marchandiseâ—punc but seeing an vnckle of his chosen Pope he applied himselfe somewhat to learning and was first created Arch-deacon of Boullen then Bishop of Ceruio after Cardinall and finally Pope The pride and pompe of Paulus the 2. A man of a good personage but arrogant proud so as Platina obserues that he first spake these wordes That the Pope carries within the circuite of his bosome all diuine and humane laws Exceeding all his Predecessors in attyre but aboue all in his mitre the which hee enriched with pearle and stones of an inestimable price shewing himselfe proudly vpon soâ—lemne dayes â—hus sumptuously attyred followed by his Cardinalls with scarlet hatâ—es the which hee did forbid all others to weare vpon greeuous â—â—nishments and mounted vppon mulets with footeclothes of the same colour grosse and dull witted louing neither learning â—or learned meÌ„ so as he declared them Heretiks that either in sport and earnest did pronâ—uÌ„ce this word Academy or Vniueâ—sity Couetous dissolute The Popes disposition voluptuous turbuleÌ„t giuen to coÌ„iuring the whole time of his raign he troubled Italie with combustions and homebred warres Finally they report little good of him but that he had beene pittifull to the poore and needy to haue preserued Rome from famine and reformed many Monasteries reducing them to a better discipline They say that hauing one day read certaine poesies made against him and his daughter he began to greeue and to blame the rigour of the law made by his predecessors who did forbid Priests to marrie so as seeing himselfe a scorne to the people hee resolued to giue Priests liberty to marry but an Apoplexie tooke him sodeinly out of this world the 25. of Iuly 1471. leauing a rich treasure In trueth They gather goods saith the Oracle and know not who shall enioy them Some impute this sodaine death to the Author of the Magicke arte the which he practised Sixtus the 4. borne at Sauonne and named Francis of Ruere Generall of the Grey Friars and Cardinall of S. Sixte Legat of Auignon was installed by the election of the Colledge in the Pontificall chaire Liberall and charitable to his owne beyond the bounds of true zeale for in their fauour he gaue Indulgences and pardons prodigally and granted many other things against all right and reason so saieth the Historie Amongst the rest he aduanced Peter of Ruere to a Cardinalship a monstrous man in his expences who in two moneths deuoured in vanities dissolution and loosenesse aboue two hundred thousand Crownes besides the debts wherewith he charged his heires He repaired many decayed Churches and Monasteries built new and gaue them great reuenews He restored the Abreuiataires which was a Colledge of learned men and studious in diuine and humane lawes Poets Orators Historiens c. first instituted by Pius the 2. then abolished by Paul the 2. his successor Then did he institute anew the Bullistes people fitter to get money then for any other thing and nine Notaries of the Apostolick treasure appointing them certaine reuenues which offices were sold in the beginning for fiue hundred crownes and since for two or three thousand crownes so well could they sell their marchandise Sixtus made many vniust warres against Ferdinand King of Naples for that against the Popes lâ—king he had succoured his sonne in law Hercules of Este Dâ—ke of Ferrare besieged by the Venetians Against the Venetians whom he did excoÌ„municate Against the Florentins excommunicated likewise with an interdiction of fire and water But by the intercession threats of the King the succours the Venetians gaue to the Florentinâ— against the Pope who had incensed Ferdinand King of Sicile Alphonsus Duke of Calabria and Frederick Duke of Vrbin Captaine generall for the Church to make warre against them he absolued them Then being sick of a Feuer hauing newes that a peace was made betwixt the Venetians and other Potentates of Italy hee dyed sodenly There flourished vnder him Iohn of Mont le Roy a great Mathematician Ralph Agricola Pomponius Lâ—tus Ambrose Calepin learned men in humanitie Let it suffice to haue noted such Popes as haue raigned vnder our Lewis and now let vs see that which concernes the Empire â—hat great Iohn Huniades a firme and â—ound rampier for the Christians against the Turkes The estate of the Empire had left two sonnes Ladislaus Matthias They had for an hereditarie enemy Vlrike Earle of Cilie neere kinsman and a fauorite to Ladislaus King of Hongarie and Bohemia sonne to Albert of Austria borne after his fathers death Ladislaus the eldest complaining one day to Vlriâ—e of the slanders wherewith he wrongfully charged him to King Ladislaus they passed from words to blowes so as he slue Vlrick for the which the King of Hungarie caused him to bee publickely beheaded and lead Mâ—tâ—hias the yonger prisoner to Prague in Bohemia to put him to death farre from the â—iew of the Nobility of Hongarie to whom the memory of Huniades was wonderfull deeâ—e and precious But as Ladislaus prepared for his mariage at Prague to be sonne in lawe tâ— Charles the 7. behold a blacke and deadly poison sodenly choaâ—es vp the ioy which that new alliance had concâ—iued After whose death there did arise great quarrels for the succession Some Noblemen of Hungarie wished the Emperour Fredericâ— the third for their Kiâ—g the greatest part preferred Matthias both for that he was of 〈◊〉 nation as for the happy memory of his father Iohn The election being made Matthias is set at libertie by George Boiebrac the new King of Bohemia hee demands the Crowne Frederick armes himselfe with a constitution which he had receiued from Elizabeth mother to Ladislaus deceased when he sent him her â—onne to bring vp Vpon refusall they go to armes but the Germaine Princes pacified this quarrell concluding Warre for the Crowne of Hongary That Matthias should pay
with good store of Artillerie for this great rable armed and tumultuously assembled by the Earle of Dunois had bin a maâ—ner all sent back as an vnprofitable burthen vpon the earth But the matter is of importance the French are not so easily forced to rise and if an occasion of battaile be offred shall they accept it The Marshall of Rieux best experienced in matters of warre with some others are not of that opinion for to what end say they should we hazard the estate and country vpon an euent which may bee auoided If we loose the day by what meanes shall we releeue our selues The Souldiers that shall remaine after the ouerthrow wil want courage and change their minds the people would be amazed the Townes stand in suspence the conquerour would become maister of the Country and take all Townes hee should attempt without resistance It were best to temporise to incampe at Rennes being well furnished with victuals and things necessary and in the meane time to keepe the enemy occupyed forcing him to lie in field tiring him with their horsemen cutting off his forrage or else to lodge the army in the fronter townes to shut vp the victuals attend the winter which being come the enemy shall haue no meanes to lodge abroad but must of force dislodge in the meane time we shall see what profit will grow by the leagues of the Kings of England Castile of the Archduke the Duke of Lorraine all which giue the Duke great hope to countermine the Kings practises in Brittanie The rest rashly thrust on partly by a yong and boiling humor partly with desire to make triall of their forces make answer That the souldiers are wearied with this long beating of armes without effect that hauing now an oportunity to do well they obserue a great ioy in their resolutions the which it was more fit to nourish then to quench that their forces were altogether and asked nothing but imploiment that delay would make them leaue their Ensignes by little little In the meane time Fougeres was at the last gaspe a towne of importance and one of the keyes of the countrie that to leaue it in this extremity were to shew a manifest proofe of cowardise to all the rest To conclude they say in a maner that to temporise were to play the cowards The first opinion was most probable but the vehemencie of the Earle of Dunois and the heaâ— of yonger heads carried it Diuision in the British armie All march but see the pittifull first fruits of their first lodging at Andouille a village vpon the way to Rennes from S. Albin a contention fals betâ—ixt the Duke of Orleans the Lord of Albert a man of great reuenues father to Iohn the last of that name K. of Nauarre but his mistresse did not affect him a good scholler in dissembling to vse the power of Albert for the benefit of the Duke her father The Dâ—ke of Orleans did flie a higher pitch and by the mediation of the Earle of Dunois was very farre in fauour with Anne of Brittaine Alain discouers some good shewes of Anne to the Duke of Orleans wherevpon they grow to bitter words as the next day they are ready to fight But the enemy being at hand was it now time to contend to the preiudice of a whole armie But now the foresight of the Marshall of Brittanie doth pacifie all vpon this diuision they receiue two seuerall aduertisments S. Aulbin of Cormier was battered by the French with 3. batteries and yeelded by composition with their liues goods saued a small towne but furnished with a very good Castle but at that time vnfurnished of men victuals munition Fougeres yeelded vpon the like accord S. Aulbin was commanded by William of Rosneuinen an ancient Captaine who had had a command of men at armes vnder Charles the 7. and Lewis the XI but in the warres betwixt Charles the 8. and the Duke of Brittanie he returned to serue his naturall Pâ—ince The Brittons armie marcheth to recouer this place the French to preserue their conquests when as behold there riseth a mutiny among the Brittaines It is secretly murmured that the French Commanders their associats had intelligence with the heads of the French armie the which suggestion did euen then hazard all and if the Brittons had beene farther off without feare of charge they had easily disbanded The Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Orange aduertised of this conceit had great paine to worke any other impression What do they to giue an assurance of the contrarie they leaue their horses and sweare all to fight on â—oote with the Brittons and Germains A more bold then wise resolution but necessitie did serue them to appease this mutinie which tended to sedition They order their troupes to fight The Auant-gard to the Marshall of Rieux The order of the Brittons armie the Battaile to the Lord of Albret with some horse to couer his flanks The reereward to Chasteaubriant and on either side their carriages of artillerie and baggage to couer some of their foote being fauoured on their flanke with a small groue betwixt Saint Albin and the village of Oranges And to make the small numbers of strangers seeme great they attire twelue hundred some say seuenteene hundred Brittons with casâ—â—â—ks bearing a red crosse the English liuerie Lewis of Tremouille in the absence of Lewis of Bourbon his brother in law commaunded the Kings armie The oâ—der oâ— the French Hee giues the foreward to Adrian del Hospital an old French Captaine and famous in this warre he takes the battaile to himselfe and giues the reereward to the Marshall of Baudricourt pressed by a more sodaine charge then he expected Gabriel of Montfauçois with tenne or twelue horsemen sent out to obserue the Brittons countenance makes report of their good order The two armies approach the artillerie thunders and kils many men of either side a skirmishe continues about two howres The battaile of S. Albâ—â— which giues the French leysure to order their battaile The two forewards ioyne the Brittons endure the shocke so couragiously as the French yeeld to the resolute valour of the Marshall of Rieux who goes to charge the battaile at the first they kill Claude of Montfort a braue Captaine sent by the King of England succour the Duke and the Lord Scales a valliant Knight with some others of the formost ranke Blaire a Germaine Captaine to couer himselfe from the French artillerie changeth his quarter marching bâ—aâ—e-wise with his battailon like vnto a Croisant but he is sodenly charged in flanke by fower hundred French horse broken and many of them slaine At the same instant two hundred horse charge those which had the baggage in charge and force them to retire The Brittons horse that flâ—â—ked the armie growes amazed and leaues the foote naked They charge them and force them all giue way and all flie some here
of foote passeth likewise to charge the Foreâ—ard leauing in like sort on the other banke Auniball Bentiuole with two hundred men at armes to supplie when he should be sent for And for the gard of their lodging two great companies of men at armes with a thousand foote the Venetian Comissaries reseruing a supply for all euents Thus the French armie is enuironed on all sides so as being broken no man might hope for safetie the King who to strengthen the foreward had weakned the other two partes was forced to leaue the Knight he ment to make to some better leisure and to turne his backe to the Foreward his face to the enemy approching neere the Reereward The Stradiots fall vpon the baggage they wound kill spoile the Marquis is at blowes with the reerward who at the first charge breake their Lances then valiantly they ioyne pel-mel with their battle axes swords and other short weapons the Marquis performing the part of a most valiant and vigilant Captaine his troupe of most resolute men at armes The King was brought rashly into danger The King in great danger his followers being dispersed here and there in the Conflict assisted with â—ewe about him but Mathew bastard of Bourbon and Philippe of Moulin a gentleman of Solongne noted for that they had bin seene very neere vnto the King in this conflict The King did afterwards greatly fauour this Philippe he made him keeper of the great seale gaue him a company of men at armes thâ—gouernment of Langres and a great summe of money according to the time to helpe him to build Moulin a Castle neere to Romorantin in Solongne Robinet of Frainezelles who led about fourscore lances of the Dukes of Orleans Lewis of Tremouille with about forty lances three hundred ScottishmeÌ„ archers of his gard the Gentlemen of his houshold did fight more couragiously then their forces could permit not without great danger to his person being much esteemed by the Marquis hoping to haue the like aduenture ouer him as he had vpon the said bastard beeing wounded and taken prisoner neere vnto the King But the apparent danger of his maiestie had so inflamed those that were neerest vnto him as falling by heapes vpon the Italians they couer their maisters person with their owne and so this sodaine fury was stayed by the charge of a squadron comming at neede from the battaile broken by the death of Ralph of Gonzagua A death vnworthy of him for he loued the â—rench if he might haue bin credited the King should not haue opened his passage by force quite ouerthrowne all by the couetousnes of the Freebooters for these men seeing their companons inriched with the spoyles of the baggage and to carry away ouer the riuer some moyles with their burthens and some horse or armor they leaue their men at armes and run to the spoile The other horsemen were moued presently with the like desire of gaine and the foote stole out off the battaile to follow the like example On the other side Anthony of Montfeltre appointed by Ralph to succour when hee should be called keeping his stand for that by reason of Ralphs death no man called him the French tooke their field at large and doubting their courage they doubled their blowes so as by the death of some and the wounding and flight of others the Marquis his troupe opprest with the rough charge of our men at armes in the ende turned their backes and were chased and beaten euen to the riuers side without taking of any prisoner or care of booty our French being loathed of this filthy gaine by that common voyce flying amongst them Companions remember Guinegaste where the greedinesse of spoyle had taken from them the better part of a notable victory At the same instant the Earle of Caiazzo led his troupes against the foreward but this was but a countenance for euen as they couched their lances seeing some of his troupe vnhorsed Iohn Piccinin Galeas of Correge and others fainted and breaking of themselues they had meanes to recouer their battaile For the Marshall of Gié seeing on the other side of the riuer an other regiment of men at armes prepared for the battaile he keepes backe his men the which was held of some to be ratâ—er an act of cowardise then of discretion but by such as preferre reason before danger wise and iudicious The Suisses tooke about twenty of these runnawaies and slue them This Marquis of Mantoua gathered together the remainders of this ouerthrow and the Earle of Petillano being prisoner vpon his word The army of the league ouerthrowne since the taking of Capoua flying in this tumult to the Italians campe kept them from a more shamefull rout For the whole Campe talked of a retreat and the high way from Plaisance to Parma was couered with men horses and carts that retyred Then the King going to his forwardes which had kept their stand propounded vnto his Captains whether he should charge the enimy in his lodging Triuulce and Vitelli conselled him therevnto and Francis Secco whom the Florentines had sent to conduct the King vnto Ast thrust him forward But the passage of Taro being vneasie by reason of the raine fallen the night befâ—re and the day of the battaile the companies being weary the night approaching the king content to haue had the aduantage in so doubtfull a fight did moderate the heate of the pursute causing them to lodge at Medesane a village halfe a league from the place where the battaile was fought So this battaile ended a memorable day being the first of a long time that had beene obstinately fought in Italy with bloud-shed slaughter for in former times the Italian combates were rather pleasant shewes then battailes famâ—us also for the great numbers of commanders that were slaine the small number of conquerors in regard of the huge multitude of the vanquished There were numberd some fiue and thirty or forty French horsemen slaine and some fourescore groomes of the baggage The number of the slaine The Stradiots carried away of all their booty but fiue and forty of the best horse which were the Kings and his Chamberlaines of Italians three hundred and fiftie men at armes amongst the which there were seauen or eight of the house of Gonzague Rainunce Farnese Bernardin of Montone aboue sixe score Gentlemen of the Marquis his company and so great a number of others as they were esteemed to be three thousand fiue hundred and not one prisoner Let vs remember That the eternall God scatters the counsels of nations and brings to nought the practises of men And in another place That the King is not saued by a great armie neither doth a mighty man escape by his great force The King stayed the next day at the same lodging The Kings errour and departed on wednesday the eight of the moneth without any sound of Trompet busiyng the enimy vnder colour
Lords of Lantree and Lescut brothers to Arual a yonger brother of the 〈◊〉 of Alâ—ret Tremouille Renè bastard of Sauoye who was afterwards Lord Steward of France and gouernour of Prouence whose dâ—ughter Anne of Montmoreâ—ce the Coâ—stable married and Captaine Bayard to whome the King did that honour the day of the battaile as to receiue his knighthood at his hands hoping that the happinesse of so gentle and braue a Knight would accompanie his armeâ— The Reereward was committed to the Duke of Alanson who had married with Marguâ—rite of France afterwards wiâ—e to Henry of Albret King of Nauarre granâ—father by the mothers side to our King happily raigning at this day At the first brute of this armie the Emperoâ—r the Arragonois Sâ—orce and the Sâ—â—sses contract a League togither A League â—gainst the King to force the King to renounce his rights to the Dâ—â—hie of Milan the Suisses receiuing thirtie thousand Crownes a moneth of the other confederates should keepe the passages of the mountaines and inuade Bourgogne or Daulphinè and the Catholike King of France by Parpignan or Fontarabâ—â— The Pope although the King made some accompt of his friendshippe for that Iulian of Medicis his brother had lately married with Philiberte sister to Charles Duke of Sauoy and Aunt by the mothers side to his Maiestie in the end ioyned with them The Duke of Genes swomme betwixt two streames and as they say held the Wolfe by the eare Both the French forces and the confederates victorie were fearefull vnto him namely the Popes Genes yeelped to the King who vnder colour to keepe this Duchie from any Stranger desired exceedingly to vnite it to the Church In the middest of these contrarieties hee yeelds Genes to the King vpon condition That he should lay aside the title of the Duke of Genes Genes yeelded to the King and take that of Gouernour of Genes perpetually for the King with power to giue the offices of Genes this was to retaine some markes of Soueraigntie That the King should giue him an hundred men at armes the order of Saint Michel and a yeerely pension during his life That the King should not repaire the Fort of Todisa and should restore vnto the Cittie all the priuileges which King Lewis had disanulled That he should giue certaine Ecclesiasticall liuings to Frederick Archbishop of Salerne brother to Octauian and to himselfe if hee should bee expelled Genes some places iâ— Prouence The armie approched neere the Alpes which dâ—uide France and Italy and the Suisses according to their capitulation had stayed vpon the pasâ—ages of the mountaines vallees aswell of Montsenis which is of the iurisdiction of Sauoy the shortest way but the most vneasie as of the mount of Geneure which is of the iurisdiction of Daulphiné the longer way but the lesse painfull being the ordinary passage of the French armies The King had intelligence that Prosper Colonne was at the foote of the Mountaines within Piedmont with fifteene hundâ—ed horse which the Pope had sent to succour Milan not fearing any enemie for that the Suisses as he thought had seized vpon all the approches But some guides belonging to Charles of Soliers Lord of Morete hauing shewed them a passage neere to Roâ—que Espierre the King sent Palisse whom hereafter we will call the Maâ—shall of Chabannes â—mbercourt Aubigni Bayard Bussi of Amboise and Montmorency at that time highly fauoured by the King leading foure Corners of light horse vnder the charge of the said Morete and his guides who hauing waded through the Po beneath Villefranche whereas Colonne lodged they came to the gates not discouered but by some inhabitants who runne speedily to preuent their entrie but two hardie men at a mes of Imbercourts company which led the Scouts whose names were Beauuais thâ— braue a Normand and Hallencourt a Picard set spurres to their horses so as Hallencourt was carried into the Ditche and amazed the inhabitants Prosper Colonnes surpâ—ised Beuuais thrusting forward his Launce kept the gate open vntill the troupes arriuing surprised both Villefâ—anche and Colonne as he dined they made bootie of the baggage and about twelue hundred Neapolitane horses and carried away the Commander and his troupe pâ—isoners to â—â—ssan In the meane time the forces passe some with the Artillerie betwixt the Alpes towards the Sea and the Coctiennes descending towards the Marquisate of Saluâ—e the toile of men exceeding all the dâ—fficulties King Francis his first passage ouer the Alpes which the steepie and craggie mountaines and the â—ough downefalles in the deepe valleys of the riuer of Argentiere did present vnto them where the artillerie not able to passe in those straights the horses being vnprofitable in fiue dayes it was foâ—ced vp with roapes by maine strength in those places where as neuer Canon noâ— horseman was seene to passe Others with infinite paines and difficulties recouered the pace of Dagonniere some the high toppes of the rock of Perrot and Cuni passages lying towards Prouence where the Marshall of Chabannes had passed Thus the Suisses deceiued of their hope abandoned the Straight of Suze where they defended the passages of Mont Senis and Geneure and that of Coni returning with shame toward Milan spoyling and sacking Chinas Verteil and other places where they entred whâ—lest that Ainard of Prie hauing passed with the first had with the helpe of Octauian Fregose reduced Alexandria Tortone and all that lyes beyond the Po to the Kings obedience who hauing passed the Po at Monâ—callier and presenting himselfe before Nouarre receiued the Towne at his deuotion and then Pauia The Milanois sent Ambassadors to the Kings lodging at Bufalore to beseech him to rest satisfied with victualls and a promise from the people to remaine affected to his Crowne and so to march on against his enemies· assuring him that Milan should most willingly giue him entrie when hee should be maister of the field It is an ordinarie stratageme of inconstant Townes to set vp the Ensignes of the stronger paâ—tie The King hauing a mightie armie in front granted their demands for that time Then the Duke of Sauoy did mediate an accord betwixt the Suisses and the King his Nephew wherein he preuailed so much as they concluded That the King paying vnto them foure hundred thousand crownes promised by the treaty of Dijon and aâ—l which they pretended to be due for their ancient seruices they should yeeld vnto the king his Duchie of Milan and the vallees which the Grisons enioyed and the king should giue vnto Maximilian Sforce threescore thousand Ducats of yeerely pension But some hope to gaine who loose all especially in these cases A new supplie of Suisses fierce and bold Inconstant treachery of the Suisses by reason of their forepassed victories being dissuaded by the Cardinall of Sion breake this treaty and bring matters to the same estate they were beâ—fore Thirty fiue thousand take the way of Monse to lodge in the suburbes of Milan vnâ—â—ll
he wished him to appoint the field he would bring the armes the King protesting that if hereafter the Emperour shall write or speake any thing preiudiciall to his honour the shame of the delay should redound vppon himselfe seeing that the combat is the end of all writing Without doubt this proceeding had beene more seemely for Knights then for such Princes and no enterprises are commendable but so farre forth as they agree with the dignitie of their persons and States And for that Granuelle refused to take vppon him this charge the King dismissing him Henry King of England deâ—yâ—s thâ— Empâ—rouâ— puâ—s away his wiâ—e did accompany him with an Herald to present this writing vnto the Emperour Within few dayes after Henry King of England sent him the like defie and did put away Catherine his wife daughter to Ferdinand and Elizabeth Kings of Spaine whom he had married being widow to Arthur his elder brother A diuorce which Pope Clement graunted vppon promise that Henry should for his safetie maintaine him agard of foure thousand foote Lautrecs successe in the Realme of Naples In the meane time Lautrecs forces preuailed in the Realme of Naples with such applause of the people as whether for affection of the French or hatred of the Spaniard almost all the Townes sent to offer their keyes and gates Peter of Nauarre had chased the Prince of Melphe out of Aquile and reduced all Abruzze to the Kings obedience the whole estate of Naples was readie to set vp the banners of France when as the Prince of Orange hauing assembled within Troye and thereabouts fiue thousand Germaines fiue thousand Spaniards and fifteene hundred Italians he made Lautrec to vnite his forces which were dispersed and to turne head to the enemie with an intent to fight with him He wanted the siâ—ews of warre the Kings assignations failed so as he could not long maintaine the burthen of the warre The adauntage of men victuals and the field did inuite him hee must therefore attempt some great matter He goes to field with three thousand French whereof the Lord of Burie was Colonell foure thousand Gascons vnder the command of Peter of Nauarre and the Lord of Candale eight thousand Germaines commanded by the Earle of Vaudemont three thousand Suisses vnder the charge of the Earle of Tende with ten thousand Italians and approched neere the enemie but there was no meanes to draw him out of his fort Many dayes were spent in skirmishes and courses In one of them three hundred horses comming out of their battaillons which marched after the artillerie were charged by Moriac and Pomperant it is that faithfull Achates to the Duke of Bourbon whom the King had drawen to his seruice and honoured with a company of fiftie men at armes for the good seruice he had done him at his taking of Pauia hauing freed him from some souldiars that had inuironed him in and not knowne him were wholy defeated and their enseignes and guidons carried away Lautrec offered battaile yet well pleased not to fight in the absence of Horatio Baillon who brought thirteene enseignes of foote whome Iohn de Medicis had long before trayned in the exercise of armes But behold a heauie signe of a fatall desaster the winds were so violent and the skie so troubled as all the tents in the French campe were ouerthrâ—wne many men slaine Baillon arriues the enemie packs vp the baggage stops the bells of his moyles and marcheth through the woods directly to Naples without sound of drumme or trumpet It had beene a goodly thing to pursue these runawaies The French Captaines flewe after them in their hearts but Lautrec sayd I will haue them at my mercie and without losse of my men But the spirit of man is ignorant of future destinies The emeny retyres Don Hugues de Moncado and other chiefe seruants to the Emperour did so hate the Prince of Orange as without doubt they had shut the gates of Naples against him the which had giueÌ„ the French a great aduantage But the soueraigne Iudge of armes had otherwise decreed The Prince of Orange being dislodged Lautrec sent some troupes of French horâ—e and foote with the blacke bands which were those of Baillon to go before Melfe which might cut off the victualls from the army lying before Naples the Prince thereof defended it with three thousand men who by their continuall â—allies had much indomaged our troupes They made a small breach with two Cannons and the Gascons burning with heat offer themselues to the assault the blacke bands follow them without any commandement or direction from their Captaines A volley of shot makes them retire kiâ—â—es many Gascons and some threescore of the black bands At night they renue the batterie and make a second attempt but with like successe yet at length they carrie it The next day they haue a supplie of artillery wherewith they make two great baâ—â—eries The pesants which were in great numbers within Melphe mutine for feare they are in deed more fit to amaze then to serue at neede Melphe taken The â—oldiars terrefied with this tumult abandon the defenses and recouer the Castell they enter the Towne spoile it and kill of soldiars and Inhabitants six or seauen thousand they take the Castell by composition and the Prince with his wife and children prisoners Barleta Trant Venouse Ascoli with all the places there abouts except Mansfredonia yeeld to the victors fortune who prepared a great masse of victualls for the seege of Naples the Venetians 〈◊〉 hauing fortified the armie with about two thousand men Capoua Acerre Nolâ— Auerse and all places there abouts hauing voluntarilie opened their gates made the way easie for Lautrec who campes before the walles of Naples in the ende of Aprill the Imperialls were resolued onely to defend Naples and Caiette It was a great matter to haue chased the enemie out of the field and to keepe them coopt vp within the capitall Cittie But alas what shall become of so great a multitude of men our French must learne once more to their cost that all their strange enterprises attempted farre off haue beene mournfull graues vnto them The issues of death belong to the eternall God Lautrec imploies all his witts in the seege of Naples but who can hope for any happie successe The Cittie was full of men of defence Naples beseeged and the meane to famish it verie vncertaine for the galleies of Phillipin Nephew to Andrew Dorie being vnable to stoppe vp the port some shippes fraught with meale stoale in those of Venise came not the enemies light horse which were many cut off the victualls from our men the ordinarie grossenesse of the aire the continuall rayne the discomodities of the soldiars who for the most part lay open filled the campe full of diseases The discomodities of the sâ—ege the Kings â—lowe prouision and the negligence of the Treasorers were the cause that no money could passe the mountaynes
course for the seruant to prescribe a law to his master But the losse of such a seruant was the losse of Genes of the Realme of Naples and of the armie which beseeged it But these demands of Dorie being found vnreasonable by the Counsell especially by the Chancellor du Prat a sower man and of great authoriâ—â—e the King sent Anthony de la Rochefoucault Lord of Barbezieux with the office of Admirall into the East-seas and a Comission to seize as well on his Mâ—iesties galleys aâ—â— those of Andrew Dorie yea and of his person if hee might find the meanes Andrew aduertised of this charge retyred himselfe to his gallies deliuered vp the Kings left his pay and practised by his Spanish prisoners Reuolt of Andrew Dorie hee tooke part with the Emperour â—ith the libertie of Genes vnder the Emperours protection the subiection of Sauonne to the Genouois a pardon for himselfe who had beene so great a persecutor of the Spanish name entertainment with the Emperour of twelue gallies Of Philippin his nephew and threescore thousand ducats yeerely pay with many other honourable conditions during which trâ—â—tie his nephew Philippin not onely kept ill gard but also priuilie releeued the beseâ—ged with victuals and in the end retired himselfe from Naples with all his gallies This departure of Philippin caused the Venetians who wrought from the sea shore vntill they met with the trench which Lautrec had made betwixt the Towne and Mount Saint Martin which the enemâ—es had fortiâ—ied to leaue their worke and looke to gard the sea This was the first effect of Dories retreat to preiudice the French armie Behold the second whence followed the ouerthrow of their enterprises and the losâ—e of their infinit charges The fifteenth of Iuly the Venetian gallies returne into Calabria to prouide biscuit So the port remayning open The great constancie of Lautreâ— the beseeged receiued a great refreshing at such time as necessitie had brought them to Lautreâ—s deuotion who notwithstanding the plague resoluing rather to die then to retire one foot backe from the place hee sollicited the King to supplie him with money and men in their roomes that had died of the infection The King sent the Prince of Nauarre brother to Henry King of Nauarre but with so small a troupe whereof the greatest part were voluntarie yong gentlemen who marched onely for pleasure and to win honour as hee was forced to send some out of the armie to conduct hâ—m safely from Nola to the Campe and to receiue some mony which he brought This charge was giuen to Candalles nephew to the Marquis of Salusses who passing in his returne before Naples was charged by the Imperials who â—ssued forth in great troupes being hurt his men put to rout himselfe taken prisoner to Naples and then redeemed by exchange of one of theirs that was taken in the fight hee died of his wounds Hugh Earle of Pepoli was likewise exchanged for an other and their troupes were diminished by about two hundred that were slaine and taken A hard forerunner of a fatall checke which within few dayes shall wast our warriors Now behold a pittifull Catastrophe of these two armies The Imperials by their dayly sallies prouided them things necessary and doe often cut off the victuals from the French armie take their baggage and forrage euen at their forts and their horses at the watering their hopes increase with their aduantages their Lansquenets mutine no more euery one esteems it a glory to haue suffered contrariwise the others decay both in force and courage the horse disband some to refresh themselues others to auoid the plague the footmen faint hauing no horse to second them the plague began to ceasse at Naples and increased amongst our men The Earle of Vaudemont Gruffy with many other Captaines were alreadie layed in their graues the Prince of Nauarre Camille Triuulcâ— and almost all the men of commaund were sicke and that which did most import Lautrec striken with sicknes could not redresse those things which did hourely tend to ruine Rence de Cere whom he had sent towards Abrâ—â—aâ— to make a leuie of foure thousand foot and sixe hundred horse found the Treasorers who payd him with their ordinarie answere I haue not a farthing The King hath no money in his cofâ—rs The enemies did so belay the wayes as they could not go to Capouâ— euery man almost was sicke in the armie the footmen were almost wasted Simon Râ—main a braue Knight and of the French partie had beene defeated in Calabria Somme had beene sackt with the slaughter of a troupe of men at armes and light horse Most commonly there were no victuals in the campe they wanted water all the Cesterns being drie and to heape vp their miseries Lautrec dying the 15. of August interred with him all his braue desseins Lautreâ— dies Without doubt the death of a valiant commander and of great reputation is the ruine of an armie The head failing all the members tremble and soone fade away Moreouer wee obserue in this Nobleman that no man how wise and valiant soeuer is alwaies happie for vertue and fortune haue alwayes beene at hatred and mortall warre The King did honour his funerals at our Ladies Church in Paris with a mourning dumpe fit for one of his children The Marquis of Salusses tooke vpon him the gouernment of the armie A man of courage beloued and well followed by men of war but it decreased and disorders encreased daily The Earle of Sarni with a thousand Spaniards chased three hundred foote from Sarni which were in garrison there and followed with a greater troupe hee tooke Nole from Valerius Vrsine who being retyred into the Castle attended two thousand men which the Marquis sent him the which being charged in the plaines of Naples were put to rout Fabricio Maramao issued out of Naples with foure hundred men and finding Capoua in a manner forsaken he straightway entred into it So the French abandoning Pozzuole put the garrison into Auerse a place of great importance for the Campe. But Capoua and Nola being lost they could hardly recouer any victuals So as the armie being no longer able to subsist The seege of Naples raised did â—ise in the night to recouer Aduerse The Imperials discouer their departure they poursue them defeate the battaile vppon the way being led by Peter of Nauarre and the reereward commaunded by Pomperant Negrepelisse and Paul Camille Triuulâ—e They take the Nauarrâ—is with many other commaunders and men of qualitie and beseege the Marquis in Auerse who hauing no meanes to defend him selfe sent Guy of Rangon to parle with the Prince of Auranges and did capitulate with him as followeth That hee should leaue Auerse with the Castle artillerie and munition That as Lieutenant Generall to the King hee should remaine a prisoner That hee should imploy his authoritie to cause both French and Venetians to yeeeld vnto the Emperour all the Realme of Naples That the
Here begins the combat and so violent as the greatest checke falls vpon the Imperials Annebault defeated But in the end all the horsemen arriue Annebault is ouerthrowne taken prisoner and neere vnto him the Earle of Villars the Lords of Piennes d' O and Sansac Captaine George Capussement Francis Bernardiu and almost all but some which had before passed the bridge Those amongst the which was Aussun retyre to Hedin change their horses post to the place of combat find the Imperials in disorder dreaming no more of any enemie The Imperialls charged and beaten they charge them defeat them take a great number and recouer many of their companies that were prisoners and so cut off a great part of the glory which they did challenge for such a victory In the meane time the Daulphin and the Lord Steward had gathered togither about sixteene hundred men at aâ—mes two thousand light horse tenne thousand Germaines and twelue thousand French with the which they pretended to succour the beseeged or to force the Imperials to fight with disaduantage when as the treatie which Mary Queene of Hongarie sister to the Emperour had made by the meanes of the Duke of Ascot for the procuring of a peace A truce for three months or truce caused a suspension of armes for three monethes betwixt the King and the Emperours countries of the Netherlanders vntill that matters being pacified there might be a general peace concluded betwixt these two great Princes and their allies Let this truce now carrie vs beyond the Alpes to see the estate of the forces in Italie The ordinary iealousies diuisions and partialities of Captaines which thinke themselues equall in authoritie Diuision among the 〈◊〉 commaunders and reputation of like vse for seruice is commonly of dangerous consequence The composition which Caguin of Consague made with the Imperialls at Carignan without the priuitie of Guy Earle of Rangon Lieutenant generall for the King on that side the Alps had discontented the Earle and on the other side Caguin complayned that they had cassiered some of his footmen in case Cont Guy should die or leaue the place the King had substituted Cesar Fregose his brother in law without any respect of the ancient seruice of his house and his breeding in the Kings seruice from whom he had not fallen as the Earle had done although he had beene sought vnto with many profitable conditions These quarels did so increase that after many complaints and reproches vpon the point of honour Guy and Cesar banded ioyntly against Caguin framed a challenge vpon some writings published to the disgrace of the said Cesar vnder the name of Aretin whereof they held Caguin to be the chief author William of Bellay Lord of Langey sent by the King to heare the greefs of either partie hauing giuen Cont Guy and Cesar Fregose to vnderstand what preiudice their quarrell with Caguin would be vnto his Maiesties seruice and that by the articles of the Kings order the Knights may not without the leaue of their superiour which is the King send nor accept of any challenge one against an other Caguin offred not to wrong the Kings seruice and to deferre the combat vntill the seruice were ended so as after the answere hee had made vnto the challenge Caesar had not written or sayd any thing that should come vnto his knowledge wherevnto he should be bound in honour to answere and vnder colour to go to the bathe for his health he obtayned a pasport to retire himselfe to his house with promise that if it pleased the King to giue him an honorable charge hee would returne with a troupe fiâ— to do him seruice And that howsoeuer hee would neuer weare a read crosse During these contentions the Imperiall army fortified daylie and the Kings decreased so as the Lord of Humieres sent by the King for the affaires of Piedmont could not be master of the field without a bodie of foure or fiue thousand Lansquenets or Suisses and some supply of men at armes To this end the King causeth his light horsemen to march into Piedmont after the conquests of Hedin and Saint Paul and sent to Christopher Duke of Wirtemberg who brought ten thousand Lansquenets to passe the Alpes and to ioyne with Humieres But vpon the comming of the Imperialls before Saint Paul the King being forced as wee haue seene to countermand his light horse he sent the Baron of Curton la Fayete Brissac and others leading three or foure hundred men at armes and two hundred light horse Lassigny and Allegre either of them commanding a thousand foote The Marquis of Guast had at that time deliuered into the Marquis Francis hands all the Marquisate of Salusses except the Castells of Verculo Carmagnole Two hundred Italians held it for Cont Guy the Marquis of Guast doth summon it vpon their refusall approcheth the artillery Francis Marquis of Salusses knowing the place brings two Cannons on the right hand going from the Towne to the Castell breakes two houses to couer himselfe in steed of gabions himselfe plaies the gunner Francis Marquis of Salusses slaine shoots two volees A soldiar of the Castell discouers him but knowes him not and shoots him through the body starke dead with a musket The Marquis of Guast causeth him to be couered with a cloake and then againe sends to summon the beseeged promising them an honorable composition they depart with bagge and baggage and the Marquis seeing them passe commended their good endeuours But when hee came to demand what he was that had shot so well from one of the windowes ouer the port the soldiar both ignorant of the Marquis intention and of the effect of his shot presents himselfe vnto the Marquis who against the Capitulation caused him to be hanged at the same window The King hauing afterwards reduced the Marquisate to his obedience did inuest Gabriell Bishop of Aire in Gasconie who married the daughter of the Admirall of Annebault and dying without heires left the sayd Marquisate to the Crowne The coming of Humieres and the Lansquenets had shut the Marquis of Guast with his troupes into Ast and Verceil who by his retreat left Pignerol Chiuas Montcallier and other places abandoned to these newe Conquerors But at the first want of the chiefe siâ—ewes of warre makes the Italian bands to mutine whereby our men loose ten or twelue dayes during the which the Marquis had leysure to hasten his Lansquenets leuied by the elder brother of William Duke of Furstemburg Humiâ—res had no soonâ—â— pacified the Italians with a portion of their pay but hee frames an enterprise vpon Ast where the Marquis had left his brother in lawe Don Anthonie of Arragon Lieutenant for the Emperour with two thousand foote and two hundred horse The Lansquenets require the charge to make the approches and take it from Iohn Paul de Cere who had a meaning to discharge it well About midnight Humieres comes speedily to see
is to say vntill a Councell were held to determine all controuersies of religion euery one should peaceably enioy the beleefe and ceremonies whereof he then made profession and in doing this the restoring of the Duke of Sauoy to all his estates was granted at the Germains charge Soone after William of Roquendolfe Lieutenant generall for Ferdinand King of Hongarie Ferdinands armie defeated by the Turke was defeated before Bude with the losse of twenty thousand Germains It was a great shame for the Emperour being neere to so mournfull and fatall a check if hee should not imploy his forces in his brothers fauour He vndertakes againe the voyage of Algier in Afrique with an intent that if passing through Italie he should finde the Kings affaires disordred and his sorces dispersed to attempt some thing against him making accoumpt that the King would not faile to be reuenged of the violence and wrong done vnto him in the persons of his Ambassadors But the good prouision which the King had made in Prouence and in Piedmont by Langey his Lieutenant generall caused him to passe on without attempting any thing Being at Luques hee had conference with the Pope and the King sent his Ambassador vnto them to demand satisfaction for the crime but he was put off with shifts The enterprise of Algier was vnfortunate The Emperor goes to Algier without successe the violence of the windes the continuall raine the stormes and haile with all the iniuries of the ayre had coniured against him breaking some of his shippes hee was beaten backe with great danger of his person and losse of his men Hetherto the Marquis had as couertly as he could disguised the matter but finding now that all men had discouered his deuises that notwithstanding the death of the Ambassadours he could not decipher the Kings desseine that the King demanded as well from the Emperour as from the Estates of the Empire satisfaction for this soule fact Now to make his cause seeme good hee writes to the Estates which were assembled againe at Ratisbone for their common defence against the Turke whereby he maintaines that he committed no act that might touch him for breach of the truce and in shew to iustifie him selfe of the crime wherewith he was charged There are saith he neither denying nor aduowing the fact two wayes of iustification the one ciuill the other Knightly I offer to maintaine ciuilly that there is no breach of truce growne by me The Marquis of Gâ—aâ—t iustifies himselfe and to deliuer into our holy fathers hands the protector of the truce both my selfe and all those the King shall thinke culpable of this act to the end the truth might be knowne and if any Knight my equall will charge me with any such fact and proue his saying by armes I will maintaine that he hath spoken falsely and as often as he shall charge me with the like so often shall he speake falsely We do often shadow a lye with such good words as it giues it a colour of trueth But did he thinke by this brauado to proue his innocencie the retreat of those murtherers to him bringing them all prisoners that were left aliue within the boates to the end there should be no meanes to discouer this infamous murther the detention hee made of the Water-men whom hee afterwards transported into other prisons vnder his command the penall Edicts hee did publish in places where the fact might be knowne against them that should be found discoursing of this action the ill vsage of them that had spoken of it the fauours honours and aduancements giuen to them that had beene the actors the depositions of prisoners freed by Langey were not all these sâ—fficient witnesses to crie vengeance against the Marquis Langey answering to the pretended iustifications of the Marquis was the Knight to make triall thereof by the one or the other way But the Marquis had no such meaning Wee haue heard how the King demanded of the Emperour being in conference with the Pope at Luques satisfaction of the murther audaciously and against all diuine naturall and humaine lawes committed vpon the persons of two of his especiall seruants men of estate and of reputation by their birthes hauing by their merites deserued the one an honourable degree amongst his chiefe Gentlemen the other an especiall place amongst the greatest Noblemen They would haue satisfied him with friuolous reasons and excuses perswading him to leaue the abolition of their bloud to the forgetfulnesse of time which might haue beene an imputation to his Maiestie eyther of want of witte and iudgement or of valour or courage Profit vrged the King honour prickt him forward and necessitie constrained him to vse those meanes which the law of Nations did allow to him which doth acknowledge no other superiour and three chiefe reasons did vrge him therevnto The first reason that moued the King to warre Vnder this colour of peace the Emperour had a thousand practises vpon the frontiers of his realme and the King had no sooner cut off one of this Hydras heads but presently there riseth vp an other or many mo Moreouer this truce allowed the trafficke and conference of eythers subiects The second by meanes whereof so many treasons were practised Neyther could hee drawe his subiects from the commerce of the Lowe Countries belonging to the Emperour without expresse prohibitions the which by consequence would argue hostilitie The third But that which did most mooue a noble and generous spirit hee had good and certaine intelligence that the Emperour seeing warre proclaimed in case hee did not within a certaine time make satisfaction for the aboue named murthers made his accoumpt that vnder colour of zeale to the Common-weale of Christendome filling the eares of the whole world with a goodly and great enterprise against the enemies of the faith hee would raise great forces and prouide great preparation at the cost and charge of his most credulous subiects lying most open and neerest vnto the Turkes inuasion and coniure the most Christian King to assist him eyther with men or money If then the fumes of an Affricane or Turkish voyage had beene proclaimed through the world before that warre were denounced betwixt these two Princes those which were not acquainted with the deuises of the one would haue imputed the stay of so holy an enterprise to the other Let vs adde that howsoeuer he mâ—st â—ntertaine men both in Italie and vpon the frontiers of Languedoc and Prouence for that both a truce and warre were of equall charge vnto him There were two meanes to beginne the warre The one profitable and lesse honest Many thrust him on some with discontent others with reuenge some with couetousnes some with desire of innouation or some other priuate passions offering to seize vpon diuers places for his Maiestie the conquest whereof might be a worthie reward for a long and doubtfull warre The other was more honest but of lesse profit iust
nationall Counceâ—â—â—f the French Churches The Deputies notwithstanding especially the Clergy will allowe of no reason Tâ—ey are for the most part transported with passion and apprehend nothing but 〈◊〉 maâ— aduance the League Iâ— the King refuseth this article the Duke of Gâ—ise 〈◊〉 dâ—sâ—olue the Estates and laie all the blame vpon his Maiestie He hath so well prouâ—â—â—d for his affaires as he holds himselfe maister of the Castle of Blois and of the Kâ—ngs person There is neither gate hall chamber nor Cabinet but the keyes are at his â—leasure He hath great forces ready He checkes them that speakes not to his liking their voices and consents are forced in the Parlament house he puts in and puts out and doth what he pleaseth Those whom the King and Parlements hold inâ—â—pportable finde accesse and support with him To conclude see the first Prince oâ— tâ—e bloud the first of the most ancient and most famous house that doth at this daâ— weare a Crowne the first of that royall branch of Bourbon which onely remaines aftâ—r so many sisters and cousins of Aniou Alençon Eureux Berry Bourgongne Angâ—ulesme and Orleans and which onely succeeded that of Valois depriued of the right which nature hath giuen him without calling him or hearing his iustifications The Clergy sayes he ought to be no more cited his heresie his incapacity to the Crowne is apparent The Bishop of Chaalons in Champagne deliuers this conclusion to the Nâ—bâ—lity The Bishop of Cominge to the third Estate and the Archbishop of Ambrun to the King to make a law thereof and then followed the last act of the Tâ—agedie of a dispossessed King But oh men the Eternall lookes on you and laughes at your Counsells he nowe 〈◊〉 vpon the stage to act his part and to bring forth effects far from his thoughts The King is aduertised from all paâ—ts of a great conspiracy against his Maiestâ—e The Duke oâ— Espernon assures him by letters The Duke of Mayenne iealous it may be of hiâ— bâ—others greatnes aduertiseth his Maiesty from Lion by a Knight of worship and the Duke of Aumale from Blois it selfe by his owne wife that the Duke of Guise hâ—d very pernicious desseines that the houre of the execution did approch that they 〈◊〉 to seize on him and to lead him to Paris These aduerâ—isements kindle a newe courage in the King hee meanes to preuent â—im and disâ—ouâ—rs his minde to foure whom he knowes as faithfull to his Maiesty as â—nemieâ—â—o the damnable proâ—ects of the League He must suppresse this newe starre 〈◊〉 tâ—e East whom the people worshipped already The present necessity will not suffer 〈◊〉 to bring him forth in viewe the Popes respect retaines him his oath to protect 〈◊〉 Estâ—â—eâ— makes him irresolute the troubles which this execution will cause in 〈◊〉 diâ—â—osed to the League makes him doubtfull yet he must die Hee hath no 〈…〉 France but of a simple subiect and yet without the Kings authority 〈…〉 he hatâ— built a League had intelligence with the stranger leauâ—ed 〈◊〉 waâ—re attempted vpon townes and broken the publike peace He continues 〈…〉 against the oath of the Edict of vnion with the Cardinall Morosine Legate 〈…〉 and Don â—â—igo of Mendosa Ambassador of Spaine He confirmes his 〈…〉 â—ederations with the Gouetnors of reuolted townes Hee published by 〈…〉 that hee hath not taken armes but for Gods and the Kings seruice aâ—d yet by the surprise of so many townes he hath hindered the aduancement of the Kings army in Guienne against the Huguenots The obiect of his aâ—mâ—â— is the safety and religion of the Catholikes and to depriue the King of Nauarre oâ— all hope of succession to the Crowne and in the meane time it appeares that he hath sought the loue of the King of Nauarre he hath promised to giue him his sonne in hostage and to meete him with seuenteene Princes of his house at the riuer of Loâ—re to serue him and make him King of France Many letters intercepted discouer that after his maiesties pardon of many capitall crimes he renues his disseynes against the King and against his estate Obiecâ—ions against the Duke of Guise The surprise of the Marquisate of Salusses is by his intelligence He disgraceth the Kings actions he blames him to haue vnwillingly made warre against the Huguenots to haue sold the said Marquisate that vnder colour of recouering it hee might diuert the warre against the Heretikes In steed of reducing the Townes held by the Huguenots hee keepes his Captaines and men of warre at Blois vpon assurance of a profitable change Hee hath caused bookes to bee Printed in fauour of the lawfull succession of the house of Lorraine to the Crowne At the Barricadoes this voice was heard It is no longer time to dally let vs lead my Lord to Reimes He hath suffered himselfe to be saluted by the people with cries and acclamations which belong onely to the Soueraigne Prince He hath vaunted that he was able to take the King prisoner or to do worse although he entered but with eight horses into Paris being assured of the force and wills of the Citizens He hath â—eized on the places of strength within Paris made Gouernors Magistrates and officers at his pleasure He hath so corrupted the Estates as the Deputies speake not but by his mouth they produce nothing but what hath beene first examined in his Councel Many crie out that he stayes too long beâ—ore he strikes Hee speakes no more but in termes of a Souereigne with pride disdaine and threats He hath refused to subscribe the Edict which the King would publish in cases of treason He doth already seale Letters pattents with his great seale He forbids the Commons to giue victualls or munition to such companies as the King had sent vnto them There remaines no more but to confirme in his person that ancient greatnes sometimes vsurped by the Maâ—ors of the pallace and to deale with the King as Charles Martel had done with Childeric In the ende they represent vnto the King the Processe of Salcedo a party in this conspiracy the counsells of Nancy and of Paris in Lent last whereof the chiefe point was To seize vpon the Kings person the instructions of the Aduocate Dauid the letters of the Qâ—eene Doüager of Denmarke to the Duke of Lorraine her sonne the attempt of the Barricadoes and to heape vp the measure the practises corruptions and violences done by the Duke of Guise to the Estates The like and lesse crimes haue in former ages brought more famous heads then the Duke of Guises to the blocke The Leagues and practises of an Earle of Harcourt of a Constable of Saint Paul of a Duke of Nemours haue brought them to shamefull endes Pope Sixtus now liuing hath of late put to death the Earle of Pâ—poli of the noblest families of Italy only for that he had concealed some banished men in his house The Duke of Guise himselfe did of late pursue with all violence the disobedience
fauour may for a time fill your sayles and carrye your desseignes violentlye to Sea but they are inconstant light and disloyall And if they haue shaken off the yoake of dutifull obedience and loue to their King what shall they doe to a Prince to whome they shall not bee bound but as to the Protector of their mutinie They spake truly for after the tryall of all sorts of gouernments France must in the end returne to a royaltie and the Duke by a commendable resolution might haue vnited the mindes which his brother had diuided But when as others represent vnto him the aduantage hee should haue to succeed in the fauour credit and authoritie of his brother and by consequence his owne hopes he reiects the integriâ—â—e of the first councell coniures all the friends of his house to reuenge parts from Lion on Christmas day in his passage hee assures himselfe of Mascon Chaalon and â—ijon The Court of Parliament there refused to consent to this rebellion and therefore the châ—efe were driuen away and some imprisoned others apprehending the losse of their commodities Letters from the King to the Duâ—e of Mayâ—nnâ—â— did easily submit their neckes to the yoake of a new Democratiâ— At Dijon hee receiued Letters from the King promising to surcease the punishment of forepassed faults with the death of his bretheren whom sayd he I haue caused to dye to saue my life from the danger whereof you did aduertise me The Duâ—e attributing the Kings clemency to some weake abiect affection proceeding froÌ„â—eare either to haue him his enemy or to loose his friendship grows obstinate in â—is resolution reiects the Kings officers giues coÌ„mission to Rosne S. Paul and others to coÌ„mand in Champagne Brie and to seize vpon the best places he comes to Troyes where the Towne long before corrupted by the infected humâ—rs of the 〈…〉 receiued him with as great honor as they could haue done tâ—eir King 1588 and in 〈◊〉 where he passed they were easily drawne into rebellion euery Towne 〈◊〉 themselues after the modell of Paris and Orleans Three thousand men sent from Paris to succour the Chenalier d' Aumale 〈◊〉 in Orleans by the Marshal of Aumont with the â—obilitie of the Court 〈…〉 of foot and horse and the Kings gards had beene defeated neere vnto Estâ—mâ—â—s by Fargis and Montigni but the Marshall vnderstanding of the Duke of Mayennes â—â—proch rayseth the seege and retyres to â—oisgency In the meane time the King â—â—mselfe in person did vew and examine the conclusions of the Estates but this 〈◊〉 enterprise of the Dukes made him to leaue the worke imperfect to prouide 〈◊〉 the safetie of his person and for a conclusion the fiâ—teenth and sixteenth of Ianuary â—ee heard the Deputies greefes and complaints vppon the disoâ—ders which 〈◊〉 France The Estates diâ—â—olued The Archbishop of Bourgâ—â— speech The Arch-Bâ—shop of Bourges President for the Clergie after the Cardinals death imputed the cause of our miseries to contempt of religion which breaking the bâ—â—ds that tie vs vnto God had in like sort diuided the hearts and willes of families and Comonalties Hee greatly commended the Kings zeale to religion insisted long vppon the abuses of the Church which the corruption of the time had bred the vnâ—ortâ—y promotion of Prelats the nomination to Abbaies and other spirituall dignities of all sorts of persons souldiars ignorant men suborned men gardiens simoniaks â—omen children touching the alienation of the Clergie lands pluralitie of benefiâ—eâ— vâ—urpation of the reuenues of hospitalls deprauation of that goodly ancient order whereby none might come vnto Commanderies of the oâ—der of the Knights of Saint Iohn of Ierusalem vnlesse hee were a gentleman of three descents disorders of vniuersiâ—ies and monasteries in former times the nurceâ—ies of holy fathers Then hee tuâ—ned his discourse to the disorders noted in the Nobilitie of France who were in former ages the terrour of all nations and from whome neighbour nations confesse to â—â—ue leâ—rned the exercise and profession of cheualrie vpon the excesse of men of wa◠〈◊〉 the â—astâ—ng of the treasor other disorders which spring from these first headâ—â—â—â—ally hee beseecheth the King to make a good refoâ—mation whereby his people 〈◊〉 multiplie Iâ—stice should daily flourish and peace should bee setled iâ— the â—â—â—lme Câ—arlâ—s of Cosse Earle of Brissâ—c chief Pantler chief Fawconer of France newly restoâ—â—◠〈◊〉 fauour PresideÌ„t for the Nobility The Eâ—â—le of 〈◊〉 shewes that they be not the hands of â—ortune â—hich â—â—uiâ—oned his Maâ—esties forehead with this double diademe It is God who hath 〈◊〉 him our King who had before chosen him King of a more remate 〈◊〉 for the pietie faith clemencie and magnanimitie wherewith hee hath beeâ—e endued from his tender age That heresie schisme and discord which are crept into the peoples hearts haue not taken their beginning vnder his raigne whom God hath râ—â—sed 〈◊〉 amidest the furies and afflictions of France to bee reuenged by him and aduâ—â—ced aboue all the nations of Christendome who draw their firmestsupport from the stabiâ—â—tâ—e of his Crowne That â—he wished victories in France ouer heresie shall be vnto the King but a continuance of the route and defeate of that fearefull armie of Râ—isâ—res Lansquenets Suisses and French Huguenots which like so many trompets proâ—laime to all places the honours prayses and victories of his Maiestie That now those vowes fastings teares and toyles of the ancient French are heard who seemed to demaund â—engance against the fire furie and rage of those who after so many religious ages haue violated the sepulchres of their fathers and ours and would take from amongst â—s that onely religion which the holy fathers haue planted in old time throughout the world Then hauing represented the zeale and affection of the Nobilitie to assist the King to restore religion and the State to their former beautie following the example and the hereditarie vertue of their Ancestors who had chased and vanquished the Gothes Vandales Arriens Albigeois Lombards Sarrazins Turkes and Pagans 1589. and continuing the defence of the faith and the victories of the Kings of France haue leâ—t no other limits to the reputation of their valour then those which the Sunne takes in making of his course about the earth He beseecheth his Maiesty to fauour the auncient priuileges of the Nobility to recompence in them the seruices of their Pâ—edecesâ—ors to confirme the military discipline of Kings his forerunners not to suffer any by â—auour or purchase to chalenge the title of Gentlemen to mainteyne the priuileges of the Knights of S. Iohn of Ierusalem to cut off the superfluities in Iustice to moderate the subsidies order the treasure establish the Magistrate plant discipline among souldiars reâ—orme the Church and to punish the enemies thereof Finally he wished a thousand happines to the King and peace to his people But this braue and commendable humour shal not hold him long but he shal returne to his
combustion and by 〈…〉 they made the Kings name and his actions very hatefull vnto the 〈…〉 〈…〉 the meane time continued the course of his victories in base 〈…〉 hauing taken Honsteur a Port Towne hee came and raised the 〈…〉 where the Duke of Mayenne had lien fifteene daies beeing 〈…〉 aboue thirtie leagues where he offered him battell The 〈…〉 twiâ—e as many in number as the King could not draw him to it the memory of Arques was yet too fresh 1590. and the supply of fifteene hundred Lances and fiue hundred Harguebusiers which the Duke of Parma sent him vnder the command of the Count Egmont made him forbeare Whilest the Duke goes to ioyne with his Strangers the King takes Nonancourt and then besiegeth Dreux Siege of Dreux In the beginning of Marche the Duke turnes head towards Mantes to passe the riuer eight Leagues from Dreux His Maiestie hath intelligence thereof and giues him leaue to approach within two Leagues To giue and winue a battaile is indifferent vnto him Hee causeth his Armie to marche towards Nonancourt to view the foard of the riuer of Eure which runnes there hee himselfe treades out the place of battaile he imparts it to the Duke Montpensier the Marshals of Biron and Aumont to the Baron of Biron Marshall of the field and to the chiefe Captaines of his armie he makes choise of the Lord of Vieq for Sergeant Maior of the field he appointed the Rendezuous for his troupes at the village of Saint Andrew foure Leagues from Nonancourt vpon the way to Yury and the place of battaile in a great plaine neere vnto it All these old Souldiars found the place chosen with so great iudgment and military wisdome as they altered not any thing The King hauing deliuered it vnto the Baron to appoint euery man his place sayd It is no desire of glory nor motion of ambition nor appetite of reuenge that makes mee resolue to this combate but the extreame necessitie of my iust and naturall defence the pitty of my peoples calamitie and the preseruation of my Crowne Let vs all refer the euent of this enterprise to the eternall prouidence Then afterwards lifting vp his eyes to heauen Thou knowest O God sayd he the sinâ—eritie of my thoughts I beseech thee put me not in the number of those Princes whome thou hast forsaken in thy wrath but of those whome thou hast chosen to repaire the ruines of a desolate Estate and to releeue my miserable people oppressed with the violence of warre O Lord I yeeld my selfe to the disposition of thy holye and infallible will and desire not to liue not to raigne but so farre forth as my life may be to the aduancement and glory of thy name and may authoritie the raigne of vertues and the banishment of vices These and such like religious words moued all the Campe to prayers and workes of piety euery one according to his deuotion This done the King disposeth his armie according to the plotte which hee had layd Hee diuides it into seuen esquadrons and in euery one three hundred horse flanked on eyther side with footmen the first hee giues to the Marshall D' Aumont with two regiments of French The second to the Duke Montpensier with fiâ—e hundred Lansquenets and a Regiment of Suisses The third to the Earle of Auuergne and Ciury eyther of them commanding a troupe of light horse and on their left hand foure Canons and two Culuerins The disposition of the Kings armie The fourth to the Baron of Biron In the fift were fiue rankes of horse and sixe score in a fronte Princes Earles Barons Officers of the Crowne Knights of the Order Noblemen and Gentlemen of the chiefe families of France besides those which the Prince of Contie and La Guische great Maister of the Artillerie brought that day His Maiestie was in the head of this troupe shining in his armes like the Sunne amidest the seuen Planets hauing on the side of him two battailes of Suisses with the regiments of his gardes of Brigneux of Vignoles and Saint Iohn The sixt to the Marshall of Biron with two regiments of French The seuenth were about two hundred and fiftie Reistres These squadrons were all in a front but somewhat bending at the ends in forme of a Cressent There was nothing more terrible then to see two thousand French Gentlemen armed from the head to the foote The Duke of Mayenne appeared a farre off and had taken a Village betwixt both armieâ— but his Maiestie forceth them to dislodge and wearies them with skirmishes to drawe them to fight and the approching night leaues our warriours burning with desire to haue the day call them to the field to make proofe of their seruice and dâ—ties to their King and Countrie At the breake of day the men at armes were in their Squadrons the Souldiars in their Battaillons and by nine of the clocke euery man did fight in his gesture in his threats and words At the same instant the enemy shewes a bodie of about foure thousand horse and twelue thousand foote and almost in the same forme but most glistring with more fethers more men and lesse courage almost like a Cressent The Dukes Comet was about two hundred and fiftie horse augmented with the like number by the Duke of Nemours who ioyned with him and was almost in the midest of his esquadrons as that of the Kings but flanked with two Squadrons of Lanciers that came out of the Lowe Countries who were about eighteene hundred horse marching all togither On the side were two regiments of Suisses couered with French foote then two lesse squadrons of Lances seauen hundred on the right hand and fiue hundred on the left two Culuerins and two bastards The sunne and the winde might haue greatly amazed the Kings army To preuent this inconuenience his Maiesty aduanceth aboue a hundred and fifty paces gets both the sunne and the winde and finds the enemies number greater then he esteemed But this multitude serues as a spurre to euery Captaine to incourage both himselfe and his men The King goes to the head of his squadron beginnes his first worke by praier exhorts all the rest to do the like passeth from squadron to squadron animates exhorts and incourages them with a Countenance full of Maiesty ioye and constancie Mariuault arriues and giues him intelligence that the Lords of Humieres and Mouy are within two thousand paces of the field The first charge But the King had well obserued the point of his happinesse and will not giue his enemy that honour to strike the first stroake He that beginnes well hath halfe ended saieth the prouerbe Hee commandeth la Guische to discharge his Cannon It perceth through the thickest squadrons of the enemies and shoots nyne volâ—es before theirs could beginne fiue or sixe hundred light horse French Italians and Wallons aduance with a full carrier to charge the Marshall d' Aumone on the one side on the other side their Reistres
it vpon his owne head But these men had diuided it amongst them giuing the rest to vnderstand that they fedde themselues with vaine hopes To cast more wood and oyle into the flames of their diuision and to ruine one by another matters were so handled as the 15. of August The Duke of Guise escapes the yong Duke of Guise escaped out of prison from Tours and not farre from the riuer found a troupe of horse appointed by the Lord of La Chastre to conduct him This escape caused many bonfires and greatly reuiued their hearts who held this Prince fitte to make a King of the Vnion But the cleere sighted thought with reason that his arriuall at Paris would rather ruine then aduance their partye and the deuises and practises of other pretendants must needs soone kindle an extreame and common ielousie amongst them Whilest these consult with their most trustie friends and seruants Noyon taken by the King what effects might grow by this new accident the King in the same moneth besieged Noyon in Picardie defeated the succours sent by the League foure times killed their most resolute men at armes tooke many prisoners put the rest to flight and at the Duke of Mayennes nose who to auoyde this check which the League was like to receiue attempted vpon Mante sought to force his Maiesties Suisses lodged at Houdan and approched neere to Noyon but would not fight heaping shame vpon his enemies hee forced the besieged to yeeld to his obedience and moreouer went and dared him to fight before Han. Let vs returne into Daulphiné to behold the most memorable and most fatall defeate for the enemies of this Crowne the most vertuous expedition of armes which for these many yeares hath most broken their desseignes vpon Prouence and Daulphiné The 〈◊〉 of Sauoy defeated and most weakened the League in those Prouinces which the Sauoisien affected Don Amedeo bastard brother to the Duke of Sauoy Don Oliuares chiefe of the Spaniards whom the Duke had lately obtained of King Philip his father in lawe the Marquis of Treuiâ— and others conducted twelue or thirteene thousand men by the plaine of Pontcharra neere to the Castle of Bayard in the vallee of Graisiâ—odan Doubtlesse the place should reuiue the memory of that incomparable Knight who by the valour of his armes hath in former times wonderfully tyed the realme to recommend his merits the Lord Les Diguieres meetes them chargeth and ouercomes them leauing two thousand fiue hundred slaine vpon the place carries away many prisoners and most of the Commanders takes eighteene Enseignes with Red Crosses and makes bootie of all their baggage which amounts to aboue two hundred thousand Crownes in Chaines Iewels plate money both golde and siluer horse and armes Two thousand Romaines and Milanois which had saued themselues with Conte Galeas of Bel Ioyeuse their Commander in the Castle of Aualon were the next day at the Victors discretion sixe or seuen hundred were cut in peeces the rest were sent to a place of safetie with white wands in their hands and then sent home into Italy with an oth neuer to carry armes against France The King seeing that neither by the taking of Noyon nor by any other baite hee could draw his enemies to fight doth presse them yet more neerely To this end hee commands that Paris should bee restrained on all sides both by water and land and should enioy no commodities but by the mercie of the neighbour garrisons the which he entertained vpon the tributes and customes imposed vpon victuals which they suffered to passe to Paris and by this meanes emptied the inhabitants purses stript them and drew out of the Citty necessary commodities for his troopes then with one part of his army hee marcheth into Normandie surpriseth Louuiers approcheth to Rouan to tire the inhabitants Rouan besieged who seemed no lesse obstinate then the Parisiens He is no sooner arriued but they crie out for succors and his Maiestie sees them neere their ruine or at the least ready to yeeld to some reason So the King of Spaine sollicited from many partes Succoured by the Duke of Parma and thrust on by the consideration of his owne priuate interest and satisfaction sends to the Duke of Parma commands him to leaue the gouernment of the Lowe Countries in his absence 1591. to the Cont Mansfield to go and free Rouan and to imbrace such occasions as should be offered The Kings happy successe and his enemies miseries drawes the Prince of Parma the second time into France hee parts from Bruxelles with foure thousand foote and three thousand horse and fortified with the succours of Italy and three thousand Suisses hee marcheth by small iourneys for hee wisely conceiued that his Maister sent him into France for the same considerations that hee would haue giuen him the conduct of his armie by sea into England and vnder this shew of armes hee practised an other desseigne To cause the Estates of the League whereof they purposed a conuocation the next yeare to giue the Crowne of France to the Infanta of Spaine whom the father promised to marry with one of the heads of the partie whome the Estates should name This tended greatly to the preiudice of the Duke of Mayenne for hee was marryed Diuision bewixt the Duke of Mayenne and the sixteene and the eldest sonne of Lorraine the Dukes of Guise and Nemours were to marry Hee is therefore now resolutely determined to crosse the sixteene Tribunes of Paris who with their Champions carried away the peoples voyces and aboue all others did feed the Spaniards hopes in this realme to whome inticed by the gold of Peru and his prodigall promises they had already solde the Capitall Cittie The sixteene growne hatefull through their tyranous authoritie feare to be soone suppressed they resolue to preuent it and rather to vnhorse the Duke the better to aduance their affaires according to King Phillips intentions One thing seemed to aduance their desseigne they held prisoner one named Brigard a Proctor of the Towne-house accused to haue had intelligence with the King and of letters written to his Maiestie Brigard escapes out of prison They suspect the President Brisson and the Councellors Larcher and Tardife to haue fauoured his escape In this furie the 15. of Nouember they seize vpon these three venerable persons hale them to the Chastelet cause them to bee strangled in the close prison and the next day hang vp their bodyes at the Greue with infamous writings on their brests This execrable fact might haue extended farther and made the like spectacle of any one that should in any thing haue controuled the actions of these homicides The Duke of Mayenne who treated with Parma posts to appease this tumult hee caused Louchart Auroux Hameline and Emonnot the chiefe authors of this cursed attempt to bee apprehended and executed in the open view of all the people who bowed their backes mournefully at the damnable commands of
from the Archduke Ernest Lieutenant generall for the King of Spaine in the Low Countries who soone after perswaded the subiects of the sayd Countries to arme and to inuade France The better to knowe Picardie and to iudge of what should be necessary against the attemptes of this newe enemy the King makes a voyage to the fronter and then returnes to Paris to celebrate the solemnity of the knights of the order of the holy Ghost and to receiue the Ambassadors of Venise Vincent Gradenico and Iohn Delphino being sent to congratulate the happy successe of his affayres and Peter Duodo to succeed Iohn Mocenigo At his arriuall hee receiues three good aduertisements That the Marshall d' Aumont had taken from the Spaniard one of the places he had fortified in Brittaine That the Spaniards thinking to enter into Montrueil hauing giuen fiftie thousand Crownes to the gouernour had beene repulsed with the losse of fiue or sixe hundred men And that the Marshall of Bouillon had ioyned with the army of Cont Maurice in despight of Cont Charles But oh monstrous attempt the onely remembrance should make our haire to stare and our hearts to tremble The 27. of December the King being booted in one of the Chambers of the Louure The Kingâ— hurt in the â—â—ce hauing aboute him his Cousins the Prince of Conty the Cont Soissons and the Earle of S Paul and a great number of the chiefe Noble men of his Court bending downe to receiue the Lords of Ragny and Montigny who kist his knee a yongman called Iohn Chastel of â—he age of eighteene or nineteene yeares the sonne of a wollen draper in Paris a Nouice of the Iesuits 5594 encouraged by their instructions thrust on by a diuelish furie creeps into the chamber with the presse surprising his Maiestie as he was stooping to take vp these gentlemen in steed of thrusting him into the bellie with a knife as he had determined he strooke him on the vper lippe and brake a tooth This wretch was taken and confessed it without torture The King vnderstanding that he was a disciple of that schoole Must the Iâ—suits then said hee be iudged by my mouth Thus God meaning by this cursed and detestable atttempt to countenance the pursute of the vniuersitie of Paris against that sect Iohn Chastel hauing declared the circumstances of his wicked intent was found guiltie of treason against God and man in the higest degree and by false and damnable instructions holding that it was lawfull to murther Kings A decree against the murtherer and that the King now raigning was not in the Church vntill he were allowed by the Pope was by a decree of the Court condemned to do penance before the great dore of our Ladies Church naked in his shirt vpon his knees holding a burning torch of two pound weight to haue his armes and legges pinched at the Greue with burning pincers and his right hand holding the knife wherewith hee sought to commit this parricide to bee cut off his bodie to bee torne in peeces by foure horses burnt to ashes and cast into the wind and all his goods forfeit to the King The said Couâ—t decreed by the same sentence That the Preests schollers and all others terming themselues of that societie as corrupters of youth troublers of publike quiet and enemies to the Kings state should depart within three dayes after the publication of this decree out of Paris and other places where they had colledges and within fifteene out of the Realme vppon paine after the said time to bee punished as guiltie of high treason all their mouable and immouable goods to bee forfaited to bee imployed in godly vses forbidding all the Kings subiects to send any Schollers to the Colledge of the said societie without the Realme there to be instructed or taught vnder like paines as before The Decree was executed the nine and twentith of the said moneth Peter Chastel the father and Iohn Gueret schoolemaster to this murtherer were banished the first for a certaine time out off Paris and fined at two thousand Crownes the last for euer out off the Realme vppon paine of death The fathers house standing before the pallace razed and a piller erected conteyning for a perpetuall monument the causes of that ruine Amongst the writings of one named Iohn Guignard of Chartres were found certaine outragious and scandalous libells against his Maiestie made since the generall pardon granted by him at the reduction of Paris for the which hee was executed the seuenth of Ianuary following Experience hath often taught Warre proclaymed against the Spaniard that armes produce greater effects abroad in the enemies Countrie then at home and that the goodliest triumphe is sought farthest off Our vnciuill confusions were forged cheefly in Spaine and the Iesuits had beene the cheeâ—est workemen One Francis Iacob a scholler of the Iesuits of Bourges had lately vanted to kill the King but that hee held him for dead and that an other had done the deed And this horrible attempt of late vppon the sacred face of his Maiestie wherein hee was miraculously preserued doth witnes that they were the cheefe firebrands So the King grounding the necessitie of his armes vppon these considerations after hee had rooted out this sect of Schooles which they held within the Iurisdiction of the Parliament of Paris hee published a declaration for the making of warre against the King of Spaine Without doubt the reasoâ—s were verie apparent and manifest and the beginning more fauourable then the end The Marshall of Bouillon begins this new warre he enters the Duchie of Luxemâ—ourg with an armie of a thousand horse and foure thousand foote and at the first putâ—â—o rout eleuen Cornets of horse of Cont Charles neere to Wirton kills two hundred and fiftie vppon the place makes the rest to leaue armes horse and baggage and to saue themâ—â—lues in the next forrest 1595. Philip likewise for his part proâ—â—â—iâ—es 〈◊〉 against our Henry The Duke of Lorraine on the other side hauing taken a truce 〈◊〉 his Maiestie Some Lorrains serue the King the Baron of Aussonuille with the Seignieurs of Tremblecourt and 〈◊〉 George who before made warre vnder him now take the white scarfe they enter the County of Bourgongne with a thousand horse and fiâ—e thousand foote and at the first they seize vpon Vezou de Ionuille and other places Behold the fire which threatens two Prouinces but the Spaniard suffers them not to be consumed as men presumed that being busie to quench it he would leaue Picardie in quiet Hee commands the Archduke Erneste that with the hazard of the Lowe Countries he should transport all his forces into Picardie and moreouer causeth the Constable of Castille gouernour of Milan to passe the Alpes with a great armie of Spaniards and Neapolitanes who recouered the places and forced the Lorraines to disperse themselues The Artesiens and Hannuyers foreseeing the desolation which the continuance of this warre would
then to leaue that willingly which they could not hold by force That the King had expresly forbidden him not to consent to any Treaty nor to the choyse of any place for an Assembly before he had assurance of this restitution That hee held it a wrong done vnto the dignitye of so great a Prince to the honour of his commaundements to the equity of his cause and to his good fortune once to hearken vnto the difficulties they made to yeelde him vp that which was his owne That whosoeuer should treat with this preiudice deserued to be punished as the authors of Treaties that were dishonourable to their Maisters The Generall of the Fryars who could get no other resolutions at his hands returned twise into Flanders to let them vnderstand that among all the reasons of the Treaty that of Restitution was inuincible and that it was in vayne to demaund a Peace of the French if they did not restore all That this Restitution was the soule of the Treaty without the which it was a fantastike body without any naturall proportion and substance That in the ende desiring too much they should haue nothing and thinking to hold all they would loose all The Archduke doth aduertise the King of Spaine that there was no meanes to enter into the Temple of Peace but by opening of the gates of Calais Ardres Dourlans and other places taken in Warre vnto the King of France God inspired the heart of the King of Spaine against the opinion of his Councell of State to yeeld vp all his pretensions for the good of a Peace rather then to leaue the world in this perpetuall Discord and Confusion He did consult with his Councell of conscience vpon the necessity of this Restitution They answered him that he could not liue with a quiet soule nor die in the integrity of his Religion if he did not restore those places The King of Spaine followed this aduice aduertâ—sing the Archduke that he would not for that which he had gotten from an other loose the meanes to leaue a Peace to his owne Estates Vpon this resolution the Generall of the Fryars returnes into France The King of Spain reâ—olueâ— to yeâ—ld all the places and passeth his word vnto the Lâ—gate Sillery for the Restitution so as after an infinite toyle of two moneths these three made all things ready for a Treaty Sillery returnes to the King leading with him the Generall of the Fryars as wel to let him vnderstand from the Kings owne mouth what he had sayd vnto him by his commaundement as also to haue the Generall tell the King what hee had promised and propounded on the Archdukes behalfe The Legate remayned at S. Quintin aâ— Gardien of the words and intentions of two Princes Being assured of eythers faith they agree vpon a place for the assembly of the Deputies and to conclude the Treaty â—he Towne of Veruins being vnder the Kings obedience and neere vnto the â—â—oâ—ters of Arthâ—is was found the most commodious Veruins chosâ—n for the conference and was presently furnished with all things necessary to receiue the Ambassadors The King Deputed Pompone de Belieure Knight Lord of Grignon the chiefe and most auncient of his Priuy Councell and Nicholas Brulart Knight Lord of Sillery Councellour of State to his Maiesty and President in his Court of Parliment For the King of Spaine and the Archduke there came Iohn Richardot Knight President of the Kings Priuye Councell and of his Councell of State Iohn Baptista Taxis Knight Commaunder de los Santos of the Military order of S. Iames and Councellor of State and of the Councel of Waâ— Lewis Verrichen Knight AudieÌ„cer chiefe Secretary Treasorer of the Charters of the Councell of State The Cardinall Medicis Legate of the holy Sea assisted by the Bishop of Mantoua was as it were an Vmper of all difficulties in this good and holy reconciliation The Kings Deputies arriued first and those of the King of Spaine presently after where hauing saluted one another with hearts full of ioy and incredible content they promised to treat Roundly Sincerely Mildely communicating their Commissions one vnto an other and reforming those errors which they found The Precedence yeelded to the French that they might begin to treat more safely and freely After much question and many protestations made by the Deputies of the King of Spaine for the Precedence in the ende they yeelded vnto the French Kings to take what place they pleased after the Legate and the Popes Nuncio At their first sitting the Legate exhorts them to shewe the fidelity and integritie iâ— this action which their Maisters desired The Legate exhorâ—â— the Depuâ—ies whereof he assured himselfe by their experâ—ences as of those which had happily managed the greatest affayres of Europe more then any other men wishing them to consider that hauing the honour to Councell two of the greatest Princes of the world who submitted their wills vnto their Councells as the most diuine thing among men when it is purged from ambitious passions violent thoughts and preiudicate opinions they should omit nothing that might regard the contentment of their good intentions and not to doubt but that God who hath an especial care of Kings and Kingdomes would infuse the light of his sâ—irit into their most seceet thoughts and threaten them with the sincerity of his Iustice if they did not apply all their indeauours to his glory and the good of the Christian common weale Then they entred into Treaty with a mildnesse fit for men of that quality and the merit of the matter It was managed with such secrecie as nothing was knowne before that all was concluded The chiefe poynt of difficulty was for the restitution of Places Many reasons were propounded on eyther side but the Kings Deputies had great aduantages the force of reason the prosperity of affayres in the recouery of Amiens and aboue all the fauour of the time and occasion The King of Spaine would not dye but in Peace he desired his Sonne might raigne in Peace and that his deerely beloued Daughter might be married in Peace The Aâ—chduke languished with a desire to be married and fearing least the promise which he had not taking effect during the life of the King of Spaine the conditions would be made worse he pressed Richardot and Taxes not to proceed in this negotiation after the Spanish manner but to remember that they must not prolong their consultations nor protract an action the praise whereof depended vpon the conclusion So after they had balanced all matters in the treaty to reduce them to a iust proportion of reason all controuersies betwixt the two Kings were reconciled and ended During the Treaty of Veruins the Emperour Rodulphus the 2. as well for himselfe as for some Princes of the Empire An Agent sent from the Emperour to the Stâ—tes of the vnited Prouinces at the instant request of the King of Spaine sent Charles
Deputies in their Maisters names they promise shall be inuiolably obserued and kept and to cause them to ratifie them and to deliuer one vnto an other authentike letters signed and sealed conteining the whole Treaty and that within one moneth after the date of those presents in regard of the most Christian King the Cardinal Archduke and Duke of Sauoy that the Cardinall should promise to procure within three moneths after the like leâ—ters of ratification from the Catholike King Archduke and Duke of Sauoy They should solemnely sweare vpon the Crosse the holy Euangelist the Cannon of the Masse and by their Honouâ—s in the presence of such as they should depute to obserue and fulfill Really and Faithfully all that was contayned in the sayd Articles and the like oath should be taken by the Catholike King of Spaine within three moneths after or when it should be required In witnesse whereof the deputies subscribed the treaty at Veruins the second of May. 1598. The King of Spaine who desired a peace at what rate soeuer found no condition in this treaty of Veruins that might disswade him from ratifiyng it although his Councel held the restitution of Towns so happily taken and so hard to recouer dishonourable and preiudiciall He prest to haue it sworne and executed witnessing the contentment he receiued in his foule for the good which Christian dome should receiue by the concord of these two Crownes The Archduke who did second his desire sent Deputies to assist at the French Kings oath Ambassadors to sweare the peace hostages for the restitution of the places They arriue the 18. of Iune the Duke of Ascot the Cont Aremberg the Admirall of Arragon and Lewis de Velasco being followed by 400. Gentlemen Spaniards Italians Bourguignons and Flemings The Cont S. Paul receiued them vpon the fronters The Constable feasted them at Amiens and pacified some quarrells growne among them for place The Marshall of Biron with a great and goodly troupe of Noblemen and Gentlemen appointed by the King receiued them a quarter of a league without S. Denis gate conducting them vnto their lodgings which were prepared in S. Anthonyes quarter The next day they went vnto the Louure with all their traine in rich and stately equippage to kisse the Kings hands who receiued the m graciously giuing an attentiue eare vnto the discourse which Richardot made vpon the merit of this action the common profit and necessity of a peace the which hee said was to be preferred before a iust warre and all hope of prospertie The King answered That he had desired peace not for that he was tired with the discommodities of war but to giue all Christendome meanes to breath The Kings answer That his armes fell out of his hands when as they represented vnto him the teares which fell from the Popes eyes for their reconciliation which might greatly aduance the quiet of the Church of God That he would neuer be blamed to be ill affected to the preseruation of the Peace as hee neuer wanted zeale nor iustice to seeke it hauing alwayes preferred it before the vndoubted assurance of all the good successe which the happinesse of his armes and the reason of his defence promised him beleeuing the aduice of them which holde that wee must neuer for the hope of any fauourable su cesse refuse a good peace and ground the expectation of the euent vppon the appaâ—ence of present things The most sollemne forme of a treaty is the oath which bindâ—s them that treat It was not sufficient that the Princes had signed it and ingaged their â—aâ—thâ—ull promises to maintaine it they would make the God of heauen the Iudge and witnesse of their intentions The King of Spaine did signe and sweare the peace the 12. of Iuly 1598. His sonne did not signe it tâ—ll the treaâ—y of Sauoy 1601 The forme of the oath ingaging their faith in the handes of his iustâ—ce for an assurance of their promises And therefore the King did sweare the obseruation of the Peace in our Ladies Church at Paris in the presence of the King of Spaines Ambasâ—adors The Archduke did sweaâ—e it in the name of the King of Spaine in the great Church at Brusselles in the presence of the Marshall of Biron Belliâ—ure and Brulart Councelleâ—s to the King and his Ambasâ—adors The Duke of Sauoy did also sweare it at Chambery in the presence of Guadagnes Lord of Boutheon Knight of both Orders The oath was ministred in this manner Wee promise vpon our faith and honour and in the word of a King and sweare vpon the Crosse the holy Euangill and the Canon of the Masse for that which concernes vs That wee will obserue and accomplish fully really and faithfully all and euery point and article contayned in the treaty of Peace reconciliation and amitie made concluded and determined at Veruins the second day of May last past c. and will cause all to bee obserued maintayned and kept inuiolably on our part without any breach or suffering it to be broken in any sort or manner whaâ—soeuer In witnesse whereof wee haue signed these presents with our owne hands c. The King would haue the sincerity of his intention knowne to all the world and Paris a witnesse of the oath he should take to obserue the peace as religiously as hee had made warre iustly The Ceremony was performed in our Ladies Church at Paris with great pompe Monsieur de Villeroy did read the articles of the Peace The King did sweare the obseruation thereof â—igned the Act and embraced the Ambassadors of the King of Spaine wâ—shing the King his Brother a long life that he might long enioy the fruites of this Peace This Ceremonie was ended with great ioy acclamations of the peoâ—le Fâ—om thence the King went to dine at the Bishops Pallace where he feasted the Ambassadors the Duke Mompensier supplying the place of Lord Sâ—eward The feast was royall and magnificent and all things were answerable to so great a Ceremonie That ancient custome of drinking to the health of Princes which came from that of the Greekes who oâ—fered to euery one of their Gods a Glasâ—e of Wine since hath beene vsed to shew our deuoted affection to great personages was not forgotten Tâ—e King dranke twise to the health of the King of Spaine This ioy was continued at nigâ—t at the Lâ—â—ure in dancing and the daies following in feasting at diuers great mens houses by the Kings command All this did not hinder the execution of the Treatie neither did the Deputies forget the interest of priuate persons The Spaniards intreated the King for the returne oâ— some that were absent especially for the Duke of Aumale The King answered them that â—f they â—â—stored vnto Antonio Perez his children and goods hee would â—iue the Duke of Aumale contentment whereby he should enioy the fruites of the Peace The Spaniards replyed that Perez who was then out of Spaine for matters câ—ncerning the
in the Archdukes Court The Duke of Sauoy who enioyed the same benefit of the Peace M r de 〈…〉 King â—f the Duke oâ— â—irâ—â— practâ—â—es was bound to the obseruation thereof by the like forme The King sent to M r dela Guiche Gouernour of Lion that hee would willingly haue giuen him that charge but that he feared his absence might somewhat preiudice the good of his affaires and his indisposition not suffer him to performe the voyage Hee therefore commanded Guadagnes Seneshall of Lion and Knight of both orders to vndertake this charge The oth was taken in the Friars Church of Chambery on Sunday the second of August The Dâ—ke of Sâ—â—oy sweares thâ— pâ—ace where the Duke was assisted with all his Knâ—ghts of the Auanciado and to witnesse the content which hee had of this peace and reconciliation with his Maiesty he sayd vnto Guadagnes that hee held this day the happiest of all the daies of his life and that all which remayned should bee to maintayne and honour the memory thereof That it were not onely an indiscretion but a blindnesse and a madnes for him to change the felicities of Peace for the miseries of Warre The Duke gaue vnto Guadagnes to the chiefe gentlemen of his trayne Iewells Horses Chaines of gold and to all so many good words as there was not any one but did wishe him more profit by this Peace then he reaped He refused not any thing that was demanded of him in the execution of the treaty for the deliuery and ransome of prisoners but onely the liberty of the Admirall Chastillons wife Hee made answere to the Instance which Guadagnes made in the Kings name Iaâ—â—â—line Countâ—sse of Antiemâ—nt wife to the Admirall was Prisoner at 〈◊〉 and there dâ—d That the respect hee bare vnto his Maiesties comandement was so great as to please him hee would restore her goods and giue her some more liberty whilest that hee might giue his Maiesty to vnderstand the iust causes of her restraint That whatsoeuer had beene decreed at Rome for her absolution was rather in sauour of his Maiesty then for any reason for that hee was seized vpon bookes and writings that were execrable and damnable The afflictions of this Lady did mooue the harts of the chiefe Officers of this Crown of many great Noblemen of the realme her kinsmen and allies The King had commiseration of her for her misfortunes her imprisonment losses and disgraces deserued pitty The Constable the â—â—rdinall of 〈◊〉 the Duke of Ioyenze and M. Danâ—â—â—lot intreated the Legâ—t to do hâ—r â—ustice She was so transported with the good successe of the Kings affaires that although shee were among her enemies yet the fire of her desires could neyther be smothered vnder the ashes of affliction nor vnder the fume of dissimulation If she could haue done that whereof they accused her she would haue made as soden alterations on the earth as Henry King of Sueden did in the aire and as admirable as her will was absolute to desire that the King might ouercome his enemies and haue satisfaction for Nice and Salusses Vpon the hope that this Peace should giue her some content and that the Kings commendation by his Ambassador should giue some truce to her miseries shee writ a letter of the pittifull course of her misfortunes wherby appeared the excellâ—y of her spirit in these words Although saith shee the comparison bee as different as an Elephant and a Gnat yet are they both vegeratiue and sensitiue creatures My fortune and that of my house hath alwaies followed that of France and the Kings for as since his marriage I haue alwaies seene my Estate declyning euen vnto the period of a totall ruine The Councelle of Antâ—emonts letter to Peter Mathieâ—â— by the ill successe of his affaires so now when as God hath powred his blessings vpon him that hee hath reueÌ„ged him of his enemies euen by his enemies that against the conspiracies of the wicked the iudgement of the good hee doth enioy his Inheritance I will hope there shal be some change in my condition I desire it may be good but if it proue otherwise I will not alter my resolution to receiue both good and euill as from the hand of God I haue this aduantage ouer fortune that hereafter her iniuries how violent and soden soeuer shall not be strange vnto me Custome makes afflictions easie I am inured to my afflictions as a Galley-slaue to his oare Necessity â—eacheth me to suffer constantly and custome makes my suffrance eaâ—â—â— The King also gaue Guadagnes charge to let the Duke vnderstand that hee had receiued three seuerall complaints from the Citty of Geneua how that his troupes which he entertayned thereabouts vsed insupportable hostâ—lities tooke prisoners chopt and changed them that his Maiesty desired the Towne might reape the fruite and safeâ—y which the common good of the peace did promise them Comâ—laiâ—ts from the Towne of Geneua and that the Dukes troupes might be retired to the end all Iealousie and distrust might ceasse The Duke would not answer herevnto by writing least saith he he should preiudice the pretensions which he had to that Towne for aboue foure hundred yeares saying only that hee did not thinke it had beene comprised in the treaty of peace for that all other Townes and Prouinces had beene particularly named and not that of Geneua That hee could not free his neighbors from feare and distrust The Dukes pretensions but in retyring his troupes that were about the towne to refresh them in Lombardie hee should take away the cause hauing no intention to prefer War before the happines of Peace He therefore commanded Don Iuan de Mendoza a Spaniard to draw his Regiment which consisted of twelue hundred men out of the territories of Geneua to passe to Milan The King of Spaine fiâ—ding himselfe decrease daily both in strength and health desiring to fâ—â—ish that which he had resolued for the mariage of his eldest Daughter Madam Isabelle with Albert the Archduke his Nephew although he were aduanced to great Ecclesiasticall dignities Donation of the Lowe Countries to the Infanta of Spaine especially to the rich Archbishoprick of Toledo he called before him in the Citty of Madril the 6. of May Prince Philip his onely sonne being about 20. yeares old whom he had also promised in mariage to Madam Mary daughter to the Ferdinand Archduke of Austria but she died soone after accompanied with Don Gomes d'Auila Marquis de Vellada Gouernour and Lord Steward of Prince Philips house DoÌ„ Christopher de Mora Earle of Castel Roderigo great CoÌ„mander of the Alcantara Don Iuan d' Idiaques great CoÌ„mander of Leon all 3. being Councellors of State M. Nicholas Damant Knight CouÌ„cellor President Chancellor of Brabant with Lâ—lâ—o Secretary for the affaires of the Low Countries no more whereas the King made a Grant of the Lowe Countries to his Daughter the which
enterpriâ—e they thinke it verie necessary that none should aide the Spaniards nor their Adherents with Munition Marchandise or Money they do strictly forbidde any of their Cittizens to carry any kinde of Marchandise whatsoeuer into any of the Prouinces which obeye the Spaniards or their complices Also they forbidde all Fishermen and others that exercise all kinde of Marchandise by Sea to take any pâ—sport or safeconduct from the Spaniards wherewith they haue beene often heeretofore intangled and receiued losses Also they abandon to the spoile all men the goods meanes of aâ—l such as liue vnder the rule and gouernment of the Spaniards wheresoeuer they shal be found and they commande that not only all the Marchandise Ships Wagons and Horses of all such as shâ—l bâ—ing any thing out of the Spaniards Countries or shall carry vnto them shal be confiscate But also they will thâ—t al Owners Mâ—sters of Ships Wagoners shal be punished by fine and if after a yeare they bee taken in any such offence then to be corporally punished But to the ende the nauigation may be assured for the Hollanders and especially that they may be freed from excessiue ransomes which the enemy doth vâ—uaâ—â—y exact they decree that the Masters of Shippes and Marriners that shal be taken by the enemies and ransomed by them whatsoeuer they haue beene taxed by them they shal be remboursed and satisfied out of the goods of them of Brabant Flanders and others that liue vnder the gouernment of Spaine besides the ordinarie tributes and contributions which the saied Brabanders and Flemings are accustomed to pay vnto them Whilest these Proclamations are published in the Lowe Countries the which shall bring nothing but a reuiuing of most cruell Warres betwixt the Flemings and the Hollanders Albert the Arch-duke and the Queene of Spaine part from Milan the 5. of February The Archduke comes to Geâ—oa with the Queene of Spaine to go to Genoa where they imbarked the 18. of the sayd moneth They passed by Sauona and Nice and anchored at Marselles where as they were royally entertayned by the Duke of Guise the Kings Lieutenant in Prouence and by his commaundements Yet the Queene went not into the Citty From thence they parted the 22. of February and sayling along the coast of Spaine in the end they came to the Pott of Biraros in the Kiâ—gdome of Valentia wheâ—eas the Queene went to Land From thence the Sonne of the Prince of Orange was sent to the Catholike King to giue him intelligence of the Qâ—eenes happy voiage She aâ—riues at 〈◊〉 and of her arriuall The last of March they came to Saint Mathiew whereas the Marquis of Denia came in the Kings name to salute the Queene to acquaint her with his Maiestâ—es priuate intentions From thence they went and stâ—ied at Moluiedro a village of the remainder of Sagonte an ancient Towne of the Romains Allyance Here Albert the Arch-duke tooke post to go kisse the Kings hands and of the Infanta his spouse From thence he went to Madril to see the Empresse his Mother where he continued foure daies and so returned to Valentia The King in the meane time inflamed with an amorous desire to see his newe Spouse disguised himselfe and tooke vpon him the habit of a Nobleman fayning to be sent from the King to kisse the Queenes hands But hee was knowne by the Princesses and Ladies that were then in the Qâ—eenes company where he was receiued with incredible ioye and content of all men The magnificence at Valentia at the King oâ— Spâ—iâ—â—â— marriage In the meane tâ—me there were exceeding great preparations made in Valentia for the celebration of the marriage The which beeing finished the 17. of Apriâ—l the Qâ—eene made her royall entry with so great and goodly an Assembly of Princes and Noblemen that were come from all parts and so gallantly followed as it seemed an Armie by the brauery of so Royall a traine There were fiue companies of men at armes marched before the troupe then followed 30. Atabales or Drummes on Horse-backe with Trompetts Clairons and Hauboies which filled the aire with their sound Then came the Coutiers without any prerogatiue of order or ranke But especially there were 400. young NoblemeÌ„ like vnto Pages of honor Royally attired euery one followed with his Pages and footemen some sixe some eight others ten some 20.24.26 and more verie richly appareled in lyueries of all colours There were moreouer 700. Knights of honour in the Queenes Liuery white and redde the ground satin After them came foure Knights carrying the Royall Maces then the Stwards of the Queenes house and sixteene of the Graâ—des of Spaine Then came the Heralds in their coates of armes After them marched the great Maiordomo or Lord Steward and the Maister of the Horse After all followed the Qâ—eene on Horse-backe vnder a Canopie of Cloth of Gold carried by 20. of the châ—efe Noblemen of Valentia the reines of her Bridle beeing of Siluer and Gold were held on either side by Noblemen of the Kingdome of Valentia The Queenes Gowne was of Cloth of Gold the grownd Siluer most richly imbrodered with Pearle and other precious stoanes The Queenes Mother and the Arch-duke Albert followed with the Queenes Cabinet with a great number of Princes and Noblemen and last of all came the Princesses and Ladies in Carosâ—es and Coaches It is thought that at this nuptiall pompe there was spent three Millions of Gold The Queene hauing past the port which was beautified with a triumphant Arch she was led vnto the Church which al did glister being hanged with cloth of Siluer The great Alter was Royally furnished before the which was an Oratory couered with Cloth of Gold which might hold three persons and an other by it foâ— fiâ—e The Queene went thether after shee had kist the Crosse which was presented vnto her by the Patriarke Arch-bishop of Valentia The Catholike King being come downe with the Infanta his Sister by a priuie way made of purpose the Popes Nunciâ— after the sollemne Ceremonies were ended did first aske the King and then the Arch-duke if they did ratifie the marriages formerly contracted by their Ambassadors and celebrated by the Holy father When as eyther of them had declared that they ratified it then altogither approched to the Altar and vpon their knees assisted at the last blessing of their marriage From thence they went to the Pallace whereas the nuptiall feast was kept with the greatest state that might be Two daies after the King made three Knigâ—ts of the GoldeÌ„ fleece Albert the Arch-duke the Admirall of Castille and the Prince Doria Knights of the Golden Flâ—ece There were all kinds of sights and sports for the space of eight daies in a Theater that was built of purpose able to conteine threscore thousand persons This yeare Death strooke a great stroake among men and women who shewed their generous resolutions against the feare and terrors thereof Peter de Pinac the last
marriage betwixt his Maiestie and the Queene Marriages broken for iust causes Duchesse of Valois being no lesse easie then that of Charlemagne with Irmengrade and Theodor a Daughter Sister to Didier King of Lombards for indisposition and sterilitie of Lewis the 7. with Elenor Duchesse of Guienne for some discontentments set downe in the Historie and couered with the pretext of Consanguinitie of Lewis the 12. with Ioane of France daughter to King Lewis the XI constrayned by force and want of consent That they should not be troubled to seeke lawfull causes of this dissolution for besides the want of issue in the which consists the secoÌ„d end of Matrimonie and the preseruation of the State they should not need to inuent the degree of consanguinitie being knowne to all men that the King and Queene are in the third degree a blemish which hath alwayes accompanied the Marriage since the sollemnisation thereof and the which was not taken away by the breefe of Pope Gregory the 13. for that the necessarie and essentiall formes were not obserued After that hee had shewed the necessitie profit of this separation he beseecheth the King to choose his second Wife in a cheefe and soueraigne Familie and which had beene heretofore honoured with the like happines and to consider that so great a Realme flourishing in Princes and many Noblemen and ancient houses cannot easily submit themselues to the commaund of those which by both sides shall not be of the bloud royall or soueraigne halfe Princes halfe simple gentlemen And if at any time wee must respect the distinction of Birthes Races it must be when as they that come are borne to coÌ„mand ouer others That they could not giue Heires to a Realme of too worthie a House· and if hee bee not equall by the Fathers side yet at the least that he come neere vnto it for men being by nature high minded do not willingly submit themselues to them whom they thinke to bee inferiour vnto their Fathers vnto whose commaund they haue beene inured The King was well pleased wâ—th this discours and aduertised Queene Marguerit thereof by L' Anglois one of the Masters of Requests of his Maiesties houshold to vnderstand her resolution touching the nullitie of their Marriage Shee who vpon the like demand during the life of the Duchesse of Beaufort had made refusall for some reasons returned him answere that shee would deliuer her mynd vnto Berthier Agent for the Clergie and Intendant of her affaires The Kings intentions were imparted vnto him and hee sent vnto her who returned with this answere vnto the King and his Councelâ— A Letter from Queene 〈◊〉 vnto the King That shee desired nothing more then the Kings contentment and the quiet of the Realme and withall shee sent a priuat letter vnto his Maiestie beseeching him To grace her with his protection vnder the shadow whereof shee would passe the remainder of her yeares The sayd Qâ—eene sent a Petition vnto the Pope Hâ—â— request â—nto the Pope conteining That her brother King Charles the 9 and the Queene her mother had married her against her will to which marriage her heart had neuer consented That the King and shee being in the third degree of consanguinitie she beseeched his Holines to declare the marriage voide The King made the like request This busines was managed very seriously by the Cardinaâ—l of Ossat and by the Lord of Sillery the Kings Ambassador at Rome who at the same time pursued the Iudgement â—or the Marquisate of Saluces They beseeched his Holines in his Maiesties name That for that which should concerne the nullity of the sayd marriage he desired no other fauour then that of Iustice. This busines was imparted by the Pope vnto the Consistory Pope Gregories dâ—spenâ—aâ—on was 〈◊〉 the maâ—râ—age and many reasons set downe to proue the nullity of the marriage All the difficulty was Pâ—pe Clement the 8. thought it some-what strange that hee should declare that marriage voyde which Pope Gregory the 13. had approued and who by his absolute authoritie had taken away all lets and hindrances All which was answered at large And although it were true that Qâ—eene Marguerite had continued long with the King Yet this coâ—abitation was alwaies forced and the same feaâ—e which was in the beginnâ—ng of the marriage had continued during the life of her Bretheren and the Queene â—er Mother and the time was to be regarded so long as the feare continued for marriages contracted by force and constraint without consent are voyde and time doth not deface the nullity if he that is forced hath not liberty to do that freely which they haue made him do by force In the end it was resolued on in the Consistory that a Commâ—ssion should be granted to certaine Prelats to take iust knowledge of the cause vpon the place The King 〈◊〉 boâ—ne the 1â— of December 1553 and baptâ—zed 〈…〉 the Cardinaâ—l of Bourbon 〈◊〉 King Henry the 2. and to iudge of the nullity of the sayd marriage His Holineâ— sent this Commission vnto the Cardinall Ioyeuze to the Bishop of Modene his Nuntio in France and to the Archbishop of Arles a learned Italian Prelate and well practised in those affaires who being assembled at Paris after that they had obserued all solemnities that were requisite and caused information to be taken of his Maiesties age hauing vewed the reqâ—isition of the three Estates of France conteyning the great interest they had therein Aâ—l being wel examined considered they declared the sayd marriage voide set the parties at liberty to marry where they pleased The King sent d'Alincourt Gouernor of Pontoise Knight of his Orders to thanke the Pope for his good iustice the Earle of Beaumont to Queene Margeret to let her vnderstaÌ„d that the Popes Delegates had giuen vp their sentence The kingâ— letter to Queene Margueâ—iâ— And seeing that God had suffred that the bond of their conâ—uÌ„ction was disolued the which his diuine Iustice had done as well for their particular quiet as for the publike good of the Realme hee desired no lesse to cherish and loue her then before resoluing to haue more care of that which did concerne him then he had had to let her vnderstand that hereafter he would not be a Brother to her only in name but shee should finde effects worthy of the trust which she had reposed in the sincerity of his aâ—fection She made answer vnto the King Queene 〈◊〉 answere That although it were easie to receiue comfort for the losse of any worldly thing yet the onely respect of the merit of so peâ—â—ect a King and so valiant did by the priuation therof cut off all consolation being the marke of the genâ—rosity of such a spirit to make her griefe immortall as hers should be if the fauor which it pâ—eased his Maiesty to do her by the assurance of countenance and protection did not banish it At the same time
she tasted the effects of the Kings liberality by the increase of her pensions lyuing happily at Vesson nere to Aurillac in the tranquillity and silence of her fortune This change is no let but shee shal be alwaies one of the first Princesses of Europe No man can take from her that which Heauen and Nature haue giuen her It is a Theater which although it hath been beaten with lightning is still admired And to speake the truth without affectation or flatery shee her selfe hath ruined the greatnesse of her fortune in that shee would be what she is This marriage is no sooner dissolued but they treat of an other In the blessings whereof the French promise vnto themselues the increase and continuance of those of Heauen Mary of Medicis thâ— Duke of 〈◊〉 Daughter The great Duke of Tuscany did carefully keepe Mary of Medicis his Neece to increase the Honour of his house by some great alliance It was in a season when as the Soueraigne houses of Europe had no Daughters ready to marry or there was some disparity for their Age or Religion Great and important considerations which Princes should not passe ouer lightly It seemes that the eternall wisdome which concludes the Marriages of Pâ—inces in Heauen and blesseth them on earth would not marry this Princesse vnto the Emperour but reserued her for the good of a greater Empire not being pleased that France should seeke the means to continue the Crowne in the Kings Posterity any where else but at Florence one of the eyes of Italy and in the house of Medicis which goeth equally with the first in Italie The histoâ—y of which house you may read at large in the Oâ—iginall Cosmo surnamed by Pius the fiâ—t the Great of Tuscane had by Madame Eleonor of Toledo Daughter to the Viceroy of Naples Francis Ferdinand Peter Garcia Isabelle and Eleonor Francis married Ioane of Austria Daughter to the Emperour Ferdinand Of this marriage came two Daughters Eleonor Mary the first is married to the Duke of Mantoâ—a the venture and good fortune of the other is reserued to be Queene of France And the King being now set at liberty fixt all his thoughts vpon her marriage The Prince of Orange being returned out of France from his Ambassage and come to Bruxelles Foure knights oâ—â—he golden Fleece made by the Archduke the Arch-duke made him Knight of the Golden Fleece with the Duke of Arschâ—t the Marquis of Haurech and the Count Egmont The Cardinall had beene gouenor in the Lowe Countries almost a whole yeare all his exploits were reduced to the fort which he caused to be built in the Isle of Bommell called Saint Andrewes fort being inexpugnable which coÌ„monly they called the spectacle of Holland the which being finished the Arch-duke retired his army out of the Isle of Bommel and put his men into garrison All the rest of the yeare their Highnesses spent in making their entries into the Townes of the Lowe Countries The Archduâ—es army reâ—â—ers out of the Isle of Bommel trying all meanes to haue a Peace with the Hollanders Yea the Emperour laboring still to make this Peace sent vnto them for his Ambassadors Count Salenduc of Isembourg and Herman Manderschiden who let the States of the vnited Prouinces vnderstand his Emperiall Maiesties intent Wherevnto the States answere by writing That it would please his Emperiall Maiesty to remember their former answeres by the which they had sufficiently declared That they could assâ—re themselues neither of the Arch-duke nor of the Infanta seeing they are in the Spaniards power that also their power and command ouer the Lowe Countries was a manifest fraude The staâ—es answere to the Emperours deputiâ—s and although it were tâ—ue for the Country of Flanders yet doth it not followe that it shoâ—ld hold for Holland and Zelande whereas the King of Spaine hath no right Moreouer the King of Spaine seekes but to command ouer all Estates vnder the pretexâ— of Religion the which hee abuseth for pretext of his Ambition hauing no touch of Piety in his Soule And this is all which his Emperiall Maiesty may expect of the resolution of the sayd Estates being resolued to defend themselues from the tiraâ—ie of the Spaniards and their oppressions And so the Ambassadors returneâ— without doing any thing The Duke of Sauoy had sent many of his Ministers into France to treat vpon the diâ—ference for the Marquisate of Saluces without expecting the Popes sentence Aâ—â— the voiages which Iacob the President Rochette the Marquis of Lullins the Cheualier Breton and Roncas his Secretary had made brought him no other fruit then to haue obserued the State of the Court peerced a little into the Kings desseins the which is alwaies the fiâ—st of an Ambassadors instructions and noted the countenance of some spirits impatient of rest and desirous of change And although the Patriarke of Constantinople had by his perswasions drawne more from the King then the Duke of Sauoy hoped for yet could hee neuer change the resolution which the King had taken to haue the Mâ—rquisate againe He was at Lions wheras sicknesse staied him for a time The King hauing commanded the Gouernor of Lions to Lodge him and supply all his wants Roncas attended vntill he was recouered to conduct and accompany him according to the order which the Duke had giuen him But as things went on more slowly then he desired he thought that this pursute required a greater presence and action that hee himselfe must do his owne Ambassage promising more vnto himselfe by his only shadow then by all the soliciting of seruants He therefore prepared himselfe to go to the King although the chiefe of his Councell disswaded him The onely thought of this voiage made him irreconciliable to the King of Spaine although it had not past the tearmes of a simple proposition The Dukesâ— discontent but counterfet so did he make shew to be desirous to breake wholy with him he had in shew great occasions to complaine of his friendship and succors who did but entertaine his greefe and made the cure desperate It is good for a Prince to know the humor of many nations He knew the Spaniards well their manner of liuing the ruinous conditions which they lay vppon them whome they assist the length and languishing of their promises were odious vnto him He did consider the Iniustice and Inequalitie in the Portion of the Infanta his Wife who of so many Scepteâ—s and Crownes which the King her father had receiued but sixscore thousand Crownes of yeerely pension whereas the eldest had the Low Countries and the Franche Countie in marriage He could not forget that at the treatie of Veruins he had beene in a manner forgotten and that a peace was almost concluded before they thought of him Hee beleeued that if the Spaniard would the question for the Marquisate of Saluces had beene ended the which might heue beene left to him in exchange of Calais Dorlans Ardres and
sent to Court to knowe the Kings pleasure touching this difficulty The King demanded of him what a Chanoine of Honour was and if the Duke of Sauoies reception had beene like vnto his La Faye answered that the great and famous Churches of Europe had Chanoines of Honour who were either Soueraigne Princes in whose domynions they were founded or forraine Princes who by their piety haue bound the Church to this acknowledgement of Honour That the place of a Chanoine of Honour is neither for the office nor for the charge but onely for reuerence and priuiledge for as the Prince who is a Chanoine of Honour is not bound to any other thing but to sweare the protection and preseruation of the rights of the Church so hee reapes no other proffit but is partaker of their Prayers which they make there That this Honour should be of small import if the greatnesse of Princes which had disired it did not make it great in a great Church the which being one of the cheife of France as well in Antiquity as in Dignity the reputation thereof haue beene spred in farre nations who haue founded their Churches after this modell That this Honour had beene giuen in ancient time to the most Christian Kings Chanoins of honor are bound to shewe the antiqâ—â—ty and greâ—â—nesâ—e of their extractio◠〈◊〉 but the â—ing to the Dukes of Sauoy Earles of Villards to the Dukes of Bourgondy Dukes of Berry and Daulphins of Viennois which haue beene receiued Cannons of Honour in that Church but those receptions did differ from that of the Kings The King asked the opinion of his Councell in that case and by their aduice he answered that the Duke of Sauoy holding no more the County of Villards should not pretend the rights that depended thereon that comming into France to reconcile himselfe vnto his Maiesty hee would make so small an aboad in Lions as hee did not thinke that hee would stay for so simple a Ceremony That if he should demand that place of Chanoine of Honour as they had giuen it to his deceased Father the Chapter should excuse themselues vntill they knewe the Kings pleasure to do their duties at his returne The Duke was much offended with the refusall of that was due to him and the which they had giuen vnto his deceased Father Neither did hee dissemble his discontent for he would not go into this Church although he were lodged in the Archbishops Pallace nor passe ouer the place which is before the principall doore and when as the Deane with the whole body of the Church went to salute him hee sayd that he had alwaies honored that Companie as hauing the Honour to be of it Being receiued into Lions according to the Kings order command he had many presages of discontentment in his voyage His seruants in Court aduertised him that if he came without other desseine then to offer the Marquisate of Saluces hee would reâ—ent his comming One sayd vnto him that hee should not get any great matter of the King seeing hee was not pleased that the Cathedrall Church at Lions should afford him a little Honour and Ceremony A man at armes of the company of the Marquis d' Vrfe was put in prison vpon a false aduice that came from Geneua that hee followed the Duke with an intent to do a bad act at Paris It was strange in Court that the King had not sent any other vnto him then the Controuler generall of the Postes But nothing troubled him more then when as Varenne among other discourses which the Duke offred to sound their opinions touching his voyage sayd vnto him he should bee welcome so as hee restored the Marquisate A speech which toucht the Duke vnto the quick who esteemed not all the Estates of his patrimony as the Marquisate alone It is true that they loue that better which they haue gotten then that which hath beene purchased by their Predecessors Hee went by post from Lions to Roane from thence hee went by water to Orleans whether the King sent the Duke of Nemours to receiue him Betwixt Orleans and Fontainbleau he was met first by the Marshal Biron and then by the Duke Montpensier beeing followed by many Noblemen The 13. of December at night a memorable day for the Kings birthe hee arose when he knewe his traine to bee a sleepe and departs secretly to get to Fontainbleau before his people were awake Varenne who had commandement from the King to come before aduertise him had much adoe to follow him and if the Duke had found horses readie at the first post they had not carried the first newes of his arriuall He found the King comming from Masse with all the Noblemen of his Court attired all in redde and ready to go to horse-backe to meete him they did walke long togither after their first imbracings excuses Then the Duke told him the occasions of his voiage the which he had kept secret from his Councell The King his nobles werâ— aâ—â—ired in red the Dâ—â—e and his â—raine in black But hee could drawe nothing from the King by this first parle but hee should haue him his friend in yeelding him his Marquisate It is a difficult thing to feede a King with a white beard with words The King sayd alwaies that he desired nothing but his owne And the Duke of â—â—uoy beeing in the Lovure spake boldly that no power in the world should euer make him yeeld to this restitution A free couragious speech in anothers Country not among his owne people but to Villeroy the Kings chiefe most confident Secretary of State From Fontainbleau he went to Paris with a goodly traine he was lodged in the Lovure spent the Christmas in Nemours house He admired this great Court where he sees the chiefe Noblemen of the realme and noted that L'Esdiguieres who had so much trobled him was not so great in Court as in Daulphiné The Dukes presence did increase his reputatioÌ„ The Dukes praises he gouerned his actioÌ„s in such sort as hee freed theÌ„ from the skorne mockery of the Court His wisdom his Discretion his Courtesie made theÌ„ to forget the tales which were yet told of the good Duke Charles his Grand-father They did obserue in his actions Curtesie Courage Liberality Discretion Policy This yeare ended in all sorts of pleasures and sports familiarities and profes of true friendship so as many beleeued that the two hearts and the two Courts of these Princes were but one but there was alwaies some marke of constraint and amidest these embrasings there alwaies past some gird or quip The King who is ready and sodaine in his answers gaue him alwaies some touch to thinke on There was too great difference betwixt the tunes of their humors to make along good harmony But whilest the Court abounds in pleasure and delights Duke of Mercaeur voiage into Hungary in October 1599. the Duke Mercaeur
at the foot whereof runnes the riuer of Arc inaccessible of all sides but onely a narrowe way to goe vnto the Port this place is held to be the first mansion of the Dukes of Sauoy The Towne of Aiguebelle is at the foot of this rocke the King caused it to be surprised by the Seigneurs oâ— Crequy and Morges not giuen them of the Castell any leysure to burne it His Maiestie knowing that this place was well furnished to resist an army caused his troupes to march and then hee battred the Tower with nine Cannons and two small peeces from the breake of day vntill noone The beseeged hauing endured 637. Cannon shot without any hope of succors did capitulate the tenth of September to depart with their baggage their matches out the King sent their enseignes to the Marquise of Vernueil being theÌ„ at Lions the which are now in the great Church of S. Iohn and so they departed to the number of two hundred The King returned to Grenoble to purge himselfe by the aduice of his Phisitions commanding Les ' Digueres to passe with the army into Tarentaise the which he did the enemies quitting the passage of Briancon retyring themselues into a rocke which was inaccessible of al parts the which did so bridle the passage as it might stay any force Les ' Digueres hauing intelligence that the port being but two foot wide was not wel rampared that the place was better furnished with Peasants then with Souldiars he planted two Canons against it the which in 6 vollees made a breach the souldiars grapled vp couragiously to the top of the mouÌ„taine to enter in at this hole the Captaine within it was hurt with a shott al the rest were taken prisoners The armie lodged at Monstiers the Metropolitaine of the whole Countrie hauing conquered the vallies and mountaines of Moriene and Tarentaise where they found nothing so difficult as the season being more troubled with the weather then with men onely Montmelian remayned which was held inpregnable The King desirous to haue the causes of this warre knowne to all the world commanmanded his Ambassadors to aduertise his friends thereof The King of Spains Ambassador in Suisse complaines of the â—ing The Spanish Ambassadors in Suâ—tzeâ—land was not mute in this occasion which ministred matter for all the world to talke of His discours was that the King of France hauing taken armes when as euery one thought to enioye the sweetnes of peace put all the world in iealousie bound those that were neerest to runne to quench this fire and in oposing themselues to the oppression of the Duke preuent the desseigns of the seruitude of Italy That to this end the Cont de fuentes had comandment from the King of Spaine his Master to leuie men to assuer the Duchie of Milan and to intreat that valiant nation of the Suisses to grant him a leuie of six thousand men Monsieur de vic the Kings Ambassador made it known in an open Assembly of all the Cantons that the King had had more patience then the iniurie done vnto his Crowne did permit Monsieur de vic the Kâ—ngs Ambassador in Suisse being vnwilling to take armes vntill that all Europe had iudged that the Duke of Sauoye proceeded not sincerely and that he vrged his Maiestie to repel by force the iniury of the detention of the Marquisat of Saluces yet could he not keepe the pettie Cantons from granting a leuie vnto the Duke the which notwithstanding was by him made vnprofitable Wee may not heere omit a particular accident A strang imimposture Among the cheefe gentlemen which la Guiche Gouernor of Lions had drawne out of his gouernment to serue the king in his armie of Sauoy were Chazeul and du Bourg both well knowne for their valour and experience in armes The King made good esteme of them and gaue a Commission to the last to raise a regiment of a thousand mâ—n Being gone to make this leuiâ— Enuie which doth alwaies oppose it selfe to the merits of Vertue which is ineuitable in the beginning of prosperitie was greeued â—hat a gentleman which had followed the League should be chosen among so many others to serue the Kiâ—g in this war and forged an imposture sufficient to ruine if it had incountred a Prince as apt to choller as he is to Iustice and Clemencie They cast abroad tickets in the Kings chamber with drawing chamber that these two gentlemen hauing failed an enterprise vpon his Maiesties peâ—son at the passage of the Riuer neer vnto Chamousset had referred the execution therof to Morliers that his Maiestie shold remeÌ„ber that vpon the way to Chamousset one of them his courage fainting drew backe from the King to talke with a knight which marched on the one side This was enough to kindle the Kings choller to make it passe like vnto a thounder-bolt which breakes and wounds before we see the lightning or heare the cracke But this Prince who all his life had followed the Precept which the Emperor Basilius gaue vnto his son not to giue eare to slanderous enuious reports fownd that this billet proceeded from a wicked and vnkind passion for that he remembred well that to speake with du Bourg he had caused Chazeul to change his place where mention was made in billet He shewed it to la Guich gouernour of Lions who presently conceyued that it was an imposture He called Chazeull vnto him more to confirme the good opinon he had of his Loyalty then to shewe him that this note were able to giue him any signe of iealousie or distrust And for that the bruite of this trecherie could not be kept secret he caused a letter to be written to du Bourg comanding him not to discontinue the leuie of his regiment for any thing he should heare spoken against his loyaltie whereof he would haue no other proofe but his courtage and the execution of that which he commanded him Du Bourg being at Lions and hearing there were things spoken of him which he neuer thought he takes post and comes to the King as he rose from Dinner being enuironed by all the chiefe Noble men of his Court. As Soone as he perceyued him he asked whie he was come Sir answered du Bourg it is said at Lions that Espinasse would kill you Du Bourg brings you his Head The King replyed that he held him to honest a man to haue such a thought and that such as had giuen this intelligence where wicked impostors They did see that I ment to imploye you as I will alwayes when any occasion is offred for my seruice They could produce no other effects of their enuie but in writing of this billet but they haue not found me so tractable and credulous as they thought Princes Courts were neuer without them but he hath fewest that doth least beleâ—ue them I doe not as Kings my Predecessors who kept in mind while they liued what
and to ruine all the world with his delights At this time there sprong vp Religious men in France who said they were true Obseruers of the Order of S. Francis The order of 〈◊〉 and that the Franciscans and Capuchins did not maintaine it so exactly but they needed Reformation The King gaue them a Couent at Beauâ—ort by the example of this piety many other places desired it They would lodge at Balmette neere vnto Anger 's the which had beene Founded by Rene King of Sicilia The FranciscaÌ„s who could not indure to be dispossessed by these Recollets beseeged them offered to force their Gates and to scale their Walles The Beseeged defended not themselues with Words and Excorcismes but with Stones and in such Choller as if the People had not come the Scandall had not ended without Murther The Prouinciall seeing that the Recollets would not receiue him Trouble in the â—ouent of Balmâ—â—te and that the Bishop would not suffer him to vse force appealed as from an abuse of their Establishment The Recollâ—ts shew vnto the Court that they are the true Children and Disciples of S. Francis liuing according to the Rule and Discipline that was obserued in Italy from whence the good Precepts of the Reformation of Regulers were drawne that if those of the Famely of Obseruance and of Capuchins were tollerated honoured in France they should be of no worse Condition This cause was the Argument of a famous pleading in the Court Parliament in the which Seruin the Kings Aduocate said That a Reformation was necessary not only in the Order of the Franciscans or Grey-Friars A great pâ—eadâ—â—g â—n the Court of Parlament but also in all others but they must be careful not to transforme by Nouelties in steed of Reforming by Censures alleadging many reasons against the bringing in of nâ—we Orders Whereupon the Court pronounced that there was abuse and restored the Ancient Religious to the Couent of Balmette forbidding all religious Men of the Order of Grey-Fryars to go out off the Realme without license from the King or their Superiors Iealous and distrustfull heads gaue it out that the Peace was in weake estate when as after the iniury done vnto Rochepott in Spaine The King gâ—es to Calais and the forbiding of Trafficke they see the King gonne sodainely to Calais and that from thence hee had sent the Duke Biron into England The Archdukes tooke a sodaine Alarum and to that end sent the Count Soâ—a vnto the King to deliuer vnto him the state of the Seege to Ostend The Count Sora sent vnto the King and to beseech him not to suffer that their enemies should thinke that these approches should be to their aduantage and that their rebellion should be fauoured by an example so hatefull to all Princes The King sent the Duke of l' Esguillon to visit them The Duke of l' Eâ—guillon sent to the Archdukes and to assure them that his intention was not to trouble the Peace but onely to visit his Fronter and to prouide for the fortifications They did not generally beleeue this for although he made this Voyage in Post many thought that he would imbrace this occasion of the seege of Ostend and all the Court followed him as to some great Exploite And for that he would not haue the world in suspence of his desseignes he gaue the Gouernors of his Prouinces to vnderstand that the cause of his going to Calais was but to visit his frontier and to prouide for that which should bee necessary to assure it not from present dangers but from those that might happen He declared also that he had no other desseigne then the preseruation of Peace withall his neighbours to enjoy that which God had giuen him But there were other practises which could not be dispersed but by the Kings presence The Queene of England sent Sir Thomas Edmonds to visit the King and the King returned her the like by the Duke of Biron Hee went accompanied with a hundred and fifty Gentlemen The Count of Avuergne was there as vnknowne The Duke of Biron sent into England but his qâ—aâ—ity discouered him There was nothing omitted that might be for the reception of an Ambassador somewhat more Being at London many Noblemen receiued him and accompanied him to Basing where he rested a day or two before he did see the Queene who made him knowe that shee was honoured by her Subiects aboue other Princes A Prince should loose no occasion to let Strangers see the greatnesse of his Estate to giue them cause to admire him and to maintaine his Subiects in the dutie which they owe him The Queene of England who hath made good proofe that Wonten may raigne as well and as happely as Men obserues this bâ—â—tâ—r then any Prince of her age making all them that followed the Duke of Biron in this Legation to giue the like Iudgement The Queene beeing set in State all the French Gentlemen entred first His entry to the Queene but when as shee discouered the Duke of Biron whome shee knew by the description they had made of his Face and stature shee spake with a loud voyce Ha Monsieur de Biron how haue you taken the paynes to come and see a poore old Woman who hath nothing more liuing in her then the affection shee beares vnto the King and her perfect iudgement to knowe his good Seruants and to esteeme Knights of your sort As she spake this the Duke made a low reuerence the Queene rose from her Chaire to imbrace him to whoÌ„ he deliuered the charge he had from the King and withall his Maiesties Letters the which she read She thanked the King for his remembrance of her but she said she could not conceale The Queenes speech that as there was nothing vnto a heart like vnto hers full of affection and desire more pleasing then to see and heare what it desired so could she not but feele an extreme torment to see her selfe depriued of the sight and presence of the obiect which shee had most desired whose actions she esteemed not onely immortall but diuine being ignorant whether she should more enuy his Fortune then loue his Vertue and admire his Merits so much the one the other did exceede the greatest maruailes in the world That she could not say that a courage which feared nothing but the falling of the Pillers of Heauen should feare the Sea or not trust vnto it for a passage of seuen or eight houres blaming them rather which had not instructed him as well to contemne the Waues of the Sea as the desseignes of his enemies vppon the Land From these speeches shee fell into some bitternesse of Complaints which shee deliuered with a little vehementie saying That after she had succored this Prince with her Forces Purse and Meanes and if she could haue done it with her owne bloud and had as much desired the happy successe of his affayres as himselfe
past the Ilands of Baleares they doubted no more that his desseâ—gne was for Alger it was giuen out that they should be assisted by eight or ten thousand horse-men of the Moores and some Christians But the Turkes who prepared themselues to receiue them would not bee in danger of their enemies and of their slaues knowing that as they could hope for no fauour of the one so the victory of them that serue them is alwaies cruell towards their Masters for this reason and to take from the Christians meanes to fauour this Army they retired into the Towne all that liued along the Sea-coast and did shut vp in Caues at Alger aboue ten thousand slaues tyed with doble Chaines and well garded This enterprise was iust and commendable and worthy of the first millitarie executions of a Prince which must beginne his raigne by some Act of great reputation The Spaniards in deede did promise much and sayd openly that their King would make knowne the affection hee bare vnto Christendome Besides the generall fruite which was expected this attempt made a great and profitable diuersion of the Turkes forces in fauour of the Arch-duke Ferdinand who was at the seege of Canisia Prince Doria the more to fauour this desseigne intreated the great Master of Malta in the behalfe of the King of Spaine to send some Galleys into the Leuant Seas to make some spoiles there to drawe on the Turkish Army and to aduertise him of his course The which was so happely executed as with fiue Galleyes they runne into Morea Beauregard a French Knight had the charge to plant a Petard to the port Chasteâ—uneuâ— called by the Turkâ—s Passana taken by the Galâ—ies of Malta in Morâ—a the 17. of August of Chasteauneuf whilest that Bouillon and Tiolierre also French Knights should giue the scaladoe on the other side Where they entred with such fury as the Turkes who were seauen or eight hundred men could not hinder them from forcing of the second port They tooke a hundred and foure score slaues cloyed eighteene peeces of Cannons spoyled and burnt the Towne and in foure houres spoyled the whole Country The Spanish fleete recouered the coast of Affrick as men were banded against it at Land so the Windes made Warre against it at Sea Prince Doria finding both Heauen Earth and Sea opposite to his desseigne commanded a retreate withoâ—t attempting any thing Prince of Parmas speech to Prince Doria The Prince of Parma desiring rather to fayle in iudgement then in courrage sayd vnto Prince Doria that hee should not suffer so great an Army to returne without attempting any thing the which had no other effect but to haue mooued a mighty enemy who to bee reuenged of a dead enterprise ready to be executed would resolue to inuade the King of Spaines Estates of all sides Prince Dorias anâ—swere The old man answered sodenly I knowe well my charge my haires are growne white in learning it Your excellency are to giue account vnto the King my Master but of a pike and I must answere for an army in the which if fortune hath fayled mee yet will I not that other partes requisite to my charge as courrage experience nor authority shall fayle mee or that they shall reproch mee to haue erred therein A goodly and a memorable answere to shew that a Pâ—ince howe great soeuer hee bee in an Army must onely studie to obey and followe and not lead or goe before the which belongs onely to the Generall So Prince Doria hauing dismissed his Army tooke his way to Genoa chosing rather to giue them subiect to murmur at his retreate then vainely to haue attempted an impossible enterprise 1602. The Popes Gallies stayed at Barcelona for the Duke of Parma who was gone into Spaine to kisse the Kings hands Those of the great Duke of Florence passed to Genoa and from thence to Liuorne Most of the men of Warre came to refresh themselueâ— in the Duchy of Milan wholy to ruine the Country But the Count of Fuentes found a new inuention to make this newe oppression sweete and supportable The poâ—lecy of the Count of Fuentes He vndertooke to make a passage for trafficke by Water betwixt Milan and Pauia and caused them to worke in the trenches to make the riuers betwixt the two Townes to meete The people seeing so great commodities that might recompence all their losses enduâ—eâ— their burthen patiently But the Count of Fuentes incountred many difficulties in this desseigne The Italian companies cast which made him to desist and the people to renewe their complaints when they saw themselues surcharged and that the souldiars come from the army of Algier liued in Lombardie according to their owne discretion He intreated the Duke of Sauoy to lodge the regiment of Barbo in the Marquisate of Saluces but knowing how hard it is to dislodge the Spaniard he excused himself Wisely vpon the miseries generall â—uine of all his Estates In the end these poore Italians beeing in Alexandria were cast The King of Spaines Officers tooke and foulded vp their Enseignes disarmed them and left them almost naked without any other pay then ten shillings of our Country money The want of money would not suffer them to do otherwise the King of Spaine being forced to furnish money to the Suisses and Germains and his treasure beeing almost exhaust through the great charges of this last Army at Sea The charge of the sea army was fiue 〈…〉 Crownes the which did not answere the opinion which all Europe had conceiued of so great a preparation Yet the occasion of well doing was goodly and fauorable The lanissayres were mutined against the great Turke and had stiâ—red vp the people for the disorder of his carriage his carelesnesse idlenesse and stupidity Things were in the worst termes that might bee and they talked of nothing but to choose a Prince that was more Martiall they drewe seauen of his greatest fauorits forth of the Serrailia â—orced him to consent that those heads should serue as an oblation to the people promising to haue more care of the administration of Iustice and the affaires of State Troubles at Constantinople The Citty was fiue or sixe daies togither in danger to bee sackt If ChristendoÌ„ had made vse of this diuisioÌ„ of the reuolts of Asia there had bin no doubt of the ruine of the Ottomans If the great Turke auoided the storme which he feared by the forces of Spaine Sigismond Battori Prince of Transiluania was quite defeated by theÌ„ of the Emperor What pâ—st in Transiluania He had drawne togither an army of eighteene thousand horse and 22 thousand foote to recouer his authority in Transiluania froÌ„ whence he had bin shamefully expelled He lodged himselfe vpon a Mountaine to giue Lawe vnto all the Country Sodenly when as this aduice was brought vnto Michel Vaâ—oide of Valachia and to Georg Basta Generall of heigh Hungary they let sleepe their priuate
Nobility An Edict for vsury if hee had not prouided for Vsuries which haue ruined many good and ancient houses filled Townes with vnprofitable persons and the Country with miseries and inhumanity Hee found that Reâ—ts constituted after ten or eight in the hundred did ruine many good famylies hindred the trafficke and commerce of Marchandise and made Tillage and Handicraftes to bee neglected many desiring through the easines of a deceitfull gaine to liue idely in good Townes of their Rents rather then to giue themselues with any paine to liberall Arts or to Till and Husband their inheritances For this reason meaning to inuite his subiects to inâ—ich themselues with more iust gaine to content themselues with more moderate profit and to giue the Nobility meanes to pay their debtes hee did forbid all Vsury or constitution of Rentes at a higher rate then sixe pounds fiue shillings for the hundred The Edict was verefied in the Court of Parliament which considered that it was alwaies preiudiciall to the common-weale to giue money to Vsury for it is a serpent whose biting is not apparent and yet it is so seâ—cible as it peerceth the very heart of the best families The affaires of the Realme beeing in so great tranquility as the King had no â—are but to enioye the fruites of Peace Ambassadorâ— chosen to send to forraine Princes Hee made choise of Ambassadors to send to forraine Princes that were in League with him Barraux was named for Spaine Betunes for Rome the Count Beaumont was chosen for England and the President Fresnes Canaye to goe to Venice who had a particular aduice giuen him the which for that it is of consequence and serues for instruction to others in the like charges deserues to bee noted It hath alwaies beene obserued at Venice betwixt the Popes Nontio and Princes Ambassadors that remaine there that the last come is alwaies first visited by the others before hee returnes them the like 1602. It happened that Huraut de Messe the King Ambassador at Venice hauing beene twise or thrise sent backe thither by his Maiestie and no other Ambassador at his last returne the Popes Nuncio refused to visit him saying that he was not a new Ambassador and that it was in him to visit him 〈◊〉 the which he did as well for that they could not take his returne for the beginning of a new Ambassage from this complement of courtesie the Popes Noncio would dâ—aw a consequence of dutie and would challenge a right to bee visited first So as the Ambassador of Spaine hauing made difficultie to visit the Nuncio attending it first from him according to the ancient order they stood so long vpon this Ceremonie as they passed all the time of their Legation without visiting one another And therefore the King foreseeing that if de Fresnes Canay were not informed of these particularities hee might haue beene surprised in this Complement of visiting In this discourse of Ambassadors Mâ—ns dâ— Câ—eurieres Ambassaâ—or to Thuriâ— let vs see the issue of two important Ambassages the one for the King at Thurin the other for the Duke of Sauoy at Paris both for the swearing of the peace Iames Mictes of Myolans Lord of Saint Chaumont Knight of both the Kings Oâ—ders was commanded to goe to Thurin to receiue the Dukes oath Hee went well accompanied with gentlemen and neuer Ambassador was better receiued then hee was in Sauoy PiedmoÌ„t D' Albigny Gouernour of Sauoy feasted him at ChaÌ„bery like a Pâ—ince the Duke commanding him to entertaine him in all places as himselfe Comming to Thurin he was entertayned with all honour that might bee and the ceremonie being ended hee tooke his leaue and was no lesse honoured at his departure then at his comming giuing the Ambassador a Iewell of foure thousand Crownes and to all the Gentlemen Horses The Marquis of Lulâ—â—â—s Ambassador for the Duâ—e The Marquis of Lulâ—ins came into France to take the Kings oath The Ceremonie was done at the Celesâ—ins in Paris according to the accustomed manner and â—orme vsed in the like Treaties and in the presence of many Princes of the bloud Noblemen and Councellors of State the Act being signed by the King by Vilieroy and Forget Secretarie of State The Seigneurie of Geneua intreated the King to giue them the Balewike of Gâ—x as a necessarie thing for the saâ—etie of their Estate The King answered that being concluded by the treatie which hee had made with the Duke of Sauoy that the lands exchanged for the Marquisate of Saluces should remaine vnited and incorporated to the Crowne hee requested them to rest satisfied with this condition and not to hope for any alteration for this consideration these Countâ—ies being of one condition with the other Prouinces of the Realme the would not admit any diuersitie in their Lawes hee therefore established the exercise of the Romish religion and sent the Baron of Lux to put the Bishop of Geneua in possession of the Churches of his Diocesse causing Masse to be said in the Churches of Gex They of Geneua made fasts and publike prayers to the end sayd they to keepe the Idolls from their walls We must add to this discourse one of the most famous Impostures as some said that euer age had seene Of D· Sâ—â—â—stian King of Poâ—tugal It was a generall bruite throughout Europe that Don Sebastian King of Portugall was aliue and the Portugalls did presently giue credit thereunto It was Atheiâ—me among them not beleeue it inhumanitie in Princes and Common-weales not to succour him and iniustice not to intreat him as a King Maâ—ie Impostures haue beene seene throughout the world but none like vnto that which is spoken of this prisoner It is aboue twentie yeares that the friends of D. Sebastian King of Portugal haue lamented his misfortune the Moores reioyced therat They write to 〈◊〉 the bodie of the King D. 〈◊〉 being knowne was caâ—â—ied into Seâ—te after the battaile the realme of Portugal made his funeralls and the King of Spaine giuen a hundred thousand Crownes for his bodie Foure Kings haue raigned since acounting the electon of Don Antonio and yet there is a man found say the Spaniards so audatious as he wil trouble all the world to make them beleeue that hee is the true King D. Sebastian of Portugal He presented himselfe to the Seigneurie of Venice and demands audience He relats vnto them the Historie of his life and the raigne of his Fathers in Portugal his defeate in Affrike his retreate into Calabria 1601. the resolution which he had taken neuer to shewe himselfe more in the world for the shame of his misfortune and the punnishment of his indiscretion if the spirit of God had not inspired him with an other will and giuen him hope to make himselfe knowne for a King as he was borne Hee sayd moreouer that among so many soueraigne powers that were in the world hee would not addresse himselfe to any
It was red in these termes The Procesâ—e beeing extraordinarily made and examined by the Court and Chambers assembled by the Presidents and Councellors that were deputed by letters pattents of the 18. and 19. of Iune at the request of the Kings Attorney generall against Charles Gontault of Biron knight of both orders Duke of Biron Peere Marshal of France Gouernor of Bourgongne prisoner in the Bastille accused of treason interrogations confessioÌ„s denialls confronting of witnesses letters aduises instructioÌ„s giuen to the enemy confessed by him and all which the Attorney general hath produced A sentence was giuen the 22. of this moneth by the which it was decreed in the absence of the Peeres of France being called they shold proceed to IudgemeÌ„t the conclâ—sions of the Kings Attorney generall beeing giuen and the prisoner beeing heard by the Court vpon the Crimes wherewith he was charged al considered it was sayd That the sayd Court had declared and did declare the sayd Duke of Biron guilty of heigh treason for his conspirecies against the Kings person The crimes for the which the Duke of Biâ—on was condemned enterprises against his Estate Treacheries and Treaties with his enemies beeing Marshall of the Kings army For reparation of which crimes they depriued him of all his Estates Honors and dignities condemned him to loose his head vpon a Scaffold at the Greue declaring all his goods mouable immouable wheresoeuer to be confiscate vnto the King the Seigneury of Biron to loose the name title of Duchy and Peere for euer with all other goods held immediatly of the King to bee vnited vnto the Crowne of France decreed in the Court of Parliament the last day of Iuly 1602. and signed by Belliuere Chancellor of France and Fleury Councellor in the Court and Reporter of the processe He fals into choâ—lâ—r â—tter the reading of his sentence Hee grewe into choller thrice in the reading of the sentence when they sayd that he had attempted against the Kings person hee protested with great Imprecations that it was false That he had neuer made any CoÌ„spiracy that he had his head troubled with some enterprises of State for that he would not liue idlely in Peace but giue some imployment to men of war But it was aboue two and twenty monethes since hee had any thought of it desiring that Voisin might raze that out of the sentence When hee heard that hee should bee executed at the Greue he sayd he would not goe thether but would rather bee drawne with â—oure horses and that it was not in all their powers to leade him Vâ—isâ—n sayd that they had prouided for it and that the King had done him the grace to change the place of his execution hauing appointed it at the Bastille What grace answered the Prisoner The third point of his sentence was that hee was troubled for the reunion of the Duchie of Biron to the Crowne the which hee sayd could not bee forfeited to the preiudice of the substitution of his Brethren and that the King should be satisfied with his life The Diuines after the pronouncing of the sentence spake more boldly vnto him of death and to free himselfe of all worldly cares as he had done of his goods After sentencâ— pâ—onounced they vse to â—ind their hands and that he should haue no other thoughts but of his Soules helth Hee then grewe into choller swearing that they should suffer him in Peace and that it concerned him only to thinke of his Soule with the which they had nothing to do It is the order in Cryminall executions to deliuer the party condemned into the hands of the Executioner as soone as his Iudgement is read They would haue done so with him but Voisin went to speake vnto the Chancellor to know if they should not distinguish him from other prisoners The Chancellor was in doubt whether they should binde him or not Hee asked Sillery what he thought who vnderstanding by Voisin that the party condemned was well pacefied sayd it was to bee feared that in seeking to binde his hands they would cause him to breake the bonds of patience and enter into newe fâ—ries for that they which are in that distresse are distempered for small matters Yet the Chancellor would haue the aduice of the first President who was in an other Chamber for that he had dined before he came vnto the Bastille Hee sayd that it was dangerous to suffer his hands free and therefore they must binde him Euery one was of Silleries opinion who considered not so much what should be done as what might bee done for the Party condemned would neuer haue suffred himselfe to haue beene led bound to the place of executioÌ„ but in Fury Dispaire The Executioner who sayd since that a young hangman and not experienced would haue died for feare had beene in danger to endure that which hee would make him to suffer In this liberty his spirit was alwayes free in his thoughts for the last disposition of affaires The Diuines intreated him to consider that he was no more what he had beene that within an houre or two he should Be no more that he must leaue this life to liue for euer that his Soule must go before the fearefull Throne of the liuyng God to be rewarded with a more happy and perfect life then that which hee had past in this world or condemned to infinite paines in coÌ„parison wherof that which he should suffer was but a light pricking in respect of the burning flames of the diuine Iustice. He then entred into the examinatioÌ„ of his Conscience in the which he remained aboue an houre He confesseth himselfe This action required an Humble Penitent and a Contrite heart and yet hee seemed much more carefull of worldly things and of the affaires of his house then of his Soules health and as it were a yong apprentise in the first prayers of his Relligion praying vnto God not as a deuout Christian but as a Soldiar not as a relligious Man but as a Captaine not as Moyses or Elias but like to Iosua who on horse-backe and with his sword his hand prayed and commanded the Sonne to stand still His confession beeing made he walked vp and downe the Chappell still casting out some exclamation for his Innocency and some execration against la Fin asking iâ— it should not bee lawfull for his brethren to cause him to be burnt Hereupon Voisin comes who tells him that the Chancellor and the firâ—â— President were very glad of the constant and generous resolution hee had to die and that they would come presently to see him He resolueâ— to die He answered that he had beene long resolued and that it was not the paine of death but the manner that did amaze him Whilest he attended them there were many notes brought him touching his affaires whereunto he answered without trouble or passion Hee recommended the payment of some debtes which he
did owe to gentlemen that had nothing to shew for it and among others to the Ambassador in England when the Chancellor had dined hee came to see him with the fiâ—st President found that as a troubled water growes cleere being setled so the time which he had giuen him to thinke of his affaires had takeÌ„ from him the violent agitations of his fantasie freed his heart from the feare of death He coÌ„mandded al that were in the place to retyre and they sat downe togither about halfe an houre but their dâ—scourse is vnknowne In the ende the Chancellor sayd vnto him I should doe wrong vnto your courage if I should exhort you vnto death shee hath presented herselfe vnto you in so many places as it is not in her power to trouble the Constancie and Patience wherunto I beleeue you are disposed You find it hard to die in the flower and vigour of your age but if you consider that our dayes are lymited and that they depend of the fore-sight of the Gouernor of the whole world you will receiue this death as by the will of God who meanes to retyre you out of this world for your owne good before that some great and long miserie shall send you As we may not desire a death which is farre off so may we not reiect that which offers it selfe No no answered the Partie condemned labour not my Lords to fortifie me against the feare of death theâ—e twentie yeares it hath not feared me and knowing not where she would take mee I haue expected her euerie where You haue giuen me fortie dayes to thinke vpon it yet I could not beleeue that beeing not in the power of my enemies to take away my life I should be so miserable as to be seazed on by death with the consent of my friends The King said the Chancellor hath cuâ—t of al that might be shamefull and ignominous He then asked him if hee would speake with any one Hee sayd that he desired to see La Forse and Saint Blancart They tould him that they were not in the Cittie He deâ—ires to see his â—riends but there was a gentleman of the Lord of Badefous and after that he had demanded for Preuost Comptrouler of his house and that they had answered him that he was gone three dayes before to a house of his in the Countrie he then sayd that hee ought not to haue beene there that he had all his blankes adding thereunto these wordes of Compassion The Chancellor takes his â—â—aue of him All the world hath abandoned mee In these crymes friendship is dangerous friends fayle and the disease is taken by acquaintance as well as by infection He is wise that knowes no man nor no man knowes him At these words the Chancellor and the first President tooke their leaues of him with teares in their eyes He intreated them to receiue a good opinion of his life by the assurance which he gaue at the point of death that he had neuer attempted any thing against the King that if he would haue vndertaken it the King had not beene liuing three yeares since The Chancellor went out of the Bastille with the first President and Sillery stayed in the Arcenall vntil the execution was done The Duke of Biron intreated the Knight of the Watch to go after him to request him that he would suffer his Body to be interred with his Predecessors at Biron for although Nature hath prouided that no maÌ„ shal die without a Graue yet meÌ„ thinke curiously thereof before they die and imagine that as glory preserues the reputation of the life so the Graue maintaines the remembrance of the Body He that had seene him would haue thought hee had not bin readie to die so little care hee had of death or els he promised to himselfe some vnexpected effects of the Kings mercy or to escape by some miracle There is no such deceit as imagination frames in these extremities when shee flatters her-selfe with vaine hope imagining that God doth greater wonders and that they haue seene a pardon come betwixt the Executioners sword and the Pâ—â—soners necke Voisin asked him if he pleased to say any thing else that might serue to discharge his conscience The Preachers exhorted him not to conceale any thing to consider that they could not giue him Absolution but for what he should confes He answered that although the King did put him to death vniustly yet he had so much loued his seruice and had serued him with so great loue â—bedience neuer diuiding tâ—e one from the other as he felt in his thoughts of death those of his loue to be so liuely and ardent as he would not conceale any thing that he knew to be against his person or Sâ—ate for aâ—l the world no not for the assurance of his life hee would not speake any thiâ—g tâ—at was not true He drewe Voisin and his Confessors a part and whispered some-thing vnâ—o them the which was presently written He praies before he goes forthe of the Cappell Hauing continued with his Confessors halfe an houre being neere fiue oâ— the Clocke one came and told him that it was time to part Goweâ— sayd he seeing I must He then kneeled downe before the Altar makes his praier and recommends him-selfe vnto God before hee goes out of the Chappell He asked if there were any one that belonged vnto the Marques of Rhosny Arnaut was there whome he willed to present his commendations vnto his Master in remembrance not so much of him that went to die as of his Kins-folkes which remained aliue and to assure him that he held him for a good seruant to the King and profitable and necessary for his seruice and that â—e was sorry he had not followed his Councell Hee knew one that followed the Duke of Mayenne and intreated him to say vnto him that if in his life he had giuen him some cause not to loue him yet he desired him to beleeue that hee died his seruant and the Duke of Esguillons and the Earle of Sommeriues his Children He sends câ—mmendatioâ—s to the â—ount of Auueâ—â—ne Hee charged Baranton to deliuer his last words of loue and affection vnto his Bretheren coÌ„manding them to keepe the faith which bound them vnto the Kings seruice not to apprehend his misâ—ortune nor to come at Coâ—â—t vntill that time had worne out the Sâ—arres of his ignoâ—inious death Hee intreated one of them that had garded him to go tel the Earle of Auuergne that he went to die without griefe but for the losse of his frieâ—dship that if God had giuen him a longer life hee would haue done him more seruice beâ—eeching him to beleeue that he had sayd nothing at his Arraignment that might hurt him if it were not that hee had more want then bad meaning The Count of Auvergne receiued this far well as from a true friend with a feeling worthy of his friendship he intreateâ—
long Hayre by the which hee was hanged King Lewis then did alwayes say That Pride carried Ruine behinde him A Heart which knowes from whence the good comes which it inioyeth is alwayes an enemy to Pride So there is but a moment betwixt Glory and Ruine Great Trees are long in growing but are rooted â—p in an instant And it is true if the Duke of Biron had had a Brayne he had not lost his Head and had not brought it into the handes of his Princes Iustice whom hee had so much offended The Marshall Bâ—â—ons Virtues This Marshall had goodly parts communicable to fewe his Valour was admirable and happy in all his incounters of an inuincible Courage infatigable and neuer tired with any toyle continuing ordinâ—rily fifteeene dayes together on Horse-backe He was not inclined to Volâ—ptuousnesâ—e nor much to the loue of Women sober ynough the which began to quench that furious humour as Intemperancy greatnesse increased or that Rest did moderate his boyling passions He was extremely Vaine-glorious His Vanity Glory yea sometimes he would refuse his meate and content himselfe with little to feede his Fantasie with Glory and Vanity He was of a meane stature Blacke reasonable grosse hollow eyd and rough in speech and conuersation He was aduenturous in War Ambitious beyond all measure The excesse of his Ambition made him to braue it without iudgement He became so presumptuous as he thought that the King nor France could not subsist without him He was become ill-tounged speaking ill of all the Princes threatning the Parliaments and the Officers of Iust ce some with death and to dispossesse others of their places He was aduanced from the meanest to the highest degrees of Honours of a simple Souldiar hee became a Captaine then a Colonell afterwards Admirall and Marshall and in the ende Lieutenant of the Kings Armies and in his Heart he aspired to be Duke of Burgundy Son in Lawe to the Duke of Sauoy A comparison betwixt Silla and the Duke of Biron and Nephew to the King of Spaine If Sylla were Resolute Cruell and Bloudy he yeelded nothing to all men together If he were Valiant this man exceeded him by ten degrees and all the Romaine Princes together Their Actions and their ends were almost alike but that Sylla died after he had vanquished this before he could vanquish and in the middest of his Course did feele the Vengeance of Gods wrath His Credit and how hee was esteemed Howsoeuer he had wonne the Souldiars hearts to whom hee gaue all liberty he purchased credit with them that had neuer seene him for they that had seene and felt him wished him at the Indâ—es and made Strangers admire his valour the Constable of Castille in the Franche-County the Archduke at Amiens and the Marquis of Waranbon in Artois whom he made to pay forty thousand Crownes for his ransome with many Spaniards which he caused to be hanged sodainly for that they had called him Baron Moreouer the Kings exceeding fauours the prayses wherewith he did publikely honour him his admirable fortune his coÌ„ming to the restoring of the last ruines of the State like to an other Camillus to deliuer the Capitoll had made him not onely famous throughout all Europe fearefull to all the neighbours but necessary for France Behold a man that was happy full of content which held Fortune captiue withall her treasures he coÌ„manded the felicities of this world he had Glory Honour Riches those gifts which Fortune imparts to her darlings He was raised to the top of Fortunes wheele but he fell for he that gouerns the Helme and all her motions could no longer endure his insolency and vanity Sequitur superbos vltor a tergo Deus The causes of his ruine are infinite Shame followeâ— Pride the contempt of piety is the chieâ—e this ground taken away all vices abound and as the seruant said to King Atraeus O Prince follow the infallible way of Piety your Scepter shal be durable for wheras Faith Holines hath no place there is no happines the reason is for that without God we hold all things indifferent the Law folly Iustice frensie and Faith a fantasie we hold the words of vertue vice to be idle wheras the feare trust in God limits our passions insatiable desires so as gouerning our actions by a iust proportion we cannot erre â—e was oftentimes seen to iest at the Masse to laugh at theÌ„ of the Reformed Religion with whoÌ„ he had bin bred vp from his infancy â—or at the age of eight yeares the Lady of Brisambourg his Fathers sister being of the reformed Religion did so affect him for his actiue disposition as she demanded him of his Mother the which she granted froÌ„ that time she made him her onely heire Vntill the age of 16. yeares he was called Charles of Gontault for then he had an elder brother which died since at the Duke of Alançons voyage into Flanders bred vp at Brisambourg nere vnto S. Iean d' Angely where he was nothing giuen to his booke but wholy inclined to Armes for which consideration his Father the Marshall Biron a Martiall Man then a Catholike â—ooke him froÌ„ his Aunt led him for a while with him through the Countries of Xaintonge Aulins Angoulmois where he caused him to be instructed in the Catholike Religion but vpon false principles which he did learne of some Courtiars he did often mocke at all Religion The second cause of his ruine was the alteration of his Fortune After the death of his elder Brother his father caused him to be called Baron of Biron brought him to Court where at the first he had a quarrell with the Lord of Carency son to the Earle of la Vauguion the which was ended by a Combat of three against three Biron Loignac Ienissac of the one side slue Carency Estissac and la Bastie their quarrell grew for the heyer of Caumont which either of theÌ„ affected in mariage yet neither of theÌ„ had her The Duke of EspernoÌ„ got his pardoÌ„ the which was coÌ„firmed through the credit which his father had theÌ„ in Court Some say that being thus in troble he went disguised like a Carrier of Letters He went to a Mathematicien to know his Fortune vnto one la Brosse a great MathematiciaÌ„ whoÌ„ they â—eid to be skilful in casting of Natiuities to whom he shewed his Natiuity drawn by some other And disseÌ„bling it to be his he said it was a Gentlemans whom he serued that he desired to know what end that man should haue La Brosse hauing rectified this figure said vnto him That he was of a good house no elder then you are said he to the Baron asking him if it were his the Baron answered him I wil not tell you But tel me said he what his Life his meanes end shal be This good old man who was then in a little Garret which serued
in the second royall branch called of Valois from Philip of Valois to Henry the third The names of the 13. kings of the second royall branch of Capets called of Valois Philip. Iohn Charles the 5. Charles the 6. Charles the 7. Lewis the 11. Charles the 8. Lewis the 12. Frances the 1. Henry the 2. Frances the 2. Charles the 9. Henry the 3. and last of this royall branch Philip of Valois the 50. king of France fol. 1 His controuersie with Edward the king of England ibid. Preferred to the Crowne and installed king ibid. Setles his affaires in France fâ—l 2. Suppresseth the Flemmings ibid. A notable sute of the Parliament against the Clergie ibid. Takes homage of Edward king of England for Guienne ibid. King Edwards oth to Philip. ibid. He resolues to go to the holy land fol. 3 The Pope discontented with Philip. ibid. Edward king of England makes warre with Philip ibid. Robert of Artois the firebrand of warre fâ—l 3 He flies into England fol. 4 Warre in Guienne and Scotland ibid. Iames of Artevill ring-leader to the seditious Flemmings ibid. Edwards practises in Flanders and Germanie ibid. Battell of Scluse in fauour of the English fol. 5 The English and French Army retire without fighting Edward takes on him the title of King of France fol. 6 Ione Queene of Naples kils her husband and the kingdome is taken by Lewis King of Hungary fol. 7 Arteuil slaine by the Flemmings fâ—l 8 The French defeated at Blanquetaque ibid. The battell of Crery with many particuler accidents that happened in it fol. 10.11 King Edward besieges and takes Calice fol 12.13 Dolphin incorporate to the crowne fol. 14 Monpelier purchased to the crowne ibid. Queene Ione of France dies ibid. Philips death and disposition fol. 15 Estate of the Empire and Church ibid. Iohn the 1. and 51. king of France COnsiderable obseruations in his raigne fol. 16 His children and most remarkable personages in his raigne fol. 17 Charles of Nauars humors and discontents ibid. Charles of Spaine Constable of Fâ—ance slaine in his bed by the king of Nauarre ibid. Nauars practises and force against the king fol. 18 Nauarre taken prisoner by the king and foure of his complices beheaded fol. 19 Warre in Normandie and Guienne betweene Iohn and the Prince of Wales sonne to Edward the 3. fol. 19. and 20 The battell of Poytiers where the French were ouerthrowne by the English and king Iohn taken Prisoner with the number slaine and taken fol. 21. and 22 Assembly of the Estates for Iohns deliuery with the insolencies of the people during his imprisonment fol. 23 The Kâ—ng of Nauarr set at libertie comes to Paris and the Dolphin yeelds to him fol. 24 Iohns generous answere to King Edward fo 25 The Parisians comes into the Dolphins lodging solicite the Cities to rebell but they refused them fol. 26 The Dolphin leaues Paris fol. 27 The Nauarrois seekes to ruine him ibid. A Parliament Compiegne and the Dolphin declared Regent fo 28. Two French armies one against another fol. 29. The Parisians mutiny with the English that had serued them who beate them backe in sight of the Nauarrois fol. â—0 The Regent is receiued into Paris with the Nauarrois attemps against him fol. 31 Edward repents an opportunitie neglected ibid. The desolate estate of France fol. 32 The Dolphin executes the Parisians and pacifies the rest ibid. Conditions for the Kings deliuery and preparation to defend the Realme ibid. Edward enters France with an Armie besiegeth Paris but in vaine fol. 33 Edward amazed with a thunder concludes a peace with Iohn at Bretigny ibid. The two Kings swear a mutuall league of friendship fol. 34 King Iohn brought to Calis and after receiued by his sonne with great ioy ibid. Iohn receiued into Paris fol. 35 Difficulties in the performance of the conditions of peace ibid. Iohns death in England the 8. of April 1â—64 with his disposition ibid. Charles the 5. called the wise the 52. king of France HIs raigne and manners with the augmentation of his brethrens portions fol. 36 His Marriage and children fol. 37 Warre in Brytany where the French are defeated by the English ibid. He reconciles the pretendants for Britany fol. 38 Wars receiued in Britany Flanders and between France and England ibid. The Emperor seekes to reconcile them fol. 39 Charles proclaimes war against the King of England ibid. The successe of the French army in Guienne with the exploits of the Prince of Wales called the Blacke Prince ibid. Peter king of Castile murthers his own wife fol. 40 Charles sends an army against him as a muâ—therer and a Tirant ibid. The king of England restores Peter and defeats the French ibid. Peter forsaken by the English taken prisoner and beheaded fol. 41 The English second passage through France vnder the Duke of Clarence ibid. Troubles in Flanders pacified by Philip. fol. 42 Sedition at Monpelier punished by the Duke of Berry with the sentence against them but moderated fol. 43 Charles his death disposition with some obseruations worthy to be obserued by Princes f. 44 The state of the Empire and Church with the originall of the Canto in Swisserland fol. 45 Diuision at Rome for the election of a new Pope And an Antipope chosen fol. 46 Charles the sixt 53. King of France NEcessarie obseruations for the vnderstanding of this raigne fol. 47 The minoritie of K. Charles the sixt Strange euents in the beginning of his Raigne fol. 48. Lâ—wis of Aniow Regent and Oliuer Clisson Constable fol. 49 Controuersie betweene his vncles at his coronation for precedence ibid. Tumults in France ibid. And in Flanders between the Earle and the Gantois fol. 50.51 King Charles succours the Earle of â—landers against the aduice of the Regent and his counsell fol. 52 He ouerthrowes the Flemmings and kils threescore thousand of them fol. 53 The Gantois appeased and a peace in Flanders fol. 54. Charles marrieth Isabell of Bauiere and concludes a peace in Brittany ibid. He sends men and munition into Scotland and resolues to make warre vpon England which the Regent dislikes of fol. 55 Preparation in France and England for war fol. 56 The Regent opposeth against this warre â—ol 57 The enterprise broken oâ— and Naples offered to the Regent fol. 58 The seditious and cruell insolencies of the Parisians but they faint and â—ue to the King for pardon fol. 59 Lewis of Aniow crowned King of Naples fol 60 A schisme in the Church fol. 61 Queene Ioan 〈◊〉 Naples taken and smoothered and Lewis Duke of Aniow and adopted King of Naples dies ibid. The English enter Picardie and Charles makes a truce with them fol. 62 The King hauing consulted what course to take with the mutinous Parisians enters the city with an army executes many they cry for mercie and he pardons them fol. 63.64.65 Charles out of his vncles gouernement who grew discontented fol. 66 HE giues the Dutchy of Orleans to his brother Lewis and visits
make a petition vnto the King fol. 827. The Kings answere vnto the Clergy ibiâ— The Iesuits seeke to be restored ibid. The Kings onely Sister fianced to the Prince of Lorraine fol. 828 Troubles for the Duchy of Ferrara 〈◊〉 Duke Câ—â—sar prepares to armes fol. 829. The Popes entry into Ferrara ibid. The Arcâ—-duke Albert meetes with Marguerite of Austria ibid. They passe through the Venetians Countrie fol. 8â—0 The Duke of Mantoua meetes them ibid. The Pope and Legats receiue them ibid. The Duke of Sessa Ambassador for Spaine attended her ibid. The Queens entry into Ferrara ibid. The King of Spaines marriage ibid. Foure of one Family of the same Name and bearing the same Armes married together fol 8â—1 The Popes nuptiall gift to the Queene of Spaine ibid The Admirall of Arragons exploytes in the Duchy of Iuilliers ibid. Prince Mauâ—ice his exploites fol. 832 The Archdukes Answer to the Ambassadors ibiâ— The Earle of Broâ—ke taken by the Spaniards in his Castle and then murthered iâ—iâ— Wezell forced to furnish Money and Come fâ—l 833. The Electors write vnto the Emperor ibid. Warre in Sueden fol. 834. The Turke beeseegeth Varadin in vaine fol. 8â—5 Bâ—da attempted in vaine by the Christians ibid An Inundation at Rome ibid The Pope creatâ— 16. Cardinalls ibid. A treaty at Boulogne fol. 836. The King sicke at Monceaux iâ—id The Deputies of the Princes and States of the Empire assemble at Collen fol. 837. The Electoâ— of Mexiâ— answer to Cardinal Andâ—ew ibid. The Admiralls Letter to the Deputies at Collen fol. 838. He excuseth the murther of the Earle of Brouk and his otheâ— outrages ibid. The Kings Sister marryed to the Duke of Barfoll fâ—l 839. She refuseth to change her Religion and why ibid. The King desires his Sister should become a Catholike fâ—l 840. The Prince of Lorraine comes vnto Paris ibid. Complaints made by them of the Religion fol. 841. Exclusion from publike charges ignominious â—â—l 842. No man is held a Cittizen if he be not partaker of the honors of the Citty ibiâ— The last Edict for Religion at Nantes ibid. Contestation touching their Synode with strangers ibid. The Court of Parliament opposeth against the edict of Religion fol. 843 The Kings speech to the Court of Parliament ibiâ— A Pâ—ince giues no reason of his Edict fol. 844. Necessity the fiâ—st and essentiall cause of an Edict ibid. The Kings sister pursues the establishment of the Edict fol. 845 The Inâ—â—ntas proâ—laâ—ation against the States of the vnâ—tâ—d Prouinces ibid An answer made by the Vnited Prouinces â—â—l 847. The Archduke comes to Genoa with the Queene of Spaine fol. 848. The magnificence at the King of Spaines mâ—rriage at Valentia ibid. Knights of the Golden-Fleece fol. 849 The life and death of Monsieur de Pinaâ— Archbishop of Lions ibid. Barricadoes at Lions against the Duke of Nâ—mours fol. 850. The Duke of Ioyeuze returnes to the Capuchins fol. 851. The seâ—ond Duke of Ioyeuze drowned fol. 852. The Earle of Bouchage left his habit of Capuchin by the Popes dispensation and is Duke of Ioyeuze ibid. His mother desires his returne to be a Capuchin and the King commends his resolution ibiâ— Iesuites incapable of Spirituall dignities fol. 853. The Marquisate of Salusses in question ibid. The Duke of Sauoy seâ—kâ—s to be reconciled vnto the Kiâ—g ibid. The Pope made Iudge of the Controuersie ibid. Brauery of the French fâ—l 854 The Aâ—biteâ—ment broken The King of Spaine repayres all fol. 855. The Duke complaines oâ— the Spaniards â—bâ—d Death of 〈…〉 Marquis of Monceaux and Duchesse of Beaufort ibid. A quaâ—â—ell betwixt D. Phillippâ—n of Sauoy and Monsieur Crequi fâ—l 856. They fought twiâ—e and at the second combate D. Philâ—â—pâ—â— was slaine fol. 857. Aâ—â—igâ—ac demands D. Philâ—ppins life fol. 858. The Estate of the Kings affayres in Suisse ibid. The petty Catholike Cantons allyed to Spaine ibid. Monsieur Sillery Ambassador in Suisse fol. 859. The King sends money to the Suisses ibid. The Duke of Lerma fauorite to the King of Spaine ibid. Asseâ—bly of the Deputies of some Princes of the Empire at Conâ—â—ance fol. 860. The Iustifications of the Vnited Prouinces ibid. Propositions of the Deputies oâ— Westphalia fol. 862. A Decree made at Conâ—â—ance ibid. The Count of Lippe Generall of the Germaine Army they beseege Rees ibid. Prince Maurice assures them of Bommell by his presence fol. 863. The Admirall takes Creuecaeur ibid. The Spanish Aâ—â—ye and that of the States retire out off the limites of the Empire ibid. The Arch-dukes passage into Flanders fol. 864 Isabelle of Valois mother to Isabelle of Austria called the Queene of Peace ibid. The entry of silkes forbidden in France ibid. The King at the Queenes request reuoaked the Edict for silke fol. 865. Martha Brossier possest with a Diuell ibid. The Bishop of Anger 's discouers her to be a CouÌ„teâ—feit ibid. A decree made by the Court against her ibid. An Attempt against the King discouered ibid. Complaint made by the King of Spaine fol. 866 The Archdukes send vnto the King fol. 867. An Army defeated at Dunkerke ibid. The death of the Chancellor Chiuerny Complaints against him ibid. Pompone de Bellâ—â—re Chancellor of France ibid. The death of the Elector of Treues fol. 868. Death of the yong Princesse of Conde ibid. The Marquis of Belle I le becomes a religious Woman ibid. Execution of the Edict of Pacification ibid. The Duke of Iuilliers marries the Daughter of the Duke of Lorraine fol. 869. The Court of Parliament perswades the King to marry ibid. Monsieur de la Guesâ—les speech vnto the King ibid The King of France neuer dies fol. 870. A Letter from Queene Marguerit vnto the King ibid. Her request vnto the Pope ibid Pope â—râ—gâ—rieâ— dispensation was after the Kings marriage fol. 871. The Kings age ibid. The Kings Letter to Queene Marguerit Her answer ibid. â—oure Knights of the Golden-Fleece made by the Archduke fol. 872. The Archdukes Army retires out off the I le of Bommell ibid. The States answer to the Emperors Deputies ibid. The Duke of Sauoy resolues to goe into France iâ—id Hee seemes to bee discontented with Spaine fol. 873. The Councell of Spaine demands the Dukes children ibid. The King of Spaine offended with the Duke ibid. The King giues order for the receiuing of the Duke of Sauoye at Lyons fol. 874. The Duke of Sauoye comes to Fontainbleau fol. 875. The Duke of Mercures voyage into Hungary fâ—l 876. The Tartares demand a Peace fol. 877. They are defeated by Paâ—fi ibid. Redeâ— and â—ebâ—sse made Knights by the Emperor fol. 878 Ambassadors from the Moscouite to the Poland ibid. The great Duke of Moscouie sends presents to the Emperor ibid. Duke Charles hangs vp the Nobles of SuedlaÌ„d that serued the King And makes seauen demandes vnto the Estates of Sueden 〈◊〉 879. The Christians enterprises in Hongaâ—y 〈◊〉 the Turke A Parle of Peace betwixt the Christians Turkâ—â— and Tartares 〈◊〉 Cardinall Andrew Battory defeated and 〈◊〉 by
and to multiply the afflictions the Bouâ—guignon is in field and besiegeth S. 〈◊〉 The Kâ—ngâ— armie is not d smâ—ssed but dispersed into dâ—uers parts according to tâ—e nâ—cessitâ—e of his affaires The Daulphin hauing need of the gâ—eatest part for Rouen seâ—d the lesser to the besieged bâ—t the succours being â—eake and slâ—cke S. Florentine yâ—eâ—d to the Dâ—ke of Bouâ—gongne This hard beginning might haue beene preâ—udiciaâ— to â—is aâ—â—aires at Rouen but they succeed better for the chiefe of the cittie mette â—itâ— the Daulâ—hin and excuse themselues of this tumult imputing it to the people ouer-charged they beâ—eech him to pardon this fault and to receiue their voluntarie obedience Thus he is honourablie receiued into the Câ—ttie already pacified â—nd settle aâ—l things â—ith mâ—ldnesse But there are other newes of harder digestion for the Bourguignon marcheth to Paris â—ith a great power and the English takes port in Normandie with a thousand â—aile Tâ—ere were reasons on eâ—ther side to ballance these great difficulties The Dauâ—pâ—iâ— incoâ—ntâ—ed by three great enemies and to trouble tâ—e Dâ—uâ—phiâ— for whether shall he go fiâ—st if he march to Paris the English will conâ—â—â—â— without resistâ—nce If he make head against the English then Paris is lost being wholy inclined to the Bourguignons practises who sees not but the losse of the capitall 〈…〉 would be his ruine and the ouerthrow of all his desseâ—gnes The Boâ—â—guigâ—on The English But 〈◊〉 did not foresee a gâ—eater difficultie at hand by his mother more waâ—gâ—tie and daâ—â—erous then all the rest yet must he auoide all these three stormes not without greâ—t danger That the prouidence of God His motheâ— the preseruer of this Monarcâ—ie might 〈◊〉 it selfe more admâ—rable restoring this estate being in shew vtterly lost For Charles â—ho in so sharpe an incounter reaped so worthy a victory owes tâ—e homage vnto God who gaue him meanes both to fight well and to vanquish happily The Daulpâ—in stâ—â—dâ—ng doubtfull betwixt these two great extreames resolues to go to Paris to deâ—eâ—d the Cittie against the Bourguignons practises and to assure the Kings person whom he knew would speake whatsoeuer he pleased being in his power Henry of Maâ—le Chancellor of France remained at Paris with the King being wholy at the Daulphâ—ns deuotion The people stirre not being kept in awe by the Parliament and Vniuersitie who were then well vnited But experience will soone discouer the inconstancie of humane attempts when they seeme most assured and the vanitie of a multitude being the actors of great mens proiects The Bourguignon at one instant doth publish his protestation and displaies his colours causing his troupes to marche He makes a declaration conteining the causes for the which he takes armes The BourguignoÌ„ makes â— declaration That is To reforme the state extreamly desolate by the ill gouerâ—ment of such as abusing the Kings infirmity managed the affaires of the realme at their pleasure and without pittie of the poore people oppressed them with extraordinarie charges against all right and reason He protested to haue no other intent but to restore the realme to her former libertie But he shall change his coppie imposing new exactions to the preiudice of the people and shall grow offended with such as shall oppose themselues so as it seemes all this was but a maske to abuse the people vnder the goodly shew of ease and libertie But as at the first all seemes goodly so these glorious beginnings wonne him great credit with the French nation Thus his armie begins to marche through Picardie towards Paris All Citties open their gates where he doth presently proclaime an exemption of all Subsidâ—es and other charges except of Salt as the gentlest imposition seeing that all men without distinction payed their part But aboâ—e all he was very carefull that his armie should liue orderly and modestly without any oppression to the poore people being his ordinarie discourse as one greatly grieued for their afflictions and being very desirous of their quiet aâ—d content These examples proclaimed his vertues and wonne him the peoples hearts Other Citties in Picardie follow this example Beauuais yeelds willingly vnto him and shout out for ioy at his entrie he goes presently to Senlis kept by Robert Deusné for the Armagnacs The Cittizens desirous to imitate the rest seize vpon their gouernour open their gates wiâ—lingly call in the Bourguignon and receiue him with all ioy From thence he marcheth speedily to Beaumont the which hauing indured some Canon shotte being subiect to the house of Bourbon yeelds vpon an easie composition Ponthoise and Melun obey without any dispute The Bourguignon with an armie before Paris So by degrees he come before Paris and to shew his armie to the Parisiens he lodgeth at Mont-rouge but to approach neerer he incampes lower in a place called The withered Tree vnto this day by reason there stood a great dryed Tree A presage what should after befall his greene and flourishing desseignes Being there he writes his letters to the King and Cittie of Pariâ— full of cunning admonitions beseeching the one and exhorting the other to hearken seriously to a good reformation of the State the true and soueraigne eâ—d of his armeâ— In the meane time hee looseth not an houre Iohn of Luxembourg during this his necessarie aboad at Paris goes with a part of the armie to trie the voluntarâ—e Citties and euery day made new conquests Chartres Estampes Gaillardon Montlehery Auncau and Rochefort obey and after some dayes of rest to annoy Paris he besiegeth Corbeil a place of importance for the victualing thereof But whilest he pressed Corbeil with exceeding hast behold he sodenly abandons it against the opinion of all men The Daulphin and the Constable of Armagnac supposed that seeing that he had lost his labour at Paris hee would seeke to possesse himselfe of places of eâ—â—â—er conquest according to his course begun But the effect will shew that his râ—siâ—g was to an other intent which bred a horrible combustion throughout the whole realme for Isabell Queene of France discontented with her sonne Charles intreâ—tes the Dâ—ke of Bourgongne to free her from captiuitie The Bourguignon goes to Queene Isâ—â—â—ll at Tours She was then at Tours with some gard by the Kings commandement for the which she blamed her sonne and the Constable who then had the gouernment of the Court They kept not so strict a garde oâ—â—he Queâ—ne but she hâ—d lâ—beâ—tie to walke both wiâ—hin and without the Citty â—uen to the Abbâ—e of Maâ—mâ—ustiâ—r where she had her speciall 〈◊〉 This was a mâ—anes to giue intelligence vnto the Bourguignon and to slip into hiâ— hands as we shall sâ—ewe Reason requiâ—es the history should set downe the motiue of so vnnatural a discontent but she is silent and reports onely a very light occasion Tâ—â— King disâ—â—kâ—â— oâ—â—hâ— Queene That the King comming from visiting of the Queene who held her state at â—ois-de-Viâ—câ—nnes and returning to Paâ—is