Guienne hee taketh Bourdeaux the chiefe Cittie of Guienne and then most of the other Townes doe willingly yeeld obedience vnto the King Rions and some other Castels well fortified by the Eâ—glish â—old good to serue as a Leuaine of this waâ—re Edward seeing himselfe thus assailâ—d aâ—mes by Sea and Land By Sea hee sends an Aâ—mie vnder the conduct of Robert Tiptoste A Leâ—â—ue beâ—wixt Edwaâ—d oâ— Enâ—land Gâ—y of Fâ—anders the Emperor and Dukâ— oâ— Bâ—r against Philip. By land hee sends some forces vnder the command oâ— Iohn Breton to preserue that which remained in Guienne and to fortifie himselfe with friends in the doubtfull euents of so important a cause hee makes a league with Guy Earle of Flanders and for confirmation thereof hee demands his Daughter Philip for his eldest sonne the Prince of Wales the heire apparant to the Crowne of England which the Earle accepts willingly And to omit nothing that might auaâ—â—e him hee enters league with Henry Duke of Bar giuing him Elenor his Daughter in marriage and with Adolphe of Nassau Emperour both hauing pretensions against France The Duke of Bar demanded Champagne of the King by the rights hâ—e preâ—ended and enters it with forces Philip sends Gualter of Creâ—y the Loâ—d of Chaâ—â—illion vpon Marne against him with a goodly Armie who on the other side entâ—ing into Barrois makes a diuersion and forceth the Duke to returne to defend his owne against Gualter â—he Emperour brauâ—ngly giues notice vnto the King that he will make warre against him to recouer the Lands belonging to the Empire Philip makes no other answer but sends him a packet well sealed vp in the which was a whiâ—e Paper foulded like a Letter without any writing This scofâ—e was a great defie as indeed the braueries of Adolphe had no successe The Earle of Flanders was the neerest and most dangerous enemie to preiudice Philip who had ioyned himselfe to the King of England by so strict a bond as the marriage of his Daughter Philip hauing three great enemies in front tryes his wittes to staye them The most dangerous was hee that dealt vnder hand that is the Fleming who made a good shew to Philip Stâ—â—ars dâ—luditur 〈◊〉 and yet treated with his most dangerous enemie but pollicie did circumuent pollicie The King findes meanes vnder-hand to giue him notice that hee would gladly see his Daughter whome hee had Christened and was called Philip by his name before he led her into England Guy brings her with him to Paris being arriued he is committed prisoner by the King The cause is made knowne vnto him by such as had commanâ—â—ment to arrest him That being his Vassaâ—le hee had presumed to allye himselfe with a capitall enemie to the Crowne giuing him so precious a gage as his Daughter Guy obtaines leaue to speake with the King Hee excuseth himselfe Philip sâ—izeth vpon â—he â—aâ—le oâ— Flâ—nâ—eâ—s Daugâ—ter but his Daughter â—â—maines as a pawne with the Queene to bee marryed at the Kings good pleasure 〈◊〉 Daughter although kindly entertained by the King and Queene was full of greefe lamenting dayly as if this honourable gaâ—de had beene a most cruell prison The Earle intreates Philip to send him his Daughter hee answers him plainely that hee tooke her not to restore her Herevpon Guy takes occasion to complaine of the great wrong hee pretended to bee done him by Philip who detaines his Daughter forceably without reason The English in the meane time make open warre in Guienne Philip foreseeing that this was the beginning of a greater storme meaning to lay the burthen vpon him that might doe him most harme sends a goodly Armie into Guienne against the English vnder the conduct of two great Commanders his Brother Charles Earle of Valois and the Constable of Neele to molest the enemie in diuers places Rions and Pondesaâ— Townes vpon the Riuer of Garonne then strong but now desolate are besieged and after many diâ—ficulties yeeld vnto the King and in the end Saint Seuer but with more paine Edmond Brother to the King of England is defeated at Sea The English affaires succeeded ill and reâ—uâ—nâ—ng into England repaires his Nauâ—e But striuing afterwards in vaine to besiege Bourdeaux with new forces hee goes and dyes at Bayonne then belonging to the English 1296. Thus all things succeeding ill for the English hee seekes all meanes to fortifie himselfe He flies to the Emperour Adolphe the chiefe instrument of his hope and sends him money to leuâ—e an armie To Pope Bâ—niface the eight beseeching him to remeâ—ber the priuate bond he had to the preseruation of England whereof he was protector Guy Earle of Flanders ioynes openly with the English in this societie to make warre against Philip with all his forces But from these light beginnings sprung diuers occasions which â—â—oubled these great Princes The Fleminge is the chiefe aduancer of this Trageâ—â—â— and shall haue his share in it A great assembly of Princes against Philip. He cals a great assemblie in the Cittie of Gramont in the yeare 1296. at the feast of Châ—istmas where Adolph thâ— Emperour Edward King of England the Duke of Austria Iohn Duke of Brabant the Earle of Iuliers William of Iuliers his Sonne Iohn Earle of Holland and of Haynault Robert Earle of Neuers William Henry and Guy of Flanders Ihon Earle of Namur and many other great personages meete and with one coâ—seâ—â— resolue to make warre against Philip. The colour was to maintaine Guy Earle of â—landers vniustly afflicted by Philip who had violently taken and stolne his Daughter against the right of Nations and detained her refusing obstinately to restore her to her Father It was decreed that Guy should begin by force and bee well secoâ—ded by the Emperour and the English in case of necessitie But before they come to Armes Pope Boniface should make the first point by the luster of his authoritie All things threatned Philip with much trouble but the end will shew that the attempts of man are all but vaine Boniface according to the intent of their league sends his Nuncio to Philip Popâ— Boniface eâ—enâ—y to Pâ—ilip which was Iames Bishop of Metz to exhort him to doe Iustice both to the Earle of Flanders and to the King of England protesting that hee desired nothing more then peace betwixt Christian Princes Hee sent the same Nuncio vpon the same subiect into England but with an other intent then hee made shâ—w of vnto Philip casting Wood and Oyle into this fire in steed of Water to quench it But for that this Pope must appeare in many acts of this Theater wee must obserue his disposition by some sufficient and not suspected testimonie Platina the â—opes Secretarie Being saith hee a Priest Cardinall of Saint Martin of the Mount Platina i◠〈…〉 hee affected the Pontificall dignitie with such vehemencie as hee omitted neither ambition nor fraude to compasse it and moreouer hee was puft vp with such arrogancie â—s â—ee
hands 1303. as a pawne vntill the end of the paiment and he might beat downe what he had built in the Castels of Lisle Douay deliuering them to the Earle as to their lawful Lord. The Flemings tyed to sâ—â—ict conditions That the Flemings should raze the walls and Forts of fiue principal Citties Gaunt Bruges Ypre Lisle and Douay and neuer to build them againe That the King should make choise of 3000. men at his pleasure in Bruges and thereabouts that were coulpable of the seditions and murthers committed a thousand of them to bee imployed beyond the seas and two thousand on this side and that the Flemings should furnish 600. men at armes to serue the King one whole yeare where hee pleased And for the performance hereof the Citties should bee bound Six thousand pounds and should forfaire threscore thousand Liuers for non-payment for the effecting whereof Deputies should bee appointed During this treatie the Earle Guy and his daughter Philip Guy Earle of Flanders and his daughter dye the subiect of this troublesome reuolt died to the great great greefe of Philip who sees himselfe frustrate of al meanes to shew his clemencie and bountie But when these Articles were brought vnto the Citties the people did mutine with great impatiencie so as the Deputies perswaded Philip to moderate those which were most greeuous The demantling of the Townes except Bruges where the reuolt began and the banishment of the men conuerting it into a pecuniary fine and a great summe to an annuall pension prefixt to easie paiments Thus the accord was made Robert William and Guy brethren The conditions moderated the sonnes of the Earle Guy of Flanders were deliuered with all the prisoners but we shal see that in the execution thereof there was much trouble During these hard rough proceedings Edward King of England hauing receiued a check in Guienne was quiet fearing Philips resolution in greatest dangers whereof hee could wisely free himselfe in the end an accord is made by the marriage of Isabel the daughter of Philip Isabel the daughter of Philip married to Edward King of England with Edward the 2. who in regard of this marriage recouered all he had lost in Guienne in the taking of Isabell he left to his posteritie a heauy pawne to pretend a title to the whole Realme Philip had his reuenge of this Emperour Adolphe who had so boldly braued him in the beginning of this quarrell vnder coulour of demanding the lands of the Empire lying in the Countries of Bourgongne Daulphiné and Prouence being in old time the realme of Arles but then in the power of diuers Lords as we haue sayd vnder the Kings authoritie The King of England and Earles of Flanders had great cause to complaine of him hauing receiued two hundred thousand Crownes to make war against Philip the which he imployed in the pourchase of Thuringe taking possession of that goodly Land so vniustly gotten being solde by an vnnaturall Father who would disinherit his Children This filthie traffick agrauated by the complaints of the King of England and Earle of Flanders Adolphe the Emperour deposed made Adolphe of Nassau very odious and contemptible being issued from a noble and worthie race but this Act against the poore Children made him vnworthy of the Empire from which he was deposed by a decree of the Electors Albert of Austria seated in his place who poursuing him with war slâ—e him as they write with his owne hand in an incounter neere vnto Spire But Pope Boniface the 8. Philips greatest enemie remained yet vnpacified who stil continued his chollor against him in a season when as he thought him to be drawne drie both of men and money for they write that this warre of Flanders had wasted aboue three hundred thousand Frenchmen in eleuen yeares during the which it coÌ„tinued We haue seene how he vsed him by his Nuncios this last Act will not onely shew the continuance of his spleene but shal also represent a bad Catastrophé in this Tragedie the which shall light vpon the head of Boniface sought for by himselfe Albert of Austria was no sooner chosen and installed Emperour by the Electors but Boniface applyed his wit to winne him against Philip supposing to preuaile against Philip Pope Boniface his practise against Philip. as Gregorie the ninth had done against Frederic the second Hee proclames him Emperour inuests him King of the realme of France giuing him both the title and armes and taking occasion to sowe deuision in the heart of the Realme by meanes of the Clergie who by reason of their reuenues had great power in the State and for the interest thereof great will to preserue them Hee did also write his letters to Philip in this manner Boniface Bishop seruant of the seruants of God to Philip King of Frenchmen Feare God He write arâ—ogantly to Philip. and obserue his commandements wee wil thee to vnderstand that thou art subiect to vs both in spirituall and temporall things and that it belongs not to theâ— to giue any prebend or benifice If thou hast the keeping of any of them being vacant thou must reserue the profits of them to the successors If thou hast giuen any wee iudge thy gift to be void and do reuoke all that hath beene done and whosoeuer beleeueth otherwise wee iudge them heretikes giuen at Latran the fourth of the Nones of December the 6. yeare of our Popedome The King answeres him thus Philips answere to the Pope Philip by the grace of God King of France to Boniface calling himselfe the soueraigne Bishop little or no health Let thy great follie and rashnes be aduertised that in tempâ—ral things we acknowledge none but God for superiour and that the gift of prebends being void belongs to vs by our royall prerogatiue and the fruits that grow thereby the which wee will defend by the sword against all them that shall seeke to hinder our possession esteeming them fooles and without iudgement that shall thinke otherwise These are the very words drawne out of the originall But Philip to preuent the plots of Pope Boniface asseÌ„bled the Prelaâ—s of his realm at Paris with al speed hauing represeÌ„ted vnto theÌ„ the wrong which Pope Boniface had done him by his decree from the which he had appealed as erronious he makes them to renew their oath of fidelitie Hee thankes the King of England in that he yeelded not to the perswasions of Boniface who would haue incensed him against him and in the end he seekes to stay the violent course of his furious practises There was a Gentleman following the Court whose name was Felix of Nogaret borne in Seuennes a mountaine Countrie of Languedoc of the familie of the Albigeois as in that Countrie there were many reserued from father to sonne since the grant made them by Saint Lewis whome Philip held fit for the execution of this charge there was likewise a guide
King Iohn hauing long expected the time of his deliuerie parts from England with a strong garde and is conducted to Calis attending the money 〈◊〉 the first pawne of his libertie The Regent his sonne labours earnestly the 〈◊〉 of Paris did contribute willingly a hundred thousand Royals and after their example all other citties paied their portions Of such power is our head cittie both to 〈◊〉 good and euill so by this ende they made amends for all former errors The money is brought to S. Omer whether the Regent comes to see the deliuerie Edward returnes to Calis he is wonderfull kinde to Iohn The two Kings sweare a mutuâ—ll league of friendship and they sweare a league of friendship and comprehended Charles King of 〈◊〉 being absent in this peace his brother Philip vndertaking for him to the end that all quarrels might be troden vnder foote and all men liue in peace vnitie and concord So Iohn being set at libertie after a languishing imprisonment foure yeares take his 〈◊〉 of Edward with all the shewes of loue that might be betwixt brethren and 〈◊〉 friends Being parted f om Calis he findes his sonne Charles comming to meete him with a great and stately traine I cannot well expresse the ioy of this first encounter this good King imbracing his sonne as his redeemer with ioy mixt with teares and full of fatherly affection with the content of his sweete recouered libertie seeing himselfe in his 〈◊〉 armes who had giuen him so many testimonies of his faithfull loue in his necessitie 〈◊〉 in the middest of his subiects with his first authoritie depending no more vpon anothers will King Iohn receiued by his sonne with great ioy And contrariwise what ioy was it for this wise sonne to enjoy his father so precious a gage of the authoritie order and obedience of a State and a great discharge for him of this painfull burthen Thus discoursing of what had bin done during his imprisonment and of what was to be done they arriue at Heâ—in whether not onely the whole countrie repaires 〈…〉 the Deputies of Paris and of all the prouinces of the Realme to congratulate their good Kings deliuerie where he disposeth of the gouernment of his house The King of Nauarre meetes him at Compiegne hauing fiâ—st sent back his hostages to shew that he relyed onely on his word put himselfe into his power Thus passeth the world after a storme comes a calme 1361. King Iohn made his entrie into Paris with this goodly traine being receiued with an incredible ioy of all his subiects The Kings reception into Paris The Parisiens going to kisse his hands offer him their hearts with a goodly cubberd of Plate worth a thousand markes for homage of their fidelitie and obedience The Parliament had surceased aboue a whole yeare Iohn for the first fruits of his recouered authoritie would honour the opening of the court with his presence being set in the seat of Iustice in the midst of all his officers to the incredible content of all men who beheld the cheerefull countenance of this Prince like the Sunne beames after a troubled skie Such was the returne of King Iohn into his realme after his imprisonment as the catastrophe of a Comedie in the which after mourning they reioyce This happened in the beginning of the yeare 1361. Some moneths were spent in these publike ioyes but they must seeke to get againe his hostages in the effecting whereof they found many difficulties for neither the priuate Lords whose homage he had bound to the King of England nor the countries whose Soueraignties he had yeelded by this accord would obey They argue with the King in councell and demand an acte shewing Difficulties in the performance of the conditions of peace that the King cannot dispose of the soueraigntie of his realme nor alienate the reuenues of the crowne Iohn on the other side fearing least Edward should reproche this vnto him as a practise betwixt him and his subiects made them sundry commandements to obey He went to Auignon to visit Pope Innocent who dyed at this time and Vrban the sixt succeeded in his place both Limosins To hansell Iohns recouered libertie and to ease his minde afflicted with long imprisonment Vrban exhorts him to vndertake the voyage of the holy land as generall of the action Iohn promiseth the Pope to goe with an armie Iohn not remembring the examples of Kings his Predecessors Lewis the 7. 9. nor apprehending the present burthen of his great affaires nor the danger of so mighty and watchfull an enemie who had so long and with so great paine kept him prisoner accepts the charge and makes a solemne promisse and to hasten the execution thereof he returnes into England Some saye the loue of the Countesse of Salisbury whose husband had the garde of the King being a prisoner was the principall motiue of his returne The which I cannot beleeue vpon the report of the English being vnlikely that his age his aflictions his great affaires and the voyage wherevnto he prepared should suffer this Prince to follow so vnseasonable a vanitie But whatsoeuer moued him therevnto he dyed there leauing his life in England where he had so long languished as a presage of his death Thus Iohn died in England in the yeare 1364. the 8. of Aprill Iohn dies in England His dispositioÌ„ leauing Charles his eldest sonne heire to the Crowne of France A good man he was but an vnfortunate Prince wise in ordinarie things but ill aduised in great affaires iust to all men but not warie how or whom he trusted in matters of consequence temperate in priuate but too violent in publick To conclude a good Prince but not considerate more fit to obey then to command Truely these heroicke vertues are the proper Iewels of Crownes and wisdome is a companion to the most excellent vertues especially in Princes who are aduanced vpon the Theater of manslife to gouerne the rest We haue noted that Bourgogne had beene giuen to Robert the grand-child of Hugh Capet for his portion A little before the deceasse of King Iohn Bourgogne annexed vnto the Crowne it was vnited to the Crowne of France by the death of Duke Philip a young man of the age of fifteene yeare sonne to that Iohn which dyed in the battaile of Poitiers He was betrothed to the heire of Flanders but both the Duchie and the Daughter were for another Philip the sonne of Iohn to whom the father gaue this new succession in recompence of the faithfull seruice he had done him the day of his taking and had continued it in prison CHARLES the 5. called the Wise the 52. King of France CHARLES THE V. KINGE OF FRANCE .52 THis Charles during the life of his father Iohn had giuen so many testimonies of his sufficiencie to gouerne well 1364. that he was held for King before he tooke the crowne Charles his raigne the which he receiued at Rheine
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
eldest sonne the Emperour for his sonne Maximilian King of the Romains Mary desired much the alliance of France but the King had done her a great disgrace deliuering her letters to the Gantois 1478 the which shee had secretly written which caused the death of those two good men and the banishement of her most affectionate seruants Moreouer her Estate required a man to gouerne it She would willingly haue married with the Earle of Angoulesme if the King had beene so pleased The humours of the heire of Cleues pleased her not nor such as were about her The Emperour kept as a pawne a diamond with a letter which the Infanta had written vnto him by her fathers commande whereby she promiseth to accomplish the marriage in forme according to her fathers pleasure He sends it to the Duchesse to auerre her hand and promise demanding if she would persist therin She doth auouch the contents and agrees to make it good So Maximilian comes to Gand and there the marriage was consummated A marriage which should proue a firebrand to kindle by their descendants both within this Realme and in manie other Estates the Combustious tumults and furies which haue followed the which happilie had beene auoided by a french alliance But God had other wayes decreed This marriage was consummated during the Orangeois reuolt in Bourgongne Maâ—â—iage of Maximiliâ—â— and Marie the which continued somewhat long by the support the Germaines gaue him in fauour of Sigismond of Austria vncle to Maximilian who hauing his territories adioyning and especially the Countie of Ferrete the which he had retyred by the Suisses meanes would gladly haue gotten somewhat of his neighbours But the indiscretion of Sigismond and the want of money to pay the Bourguignons were a meanes that the King did more easily preuent the Prince of Orange his practises who nowe called himselfe Lieutenant to the sayd Germaines They supplied him with some troupes with the which he recouered almost all the Countie contynuing his course vntill that Craon came to beseege him in Gy a small Towne of the sayd County Chasteauguion seeing his Brother cooped vp and the place readie to yeeld to Craons discretion posts thether with all the forces he can The Prince of Orange deâ—eated and comes to charge Craons armie in front whilest that the beseeged should set vpon him behind So charged both before and behinde he found the match hard yet by the defeate of fourteene or fifteene hundred men for the most part enemies and the taking of Chasteauguion he wonne the victorie Craon leads his army after this victory before Dole the chiefe Towne of the County but for that he did presse it but slackly and neglected his enemie whose forces he knewe to be but small he had ill successe For in a fierce sallie they slewe many of his men and carried away a great part of his artillerie This affront brought him in disgrace with the King Craon beaten before Dole who fearing a more dangerous checke hearing likewise complaints from all parts of his great exactions and money vniustlie taken puts him from the gouernment of Bourgongne preferring in his place Charles of Amboise Lord of Chaumont a valiant wise and vigilant Captaâ—ne Loue preuayles more then force He is in disgrace with the King He perswades the King to pacifie the Suisses and other Germaines who followed the Prince of Orange in fauour of the house of Austria and to make the way more easie for the King he him selfe doth practise the Commanders Then began the Suisses first league with the King the which he effected by meanes of twentie thousand franks he gaue yearely among the Cantons and the like summe to be distributed among some Captaines which he imployed And to please them he made himselfe a bourgeois amongest them and obtayned the title of the first allied to their Commonweale A title which the Duke of Sauoie pretended to be due vnto him aboue all others They likewise for their parts promised to furnish six thousand men to serue the King continually for foure Germaine Florins and a halfe a moneth a number which continued alwayes vnto the death of Lewis A league with the Suiâ—ses The Suisses 〈◊〉 vnder the Kings pay and so the Bourguignons party much weakened who asseâ—ble the Nobility of the Country togither vnder the Prince of Orange and defeate the companies of Salezard and Coninghen neere vnto Grey But Amboise being fortified with men and artillerie takes Verdun Montsauion Semeur in Lauxois Chastillon vpon Seine Bar vpon Seine Beaulne and Rochefort neere vnto Dole belonging vnto Vauâ—ray Thus hauing freed all the approches to Dole Dole with many other Townes taken by Amboise he Campes before it batters it makes a breach giues an assault and takes it Some troupes of the Townes last subdued thrust themselues into it either to warrant it from spoile or to haue a better share but there enters such a multitude of franke archers as it was impossible to saue it from sack and fire Yet the King repaired the ruines about the walles building a great part of the wall towards the riuer of Doux with a great trenche whereby a great part of the said riuer did runne forth inuironing of that part of the wall but this is nothing in regarde of the fortifications which haue beene since built whereby it exceeds most of the Citties of Christendome beeing excellent at this day in Senate Vniuersitie and armes Auxonne deserued a long and sharpe siege but the wisdome of Amboise preuailed so well after the siege of Dole that giuing the chiefe offices of the Towne to such as demanded them it was yeelded within fiue or sixe dayes and likewise the Castles of Iou S. Agnes vpon Salins Champagnole Arguel and some others built vpon rockes Besançon an Imperiall Towne yeelded to the King by his Lieutenant Generall the like duties as they were accustomed to doo the Earle of Bourgongne Thus Bourgongne being conquered remained some time in the Kings quiet possession A young horse hath need of a gentle hand to make him taste the Bit with delight But Verdun and Beaulne not able to endure the command of the French began first to kick yet by the Gouernours discretion they were speedily subdued and recouered from Simon of Quingey who led a troupe of sixe hundred men of foote and horse Germains and others tumultuouslie assembled in Ferrete and thereabouts to put into the aboue named places Verdun was taken by assault and subiect to the accustomed insolencies in the like prises Beaune yeelded by composition in the beginning of Iuly with liues and goods saued and for a fine they payed fortie thousand Crownes These sodaine exploites did so terrifie the other Townes as all kept themselues within their due obedience But how doth Edward King of England looke vpon this Theater where our men play the pettie Kings And how doth he suffer the King without any opposition to enlarge his estate by the taking of
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
common danger they treat of a new confederacie and had concluded it if Rome had made that resistance to the King which many expected Ferdinand Duke of Calabria the Popes forces Virgile Vrsin and the remainders of the Arragonois armie had resolued to campe at Viterbe and there to make head against the King but the roades which the Colonois made who had taken Ostia from the Pope and hindred the passage of victuals to Rome by Sea hauing put all the country about Rome in alarme being iealous of the Popes integrity who began to heaâ—ken to the French demands made him to retire leauing the way open for the King to enter into Viterbe by the fauour of the Cardinall of S. Pierre and the Colonois and so into the territories of the Vrsins The Pope is now wonderfully perplexed The Pope in perplexiâ—ie he knowes himselfe to haue beene one of the chiefe motiues of Charles his voyage and since without any offence he hath opposed his authority his councell and his armes Hee imagines that the assurance hee shall draw from the King shall be no firmer then his to the King He sees the Cardinals Ascanius S. Pierre and other his enemies in credit about the King Hee feares that this prediction of Sauonarola should now take effect That the Church should bee reformed by the sword He remembers with what infamie he came to the Popedome his gouernment and his life controules him The Cardinalls Ascanius Saint Pierre Colonne Sauelle and aboue fifteene others The Pope hath many enemies vrge the King to suppresse a Pope so full of vices and abhominable to all the world and to proceed to a new election He hath no sufficient forces to withstand the stranger Alphonso droopes Ferdinand is weâ—ke Vergilus Vrsinus Generall of the Arragon armie Constable of the realme of Naples allyed to Alphonso Iohn Iourdain sonne to the said Vrsin hauing married a bastard daughter of Ferdinand the father of Alphonso bound to the house of Arragon for so many respects had of late consented that his sonnes should giue the King passage lodging and victuals within the territories of the Church and leaues him Campagnana and other places for his assurance vntill the armie were past the territories of Rome The Earle of Petillano and all the rest of the family of Vrsins followed the same accord And now Ciuita-uecchia Cornette and in a maner all about Rome is in the â—ower of the French All the Court all the people are troubled they demand an vâ—ity Being thus troubled in minde he sends the Bishops of Concord Terne to the King but â—e seekes to compound both for himselfe Alphonso The King had not aduanced his armes euen to the gates of Rome to that intent He sends the Cardinalls Ascanius and Colonne Lewis of Tremouille and the President of Gannai to the Pope He sends to the King who in an humor brings Ferdinando with his armie into Rome suffers theÌ„ to fortifie the weakest places But the meanes to defend it Ostia cuts off their victualls The Cardinals arriued an act worthy of Alexander they are presently taken prisoners to make theÌ„ to deliuer vp Ostia in the same tumult the French Ambassadors are stayed by the Arragonois yet the Pope caused them to be presently deliuered the Cardinall soone after He sends the Cardinall of S. Seuerin to the King being at Nepy treats no more but of his owne affaires And that which vrgeth him most the King is come to Bracciane the chiefe towne of the Vrsins the Colonois haue many of the Gibelin faction within Rome the Earle of Ligny cousin germaine to the King by his mother and the Lord of Alegre were ioyned vnto them with fiue hundred lances and two thousand Suisses to spoile the country beyond Tiber The walles of Rome fal alone at the Kings entry to keepe Ferdinando within Rome But he was more amazed when as aboue twenty fadomes of the wall fell downe of it selfe the which inuites the King and forceth the Pope But he feares the Cardinalls hatred and the ruine of his estate The King frees him of this doubt and doth assure him by the Marshall of Gié the President of Gannai and the Seneshall of Beauâ—aire That hauing meanes to make his passage by force he is notwithstanding moued with the same reuerence that his predecessors haue alwayes borne to the Romaine sea that entring peaceably into Rome all their controuersies should be conuerted into amity and friendship He yeelds and first he obtaines a safe conduct for Ferdinando to passe safely through the dominions of the Church Thus the King entred Rome with al his armie by the port of S. Mary de Popolo in like manner as he had done into Florence euen as Ferdinando Duke of Calabria passed out at S. Sebastians gate the last day of this yeare The Pope fraught with feare and distresse shuts himselfe vp into the Castle S. Ange whilest hee should treate with the King And for that he refused to deliuerthe castle vnto the King the artillery was twise drawen out of the Castle of S. Marke where the King was lodged yet the presents and promises of Alexander preuailed much with some of the priuie Counsel the King of his owne disposition was not inclined to offend the Pope But what needes there any Cannon to batter a place which opens of it selfe fifteene fadom of the castle wall saies the original fell at the Kings arriuall In the end the Pope giues the King the forts of Ciuitauecchia The wall of the Castle S. Ange falles Terracine Spolete yet this was not deliuered To hold theÌ„ vntil the Conquest of Naples and grants impunity to the Cardinalls and Barons that had followed the King Zemin Ottoman brother to Baiazet the 2. who since the death of Mahomet their father being pursued by the said Baiazet had saued himselfe at Rhodes from thence being led into France had beene put into Pope Innocents power for whose gard Baiazet paide yeerely fortie thousand ducats to the Pope that by the greedinesse of this summe they should be the lesse willing to yeeld to any Prince that might make vse of him against him The King desired to haue him to make him an instrument of the warre which he resolued against the Turke after that of Naples But Alexanders holynesse The Popes impiety aduised the Turke to stand vpon his gard and to prouide that this yong king preuaile not in his enterprise for a recompence hereof Baiazet although he detested the Popes impiety sent him two hundred thousand crownes by George of Antie the messenger of this aduice intreating the Pope to free him of this feare It was generally beleeued that he was poysoned and died within few dayes after that Alexander had deliuered him Moreouer it was said That Caesar Cardinall of Valence the Popes sonne should follow the King three monethes as the Popes Legat but rather to be a pawne of his fathers
on eyther side the Venetians craue respite for two moneths to accept or not and the King transported with a great desire to see his France resolued to part the next day But aduertised that the Suisses practised eyther to assure themselues of his person or to seize vpon the cheefe in Court for three moneths pay which they sayde was due vnto them by an accorde made with Lewis the eleuenth That so often as they should go forth with their Ensignes displayed The Suisseâ— practise to seize vpon the King they should receiue that payment hee parted from Verceil into the which many Suisses were gotten and went towards Trine a Towne belonging to the Marquis of Montferrat This humour possessed them by the instigation of those to whom this peace was not pleasing From Trine the King sent the sayd Marshall of Gié the President of Gannai and Argenton to Lodowicke Sforee to moue him to an enterview But hee grounded his excuse vpon some speeches which the Earle of Ligni and the Cardinall of Saint Mâ—lâ— had vsed 1496. That they should take him when he came to the King to Pauie yet would he willingly parle with the King hauing a barre and riuer betwixt them He had heard talke of the parle betwixt Edward the CoÌ„stable of S. Paul with Lewis the eleuenth Charles taking this distrust in ill part receiued his hostages of Milan and impatient to attend the Geneuois aduancing to Quiers he sent Peron de Basche to Genes to receiue the two carrakes promised by the treaty and to arme foure others wherein hee made accoumpt to shippe three thousand Suisses to releeue the Castells of Naples knowing that the armie of Nice had beene altogither vnprofitable But it was sufficient for the Milanois to promise hee knewe well that hungar would force the wolfe out of the woode that is to say that want of victualls would shortly expell the garrisons out of those Castells Moreouer being perswaded the King would hardly repasse the Alpes he seekes the friendship of Ferdinand arming two ships for his seruice Charles did then send the Lord of Argenton to Venice to knowe if they would accept of the peace and to passe three articles To re-deliuer Monopoli which they had taken from him To draw back the Marquis of Mantoue their Lieutenant generall all others they had in the Realme of Naples for Ferdinands seruice and to declare King Ferdinand to be none of the league lately made in the which there was onely named the Pope the King of the Romains the King of Spaine and the Duke of Milan For answer they flatly refuse all the Kings demands as hauing no warre with him and that their meaning was only to succour the Duke of Milan as their Allie whome the King sought to ruine And for the making of an agreement they offer to be a meanes That Ferdinand should do homage to the King for the Realme of Naples with the Popes consent and should pay a hundred and fiftie thousand ducats yearely and a present summe of money the which they would lend for the loane whereof they should haue Bruduse Otrante Trani and some other places in Apulia in pawne That Ferdinand should giue the King some places for safety to make warre against the Turke according to the hope wherewith Charles had fed all Christendome The Venetiaâ—â— prâ—positions to the King The which if he would vndertake all Italie should contribute therevnto That the King and they should dispose of all Italie without contradiction and for their part they would serue the King with a hundred gallies at their owne charge and with fiue thousand horse by land But this Turkish warre was but a glorious cloake for euery priuate mans couetousnes And who can wonder if God did sodenly frustrate out desseignes hauing an other ground then we made shewe of Who will not iudge but this offer had beene as honorable for France as the generall losse of the sayd Realme was dishonorable Charles would willingly haue vndertaken it and the greatest part of his Counsell did allowe it But Tacitus obserues of Vitellius That his iudgement was such as hee found all harsh that was profitable and tooke nothing in good part but what was pleasing and that proued hurtfull A lesson for Princes not to trust so confidently to some particular persons for the gouernment of their affaires as not to impart it sometimes to others neyther to aduance any one so high as all the rest should bee his inferiors for making himselfe to be feared and respected aboue all as the Cardinall Briçonnet his Bretheren and kinsfolke did he commonly makes his house great at his maisters coste But it was the humor of this young King fearing sayeth the history to displease them to whome hee gaue credit and especially such as gouerned his treasure as the aboue named Our Conquerors are nowe arriued at Lion in the moneth of October not greatly carefull of those they had left at Naples without any intelligence or letters from the King but onely counterfeit and nothing but promises for assignations of pay whereof followed the generall losse of the Realme who for a signe of their conquest left them nothing but the possession of a stinking and contagious disease which afterwards spred ouer all France The beginniâ—â— oâ— the pockes the which beeing till then vnknowne in our parts and the Phisitians not acquainted with the cure thereof lodged manie in the graue leauing many deformed and lame of their limmes 1495. and subiect to continuall torments Charles hauing continued two moneths at Lion hee receiued two very troublesome and vnpleasant aduertisements One was Domesticall the death of his sonne the Daulphin deceased at three yeares of ages A goodly child saith the Originall and bold in speech who feared not those things which other children are accustomed to feare The other was forreine the yeelding of the Castels at Naples The King passed ouer his mourning lightly for being little both of bodie and vnderstanding he began to feare least the Daulphin growing in these generous dispositions which they noted in his infancie should soone blemish the fathers power and authoritie A lamentable thing that so great a Monark should feare his owne child lying in a cradle But that was certaine that Charles the seuenth his grandfather had beene iealous of Lewis the eleuenth his sonne Lewis had terrified his father and was in feare of his sonne Charles the eight and now Charles apprehends some decay in his estate by his son Iealousie is a disease which doth commoÌ„ly infect Princes houses The other accident was of greater consequence and toucht him more neerely But were not these crosses sufficient to afflict him but he must receiue a publike shame by meanes of a priuate mans couetousnesse The Florentines prest the performance of their treatie sworne at Florence confirmed at Ast and afterwards at Turin Charles writes to this effect to Entragues Captaine of the Citadell at Pisa and to the bastard
King who had before taken him into his protection giuing thirtie thousand ducats his estate also importing the King much for his affaires of Lombardie yet loth to contend with the Pope for the Duke of Ferrare he propounded conditions whereby the Pope might rest satisfied of the interests which the Church and hee pretended against the Duke In the end as the Pope the more he sees himselfe sought vnto shewed greater signes of bitternesse the Lord of Chaumont enters into Italie with fifteene hundred Lances and tenne thousand foote to whome the Duke of Ferrare sent two hundred men at armes fiue hundred light horse and two thousand foote At their first landing they take Polesine Montagnagne A French army enters Italie and Esâ—è Then the Prince of Anhault Lieutenant to the Emperour parting from Verona with three hundred French Lances two hundred men at armes and three thousand Lansquenets ioyned with Chaumont and ioyntly togither they march against Vincence The Vincentins abandoned by the Venetian armie which retired towards Padoua fâ—ie to Chaumont to obtaine some reasonable conditions of the Prince who wonderfully moued with their rebellion would not receiue them with any other condition but to haue their goods at pleasure and their liues saued These victories were fruitlesse without the taking of Legnague the which the riuer of Adice diuids into two parts whereof the lesse is called Pâ—râ—o This riuer is diuided into many branches about Legnague passing the last branch they incounter some footemen set to gard Porto Our men charge them repulse them kill a great number chase the rest and enter pel mâ—l with them into Porto The taking of Porto made the meanes easie to batter the Towne on either side the riuer for the effecting whereof Chaumont sent Captaine Molare with â—oure thousand men and sixe peeces of artillerie who hauing in a manner battered downe the bastion which was vpon the causie at the point of the Towne the Venetian Comissarie retired himselfe into the castle and the Captaine which commanded the bastion yeelded to depart with bag and bagage The bastion taken the Towne was sackt by Molare and the Castle battered yeelded the next day vpon condition that the Venetian gentlemen remayning Chaumonts prisoners the souldiars should depart with a white sticke in their hand At this time died the Cardinall of Amboise vnkle to the Lord of Chaumont The death of the Cardinall of Amboise a man of a great spirit and long experience in affaires but with the serâ—ice of his master he did not forget the content of his owne priuate ambition Ciuitelle Maroslique Basciane Feltre l'Escale and other places there abouts abandoned by the Venetians opened their gates vppon vew of the Canon To conclude al places wheras the armies passed were exposed to takings retakings sacking and burning and all persons were at the victors mercie Monselice remained yet The Towne is seated in a plaine and the Castle on the mountaine compassed in with three wals wherof the lower required two thousand men for the defence thereof By reason then of a new conuention betwixt the King and the Emperour That this armie should contiâ—ue yet a moneth longer in Italie and that the extraordinary chaâ—ge aboue the payment of the companies which the King had till then defrayed should afterwards be payed by the Emperour and the foote-men also for that moneth and in consideration of fiftie thousand Crownes which the King should adde to fiftie thousand others that hee had formerly lent the Emperour Verona with the territories thereof should remaine in pawne to his Maiestie vntill it were satisfied Chaumont beseeged it Seuen hundred foote and some companies of horse hauing vpon their approch abâ—ndoned the Towne keept the first wal He batters it and makes a breach in diuers places The French followed with fifteene hundred Spanish Launces newly arriued vnder the commaund of the Duke of Termini mount to the assault chase the garrison and skirmishing with them they enter pel mel within the other two walles and so into the Castle the most part being slaine Such as were retyred into the dungeon yeelded when as the Germains setting it on fire burnt both the place the men so aâ— of this number few escaped either the furie of their armies or of the fire The Towne was likewise consumed to ashes This done a new commandement from the King calles backe Chaumont with his army into the Duchie of Milan which the Pope bâ—â—â—n to dâ—sturbe Moreouer two armies of diuers nations ioyned togither to make priuate conquests hardly can the commanders remaine long vnited in one will And the Germains who can doe little alone lodged in Lonigue Wee haue hether to seene that Pope Iulius desseins tended not onely to restore the Church to her pretended estates but also to expell the French out of Italie The Pope seeks to expell the French out of Italie Hâ—s fiâ—st proiect was effected And now many considerations draw him to the second The Venetians are partly restored and all at his deuotion hauing reuoked their censures Hee is strictly allied with the Suisses He knowes well the Arragonois will be alwaies glad to see the Kings greatnes diminished to haue the better meanes to settle him selfe at Naples He finds the Emperours forces authoritie to be feeble He is not out of hope to draw the King of England into armes And that which feeds this couetous passion he is well informed that the King hath no will to make warre against the Church and that at all euents it shall be in his power to make peace with him and this is the last helpe the Popes haue alwaies relyed on But with what colour may Iulius arme against our Lewis The King will not giue ouer the protection of the Duke of Ferrare Iulius desires exceedingly the possession of his Duchie grounded â—â—though the Seigneurie of Comache from whence Alphonso drew the salt belonging dâ—rectly to the Emperour vpon the discord for the salt pans and customs which Alphâ—nso leuied vnlawfully and without the leaue sayd he of the Lord of the Fee This was a crosse deuise to cloake his couetousnes To colour this he vrgeth the King againe to renounce the protection of the Ferrarois absolutly vpon his refusall he protests to renounce the treatie of Cambrai that he will not ioyne with him neither yet be opposite vnto him and that without tying himselfe to any person he will hereafter seeke to maintaine peace in the Church But on S. Peters day hee discouers in effect the motions of his spirit that day the rents due to the Apostolike sea are paid hee refuseth to accept those of the Duke of Ferrare alleaging for his reasons that Alexander tâ—e 6. marrying his daughter Lucrece could not to preiudice the sea reduce foure thousand ducats to a hundred And the same day hauing before refused to giue the French Cardinalls leaue to returne into France aduertised that the Cardinall of Auchx was gone to field with
Venetian and English would imploy his forces to recouer Milan and this should bee a new whetstone to sharpen their hatred and make their vertue knowne to the whole world No man doubted of the Kings resolution herein and in deede hee prepared for it hauing retayned the Lansquenets which the Duke of Gueldres had brought against the English Aâ—d the Pope although it were a verie troublesome thing vnto him to haue the King recouer this estate yet knowing that his perswasions could not diuert the enterprise he aduiseth him but faintly not to prolong it giuing him to vnderstand that things were ill prepared to resist The Emperour had no forces and as little money the Arragonois armie was growne weake and not paid the people of Milan poore and brought almost to despaire no man could furnish money to make the Suâ—â—es marche and Fregose was not out of hope to agree with his Maiestie for the Seigneurie of Genes The Popes pollicie But let vs obserue his pollicie All these prouocations came not from a sincere heart The Pope sees euery one tired with trauels past and ill prouided And now the French had taken breath and fortified themselues with new alliances he begins to feare the King and would assure himselfe of his forces in case he came into Italy Moreouer he knew well the King could not this yeare molest the estate of Milan by reason of a clause mentioned in the truce with the Arragonois· and if it should so fall out this good inclination and will should serue him for an excuse with the King when as hee should â—equiâ—e either his consent or helpe During this truce the Lanterne at Genes being reduced to all extremitie for want of victuals and not able to be succoured yeelds to the Genouois who made it euen with the Causey Thus the King was dispossessed of all his conquests in Italy We must not wonder if the people make heapes of Stones of the Castels within their Townes when they fall into their powers for they are but shackles of their libertie In the meane time the new confederacie which the Pope contracted with the Emperour betwixt whom and the Venetians Leon laboured an agreement not giuing the King any notâ—ce thereof lending him fortie thousand Ducats and receiuing from him Modene in pawne gaue our Lewis new causes of iealousie and distrust To be resolued then of the Popes intent he sends to intreat him to declare himselfe in his fauour adding moreouer that if he might not be in good termes of friendship with him he would accept such conditions of Maximilian and Ferdinand as he had refused On the other side Maximilian and the Arragonois wanted no perswasions full of efficacie to vnite the Pope vnto them for the defence of Italy shewing that if vnited together they had beene able to chase the French out of the Duchie of Milan they were not now more vnâ—ble to defend it against him They did not omit to shew that if the King prâ—uailed in his dâ—sseins he would not faile to be reuenged at the same instant of all the iniuries he had receiued namely of the money wherewith Leon had lately thrust the Suâ—ssâ—s into â—ourgorgne And the authoritie of the Suisses who continuing in their first spâ—â—â—ne ofâ—â—red for six thousand Florines of the Rhin to take and defend the passages of Mount Senis Mount Geneure and Final and for fortie thousand Florines a moneth to â—â—uade Bourgongne with twenty thousand men did strangely moue the Popes minde who restrained by feare of that he most desired made some scruple to bewray his conceitâ— giuing them all good hopes vnder geneâ—all termes In the end being prest by the King behold his answer That he had perswaded him to 〈◊〉 into Itaâ—ie when as without danger or effusion of bloud he might haue reaped an assured victorie That now other Princes haue so ordred their affaires as there is no more hope to â—anquish but with much hazard and bloud And for that the Turke had lately increased his power much by a notable victorie against the Sophi of Persia Leon therefore foâ—gets not to adde That it is was neither conformable to his nature nor agreeable to his â—fâ—â—ce to fauour Christian Princes armes against themselues That he could not but exhort him to su câ—â—sâ— attending some more easie and better oportunitie which being offered hee should alwaâ—â—s finde in him the same disposition to his glory and greatnesse that he had some fewe moneths before made shew of This answer was sufficient to quaile the Kings hope of Leons fauour yea to let him vnderstand that he would oppose both his Councell and forces against this enterprise which the King had resolued for the Duchie of Milan according to the charge he had giuen to the Duke of Bourbon But death which commonly cuts off the councels of man with his life stayed this resolution to reuiue it soone after in the minde of his next successor For as Lewis pleased himselfe exceedingly in the excellent beautie of his new Spouse The death of Lewis being but eighteene yeares old behold a feuer accompanied with a fâ—ux of bloud frees him from the troubles and cares of this world to enioy an eternall and happy rest in heauen noting the first day of Ianuarie with the exceeding greefe which his memorie graued in the hearts of all his subiects Hee was a godly Prince iust chaste milde temperate loyall louing his Princes His vertues his Nobilitie and his people and likewse beloued of them a friend to sinceritie plainnesse and trueth an enemie to enuie lying and flatterie Let vs obserue for a testimonie thereof that royall apothegme being vrged by the flatterers of the Court to take reuenge of Lewis of Tremouille who had ouercome and taken him at the battaile of S. Aubin A King of France saith he doth not take vpon him the quarrels of a Duke of Orleans If hee hath faithfully serued the King his Maister against me who was but Duke of Orleans he will do the like for me who am now King of France But aboue all he was good to his subiects whom he did alwayes studie to ease for how many leuies hath he maâ—â— both of horse and foote without the oprression of his people by any new imposition How often haue his subiects willingly granted him an increase of subsidies to supply his foâ—reine and domesticall affaires and yet would he not allowe of these impositions desiring rather to cut off the expenses of his owne person and his house to saue his people from oppression and spoile Francâ— was neuer seene so populous so fruitfull so râ—che so well tilled nor so well built as in this raigne A happy raigne in the obseruation of Iustice martiall discipline lâ—beâ—tâ—e of â—â—afficâ—e increase of goods cheapnesse of victuals and which is more euery man to eate his bread quietly at his owne board free from outâ—ages and Souldiars violence To conclude neuer King loued his people so much neueâ— subiects loued their
oâ— the house of Guise was generall of the horse consisting of fiâ—teene hundred men at armes euery one hauing two archers two thousand light hâ—rse and as many argoletiers besides an infinite number of voluntary French Nâ—biliâ—ie marching vnder the fauour of their Prince and desiâ— us to maâ—e their vâ—lor apparent by good and faithâ—ull seruices Gaspar Lord of â—hastillion afterwards Admirall was Colonnel of the foot coâ—sisting besides the nâ—w and the ordinary companies which were twentie enseignes of the oâ—d handâ— of Piedmont and fiue and thirtie ensigns of Gascons and Prouensals they note the two câ—mpanies of the Lord of Duras to bee compounded for the most part of 〈◊〉 â—nd old souldiers worthy of commaund of tenne thousand Lansquenets in 〈◊〉 Reâ—iments commaunded by the Reingraue and Reichroc To these bands the Protestant Princes ioyned a battallion of horse vnder the commaund of the Colonnell Chartell But let vs now see their exploits The Cittie of Thoul at the fiâ—st abord puts it selfe into the Kings protection but this was not the cheefe point of his desseine The Emperour pâ—â—sing into France had the passage of Metz at his deuotion and had victuals and other necessarieâ— out of that Countrâ—e The King now requires the like from them They offer victuals for mony and consent to admit his Maiestie in their Cittie with the Constable The Kings armie enters into the countâ—ie of Mâ—â—z followed with some Princes and Noblemen but as for any passage of the armie they excuse themselues and pretend neutralitie The Constable departs and protests that he will haue free passage free entrie and â—â—ee issue at discretion without any limitation and partly by promises partly by threats he wins the Inhabitants The Cittizens had not foreseene this storme and lesse prouided any remedie to auoyd it Thus being forced to bid their libertie adue they agree with Lord of Bourdillon afterwards Marshall of France That the Constable accompanied with some Princes and Noblemen should enter with two companies of foot the companies were sixe huÌ„dred men strong they increase them with halfe as many more all chosen men of account the which being entred repelled the people become masters and draw after them so long a traine as the Mâ—â—â—ins had no meanes to resist This was the tenth of Aprill on Palme Sunday nine dayes after the King made his entrie in armes being followed with all his forces put in battaile hee receiued the oâ—h of the Cittizens and sware sollemnly to them in the porch of S. Stephens Church He leâ—â— Gonner brother to the Marshal of Brissac for Gouernour and with him the company of the Earle of Nantueil two hundred light horse two hundred harguebufiers on horsebacke and twelue enseigns of foot Thus the famous Cittie of Metz was brought vnder the obedienâ— of this Crowne a portion of the ancient patrimonie of the Kings oâ— France and in former times vsurped by the Emperours The Constable would gladly haue vsed the like stratageme to Strasbourg but he â—ound more assurance and resolution then at Metz. Metz yeelds to French King They put a strong garrison into their Cittie and prepared for defence against any that should seeke to make them subiect so as seeing that neyther reproches threats nor bitter words could drawe any thing from the Inhabitants but victualls and necessaries for the Campe the army tooke the way of Haguenau and Wisbourg Here the deputies of the Germaine Princes come to beseech the King to passe no no farther to stay the spoile of the Country to harken to a peace with the Emperour wherevnto he seemed to be inclined and not to presse them to any priuate alliance An alteration in the Germainâ— Princes considering their bond vnto the Empire and if it pleased him to be comâ—â—ehended in this treatie hee should make it knowne with what conditions he ment to compound with the Emperour The King held good pawnes for the charges of his vâ—iage By his forces he had drawne the Emperour to reason with the Princes his vassalls this virago of Hongarie had alreadie taken Stenay vpon Meuse and to crosse the Kings attempts in Germany with troubles in France she threatned to enter the realme bâ—rning spoiling and making the Countrie in her passage desolate So the King leauing Germanie bâ—ought backe his armie into France At whose approch this swarme of enemies was dispersed like a flying cloud and leauing the Duchie of Bourgongne vnfurnished of men they inuited our French to the conquest of Roc de Mars of Mont Saint Iean Solieure Danuilliers Yuoi Montmedy Lumes Trelon and Glaion all which places might sufficiently speake of our French forces hauing made proofe therof But this last seizure was their ruine when as the greatest part through the furie of the warre were reduced into heapes of stoanes and ashes They could no longer retaine the old bands without some prey Cymâ—i a towne and castell belonging to the Duke of Arscot was surprised but this was in a manner the ruine of the army for some laden with spoiles others seized on with sicknesse and wearied with continual toyle began to slippe away in the end of Iuly The most healthfull which remayned were by the King put into garrisons attending the Emperours desseins hauing also giuen some troupes to the Marshall of la Mark with the which he recouered the Duchie of Boullen with the dependances The Emperour had beene opprest with a forraine and domesticall enemy To turne all this storme vpon France and to make profit of the Protestants forces and money he made his peacewith them and got a promise from the Princes and Commonalties to succor him with men money and artillerie for the recouery of Metz Thoul and Verdun Albert Marquis of Brandebourg had in the Kings name made sharpe warre against the Bishops and Townes in Germanie with two thousand horse and eight thousand foote he nowe seekes to be reconciled to the Emperour as well as the rest but hewill insinuate himselfe by some notable seruice He had written often vnto the King holding him in hope to continue in his partie but hauing roded vpon the marches of Luxembourg Lorraine and the Country of Messin he spoiles the Country after a strange manner then hauing pressed Metz for want of victualls hee carries armes for the Emperour The Emperour marcheth against Metz and sends the Duke of Alua his Lieutenant generall Metz beseeged by the Emperour and the Marquis of Marignan from Sarbruch with foureteene thousand foote foure thousand horse and sixe field peeces to vewe the Cittie and to choose a conuenient place to lodge his army attending his comming with the rest of his forces The Duke of Guise Lieutenant generall for the King sends forth some troupes to skirmish where hee looseth Marigni a gentlemen of Picardie two Captaines and fiue soldiars and the enemy aboue a hundred and fiftie men But the Marquis of Brandebourg reuengeth this disgrace The Duke of Aâ—male defeated vpon the Duke of Aumale and
bin drawn from theÌ„ had nothing aduaÌ„ced the cause of religion FroÌ„ coÌ„plaints of the languishing people grew the suppression of officers of the new creation and an intent to ease their subsidies Bâ—t oh politike 〈…〉 King yeelding to haue them reduced to the yeare 1576. sees himselfe deâ—riâ—ed 〈…〉 meanes to leuy his armies and to entertayne the greatnesse of his Mâ—iestie◠〈…〉 he refuseth it an occasion is giuen to mutine the Estates to chase away such as are neere his person and to giue him a gouernour The Duke of Guise on the one side disswades the King to subiect his authoâ—ity so much but on the otherside he prickes them forward to be vehement in their pursuites In the end the King passeth this graunt of reduction but he hopes to make it knowne vnto the Estates that with so smal meanes he cannot mayntaine his royall dignity nor the warre against the heretiks which they had so sollemnly sworne They deuâ—se of meanes to make vp the stocke and demande an account of such as had gouerned the treasor and abused the Kings bounty Effects of the Duâ—e oâ— Neuers army But whilest they turne ouer their papers at the Parliament let vs see the progresse of the two armies which we had left in field That of the Duke of Neuers consisted of French Suisses and Italians with many voluntary gentlemen Sagonne was Marâ—hall of the light horse la Chastre Marshall of the field Chastaigneray Lauerdin and many others coÌ„manded the troupes Mauleon was the first obiect of their armes It is a rashenesse to be obstinate in the defence of a place which is not to be held but it is a tâ—eachery to ill intreate them whome we haue receiued to composition So this fiâ—st victorie was bathed with their blouds who trusting in the force oâ— their courageâ— â—egâ—â—cted the weakenesse of their walls Montagâ— was defended some daies by Coâ—ombiers who at the first saluting the Duke with a furious skirmishe putts him to some losse But the Cannon hauing both shaken their walles and their constancies â—â—ey entred into capitulation the which was honourablie graunted the last day of Nouember La Ganache situated vpon the marches of Brittaine and Poictou annoyed both the one and the other Prouince The Duke of 〈◊〉 stâ—â— at â—ion suspect to Mandeloâ— Let vs leaue the armie there to see howe the Dâ—ke of Mayenne spends his time at Lion The desseins too lightly grounded vpon a peoples mutiny are alwaies ruinous The Duke of Mayenne knowes it well and moreouer there is nothing but blowes to be gotten in Daulphiné He desires rather to attend the issue of the Parliaments in a pleasing and delightfull aboade but this stay is a great scourge to Mandelot He feares to bee dispossest of his gouernment It is giuen to the Duke of Nemours and therefore he wonderfully suspects the Duke of Mayennes presence Finally hee grewe so iealous as seized with apprehension with the choâ—iâ—e a feuer the goutte and the flixe he carried the foure and twentith of Nouember this testimony into the other world by the mouth of father Edmond Anger a Iesuite in his funerall sermon That he had neuer signed the League that he died firme in his religion and the Kings seruice Whilest the King labored at the Parliament to cut off all difficulties which prolongued the warre and the Duke of Mayenne beeing at Lion suffered the heate of of his passage into Daulphiné to growe colde Charles Duke of Saâ—oye foreseeing the dissipation of this Estate hee thought that as a sonne and husband of two daughters issued froÌ„ the bloud of France he should be the first which shold set his hand to the diuision The marquisate of Salusses is in the midest of his territories he thinkes that for such a prise he may well breake friendship and alliance with the King his neere kinsman who of meere curtesie had newely deliuered vnto him Sauignan and Pignerol The 〈…〉 by the Duke of 〈◊〉 With this desseine seeing the Kings thoughts otherwise ingaged then beyond the Alpes he makes a leuy of men threatens Geneua makes a shewe to beseege Montferrat causeth the Marquis of Saint Sorlin to go to horse and on all Saints night surpriseth the Towne of Carmagnole and then the Cittadell beeing vnfuâ—nished oâ— victualls which Saint Siluie successor to la Coste had drawne forth with hope saied hee to refresh them so as in lesse then three weekes he possessed all the Marquisate leauing a reprochefull suspition against the Captaines of the Cittadell to haue treacherously exchanged the double Canons of that ancient arcenall of the warres of France beyond the Alpes with the double pistolets of Spaine This conquest made the Duke proud and already in conceite he had deuoured both Prouence and Daulphiné For a colour he writes both to the Pope and King That the generall respect of the Church had made him seize vpon these places least Les Diguieres should make it a retreat and refuge for Huguenots and the priuate interest of his Estates which hee desires to maintaine in the puritie of the ancient religion vnder the obedience of the holy Sea and by his Ambassadour hee disguiseth this wrong with the goodlyest colours that may be Hee makes a shew not to hold these places but vnder the Kings authoritie but in time hee vsurpes all actes of Soueraignty hee displaceth his Maiesties officers beates downe the armes of France sets vp the crosse of Saâ—oy and in a brauery hee causeth peeces of siluer to be coyned with a centaure treading a Crowne ouerwhelmed vnder his foote and carrying this deuise Oportuné The Kings desâ—eâ—gne vpon this surprise The King iustly moued with this vsurpation applies this branche to the body of the conspiracies of the League he resolues now to pacifie the ciuill warres to attend after forraine and euen then hee determines to giue the Protestants a peace and to vse their assistance against such as make a benefit of the discords of the realme Such as respected truly the glorie of the French gaue him to vnderstand that hee must appease both Huguenot and Liguer and seeke reuenge of this new indignitie and hunt the Wolfe which breakes into the fold whilest the Shepheards are at variance Shall a petty Prince take from a King of France the pawne which remaines to recouer Naples and Milan foure hundred peeces of Canon which might beate the proudest Fortes of the Spaniards to pâ—â—der that ancient fee of Daulphiné comprehended in the gifts which Prince Hubert made to the Crowne of France whereof our Kings haue so often receiued homage and fealty of the Marquises and haue often seized thereon for forfeiture and treâ—chery All the Kings seruants all the Courts of Parliament all the assemblie of Estates iudge that these be the effects of the League Duke of Guises dissembling and that this inuasion is not without the â—â—telligence of the Duke of Guise euen those which fauour his part cannot digest it But to auoyde
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
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
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
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
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
they feared Of this great army there hardly escaped three hundred all are pact together great smal Not one CoÌ„mander escaped very few Noblemen Robert Earle of Artois cosin to the King of France General of the army Arnoul Lord of Neele Constable of France Iames of Chastilion A wonderfull defeate of the French Gouernor of FlaÌ„dâ—rs Iohn King of Maiorica Godfroy of BrabaÌ„t his Son the Lord of Viezon the Earls of Eu la Marche Damartin Aumale Auge Tancaruille many other great personages which were the offerings of these cowardly spirits They number 12000. Gentlemen slaine in this battell by this inraged multitude A notable president not to contemne an enemy which teacheth what a furious people well led may do An enemy is not to be contemned howâ— weake soeuer and especially that victories come froÌ„ heauen for here the lesser number vanquished the greater the weakethe strong This victory called of Courtray or Groeminghe was followed with an absolute reuolt of all Flanders against the French It happened in the yeare 1302. the 11. of Iuly Iohn of Namour remaining their gouernour in the absence of their imprisoned Earle Philip receiued a great check in this battell but he had more botoms to vntwist Aâ—â— the tâ—reats of Edward King of England of the Emperor Adolphe vanished only Pope Boniface the 8. shewed himselfe obstinate in his hatred against Philip. A discourse worthy to be carefully described In the hottest of these Flemish affayres Pope Boniface did excoÌ„municate Philip curse his Realme vpon this occasion A notable affront done by Pope Boniface to Philip. The Christians estate was lamentable in the East the Tartarians encreased dayly Cassan King of Tartars allyed with the King of Armenia a Christian made a great professioÌ„ of loue to the Christians and for that the Mamelus held Iudea Ierusalem he desired to drawe the Kings and Princes of Christendome to their ayde To this end he sends an Ambassage to Pope Boniface the 8. and to Philip King of France to intreat them both to imploy their authorities and meanes in so good a worke Boniface failes not to imbrace this occasioÌ„ he not onely exhorts Philip to succor the Tartar but also commands him proudly and imperiously vpon paine of excommunication This Bull was giuen to a sufficient man named Stephen an Arragonois whom he had made Bishop of Apaâ—ters a Cittie in the Countie of Foix which they commonly call Pamiers and had erected this new Bishoprick in the Archbishoprick of Tholouse without the Kings priuity or consent who acquitted himselfe of his charge so stoutly that when as Philip represented vnto him the greatnesse of his affaires so as he could not obey the Popes command he answered with a bold face That if the King would not obey the Pope hee would depriue him of his Realme The subiect the manner and the person aduanced thus against his will did so moue Philip grieued with this late losse as if the Pope would insult ouer him for this bad successe that hee imprisoned this Bishop Boniface transported with choller sends to him againe one Peter a Romane borne Archbishop of Narbonne with sharper Buls to summon him to vndertake this voyage of the East to command him not to touch the reuenues of the Clergie to reprehend him sharpely for that hee had presumed to lay hands vpon the Bishop whom he had sent to inioyne him to send him presently back in full libertie His charge extended to no other censures in case he disobeyed not in the principall The Archbishop executed his charge boldly Philip shewed him with great modestie the impossibilitie of this voyage the reasons which had moued him to leuie this tenth of the Clergie and so to intreate the Bishop hauing spoken vnto him without any respect Arrogancie of the Popes Nuncio The Archbishop replied with more arrogancie That he was ignorant of the Popes authoritie who was not onely the Father of Christian soules but also Soueraigne Lord and Prince in temporall things And therefore by that authoritie he did excommunicate him declaring him vnworthy to raigne and his realme forfaited to the Church of Rome to inuest whom he pleased Moreouer he brought another Bull directed to the Prelats and Noblemen of France by the which he did acquire and dispence all Frenchmen from their oth of obedience to Philip. And a third by the which he did cite all the Prelats and Diuines of the French Church to appeare before him at Rome disanulling all indulgences and priuiledges granted to the French by any Popes his predecessors The Earle of Artois disdaining this affront takes the Bull and casts it into fire saying That no such dishonor should euer befall the King to submit himselfe to any such conditions Philip amazed at these bold affronts referres the whole matter to his Councell who conclude to send back the Popes two Nuncios to Rome and to forbid the Prelats of France to goe or to send any money to Rome beseeching Philip to proceed in the affaires of his Realme and not to stay in so goodly a course This done Philip raiseth new great forces to returne into Flanders At his entry the Flemings were defeated at Arques neere to S. Omer in a straight passage Guy of Namur beseeging Xiriâ—xé was ouerthrowne by the Kings Nauie assisted by 16. Galleys of Genoa vnder the command of Renier Grimaldi and being taken is carried to the King being in his armie betwixt Lisle and Douay After this fortunate beginning Philip subdâ—es the Flemings many Cittie 's yeelded to the French the rest fearing the euent stood amazed the sume of their victorie being evaporated so as the first heat being colde they intreate the Earle of Sauoy to be a mediator to Philip for a truce whereby they might obtaine a peace after so many miseries Philip of Flanders Iohn of Namur brethren were great persâ—aders thereof for the naturall desire they had to free their poore father so long time a prisoner But Philip thirsting after reuenge for his losse at Courtray refuseth it He aduanceth and defeats the Flemings at Aire and at Tournay There chanced in the end that notable incounter at Mons in Penelle where they were wonderfully beaten to make them loose the â—ast of the battaile of Courtray yet Philip was in danger of his life and bought this victory dearly and the Flemings like men in dispaire assembled together from all parts although vnder-hand they did sue to Philip for peace the which in the end they obtained Philip makes peace with the Flemings at the instance of Iohn Duke of Brabant vpon these conditions That the Soueraignty remaining to the King and the Flemings enioying their liberties the Earle Guy all other prisoners should be set at libertie without ransome and the Flemings should pay eighty thousand pound sterling for the charges of the war the Castels of Lisle Douay Cassell Courtray should be deliuered into the Kings
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