France did belong vnto him The Earle of Foyx sent his Ambassadors and Deputies to the King being at Bordeaux to conclude the treaty p The cheife condition of the Marriage was that the children which should be borne without distinction of malâ— or female should succeed in the counties of Foix and Bygorre He past to Bayonne to end a controuersie betweene the 2. Kinges of Nauarre and Aragon 1462. and Henry King of Castile his Nephew A controuersie begun with great spleene and was continued with the like and had not ended without excesse if he had not dealt in it for the parties flattered themselues in their pretentions were blind in their interests and found that the obscurenes proceeded rather from the thing then their owne blindnes But behold the causes and the effects After the death of Charles the third q Charles the third King of Nauarre taking delight to build at Olîta died suddenly in September 1425. the threescore and foure yeare of his age and the thirty nine of his raigne he was buryed at Pampeluna King of Nauarre the Crowne past from the house of France and Eureaux into that of Castile and Aragon not without trouble and discord Iohn second sonne to Ferdinand of Aragon married Blanch Infanta of Nauarre presumptiue heire of the Realme of Nauarre and widdow to Martin King of Sicilie and it was agreed by a treaty of marriage that in case she should die before her husband hee should raigne the rest of his life in Nauarre after king Charles the third his father in law Of this marriage was borne at Pegna Charles Prince of Viana born Charles Prince of Vianna a title belonging to the eldest Sonne of the King of Nauarre r Charles the the third King of Nauarre ereected Viana into a principalitie and did affect it to the eldest son of Nauarre in the yeere 1421. as Dauphin to that of France The Asturiez in Castille and Wales in England Charles the third his grandfather made him to bee sworne heyre of the Realme by the Estates after the death of Iohn his Father Charles being dead Iohn was declared King of Nauarre by some and Blanch his wife was acknowledged Queene by others yet both were crowned at Pampeluna Iohn had great warres with his brother the King of Castille Marriage betwiâ—t the Prince of the Asturies and Blanch of Nauarre who did confiscate the lands which he held in Castille Iohn Earle of Foyx reconciled them by a marriage betwixt Henry Prince of the Asturies sonne to Iohn King of Castille and Blanch Daughter to Iohn king of Nauarre s By the constitution of the marriage of this Princesse which was of 42112. Florens of gold wee may iudge in what estate K. Charles the third had left the Realme of Nauarre The marriage was celebrated with great pompe and solemnitie but the Prince was vnable to consummate it The which the Princesse did long dissemble Shee had great cause to complaine of this want and to wish her selfe to be a widdow or her husband vnmarried t The dissembling of couiuâ—all imperfections is very seemly especially in a woman Tullia a great Romane Lady is blamed for her ordinarie complaints murmùring at her husbands disabilitie De viro ad fratrem de sorore ad viruÌ„ se rectius viduam illuÌ„ caelibem futurum Tit. Liu. but like an other Eusebia shee did long suffer for the disabilitie of Constans desiring rather to wrong her youth and beautie then her modestie A while after Blanch Queene of Nauarre died and king Iohn married againe with Ione Henriques Charles Prince of Viana fearing that his alliance would keep him back from the hope of raigning and from the inheritance of the Queene his Mother did not dissemble his discontent u A desire to raigne makes the father iealous of the sonne Plutarc saith in the life of Demetrius that the greatest and most ancient of all Alexanders successors did glorie that he feared not his sonne but suffered him to approch neere his person holding a Iauelin in his band pretending that by the lawes of the Realme his Father by marrying againe had lost the fruit of the Crowne Behold all naturall affection is altered betwixt the Father and the Sonne The desire of rule makes them enemies the Father growes iealous and would not suffer his Sonne to come neere him armed On the other side this second wife seeing her selfe mother to Ferdinand did what she could to show that she was mother in law to Charles x What will not an ambitious mother doe and vndoe for her children D. Ioane lying in the bed of death by reason of a Cankar which did consume her remembring what she had done to assure the Realme vnto her Sonne spake often these words with sighes which are reported in the 21. booke of the history of Spaine O my Son thou hast cost me deare For him she had caused Don Charles to bee poysoned and neuer ceast vntill this young plant were quâ—â—â—ht by the nipping cold of her bad intentions seeking to haue a share in the regencie of the Realme in the absence of the king who had reuiued the warre in Castille Hence sprung those two great factions Factions of Beaumont and Grandmont that of Beaumont which followed the intent of of the Prince against the King and that of Grandmont which was for the father against the sonne so as presently the Realme was diuided into two kings two constables Lewis of Beaumont Earle of Lerin was Constable to the Prince and Peter of Perault was Constable to the king The kings cause as the better and more iust remained victorious the Prince beeing twice ouerthrowne is forced to flye to Alfonso king of Arragon Valencia Sardinia Maiorca Minorca and Sicile hee had recourse vnto his clemencie and besought him to pardon him The king who could not forget the loue of a Father vnto him who shewed the dutie of a Sonne receiues him but hee had new aduertisments that hee made secret practises to trouble him wherefore he sent him prisoner vnto the Alferie of Saragossa from whence hee was drawne by the Cattallans who tooke armes for his libertie Charles of Nâ—uarre poisoned by his mother in law but he went out of the prison to enter into a graue y Charles Prince of Viana died being forty yeares old a valiant Prince a great Historian a subtill Philosopher and a good Poet hee translated Aristotles Ethicks into the Castilain tongue and hee wrote the History of Nauarre vnto the time of King Charles his Grandfather For the very day of his deliuerie he was poisoned and dyed with much repentance for that hee had rebelled against the king his father The Infant Don Ferdinand was acknowledged heyre of the crowne of Arragon They of Cattellonia tooke armes to reuenge the death of Prince Charles The seditious who blow the cole of this desection said that his soule walked in the
to Monsieur Dalby who carries a commission directed to him to Monsieur Charluz and to the said Destueille and to euery of them to cause great store of victuals to be carried to Narbona and other places of the fronter to the end the men at Armes may haue no want but you must haue a care that vnder coâ—llor thereof none be carried to Perpignan I haue giuen charge to the said Beauuoisien to be gouerned by you and in case that Mousieur de S. Priet lead the hundred Lances of Dauphinâ— the said Beauuoisien shall bring vnto me Hardouin de la Iaille whom I haue written to S. Priet to send me I haue sent vnto you Raoulet of Balparque and Claux the Canonier to assist you imploy them well and spare nothing The Seig r of Bouffille shall part within two or three daies and in my opinion with those hundred Lances with yours those of Dauphinè Lanquedoc and of Captaine Odet with the three thousand Franc of Archers you shall haue forces sufficient to spoile and burne their whole Country and to take and beate downe their paltry places or ruine and burne such as you cannot beat downe I doe also write vnto the Generall Treasurer and Officers of Languedoc that they doe whatsoeuer Monsi r Dalby and you shall commaund them Beauuoisien shall tell you the rest Farewell my Lord Gouernor I pray you let mee vnderstand of your newes Written at Senlis the 9. of Aprill V. Lewis and vnderneath N. Tilhart The Kings armie besieged Parpignan Siege of Parpignan D. Iohn King of Arragon maintained the siege the Prince D. Ferdinand came to succor him and forced the French to retire Lewis hearing of this shamefull retreat commanded his Captaines to returne speedilyâ— and to take the place or to die there The siege continued eight monthes the besieged were wonderfully prest with famine for when as they had eaten horses dogs Cats and Rats they deuoured their flesh that were slaine at assaults chosing rather to dye after this manner then to returne vnder the command of the French Famine and yeelding of Parpignan Yet their obstinacy was no hinderance from letting the K. suffer them to feele the effects of his Clemencie receiuing them vpon composition euen when as they could no more u The obstinacy and fury of a Town besieged should not hinder the bounty and clemencie of a Prince Laurence Palatin of Hungarie being amazed that the Emperor Sygismond left them their liues goods and held them for good subiects whom hee had vanquished answered in this manner I kill my enemies in pardoning and in doing them good I binde them Aeneas Sit. lib. 3. Com. So the Contâ—e of Roussillon remained to France all the raigne of King Lewis King Charles his Sonne restored it to King Ferdinand x Charles the eight yeelded the Countie of Rossiâ—lon to Ferdinand King of Arragon did acquit him of the same for the which hee was engaged this was in the yeare 1494. It had cost the King his Father many men and much money His Chronicle relates that it was said in those times that the Contrie of Arragon was a Church-yard vnto the French Philip de Commines saith that in the Contie of Roussillon there died many good men for this warre continued long A Peace was mas made betwixt Lewis and D. Iohn King of Arragon and Nauarre Embassadors from the King of Arragon sent into France whose Embassadors being come into France were well receiued and graciously vsed by the King who gaue them two cups of gold waying fortie markes y As a weake Prince should not make any show of his forces so hee that is mighty glories to shew what hee can The King out of one Citie of his realme musters a huÌ„dred thousand men in Armes the 20. of Aprill 1470. and esteemed worth three thousand two hundred crownes of gold and to the end they might iudge of the whole peece by a patterne he caused them to see the Inhabitants of Paris in Armes they did muster a hundred foure thousand men the Originall saith they were all in one liuerie in red Casacks and white Crosses The fortune of the house of Armagnac was intangled in that of Arragon Iohn Earle of Armagnac expelled his Country Iohn Earle of Armagnac had married Ioane of Foix Daughter to Gaston Earle of Foix and D. Leonora of Arragon This alliance could not defend him from the indignation of King Lewis the eleuenth in the furie whereof he found first the losse of his libertie then of his goods and lastly of his life The King could not forget with what vehemency he had followed the Bourguignon party in the war of the Common weale after that he had promised to retire himselfe from all Leagues and associations contrary to the Kings intentions nor with what affection he had followed the youthfull follies of the Duke of Guienne his brother who had restored him to his lands contrary to his commandement In the yeare 1469. one called Iohn Bon of Wales in England brought letters vnto the King which King Edward had writen to the Earle of Armagnac Accused by a welchmaÌ„ and the answer which the Earle made him The King reading them with the passion where-with he was possest and easily beleeuing one man alone a To draw many heades in question vppon the report of one tongue is an act of extreame odious Iustice. Graue militibus visuÌ„ quod in causa falconis multos milites ad vnius serui testimonium occidi preceperat Pertinax Iul. Capitol to ruine one who was worth many and who would cost him much thought that Infidellity was noe new thing in a spirit who had already shewed the proofes and without further inquisition sends the Earle of Dammarting with twelue or thirteene hundreth Lances and with ten or twelue thousand Franc Archers to seaze vpon the Earles person lands and estate Being come into the Towne of Rhodets he put the whole Country into the Kings hands His lands put into the Kings haÌ„ds changed the officers and caused a Proclamation to be made by the sound of a Trumpet that noe man of what estate or condition whatsoeuer should advowe himselfe seruant nor officer to the Earle of Armagnac nor make any poursute for him vpon paine of confiscation of body and goods b There is nothing so powerfull nor fearefull as a publik declaration of the Princes hatred against any one especially among a people which esteem not their Gouernors but by the authority and credit they haue with their Superior In these extremities there is not any man that will willingly loose himselfe for another Good men are loth to drawe their friends into danger As it is an office of frendshippe to runne into danger for ones friends and rashnes to goe into perils without occasion so it is cruelty to bring others into danger The Earle of Dammartin made booty of all the places and Siegneuries which did
realme of FraÌ„ce which did belong vnto him to the end hee might restore the Church the Nobilitie the people to their ancient liberty and ease them of their troubles and charges and in case of refusall he protested of the miseries which should follow after the manner and forme accustomed is like cases CHRONIC of some bad Frenchman He demanded the Realme of France as his ancient inheritance he declared his Armes to be iust to recouer it and to set the French at libertie and to deliuer them from the oppressions which they endured The Letter being read the King drew the Messenger apart and spake vnto him alone with words of such Emphesie as hee left an opinion in him that the King of Englands enterprise hauing no support but the weaknesse of the Duke of Bourgundy the dissembling Constable and the passion of some English would not finde any great credit in France and so he sent him back with a present of three hundred Crownes and thirty elles of Crimson Veluet so full of good will as hee promised not to returne but to offer him a peace The Chronicle saies that the King sent vnto King Edward the goodliest Courser he had in his stable And after that an Asse a Woolfe and a wilde Beare all signes of affection and of other thoughts then warre and hatred for it is as great a testimonie of friendship to receiue a present as to giue l He that giues offers friendship he that receiues it accepts and binds himself to loue Wherefore among all the pride of the Romans they haue noted this to disdaine the presents which came not from friends Pharnax sent a Crowne of gold to Caesar who sent him word that hee should first doe that which hee was commanded then send him presents which Roman Emperors after the happy successe of their enterprises were accustomed to receiue froÌ„ their friends This great Prince desiring rather to saue a Cittizen then to kill an hundred enemies was resolued not to hazard any thing but money preferring the price of an assured Peace before a doubtfull victorie and notwithstanding that his Armie was great and mightie being in number aboue an hundred thousand men yet would he shew himselfe a Hercules m The Priests of Hercules Temples in Sicile told the Syracusans that they should bee victors if they did not affaiâ—e first but did onely defend themselues for that Hercules had preuailed in all his Enterprises defending himselfe when they câ—me to assaile him Plut. rather in defending then assailing Hee knew the body was not well purged from those vicious humours Considerations of the K. to haue a Peace that there were yet great windes to raise tempests Earthquakes that France was not without it like vnto Egypt This descent of the English had three great passions to moue it Ambition Reuenge and feare The King of England commanded in his Armie and Ambition commanded the King of Englands heart who promised vnto himselfe the conquest of the whole Realme The Duke of Bourgundy reioyced to see the English reuenge his quarrel as they had before a wrong done vnto his Grandfather The Constable thought that he could not otherwise appease the growing feare which presented vnto him an infallible losse both of life and fortune but in kindling these troubles The King found himselfe much troubled to auoide this storme Wisedome of the King to auoid the storme he must needs content these three passions He had many seruants of whose fidelitie he did not doubt n It is a great aduantage for a Prince against the discontentment of great men to haue the hearts and affections of his subiects firme He may well assure himselfe against few enemies but against a generall what safety Quello che ha per nemici pochi facilmente senza â—olti scandali si asâ—icura ma chi ha per nemico vniuersale non si assicura mai Guicciard lib. 11. Cap. 16. He that hath few for enemies may eaâ—sly and without any great scandall recouer himselfe but he that hath a generality for 〈◊〉 can never be secnred there was no rebellion discouered within any townes yet there were many great men which promised vnto themselues that the English would take reuenge of their discontents He feared that S. Quentin would be a prey to his enemies He was no lesse troubled to keepe the Constable from failing then to seeke meanes to punish his fault He sent to haue him come vnto him The King sends for the Constable to ioyne their Councels together and to prepare for a iust defence against his enemies promising to giue him the recompence which hee demanded from the Countie of Guise The Constable let the King vnderstand that he desired nothing more then to be neere his Maiestie to yeeld him the dutie of his seruice and to make new vowes of fidelity and obedience vnto him so as it would please him to sweare vppon the crosse of S t Laud that he would not doe Hee will haue the K. sweare for his safety not suffer any harme to be done vnto him o Constantine would not go to the Court of Michel Paphlagon Emperor of Constantinople before he had made him sweare his safety vpon the wood of the true Crosse vppon the Image of our Sauiour and vppon the letter which hee had written Angarus Cedren Ann. Pa. 607. It is in the Cittie of Angiers where the people hold this old beleefe that whosoeuer sweare vpon this crosse and forsweare themselues die miserably before the end of the yeare The King sent the Constable word that he had sworne neuer to take that oath to any man liuing and that there was not any other but hee would willingly take although he should relye vpon his word p Princes will be trusted of their word It is a great rashnes in a subiect to make his Prince sweare euery oth as Plutarke saith is like a torture giuen to a free man This refusall did sufficiently discouer the Kings intent and the Constable knowing that hee had once made no difficultie to take the same oath for the Lord of Lescun thought that there was no other safety for him then not to come neere the King and not to see him but by his picture In the meane time the English armie past the sea and landed with so great difficulties as they spent three weekes there and if it had incountred any let with that speed and diligence that the affaires q Caesar being ariued in England hauing cast another admonished his Lieutenants and Colonels to dâ—ligence for sea causes being very sodaine mutable they must be executed in an instant and in the turning of an eye of the sea which is sodaine and mutable requires it had been disperst of it selfe One ship alone of Eu tooke two or three English But the King vnderstood not sea-matters and they that had charge of his armies lesse then himselfe The French haue neuer
to loue him as his brother Mathias promiseth it and their promises were confirmed by his marriage with Katherine daughter to Poguebrac with whom hee caused him to be conducted into Hungary He beganne to triumph as soone as to raigne for to fight vanquish was all one vnto him At one time being followed by his owne forces which were greater in courage and discipline then in number s These three qualities were eminent in Iohn Huniades Valiant Wise and Generous Ducum omnium saith the History qui cum Turcis arma contulerunt illotempore claâ—issimus solers ac sagax in prospiciendis patiens in expectandis acer in persequendis rerum occasionibus atque in ipsis rebus vrgendis pertinax in conficiendis felix ac fortunatus Of all Commanders which had made warre against the Turke hee was at that time the most famous watchfull to fore-see patient in expecting swift in embracing resolute in pursuing all occasions and happy in effecting them He did gloriously end three great enterprises the one against the Emperour Fredericke whom he forced to yeeld him that which he held of the Crowne of Hungary the second against the Bohemians whose factions and conspiracies he ouerthrew and the third against Mahomet the 2. to whom he gaue many occasions to think that the valour conduct and generosity of Iohn Huniades his father were reuiued in him He recouered Iaisse Exploits of Mathias Coruinâ—s and seuen and twenty Castles thereabouts he past the riuer of Saue entred into the higher Misia and in two assaults seized vpon Zerbenic where are those goodly Mines of siluer he expelled Suela that famous thiefe out of Bohemia pacified the seditions of Transiluania punished them that were the Authors t Punishment which is applied fitly and seuerely done vpon the head of a conspiracy offends few and spares many who had made Iohn Earle of S. Georges King and besieged burnt and ruined Romansarre The flames of the fire of his Iustice did amaze all Moldauia all the furies came out of Hell to follow his Armie and to reuenge the iniuries of Christendome vpon those Infidell Prouinces A warre which was all cruelty and a cruelty which was all iustice victory which is alwayes insolent and especially in ciuill warres u Pitty nor Mederation doe not alwayes purchase fauour in a Conquerours heart they are forced somtimes to giue place vnto liberty and therefore Tully saith that victoria ciuilib bellis seÌ„per est insolens Victory is alwayes insolent in ciuill warres had no pitty but of those which had no more need he had rather ruine Towns to saue soules then to saue Townes and ruine soules he left in all places such markes of the furies and terrors of the warre that euen at this day the Countrey laments the effects and numbers the examples That which the sword did spare was consumed by fire and famine And therfore the name of Mathias was at that time a terror to the Women and Children of Hungary His valour conduct who in all occasions performing the duty of a Generall and yet somtimes running the hazard of a Souldier as if his body had bin borrowed he was wounded in the thigh with an arrow He did so diminish the number of his enemies as the prouince was assured and his Armie rich with spoyles x Mathias is taxed with ingratitude for that hee had made warre a-against George King of Bohemia who had giuen him liberty and his daughter in marriage This warre was vnfortunate to either and preiudiciall to Christendome Being returned to Agria he came to Buda where he receiued letters of intreaty from Pope Pius the second and from the Emperour Fredericke to make warre against the Hussits the which he vndertooke He makes warre against the Hussites It was not his only obedience to the head of the Church which drew him to this warre nor any desire to triumph ouer the truth ambition had a great share in it the desire of a newe Crowne made him forget the good vsage which he had receiued in his imprisonment from Poguebrac and dispensed him of those bonds which cannot bee dissolued by death nor discharged but by life Great enterprises are not scrupulous and if the lawes of piety are to be violated it is to content those of ambition They write that these two Kings made warre ten yeares MATHIAS King of Hungary and GEORGE King of Bohemia made warre tenne yeares for Religion And in tbe end they agreed that his Religion should be the better whose Foole did vanquish the other at fist and that the combat of their Iesters fighting at fists reconciled them In the end Mathias dispossessed George Poguebrac of the prouinces of Morauia Silesia and Lusatia and death of his Crowne Mathias caused himselfe to be proclaimed and crowned King of Bohemia Mathias crowned King of Bohemia and Marques of Morauia Some Bohemians refused to obey him and framed a faction vnder the name of Ladislaus son to Casimir King of Polonia whom they did acknowledge for their King Mathias came thither and prest them so eagerly and intreated them with such rigor and seuerity as all the Townes submitted themselues to his will to haue his peace and pardon These long and and troublesome warres had so wâsted his treasure as hee was forced to make vse of the Clergy goods The Prelates of Hungary opposed themselues and the chiefe Noble-men of the Realme ioyned with them z This conspiracy was so stroâ—g and violent that of 75 Tribes of the realme there were but 9 that coÌ„tinued in their first obedience conspiring together to expell him the Realme Nobility of Hungary discontented Hitherto hee had made knowne what loue and force might doe now hee shewes himselfe so wife and temperate as returning into the way of the duety of a good Prince he doth easily reduce his people to that of good subiects a That Prince is wise which doth not disdaine to giue some satisfaction to his subiects whom he hath offended especially when he feares a greater mischiefe And by this meanes many who had cast themselues into his enemies Armie returned vnto him Ladislaus beeing coopt vp in Nitria was forced to make an Accord with Mathias and to returne into Poland Casimir his father apprehending this shamfull retreat and taking his part of the Affront reserued the whole reuenge to himselfe hee leuied an Armie of threescore thousand fighting men Polonians Bohemians Russians and Tartarians and entred into Morauia and Silesia to recouer that which Poguebrac had lost The first beginnings were so fauourable as not regarding the inconstancy of fortune he suffered his thoughts to wander in the common error of Princes who neglect the storme during the calme of their affaires In great designes Princes thinke onâ—y what they should doe when they haue executed them cast not their eyes vpon that which may hinder the execution and which as Polybius saith hath neede of great prouidence
such as are malecontâ—nt of his actions These reasons pierst the harts of the most distracted The Princes fearing to be abandoned Euery one desires grace of the King their partie growing weake and decreasing dayly they sued for grace vnto the King Hee offered it them by the Earle of Eu who did negotiate their accord and did perswade them to goe to Clermont to receiue his commandement wherevnto they yeelded so as they might bee assured The King was so good as he gloried to be vndeseruedly offended by men who reduced to their duties very profitable hee gaue a pasport for the Duke of Bourbon and Alençon but not for Tremouille Chaumont nor Prye whom hee held to bee the Authors of this trouble and of the assembly at Noion u An assembly at Noion of the Duke of Alencon Anthony of Chabanâ—s Earle of Dampmartin Peter of Amâ—oise Lord of Chaumont Iohn de la Roche Seneshall of Poictou and of the Lord of Tremâ—uille They complaine that they are abandoned and inflame the bloud of this yong Prince in such sort as seeing the Dukes of Bourbon and Alençon returne to conduct him to Clermont hee swore that hee would not goe x A Prince must haue care of them that haue followed him Monstrelet vppon this occasion writes those words When the Daupâ—in vnderstood it hee said vnto the Duke of Bourbon My faire Gossip you haue no thankes to tell how the matter was concluded that the King had not pardoned them of my houshold but would seeke to doe worse When the King saw that he came not that the prefixed day was past and that the English who besieged Harfleu called him into Normandie hee would temporise no longer but suffered his Armie to spoile the Duke of Bourbons Countrie His foreward did besiege and take Vichy Cusset and Varennes yeelded The whole countrie of Rouanna obayed Clermont and Mont-Ferrant persisted in their fidelitie from the which no Towne may in any sort separate y He cannot be held faithfull that for any respect wâ—atsosoeueâ— hath ceased to bee so Senec. it selfe but it presently looseth the glorious title of faithfull The wilfulnes of this Prince ruined the countrey euery man found his desseigne vniust and the affection he bare vnto his seruants vniust the consideration of whom should bee of more force then that of the publicke good for the which they might sometimes straine Iustice it selfe z To obserue Iustice in great maâ—teâ—s they must sometimes leau it in lesser Wherefore the Duke of Bourbon and Alençcon perswaded him to submit this affection to the Kings will and the interest of his seruants to his discretion intreating the Earle of Eu to bee a meanes that the king would be pleased that might bee done at Cusset which was not performed at Clermont The King grants it The Daâ—phin restored to fauour They come and present themselues vnto him bending their knees thrice vnto the ground before they approch beseeching him to pardon them This humilitie a Humilitie only pleades for great peâ—sons Monstrelet speakes in this sort of this pardon Being come into the chamber where the King was they kneeled thrice before they came vnto him and at the third they intreated him with great humilitie to pardon them his indignation did wipe out of the kings heart the feeling of such sensible offences Hee imbraced them and said vnto the Dauphin Lewis you are welcome you haue stayed long goe and rest you we will talke to morrow with you But hee protracted no time to reprehend the Duke of Bourbon Reprehâ—nsion of the D. of Bourbon drawing him a part b Great men will be praised in publike and reprehended in secret he put him in minde of his faults hee notes him the place and the number being fiue hee reprocheth vnto him the iniustice and indiscretion of a designe which sought to put the father vnder the sonnes gouernment adding that if that loue and respect of some did not withhold him hee would make him feele his displeasure What could hee answere The very feeling of his fault did presse him The offender must yeeld to the iustice and the Innocent to the force of the stronger He renues all the vowes of his obedience and affection and submits his will vnto the kings hee commends his bountie so apparant by the number of his offences and so necessarie for them that had offended whose preseruation did serue as an increase to his glorie and a trophee to his clemencie c They to whome the Prince giues life liue not but to the glorie of his clemencie The next day the Dauphin presents himselfe vnto the king who did not entreat him as nurses doe children which flatter them when they fall Hee did let him vnderstand that his fall had carried him to the ineuitable ruine of his honour and fortune if the bountie of a father had not as much will to retire him as the iustice of a king had reason to punish him In a word he said he would cease to be a good father vnto him if hee did not begin to be a better sonne d Hee that is good must striue to be betteâ— for when hee doth not begin to gâ—ow betâ—er theâ— he ends to be good and that he desired not to be held good for not punishing the bad The Dauphin assuring himselfe of his fathers bountie and clemencie speakes no more but for his seruants The Dauphin will not leaue his seruants to whom safe conducts had beene refused The king declared that they had made themselues vnworthy of his grace that they had deserued to bee made an example to others as the authors of this rebellion which had made the wicked impudent and brought good men to despaire Yet there must bee a distinction e A Citizen of Sparta 〈◊〉 Châ—rilaus highly coÌ„mended for 〈◊〉 bounty And how sâ—id hee can hee bee good seeing hee is not seuere vnto the wicked It is as great crueltie to pardon all the world as not to pardon any Senec made betwixt the effects of clemencie and bountie that for their punishment he was contented not to see them and that they should retire themselues vnto their houses The Dauphin held firme against these torrents of his fathers choller lets him know that if there be no grace for his seruants he desires not any for himselfe From this opinion f Opinion is the falling sicknes of the minde that is the Caue which coÌ„taines the windâ— fâ—om whence the tempests of the minde come that is to say disordinate passions which is they Caue from whence the windes issue which torment his soule or rather from the impression which his seruants had giuen him that in being resolute he should haue whatsoeuer hee desired Opinion causeth terrible motions in the soule he drew this yong and rash speech I must then my Lord returne for so I haue promised To whom the King answered coldly Lewis goe if you
should not be curious to lay open matters which are distastfull Modestie of the History 〈◊〉 the Kings loâ—es hath beene so carefull of the Kings respect and of the honor of this Ladie as it hath spoken very lightly of that which in those daies was knowne to all and published by few It onely saith that for that shee appeared alwaies richly attyred was one of the Queenes maides and that the King saw her oft they thought she was wholly the Kings x The fayre are easily suspected of incontiuency for that chastitie and beauty doe not alwaies agree That her eyes were the Altars whereon he made his vowes vnder the vales of Night and secret The Author of the Historie of S. Dennis saith that by the duty of his charge The Historie of France in those dayes was written by Monkes as it was at Rome by the High Priests y By the policy of Rome the charge of the History and the Anualls did belong vnto the High Priests Res omnes singulorum aunorum man dabat literis Pont. Max. Cic. 3. de Orat Penes Pontifices scribendae Historiae potestas suit Fla. Vopis He informed himselfe most curiously of his most inward seruants making some of them sweare whether the common brute were true from whom hee had learned what hee had written That Charles loued her onely for her gallant humor Shee was excellent in many pleasant conceits but especially in her speech and incounters which is one of the gestures of Loue. Strangers whose testimonie in these Occasions is as free from flatterie as it is subiect to Hatred haue spoken no more plainely Oliuer de la Marche saith that in the yeare 1444. the Duches of Bourgundy passing into Flanders saw the French Queene at Chalons Where they had great and priuate conference together z There is some kinde of case in the conference of troubles and afflictions For they had one griefe and one disease and there were reasons for their iâ—alonsies for that the King had giuen vnto Agnes de Soret a traine comparable to that of great Princesses and the Duke was very louing and had many base children both sonnes and daughters But who sees not that flatterie hath falsified the Annales of those times And that the little which they report is sufficient to assure that Charles and Agnes knew where to meete and to haue newes one of another they were not troubled to write vppon the marbles of Churches and on the Mercuries of the high waies Pithius is on the right hand and Pithias on the left Princes who thinke they may say if it please it is lawfull haue sometime greater want of enterprises then of fortune The King which held a peace miserable which gaue not some rest stole some howers in his affayres to imploy them in his loues gardeus He went no farther to seek for palmes and bayes he would not haue any but from the hands of this Lady Shee had a daughter Mont strellet saith that she was not auowed a Charlote Base Daughter to Charles the seuenth and Agnes Sorter was married to the Earle of Mauleurier sonne to Peter or Iohn de Brese Seneshall of Normandy and the Author of Lewis the eleuenths Chronicle writes that she was married to the Seneshall of Normandies sonne Yong Princes haue alwaies discoursers which speake of euery thing not to dispute thereof but to taxe it who carrying their thoughts to the future neuer speake of the present but with distaste and disdaine b Pleasures are enemies to libertie Wee should bee our owne if they were not ours These droanes buz continually about the Dauphins eares and raise vp in his soule vnlawfull murmurings against the Kings delights They made him beleeue that Charles could neither loue himself nor any other so long as he loued faire Agnes The Dauphin could not dissemble his discontent The Dauphin enemy to fayre Agnes c A malicious spirit looscth no occasions to doe ill they seeke them and this cunning woman for the safetie of her fortune did all shee could to seaze vpon the fathers loue And that hee should not receiue any grace but at her discretion least that her disgrace should grow by their accord The King by the bad offices of this Lady who incensed the Fathers wrath against the Sonne and sought occasions to content his dislike who by the iealousie which hee had conceiued that a sonne of thirtie yeares of Age did tread vpon his heeles saw him no more but with an eye troubled with way wardnes and despight Princes who haue children growne to age should not vse towards them the austere grauitie of fatherly authoritie whereby denying them the honour of their familiaritie they depriue themselues of the sweetest conuersation of d Princes should breed vp their children in a liuely and not a falned and constrainted affection towards them they may alwaies cause themselues to be feared but they were better to purchase loue There are saith Michael de Montagne so many defects in age so great weaknes and it is so subiect to contempt as the best purchase item make is the affection and loue of his owne command feare are no more his armes life For whom doe they keep this loue and proofe of affection Feare they that it will shorten their power and that God and Nature and the Lawes haue not well prouided to maintaine it If they haue loued them in their infancie when as they could not distinguish of the force and respect therof why doe they take from them the knowledge when as age giues them the feeling and commands them to yeeld vnto this loue the tributes of the same loue feare and obedience Many young Princes dying haue left vnto their Fathers this troublesome griefe nay rather this reproch that they haue neuer let them know that they loued them amidst these austere courses The Dauphin by reason of his age and his disposition being tractable and quick was carried to sodaine alterations during the which hee onely considered the qualitie of the first Sonne of France and not the authoritie of the King e Although the father stray in many things froÌ„ that which he ought yet the sones ought rather to think of that which hee is bound to doe rather then of that the father hath not done nor the reuerence of the Father R. Gaguin He strikes her writes that during these impatiencies he stroke fayre Agnes at Chinon They adde to these discontents an other occasion which made him leaue the Court. Anthony de Chabanes Earle of Dammartin a man valiant but not able to endure was in the greatest fauour in Court and these fauours had taken such deepe rootes f The fauour of Courtiers must take deepe rooting before it be setled This seed of a Princes fauour lies long before it springs It seemes often to flourish when it hath no roof so as the first paffe of choller or disgrace ouer throwes it as
Alencon was condemned for that he would have brought the English into France The cleere sighted said that his misfortune grew rather from Iealausie or from the loue which he â—are vnto the Dauphin who gouerned him by his counsels The Dauphin being wel aduertised of al that passed at Court grieued at the misfortunes of his godfather whom he loued The desire to see a change did much disquiet him Claude of Seyssel Bishop of Marceilles vnder the raigne of Lewis the twelfth saith that the Dauphin and they that followed him desired nothing more then his Fathers death some enquired by Astrologie some by Negromancie He had many politique inuentions to augment his Fathers cares and caused his suspition to turne into feares d Great courage should not easily receiue suspitions and Seneca saith that it is the act of a timerous soule to turne suspition into feare He knew that the Earle of Dammartin was as it were the Kings King and he found meanes to bring him into iealousie with the King whose braine beeing weake and very moist did easily receiue such impressions e In matters of state Princes enter easily into icalousies of their most trusty seruants and suspition is a bone which age of it selfe doth willingly gnaw vpon He wrote a letter vnto a Lady whom the King loued and sent it vnto her by a Franciscane Fryer which hee wittingly deliuered to the Earle of Mayne enemie to Dammartin who shewed it to the King f The chiefe points of this letter reported by the Chronicle Martiâ—ienna are I haue receiued letters from the Earle of Dammartin whom I make shew to hate I pray you tell him that hee serue mee still wel as he hath alwaies done I will thinke of those matters whereof hee did write vnto me and hee shall very shortly receiue newes from me It was full of termes of so great trust in the Earle of Dammartin as the King not considering from whom it came nor by whom it was presented commanded the Earle of Dammartin to retire himselfe then being informed by the Dauphins secretaries that this Prince had no greater enemie that he had not written vnto him he did easily beleeue that it was an act of his bad Sonne who had so much troubled him as it was the ordinary argument of his complaints Some few daies before his death hee recalled him apprehension bred no lesse amazement in him then his life gaue him affliction The aduise which a Captaine gaue him that hee could not liue long K. Charles resolues to dye of hunger and that there was a conspiracie plotted against his life did so distemper and torment him as he could not liue without feare and trembling g There is no tormeÌ„t so much to bee feared as feare what auailes it to feare that which is ineuitable to feare death is to call it for the feare of death is a perpetuall death And imagining that they ment to poyson him he depriued himselfe of eating and brought himselfe to so great a weakenes as when they would haue caused him to take any thing to restore him the passages were so shrunke as that which hee would haue done willingly happened vnto him by force and against his will and it may be said that he died of hunger h The Earle of Dammartin who was retired to his house at S t. Forgeau came to see the King the day before his death perswading him to take something who told him that he would take a Cullis from his hand if he saw it made the which hee presented vnto him but he could not swallow any thing the conduits were so stopt the 21. of Iuly 1461. Dying he recommended to the Earle of Dammartin his yonger Sonne whom he called the little Lord to whom hee desired to leaue the Crowne knowing the spirit of Lewis to be terrible an implacable enemie to his best seruants God would not suffer him to trouble the Order of Nature to reuenge his priuate affections nor to runne the fortune of Alphonso i Alphonso beleeuing by the rules of his Astrologie that the youger of his sonnes would be the more capable to raigne named him his successor whercat the elder was soineensed as be caused the Father to dye in prison and slew his Brother King of Castill who hauing preferred the yonger before the elder forced him to bee a parricide and a fratricide Charles the seuenth was the restorer of France France hath giuen him the title of Victorious of a Towne of Bourges he made a whole Realme he expeld the English who of the whole peece which they held kept nothing but Callice He had the honor to haue pacified that great and deadly schisme against the which were held the Counsels of Constance and Basill A time of such strange and terrible confusion as no man could say that Rome was where the Pope remained as they were wont to say that whereas the Emperor was there was Rome k During the Schisme of three Antipopes they might say Imperiumque suis a sedibus errat Claud. But they could not say that the authoritie of the church was whereas the Pope remained for there was a Scisme as they were wont to say that where the Emperor was there was Rome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Herod lib. 1. for there was a Pope in Spaine one in France and two in Italy He ordeined by the aduise of the Prelates of France and caused to bee confirmed and past at the councell of Basill the pragmaticke sanction l The orders which the councell of Basill made for the gouernment discipline of the Church were not generally receiued Germany and Italy would none of them King Charles caused as assembly to be made at Burges by the aduise whereof they were obserued and published in Parliament the seuenth of Iuly 1438 vnder the name of the Pragmatick Sanction With the like zeale as he laboured for the peace of the Church he desired to reuenge the iniurie which it had receiued in Asia and Europe by the armes of Amurath Mahomet Pope Nicholas and Pius the second exhorted this Prince as Elezeus did Ioas to shoote his arrowes against the East but he was so troubled for his iust defence against his neighbours as he had no meanes to think theron m Among the obseruations which they giue for the leuies of Souldiers they haue respect to the ayre and the place hot countries produce men of more vnderstanding then courage and could doe the contrary A good rule for them that haue diuers prouinces to choose but to make it generall they must take them where they finde them They also giue vnto this Prince the honor to haue set an order for his troupes for seeing that the number of his souldiers were so diminished as his could not equall those of his enemies hee made leuies throughout all his villages taking one labouring man out of threescore who were bound to arme and pay him and
many in their obedience and dutie who suffering themselues to be carried away with this torrent of the league Sedition must be bee smothered in the beginning had become fooles for company and by infection For the people is a sea which moues with the winde yet neuer followes if some one goes not before b This beast the people have so many beads that although it hath great terrible forces yet it is base cowardly if it bee not stirred vp and led vultus sine rectore praeceps pauidum socors Tacit. but the number seemed but too great and it had multiplied speedily if the Kings wisedome had not foreseene it Conspiracie in the beginning is like vnto raine which enters into a small cranny on the top of the house and beeing neglected in the end expels the master thereof The King did consider hereof for being aduertised of his brothers retreat he knew well that the partie was made against him if hee did not oppose himselfe That what appeared not might be greater then what was in show and that besides the Princes of his bloud many Catylines had drunke in the same cup the wine and bloud of this conspiracie c Euery conspiracie hath crueltie and bloud hath been taken for the seale oath that bind the conspirators Salust saith that Catylâ—n mingled wine with bloud in a cup and presented it to his associates Iâ—de 〈◊〉 post execrationem omnes degustauissent sieuti in solemnibus sacris fieri consueuit aperuit consiliuâ—â—â—â— His first resolution was to diuide that which hee could not breake Hee sent to the Duke of Bourbon to come vnto him Who for that hee would vse no dissembling a great and powerfull vertue in these corrupted ages would not disguise his intentions nor represent them otherwise in words then they were in his heart He was the first mouer of all these spheares he had first giuen his voice and vowes to this generall reuolt of France he had offered to hang a bell at the Cats necke d In great resolutions there is danger to giue the first voice and hazard to execute that wâ—ich is resolued It is more safe to follow then to leade Insiita mortalibus natura propere sequi quae piget inchoare Tacit. And if they bee reduced to the conduct of an other it must be wâ—th the restraint of his owne wisdome Ne consilâ—is alterius regi recuses Est illius atque esto tuus tuumque serua In poste tuo velle modum in velle alieno when as euery man expected who should dare to doe it and had more desire to end then to begin If hee had made any show of repentance or feare in this beginning the rest which had martcht in his steps would soone haue turned their backes He answered that he had the same designe with the other Princes for the good and profit of the publike weale intreating the King to excuse him if hee came not to Court and for a greater declaration of his will he ceazed vppon the reuenues of Bourbonois and stayed Iuuenall des Vrsines Lord of Traynill Peter of Oriola and the Lord of Crussoll prisoners making it knowne that Ambition hath no other Law then the fancie of the Ambitious and takes away the maske from all respect When the King saw that there was no meanes to reclaime these Princes and that the Duke of Bourgundy was in armes he aduertised all the chiefe noble men of his Realme and wrote vnto the Clergie to the gouernours of Prouinces Letters froÌ„ the K. to the gouernors of the Prouinces and townes to the Magistrates and townes who faint and lose their courage for a little e As a little feare makes the people to faint so a weake hope makes them returne by nature they are fearefull and do not think what they shall doe to indure but to flye the danger that they should not suffer themselues to bee carried away with the false showes of the enemies of the estate who had suborned his brother to ingage France in those desolations from the which it was but newly freed That if they which had suffered themselues to bee abused in this reuolt did not bethinke themselues there wilfulnes would make them vnworthy the clemencie which he offered them That with the grace of God and the fidelitie of his good subiects hee assured himselfe to abate and disperse these bad designes Then considering that this league did consist of those who had sometimes called the English into France f He that hath two enemies must agree with the one the better to preuaile ouer the other The RomaÌ„ns did neuer fight against two Hercules could not do it After the Parthian warre they began that of the Marcomanians They would not breake with Antlochus who had wronged them before they had ended â—ith Philip. to haue a share of the shipwracke The King seeks to the King of England that the old enemies fauouring the new he might fall betwixt the Anuile and the hammer hee sent to the King of England dissembling cunningly the wrong which hee had done him when as in demanding Bonnâ— of Sauoy k Richard Earle of Warwick was sent into France in the yeere 1464. to demand Bonna of Sauoy in mariage of King Lewis the eleuenth for K. Edward The King granted it but during this negotiatiâ—n the King of England fell in loue with a meane gentlewoman widdow to one Grey a Knight Daughter to Richard Riuers and â—aqueline eldest Daughter to Peter of Luxemburgh Earle of S t. Paul the Queenes sister for his wife he had married an other He intreates and coniures him not to assist this new rebellion the which like to a puffe of smoke would vanish as soone as it should begin to rise Edward beeing already engaged to the Duke of Bourgundy let the King vnderstand that he was a sharer with him Edward the fourth declares himselfe for the Burgundian Hee sent the same letters which the King had written vnto him to the Duke of Bourgundy promising to assist him as constantly as his forefathers l Edward the third King of England wâ—nne the battell of Cressy the 26. of August 1346. France lost 1500. Gentlemen all were not slaine but all were defeated The Prince of Wales his Sonne wonne the battell at Pâ—icters ten yeeres after the 9. of September 1356. had done This young Prince felt a boyling desire in his heart to performe that in France which other Kings of his name had done He was glad to finde without the Iland an exercise for turbulent spirits to entertaine and quench that furious heate of fighting m He that commands a warlike Nation must finde exeâ—cise for his soldiers abroad if hee will not suffer them to take it at home There is not saith Tit. Liu. in â—is thirteenth booke anâ— great and mighty Potentate that caâ— leâ—g continue in peace for if â—ee hath not sâ—me enemie abroad hee shall finde
next day Hee came where also were the Dukes of Berry and Brittanie and the Earle of Charolois the ports were well garded and the approches fortified and the King was in the like feare in the Castle as the Earle of Charolois had beene in the Bulwarke Euery man thought that the Publike weale Treatie of peace concluded at Bois de Vincennes which had beene so much exalted in this league should be preferred before all other conditions of the Treatie But it is a folly to thinke that what is desired of many can succeed when it depends of the affections of few men r Matters done hardly succeede but according to the intent of the first mouers Priuat interests and designes bande against publike intentions and seldom is it seene what all desire is executed by few which haue diuers designes They talked thereof when as all was done The Earle of Charolois had the Townes of either side the riuer of Somme Amiens St. Quentin Corbie Abbeuille the countie of Ponthieu Dourlans St. Requier Creuecaeur Arleux Monstreuil Croton and Mortaigne to bee redeemed for two hundred thousand crownes after the death of the Earle of Charolois The King to retire these Townes had nine monethes before paied foure hundred thousand crownes Monsieur did homage vnto the King for the Duchie of Normandy s Election of thirty six Dâ—â—uties to consult of the remedies of the common-weale and the ease of the people the King promising to coÌ„firme all that should be done by them The Duke of Brittaine held some places in Normandy which he kept still for he said he had contributed more for the charges of the warre then all the rest The Conuocation of the estates was resolued and in the meane time it was held fit to chuse 36. persons Reformation of the disorders of the realme of all the orders of France to prouide with the Earle of Dunois for the disorder of Iustice and the reformation of the estate The King made no difficulty to grant all they demanded reseruing vnto himselfe the liberty to hinder it His intent was to diuide the forces of the league and then to turne ouer his bookes of the sword and dagger t The Emperor Caligula had two secret bookes the one was called the sword and the other the dagger wherein they were noted that should be put to death with those kind of Armes Suet. cap. 49. where were written in red letters their names which had offended him during his retreat into Flanders and his fathers raigne which had followed his brother and the Princes of the league and especially they that had receiued him so easily into Normandy u King Lewis the eleuenth held Normandie the most important Prouince of his Realme he gaue it to his Brother but to delay him it was to faire a peece to giue for a portion Philip de Commines saith he had seene raised in Normandie fourescore and fifteene thousand pound sterling for he would not for any thing haue consented to giue him that Prouince if he had not beene assured of their constancy that held the chiefe places But the Normans who did alwaies thinke that their Country did well deserue a Duke consented to this change for the desire they had to haue a Prince which should remaine within the Prouince There were but three which desired rather to leaue their houses then to change their maister Iustice had greater power in their soules then wisedome The Seneshall of Normandy the Balyfe of Rouen and one named Picard who was afterwards Generall of Normandy The History owes them this testimony of honor x To doe well among men of honor is easie and ordinary but not to suffer himselfe to be transported with the coruptions of the time nor to follow the violent passions of a multitude but to desire the good to dare vndertake it and to effect it in a bad season in the which vice is honored with the recompence of vertue it is an infallible argument of a spirit wonderfully disposed by nature to all good and commendable thinges the which is the more considerable for that there is some difficulties to retire ones selfe out of a presse that runs headlong and that the imitation and example of ill presents it selfe alwaies with much heat At their departure from Bois de Vincennes Departure of the Earle of Charolois euery one to tooke his course the Dukes of Normandy and Brittaine went to Rouen the King did accompany the Earle of Charolois to Villiers the faire They lodged together for a proofe of the confidence they had one of another The King was the weaker hauing but a small troupe but there was order that 200. men at armes should come to accompany him to Paris An act of wisedome as commendable as those of precedent conferences and trusts had beene dangerous for in such occasions there is nothing more safe then not to giue any aduantage to his aduerse party to wrong him y All assurances of friendship faith and promises which may be drawne from an enemy are good and profitable but by reason of the inconstancy of men and time there is none better then so to fit himselfe as he may haue noe meanes to hurt him The Earle of Charolois hearing thereof was troubled and caused his men to arme and stand vpon their gardes z Vppon the suspitioÌ„ which the Earle of Charolois had of this ' troupe Phil. de Com. speaketh thus It is almost impossible that â— great Noblemen can agree together for the reports and iealousies which they haue continually And two great Princes that will entertaine friendship should neuer see one another but send honest and discreet men who shall entertaine them and repaire their errors Morning being come the King bad the Earle farewell and returning with them that came to fetch him he freed him from al subiect to distrust his intentions He entred gloriously into Paris The Kings returne to Paris to haue so happily calmed the storme which threatened him and two daies after his arriuall hee caused them to feast him at supper in the Townehouse The greatest personages were inuited with their wiues hee thanked the Parisiens for their fidelity and constancy in so important an occasion he commended them that had done him good seruice a It is a great content for good men to see how the Prince esteemes their courage and fidelity and among others Robert of Estouteuille to whom he restored the Prouostship of Paris which he had taken away he hauing held it during the raigne of King Charles his father He displaced the first President of Nanterre b When as Lewis II. came vnto the Crowne he made Helias of Tourette first President who dyed soone after and this place was giuen to the President of Nanterre at the suit of Iohn of Bureau a Knight Segneur of Mâ—nglat and gaue that charge to Iohn Dauuet first President of Tholousa he tooke the seales from Moruillier
called an assembly of the Princes and chiefe noblemen and propounded this question which he seemed to receiue from the K. of England to haue his aduice What punishment that farmer descrued who hauing inuited his maister to come vnto his house had put him to death All concluded that the crime was punishable and Hubert said that hee ought to be hanged You shall bee said the King you haue condemned your selfe And hee had noe sooner spokeÌ„ the word but hee was hanged the simple being lodged at the foot of the Tower where he had beene imprisoned He made some offer to pacifie the Duke and to giue hostage to procure such satisfaction from the Liegeois as was fit He had friends in the Dukes Councell i The aduice of that which was done in the D. counsell came as it was said from Phil. de Commines and casting twelue or fifteene thousand Crownes among them And he himselfe writes after this manner The King had some friend which aduertised him that he should haue no harme if he did yeeld vnto those two points but if he did otherwise hee thrust himselfe into very great danger he was by that meanes aduertised of the Resolutions which were taken wherof the mildest and most moderate were not pleasing vnto him The first opinion was that they should keep promise with him so as he would declare himselfe an enemy to them of Liege The second that being offended as he was it was dangerous to giue him liberty to reuenge himselfe The third that they should send for the Duke his brother and the other Princes to consult what was to be done In the end they past by this straight that he was constrained and it is the greatest violence that may be done vnto a King to consent vnto a a warre against them of Liege who had relyed vppon his protection The Duke continued three dayes in great alterations and past the third night in such disquietnes as he did not vncloath himselfe but lay downe vppon his bed then rising sodainly he would walke and talke to Phillip de Commines his Chamberlaine whose integrity and moderation did serue to calme those violent stormes that troubled his soule He was wholly French k Philip de Commines became a Partisan to the King who drew him into France gaue him the signory of Argenton in Poictou and the Seneshalship of the same Country and from that time some thought he resolued to retire himselfe into France But it is not credible that there was any trechery in him The vptightnes and sincerity of his writings frees him from suspition If he had been blemished with infidelity ingratitude vices which dissolue al humane society l All the greatest reproches are comprehended in these two wordes Ingrate and trecherous Nihil aeque Concordiam humani generis dissociat et distrahit quam hoc ingratitudinis vitium Sen. the King had not trusted him with so many great and important affaires The Duke went early in the morning vnto the Castell to the King who was already aduertised of what he would say vnto him and had time to thinke of his answer and to fit it not so much vnto reason as to necessity m Amazement should neuer bee seene on a Princes forehead He should be maister of his wordes but much more of his countenance for his lookes do often contradict them and betray the secrets of the heart and aboue all to carry so euen a countenance as the Duke should not discouer that he had any ill game or that he had any apprehension to loose for if he had thought that hee had made him affraid he would haue done him a mischeefe n Many times a bad designe begun is not ended when as he that doth it thinkes that he is not discouered And it is a maxime grounded more vpon experience then Conscience in such occasions not to do so much or to do more all together The Duke was accompanied by the Lordes of Crequy Charny and la Roche He could not by the humility of his wordes so well dissemble his proud and threatning gesture The Duke coniures the King to go to Liege but the trembling of his voice discouered the motion and storme which choller caused in his heart â— And then there is no great reason in humble wordes and respectiue countenances when as the effects are contrary and that the inferior braues the superior o To what end sâ—rues respect and humility of wordes if the action be proud The day when K. Iohn wâ—â— taken at the battell of Poictâ—ers the prince of Wales serued his maiesty at supper bareheaded The King intreated him to sit downe It belongs not to the subiect answered the Prince and yet hee held him prisoner He demanded of him if he would hold the treaty and come to Liege to help to reuenge him and the Bishop of Liege his kinsman of the Liegeois who by reason of his comming were reuolted The King granted it the Peace was sworne vppon Charlemaignes crosse and the whole towne was full of ioy for this accord the 12. of October 1468. 1468. Oliuer de la March reports this otherwise then Phillip de Commines The King saith he was not well assured but as soone as he saw the Duke enter into his Chamber he could not conceale his feare but said vnto the Duke Brother I am not safe in your house and in your Country and the Duke answered yes sir and so safe as if I should set an arrow come towards you I would put my self â— before you to preserue you And the King said vnto him I thank you for your good will and will goe where I haue promised you but I pray you let the peace be presently sworne betwixt vs. Then they brought the Arme of St. Leu and the King of France sware the peace betwixt him and the Duke of Bourgondy and the Duke of Bourgondy sware the said peace and promised to keepe and entertaine it with and against all men The next day they parted and came to Cambray p Notwithstanding their speeches vnto the Duke of BourgoÌ„dy that hee should be blamed to break the assurance which he had promised the King hee still answered Hee hath promised me and hee shall hold it I will make no Conscience to force him Peter of Goux his ChaÌ„cellor was one of those which counselled him not to offâ—nd the King Oli. de la March. and entred into the Contry of Liege in the beginning of winter The King had no forces but his scottish garde and 300. men at armes The Duke held a Counsell in the sight of Liege what he should do Some were of opinion that he should send back part of his Army for his forces were too great against a demantled towne which could not be releeued seing the King was with him He gaue no credit to this Counsell and it succeeded well for he could not be too strong hauing a mighty
Aduise my Lord if there bee any thing whereof you repent y A breach in the obseruation of forced promises is not dishonorable and hee wants force that obserues them it is at your choise to doe it or leaue it I desire to adde one Article in fauour of the Lords of Lau Vrfet and Poncet of Riuiere that they may bee restostored to their lands and offices I am content replyed the King so as the Earle of Neuers and the Lord of Croui may bee also restored The Duke who bare a deadly hatred to these two spake no more of the rest and the King declared that he would obserue the Treatie z In Treaties which are made by equals impertinent demands are choked with the like demands Hee had so great a desire to be farre off as to make no stay of his departure he made no show of discontent Hee concealed his griefe so cunningly as it was impossible to iudge that hee felt any The Duke vsed some complements to excuse himselfe for that hee had drawne him to the warre of Liege Excuses of the Duke He had need of very artificiall poulders a Words of excuse and complements in actions which caÌ„not be excused are like spices and sauce of a delicat taste to meate which is tainted to make this sauce pleasing the gilding tooke not away the bitternes of these pilles Hee did accompanie him a mile at their farewell and imbracings the King to shew his affection and trust Words of the K. at his departure said vnto him Sir if my Brother which is in Brittanie were not contented with the portion which I giue him for your sake what would you haue me doe The Duke answered if hee will not accept it I referre my selfe to you two and care not so as he be satisfied These words beeing spoken somewhat roughly were well considered by the King who from that time resolued not to lodge his Brother in Normandie too neere to England nor in Champagne too neere to Bourgundy The Duke continued the rigour of warre vpon the country of Franchemont Warre in Franchimâ—nt leauing the Towne of Liege on fire b The Duke appointed three thousand foote to burne the Town of Liege and to desend the Churches It was fired thrice in three seuerall quarters They reserued three hundred houses for the Priests with whom many inhabitants lodged Phil. de Com. not excepting any thing but Churches and the houses of such as attended the diuine seruice c Impiety respects sacred things after that liberty hath profaned them Fab. Maximus hauing spoyled Tarentum and made it desolate with all kindes of cruelties When his Secretary came to aske him What shall we doe with our enemies Gods he answered let vs leaue the angry Gods vnto the Tarentins Plut. in Fabio They respected the Temples after they had offended him who was worshipped there by all sorts of impieties Whilest that the souldiers warmed themselues at this fire the rest endured incredible cold in the Mountaines of Franchemont whereas the wine being frozen in the hogs-heads Sharpe Winter it was cut in peeces with Axes and carried away in hats and baskets without decrease Oliuer de la March writes that the Dukes tysan was frozen in siluer flagons and that the force was so great as they brake At the same time the death of the King of Albania was spred ouer all Europe Death of the King of Albania Lewis was much grieued for that hee alone stayed the Turkes furie who were cruell scourges to punish the disorders of that depraued Age. He was the yongest Sonne of nine children to Iohn Castriot d Voysane daughter to the King of the Tribâ—leâ— a part of Macedonie Bulgaria hauing conceiued George Castriote drempt that shee was deliuered of a serpent of such greatnes as he spred ouer all Epirus who commanded at Croy the chiefe Towne of Albania who gaue him with his Brethren to Amurath to assure the faith of his promises beeing forced to yeeld vnder the yoke of that command Amurath George Castriot circumcised caled Scanberbeg the Nabuchodonosor e God hath vsed the power of infidels to punish his people and by diuers meanes he hath giuen them power to trouble them He raised Nabuchodonosor to ruine the Israelits therefore leremie calls him his seruants although he were most cruell of the Israelites made them all be circumcised and change their names George was called Scanderbeg that is to say Alexander Lord and as Alexander he began betimes to make such proofes of his valour f Scanderbeg was instructed in all the exercises of war before the force of his body could shew what his courage was He also learned the Turkish Sclamonian ArabiaÌ„ Greeke Italian tongues as euery man thoght that his militarie toyles would make him worthy of that name that he would end more Battels in effect then the Princes of his time had seene painted g When Cicero spake of PoÌ„pey he said that he had brought more battels to a happy end theÌ„ others had read in Histories conquered more Prouinces then any one before him had conceiued in his wishes that hee had triumphed almost as many times as he had followed the warre yeares that he would winne more victories then others had encountred dangers He was Sangiac the first dignitie next vnto a Basha then was he sent into diuers expeditions and knowne to be the sole authour of all the good successe which happened in Greece Asia and Hungarie there being nothing in the Art of warre but in the end came to his knowledge But this great valour had almost vndone him Amurath apprehended it to haue such a Prince neere him and the enemies of his courage but more of his hopes said that he nourisht a domestick enemie to weaken his intentions and disappoint his intelligences He put his Brethren to death beeing resolued to make him runne the like fortune if he had not made it knowne by his cariage that he had no other thought nor passion but that of his seruice and that his Father h After the death of Iohn father to Scanderbeg Amurath seazed vpon the Realme of Epirus and put a garrison into Croy. Scanderbeg dissembled the griefe of his fathers death the taking of his estate the murther of his Brethren so from that time he resolued to pull that Crowne from Amurath and his Brethren did reuiue in the affection which he bare vnto him Amurath puts Scanderbegs brethren to death And when as Amurath to sound him had offered him the crowne of Albania he said that he preferred the honour of his seruice before all the Scepters and Empires of the world and that he felt his hand fitter for a sword then his head for a Crowne This answere pleased Amurath He grovves fearfull of his valour but it freed him not from all his feares which the greatnes of his spirit imprinted in his
this indisposition hee assembled his Captaines and recommended his sonne vnto them Sicknes death of Scanderbeg whom hee would haue conducted into Pouillia vntill he came to age leauing him vnder the Venetians gouernment And for his last wordes he said vnto him That if he were good he gaue him a Realme most firme and stable if otherwise very weake and feeble yeelding vp his last groanes the 17. of Ianuary 1467. he gaue an amazement to his enemies This Prince with small forces defeated great Armies who beside the good qualities of the mind for Iudgement Conduct and Councell f The Turkes came running about Croy some horsemen went out of the towne by ScaÌ„derbegs commandemeÌ„t the enemy thinking he had been there in person grew amazed and fledde through the mountaines although they were 15000. horse and left the booty they had taken froÌ„ the Scutariens had an admirable strength of body comparable only to that of the ancient Champions Force and dexterity oâ— Scanderbeg Biton g Biton carried a great Bull vppon his shoulders Pauâ—anias Fusius Saluius went lustily vp a ladder with 200. pounds waight in his hands 200. at his feet and as much vpon his shoulders Plinie Seruilius did sight 23. times body to body and was alwaies Victor Plut. Fusius Saluius Seruilius Talking with Ieams Picenin Generall of the Duke of Calabrias Army he did lift him aboue his head like a child of sixe yeares old He had a Cimiterre with the which he had done miraculous deedes as cutting of the head of a Boare at a blow and of a wild Bul which was famous for the ruines it had done in the Country hauing hurt and slaine many that assayled it This dexterity force and agility of body continued all his life and exercise h Exercise doth continue the dexterity and disposition of the body long Philopemen of whom Plutarch speakes was nimble in his age by great exercise made it in the beginning of his age in a manner equall to that it had beene in the prime of his youth After the siege of Croy they presented vnto him in chaines Iouyma and Hedert the Brother and Nephew of Baillaban this representing vnto him the cruelties which they had committed vppon his subiects put him into such choller as hauing not the patience to attend any other hand he cut them both asunder by the wast at one blow He punished them with the like paine that their Prince did punish Christians i Mahomet made one man die as it were of two deathes he made them to be cut off by the wast at a blow of tentimes it happened that hee dyed of two deathes for Chalcondile saith you might see either part liue long after the blow During the Truce he had with Mahomet he sent him this Cymeterre for that he desired to see it hauing heard say that with it he cut any armes asunder The strongest armes of his Country would trye if it were true and finding not the vertue which was ascribed vnto it he sent it back againe disdainefully thanking him for a thing which he held to haue beene better Scanderbeg answered The vertue of my sword depends of mine owne arme which I cannot send him for that I reserue it against mine enemies It was an increase of glory and reputation to the common weale of Venice to see Kings and Realmes vnder their charge But at that time they did an act of prouidence k Prouidence is one of the most apparant effect of wisdome Prudents postumus dicere prouidentes which shewes that wisedome hath long held the helme of that Estate They did adopt for daughter of the common-weale the heyre of Marc Cornare and married her to the King of Cypres after whose death and of the after-birth his sonne she was acknowledged for Queene and made present of her Crowne vnto the Venetians her fathers by adoption From this action followed two diuers effects the one of great ioy to the Venetians the other of extreame afliction to Charlotte of Sauoy the French Queene who by this act saw her Brother as it were exiled from Cipres and seperated from the Queene his wife The History is long and tragicall but thus in breefe By the like accidents that other realmes haue beene made desolate the Crowne of Cipres fell from the house of Lusignan l Iames of Lusignam King of Cypres put Peter his brother to death and being told him that the Genouois were entred into his Pallace with armes had some designe vpon his person hee put many innocent Marchants to death a cruelty which made the Signory of Genoua to arme against him Bolius writes the History at large in the which it had long remained A Fratricide was the cause for Iames of Lusignan hauing put his brother to death to raigne alone added other violences to this cruelty which made him odious to the people and forced the Genouois to arme against him Cruelty makes the Princes of Lusignan odious to reuenge an iniury done vnto certaine Marchants of their Common-weale Hee was dispossest of the Crowne his brothers Children restored to the Realme and he himselfe carried prisoner to Genoua where he had one sonne who was King of Cipres m King Iames of Lusignan had one sonne named Iohn or Iames who was K. of Cypres and Anne married to Lewis Duke of Sauoy sonne to Amidee Iohn had one daughter named Charlotte who was first married to Iohn King of Portugall and after his death to Lewis of Sauoy and this sonne one daughter whom he left sole heire to the Crowne She was married to Lewis of Sauoy sonne to Lewis Duke of Sauoy and to Anne of Cypres Sister to King Iohn Lewis imbarked at Venice to passe into Cipres to take possession of his wife and Realme Iames base sonne to King Iohn Bishop of Nicosia past into Egipt to haue succours from the Soldan of Egipt who made him to be proclaimed King of Cypres Letters of the SouldaÌ„ to the King of Cipres prepared a great Fleet at Sea to goe into Cypres and wrote in these termes to King Lewis Thou art come out of the Westerne parts to possesse another mans Realme in the East and to spoile the heire of his iust inheritance whâ—ch is in thee a foolish enterprise The Iland of Cypres is tributary vnto me and it belongs to me to dispose assure thy selfe if thou dost not dislodge presently thou shalt dye by the sword of Egipt If thou hast a desire to carry away thy wife I am content vpon condition that thou dost not attend a second Summons This barbarous letter deserued no other answer but by the sword n Perswasions are vnprofitable when as Iustice is inferiour to force but Iustice being forced to yeeld vnto tirrany King Lewis by the meanes of the great maister of Rhodes let him vnderstand that by the Christian lawes the Realme did be long vnto the lawful daughter that
wont to say Che non potea la Republica crescere molto di potenze se non hauesse nell imprese di Terra impiegate le sue forze la quale cosa perche noÌ„ haue a prima fatts pero era stata molto ritardata et impedita quella grandezza alla quale se tale consiglio hauesse preso piu per tempo po teua caminare felicemente haue thought that this Common-weale had begun too late to inlarge it selfe vpon the maine land to make profit of her neighbours ruynes The two principall intentions which shee hath had for the greatnes of her estate to maintaine her selfe free and to become ritch haue succeeded for the one she hath alwayes maintained her selfe strong at Sea there beeing no other meanes to anoy her and she hath continued her traffick without the which she could not continue this goodly flower of liberty had been withered by the idlenes of her subiects The industry of marchandize should bee no lesse honorable vnto them then tillages to the old Senators of Rome both the one and the other in their labours and trafficke haue produced famous examples of publike vertues We must giue vnto Venice the glory of the best gouernment of all the Estates of the world the forme and order of her politick gonernment is in all parts so well disposed and obserued as this Common weale amidst so many diuers accidents of good fortune and bad was neuer troubled with any discord or domestick diuision which haue aflicted Aristocraticall Estates and driuen gouernours of Common-weales into such feares and distrusts as the Pallace where they haue assembled to resolue of publique affaires hath beene often dishonored with the losse of their liues or liberties h After that they of Miletum had expelled their tyrants they setled an Aristocraticall Estate but the people did still mutiâ—e against this kind of Gouernment and the great men did still liue in such feare as they could not hold a Councell in safety but in shippes The Lords of Samos were murthered by the people when they were in counsell Inevitable stormes in estates which depend not of the power of one alone whereas the lesser are alwaies kept vnder by the greater and the poore cannot long indure the felicity of the ritch who so will keepe the poore people in such obedience must after the example of Rome allow them a share in the estate i The gouernment of Rome was diuided betwixt the Consulls Senate and people with such a conformity of their duties and common Offices as neuer common weale was better instituted The power of the one was bridled and restrayned by that of the other Nulla efferre se pars supra caeteras valet nequie impotenter superbire omnia quippe in 〈◊〉 statu manent cum aliorum cehibiatur impetus aliine in se quoque insurgatur perpeuo metuunt The Venetians haue made them subiect by meanes very pleasing vnto them they haue in a manner the best part of the liberty and their pleasures are not limited but by excesse they do their affaires quietly and the Senate hath all the care to maintaine them in liberty and rest The greatest disdaine not them that are meaner they contract Allyances together and do not restraine them from certaine publique charges There is a great temper betwixt Aristocratia and Democratia For the Gouerment retayning little of the one and much of the other is freed from disorders and corruptions which haue alwaies troubled ciuill tranquillity FINIS THE CONTENTS OF of the fifth BOOKE 1 THE King considers of the Preiudice which hee receiues by the obseruation of the Treatie of Peronne 2 Assembly of the Estates of the Realme at Tours by whose aduice the Duchie of Guienne is giuen to the Duke of Normandie Thé Duke of Bourgundy adiourned to the Parliament at Paris 3 The Court of Parliament complaines of the reuocation of the Pragmatick Sanction 4 Institution of the Order of S. Michel the first Princes and Noblemen were honored and the Knights bonds 5 Warre resolued by the Estates and begunne against the Duke of Bourgundy 6 A strange change in England The Duke of Clarence Brother to King Edward and the Earle of Warwicke take Armes against the King 7 Margaret wife to Henry the sixt the Duke of Clarence and the Earle of Warwick come into France for succors 8 Henry the sixt at libertie and Edward expelled the Realme 9 Exploits in Picardie and warre proclaimed against the Duke of Bourgundie 10 The Constable perswades him to giue his Daughter to the Duke of Guienne 11 Armie of the Duke of Bourgundy before Amiens 12 A marriage sought betwixt the heire of Castille and the Duke of Guienne 13 Birth of Charles Dauphin of France 14 Practises of the Constable to breake the promises of marriage made in Castille 15 Death of Pope Paul the second 16 New designes to draw the Duke of Bourgundy into the Townes of Picardie 17 Promise made by the King to restore Amiens and S. Quentin 18 Death of the Duke of Guienne changeth the affaires 19 Obseruation of the Duke of Guiennes life and the seueritie of the King his Brother Strange death of Gilles Sonne to Iohn the sixt Duke of Brittany 20 Troubles in Nauarre the King sends forces thither 21 Letters written by the King to the Earle of Lude Siege of Parpignan Peace betwixt the King and the King of Arragon 22 Iohn Earle of Armagnac expelled his Country and the pittifull discourse of his fortune and death THE HISTORY of LEVVIS the XI THE FIFTH BOOKE THE Duke of Normandy was no sooner aduertised that the King had promised by the Treaty of Peronne to giue him the Contries of Champaigne and Brie for his portion but hee presently besought him to giue him leaue to goe thither and not to suffer him to languish any longer for the enioying of his rest and quiet the cheefe part whereof consisted in not beeing troubled to seeke it a It is a part of rest not to be in paine to seek it The King who had promised nothing freely thought to discharge himselfe of his promises at a better rate Hee wonne the Sig r. of Lescun b He that wil winne a Princes heart let him first win the cheefe ministers which possesse him who are as it were the eyes by the which hee seees and the eares by the which he hears and vndrstands who was his Brothers whole Councell The King winnes his Brother by the practise of Odet of Rye to perswade him to be conformable to his intentions and to rest satisfied not with that which he desired but with what should be offered him Yet this practise was not so secret but the Duke of Bourgondy was aduertised by the Cardinall Balâ—e a double heart and a turbulent spirit full of passion who wrate vnto him that the King treated with his Brother that they made no mention of him and that hee should looke to his busines This
and without condition C. Blosius said that he would do all that Tiberius Gracchus should coÌ„mand him yea hee would burne Iupiters Temple if â—e would Val. Max. lib. 45. 7. if he pleased He should not haue perswaded the Duke of Bourgondy to this marriage with reasons of feare and amazement A great courage doth neuer any thing to shew that he feares This course was odious vnto the Duke but much more vnto the King being offended that the Constable would make such an alliance and not acquaint them with it for the same fault a Nobleman of the same quality dignity lost his head in Spaine u Amongst the causes for the which the Coâ—stable of Aâ—alos was beheaded at Vailledâ—lit in the yeare 1453. They marke for that he presumed to make the marriage of the Sonne of D. Pedro of Portugal without the permission of the K. of Castile his maister The Duke had other thoughtes then to marry his Daughter Many beleeued that he would not do it whilst hee liued contenting himselfe to leaue her pleased in this liberty Desseins of the Duke vppon his Daughters marriage to hold many hopes in seruitude for he entertained them that might assist him or anoy him with goodly discourses of this allyance The Daughters of Soueraigne houses are not married to all them they are made sure vnto x When as they wondred why Hercules of Este Duke of Fâ—rrara had married Lucretia daughter to Pope Alexander the sixth hauing been made sure to three husbands was then widdow to Gismond Prince of Bisselli whom the Duke of Valentinois had â—â—aine the only coÌ„sideration of the safety of his estate and of his affaires tooke away the amazement Guichard Lib. 5. Princes in marrying do not regard their pleasure but the necessity and profit of their affaires But seeing the Constable propound no other remedy but this marriage of Monsieur and his daughter and that yeelding vnto it hee should fill the world with a beleefe that hee had consented for feare of his enemies y A free spirit cannot indure â—o bee forced Vt in Principaâ—â— beatisâ—imum est non cogi ita miserrimum non suaderi he beganne then to hate him deadly and to sweare his ruine The King who iudged of the future by the knowledge of things past z Things past carry a light before iudgment which searcheth into the obscurity of future things The world goes alwaies after his manner There is not anything spoken or done but hath some ancient example Thinges goe and come vnder diuers names and other coullers â—â—ut a wise man doth discernâ— them trusted him no more for he had discouered that in this war he regarded his own priuate interest more then the good of his seruice that hee had made himselfe the instrument of an allyance which was so much the more vnpleasing vnto him for that hee ment to keepe him in Iealousie with his brother and to hold his greatnesse suspect Although the Duke of Brittany did still intertaine the Duke with feares and amazements sending him word that the King had desseins vpon Amiens Bruges and Brussells that hee was resolued to beseege him a These aduertisements were deliuered vnto the Duke of Bourgondy by mouth by a footman of the Duke of Brittaines To whom the Duke answered sodainely that his maister was ill aduertised and that the Townes whereof he spake were too great to bee beseeged where hee should find himselfe deceaued euen in Gand The King discouers the Constable yet hee went to field with his Armie beeing resolute to passe the riuer of Somme vppon a bridge which hee had made at Piqueny and to fight with the King if hee sought to hinder him Hee remained sixe weekes before Amiens saying that hee attended vntill the King who was then at Beauuais should come and force him to dislodge But the King by his temporizing let him know that hee did not fight by the fortune of his enemies but by his owne b A Prince should not suffer himselfe to be driuento that extremity as his eâ—nemy should prescribe him a Law and bind him to fight Biorix King of the Cimbrians seeing the Consull Marius to lye still offred him Battell But Marius answered that the Romans were not accustomed to fight at their enemies pleasures Romanorum reos est suo non hostrium Arbirrio dimicare The Towne was fortified with the presence of the chiefe men of the realme the Constable the Lord Steward the Admirall and Marshall were within it with one thousand and foure hundred men at Armes and foure thousand franke Archers They had resolued to sally foorth vppon the Duke and to ingage him betwixt the king and them Seâ—ge of Amens but the King would not his mind was so resolute to end or to continue the warre as any wauering might cause his will tend to the one side or the other c When themind is in suspence betwixt doing and not doing a small matter turnes the ballance A lâ—ght reasonor any president makes the waight but there is a great difference betwixt the irresolution and suspencion of the mind which growes by the concurrence equality of reasons When as a mighty Prince doth not all he can vnto his inferiours it argues that eyther hee hath some great desseine to circumuent him or that warre is vnpleasing vnto him Wherefore the Duke beeing aduertised that the King had not allowed of this desseine sent Simon of Quingey with a letter of six lines written with his owne hand in tearmes of great humility and exceeding greefe to see that warre begun vnder coullor of his seruice to satisfie another mans passions adding that he beleeued if the King had beene well informed of all things hee would not haue done it The King who would not doe all hee could for oftentimes hee that would haue all looseth all d A Prince should not desire to haue the extremity of all things The wise men of Italy say Volere ostinatamente ill sommo di turte cose Somtimes in thinking to draw more frute from an occasion then it can in honesty yeeld it ruines the affaires tooke delight in this letter hauing discouered the practises of his Brother of the Duke of Brittany and the Constable wherefore hee sent backe Simon of Quingey with good words and granted a truce to the Duke of Bourgondy which sent euery man home A Truce granted dissolues the Armies the King into Touraine Monsieur into Guienne the Duke into Flanders and the Constable to Saint Quentin where he still continued his practises and not onely tormented himselfe with his owne discommodities but with that which succeeded happily to either of these two Princes e A miserable folly and a foolish misery of those which ar not content to torment themselues with their owne miseries which are but too great but they aflâ—ct theÌ„selues with the felicities of other men The King who knew well that the Duke of Bourgondy
him for ten thousaÌ„d florins Winter came on the Duke of Calabria retired his troupes to Perpignan hee made a voyage into France to haue new forces and returned with ten thousand men with the which he forced king Iohn to raise the siege from before Peralta the which was wonderfully prest with their Ordinance and hauing made a great breach the assaylants assured themselues to force it at the firt assault The night before it should be giuen the Duke of Calabria entred with such furie into their quarters without discouerie the Sentinels being a sleepe q It is easie to make a surprise when as Sentinels be a sleepe The Romans coÌ„sidering that the safety of the Armie or Camp depending of their vigilancy had cries and trumpets to keep them waking There were some also that went the round with bels to the same end Of all which we finde examples in Tacitus Hist. 5. Polibeus lib. 2. stratagem of Clearchus Thucidid li. 4. as euery man sought how to saue themselues In combats by night the amazement is so great as he that begins first wins The King fled away bare headed towards Figueres France made bonfires for this victorie the which was seconded by the taking of Girona Death of Iohn D. of Calabia but within few daies after they lamented the death of the Duke of Calabria who dyed at Perpignan of a pestilent burning Feuer When as the King of Arragon had ended a Ciuill warre against his subiects he found himselfe ingaged in warre against the French King Lewis the eleuenth being often importuned with the ordinarie complaints which were made of the insolencies of the French r The inhabitants of Perpignan intreated Iohn King of Arragon either to giue the K. other pâ—wnes for the assuraÌ„ce of his money which hee had lent or to suffer them to retire themselues which were at Roussillon and that the inhabitants of Perpignan being reuolted against the garrison had forced them to retire into the Castle he sent the King word that he should pay him his three hundred thousand crownes retire his countrie or that he should make him an absolute sale or giue him caution for the paiment The King of Arragon finding either of these conditions verie harsh answered that he could not yet vngage the country and that it would bee no honour to him to alienate it being a part of the Crowne of Arragon and that it was a matter neuer heard of to presse a King to gaue Caution the pawne being sufficient The King taking this answere for a refusall prepared to warre and made his preparation slowly to haue a more speedy victorie s He that will demand any thing of an enemie must not be disarmed neither must hee prepare hastily to war to vanquish more speedily Diu apparandum est bellum vt vineas celerius quia longa belli preparatio celerem facit victoriam Senec. With the like care as he armed for an offensiue warre against the King of Arragon he gaue order for a defensiue and to furnish the Towne of Perpignan with victuals and necessary commodities to maintaine a siege and gaue the command thereof to the Lord of Lude The Letter which he wrote vnto him vpon that subiect deserues well to be considered of beeing drawne from the originall and full of passages which discouer the humor of this Prince the order and conduct of his affaires and the manner of writing of those times My Lord Gouernor t The Lord of Lude as may be seene by the subscription of this Letter was Gouernor of Dauphiné Chamberlaine to K. Lewis 〈◊〉 the Earle of Cardonna and the Castellan of Emposta are arriued at Paris Kings Letter to the Lord of Lude I haue sent Monsieur Daire and the Sieg r of Bouffille vnto them to know and vnderstand of them if they came to make any good appointment or whether they came to deceiue mee and to dissemble The said Bouffille is returned vnto me and as farre as they can finde they bring not any good newes and their intention is onely to entertaine mee with words vntill they haue gathered in their coine And therefore I must play M r Lewis and you Mr Iohn and whereas they seeke to deceiue vs let vs shew our selues more politick then they In regard of my selfe I will entertaine them heere vntill the first weeke of May and in the meane time you shall part with all the speed you can and shall draw together a hundred Lances in Dauphine to lead with you and cause them to be led by Monsieur de S. Priet or by Pouillalier or by them both together that is to say fourescore Lances by S. Priet and twentie by Pouillalier or all to him alone or to both together as you shal think the matter may be best conducted for my profit for I referre this Article to you I send you a Letter which I write vnto them by Beauuoisin whom I charged to tell them and to doe what you shall thinke fit And for the paiment of the said hundred Lances A hundred pound starling you must speedilie finde a thousand Liuers to giue them at their departure for they shall make but a roade to spoile and burne the corne and then returne which is ten francks a month for euerie Lance And seeing they haue no Archers and continue but eight or ten daies it must suffice them it is fit to finde a meanes to recouer the said thousand Francks either by confiscation of Corne or otherwise And if it should come to the extremitie that you could not finde it before you want take it vppon the accounts of the Treasurer of Dauphinâ— to whom I write expressely but vse such diligence as the said men at Armes may part the 25. day of this month and if you take any money vp in Dauphinâ— I will repay it My Lord Gouernor the greatest seruice you can doe me is to vse such speed as you may burne all their Corne betimes for thereby they shall be forced to speake plainely I haue spoken vnto Captaine Odet Daidre who is well content to goe thither I send him vnto you with his hundred Lances to assist you to make the spoile in my opinion when you are all together you are inough I send Yuon Diliers vnto Monsieur de Charluz to raise an hundred Lances in Lanquedoc I doe also write vnto de Charluz to gather together of his Franc Archers the neerest to those marches to the number of three thousand and that he cause them to march into Roussillon with you and that all be readie to part the 25. of this month of Aprill And for the paiment of the hundred Lances of Lanquedoc and of the said Franc Archers I write vnto the Generall and Treasurer of Lanquedoc that they cause foure thousand Francs to be deliuered vnto them that is to say a thousand Francs to the hundred Lances and to the said Franc Archers 3000. Francs I doe also send Destueille
no more to let him know her constancy and to â—make her not as straw which smoakes x Affliction hurts some and â—rofits others as in the same fire Auruin rutilat et palea fumat et sub eadem tribula stipulae â—oâ—minâ—untur frumenta purgantur We must not consider that which is indured but he that indures and after what manner Tantum interest non qualia sed qualis quisque patiatur Nam pari modo exagitatum exhalat horibiliter Câ—num et sâ—aâ—iter Fragrat vnguentum Aug. but as a precious mettall which shines and is purified in the fire They were so extreame as if in the beginning they had let him see the least part or the choise of a cruell death with what a resolution would hee haue imbraced this to auoid the miseries of the other The most violent torments which a body can suffer are but light scratchings in respect of the burning wounds of the hearts greefe His Conscience gaue him deepe ones for they write that he had offended not onely the Kings Maiestie by this third reuolt but also that of the liuing God by a notable villanie Incest of the Earle of Armagnac marrying with his owne Sister vnder a false dispensation y They say that Ambrose of CaÌ„bray Feferendarie to Pope Calixtus the fourth gaue this dispensation for money for the which hee was accused and imprisoned in the Monasterie of Mont Oliuet A coniunction as abominable now by religion as it was in former times to be desired by the reason of necessitie z Wee reade in the 17. Book of the City of God an excelent passage vpon these incestuous marriages Commixtio sororuÌ„ et fratrem quanto sit antiquior compellente necessitate tantâ— postea facta est damnabilior religione prohibente Presently after the death of King Lewis the eleuenth Charles of Armagnac his brother besought King Charles the eight to restore him to the lands and estats of the house of Armagnac and to bee admitted to answer the accusations layed against his brother shewing that by the seuerity of King Lewis the eleuenth and by the great credit which his enemiâ—s had Memory of the Earle of Armagnac restored hee could neuer obtaine a safe conduct to come and iustifie himselfe King Charles by the aduice of the Princes Prelats and other Noblemen of the Realme graunted it the third of Aprill 1483. and he was restored to the possessions of the house of Armagnac After whose death many pretended the succession a The Pretendants were Catherine of Alencon Countesse of Laual Charles D. of Alencon Charlotte of Armagnac wife to Charles of Rohan Alain of Albret The Cardinals of Luxembourg Louise of Lyon wise to Charls bastard of Bour â—on Seneshall of Thoulouza Francis Philebert of Seissell Afterwards the Court of Parlament by a decree of the seuenth of September 1510. b The Court of Parliament declared the goods of Iohn of Armagnac forfeited to the King and the seuenth of Sept. 1470. Fortie yeares after on the same day they receiue his heires to purge his crime and to rasie his memory receiued them to iustifie the Earles memory Charles Duke of Alençon whose Grandfather had married the Earle of Armagnac's Sister drew his iustificacion from the same reasons by which he was accused They said he had receiued Letters from the King of England and that Iohn Bon had brought them vnto the King with the answere His innocencie therein was very apparant for if he had receiued his letters and would haue made any answere he would not haue giuen them back vnto the bearer They were cunning practises said the Duke of Alençon of such as haue gouerned Lewis the eleuenth to tempt the fidelity of the Earle of Armagnac and to haue a share in his spoile That if Iohn Bon had been a true messenger to the King of England as he made shew to be he had not carried the Letters vnto the king That the Earle of Armagnac was naturally an enemy to the English Earle of Armagnac a great enemie to the English and being at Font arabic he carried himselfe in such sort towards them as men wondred how he could be banished for fauoring them c He that will iustifie himselfe must liue in such sort among them where hee is exiled as his Innocencie may be apparent and his returne more easie There haue been banished men who for the Integritie of their liues haue been more happie among strangers then in their owne houses He would not suffer his seruants to conferre or conuerse with the English which did trafficke in that Contrie and it hapened one day as the yong men of Bayonne were come to dance before the Countesse of Armagnac his wife an English man hauing a red crosse vpon his brest slipt into the hall with the people who are accustomed to follow dances The Earle who held the meeting of an English man with a red Crosse for as bad a presage as the ancients did a Moore with a crowne of Cypres d The ancient SuperstitioÌ„ held it a bad presage to meet with a Mâ—ore as Plutarque notes in Brutus The Emperor Seuerus meeting a Moore carrying a Crown of Cypres on his head Iratus ab occulis remoueri precepit et coloris eius tactus emine et Corona commanded his Gentlemen namely Carbon and pettie Santignem to driue him out and as they ranne after him with their naked daggers Mauleon his Stuard stept betwixt them saying that they were in a strange countrie and that the Townes-men might rise against such an act which the Earle of Armagnac seeing he tooke his Stuards staffe and chased the English man out of his lodging making him to leape downe the stayres That being parted from Fontarabie to goe vnto the Duke of Guienne by chance he found an English man at the Sea side whom he caused to be taken and carried him prisoner to Lestoré onely for that he was an Englishman King Francis the first King Francis quit his pretensions to the Contie of Armagnac e Marguerite of Orleans or of valois the onely sister to King Francis 1. was first married to Charles D. of Alencon and next to Henry the second of that name the 26. King of Nauarre the first yeare of his raigne by his letters pattents giuen at Compeigne in February 1514. resigned vnto the Duke of Alençon and to the Lady Margaret his wife and their children all his interest vpon certaine conditions the which happening it fell to the house of Albret Iohn Duke of Alençon was so wonderfully grieued at the miserable fortune of the Earle of Armagnac as all his affections grew cold to the Kings seruice and carrying alwaies from that time this vlcer in his brest he sought the Duke of Bourgondies protection All which did but hasten his miserie and the losse of his libertie We must end this discourse with these words that the reputation of the seruices of the Lords of the
must alwaies accompany a Prince and if he will abate any thing it must not be in publike The Emperor Adrian was grieued when they tooke from him the content to lay aside Maiestie and be familiar with his seruants Dyon the barre for a greater proofe of his confidence and said vnto him That he was welcome that he would not haue him returne without all the assurances that he could desire of his loue That he would forget all that was past and respect him as the man whom hee did esteeme most and held most profitable for his Realme that whatsoeuer hee should do for him would be lesse then his merit and desire These words which seemed to come from the heart and from the purest of the Kings thoughtes bewitcht the Constables sences soe as hee could not consider that Princes doe couer their disdaine with false and deceitfull imbracings The Constable seeing that he had past so many sandes and shelfes without shipwrack was nothing the more humble not caring to oppose his modesty r Curtesie appeaseth hatred modestie Enuie Vertue Contempt and wisedome teacheth to march straight betwixt ennie and contempt to the enuy of some nor his discretion to the contempt of others He past the barre on the Kings side followed him to Noion renewes the promises of fidelity which he had made to abandon all Intelligences and practises which he had with his enemies and gaue a promise in writing vnto the King They were the seals whereof they spake in those times and are so often seene in the History of Alliances and Treaties of Peace This being done he returned to St. Quentin being amazed in himselfe how the King had so cunningly dissembled s The dissembling of apparant faults and which cannot be disguised is dangerous for a Prince for he whose fault bee dâ—ssebles growes more distrustful and feares that it is to take reuenge at a more conuenieÌ„t time which feare makes him resolue to preuent it Valens hauing discouered some soldiers faults did not punish theÌ„ yet he accused them least that dissembling should make them resolue to do worse Et ne dissimulans suspectâ—or foret so bold an affront The King sad that with patience and letting him alone hee would effect his will When as resolution and custome incounter with power and authority there is nothing impossible Moreouer a great courage maisters all things goe from one extreame vnto another that which is raised vp falls the hard is mollified the obseure profound and secret is discouered wee must onely win time which doth dayly produce changes contrary to mens immaginations yet the Kings seruants murmured that hee had indured the contempt of a Vassall That a subiect said they should bee so rash as to demand assurance to come vnto his Prince The Suisses t Caesar would not rest satisfied with the Suisses promises without bestages Diuico one of their CoÌ„manders answered for them that they had learned of their elders alwaies to receiue hostages and not to giue and that the people of Rome would know what to say Caes. lib. 1. were greeued although ruined and in disorder to giue it vnto Caesar saying that they had beene accustomed to receiue and not to giue What Insolency and presumption after that he had obtained assurance to choose out a place of aduantage vppon a Causey garded with soldiars presented himselfe armed vnto his maister and at need three hundred Gentlemen against him who had no meanes but by the fees u In France the fees are notable signes of the Princes soueraigne power they were in former times but for life Hugh Capet made them hereditary vpon condition that they should serue in the warre which they held and are not entertained among his men at Armes but with his money That a King should indure a barre betwixt him and his Vassall to talke together you will not beleeue it you that shall liue after vs and indure the paine of such an indiscretion A great Prince who dares not refuse his subiect any thing is faint hearted x To giue all that is demanded is the act of a man that is not of himselfe but depends of another Mucho pide el loco mas loco es elque lo da. A feale demands much but he is more foole that giues it It is an act of a free courage to refuse somthing of a great Prince to know what should be demanded or denyed and aboue all not to grant that lightly which being once giuen cannot be recalled nor taken away O Constable thou hast done thou hast done so bold an act as thou shouldst bee carefull it should not bee knowne that thou hadst once presumed to think it The King dessembled all and although he would willingly haue forgotten it yet he tried how difficult a thing it is not to remember an offence He could not loose that which he could not keepe and alwaies his memory was full of the portraits of the Causey and Barre The King still remembers the Causey and barre but he would giue the sinner time to repent y As soone as a subiect of quality straâ—es from his loue and duty they must seeke to reclaime him but first by mildnes before rigor It is good to take time to be aduised The second thoughts correct the first They 〈◊〉 Cecinna for too great heat in the punishing of offences giuing them no time to repent Proximam quamque culpam antequam penteret vltum ibat Tacit. Lib. 17. The first offence was punishâ—d before they could repent The euent doth iudge of his Counsell for by the mildnes of his words and his good vsage of the Constable he kept him from a leape which he was ready to make vnto the Duke of Burgundies discretion Yet the King did study of this insolency The Constable desiring rather to erre in aduancing himselfe too much then too little z We may faite equally in esteeming a thing too much or not enough shewed his contentment a Modesty requires that the great contentmens which ar râ—ceiued by the 〈◊〉 good countenance should not be shâ—wed by the excesse of ioy and insolency the pleasure of the mâ—â—d whicâ— is inuisible should participate of her nature and not be seene The King kept his discontent secret and bridled his choller vpon this consideration that a reuenge deferred may be executed and being once executed it cannot be recalled He keept his designe to be reuenged very secret vnder shewes of great loue yet resolued not to dye before he had troden the Constables pride vnder his feete and that he had made him stoope and eate the ground and his fingers to remember himselfe of his duty and that he must not play with his prince no not with his picture b Any thing that concernes the Prince is sacred it is a crime to touch it without respect It was a Capitall offâ—nce to sit neere vnto Augustus statue and to haue carried his imâ—ge into any place
intent and that the place deserued some ceremonies that he would not purchase that reproch to haue yeelded at the first sight of the enemy and that he knew his humor not to attempt any thing but when he may doe it safely profitably and honorably He thought otherwise in his heart and Edward knowing well that the Constable deceiued them The K of England repents that he beleeued did not conceale it that the duke had done him wrong to imbarke him vpon his assurances The Duke take his leaue vnder a pretext to goe fetch his forces and retired into Brabant to passe at Mezieres into the Dutchie of Bar. The King of England did not like of the reason of his sodaine departure knowing well that the Dukes affaires were in no good estate and might impaire The English were amazed and discouraged as they are commonly which ground their enterprises vpon the promises and passions of strangers z They that haue needs of forraine succors promise wonders to ingage them and doe not commonly performe halfe their promises Their wils wauered betwixt hope and repentance For all the Townes whereof they promised themselues the conquest and which they had sometimes held they had onely Perronne and that was but by way of passage to refresh them The season was incommodious The Duke of Brittanie remained quiet to see the game and who should win He had incensed the King too much who had new drawne from a Secretarie of England two Letters written by Vrse a The Duke of Brittanie promised to loyne his forces with those of England and to receiue 3000. English This designe was discouered by two letters written by Vrse who then serued the D. of Brittany the one vnto the King of England and the other to Hastings his Lord Chamberlaine which discouer his practises and the promise which he had made to ioyne with the English All these reasons make Edward incline to a peace he hath some about him would gladly haue re-past the sea His chiefe seruants were not very eager of warre and remembring the entertainment at S. Quentin they found that the English were too blame to trust in the French against the French and to beleeue that Rauens will pick out one anothers eyes The Ceremonie was who should speake first there was not any one betwixt these two Princes that would attempt this mediation they thought that hee which should first demand a Peace had confest himselfe vanquished There is a great disparitie betwixt the affaire of Princes and priuate men their rules and Maximes are very different like to the Kings of Thrace whose Gods which they serue are not the Gods of the common people b The dissemblance of the affaires of great men shâ—wes it selfe in many respects and ceremonies which are not considered among priuate persons The King of Thrace is distinguished from his suâ—iects by the difference of the sâ—ruice of his Gods he hath his apart which his subiects are not suffred to worship Haward and Stanley Occasion which caused an ouerture of a Peace who were neerest about the King of England offred an occasion to breake this Ice They had taken a Groome of the Kings Armie who was sent back without ransome as the first prisoner of the English Being at libertie and readie to depart Haward and Stanley said vnto him Recommend vs to the good grace of the King your Master if you may speake vnto him He failed not and the King remembring what Garter had said vnto him found that his veluet had wrought These salutations draue him into a great perplexitie Whatsoeuer comes from an enemie is to be suspect He caused the messenger to be put in Irons fearing that he was a spie he is sounded into and curiously examined by his most confident seruants hee himselfe speakes vnto him and findes him constant without varying This perturbation of minde held him vntill the next day with the which he sate downe pensiue to his meate Posture of Lewis the eleuenth when hee was pensiue When as he was in his deepest cogitations the minde did so neglect the actions of the bodie and left them in such disorder as no man would haue taken him for a wise man c Phil. de CoÌ„ represents in these world 's the grace of K. Lewis when hee had any fantasie in his head As soon as he was set at the table and had studied a little as you know he did in such sort as it was very strange to them that did not know him for without knowledge of him they would haue held him vnwise but his deeds witnes the contrary After that he had been a while pensiue hee told Philip de Commines that hee should take away the table and went to dine in his chamber causing the seruant of the Siegneur of Halles to come vnto him of whom he demanded if hee would goe into the King of Englands Armie in the habite of a Herauld He had bethought himselfe of this man to whom hee had neuer spoke but once and notwithstanding that Phil. de Commines told him that in his opinion hee had neither stature nor grace yet would hee not any other Iudgement of the King to distinguish spirits He had made choise of him as of a man of good vnderstanding and who had as the Historie saith a sweet and pleasing voice He considered that if the charge hee gaue him did not succeed he should quit in disauowing him and make it knowne that he was but in a disguised habite like vnto Comediens d They demanded of Polistratidas Embassador of Sparta if he came in the behalfe of the commonweale or of himselfe hee answered eloquently 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If you grant me that which I demand said Polistratidas I will cause my selfe to be aduowed if not I let you vnderstand that I haue no charge He would not accept this charge for any thing that Philip de Comines could say or promise him he fell vpon his Knees as if hee had beene condemned to die e When as the King thought this man was in a good humour he sent the master of his horse for the banner of a trumpet to make him a coate of Armes for the K. was not curious nor accompanied with Heralds and Trumpets as many princes be Phil. de Com. l. 4. c. 7. The King came and spake with him and wonne him at the first word A Herald sent to the King of England promising him mony and the office of an Esleu in the I le of Rez Hee must be attired and there was some trouble to make him a coate of armes and more to send him away secretly and not to seene but most of all to instruct him in that which he should say His coate of armes was in a bouget behind his saddle hauing commandement not to put it on vntill hee did enter into the English army Philip de Comines obserues in this place the little care and
curiosity the King had of the markes of the greatnesse of the Maiesty of Kings when he saith that there was not a coate of armes to be found in all his campe and that they were forced to make one of the banner of a trompet to attyer this Herald Souueraigne powers were neuer without them f Princes haue alwaies had marks of greatnes maiesty The Senate ordained foure twenty Sargents to march before Augustus Before that the Roman Emperors had fire and a diademe for marks of maiesty they had maces and rods enuironed with boyes Excubiae arms cetera Anlae saith Tacit watching Armes and the rest of the Court. Being come into the army he was conducted to the king of Englands tent they demanded of him what he was whence he came and what he would His coate of armes made answer to the first demand and for the rest he said that he had commandement to speake vnto the King and to addresse himselfe to Haward and Stanley The King of England was then at diner in the meane time they made the Herald good cheere and then presented him vnto the King to deliuer his charge Instructed by the Signeur of Argenton Wee must stand to that which hee hath written that did instruct him and who hath reported it after this manner That the K. had long desired to be in friendship with him and that the two realmes might liue in peace and that neuer since hee was King of France The Heralds speech to the King of England he had not made warre nor attempted any thing against the King nor the Realme of England excusing him-selfe g These Prepositions seeme nothing generous they argue feare and ere vnworthy of a great Prince who should let his enemies know that he did not demand nor accord any thing by force But Phil. de Com. excuseth the K. and saith that If God had not disposed the King to choose so wise a party the Realme had been in great danger Then he addes Wee had then many secret matters among vs vvhence had sprung great inconueniences vnto the Realme and that sodainly if the accord had not been soon made as wel from Brittaine as other places And I verily beleeue by matters which I haue seene in my time that God had and hath a speciall care of this Realme for that he had formerly entertayned the Earle of Warwicke and said that it was onely against the Duke of Bourgundy and not against him Hee also let him vnderstand that the said Duke of Bourgundy had not called him but to make a better accord with the King vppon the occasion of his comming and if there were any other that had a hand in it it was but to repaire their errors tending to their priuate ends and touching the King of Englands interest they cared not what became thereof so as they might make their owne good Hee also layed before him the time and winter which approached and that he knew well he was at great charge and that there were many in England both of the Nobility and Marchants which desired to haue warre in France And if the King of England should doe his endeauour to harken to a treaty that the said king would doe the like so as he and his realme should remaine content And to the end he might be better informed of these things Hee demands a pasport for a Conference if he would giue a pasport for an hundred horse that the king would send Ambassadors vnto him well informed of his will or if the king of England desired it should rather be in some Village midway betwixt both Armies and that the Deputies of either side should meet there he would be well content and would send a safe conduct Many thought that King Edward would haue said vnto the Herald We will talke in Paris h Arsaces K. of the Parthians sent to tell Crassus that if he were sent by the Romans to make warre against him hee would haue no peace but if he came of his owne free will to possesse his Contry that then hee would suffer them to depart with their liues and goods wherevnto Crassus said brauely I will make you an ansvver in the Towne of Seleucia the Parthian Ambassador began to smile and shewing him the palme of his hand hee said Crassus thou shalt sooner see haire grow in this hollow of mine hand then the Citty of Seleucia in thine but this first ouerture was so pleasing Ouerture of a peace betwixt the two Kings as he granted pasports for the Deputies of the conference England had rather forced then perswaded him to the Chimeras of this war He had leuied great summes of money for his passage the warre drew them out of his cofers peace kept them there and added more Ciuill warre had so weakened and impouerished England as at need they could neither hope for men nor money Hee had caused some of the Deputies of the Commons of England to passe with him Reasons which perswaded the English to peace they were already weary of the warre and to lodge after the manner of Soldiers These men did allow of this proposition of Peace and said that it was iust and reasonable i It is a weakenes in a Prince to make it apparantly knowne that hee desires a peace It is indiscretion to refuse it when it is iust If a Peace bee iust and honest saith Polibius 4. it is in truth good and goodly yet must they not doe any thing that is vniust and vnreasonable nor suffer any shamefull thing to bee done to enioy it that it were indiscretion to refuse it and that they should be contented to haue reduced the French King to seeke a peace with the King of England for that a great King cannot humble himselfe more nor descend lower then to seeke his enemy for a peace Pasports were dispatcht of either part and the Deputies entred into conference in a Village neere vnto Amiens in view of both armies which were but fower leagues asunder The Bastard of Bourbon Admirall St. Pierre and Heberge Bishop of Ereux for Lewis Haward one Challenger and Morton who was afterwards Chancelor of England for Edward The Ouerture of the assembly was by a demand of the Realme of France which the English said did belong vnto them grounding their pretensions vppon those of Edward the third k Edward the third King of England sonne to Edward the second and to Marguerite or Elizabeth of France disputed the Regency and Royalty in the yeare 1328. who as sonne to Elizabeth daughter to Phillip the faire had first disputed the Regency and then the succession of the Crowne against Philip of Valois thinking to ouerthrow the ancient order of the Salike Law l The Salike law excludes woemen from the succession of the Crowne it carries these wordes Nulla portio hereditatis mulieri veniat sed ad virilem sexuâ—â— tota terrae hereditas perueniat Let
commends his Councells gaue Eu and Saint Valery to the King of England onely to lodge in during the treaty of Peace But hee had giuen such order as the English in these townes were rather in prison then in Garrison The Constable by Edwards answer saw himselfe almost in dispair with more subiect to be amazed how hee liued then to reioyce that he was liuing apprehending on the one side seruitude and on the other punishment and seeing no other port in this torment of mind but death The Dukes of Bourgundy and Brittanie were comprehended in this truce if they would The Duke of Bourgundy being aduertised of this Treatie came from Luxembourg with sixteene horse to finde King Edward who discouered in his Cousins face the s It is an extreame misery to stand betwixt 2. great powers haue no meanes to maintaine himselfe A little nag betwixt 2. great horses is alwaies subiect to some stripe spleene he carried in his heart and seeming amazed at this sodaine arriuall he demanded of him what brought him I came said the Duke to speake with you will you said Edward that it be in priuate or publike wherevpon the Duke who could not containe his choller and who came to speake what he would not considering that he might he are what he would not t demanded of the King of England if hee had made a Peace No said Edward but a Truce for nine yeares in the which you are comprehended with the Duke of Brittanie I pray you accommodate your selfe vnto it The Duke replyed in English which hee vnderstood and spake That his Armie should not haue past the sea for that this Treatie ruined the reputation of the Kings of England and that he had need of that Lyons heart interred at Rouen u Richard the first King of England was called Coeur de Lion he dyed at Osneyâ— and his heart was interred at Rouen a reasonable good Poet for these times made him this Epitaph * Then he addes I had procured you a good occasion to doe your busines which you shall neuer recouer to get that which belongs vnto you It was not for mine owne interest for I could well passe without it and to let you know how little I regard your Truce Words betwixt the K. of England and the Duke of Bourgondy By S t George I will not treat with the King before that you are returned into England and haue stayed there three monethes Edward taking no delight in these words full of choller left him there He went to horseback and so returned as he came being well content to haue said that which hee would say to him who had not done that which he would doe and carrying in his heart a wonderfull discontent that this Treatie tooke from him the meanes to purchase glorie x To loose the occasion of any great matter by the meane of Armes is a very sensible griefe to a great courage Epaminondas did shew it in causing his sonnes head to be cut off who had won a Battell coÌ„plaining that he had depriued him of part of his glory at the Kings charge and once againe to giue him a Battell * Viscera Carceolum corpus fons serâ—â—t Ebrardi Et cor Rhotomagum magne Richarde tuum In tria diuiditur vnus qui plus fuit vno Nec superest vna gloria tanta viro And this other Hic Richarde Iaces sed mors si cederet Armis Victa timore tui cederet ipsa tuis The King fearing that the Duke of Bourgundies choller and the Constables practises would cause Edward repent or make him distrust the expectation of that which had been promised would make his proceedings free from all suspition Confidence is the true cyment of friendship Good cheer made to the English at Amiens The English entred continually in what troupes they would into Amiens There were long Tables at the gates furnished with good meate and delicate wines and good companions attended to entertaine all that came All the Tauerns and Innes were full The Marshall of Gié hauing charge to obserue how the English liued came one morning into a Tauerne where they told him they had alreadie made a hundred and eleuen reckonings Gran favores comery no escotar and it was not yet nine of the clock Among other commodities the souldiour found it sweet to dine well and not to pay any thing It was in the Kings power to cut the throats of nine or ten thousand who could neither goe on their legges nor finde the gates to returne vnto their quarters they were so full They were content to see them drunke with wine who would haue been drunke with bloud But when they came and told him that it was dangerous to suffer so many men to enter he left his howers which he was saying and the ceremony of Innocents y The Romans did obserue good daies to assaile but all were good to defend Macrob l. Satur. cap. 16. All daies are good and fit to care for defence and safety We must beleeue that which he saies that saw it and hath written it The King being vp and saying his howers one came and told him that there were at the least nine thousand English in the Towne I resolued to aduenture to tell him and entring into his retiring place I said vnto him Sir although it be S. Innocents day yet is it necessarie that I tell you that which hath been deliuered vnto mee and so acquainted him at large with the numbers that were entred and still came all armed and that no man durst refuse them the gates least they should be discontented The King was not obstinate but soone left his deuotion and told me that they must not keep the ceremonie of Innocents z The Christian religion holdes the obseruation of daies superstitious Eas culpat saith S t Aug. qui dicunt non proficiscat hodie quia praeposterus dies est It blames them that say I will not goe forth this day because it is ominious whereby wee may gather that the day whereon the Feast of Innocents fell was for all the rest of the yeare following superstitiously ceremonious to this Prince on which hee would not haue them speake vnto him of any affaires Phil. de Commines hauing been in danger of a disgrace vpon that occasion Yet he receiued this aduice in such an humor as he beleeued that he might referre his deuotion to another time and dispence with it to the end that he might prouide that this troupe should retire quietly The King dines at the gate of Amiens He caused his dinner to bee carried to the Porters house not to shew his distrust but to make much of the English which came in and out He stayed some to eate at his table and made others drinke and withall prouided for the safety of the Towne hauing caused three hundred men to be armed in their Captaines houses and appointed some vpon the Portall to
shall seldome see a great spirit without some medley of fâ—lly wherof the purest comâ—s froÌ„ the finest wisdom and therefore Thucidides will not haue the choose high aspiring spiriits into the Counceller of Princes nor to the maâ—naging of affâ—ires but those that are meane who are lesse obstinate Hee thought to make a perpetuall warre betwixt the King of France the King of England and the duke of Bourgundy behold he is amazed to see them reconcyled and against him He hath made him-selfe vnworthy of grace with the first of succors and defence with the second and of all hope with the third and in opinion with all three that hee would play the companion b As it is dangerous to contend with ones equall so is it madaâ—sto quarrell with his superior and to seeke to go hand in hand with him with them raise his reputation and merits vpon the ruine of their affaires mingle his ashes with those of their Estates and eternize his memory not in burning one Temple alone Ill with the King but the Estates of them all three The King had done him good not in respect of his person but of the seruices which he might doe him and when as he saw his affections altered his will also grew could making it knowne that great hatred proceeded from great friendship c The fauors benefits of Princes are not for the respect of the persons but in consideration of seruices and merits which they find in their seruants when these qualities change it is not strange if in like manner their fauors and affections alter Hee could not forget the practises which hee had made to keepe France in trouble and combustion nor the arrogant and insolent shew of armes vpon the Causey of Compiegneâ— nor the letters written to the King at the sight whereof he sware his great oath which hee did neuer violate that he should die Nor so many acts of a spirit which made it selfe miserable for that he could not beare his felicity The Duke had neuer pardoned him the taking againe of Amiens and Abbeuille Ill with the Duke the desire of his reuenge was a riuer d Reuenge runnes on still although it appeares not Plutarque compares it to riuers which runne vnder the earth and afterwards hurst forth with more violence which had his course through the rockes of the difficulties of his affaires He could not forget his cunning practise to marry his daughter to the Duke of Guienne nor his refusall to receiue his men into Saint Quentin after that he had caused them to come Moreouer he was incensed e Offences often renewed end with immortall paynes for that he had first made warre in his country by fire the rest being contented to vse the sword for whilest he lay incamped before Amiens the Constable had made a roade into the country of Haynault and burnt the Castell of Seurre belonging vnto Baldwin of Lannoy whome the Duke loued Ill with the King of England The King of EnglaÌ„d was offended with him for that hauing councelled and perswaded him to come into France to tryumph there hee had returned without tryumph All three would rather haue made an other hell then haue suffered such trecheries vnpunished All things seemed to bandie and conspire his ruine hee could not keepe himselfe vp firme seeing so many persons about him ouerthrowne The Constables perplexity after the peace f It is no wonder not to bee mooued in traÌ„quillity but we may be amazed to see a man rise when as all others shrinke and to stand firme amongst them that stuÌ„ble Sen. Epist. 73. The disgraces which fortune hath done him in the publike ruines are augmented by many other priuate crosses His wife the only support of his greatnes is dead Iames of S. Paul his brother prisoner la Scala his nephewe returning out of England was taken by the Kings men and found seazed of daungerous Instructions the Earle of Roucey his Sonne in the duke of Burbons hands The Earle of Dammartin his enemy with the Kings forces neere vnto S. Quentin And the Prince of Orange at liberty carrying the title of Prince by the grace of God g Ielousie and enuy worke strange diâ—â—emperatures in their mindes which martch hand in hand The Constable of S â— Paul could not indure the prosperity of some greate men in court He is grieued that the prince of Orange is set at liberty for thirty thousand Crownes and that the king hath suffered him to carry the title of Prince by the grace of God to coyne money and to pardon all offences except heresie and treason All these things were so many thornes in his bed to keepe him from sleepe he doth not dreame wake nor thinke but how to stand firme against all these violent stormes of fortunes but he seekes to cure his harmes h A pernitious remedy to cure one mischiefe with another and to think to be cured by disorders which caused diseases the intemperance of the Patienâ— causeth the cruelty of the Phisition by other mischefes He is like vnto an earthen vessell which must needes breake if it fall vppon a stone or a stone fall vppon it The nedle of his Compas turnes toward the Kings Clemencie as to his north He sends Rapin his secretary vnto him with silken words humble and milde beseeching him to beleeue that the King of England and the Duke of Bourgundy desired nothing more then to draw him to the extremitie of dispayre The Constable seeks the Kings fauor and to seeke his safty of them beeing that he could not finde it with the King That a desire to bee reuenged of him who had not offended theÌ„ but in that he had not offended his maiestie had giuen way vnto the slanders which had bin published against him and fauoured by the il will of his enemies which were about his maiestie namely by the Lord of Dammartin and Lude who did not loue him and that his heart could not bend vnto that diuine rule to loue his enemies i To loue ones enemies is a diuine Action to loue his friendes humane but to hate his friendes is bruitish But men are of that disposition especially great men they cannot indure the prosperity of their enemies Good workemasters know one anothers worke one line makes them iudge by whome the picture was made The King his craftsmaster in dissembling did iudg that whatsoeuer the Constable pretended to doe was but couÌ„terfeit Aristotle speakes of a rock which burnes hauing oyle cast vppon it that an ambitious spirit dissembles as he list k It is dangerous to giue credit to the wordes and actions of those that haue any designe 〈◊〉 a desire to attaine vnto it makes them to faigne any thing that a wicked man is neuer worse then when hee will counterfeit to be good wherfore all the oyle of his goodly l words doe not allwayes serue to open but to couer the
inteÌ„tions Archidamus sonne to Agesilaus said that sheepe knâ—w but one note but Kings had many to vse as they pleased words did but inflame the flint of his reuenge the more and from the concurrence of these two contraries rose the last tempest which ruined the Constable Yet he made shew to approue his Intentions he said they were good and called a secretary vnto him to write a letter The King sends for the Constable by the which he gaue him aduice of all that had past with the English and that for the troble of minde wherein he was to dispatch many great affayres he had greate neede of his head If he had promised to saue him he would haue accepted the neck of his promises he was so constrained to make an example of the trechery of a bad subiect Rapin was not cunning enough to obserue two things which past at this instant m Paul Erizze gouernor of Negrepont hauing yeelded in the yeare 1470. vppon condicioÌ„ that they should saue his head Mahomet caused him to be sawne in two and when he reproched him with the breach of his word he said vnto him that the flanks were not comprehended in the promise to saue his hed Iustinian the one was that the king turning to the Lord Haward deputie for the King of England and the Siegneour of Contay expounding vnto them the counterfence of this letter saied I doe not meane that we should haue his body but his head only The other was that the Lord of Lude demanded of Rapine if he knew where his masters ready money was a word which should haue condemned the mouth from whence it came to perpetuall silence n By the law of the Gymnosophists they that haue once accused the vse of the tongue are condemned to perpetuall sylence It was sooner deliuered then considered there are witts which betraie wisdome and discretion their suddainesse stayes vppon the first obiects they are not allwayes ready This speech should haue serued as a Trumpet to giue the Constable an Alarum who vnderstanding what Rapine had done and heard chose rather to commit his safty to a good place then to the Kings good words He had caused the Castell of Han to be built and within it a Tower six and thirtie foote thick Castell of Han built by the Constable vppon the porte whereof there was seene a corde wouen with two tassells hanging on the one side and the other and this motto of his humor Mon Mieux He assured himselfe to finde his best alwayes in that place in the worst estate of his fortune and from thence hee should see as from a safe shoare the waues and winds play vppon France But there is no rock nor Acrocorinthe that can hould at the presence of a Prince which meanes to punnish the infidelity of his subiect Against a iust enemie they must make it knowne that a greate courage hath not lesse Clemencie beeing discouered then valour in Armes o Mithridatus king of Bosphorus being defeated vanquishâ—d he intreated the Emperor to make him fire warre his answere was short and generous That at Rome there was as much clemency against the vanquished as courage against an armed enemie But against disloyalltie and ingratitude all pitty is crueltie Hee had propounded to retire himselfe thether but considering that hee should bee beseeged by the Kings forces and the Duke of Bourgundies hee resolues to goe into Germany to imploy his mony in the pourchase of some place vppon the Rhine or else to passe into Spayne Perplexities of the Constable There was not any Sainct in paradice in whom hee durst trust By Sainct Quentin hee had alwaies shrowded himselfe from the thunderclaps of these two Princes By Saint Quentin he did hope to passe without touch amidst so many arrowes that were shot at him He would haue kept these Princes in feare doubt and they now driue him into an amazement p A dangerous course to keepe his maister in feare and iealousie Although that euery man saith Phil. de Com seekes to free himselfe from suspition and feare and that euery man hates him that keepes him in it yet there is not any one that in this point comes neere to Princes for I neuer knew any but did mortally hate them that would keepe them in feare and to the sad thoughtes of his ruine This Castle of Saint-Quentin was but a prison vnto him q Great men in the gouernemeÌ„t of publike affaires must make themselus famous and not enuyed by their pride and insolencie hee neuer heares it named but his soule is tormented Hee added to these meditations publike hatred raysed against him by the Insolency of his carriage hauing vsed his great offices to purchase enuy of the great and to oppresse the meaner sort besides the libells scandalous songs which had been heard publickly throughout Paris the which had had more credit and course beeing prohibited then if the reading had beene allowed for such drogues do presently loose their sent when they are vented the trouble to recouer them augments the currosity Beeing prest and opprest with these difficulties all resolution abandons him as he had abandoned himselfe There was danger in going forth and danger in staying France threatned him with death England with captiuity and Flanders with scorne In these trances and amazements which are not so great without as those which his Conscience giues him inwardly to see that he is held of all men as r It were much better not to be in the number of men then to be held among those that are borne for the ruine of the coÌ„mon-weale borne to the ruine of the Common-weale he cast his eyes to that part whereas nature had first opened them The Constable reâ—ires to to Mons in Hainault desiring rather to giue himselfe vnto the Duke then to suffer himselfe to bee taken by the King hee goes to Mons in Henault vppon a pasport which they gaue him with fifteene or twentie horse not considering that the firmest frendship doth not passe the Altars nor the respects of dutie which we owe vnto superiors and that in Accidents of iniustice the proofe is s It is dangerus to trie frends against Princes and lawes Alcibiades to make this triall one a time called them whom he held to bee his friends and led them one after another into a darke place shewing them the Image of a dead body and saying that it was a man whome hee had slayne intreating them to helpe to bury him but hee found but one among them all that would yeeld vnto it and that was Callias Happy is hee that hath manie friends but vnhappy that hath neede of them daungerous He trusted in the Lord of Emery Balife of Henault his surest frend who commanded there for the Duke It is hard to take an old fox Mucho sabe la Raposa pero mas el que la toma A she Fox knowes
Body hath no cause to grieue when the head is wounded Suet. The Admirall tould them that by the Kings commandement hee did deliuer the Constable ouer vnto them to make his processe with all speede vppon the letters written and sealed which the King of England and the Duke of Bourgundie and Bourbon had sent the which he presented vnto them d The want of rewarding the good is not so preiudiciall to an estate as the impunity of the wicked The Empires of the world martcht vppon two feete vppon the recompence of good and the punnishment of ill and they must goe streight on the one and not halt on the other and yet it is better to faile on the right foote which is the reward of good then on the left which is the punnishment of whomesoeuer On this foote they went against the Constable but somewhat to swiftly Hee saw him selfe reduced vnto those termes as they did not regard his seruices past but his present offences He beares this affliction as impatiently e They carry prosperities insolently and aduersities impatiently which thinke that neither the one nor the other can euer chaÌ„ge as hee past his prosperities insolently They began his processe by his answers Hee must eyther speake or beee silent His processe is made his words discouer the treason his silence the Traytor There is nothing but pitty to speake for him and there is not any to be fouÌ„d for crimes of this sort His own writings were against him He coÌ„fest that to maintaine his office of Constable and trouble the Kings estate he had alwayes entertayned war betwixt the king the Duke of Bourgundy His Conâ—â—ssions to this effect had giuen him his seale and promise that when as the souldiers which martcht vnder his commaundement should be ready to strik hee would cause them retyre That seing a marriage f He that desires to continue warre in an Estate let him follow the Maxime of the Constable of S t. Paul alwaies to keepe the King in bad termes with the neerest of his bloud As the Princes of the bloud beeing well vnited vnto the Prince make him to bee more assured and redoubted so when as they are drawne away the state must needs suffer Hereof we reade two goodly examples one of Hipparcus in Thucid the other of Sext Tarquinius in Tit Liâ—ius treated and concluded betwixt the Duke of Guyenne the kings brother the princesse of Castill he wrote vnto M sr aduising him to haue a care how he proceeded as soon as he should be gone into Spayne to fetch his wife the King was resolued to send an Army into the Dutchie of Guienne to dispossesse him to make him miserable and that if he would giue eare to marry with the Duke of Bourgundies daughter he assured himselfe to make him haue her so as hee would send his seale to the Duke of Bourgundie that he would passe a procuration to obtaine a dispensation of the oth for his promse of marriage with the Princesse of Castill That the Duke of Bourgundie hauing sent a man expressely to him to haue his seale the which he would send to the Duke of Sauoy he would that they should paffe to the Duke of Bourbon to draw him vnto their league and intelligence against the King who answered them that he had rather be as poore as Iob g There is no misery comparable to that which treason and infidelâ—ty causeth and therefore the Duke of Bourben did rather choose the condition of Iob then to reuolt against his K. then consent to their conspiracie and that the end would be miserable That the king hauing commanded him to write to the king of England to the Queen to the Earle of Somerset and to M sr de Candalles touching the E. of Warwick that he had writen quite contrary to the kings intentions They desired to heare him touching the barre and Causey of Compeigne At that word he found his owne mistaking and that the perfection of mans actions depends of well knowing himselfe h The first precept or rather the summary of the Instructions of the conduct of mans life is to know himselfe wel Theron depends the good or bad issues of actions Heraclitus speaking of a great and high cogitation of his spirit said that he sought himselfe He could not denie but that he had there played the companion with his master He confest that when he spake with the king neere vnto Compiegne he had caused a barre to be made betwixt the King and him to the end he might talke in safety and yet the king notwithstanding past the barre to imbrace him and to intreat him to holde his partie the which he promised and sware notwithstanding two dayes after the Duke of Bourgundy sent one vnto him to know if he would performe that which he promised him to offer him a pension of a thousand pounds sterling That he had writen vnto the Duke of Bourgundie that he could finde meanes to seaze vppon the king and then kill him or carry him to any place and that he would lodg the Quene and the Dauphin where as they should be allwaies found They shewed him the letters which he had written to the king of England He acknowledgeth his letters written and he doth acknowledg them and if there had bene no other cryme i Phil. de Commines saith that the hast of this proceeding was sound strange and that the King did much presse the Commissioners The Historiens haue not well obserued the time but wee may coniecturâ— it in that the Earle of Mâ—rle the Constables sonne sent on the 4. of December a herald called Montioy who did reside commonly with the Constable to Iohn Ladreche President of the accounts borne in Brabant to intreat him to succour and to stay the Constable if this were the beginning of his â—mprisonment as it is credible his processe was made in fifteene or sixteene dayes it had bene sufficient to conuict him The king did presse the Commissioners very earnestly and they proceeded but slowly in a matter of that weight The treason being apparent their opinions tended to death by the courses of extremitie and of the highest point of Iustice and the sentence was pronounced in Parliament by the President of Popincourt It was necessary that the prisoner should heare it in Parliament Hee is sent for to the Court of Parliament and therefore the Siegneur of S t. Pierre went early in the morning to the Bastile to fetch him comming into his Chamber he demanded of him what he did and if he slept he answered that he had been long awake but he kept his bed hauing his head full of fancies The Siegneur of S t. Pierre told him that the Court of Parliament had viewed his processe for the expedition whereof it was necessary hee should be heard He rose and prepared himselfe to goe vnto the Pallace not thinking that
the imbecillitie and weaknes of his Nature for whereas hee should haue opposed himselfe against those mutinies he suffred them to get such credit and authoritie as the Archbishop of Toledo being sent for to come vnto him to the end hee might pacifie those troubles he said vnto him that brought him this charge Tell your King that I am weary of him his affaires and that he shall shortly see who is the true King of Castille The Grandos of the Realme assembled in a great plaine neere vnto Auila to degrade the King from the royall dignity That which they could not doe vnto his person Alfonso proclained K. of Castille they did vnto his statue d When as King Henry vnderstood of this degradation which was in Iune 1â—65 he said I haue bred vp children and they haue contemned me I came naked from my mothers wombe and the earth atâ—ends me naked No man can liue so poorely as hee is borne and it God expels mee now for my fins he wil comfort and preserue mee afterwards for his infinite power is that which kils and restores to life which wouÌ„ds and cures that which giues Siegneuries takes them away which raiseth vp Kings puls them downe when he pleaseth which they presented vpon a scaffold when as the Herad said that D. Henry was degraded from the royall dignity the Archbishop of Toledo tooke the Crowne from his image the Earle of Plaisance the sword and the Earle of Beneuent the Scepter this done Diego Lopes cast it out of the royall seat Alfonsos standard was aduanced and poore Henry shouted at and contemned They would end the quarrell by a battell before Olivedo e The Battell of Oluiedo was in the yeare 1467. They doe not agree who had the victory D. Alfonso was seen armed aâ— all peeces incouraging his men D. Henry appeared not in the fight but entered triumphing towards night into Medina del Campo The two Armies fought by order one squadron against another The Archbishop of Toledo led his army hauing a white stole vpon his armes The combat continewed three houres and ended with so great disorder of either side as both parties made bonfiers for the victory The Pope sent his Legat f Anthony de Veneris Bishop of Lyon the Popes Legate being in Spain coÌ„manded them to lay downe Armes vpon paine of excommunication the great men of Spaine opposed themselues said that they appealed to a Councill The Licentiat Iohn D. Alcacer and Doctor Alphonso of Madrigall were committed for this appeale to pacefie these troubles during the which King D. Alfonso hauing raigned three yeares died of the plague at Cardegnosa Death of Alfonso King of Castille The League would haue declared Isabella heire of the Realme the which she would not accept the King her brother lyuing wherevpon a peace was made by which she was declared Princesse of Castille the nineteenth of September 1468. vpon condition that she should not marry without the consent of the King hir brother They would haue married her to Alfonso of Portugall who was a widower and D. Ioane to Iohn the eldest Sonne of Portugall vpon condition that if there came no children of the marriage of the Pincesse Isabell g D. Isabella was sought for in marriage by the brother of King Lewis by the King of Englands brother She made choise of D. Ferdinand Prince of Arragon He came to see her vnknown D. Guttiere of Cardona who coÌ„ducted him shewed him her saiing in Spanish Esse es It is he To whome the Princesse answerered sodenly and S. Shal be thine armes vpon this cause the family of this knight doth at this day carry an S in tâ—eir armes and deuice those which issued from the marriage of D. Ioane should succeed to the realme Castille But D. Isabella had other thoughts she loued Ferdinand sonne to Iohn King of Navarre and Arragon whome shee caused to come to Vaillidolet in a disguized habit and marryed him the eighteenth of October 1469. Isabella of Castille marries Ferdinand of Arragon King Henry was so incensed at this marriage as hee declared his Sister fallen from all the rights which shee might pretend to the crowne of Castille and caused Ioane his daughter to be proclaymed his true heire who was married to Charles Duke of Guienne as hath beene formerly said This treaty of marriage was broken by the death of the Dukd of Guienne King Henry died also h The death of Henry the 4. King of Castille was in the yere 1474. the one and forty yeare of his age and the on twenteth of his raign Hee was interred in the great Chappell of the Monastery of Guadalupe He appointed 52. lampes of siluer to burne day night vpon his tombe And notwithstanding that the Crowne were assured to Ferdinand and Isabel yet Ioane continued the title of Queene of Castille Troupes sent out of France into Castille and in this quality she married with Alfonso King of Portugall which was an occasion of great warres The French King being discontented with the house of Arragon and the warre of Pergignan sent troupes to the King of Portugal vnder the command of Aman of Albret i Ambassadors haue oste ingaged their Maisters in very ruin ous voiages Philip de CoÌ„mines who had treated with them of the K. of Portugall saith that if they had beene well aduised they would haue informed themselues better of matters here before they had councelled their Maister to this voiage wâ—ich was very preiudiciall vnto him But the King of Portugal hauing lost his enterprises and his Partisans was forced to retyer himselfe into Portugall carring away no other triumph of the warre of Castille but the Princesse D. Ioane his wife whome notwithstanding hee would not mary before hee were assured of the Realme of Castille and therefore he went into France to implore ayde from King Lewis with whome he had treated an alliance by his Ambassadors who vnder the good chere which was made them and the good words which were giuen them during the treaty without any other intent perswaded their Maister to come into France assuring him that he should doe more by his presence for the succors which he demanded then by the mediation of his servants and that there might bee a marriage made betwixt the Dauphin and D. Ioane his Neece He landed at Marseille Alfonsâ— K of Portugall comes to Tours came to Lyons and so went downe the riuer of Loire to Tours where he acquainted the King with the cause of his voyage k Necessity â—orceth Princes euen to things vnworthy of their quality They write that this Prince besought the King to succor him with such vehemency and humanity as hee fell on his knees at his heete It had not beene secret though he had beene silent Kings come neuer to the gates of other Kings to offer or to giue but to demand and entreat He carried a Lampe in
all them that fled had reserued one of the Dukes pages who did serue to finde out his body z The Duke of Burgundies bodie was known by a Porâ—ugall Phisition by the basâ—ara of Bourgundy by Oliuer of La March and by the Grâ—omes of his Chamber the which he knew by diuers markes the wanting his teeth of the vpper Iawe which he had lost in his youth with a fall by the scarre of a wound which he receiued in the throate at the Battell of Montlehery by the withering of the skin vpon his shoulder which a cole had made by a Fistula which hee had vnder his nauell and by his nailes which he ware longer then any one of his Court. The Dukes Ensignes and coulours were presently carried to Rene who obseruing the Fuzils or Irons to strike fire which they carried said The Duke interred at Nancy What a Pittie when this Prince would warme himselfe hee could not make vse of these Fuzils to strike fire a The duke carrie 〈◊〉 his coulours an iron to strike fire betwixt two trenchers of wood meaning that it was in his power to make a great fire of warre when he pleased The bodie was drawne from among the dead and carried to Nancy where after they had washt it and attired it in a poore weed of linnen cloth they layed it vpon a table vnder a cloth of Estate of black Veluet the chamber being hanged with the same The Duke mourning in his outward habite for this death and carrying ioy in his heart for his victory would needs see him and was not so scrupulous as Pompey who turned away his eyes from the dead body of Mithridates King of Pontus least he should prouoke the reuenging wrath of the Gods against him At this sight the Duke was moued to pittie and sorrow as compassion is not lesse naturall in great courages then crueltie euen against the dead is proper to base and cowardly mindes b Great mindes are moued at the spectacle of the ruines of nature and at the â—ragicall effects of fortune Alexander felt his â—ies to swell with teares when he read these words in Persian vpon Cyrus tombe I am Cyrus who conquered the Empire of the Persians let no man enuy this little ground which couers my poore carkasse Taking him by one hand he said God receiue your soule you haue caused vs much trouble and sorrow He caused him to be interred with all kindes of Funerall Pompe finding no expence so pleasing as that which is made to interre an enemie It is strange to reade what is written and credited K. Lewis aduertised of this death the next day that the day after the Battell King Lewis being at Masse the Archbishop of Vienna said vnto him presenting him the Pixe Reioyce S r your enemy is dead The Posts which brought this newes so speedily might truely be called windes like vnto those of Elius Verus c The Emperor Aâ—lius Verus gaue wings and the names of winds vnto his Posts calling one the North another the great wind an other the South c. And as the people beleeue not that which they desire not his subiects were long doubtfull of the truth of his death They said that the griefe of this losse kept him hid and that he had been seen in a Pilgrims weed It is troublesome to beleeue the death of Princes whom they loue who haue won their hearts by mildnes and affabilitie This Prince said and his tombe speakes it yet that he neuer had any rest in his life He would be the Eagle of Princes in designe and execution and as Eagles haue alwaies in their nests stones which sound hee had alwaies some designe in his head which disturbed his rest Hee that did inherit the matteresse whereon he slept might well keepe it to cause sleepe seeing that a man so distempered did sleepe little Wee must not suffer honor to grow old Humor of the D. of Bourgundy nor to weare like a garment it must be renued by some goodly action He sought by new designes and new enterprises to maintaine the brute of this reputation which he thought did passe away presently if some other couragious action did not renew it and hee feared nothing more then that his idlenes should giue the people occasion to demand what he did Meane men are not to giue an account of all their actions but will know what great men doe or doe not d A Prince should neuer giue the people occasion to inquire of his idlenes Cato had reason to say Non minus otii quam negotii clarorum virorum rationem extare oportere The reason of famous mens Idlenes must be apparent is wel as of their imployments His great courage was giuen him to afflict his bodie to torment his spirit His force was not equall to his Ambition lesse pride or more power His life was too short to goe that great way Hee would not haue been satisfied with halfe Europe Excesse the Dukes Ambition All or nothing Hee had more valour then gouernment Of this King this D. might haue bin made the composition of a great and absolute Prince e Who so could haue takeÌ„ some of the King our Masters conditions and some of his might well haue made a perfect prince for without doubt the King exceeded him much in iudgement and the end did shew it by his workes Phil. de Com. for the two essentiall parts necessarie to make a great Captaine Wisedome and Valour he had but one and would make himselfe to bee esteemed by actions which were rather animated by courage then guided by Counsell But he was laborious and diligent two qualities f He is a good Captaine that is both wise valiant Hanniball was valiant Fabius wise This man by his wâ—sdome vndermined the heat courage of the other Guiechiardin saith That it is no lesse the dutie of a valiant Captaine to doe â—he workes of a wise man then of a couragious Paulus Aemilius did perswade Marcus Varro his Colleage to temper the hot fumes of his courage by the coolenes of his vvisedome requisite to make a Captaine He would be euery where himselfe did view the scituation of his Campe with the aduantages and discommodities about it he obserued who went and came who entred and who went forth g Charles D. of Bourgundy vvas called by many the toiling for that he vvould see all and doe all toiling himselfe extraordinarily in all occasions He was still walking among the souldiors reprehending the Captaines priuately and the soldiors publikely when he found them to neglect their duties The meanest fortune requires wisedome to guide it and the greater it is the more it is enuironed with difficulties This Prince grew so insolent fell into so great a conceit of his own valour after his first deeds of Armes that although his naturall inclinations were not meerely warlike yet hee tooke delight in no other
France Parricides and cruelties with his wife Daughter to the Earle of Bullen being forced to make that his contrie where he found his fortune thinking to see the same sunne euery where which he saw in Scotland He besought K. Lewis the eleuenth to assist him with sufficient forces to make war in Scotland t Euery soile is the Countrie of a great courage Quo modo lucem noctem que omnibus hominibus ita omnes terras fortibus viris natura aperuit As nature hath opened the day and night for all men so hath she al contries for men of courage Tac. lib. 4. The bad vsage he had receiued froÌ„ his brother caried him to these motions to ouerthrow all that hee could not remoue The K. thought it not fit to ground a war against his allies vpon an other mans passions so as the Duke of Albany seeing that he could not obtain that he expected froÌ„ the king he past ouer into England and perswaded K. Edward to make war against the K. of Scotland u It is alwaies dangerous to make warre vpon the Councels of men that are banished from their countries and reduced to those extremities to ruine it for reuenge Passion doth easily transport them they promise that which they cannot hold and their wils are subiect to change The Noblemen of the Realme apprehending this storme assembled together by night in a Church where they resolued to cast all that into the Sea which was the cause of this tempest and which made the King to play at tenis with his subiects heads x Nothing is of so little respect to a cruell Prince as the bloud of his subiects Stratocles seeing them buy the heads and nâ—ckes of beasts for his supper said it was that wherwith they that gouerned the commonweale played at tosse-ball Plut. in Demet. being necessary to rid himselfe of domesticke enemies before he did incounter strangers The King who had spies in all places was aduertised of this assembly and sent Cocheran one of his fauorites to discouer it he was met by Archembald Douglas Earle of Anguse Conspiracie of the Nobilitie executed who took him by the neck and made him fast with the same chaine of gold which he himselfe ware and then he gaue him in gard to certaine soldiors vntill it was day at the breake of which hee was carried vnto a gibbet lamenting his hard fortune which had raised him vp to ruine him Some cried out to haue him dispacht others were moued to pittie y In these changes of fortune some sing others weâ—p wâ—â—n Radamystus caused Mithridates to bee taken vnchained the people remembering the rigour of his coÌ„mandemenâ—s added blows to his misfortune others lamâ—nted the change of his fortune Vulgus duto Imperio habitum probra ac verbera intentabat Et erant contra qui tantuÌ„ fortunae commutationem miseretentur The common people required his hard command with reproches and blows And there were others which Pittied the change of his fortune Tac. lib. 4. To be wise we must fly the conuersation of fooles Magna pars sanitatis est hortatores Insaniae reliquisse Sen. Epist. 94. It is a great part of health to haue left the perswades to madnes All reioiced to see the Court purged from this contagious plague He goes directly to the Kings Chamber and seazeth vpon all these Empericks of state vnder whose gouernment impietie had so raigned and iniustice been in such credit in Scotland and causeth them all to be hanged The King of England made his profit of these broiles King of England sends an armie into Scotland for hauing sent Richard Duke of Glocester his brother into Scotland with a mighty Armie he forced the King to restore him Barwick which the Scottishmen had kept one and twenty yeares by meanes wherof a Peace was treated and sworne The Nobilitie of Scotland thought that the King would grow wise hauing no more these instruments of folly about him z but hee made them to change their opinions for hauing setled his affaires abroad he began to call them to an account at home and to be reuenged of them which had prescribed him a law This caused anew reuolt to pacifie the which the King fled to the Pope who sent a Legate to draw the Rebels to their duties and hee intreated the King of France and England by his Embassadors to assist him to quench a mischiefe the contagion whereof might creep in among their subiects Not holding himselfe safe in Edinbourg hee would haue retired to Sterling but the Gouernour would not giue him entry He was then forced to keep the field hauing no retreat his enemies incounter him he accepts the Battel which they presented King of Scotland â—â—airne and fought valiantly but finding his horse wounded he retires vnto a Mill whether hee was pursued and slaine in the yeare 1488. the 31. of his age and the eight and twentith of his raigne FINIS THE CONTENTS OF of the eighth BOOKE 1 THe King is aduised to make his profit of the diuisions of Italy but he will not heare of it 2 Troubles at Florence and conspiracies against the house of Medicis 3 The Pope excommunicates the Florentines and for their sakes the Venetians arming the King of Naples against them 4 The King declares himselfe for the Florentines and forbids to send money to Rome The Venetians ioine in league with the Florentines 5 He sends his Embassadors to Rome and is arbitrator of the controuersie Ouerture for a Peace The lets of the Venetians side 6 The Popes complaint against them 7 Intelligences of the Duke of Brittany discouered and Letters surprized by the King 8 Punishment of Peter Landais 9 Townes of the Riuer of Somme recouered by the King 10 Negotiation of Oliuer le Dain at Gand. Taking of the Towne of Tournay 11 Princesse of Bourgundy sends Embassadors vnto the King to haue his Peace and protection 12 The King wins the Embassadors Restoring of the Townes of Hesdin Therouenne and Monstreuil Siege of Bullen two and twenty Deputies of Arras hanged 13 Arras yeelds vpon a composition which is not obserued 14 The Gantois rise against their Princesse and will haue part in the gouernment of affaires Their Embassadors sent vnto the King bring back a letter which the Princesse had written contrarie to their Embassage 15 The Princesse Chancellor and the Lord of Himbercourt Gouernor of Liege put to death 16 Ingratitude and impietie of Adolpe of Gueldres against his father 17 The King entertaines friendship with the King of England and keepes him from inclining to the Princesse of Bourgundy 18 Marriage of Maximilian Archduke of Austria with the Princesse of Bourgundy 19 The Kings armie in the Franch Countie 20 The fiâ—st alliance of France with the Suisses 21 Estate of the affaires of Castille vnder the new raigne of Ferdinand and Isabella 22 Death of Iohn the second King of Nauarre and Arragon 23 Peace and alliances renued
victory was but of bare wals for their hearts remained firme to the house of Bourgundy e There were a good number of Cittizens found in Arras who suffred thēselues rather to be hanged then they would say God saue the King The king also thinking it impossible to make this people obedient and to imprint the Flower de luce in their hearts caused most of the Inhabitants to depart f To people a Towne with ancient subiects to expell the naturall Inhabitants is a means to assure it but very inhumane It was a pittifull spectacle to see poore men ladē with their infants vpon their shoulders passe out of the Coast Townes where they were borne by the commadement of Phillip king of Macedo to go into Emathia quitting their houses and inheritances to the Thracians Tit. Liu. lib. 10. Decad. 4. planted naturall Frenchmen commanding the Town should be Francis-towne that with her first name she should loose the ancient hatred she bare vnto France This people had no sooner yeelded but they made it known how much they were grieued to see themselues reduced vnder the command of a new Maister for the King hauing sent the Cardinall of Bourbon the Chancellor of Oriole Des Cordes Gouernor of the Towne and Guyot Pot Bayliffe of Vermandois to receiue the oath of fidelity they saw themselues assayled in the Monastery of S. Vast where they dined with a furious mutiny of the people crying kill kill The kings seruants were onely made afraid but these mad-men repented it for many of them were stript and slaine and the City fined at three-score thousand Crownes The Princesse remained at Gand Gantois ready to reuolt against their Princesse with much trouble to keepe the Gantois in obedience She knew well their sedition but she dissembled the nūber of the seditious h It is not good to hold all them to be wicked in open shew which are so in effect In old time they did not thinke it necessary to marke all their slaues to the end they should not know their owne strength In seeking out all the seditious they know one another learne how many they are seeming to make account of their fidelities whose reuolt and treachery she held to be certaine They would haue againe the priuileges which her father grand-father had taken from them they vndertake the conduct and absolute direction of affaires not being able to endure them who for their wisedome and experience had deserued the first places in the Princesse Councell she had not any person capable to make head against this Mutiny the which doth neuer fortefie it self but through the weakenesse and cowardise of them that may suppresse it i A people which is fearefull is alwaies humble and tractable when as Mutines see the powerfull sword of Iustice before their eyes they distrust one another Being all together they are Lyons and diuided Goats They made an Assembly in forme of Estates and resolued that from thence-forth she should be gouerned by the aduice of the Estates who should send vnto the King to acquaint him with this resolution and to beseech him to allow thereof and in this consideration to cease all Acts of Hostility against her Countries These Embassadours come vnto the King thinking to bring him a subiect of great content assuring him that their Princesse desired nothing but the honour of his friend-ship and protection being resolued not to do any thing but by the aduice of the three Estates of her Countries The King who knew well the humour of the Gantois the confusion of this Princesses affaires and had a desire to make his profite in this trouble Embassadours contradicted confoūded k In many things but especially in this Lewis did imitate the most politick of Romane Emperours who held it for one of the best maximes of State to haue peace at home war far off Princes which haue followed this course haue atained to a perfect prosperity of their affaires others haue gone astray said vnto them My Maisters I know not what to thinke of the cause that drawes you hether knowing wel that it is not conformable to that which you say vnto me that your mistresse will not aduow that she hath giuen you charge to tell me that that she would be gouerned by the aduice of the Estates of the Country for she hath giuen me to vnderstand the contrary And as these men protested of the truth of their instructions and seemed resolute the King heares them coldly showes them a letter written by the Princesse and brought by Hugonet her Chancellor Himbercourt At the sight of this letter The King deliuers the Princesses letters to the Embassadours which made mention that the Princesse was resolued to referre her affaires to the discretion of foure persons not of the Estates they end their Embassage and attend no other answere being satisfied to see themselues deceiued and the King suffers them to go ful of choller reuenge They present thēselues vnto the Princesse to giue an account of their Embassage complaining bitterly and indiscreetly that she had made them to carry a message vnto the king contrary to that which she had resolued that she had reserued truth in the heart and put falshood in their mouths to ruin them When as the Princesse sought to iustefie the truth of her intentions l When as the Deputies of Gād presented themselues vnto the Princesse Councell saying That the King had let them see the contrary of their Embassage the Princesse sought to maintain that she had done nothing contrary to their instructiōs Then said Philip de Comines the Pentioner of Gand drew out of his bosom the said letter before al the world gaue it her He shewed that he was a bad man and of smal respect to do that affront to a yong Gentlewomā to whō so villanous a scorne should not bee done for if shee had committed any error she shold not haue been reprehended publikely It is not to bee demanded if she were ashamed for she had told euery one the contrary Phil de Com. assuring them that what she gaue them by instruction was what she thought they present vnto her the letter which the King had giuen them She held this for a great affront and contempt and the bloud which appeared in her face discouered the trouble of her mind The Gantois hauing no means to discharge their choller vpon her vpon her mother in Law nor vpon Rauesteen they vomite it out vpon Hugonet and Imbercourt the chiefe of the Princesses Councell They were instantly ceased on imprisoned and accused to haue caused the Citty of Arras to bee yeelded m Oliuer of la March saith that the Chancellour Hugonet confest that he had concealed the Duke of Bourgundies letters written at Nancy the which did much import the safety of his person and Army and to haue taken mony of a priuate man of
many of stone in the quarries of Peronne Since that men grew so ingenious not to imitate Nature 〈…〉 as Xeuxis in his Vine Appelles in his Venus Memnon in his Statue Miron in his Cow Architas in his Doue Sapor in his Heauen of Glasse Mont-royall in the Eagle of Wood and in his Flie of Iron Albert the great in his brazen head but to offend and destroy Artâ—llery inuented that Mens wits haue giuen wings and fire to Iron to hasten death more speedily that a German Monke y The inuention of Gun-powder and Ordinance was found out by Bartholmew le Noiâ— a German Monk The yeare is diuersly reported some date it 1330. others 1334 and others 1380. went downe into Hell to finde fire there for the ruine of Man as Prometheus had mounted vp vnto Heauen to fetch that there wherewith hee thought to giue them life and that Europe hath knowne that which was not in vse Nothing strong without Cannons but to vnknowne Nations z The Portugals found Peeces of ordinance in the realme of Pegu which the Chinois had broght thither 2500. yeares before and the Chinois attribute this invention to an euill spirit who taught it to their first King called Vitey to defend himselfe against the Tartars aboue a thousand yeares before the birth of Christ. Artillery hath beene a marke of the power and greatnesse of Estates which cannot bee held strong nor assured if they be vnfurnished seeing that nothing can be gotten nor preserued without it Artillery shewes those Forts to bee weake which the Ancients held impregnable there is not any but feares this thunder and if they ouer-throw the Attemps and consume the meanes and patience of the assailant Formes of war changed it is onely by the Cannon It workes such terrible effects and so farre from the vse of the Engines in old time as it hath changed a Artillery is the cause that warre is at this day more iuditiously managed then in former times when as quarrels were ended by battels Euery man seeketh to win time and to force his enemy to necessity They trust nothing to fortune that may be committed to wisedome they gouerne their designes with longer time and more safety all the old formes of Sieges and Battels Gun-powder and wilde-fire are multiplied in so many sorts and are growne to such perfection as the warre which in former times was made onely with Iron is now done with Artillery and Powder They cause the Cannon to martch in the head of the Army All yeeldeth vnto the Cannon and that holdeth the ranke of Elephants a Elephants haue beene employed in the head of Armies Siquidem Tirio seruire sedebam Anâ— ibali When I did sit to serue Anniball of Tire and Chariots armed with Sythes which did cut in sunder all they incounter They giue them the honour to begin those great battels whereupon depend the healthes of Estates they open passages and make new all that come by one way scatter themselues into a dozen because they would not encounter them nothing preserueth it selfe but to receiue death or fight They are absolute Iudges of the doubs of victorie and if a battalion of foote presents it selfe so strong so well armed with Pikes and so couered with Muskets as they mock at all the attempts of a victorious Prince and merite that glorious name of an Armed wall b Dion calles the fourth Legion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See what hath beene spoken thereon in the first Booke they must at the sight of the Cannon yeeld their Armes or suffer the paine of their rashnesse and see themselues sooner ouerthrowne then Grasse or Corne is mowne downe and reaped c The terrible effects of Artillery is wittily represented by the Signior of Bartas in his Poëme of the Law Euen as when many Cannons shot at once Affront an Army th' earth with thunder grones Here flyes a broken arme and breakes another There stands th' one halfe of a halu'd body th' other Falles downe a furlong thence here flies a shield And deepe-wide windowes make they in the field It is Ordinance then which maketh a Prince equall to thundering Iupiter who maketh the Rockes to leape and ouerthrowes the Gyants vnder the mountaines which they had raised against him The Brazen-mouthes which vomit forth Iron winged with fire shew the greatnesse and augment the reputation of them that make them speake All the Trumpets of their glory sound not so loud and are not heard so farre as these Flutes They be the most certaine Titles of the right of Armes and are not subiect to contradiction so the charge is Royall and there is not any Prince how great and powerfull soeuer but in processe of time will finde it insupportable They write that King Henry the second in his voyage to Germany neuer made Cannon-shot but cost him three hundred Crownes d Blaise of Vigenere â— saith That in the voiage of K. Henry in the yeare 1552. at Danwilliers Iuoy places of small importance which notwithstanding endured thousands of Cannon-shot there was not any one shot but cost the King accounting all the equipage furniture belonging to the Artillery two or three hundred Crownes so as a dozen of those balles came to a thousand six huÌ„dred crowns All the Instruments and Engines of Warre knowne vnto the Antiens haue beene contemned to bring Artillery in vse which hath all the effects and force of Bowes Arrowes Rammes Slings Crosse-bowes Scorpions and those terrible Engines which did raise vp men into the Aire carried away whole Gallies heaped vp and carried with great violence Rockes Mill-stones and Men e The Cross-bow was an Engine which carried farre off and with great violence Somtimes they did put in men aliue or dead Pelagius a young man of Spaine seeing himselfe forced to yeeld to the infamous execrable lust of Almansor strooke him on the face wherewith being incensed he caused him to be cast by one of his Slings beyond the Riuer of Betis or Guadalquibir in the yeare 895. Iussit â—um funda machinali trans Betim mitti scopulosis rupibus illidendum whom they made to leap beyond the Walles the Riuers and the Mountaines of those places which they would make subiect to ruine But as Inventions are not perfect in the beginning the first Peeces of Ordinance were all of Iron InuentioÌ„s at the first rude and imperfect with bandes and hoopes of the same so heauy and ill made so difficult to gouerne so ill mounted and of so bad a bore as they had more shew then execution and did onely serue to amaze them that would bee amazed with the noyse f All Mechanicke Inuentions are rude and grosse in their Infancy as appeares in Artillery and Printing The Batteries of those times were ridiculous they did onely serue for an vnprofitable expence of powder They shotâ— a farre off and at randon and fiue or six vollies in a whole
were armed Souldiers They entred but seeking to seaze vpon the gate the Portcullis was let downe and they all taken and slaine in the Towne which they would haue surprized the first hauing beene vnlucky and vnfortunate Thus there remained not any Male of the Branch of the Dukes of Lorraine there was not any but that of the yonger brethren of Vaudemont and Guise Branch of Vaudemont The Law preserued the right of the succession for the daughters of René Duke of Aniou and of Isabel of Lorraine Margaret Queene of England being a prisoner pretended not any thing Yoland widdow to Ferry Earle of Vaudemont succeeded Shee was mother to many children and the right of Priority gaue the title of Lorraine to René but Yoland reserued the authority and command vnto her selfe the which held ten yeares René assured himselfe to be Earle of Prouence as he was Duke of Lorraine that his Grandfather by his mother side disposing of his estate would remember him but the King had perswaded him to make Charles of Maine his Nephew his Heire f René Duke of Aniou King of Sicile and Earle of Prouence made his Will at Marsellis the 22. of Iuly 1474. as hee did in all his Estates except in the Dutchy of Bar the which hee gaue to René Duke of Lorraine with the lands of Lambesque and Orgon Hee gaue to Iohn his base sonne the Townes of S. Reny S. Canat and the Marquesat of Pont. They would both haue had Prouence but the good old man to let them know that neither of them should haue it being one day at Table hee cast a shoulder of mutton to two Spannels which fought for it and at the same instant hee let slippe a great Dogge which scattered them and tooke it away It shall bee euen so said René of your affaires you contend for that which one that is more mighty shall carry away This Embleme is yet to bee seene imbost and ingrauen on a chaâ—re in his Oratory in Saint Sauiours Church at Aix This Discourse grounded vpon the very Originals do contradict the opinion of them that haue written René did not giue Prouence to the King g An errour of some Writers which haue beleeued that which the chronicle hath spoken of this donation making expresse mention that René being at Lyon concluded with the King that after his death the County of Prouence should returne directly vnto the King and bee vnited vnto the Crown that René gaue the Earledome of Prouence to Lewis the eleuenth That the losse of the battell at Gransson hauing altered the minds of many Princes towards the Duke of Bourgundy King René changed that which hee had done to institute him his Heire and that being come to Lyon he flatly renounced his friendship and did consent that Prouence should bee vnited to the Crowne vpon condition that the King should set at liberty his daughter being Widdow to Henry the sixth King of England and prisoner to Edward and that for her ransome hee should pay fifty thousand Crownes that in regard of this summe shee should renounce the pretensions which she might haue vnto Prouence That to content those which the children of his daughter Yoland Dutchesse of Lorraine might also haue hee left them the Lands of Lambesque and Orgon That to make the King know that the declaration of his Will came from his heart with an extraordinary content hee wrot this Donation in letters of Gold with his owne hand and did enrich it with exceeding faire Lymning h Wee must obserue that among the titles which René tooke in Testament hee addes that of Earle of Prouence Barcelona Forcalqueci Pâ—dmont The Testament of this Prince speakes not any one word of King Lewis neither is it found that he made any other notwithstanding that hee came vnto him the yeare following being at Lyon Hee named for Executors of his Will Queene Ioane of Lauall his wife Executors of Renes TestameÌ„t Charles Earle of Mayne his first and cheifest Heire René Duke of Lorraine his second Heire William of Harcourt Earle of Tancaruille Gui of Laual Knight Signior of Louë and Seneschall of Anjou Iohn of Vignolle Deane of Anger 's and President of the Assises and Accounts of Anjou Iohn Pinot Doctor of Diuinty his Confessor Peter Le Roy called Bemanon Vice-Chancellour of Angiers Iohn Buell Doctor of the Lawes and Maister of the Accounts i Beside the contentment which the obseruation of these names may giue vnto those families which haue any interest therein it serues to the curiosity of diuers qualities vnited in the same persons the which at this time seeme incompatible Hee would also that if hee dyed in Prouence the Archbishop of Aix and the great Seneschall of Prouence should bee among the Executors of this Testament The King being aduertised that René Duke of Lorraine made practises in Prouence and fearing that by his meanes King René should change his mind commanded that they should seaze on him k Kings haue long hands and many sâ—ares to entrap their enemies It is hard to auoid all their ambushes and laid so many ambushes for him as it had beene impossible for him to escape if hee had not speedily recouered Marsellis where hee imbarkt Hee remained three monthes at Sea past into Sicile came to Venice and crossing through the Grisons Country hee arriued in Lorraine neuer complaining of the dangers which had runne nor the time which hee had lost to make hast and flye from an incensed Prince whose clemency is nothing but a wearied seuerity and rigour René had that misfortune which is insupportable to great courages 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to suruiue the greatnesse of his house Hee saw the Crownes which had honoured the heads of Kings his Predecessours broken Battell of Rocgueseiche Lewis Duke of Anjou his Grand-father second sonne to King Iohn had gotten the second Title of Right vnto the Crowne of Naples but his bad Gouernement after the battell which hee had wonne against Ladislas in the yeare one thousand three hundred foure score and three l At the battell of Rocqueseich the troupes â—f Ladislas were defeated by them of Lewis but the victory was not pursued wheÌ„ as Ladislas spake of this encounter he said that the first day after the battell his enemies had beene Maisters both of his person and the whole Realme if they done their endeuours to vanquish the second day they might haue beene Lords of the Realme and not of his person if they had followed the victory but the third day they could neither haue had his person nor the Realme whereof hee had reaped not the profite which hee should haue done forced him to quitte Italy where hee had entred with an Army of fifty thousand men and to retire into France grieuing very much at the vnfortunate and ill successe of his enterprises His sonne Lewis the third Duke of Aniou was also declared King
that Pius the second his Predecessor n Pope Pius the second did excommunicate those that did appeale from the Pope to a Counceil Iulio the 2 d renued the same excommunicatioÌ„ Silvest verbo excommunicat T. Num. 39. had called such forme of proceeding against the Pope Execrable yet it seemed they could finde no better meanes to restraine the excesse Euery man cryed after the reformation of abuses but that which might be commendable in publicke complaints did not iustifie the boldnesse of a priuate man who presumed to censure the Pope and the number of fooles doth not excuse the folly o A common errour giuest some excuse but the number of them that faile makes not the fault lesse It is alwaies ill done to play the foole with them that are not wise Sixtus declared him an Heretick and a troubler of the Churches quiet from whose body he was cut like a rotten member vnworthy to exercise the ministery to hold any dignity or to be partaker of the holy Sacraments condemning him to remaine prisoner in a Monastery with bread and water vntill he had made full expiation of his crimes In like manner the Emperour found the proceeding of this Bishop very bold gaue him to vnderstand that seeing he was but a priuate person he desired to know by what authority he pretended to call a Councell He answered That the publike necessity of the Church approued his zeale and coniured the Emperour to maintaine it after the example of the Emperour Sigismond p The Emperor Sigismond laboured Christian-like to smother the new opion of the Hussites of Bohemia he procured the conuocation of the Councell of Costance was there in person and his predecessors who had not spared any thing for her quiet and peace and to root out abuses wherfore he besought him not to shew himselfe difficult to grant out Patents and necessary pasports for the convocation of a Councell otherwise hee should answere before God for the ill which his negligence would make incurable The 4 th day of December Peter of Kettenheim Pryor of Velpach the Pryor of Erford and the Pryor of Mortau present themselues anew vnto the Senate of Basill and declared that they had charge to proceed against them by all the rigors of the Churches iustice if if they did not deliuer this reuolted person into their hands to be exemplarily punished He was honoured by some like a S t. Paul that great Citizen of heauen the pillar of Churches an earthly Angell and a heauenly Man he was contemned of others as a seditious man an Abironite and a Rebell Some thought it hard that because he had said not secretly like vnto spies and slaunderers but publickly and in the Cathedrall Church of such a Towne that fire was at the doore that the mine was ready to play to ouerthrow the whole building and that Sathan had planted his ladders whilst that the Centinels slept they wold entreat a Bishop so rigorously and that howsoeuer they should consider the thing that was good and wholesome q They say wee must consider the Councell apart and him that giues it apart The Ephores caused the aduice which had been giuen by a bad man to bee pronounced by one which was good In his quae à malis bene fiunt hic tenendus est modus vt appareat authorem displicuisse non factum Plin. Paneg. Traiani and not the person that might be passionate They also remembred that many great personages about that time had said Words of Gerson that in these disorders they might follow extraordinary motioÌ„s either of powerful authority or of charitable admonition r In the time of K. Charles the seuenth euery man spake of reformation Gerson presumed to say that the pursuite might bee made Per quos cunque fideles praesertim maiores authoritatiua potestate siue charitatiua admonitione Gers. in Propos. vtil ad extirp schis Others said that the desire was good but being guided by pride presumption it made him odious that propounded it that hee which was sttooken with death for that of his owne motion he had put forth his hand vnto the arke fearing lest it should fall did serue as a terrible example shewing how dangerous it is to deale vnreuerently in holy things The Senate answered Basill excommunicated by the Pope that they could not satisfie the Popes desire before they vnderstood the Emperous pleasure Vpon this answere the Towne was interdicted The Emperour sent a Franciscan Frier to Basill who had audience in a great assembly where there assisted the Embassadours of the Princes of the league of Italy s In this assembly assisted Iosias of Seligni Bishop of Syon Grenoble Anthony of la Roche Pryor of Mortau Claude of Tholsugeoâ— and William of Rochefort where hee deliuered his charge and spake of this Archbishop as of a Goliath who had raised himself against the Lords host Hee said also that being at Rome for the affaires of the Archduke Maximilian when as the Pope had beene aduertised of these troubles and motions for the calling of a Councel the Pope had commanded him to go to the Archduke Sigismond and then vnto the Emperour to know of them whether they did approue and fauour this revolt Pope coÌ„plaines of the towne of Basill and in like manner to complaine that the Towne of Basill which had beene alwayes very obedient to the Holy Sea had suffered it selfe to bee carryed away very inconsiderately with such Impostures and Impressions t The desires and the effects of Desires which tend to reunite the members of one Family vnder one head are iust and commendable and God doth assist them There is none but Sathan which hath fauoured and aduanced schisme and diuision We are all of one stuffe we make but one part of the garment we haue need but of one seame Sarrura tantum opus est But it is not fit to heare all them that speake That the Emperour hauing found that whatsoeuer he did for the calling of a Councell proceeded from extreame hatred and that his reason was wholy conuerted into passion against the Pope and impudent arrogancy presuming in the quality of a priuate person to attempt the reformation of the Church and to call a Councell the which belonged onely to the Pope The Emperours intent was u It was not for that the Emperour did not earnestâ—y desire the hoâ—ding of a Councell hauing written to king Charles 〈◊〉 7 th to come or send to Mentz to the end they might remedy the necessities of the Church in the yeare 1423. but hee did not allow of this particular Instance that they should seize vpon the person of this Archbishop and that they should put him into safe keeping and in such a place whereas he might be represented vnto the Pope At the same instant he produced the Emperours letters patents The Emrour commands the Archbishop to be appâ—ehended by the which
circumstances and dependances not doing or suffering any thing to bee done to the contrary either now or hereafter vpon any cause or occasion what soeuer forcing all them that shall oppose themselues to the contrary by the taking away of their letters granted to the contrary 〈◊〉 thereof seizure and detention of their goods in our hands imprisonment of their persons euen as is accustomed to be done for our own affaires notwithstanding any opposition appeale or complaint or any Ordonance made or to be made by Vs or our said sonne restraint or commandement defences or letters to the contrary for the which wee will not haue the contents effect and execution of these presents in any sort deferred stayed or hindered And for that many men haue need of these Presents in diuers places We will that full credit shall be giuen vnto the Copy therof made vnder the seale Royall or signed by the said Parrent or any other of our Notaries or ordinary Secretaries as to this present Originall In witnesse whereof we haue caused our Seale to be set to these Presents Giuen at our Castle of Ambois the 22 of September in the yeare of grace 1482. and of our reigne 22. By the King my Lord the Dauphin the Earle of Beaujeu the Earle of Marle Marshall of France the Archbishop of Narbona the Signiors of Bouchage Percigny Plessis of Solhes Iohn Doyac Gouernor of Auuergne Oliuer Guerin Steward of his houshold and many others being present Miscounting in the History Signed Parrent The date of this Edict discouers the mis-counting of Philip de Commines n Philip de Comines was sent into Sauoy to set at liberty the Signior of Illins a Dauphinois whom the King had giuen for Gouernour to Duke Philebert his Nephew When as the Earle of Bresse sawe the Kings Armie at Maston hee did what they desired who saith that in the yeare 1483. the King would see the Dauphin his sonne whom he had not seene in many yeares before and that soone after he had spoken vnto him he fell into the extremity of his sicknesse whereof he died for this Remonstrance was made in the Castle of Ambois in September 1482. and the King died not before August the yeare following But to resolue the doubt of times it may be that the King some few dayes before his death had a will to see the Dauphin when as they conducted him to Paris to make his entry and to celebrate his marriage and that Philip de Commines not beeing at Ambois when this first Remonstrance was made beeing stayed in Dauphin or Sauoy whether the King had sent him with Troopes against the Earle of Bresse hee had no knowledge thereof and therefore hath written That the King had not seene the Dauphin in many yeares before If a History bee the Image of Truth o A History is the proofe of time the light of truth the life of memory the mystery of life and the Trumpet of Antiquity It is the Image of truth and as the image is perfect that doth rightly represent the Originall so a History should represent all things in their simple truth and if Truth can haue but one vniuersall face in all things how can it accord the Chronicle with this Edict It writes that the King going to Saint Claude and before his departure out of Tourraine sawe the Dauphin at Ambois and gaue him his blessing That in the moneth of October the same yeare beeing fallen into a Relapse of his sickenesse hee caused himselfe to bee carried to Ambois to exhort him to that which hee should doe which makes mee to wonder if in matters that bee secrete and important Writers doe not alwayes giue full perpetuall and immutable Assurances seeing that in these they dispense so freely with the Certainety The Instructions which the King gaue vnto the Dauphin were found Good and Holy but they could yeeld no good fruits but with a peace All the rest without it had beene of small vse there being nothing whereof a Father who leaues a yong heire should bee more carefull then to leaue him his inheritance quiet and assured Being therefore resolued to giue a peace to France who attended it as a gift from heauen p There can bee nothing giuen more pleasing noâ— more healthfull to the people then a peace Vt circumspiciamus omnia quae populo grata â—â—nt atque iocunda nihil tam populare quam pacem quam concordiam quaÌ„ otium reperimus Let vs looke vnto all things that are pleasing and acceptable vnto the people wee shall not find any thing more popular then peace concord and ease Cicerâ— pro Le Agr. he thought to giue his sonne a wife but not the Princesse of England who was promised him by the Treaty of Piquigny After the death of the Dutchesse of Bourgondy the Gantois had seized vpon Prince Philip Estate of the Low-countries at the discretion of the Gantois and the Princesse Margaret her Children telling the Arch-duke Maximilian that the Guard and Tutele belonged vnto them The King who desired to haue the Princesse Margaret married vnto the Dauphin and knewe well that by the Gantois meanes the Propositions of the Treaty would bee to his aduantage commaunded Des Cordes to make some Ouerture thereof with two or three petty Companions of the Towne of Gand who had purchased some credite in the Seditions and Mutinies of the people These Men sitting their duety to the time and fortune A proposition of a peace and marriage transported with priuate passion a deadly poyson q All passion priuate affection is a poyson in the conduct and managing of affaires Peffimum veri affectus Iuditij venenum sua euique vtilitas Euery mans private interest is a deadly poyson to true iudgement Tacit. in Affaires of importance and distasted with the soft and effeminate commande of Maximilian consent speedily to the Propositions of Des Cordes and promise to make them succeed to the Kings good liking There was little paine in the effecting of this businesse for the Gantois to preuent all difficulties which the Father might propound in the marriage of his Daughter told him plainely that they would haue no more warres with France They insulted ouer him doing and vndoing many thing contrary to his Intentions On the other side Pope Sixtus both by the reason of his Office P. Sixtus mediates a peace as a common Father and by the Law of Religion which doth nothing more Christian r There is nothing more proper for a Christian then to make peace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 BASIL then to make peace solicited the King and the Archduke thereunto to ioyne their forces against the common enemy of Christendome and had sent the Cardinall of Saint Peter ad Vincula to exhort them The Deputies of either side met at Arras A Treatie of peace and marriage they layd open all the Pretences of the Crowne of France to the House of Bourgondy
sometimes in sachirresolution as not daring to make warre heâ— doth things preiudiciall to peace Phillip de Commines saith His Exercises and pleasures that hee had no thought but of Ladies and more then was fit of Hunting and to entreate his owne person well When hee went a Hunting hee caused many Pauillions to be carried for Ladies and in this sort made great feasts for hee had a body as fit for it as any that euer I saw being yong and as beautifull as any man that liued in his time q Edward was held in his youth to excell all the Princes of his age in beauty and stature but when as hee came into France in the yeare one thousand foure hundred three score and fifteene He was growne grosse Fâ—w men become so but by their owne meanes Entring into the Realme hee saw himselfe surprized with a storme and expelled by him who had assisted him to conquer it Hee retired into Holland with two Hulkes a little Ship and many men without mony seeing himselfe to giue a gowne furred with â—ables to satisfie the Marriner who had transported him At the end of sixe monthes he re-entred into London when as his enemies had held him to be lost In eleuen daies the Earle of Warwicke had wonne the whole Realme for Henry the sixth Edward recouers it in twenty daies with the hazard of two great battles The strongest carried it r They are sometimes bound to fortune and sometimes to pollicy for the happy euents of great enterprises but most coÌ„monly the stronger is the Maister 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Occurrat forti qui mage fortis erat and remained peaceable King yet with some remorse to haue beene bound for the quiet possession of his Realme to the cruelties and inhumanities which he committed against his owne bloud For he put to death King Henry the sixth and Edward Prince of Wales his sonne with the Duke of Clarence his brother The cause of this brothers death is not very certaine The most common opinion is that hee would haue armed to succour the Princesse of Bourgundy contrary to his brothers liking Polydore Virgil saith that enforming himselfe he learned of them that liued in those times that King Edward being aduertised by a Coniurer s All the answeres of Sorcerers are doubtfull and deceiue them that trust in them They spake truely meaning the Duke of Glocester and the King deceiued himselfe vnderstanding it of his brother of Clarence that his name that should succeed him beganne with a G. had a conceit that George Duke of Clarence his brother should take the Crowne from his children Death of the Duke of Clarence the Kings brother and vpon this apprehension hee put him to death in a But of Malmesey Others haue written that hee sought the Alliance of the Princesse of Bourgundy and that the Dutchesse Margaret sister to Edward fauoured his Designes which the King not wishing so great a fortune to his brother hindred That at the same time one of the Dukes seruants hauing beene condemned to dye for poyson the Duke of Clarence was offended and spake in such sort as the King taking his words for threates of some great trouble caused him to die in pryson t George Duke of Clarence brother to the King of England made choice to dye in a But of Malmeâ—cy to die with some content which an 〈◊〉 disolution of the soule is wont to cause as Seneca saith or to make himselfe drunke and to free himselfe from the horrour end feeling of death Drusus meaning to dye of hunger would not cate any thing in nine daies but the flockes of his bed Tacit. l. 6. Annal. An act notwithstanding which did afflict him with such griefe and repentance as remembring the great precipitation of his iudgement procured by his brothers enemies when as any came to sue for a pardon for any one that was condemned to dye u Repentance doth vndoubtedly follow cruell and rash actions Caracalla hauing put his brother Getâ— to death hee did neuer thinke of him or looke vpon his stature but hee wept Hee caused Loetus who had perswaded him to this paracide to be imprisoned and did all kindes of honour vnto his Funerall Funus Gerae accuratius fuisse dicitur quam eius qui à fratre videretur occisus Getas Funerall was performed with more then his that seemed to bee murthered by his brother AELIVS SPARTIANVS he alwaies said My poore brother had not any to sue for him He left two children Margaret who was married to Richard Poole and Edward whom the King made Earle of Warwicke All the crosses which Edward had suffred did not so much afflict him as he receiued contentment at his returne from the warres of France for the peace which he had brought backe and the Treatie of marriage which he had made of his daughter with the Dauphin of France and the pension of fifty thousand Crownes So when he saw the Dauphin married vnto the Lady Margaret of Austria he was so grieued as hee resolued to returne into France to reuenge this iniury Choller and griefe were so violent in his soule as he dyed the tenth of Aprill at Westminster whereas the Parliament was assembled to resolue vpon the warre of France His body was carried to the Castle of Windsor and interred in S. Georges Chappell He had tenne children by Elizabeth his wife and left Edward Prince of Wales and Richard Duke of Yorke liuing All his life hee had beene liberall and dyed coueâ—ous Hee recommended his wife His brother murthers his children children and Realme to Richard Duke of Glocester who to haue the Crowne put Edward who had raigned but two monthes and Richard his Nephewes to death x Edward had a base sonne called Arthur his daughters were married to diuers Princes Brigit the last was a religious woman The daughters were declared Bastards by the Parliament for that a Bishop affirmed that hee had married Edward vnto a Lady of England before that hee was married to the Lady Elizabeth Riuers Hee caused himselfe to bee Crowned King in Iuly following The parricide of his two Nephewes caused so great scandall and horrour in all the orders of the Realme and the mother who had fledde into the Sanctuary at Westminster y This trust and recommendation of such precious Iewels bound the Duke of Glocester to haue a care of them IS DIGERDES King of Persia seeing that ARCADIVS the Emperour his enemy had recommended his some THEODOSIVS vnto him found himselfe bound to preserue his Estates and laying aside all passions of precedent hatred hee proclaimed warre against any one that should molest his pupill hauing fore-seene the rage of this Tiger filled the Citty of London with very pittifull and strange complaints as euery man found this greedy and vnsatiate desire to raigne inhumane and tyrannous hauing forced him brutishly to teare in peecees the Lawes of Nature and to pollute his hands with
had suffered vnder the gouernment of the Duke of Berrie his vncle hee commanded the Dukes of Berrie and Burgondy to retire and would not haue any other prince neâ—re vnto his presence but Lewis duke of Bourbon his vncle by the mothers side and Iohn of Burbon Earle of March of V endosme whom hee loued infinitâ—y giuing a reason hereof openly That he loued those Princes for that they had neuer serued any other maister and had neuer had any ambition nor design against the state neither had they euer giuen him any occasion to complaine of them This vertue was neuer found in a great spirit but it did purchase power and affection with others Pride is barren humility fructifieth a vine spreading vpon the earth beares excellent fruit the high and straightest Cypres-trees are vnfruitfull Hee was not so bountifull of his fauours to the Lord of Beaujeu but hee was as sparing to the Duke of Bourbon his brother he had an implacable hatred against Iohn Duke of Bourbon sonne to Charles the Achilles of France This hatred was nourished with a fresh apprehension for that this Prince lamenting the disorders of the State the miseries and oppressions of the people and the bad vsage which Charles Duke of Berrie suffered had laid the first foundations of the league had left it by the Treaty of Ryon and re-entred againe into it vpon despight for that during this Treaty the Duke of Millan by the Kings commandement had ouer-run and ruined his Countrey of Beaujolois and Forrest But for that hee was a Prince of great power great courage and great credit in the heart of all France hee would not euaporate this fire of reuenge and indignation which hee had against them and considered rather what he might doe then what he should do And the Duke who was acquainted with the disposition of this King knewe well that all Princes write offences done them in brasse and the seruice which they receiue vpon sand wherefore he remained long in his Dutchy of Bourbonois and would not come to Court The King whose chiefe care was to weaken his enemies and to diuide them gaue him the gouernement of Languedoc dissembling the remembrance of things past Vpon this assurance the Duke of Bourbon shewed that hee did not breathe any thing but the Kings seruice neither had he any greater content then to yeeld him proofes equall to his affection and therefore hee followed him to Peronne and we must beleeue that without him in this voyage hee had giuen his Enemies more courage to execute those dangerous councels hauing resolued to stay him For besides the respectes of Alliance the Duke of Bourgondy respected this Prince who had the two principall partes necessary in great Captaines Valour and good Fortune l The two qualities necessary in the Generall of an Army are Valour and good fortune Duo sunt quae Claros Duces faciunt summa virtus summa foelicitas Lat. Pac. Paneg. Wee haue formerly seene that the Constable of Saint Pol did what hee could to drawe him to the Duke of Bourgondies partie Fidelity of the Duke of Burbon and to make him ioyne with the King of Englands forces and that this braue Prince made it knowne that nothing was able to shake his loialty no not if he should be reduced to the misery of Iob m An extreme oppression is no lawfull cause to arme against the Prince rebels seeke pretexes and coulors to shadow their discontents but good subiects suffer with patience although that the sincery of his actions could neuer wipe away the blemish which distrust had put in this Princes eyes yet would he not trouble the content which hee had receiued by the testimony which his conscience gaue to fidelity and vertue The King also fore-seeing that if his enemies were fortefied with his fauour and forces hee should be much troubled hee coniured him to come vnto him The Duke excused himselfe vpon a resolution which hee had taken to liue quietly in his house the which no man could enuy him hauing purchased it with incomparable toyles and crosses Hee besought the King to suffer him to rest in the port of this tranquility after so many stormes and to content himselfe with the seruice which the other Princes of his house and his Bastard the Admirall did him The King entreated and coniured him to come and to reape the same fruits in Picardy which he had sometimes receiued in Guienne n The honour of the glorious victory of Fromigny is giuen to Iohn the second Duke of Bourbon who then tooke the title of Earle of Clermont for hee charged the English with such fury as with the losse of tenne men onely hee defeated fiue thousand English and tooke 1400. prisoners to the shame and confusion of the English sending the Bishop of Mande vnto him to deliuer his requests and recommendations more confidently and to assure him that the occasion was not lesse glorious then at Fromigny The Duke being loath to faile France in so great an occasion and remembring that his predecessours had not desired a more glorious graue then to die vpon a field of battell couered with the bloud of their enemies o The Princes of the house of Bourbon who haue dyed for the seruice of the Crowne are Peter of Bourbon slaine the 19. of September 1356. at the battell of Poicters Iames and Peter his sonne at the Battell of Brignay neere vnto Lyon Lewis at the Battell of Agincourt 1415. Francis at the battell of Saint Bridget on holy Crosse day in September 1525. Iohn at the battell of Saint Laurence 1557. and Anthony at the siege of Roan 1562. and to free the King from all conceite that he had a will to giue eare vnto the Constable who did solicite him with all vehemency he deliuered the Constables letters into the Bishops hands protesting that hee would neuer carry Armes against the Kings seruice The effects did not differ from his words for seeing the Duke of Bourgundies troupes approach to enter the Country he went to horse and put them to rout The Earle of Conches was slaine there the Earle of Rousillon Marshall of Bourgundy was taken prisoner there with the Earle of Dammartins sonne and the Signiors of Longy de Lisle Digoin Ruygny Chaligny and the two sonnes of the Signior of Viteaux one of which was Earle of Ioygny Being then assured of the discent of the English and that they had passed the Sea he came vnto the King with sixe hundred horse and commanded part of his Army which was neere vnto Beauuais Matters being reduced to those tearmes that the King desired and the King of England hauing repassed the Sea he retired himselfe to Moulins to performe the last duties to his mother p The Lady Agnes of Bourgundy dyed in December 1476. Shee was wife to Charles Duke of Bourbon and mother to Iohn the second of that name Duke of Bourbon to Charles Cardinall and Arch-bishop of Lyon
that before his death he saw all things new or renued in all other Kingdomes of Europe as if the eternall prouidence of God had not left him in the world but to consider these great changes which did amaze England Arragon Nauarre and Scotland And although they were things farre from his sight yet could he not but be passionate and informe himselfe as interressed in all things His curiosity notwithstanding was staid by the respects of his Religion Offers of Bajazeth to the King in contemning the offers of friendship which Bajazeth made vnto him who sent him a list of all the Reliques which his father had found at the taking of Constantinople and of the Holy Land promising to deliuer them vnto him so as hee would assure him of Zizimi his brother who had yeelded himselfe to the Knights of Rhodes This peece is worthy to bee related Zizimi reuolts against Bajazeth Mahomet left two sonnes Bajazeth x Bajazeth was the elder and Zizimi the yonger who said that he was the Emperours son for that hee was borne during the raigne of Mahomet and Bajazeth before the elder surnamed by the Turkes Ildrimy that is to say Lightning he coÌ„manded in Paphlagonia towards the black or Euxin Sea Iohn called Zizimi that is to say Loue was at Conio a city in Licaonia the Ianisaries were diuided which of the two should succeed the first was held effeminate and dissolute the other led a more manlike and martiall life The controuersy was followed by a great sedition and the great Turkes Treasury was spoiled many desiring that the Scepter should bee giuen to him that had the best sword y The Law of Nations hath alwaies preferred the â—lder bâ—fore the yonger what aduantage of force or vallour soeuer he hath and â—lthough that Pirrhus had ordained that which of his children had the sharpest sword should succeede him Yet notwithstanding the eldest was lesse valiant and carried it The faction of Bajazeth by the wisedome of Acmet Basha remained victorious and Zizimi was forced to retire himselfe into Asia the lesse from whence he passed to Ierusalem and then to the great Caire towards the Souldan of Egypt The great Caraman hearing of the diuision which was betwixt these two brethren held it a fit occasion to be embraced to recouer the Realme of Cilicia which Mahomet had taken from him whereupon he inuites and solicites Zizimi by letters and Embassadours to ioine with him They make an Army and present themselues neere vnto Mount Taurus to giue Battell vnto Bajazeth Zizimi considering the inequality of their forces for the Army of Bajazeth consisted of two hundred thousand men and that if hee fell into his brothers hands he would put him cruelly to death he thought there was no other retreate for him but to the Christians z In any sencible griefe or when any execrable thing was spoken the Iewes and Mahometans rent ther garments Among the acts of choller and fury of Maximin obserued by Capitolinus are these Incurrere in parietes vestem cindere gladium arripere quasi omnes posset occidere To runne against the wals to cut his garments and to draw his sword as if hee would kill all men This was not without doing great violence to his conscience breaking his habits in signe of breach of his heart in such resolution for he was a great obseruer of his religion and so iealous as hee fell into fury when hee saw a Turke drunke Hee dranke water with sugar and sometimes wine so as it were mingled with spices and other liquors saying that this mixture did alter it in such sort as it was no more wine There is not any Law whereas humane pollicy doth not finde some exceptions By the aduice therefore of Caraman hee left his wife and children with the Soldan of Egypt and resolued to seeke his fortune and succours among the Christians and to retire himselfe to Rhodes hauing written this letter to Bajazeth Zizimi King to Bajazeth his most cruell brother DEmanding of thee that which was iust and honest a a Bajazeth receiuing this letter and hauing read it remained two daies retyred and would not bee seene shewing a wonderfull griefe that his brother had retired to the Christians especially to the Knights of Rhodes the greatest enemies hee had in Christendome thou a breaker of all Diuine Letter of Zizimi to Bajazeth and Humane Lawes and a contemner of Mahomet doth force thy brother to flye vnto the Christian name and to them in particular which weare a Crosse for the great hatred they beare vnto our powerfull House I am forced to retire my selfe vnto them to saue my life and thou art the onely cause of this mischiefe If thou hadst granted me that which I desire so iustly I had remained peaceably vpon the frontier and thy brother a Mahometane as thou art and of the same bloud should not be forced to ioyne with Christians with whom it would be impossible for him to serue God according to the ceremony of our Law Zizimi was alwaies sad and melancholicke being depriued of the exercise of his Religion At the first feast which the great Maister made him there was Musicke of all sorts of Instruments yet hee was nothing the merrier They brought before him a scullion of the Kitchin a Turk who was a slaue who sung or howled out a song after the Turkish manner whereat he took a wonderfull delight I attend from God the reuenge of so great a wickednesse and do pray vnto our great Prophet to giue thee a punishment equall vnto thy crime If our father had fore-seene thy impiety I assure my selfe that with his owne sword or by poyson he would haue taken away thy life Hee hath exalted the house of the Ottomans and it seemeth thou takest delight to ruine it But it is impossble that an Empire which thou hast vsurped with so great tyranny and cruellty should continue long the building cannot be firme vpon so bad a foundation The day will come when to reuenge thine impiety some one will do the like to thee and thy children that thou attemptest against me and mine Adue and looke to the ruine which threatneth thee Zizimi was well receiued at Rhodes the 24. of Iuly 1482. the great Maister sent Aluaro of Estuniga Prior of Castile with the Gallies of the Order to conduct him Zizimi comes to Rhodes he went himselfe to meete him with all his Knights Zizimi was amazed to see himselfe receiued with so great honors in a Towne which his father would haue ruined Hee made it presently knowne that hee had a desire to go into France and to cast himselfe into the Kings Armes although he were inuited by many other Princes to come vnto them He is conducted into France The great Maister hauing thereupon receiued commandement conducted him thither They tooke Saye before him c The Say which is taken to Princes is ancient Xenophon in the first of
Polyb. lib. 11. Mathias held it not fit for his reputation nor courage to attend them hee goes to meete them with eight thousand horse and hauing furnished the Towne of Vratislauia with victuals and munition he lodged himselfe in the sub-vrbs and there attendeth them with a resolution not to hazard any thing c A Prince shold not stay vntil his enemy come vnto him and force him to feed him at his charge Euery day they made Sallies and Skirmishes to the Polonians losse who neuer returned but with griefe for some prisoners taken but many more slaine And to shew that hee did little esteeme their Attempts and that hee could loose little and get much he caused scaffolds of Wood to bee built vpon the Walles for the chiefe Ladies and Gentlewomen of the Towne It is a great aduantage for a Generall of an Army when hee is assured that victory brings him great profit great effects and that the losse cannot equal the gaine and for those chiefly who were not made but to bee beloued They beheld the Knights who made Sallies vpon their Enemies and cast themselues couragiously into dangers for their sakes At their returne they commended their valours and encouraged them to continue If they were hurt they were the first that drest them if they returnd victors they presented them the prisoners Armes and colours which they had taken The Princes of Germany desiring to diuert this storme and fearing that this fire kindled vpon the Frontier would flye further laboured to quench it Ernestus Duke and Elector of Saxony and Iohn Marques of Brandebourg e The courages of these 3 Princes were vanquished by the eloquence of the Marques of Brādeburg who in the Assembly of three Kings of Casimir King of Polonia Ladislaus King of Bohemia and Mathias King of Hungry discoursed with such grauity and vehemency vt prae admiratione adstantes obstupuerint Ita tune virtute Ernesti Saxonis eloquenti◠Ioannis Marchionis haec or a Germaniae magno discrimine liberata redijt ad tranquilitatem That the assistants were amazed with admiration So then by the vertue of Ernest of Saxony and the eloquence of the Marques Iohn that coast of Germany was freed from great danger and recouered peace made an Army of six thousand horse and presented themselues before Vratislauia protesting that they came thither to no other end but to set vpon him that would not liue in peace So by their meanes a peace was concluded the 12. of February in the yeare 1475. and Silesia was diuided betwixt Ladislaus and Mathias Mathias makes war against the Emperour This war being ended he began an other against the Emperour he besieged Bohemia and forst the Emperour to demand a peace Pope Sixtus and the Senate of Venice for that they would not incense the Emperour tooke from him the pensions which they had giuen him to the end that the Emperour should not think that they fauoured his designes Death of Mathias Huniades yet for all this Mathias did not forbeare to presse the Emperour to effect that which he had promised him seeing that hee thought to entertaine him with the vanity of his words hee began the warre againe and besieged and tooke Hambourg vpon the confines of Austria and Hungary Mahomet thinking to make his profit of this diuision ouer-ran the Countries of Dalmatia Carinthia and Friuly and carried away a great number of slaues but they were set at liberty and they that led them cut in peeces being incountred by Mathias Captaines f The portrait of of 〈◊〉 Prince makes him of a higher sature then the ordinary of men open and quicke eyes his eye-browes eleuated a bigge head a faire face and of a good complexion a large forehead flaxen haire The Emperour Fredericke sought a peace of him the which taking no effect there was a truce concluded Soone after Mathias g Hee that hath written the History of the kings of Hungary ends the discourse of Mathias life in these tearmes In somma non si può diro altro di vantagio se non ch'e vanita il persuadersi che altre personnagio si trouasse alhora in tutte lc parti pareggiante l'inuitto glorioso Matthia Coruino se l'ambitione d'vna principessa Aragonesse non lo hauesse tyrannegiato To conclude there can bee no more said but that it is a vanity to think that there can bee any one sound comparable to the inuincible and glorious Mathias Coruinus if the ambition of a Princesse of Arragon had not tyrannized ouer him died at Vienna in Austria of an Apoplexie in the yeare 1490. being 47. yeares old He had taken to his second wife Beatrix daughter to Ferdinand King of Naples by whom he had not any children suffering himselfe to be transported with her ambitious humors enemies to all rest The commendation which is giuen him of a great Prince and a great Captaine doth not blemish that to haue made the Sciences and learning to flourish againe and to haue fauoured them that made profession thereof and among others Iohn of Monroyall the Ornament of the Mathematickes He replenished his library with the rarest bookes hee could finde out of the which are come some fragments of Polybius and Diodorus Siculus h A Prince which affects glory esteemes them that are the Trumpets The most valiant haue done things worthy to be written and haue written things worthy to be read Corn. Sulla Caesar Augustus Claudius Traian Adrian If after the death of Mahomet they had put Zizimi into his hands as he desired and besought the Pope he had ouer-throwne the tyranny of the Ottomans for Bajazeth vpon these apprehensions sought to be at peace with him but the Pope would haue him make warre against the Hussites of Bohemia Let vs returne and see what Lewis doth in his sad melancholike thoughts of that day which must bee the Iudge of all the rest he hath giuen an end to all his designes and the law of Nature will haue him end he◠doth not liue but by intreaty and the dayes which remaine serue onely but to the end he should husband them that they might profite those which hee hath past and lost His Seruants comfort him and his Physitians haue no meanes to cure him they entertaine him with vaine hopes and diuert his thoughts from any thing that might augment his waywardnesse And for that they told him that a Northerly winde which did then reigne made mens bodies sickly and did hurt the fruits he commanded the Parisians to goe in Procession to S. Denis to cause it to cease i The Chronicle saithn that to appea this Northerly winde all the Estates of Paris went diuers dayes in procession to S. Denis in the moneth of February that the same prayers were made in May following for the kings health But he was more troubled with distrust Distrust of Lewis 11. It is a torment vnto him in comparison whereof
returne to Amboise not holding if fit that this new Sonne should rise before the West of his life This great reioycing of all France did but augment his heauinesse to see himselfe forced to quit the place vnto his sonne All the helpes which the Art of man could inuent were imployed He caused the holy Oile to be brought l This Vyall of holy Oile was seene by Philip de Commines vpon the Cupbord in the Kings Chamber at Plessis at the houre of his death Others baue written that the gaue vp the Ghost as it arriued the Clergy of Paris the Court of Parliament the Vniuersity and other Companies went in Procession the last day of Iuly 1483. to meete it at Saint Anthonies in the field it was lodged that night in the holy Chappell and the next day passed on and was followed with the same company vnto our Lady in the fields Phillip de Commines saith that he had an intent to take the like vnction that he did at his Coronation Others haue written that it was to know the declining of his life for when the King is dead it is empty and filleth againe miraculously for the Coronation of a new On Monday the 25. of August he fell into that extremity of sickenesse which ended his daies Last actions of Lewis the eleuenth and forced him to acknowledge himselfe not onely mortall and dying but as death At that time he sent vnto his sonne all such as came to see him saying vnto them Go vnto my sonne your King serue him well giuing to euery one some charge to deliuer vnto him but most confidently to Stephen de Vers Baliffe of Meaux who had bene his Gouernour He sent vnto him also his chiefe Officers the Chancellour with his Seales and all his traine the Captaines and Archers of his Guard his Hunts-men and Faulkeners But his intent was not to suffer them long there if hee recouered his health as assuredly as he felt his courage firme and his iudgement strong the braine not being troubled with the maligne fumes of his infirmity for he had a continuall loosenesse So wee see that the soule in this seperation of the lodging wherein it hath beene shut and whereof it hath great cause to complaine m 〈…〉 of the 〈…〉 some guest the soule complainâ—s of the body 〈◊〉 of a troublesome lodging Vt qui in alieno habitant multis aguntur in commodis semperque de aliqua domicilij parte queruntur Ita animus nunc de capite nunc de pedibus nunc de stomacho nonc aliud de alioqueritur significans se esse non in suo domicâ—o sed vnde breui sit emigrandum As they that dwell in another mans house haue many discommodities and doe still complaine of some part of it So the soule doth complaine sometimes of the head of the legs of the stomacke and other parts shewing that she is not in her own mansioan but froÌ„ whence she must soone depart SeÌ„ recouereth new strength by the ioy which it conceiues to re-enter into this spheare of her rest She disposeth saith a great man of this age more wisely and more holily of all things fore-seeth more certainely that which is to come fore-telleth it and doth prophecy for that shee beginnes to approach to her first beginning to be ioyned againe to that immortall being and to participate with the life eternall Soone after hee fell into great faintings which made him to loose his speech but he recouered it to will the Duke of Bourbon to go vnto the King his sonne and that hee should haue a care of him Commandements extraordinary of the King charging him with many extraordinarie things the which had caused terrible accidents if they had encountred a froward and difficult spirit Philip de Commines in this place speakes what hee thinkes good and confirmeth his opinion by the euents Hee gaue him all the charge and gouernement of the King and commanded him that some men should not come neere him telling him many good and not able causes and if the Lord of Beaujeu had obserued his commandements in euery point or at least in part for there were some extraordinary coÌ„mandements which were not to be kept that in the generality be had obserued theÌ„ better I think it had been profitable both for the Realme and himselfe considering those things which haue since happened n Phi. de Com. doth notâ— heere the diuâ—sioâ—which was betwixt the Lady Anne of France and the D. of Orleance whereof he hath not written any thing in the câ—urse of the history A diuision which caused the Assembly of the Estates at Tours and then of a league whose first attempts appeared before Orleance the second ended in Brittany by the battell of Saint Aubin the 28. of Iuly 1488. and by the taking of the Duke of Orleans This commandement of the King incountering a spirit which was milde tractable and temperate had not the effects it should haue had Bounty and mildenesse are sometimes negligent in matters which require heate and quickenesse This Prince was one of the best of his age being nothing but mildenesse and courtesie The more rare these qualities are in Princes o Humility and courtesie are goodly qualities in great men Humanitas tam clara in imperatore quam rara est Nam quum indiscreta felicium predissequa sit superbia vix cuiquam contingit abundare fortuna indigere arrogantia Cuius quidem ita maiores nostros semper praetesum est vt grauiorem semper putaueâ—nt sâ—ruitutae contemptum Humanity is as glorious as rare in an Emperour For as arrogancy is an indiscreeet 〈…〉 to fortune it seldome happens that any one abounds with good fortune and wants arrogancy The which was alwaies so hatefull to our fore-fathers as they held contempt more grieuous then seruitude Lat. Pac. Pan. the more excellent they are arrogancy neuer faileth in them who haue no wants and pride doth alwaies follow felicity It is a miracle to see a great Prince courteous milde and affable Rome found not any Surname more odious for the last of her Kings then that of Proud and comprehended in that word all the vices for the which she changed the forme of her gouernment and supprest the Royalty in despite of the King Yet the mildenesse and facillity of this Prince gaue a great foundation to the troubles which happened for the Regency of the Realme The King had often said in his life time Lewis the 11. would not haue theÌ„ speake of death vnto him that in what extremity soeuer they saw him they should neuer pronounce that word of death vnto him p These feares which happen at the dissâ—lution of such sweete company as the body and the soule cometh not through faihtnes of heart or want of courage this word Death hath drawne words of griefe from the soule of the Son of God it hath made the heart of the most constant to treâ—ble
disobedience was the trouble of the Praguery which hath bene formerly related when as he suffred himselfe to be surprized and stole away from the Earle of March his Gouernour whom Chroniclers haue called a Prince of the Bloud and erroniously haue taken the husband for the wife For it is true that Iames of Bourbon h The Lady Elenor of Bourbon daughter to Ieames of Bourbon Earle of March was married to the Earle of Perdriac sonne to the Earle of Armagnac Earle of March King of Naples and sonne to Iohn of Bourbon first Earle of Vendosme hauing but one daughter of his first marriage gaue her to Bernard of Armagnac Earle of Perdriac who by this marriage carried the name of Earle of March and Gouernour to Lewis the 11. i They write that Lewis chased away the Earle of March for that hee had aduertised King Charles that the Duke of Alençon was come to Niâ—rt to subborne him For this reason it was late before he gaue him the gouernment of the Country of Dauphine neither would hee that the displacing of Officers should depend vpon his capricious humours this wise father hauing found that his actions were so wandring inconstant and contrary to themselues as it was a difficult thing sometimes to beleeue that they proceeded from one spirit for there is nothing equall k Mens mindes change not according to the motions of reason but according to occasions Nemo non quotidie consilium mutat There is not any man but changeth his minde daily if it comes not from the same resolution wherefore in the Letters Pattents which were granted at Charleiu the 28. of Iuly 1440. the King reserued not any other thing but that he should not displace those Officers which were setled in their charges and that the Chancellour of France should keep the seale of Dauphine For the taking of possession of this Prouince he sent Iohn Signior of Gamaches a Knight and Gabriel of Bernet Signior of Targey a Squite Steward of the Kings house to Grenoble whom he termed his Embassadours they presented the Kings letters and the Dauphins to the Councell of Dauphine in the presence of Iuuenal of Vrsins a Knight Lord of Treynell Leiutenant of that Prouince in the absence of the Lord of Gaucourt who was Gouernour and of the chiefe Noblemen of the Prouince Stephen Guillon President in that Councell made an Oration vpon this subiect but after such manner as it discouered the rudenesse and simplicity of the matter for who so should discourse now after that manner they would wonder why the feete should do the eares so much wrong as to suffer attention l A Babler demanding of Aristotle if his discourse were not strange no answered he but yet a man hauing feet should not giue himselfe so long patience to beare thee They found men in those times who knew how to speake but few were able to discourse eloquently It is easy to iudge of the beauty of the building by the frontespice Behold the first periode of this Oration Seeing it is the pleasure of my Lords the Embassadours to our most redoubted Lord and Prince my Lord the Dauphin Lewis that I should say some-thing vnto you concerning the matter of their Embassage to obey them as I ought I will speake it as well as I can with the help of our Lord of his Mother and also with the good supportation and correction of them and you my Masters and the better to relate it I take for my Theame Fillius ditus est nobis dominator Dominus in manu eius potestas Imperium I say the third and the ninth chapter m In those times publicke actions were performed like Sermons and alwaies they tooke some passage of Scripture for the ground of their discourse The whole Discourse is of the like straine and extends it selfe vpon the Dauphins praises being drowned as it were in the allegations of diuers passages of Diuinity and Law I thinke in those daies they had more regard to deeds then words Simplicity of the eloquence in the old time and that they had more care to do then to speake that their discourses were without pompe or vanity and did not fauour of that bold babling which will make men beleeue that he which is beaten should make reparation and that the vanquished is victor n Thucydides and Pericles had charge of the gouernment of the Common-weale of Athens yet could neuer agree Archidamus King of Lacedemonia termed their contention a wrastling and asking Thucydides who was the stronger he answered When I haue throwne Pericles downe be makes them that see it beleeue that he is not vanquished but that hee stands still But in this action there is neither choice of termes nor choice of reason and for that he would not haue it wholy without inuention he stands vpon the letters of Lewis his name and saith that that in this word Ludouicus there are nine letters the first represents the Liberallity of this Prince the second that he was Vertable the third that he should Domineere and be feared the fourth that he was Orthodoxall the fift Vigilant the sixt a Iustiâ—er the seuenth Charitable the eight Vertuous and the ninth that he was filled with Wisedome Hauing ended the Dauphins Panegericke he fell vpon that of â—his Embassadours and said that the Signior of Gamasche who was called Iohn was a fore-runner to IESVS CHRIST and the other the Angell which did fore-tell his Incarnation to the Virgin MARY for that his name was GABRIEL Such kind of writings are like vnto Medals which men esteeme more for their stamps and for the testimony they giue of the doubts of Antiquitie then for their proper beauty neither doe wee see any but giue some light in the obscurest difficulties and serue in the managing of great affaires We see in the beginning of his discourse o The Dauphin is not acknowledged Prince of Dauphiné vntill the King hath giuen him the power how this President labours to satisfie them who held that Dauphiné should acknowledge the Dauphin from the day of his birth for he maintained That the eldest sonne of France could not bee acknowledged for Prince and Lord of Dauphiné vntill it should please the King to giue him the prouisions and command The History sets downe how he retired into Dauphiné and from thence into Flanders A wonderfull hearts griefe vnto the King Griefe of K. Charles the 7. which did accompany him vnto his graue In either of his vioages he was alwaies accompanied by necessity His seruants purses being emptied in the voiage of Dauphiné they borrowed a hundred Crownes of them of Romans The Bill which hee made is carefully kept among the publicke writings of that Towne It is true that Lewis the eleuenth was such towards Charles the seuenth his father as hee desired not that Charles the eighth his sonne should be like vnto him and doubting that the disposition of his nature
whole posterity but onely to them which descend from the Males There are two houses which bee so great and famous of themselues as they honour the titles which are giuen them King Charles the seuenth his Father hauing made the Earledome of Foix a Pairie for Gaston of Foix hee confirmed this erection but hee made not any new This house of Foix was in those times one of the most famous in Christendome and compare with Soueraigne Princes o We find that in great ceremonies the Earles of Foix are named before the Princes and had precedence of the Earles of Vendosme There is no other reason but that the eldest of Princes houses precede the yonger of other houses and therfore at the Estates held at Tours the Earles of Neuers Eu and Foix had precedence of the Earle of Vendosme Gaston of Foix who liued in the time of King Charles the fifth went equall with Kings when as King Charles the sixth was at Tholousa he sent the Earle of Sancerre Marshall of France and the Signior of Riuiere one of the chiefe of his Councell to the Earle of Foix who was then at Mazere to intreate him to come vnto him or else he would goe to see him He did not excuse himselfe vpon the Indispositions of his great Age and being sorry that hee had not preuented this summons he parted from Mazere with six hundred horse and came to the King to Tholousa Traine of the Earle of Foix. The History saith that presenting himselfe vnto the king hee was followed by two hundred Gentlemen all cloathed in silkes among them there was noted the Vicount of Bruniquet and his brethren Roger of Spaine Lord of Montespan issued from the bloud of Arragon and head of the house of Montespan p Espagno let of Spaine sonne to Roger of Spaine sonne to Leon of Spaine and the Lord of Corras who first raised the honour of the Earles of Caramain a great and rich family Beginning of the houses of MoÌ„tespan Caramain allied to that of Foix and who seeing that Houses and Families haue their periods like to all other worldly things could not desire a more glorious fall then into the house of Monluc where it begins to reuiue King Charles the sixth requited this visite at New-yeares tide in the yeare 1390. q At this voyage the Earle did institute King Charles the sixth his heire the which hee would not accept for that he would not defraud the Vicount of Chastellan his lawfull Heire He fauoured the house of Lauall with the like declarations of honour House of Lauall the which was long before held for one of the worthiest of France hauing neuer wanted children nor the first dignities and alliances of France hauing for their stemme the House of Montmorency r They drawe the beginning of the first house of Montmorency to the time of Saint Denis by whom the first that was conuerted among the French Knights was a Lord of Montmorency and therefore the ancient Deuice of this house is God helpe the first Christians the first Christian of France and there is no difference in their Armes but fiue Cockle-shels Argent to the Crosse. Wherefore he would that Francis of Lauall Lord of Gaure sonne of a daughter of king Charles the seuenths sister should go in rank with the Earles of Vendosme as well in Councell as in Parliament and in all other publike actions and caused his letters to be dispatcht at Mans the nine and twentith day of Nouember 1467. to serue for a speciall and perpetuall priuiledge to his posteritie He had much contemned the glorious and honourable markes of Maiesty s Princes had alwayes men appointed to serue in time of peace and warre for the ornament of their maiesty and royall greatnesse Heralds were instituted in France for that respect in time of peace they carried mayles vpon their breasts and in times of warre their Coat of Armes powdred with Flowers de Luce. I haue obserued in the Church and Cloister of Saint Catherine du Val of the Schollers twenty of their Tombes which shew the forme of their Maces and Scutchions Bodin writes that hauing chased away almost all the Gentlemen of his house hee imployed his Taylor for a Herald at Armes and his Barber for an Embassador and his Physitian for a Chancellor as an ancient king of Syria did Apolophanes his Physitian whom he made the president of his Councell Philip de Commines obserues it when hee shewes how much hee was troubled to furnish out a Herald which he sent to the King of England Heralds were necessary for the Maiesty of a Prince in actions of war and in the most solemne dayes of peace They had diuers names and diuers charges and they either carried the Titles of the Soueraignes Prouinces or of some other famous occasion as in France the Heralds are diuersly named and wee finde often in the History of France these names giuen to Heralds Bosios error in the History of Malta Monjoy e Saint Denis Mont Saint Michel t This word of Monjoy Saint Denis was sometimes the warlicke cry of the French They say it grew vpon that which Clouis said in the battell neere to Colleyn when as fearing to loose it hee promised to beleeue in Iesus Christ worshipped by Clotilde his wife and to hold him for his Ioue Since that time they cryed in their battels Monjoye Saint Denis as if they would say Christ whom Saint Denis hath preached in Gaule is my Ioue that is to say my Iupiter The word of Ioue beeing turned into that of Ioye The Antiquities of Gaule wriâ—ten by the President Fauchet wherein a great man of Italy hath erred and moues them that obserue it to laugh for hauing found in our Histories that King Lewis the eleuenth had sent two Heralds to Bajazeth to complaine that hee had broken the peace with the Venetians hee sets downe their names after this manner Monsieur Gaudio de Saint Denis Monsieur de Saint Michel whereas hee should haue saide The Herald Monjoy Saint Denis and Mont Saint Michel They were created at great and solemne Feasts and when they presented Wine vnto the Prince hauing drunke he gaue the cup to him whom he made Herald wherwith he should make his Scutchion Oliuer of la Marche saith that Philip Duke of Bourgondy did somtimes giue them the name of that Country whereas the Wine which hee then dranke did grow which done the other Heralds gaue him the Coate of Armes charged with the Princes Armes There were more Ceremonies at the Creation of a King at Armes for his sufficiency was to bee testified by all the Kings at Armes Creation of Heralds and Heralds that might bee found and they were distinguished from others by a Crowne croslet which they carried on their heads Their chiefe charge was to make a distinction of the Armes of Families to preserue the ancient and preuent the vsurpation of new
of Paris This dissolution was one of the causes of the rarenesse of Gold and Siluer which was no more to bee found but in Chaines of gold and in their purses who had had meanes to transport it out of the Realme to haue Silkes The Estates of France complained at Tours and it was said That euery man was clad in Veluet and Silkes and that there was not a Fidler Groome of the Chamber Barber nor Souldier but ware it that they had Collers or Rings of Gold on their fingers like the Princes and that there was not treason nor villany but they committed to continue this disordered sumptuousnesse of apparrell Science Science If hee were learned by Art or by Practise wee must looke vnto the effects of his good Conduct with the which like vnto Perseus with Mineruas Courtelax he had cut off the head of the Medusa of reuolts and sedition in his Realme If it bee true that in his time simple honesty q Innocency doth commonly lodge with Ignorance and Simplicity The troubles which haue molested the world are not come from the simple The learned or they which presumed to know all things haue framed them Simplex illa aperta virtus in obscuram solertem scientiam versa est That simple and open vertue is turned into obscure and cunning knowledge and ignorant vertue were degenerated into a Science or knowledge of dissembling or subtilty we must hold him for the most learned Prince that euer bare Scepter in his hand or Crowne vpon his head Hee had saith Philip de Commines his speech at commandement and his wit perfectly good without the which bookes serue to small purpose They make men learned but not wise and the difference is great to haue a full head or a head well made to bee sufficient or learned instructed in contemplation or in action r They teach men diuers Sciences for their vse and to excell in them Princes should learne Regere Imperio populos To gouerne the people A Princes Science is to know how to command Philip de Commines saith that hee was learned enough The Author of the Annals of Aquitane writes That hee had gotten more knowledge as well Legall as Historicall then the Kings of France were accustomed to haue And although hee were not of those times when as they met with Emperours going to the Schooles with Bookes vnder their Armes s Lucius met with M. Antony who went to see Cyrus the Philosopher son to one of Plutarkes sisters this Prince said vnto him That it was a goodly thing to learne euen for a man that grew old To whom Lucius all amazed answered O Iupiter RomanoruÌ„ Imperator iam apetente senio gestans librum qui pueris mos est preceptoreÌ„ adit O Iupiter the Roman Emperour growing old goes vnto his maister carying a book as school-boyes vse to doe nor was not of the humour of that other Emperour who forgat his Dinner to heare Lessons t Charles 4. Emperour loued learning in such sort as being in in the schooles at Pragne some comming to put him in minde of dinner hee said vnto them that hee had dined preferringâ— the contentment of the mind before that of the body Aen. Silv. yet that great leasure which hee had in Dauphiné and afterwardes in Flanders accompanied with a desire to learne which is the first steppe to mount vnto knowledge could not leaue him in the ignorance of things necessary to reigne well On a time he vsed his Latine to good purpose Pope Sixtus had sent Cardinall Bessarion u Cardinall Bessarion borne at Trebisond and Monke of S. Basil was made Cardinall at the Councell of Florence by Eugenius the fourth and sent Legat into Germany to reconcile the Emperour and the Archduke Sigismond brethren a Grecian borne to mediate a peace betwixt him and the Duke of Bourgondy Hee had beene imployed in great Embassies in the time of Pope Eugenius who had made him Cardinall and of Pius the second the which hee ended happily This was the cause of his death for hauing begun with the Duke of Bourgondy as holding him the most difficult to draw to reason the King tooke it ill and imputing it to contempt or to some priuate passion as hee presented himselfe at his Audience hee laid his hand vpon his great beard and said vnto him Barbara Greca genus retinent quod habere solebant x The Grecians called all other nations barbarous Plat. in Menoxeno An Arrow shotte not against Greece which gaue the name of Barbarous to all other Nations but against the Birth and Inciuilite or Indiscretion of this Cardinall whom hee left there and commanded to bee so speedily dispatched as he knew his stay there was no more pleasing vnto him then his Indiscretion The feeling hereof did so afflict him as soone after returning to Rome hee fell sicke at Thurin died at Reuenna and confirmed that Truth That Embassages ambitiously affected doe neuer succeed happily z A graue and true sentence spoken by Iohn Caruagial Cardinal of S. Agnolo Nessuna legatione ambita puo hauer desiderato fine No Embassage affected can haue a desired end Ier. Garimbert Who so had the Apothegmes the goodly speeches and good words of this Prince should enrich this discourse with so many pearles and pretious stones There comes nothing from the mouth of a great King full of wisedome and experience but should be as curiously gathered vp as the crums which fall from the table of the Gods a Damis did curiously collect the words of Appollonius Some misliking that â—e busied himselfe with such trifles said that he had done like vnto dogs which gather vp all the crums and fragments which fall from their maisters tables Damis answered You say well but this is a banquet of the Gods and all that assist at it are Gods also the Officers suffer nothing to be lost Philip de Commines hath obserued this A King hath more force and vertue in his Realme where he was annointed and crowned then he had without it To haue serued well doth sometimes loose men and great seruices are recompenst with great ingratitude Iudgment vpon the recoÌ„pence of seruices but this may happen as well through the errour of them that haue done the seruices who too arrogantly abuse their good fortune as well to their Maisters as their Companions as through the mistaking and forgetfulnesse of the Prince b Princes seeing the merites and seruices to bee so great as they cannot recompence them but by great aduancemets they doe not willingly looke vpon them who as often as they present themselues vnto their eyes seeme to demand recompence Beneficia eo vsque laeta sunt dum videntur exolui posse Vbi multum antevenere pro gratia odium redditur Benefits are so long pleasing as they thinke they can bee payd but when they haue exceeded hatred is repayed for thankes Tacitus lib. 4. To haue
of Chastel a He was one of the Commissioners whom the King appointed for the accusation and Imprisonment of the Cardinall of Balue one of the Architects of the league found in the end that there was no better lodging then at the kings armes His fortune was ruined in Brittany and raised in France Hee did negotiate the enter-view of the King and Duke of Bourgondy at Peronne he was imployed in the Truce of nine yeares 1475. and was aduanced to the gouernment of Rousillon The Lord of Nantoillet had for a time the authority ouer all the Armies of France Lord of Nantoillet he wanted nothing but the name of Constable for he did exercise the Functions the King hauing made him his Lieutenant Generall throughout his whole Realme and afterwards Lord Steward of France He was so fauoured as the King gaue him often the moity of his bed This fauour lasted not long The Chronicle of the Kings library saith That the King could not pardon any one of whom he had suspition Death of the Lord of Nantoillet He caused his head to be cut off in the yeare 1468. and that the Hangman hauing cut off but a peece at the first blow hee lest him force and courage enough to stand vp and to protest before heauen and the people that hee died an Innocent After that Philip de Commines had said that he had serued the king well in Paris in the warre of the Common-weale he addes In the end he was ill rewarded more by the pursuite of his enemies then by the Kings fault but neither the one nor the other can well excuse themselues Anthony of Chabannes Anthony of Chabannes Earle of Dammartin brother to Iames of Chabannes Lord Steward of France saw the ship of his fortune cast vpon the shelfe in the beginning of this Princes Reigne His good fotune drew him out of the Bastille to go to the warre of the Common-weale in the end whereof hee was made Lord Steward of France hee had the chiefe charge of the Kings Army in Guyenne and was then much fauoured by this Prince with whom hee was so inward as when hee meant to marry his second Daughter to the Duke of Orleans hee discouered his secret affections vnto him by a letter which hee did write vnto him vpon that subiect wher of the Chronicle in written hand of King Lewis the twelfth makes mention hee sent him word that whatsoeuer they said hee was resolued to giue his daughter to the yong Duke of Orleans but no man should bee troubled to nourish the Children that should bee borne of that marriage Peter of Termouille Peter of Tremouille Lord of Croan saw not his life to end with the fauours and honors hee had had of this Prince His Predecessors Guy of Tremouille and Iohn of Tremouille Lord of Ionuelle were made great in following the Duke of Bourgondies party The eldest of this house married Ioane Countesse of Boulleyn and Comminges Widow to Iohn of France Duke of Berry b K. Charles 〈…〉 yeare 1430. King Charles 7 supported George of Tremouille Lord of Craon in the quarrell which he had with the Earle of Richmont for the Lands of Thouars and Benon Peter of Tremouille defeated the troopes of the Prince of Orange before Gy in the Franch-County but hauing beene repulst from the siege of Dole hee was disgraced by Lewis the eleuenth who loued the seruices better then the seruants Hee was saith Philip de Commines a very fat man who being reasonably well content and rich retired himselfe to his house Charles of Ambois did long feele the disgrace of Peter of Chaumont his father Charles of Ambois who retired himselfe in the begining of the reigne of Lewis with the Duke of Berry c The House of 〈…〉 by the Kings Commandement in the 〈◊〉 1465. He was afterwards imployed in great affaires and continued vnto the end His brother was Bishop of Alby and then Cardinall and the greatest fauourite of Lewis the twelfth who called him M r. George Philip de Commines calleth Charles of Ambois a most Valiant Wife and Diligent Man Peter of Rohan Peter of Rohan Lord of Gy did gouerne his fortune happily amidst the waues and stormes of this Princes reigne who made him Marshall of France He was one of the foure which vndertooke the gouernment of affaires during the Kings infirmity and disability d 〈…〉 the Bishop of 〈◊〉 the Lord of Châ—umont the Marshall of Gye and the Lord of Lude gouerned the Estate for 10 or 12 dayes Hee continued this great Authority vnder the reigne of Charles the eighth for the respect whereof the Lady Anne of France Regent to the King and Wife to Peter of Bourbon offended that the Duke of Orleans attempted vpon her Authority would haue taken him prisoner by the Marshall of Gye The Duke of Orleans retired himselfe and hee that was chosen to stay him was the Instrument of his returne and made his peace with the Regent Iohn of Chalons Prince of Orange Iohn of Chalons left the Duke of Bourgondy to serue Lewis the eleuenth then hee left Lewis to serue Mary daugther to the Duke of Bourgondy This first discontentment against his first maister grew for that disputing the succession of Iohn of Chalons Prince of Orange his Grand-father e Iohn of Chalons sonne to Lewis Margaret of Vienne was married to Mary of Baussac heire of the principalitie of Orange by whom hee had Lewis surnamed the Good Lewis first maried Ioane of Montbelâ—art by whom hee had William and then hee maâ—â—ied Elenor of Armagnaâ— by whom hee had Lewis and Hugh Williaâ— was married to Katherine of 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Iohn of Chalons was borne of whom wee now make mention against Lewis and Hughe his vncles the Duke of Bourgondy being President in his Councell when as the cause was pleaded made a Decree against him This despight drew him to the Kings seruice who promised to restore him to his lands and to giue him the gouernment of Bourgondy but when as he saw that he had but the name and that the Lord of Tremouille had the command of all the forces he returned to the seruice of the Princesse of Bourgondy and caused the whole Countrey to reuolt from the King He troubled him much and let him see that a great Prince hath no small enemies that a Hornet is able to put a Bull into fury Iohn of Esteteuille Iohn of Eâ—â—teuille Lord of Torcy gouerned his fortune amidst so many rockes and shelues vnto a safe port The King made him maister of the Cross-bowes and committed vnto him the guard of the Cardinal of Balue in the Castell of Montbason It was he that came and aduertised the King of the danger in suffering such numbers of English to enter into Amiens during the Treaty of Piquigny Philip of Creuecoeur Philip of Creuecoeur Lord of Esquerdes or Cordes Marshall of France He had great
of all the other members The complaints of the Rigor d When as the people are opprest they dare not accuse the Princes rigor but cast their complaints vpoÌ„ that of the time of the time became murmurings against the seueritie of the Prince Euery one lamented the Raigne of Charles and desired rather the end then the continuance of that of Lewis Great men beganne to make it knowne that they could not liue long in that seruitude shewing themselues more sencible of the contempt e The nature of man is more sensible of contempt then of losse The Senators of Rome were more discontented for that Caesar entred into the Senate without saluting them then for the enterprise which hee made vpon their libertie which was done them then of the miseries which the meaner sort suffered yet they found no better pretext of their priuate interest then that of the publike The King did not attend the consent of the Realme to haue money hee tooke it without asking They were not tributes of Loue f Princes finde pleasing names for things which are bittâ—r and hard Edward the fourth in posed vpoÌ„ the Realme of England a tribute which hee called a Bâ—â—euolenâ—â— Euerie one did contribute as hee pleased and according to his gifts they did iudge of his Loue to the King He that gaue much loued much Edward made vse of this tribute against the French found great succors Polid. lib. 24. 26. but of Rigour and constraint thinking that France was a meadow which he might mowe at all seasons A great sedition troubled the citie of Rheimes against those which had raised customes The Commissaries were slaine and their Commissions cast into the fire The King sent Souldiers disguised like Marchants and labourers who entring by diuers ports ioined with the Lord of Mouy their commander who caused a hundreth of the most seditious to bee hanged suppressed the sedition g The most frequent and knowne causes of sedition and mutenâ— grâ—w from new charges and excessiue impositions reuenged the Kings seruice and setled his authoritie there the which had not beene impugned but for the naturall impatiencie of the people to endure that whereunto they were not accustomed All France was quiet Combustions in England and beheld as from the shore the tempests which were in England and Arragon The King was glad to entertaine the warre farre from him and to assist the house of Lancaster in England and the house of Arragon in Spaine whiles that the clouds and windes prepared to draw the storme vpon his owne head England for the diuision of the houses of Yorke Lancaster saw at that time such terrible changes and accidents as it is a wonder the Realme did not passe vnder some forraine command and that they did not cry quittance with him seeing there is no surer meanes to ruine an estate then ciuill discord h Ciuill Diuisions transport and change estates Spaine vnder the raigne of fourescore and twelue Kings hath beene torne in as many peeces as it hath had Realmes France hath changed thrice England hath been commanded by the English Danes Saxons and in the end by the Normans The Empire hath been past from the East vnto the West Naples hath been vnder the power of the French Germans Arragâ—nois and since of Castitians But France had yet so many bad humors in her body as her disposition was more dying then liuing When as the English ceast to afflict her they began to quarrell and to ruine one another The end of forraine warres was the spring and renewing of ciuil Henry of Lancaster sonne to Henry the fift found himselfe without a crowne notwithstanding that in his infancie he had been crowned with that of France and England Richard Duke of Yorke an Ambitious Prince and who had both credit courage i Good things and which are commendable of themselues applied to il are perâ—itions Sepius industria acvigilancia noxiae quoties parando Regno fingatur Tac. lib. An. lib. â— industrie and vigilancie qualities to bee suspected in an Ambitious spirit became head of a great faction the intentions whereof he couloured with the onely zeale of the publicke good to change the bad gouernement of the Realme to deliuer England from the insolencie of the Duke of Somerset who alone gouerned the helme of the affaires whilest that the King suffered his spirits to be transported not to delights and voluptuousnes but to carelesnes k An idle Prince is a waies contemned Three things saith Zeâ—ophon make him excell ouer his subiects 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His carelesse life incensed his subiects hearts and his idlenes distasted all men of his raigne The estate was like vnto a sicke body which is so prest with his infirmitie as he is forced to trust him that comes to let him bloud and cannot attend the Phisitions which are farre off l In violent diseases wee may not attend far fetcht remedies although they answere him that they will come and cure him Such as were discontented with the present Conspiracy against King Henry the sixt and desired to see some change applyed them-selues to the Duke of Yorks desseigns and intentions and among others Richard Neuell Earle of Salisbury and Richard Neuill Earle of Warwick his brother who had wisdome and courrage rare parties for a great desseigne and therewith such great credit among the people as it was thought that not any one in England durst doe that which these would vndertake The Duke of Yorke hauing cast his bell made the sound thereof to be generally heard hee strake such a terror into the Court and made the wicked so audacious as the King who had neuer tasted of Domesticke troubles his spirit beeing like vnto a ship m Courages tried in dangers are to bee commended A ship is neuer esteemed which hath neuer felt of a storme which had neuer sailed but in a calme was amazed and confounded and not holding himselfe safe in the Citie of London by reason of the inconstancie of the people and the great credit which this faction had gotten resolued to leaue it The Duke of Yorke besieged S t. Albons n The battell of S t. Albons began early in the morning and continued vntil 9. of the clock in the yere 1556 Edmund D. of Sommerset and Henry Earle of NorthumberlaÌ„d were slaine the two armies meet Henry the sixt defeated and the Kings is put to rout with the losse of their chiefe commanders Hee lamented greatly for the Death of the Duke of Sommerset After this victorie the Duke of Yorke who had made declaration thâ—t hee had no other intention then the publicke good of the Realme and that his armes were not to offend the Prince accompanies King Henry to London as a Conqueror and freed from the Rule of the Duke of Sommerset which shewes that he had not taken armes but to free the King and the Realme who was ready
to submit himselfe to the mildest yoake seeing that hee could not remaine free o The miseries of ciuill diuision reduced Rome to that estate as hauing no hope euer to recouer her liberty she sought for nothing but for the mildest serâ—itude Hee left vnto Henry the name of King onely for all the authoritie was in his hands he gaue to the Earle of Salisbury the Office of Lord Chancellor of England and to Richard Neuell his Sonne the gouernment of Callis He disposed of publike charges as he pleased still giuing them vnto those of his faction In the end the king discouers the Duke of Yorkes designe Queene Margaret his wife who had been aduertised thereof le ts him vnderstand that he did temporise but vntill the partie were made to ceaze both of the king and Realme and among his partisans the king was held but for a Tyrant As if his Raigne had been by vsurpation or constraint p Among many differences betwixt a King and a Tyrant they put this that a King raigns with the loue anâ— consent of the people and a Tyrant rules by constraint The king imparted this to his principall seruants D. of Yorke retires from the Court of England who were of aduise to restraine this great authoritie which the Duke of Yorke had within the Realme The Duke beeing suddenly aduertised thereof retired secretly to Wigmore in Wales Richard Neuell to his Castle of Midleham in the North Countie and Richard Earle of Warwicke to Callis so as the cruell seditions in England grew more violent then before during the which the French spoiled the coasts of Kent and Iames king of Scotland inuited by the same occasion entred by Roxborge The same cause which made this warre ended it q The shaâ—pest Ciuill wars are pacified when as strangers meddle to gaine by them The two parties agree against the third and although the Prince be offended yet it is better to remit the punishment The king of England let the Duke of Yorke vnderstand that the ciuill discord and the bad intelligence which was betwixt them had opened a gate to the enemies to inuade England that the common danger did binde them to vnite their forces to defend it and that hee was contented to forget all matters past vpon hope of a better conduct hereafter English cease their ciuill discords to war against the French excusing himselfe that matters had not alwaies gone directly being impossible for a Prince to obserue all the kinds of Iustice and equitie r Many things vniust of themselues are made iust when they are countenanced by necessitie or profit wherfore Plutark obserues That if there were question to accomplish al the kindes of iustice Iupiter himself might not in that case bee a Prince The Kings intention was allowed by all men the Duke of Yorke being loth to be the author of the ruines of the Realme declared that all his affections tended to his greatnes and quiet and to take away all occasions of doubt He came vnto the King to London with the chiefe of his faction The feare of a forraine warre quenched the ciuill s There is no such indiscretion as to hazard ones own to get another mans and to draw forth the bloud which is needfull for the life of the bodie It is more glorie for a Prince to maintaine himselfe them to grow great Preseruation safety is the essence of an estate profit it but an accessary Mens mindes altered with things past grew milder and all their wills were vnited in one accord for the defence of the Realme detesting the discord which had drawne them into a warre which was not necessarie nor could bee happie and made them a prey and triumph to their auncient enemie But as the fire of sedition is neuer so well quenched but there remaines some sparks in the ashes Troubles renewed in England which kindle again if they be a little blowne that there be alwaies some which delights in troubles for that it is their rest t Seditions commonly are fed supported by three sorts of men First the heads of factions Secondly they that cannot liue in safety in the time of peace Thirdly they which are out of the presse find themselues free from dangers and in danger for that they come not neere them being like vnto those riuers which enter into the sea and doe not mingle their streames the Duke of Yorke and the Earle of Salisburie being retired to their houses after this accord were presently forced to leaue them to reuenge an affront done to the Earle of Warwick at VVestminster where he had been set vpon by the kings guard and forced to saue himselfe by the Riuer of Thames with the hazard of his life They said that Queene Margret was the author thereof being very desirous to ruine the Nobility of England and to ouerthrow the cheefe howses u A King should maintaine great families neither can hee suffer theÌ„ to be wâ—onged but hee shal weaken the greatnes of his maiesty wherof the Nobility is the cheese piller In all estates the Nobles haue beene respected and distinguished from others euen amongst the Thracians the genlâ—emen went only vppon horseback and at Rome Noblemens wiues went in Littors who were the pillers of the Realme The warre began as soone as it was declared The three Richards are in field King Henry hauing leuied great forces comes to York Andrew Trollop who was come from Calleis with the Earle of Warwick thinking to serue the King when as he saw their armes turned against him left the Earle of Warwick to follow the King who in moment scattered his enemies and forced the Duke of York to passe into Holland there to attend vntill his Partisans had raised the ruines of that party Battaile before London whereas K. Henry was defeated Presently after the three heads of the faction returne into England with an intent to vanquish or to dye they present themselues at the gates of London they giue and winne a great Battell whereas the Victors saw tenne thousand men slaine and as many prisoners King Henry who seemed to haue beene raised vp to show the inconstancy of Fortune and the misery and vanity of man remained at the Victors discretion The English remembring that his grandfather had caused King Richard to dye in prison began to acknowledge the iudgements of Gods iustice who punisheth the Children for the offences of their fathers x Henry Earle of Harford and Duke of Lancastre tooke armes against Richard the 2. seazed on him puts him into the Tower of London and caused himselfe to bee crowned King and after that he had forced him to resigne the Crowne hee sent him to Langleâ— where hee was murthered In this great prosperity the make falls from the Dukes face He speakes plainely Duke of York declared Regent that whatsoeuer he had done was grounded vppon the rightes of the house of Yorke the
Florence after Argyropile Hee went away through the practise and iealousy of Angelus Politianus and retyred to Milan Marcus Musurus a Candiot Iohn Lascaris of the Imperiall race whom the Magnificent Laurence de Medicis employed to get leaue from Bajazeth to visite the Libraries of Greece from whence are come many good books which where so many Lampes â— dispierce the clouds of Ignorance and Barbarisme The Vniuersity of Paris as fruitfull a moâ—â—er of good wits as a carelesse Nurse to cherish them is much fallen from her first glory Her Schooles which were sometimes more famous then those of Athens in Greece are vnpeopled the water of her Fountaines which did water all the youth of Europe is troubled there is no Spring in the yeare for these goodly flowers which are cherished of some for the rarenesse of others for the smell and of all for the assurance of fruites The Northerne blasts of the last troubles haue in a manner withered them and hardly will they recouer their beauty if the same Sunne which hath raised the Flower de Luce doth not reuiue them Hercules after so many glorious labours did not disdaine the name of Musagete y Fuluius caused a Temple to be built in Circo Flaminio at Rome to Hercules Musagete that is to say the conductor of the Muses and Eumonius the Rector giues this reason Quia mutâ—is operibus premijs iuuari ornaâ—ique deberent Musarum quies defensione Herculis virtus Herculis vocâ— Musarum For that they should be releeued and adorned by their mutuall workes and rewards The quiet of the Muses by the defence of Hercules and the vertue of Hercules by the voice of the Muses France dare not hope that any other will finish that which Henry the fourth shall leaue vnperfect he will not suffer that she which carries the glorious name of his eldest daughter and hath purchased it by her immortall watches and by the production of many great personages which haue worthily serued the Church and State shall languish any longer in hope to recouer her first dignity There wants nothing else for the tryumph of his glory Iames Dauid Cardinall du Perron High Almoner of France nothing but that can make his Bayes immortall The Muses haue neede of Hercules valour and the labours of Hercules haue need of the recommendation of the Muses The generous thoughts which our Augustus hath of this restauration are wonderfully reuiued by the liuely and powerfull perswasions of the learned Cardinall the miracle of our daies But where shall we finde so many Bâ—deus Turnebus Cuias Murets and Scales as is necessary to haue the effect answereable to the designe and reputation Temperance Temperance wherein it consists If it were not taken but for the moderation which seasons all things that great temper which he had in prosperities and his constancy in aduersities had purchased him the palme of this vertue but if they take it for the rule and restrainte of voluptuousnesse and of other motions of the minde it is not so apparent in his heart as in that of Alexanders Cyrus and Scipioes The two base daughters which he had shewes that he was not contented with the lawfull intemperance of marriage z After the Battell of Montlehery the King gaue his base daugâ—ter to the Bastard of Bourbon and the assuraÌ„ces were made in the Towne house of Paris Hee married the first to the Admirall of Bourbon and the other to the Lord of Saint Valier The letters which were dispatcht for the declaration of her Armes would not be vnprofitable to insert in this place and they were in these termes Lewis by the Grace of God King of France to all to whom these present Letters shall come greeting Hauing of late treated and accorded the Marriage of our deere and louing Base daughter Mary with our deere and faithfull Cozen Aymard of Poicters Lord of Saint Valier Wee haue thought it expedient to appoint the Armes which it shall please vs our said daughter shall cary Wee therefore giue to vnderstand that being assured that the said Mary is truely our base daughter and desiring to honour her and her posterity that shee may enioy the honours dignities and prerogatiues which belong to the Bastards of Princes for the great loue and affection which we beare her a Du Tillet saith that the Surname of France is allowed to the base daughters of Kings if vpon the aduow there be no other Surname giuen theÌ„ and the Armes of France with the difference of a Bende Some haue beene aduowed by letters Pattents and others by fact being nurst Wee will and ordaine by these presents that the said Mary our base daughter carry the Armes of France and for a difference a Bend Or beginning at the sinister Canton as base children haue accustomed to do for the which wee haue and do giue her power and faculty for euer In witnesse whereof wee haue caused our Seale to be set to these Presents Giuen at Meslay the eleuenth of Iuly 1467. and of our Raigne the sixt By the King the Lord of Crussol Peter Doriole others being present L. Toustain It were a great proofe of Inconstancy Opinion that Charles the 8. was supposed and prophane pollicy if that were true which many haue said that King Charles the 8. was not sonne to Queene Charlot and that the King hauing him by a Mistresse made this supposition They that write things whereof they cannot speake which are not knowne to all men do often erre for that they trust to their owne conduct and turne away their eyes from that which might giue them light in the darkenesse of such difficulties It is the melancholy of men of this profession presumption and vanity b Vanity hath much power among learned men Iustus Lipsius hath obserued it in his time O litterae litterae quam semper à vobis aliqua vanitas quam illud verum oportere omnibus corydalis cristaÌ„â—inesse makes them thinke that they see cleere enough and as the Citties of Greece ruined themselues for that they would do their businesse a part Errour of learned men not to communicate they loose by this disvnion that which they might preserue by conference I haue alwaies held it an honour to learne and a happinesse to bee reprehended A man should hold himselfe more bound to bee warned of a fault in his writings then of a blemish in his face Vpon this supposition I went to Monsieur du Haillan for that in the second booke of the estate of the affaires of France he reports this opinion and promiseth a more ample discourse in the History of this King not yet printed c Many were of opinion that Charles the 8. was supposed others held that hee was the Kings sonne but not by the Queene and that the King to quench the troubles which had beene raysed by his brother made this supposition the which is more amply written in the
History of the said King and not yet printed Bernard of Girard Signior of Haillan in his second booke of the estate of the affaires of France He answered me that hee held it from them who thought they knew it well and that he hath written many other things of like consequence vpon the beleefe of Tradition Princes will haue their loues excused for that loue doth not alter the generosity of a great courage Caesar did sacrifice his heart to Armes and Ladies d Wee cannot find a more perfect patterne of Ambition and Loue then Caesar As for Ambition his life is full of it For Loue he had the Maidenhead of Cleopatra he made loue to Eunoë Queene of Mauritania to Posthumia wise to Seruius Sulpitius to Lollia of Gabinius to Tertulla of Crassus to Mutia of Pompey and to Seruilia Sister to Cato and mother to Marcus Brutus He changed wiues foure times But I finde this Prince sometime in delights which were not ordinary nor scarce knowne to the Kings of France his Predecessours His Chronicle speakes of Bathes prepared for him for the Queene and Ladies I was of opinion that he had brought that custome from Flanders when Phillip de Commines speakes of the excesse and dissolutions which peace had brought into the Low Countries hee makes mention of Bathes The great and superfluous expences saith he of men and women in apparell The greatest and most prodigall bankets that I haue knowne in any place The Bathes and other feastings with women great and disordered and with little modesty Delights and pleasures are not fashioned in an instant e Besides the Bathes of Agripina of Nero of Vespasian and of Titus Rome hath beene beautefied with them of Domitius of Alexander of Gordian of Seuerus of Aurelian and of Constans Marcus Agrippa to purchase the peoples fauour caused 170. Bathes to be built in Rome to the end that euery Quarter should haue one Antonin was the first that decreed they should pay nothing for Bathing for before him they gaue the fourth part of an Assis. they haue their beginning increase and continuance That of Bathes was the like At Rome in the beginning they did wash nothing but their Armes and legges after labour and painefull toyle for that they would not haue their members vncleane and their pores stopt with sweate They did wash the whole body at Faires and health was the end of Bathing as a thing generally held holdsome since health is growne vnto voluptuousnesse and they adde vnto it vanity and needlesse pompe The rarest Marbles of Affrick and Alexandria were sought for and the most industrious Caruers and Architects were employed in these Bathes as for the building of Temples If Temperance gaue no other content vnto a Prince but the quiet enioying of health Fruites of temperance he should be wonderfull curious f Health is to be preferred before all things as the richest presâ—nt of nature Pithagoâ—as said that men should demand 3. things of God Beauty Riches and a good constitution of minde and body for there is not any thing but we should do for that which is the best and richest present which Nature hath giuen and without the which liâ—e is but a languishing and all other felicities troublesome and importune men are miserable in that they know not the price of things but by the losse of them They do not taste of rest but in labour nor of peace but after warre nor health but in sickenesse When they are sicke they make vowes to health when they are in health they do what they can to be sicke They sacrifice to health and eate the meats of the sacrifice euen vntill they burst so as drinking eating sleeping playing watching sicknesse itselfe health and all the actions of mans life are so many steps to death g One demanded of Hypocrates a rule for his health he answered him Cibi potus somni Venus omniaâ— oderata sint Let thy meate drinke sleepe and Venus sports bee moderate And although that delay of payment be no quittance yet life is longer or shorter according to the Order of these things Princes are not alwaies knowne in these eminent places they must be seene in actions which are not so glorious Let vs look vpoÌ„ Lewis the 11. in his priuate carriage and course of life Great spirits haue not their heads alwaies busied with great affaires their thoughts descend often to meane things and of small consequence Egypt worships her Gods cloathed in those formes which are farthest from the Maiesty and greatnesse which she thinkes is in them h Nicias going froÌ„ Councell shut himselfe vp and caused Hieron his man to say that hee left his owne affaires to thinke of the publicke yet in the meane time he informed himselfe by a Deuine of the issue of his affaires and thought of his mines of Siluer which he caused to bee digged Plut. in Nicias Nicias makes men thinke that he extracts the quintessence of his wit for the affaires of State whilst that hee entertaines himselfe with the hope and profite of his Mines Traian did sometimes spend whole nights in telling tales with his seruants i It is good a Prince should be sometime familiar with his seruants but the more rare the better Traian surprised them sometime at meate he came to their houses without Gard and spent whole nights there Xiphilinus But they do not all w that Titus went to the Bathes and washt himselfe openly with the people Affability is a goodly thing so as it draw not neere to contempt When as Lewis the 11. was in his solitary aboade at Plessis he tooke delight to go into the Offices and to talke with the first he met One day he went into the Kitchin whereas he found a yong Lad turning of the spit he demanded his name of whence he was and what he did earne This Turne-spit who knew him not told his name that of his father of his Village and although hee were in the Kings seruice yet he got as much as the King For the King said he hath but his life and so haue I God feeds the King and the King feeds mee k A small matter rayseth the fortune of a man and changeth his basensse into greatnesse Mahomet Bachas who was Vizier to three Emperâ—urs was beholding for all his greatnesse to a leap which he made when he was yong Sultan Solymari being at a window which did looke into a Garden let fall a Letter euery man ran downe the slâ—ires to fetch it but Mahomet who was a yong Lad leapt out at the window and brought the letter vnto the Emperour This ready answer pleased the King who drew this Boy out of the Kitchin to make him serue in his Chamber froÌ„thence raised him to great wealth Behold how fortune fauours euen theÌ„ which haue no knowledge of it nor seeke it not Hee added to the pleasures of solitarinesse those of rusticke Husbandry I haue seene by the