THE Mutable and wauering estate of France from the yeare of our Lord 1460 vntill the yeare 1595. The great Battailes of the French Nation as well abroad with their forraigne enemies as at home among themselues in their ciuill and intestine warres With an ample declaration of the seditious and trecherous practises of that viperous brood of Hispaniolized Leaguers Collected out of sundry both Latine Italian and French Historiographers LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede 1597. To the right worshipfull Maister Iulius Caesar Esquire Doctor of the Ciuill Lawe maister of the Requests and of Saint Katherins and chiefe Iudge of her highnesse Court of the Admiraltie c. a namelesse well-willer wisheth all courses of happinesse that can bee named SIr this Collected Historie of the inconstant and mutable estate of Fraunce from the yeare 1460. vntill the yeare 1595. describing the great battails of the French Nation as well abroade with forraigne enemies as at home among themselues in their ciuill and intestine warres also an ample declaration of the seditious and trecherous practises of that viperous brood of Hispaniolized Leaguers during their bloodie mutinies and attempts from time to time with whatsoeuer else so serious a discourse can or may affoord I offer to your worshipfull and most kinde patronizing Your euer knowne affable inclination to studie and works of woorth makes me no way mistrustfull of gentle acceptance wherfore in one ballance poysing the Booke and in the other whatsoeuer remaynes in mee alwayes most readie at your worships seruice I cease from further troubling you with lines vrging no delight desiring that as your vertues are numberlesse so your ioyes both in this worlde and that to come may likewise be endlesse Though namelesse yet alwayes by your worship to be commaunded To the Reader AS in a briefe Chronicle or short compiled Historie gentle Reader euen so in this worke shalt thou behold the slipperie and vncertaine estate of a mightie Kingdome of France our neare neighbour whose warres strifes and most troublesome contentions as well at home in her owne bosome â—s abroad with forraigne and hostile enemies during the space of these many yeares from 1460 vntill 1595. the accidents of all which tâ—mâ— this present volume doâ—th truly acquaint thee withall for out of sundry both Latine Italian and French Histâ—riographers hath 〈◊〉 beene carefully collected and being for thy sake attired now in an English habit familiarly tels thee that Monarchies miseries which when thou hast aduisedly considered on and therwith compared thy owne Countries continuall blessednesse I doubt not but as in sorrowing for the one so thou wilt hartily pray for the other that the afflictions of France may be Englands looking Glasse and their neglect of peace our continuall labour and studie how to preserue it Fare ye well THE MVTABILITIE of France CHAP. I. Lewis sonne to Charles the seuenth King of France is driuen out of his fathers Kingdome He flieth to Philip Duke of Burgundie Returneth After his fathers decease is made King He falleth out with Charles Duke of Burgundie Is suddenly stroken with a sore disease and dieth miserably AS the wauering and interchaungeable course whereto euery thing whatsoeuer is continually subiect hath beene alwayes heretofore dayly obserued in the most auncient and renowmed Monarchies that euer were So hath it appeared in these latter dayes Kingdomes and states ful of change and mutabilitie in this age and that in a more liuely maner in the strange and wonderfull alterations of our neighbor countryes whose peace and prosperous estate as it was the common obiect of euerie mans eye so are their vnfortunate warres and wofull miseries the vsuall subiect of all mens speach and nothing is more lystened after then to what ende matters of so great waight and importance are likeliest to tend The most noble and renowmed kingdome of France which for so many yeares flowed with milke and honie and for the temperatenesse of the aire the fertilitie of the soile the ciuilitie of the Commons the loyaltie of the Nobilitie the dignitie and magnificence of the Prince was accounted the paragon of all Nations hath especially tasted of this vicissitude and change which so long as it was at peace with it selfe and not afflicted with any ciuill discention the subiect honouring the King with all dutifull obedience and the King tendering the welfare of the subiect with a hearty and louing affection and both concurring in one for the aduauncement of the Common-wealth flourished in most beautifull maner and appeared verie pleasing to the eye of all Nations round about but after that it once began to nourish turbulent spirits and to harbour strange and vnnaturall humours the Prince following the daungerous proiects of yong and corrupt councellors who rather sought their owne priuate gaine then the publike profite and vtilitie of the state and the people beeing easily drawne by the perswasions of their Gouernours to embrace in a maner any noueltie that was propounded then began the common-wealth to bee intangled in manie daungerous mischiefes and to bee encombred with sundrie cares wherewith for this long time it hath beene exceedingly vexed and tormented And albeit there hath often bin some mitigation of paine for a while and that by the great wisedome and skill of such as sate at the stearne and had the managing of the publike affayres the ship which was well neare ouerwhelmed with boisterous waues was safely preserued from the wracke yet as though there were a fatall destinie which could not be auoided it presently againe fell vpon the shelues and plunged it selfe a fresh into a vast Ocean of vnspeakeable miseries wherein it hath continued floting vp and downe for these many yeares and at this day is come to that desperate passe that although it be neither split vpon the sandes nor swallowed vp of the fearefull billowes yet doth it serue as a perfect glasse to viewe the vnstable estate of these earthly things and for an assured proofe of the variable change and continuall vicissitude in the most flowring kingdoms and common-wealthes Which albeit it doth euidently appeare vnto the eye of euery beholder yet will it be farre better discerned if wee consider the reignes of sundry French Kings in whose times there hath fallen out most strange and admirable accidents themselues being especiall occasions to prooue a mutuall and an alternatiue course in al things whatsoeuer Lewis the 11. K. of France rebelled in his youth against his father Lewis the eleuenth of that name King of Fraunce and sonne vnto Charles the seuenth was in his youth as Philip de Comins reporteth allured by the craftie perswasions of sundrie seditious heades to become chiefe of a rebellious faction and to beare Armes agaynst his father to his vnspeakeable griefe and the imminent perill of the whole lande but that vnnaturall warre not continuing long and the sonne being drawne to his obedience by the louing and wise perswasions of the King his father all things grewe verie peaceable for
anie wayes diminished or his former authoritie impayred that for the maintenaunce thereof hee vexed himselfe in most straunge and pittifull sort Hee woulde not at anie time come abroade nor bee seene but of some fewe in whome hee reposed a speciall confidence His Court Gates were continuallie guarded yea his verie Chamber Doore so surelye watched The miserie of Lewis the 11. as that it was impossible to keepe a prisoner in more strayte manner then hee kept his owne selfe And beeing a king that in former tymes had taken his delight in so manie rich beautifull and flourishing Cittyes and solaced himselfe in so manie stately Pallaces and pleasaunt Gardeyns was nowe to his vnspeakeable torment confined in a narrowe rowme sequestring himselfe from all companie and euerye other thing which might breede his delight or encrease his comfort and so continued in this miserable estate alwaies languishing in feare The death of Lewis the eleuenth King of France vntill his death which was in the yeere 1483. and hauing raigned two and twentie yeeres left behinde him a sonne who succeeded in the kingdome in whose dayes fell out many strange and admirable occurrences as shall appeare in the Chapter following CHAP. II. Charles the eight inuadeth Italy and conquereth Naples Alphonsus and Ferdinando flie into Cicilia the Venetians and other Princes leuying a great power driue the French out of Italy The battell of Tarro The French king dieth sodainely ALbeit that Lewis the eleuenth not long before his death Charles the eight succeeded his father Lewis in the kingdome of France had oftentimes and that very seriously aduised his sonne Charles who was to succeed him in the kingdome to maintain peace and amitie with all his neighbours rounde about and by no meanes to enter into warres with any forraigne Princes before hee were growne to ripe yeeres and that the Realme which had endured so many calamities and miseries wherewith it was greatly impouerished should be growne rich againe and better prouided to resist any violence that should be offered yet could not the graue and strong perswasions of so wise and well experienced a Prince take such deepe rooting in the heart of this yong King but that thorow his owne ambitious desire to make himselfe great and the manifolde reasons alleaged by sundrie of his aduisants partly to flatter him in his owne honour but more especially to serue theyr owne turne they were quickly plucked vppe againe and hee fully resolued to enter into a warre which of all other was thought most daungerous and which wrought as straunge effectes as much varietie and as singular alterations and chaunges as any other whatsoeuer All which to the ende they may bee the better vnderstood it shall bee verie conuenient to rippe vp the matter from the beginning and in as fewe words as may bee to shewe the originall of so great trouble as afterwardes ensued Charles the eight King of Fraunce pretending a title to the Kingdome of Naples as heire to Reynard Duke of Aniow Lewis Sfortia D. of Millan perswadeth Charles the eight to conquere Naples was no sooner settled in his kingdome but he was forthwith enduced by the colourable perswasions of Lewis Sfortia who had not long before vsurped the Dukedome of Millan to put in his claime and with might and mayne to assay to gette so noble so rich and renowmed a Diademe Notwithstanding for that it was a matter of no small importaunce it was thought good to haue it thorowly debated in Councell and to heare the opinions of the wisest and the best experienced in the lande who when they had with great maturitie of iudgement pondered euerie circumstance as the danger the king was likely to thrust himselfe into the infinite treasure that must bee expended as also what a multitude of valiant mens liues that would cost before so glorious a victorie could be atchiued and the difficultie that would be in keeping that beeing once gotten The Kings Councel disswadeth the King from the conquest of Naples they wholly resolued that it was an enterprise in no wise to be attempted Notwithstanding the king who was yong desirous to eternise his name by some memorable attempt could in no wise be diuerted being moued as it were by some diuine instinct and incouraged by sundrie remonstrances of two of his principall fauorites called Vere and Brissonet both which were but meane politicks and of all other most ignorant in militarie affaires These two were daily solliciters of the king Vere and Brissonet encite the king to enter Italy who otherwise was but too willing of himselfe to prouide all necessaries for his intended voyage and to set forwarde with as much celeritie as possibly might be The yonger sort of the French Nobilitie and such as had least experience were likewise exceeding desirous to enter Italy by force of Armes and to shew their valour and noble courage to forraigne Nations Al things seemed to concurre for the furtherance of this happy attempt saue that which was most necessarie and that was wise and wel experienced Captaines and store of siluer and gold which are accounted as the veines and sinewes of the warres There were men enough but such as were most fitte were most vnwilling the Kings Coffers were emptie and nothing could bee borrowed but vpon great interest and good assurance Thus the lets were many and the meanes to effect any thing with honour very small and in the end if the successe were such as was desired yet should there be nothing gotten as Lewis the eleuenth was wont to say but infinite trouble and imminent perill and that with the effusion of much French bloud The King resolueth to go to Naples contrarie to the opinion of his councell The King resoluing to passe into Italy notwithstanding whatsoeuer could be alleaged to the contrarie made a league with Ferdinando King of Spaine with Maximilian king of the Romanes and with Phillip Archduke of Austria and Duke of Flanders as also with the King of England least being occupied in his warres abroade he might happen to be molested at home by some forraigne enemie and deferring his iourney vntill the spring following which should be in the yeere 1493. in the meane while commanded that all things should be in a readinesse which were requisite for the maintenance of his Armie All men of vnderstanding wondered at this strange resolution of the King and the best affected towardes the Crowne of Fraunce did maruailously feare the sequel of so dangerous a iourney The more to encourage the King and to stirre him vp to prosecute his intended voyage The D. of Millan commeth to Ast to the French King Lewis Sfortia who vsurped the Dukedome of Millan as is alreadie sayde and had beene the first motioner of this warre did not onely promise vnto the King all the ayde and furtherance that might be by his embassadours but also came himselfe with the Duchesse his wife very nobly accompanied vnto
turned to the great good of the French who otherwise had beene in maruaylous danger to haue beene ouerthrowne at that encounter The Marques fought valiauntly and pearcing through the middest of the horsemen hard to the Ordinance ouerthrew a great bande of Gascons which were appointed to guard them The French being encouraged with the presence of their king laide about them like men and the Switzers beeing promised double pay like Tygres tare and rent in peeces as manie as fell into theyr handes And had not the earle of Petilia at that present escaped from the French and by comming to the flying Italians with all the forceable reasons hee coulde perswaded them to renew the fight the whole power of the Venetians had beene vtterly ouerthrowne Both armyes being well wearied with a long and bloody fight The French K. looseth all his baggage they sounded the retreate The French had lost all their baggage and the riches of Naples which was going into Fraunce was taken by the Italian souldiours a great number of their brauest men were slaine and amongst others the bastarde of Burbon a man of surpassing great valour The King himselfe hauing likewise lost all his plate and houshold stuffe was in extreme peril and had vndoubtedly bin taken had it not beene for the excellencie of his horse which was a cole black with one eye And although he gate the victorie and remained maister of the field yet were his losses verie great and farre surmounted the gaine he had gotten in that long and wearie voyage He was constrained to lie the night following in a simple cottage The distresse of the French King and all his great Lords were lodged round about him in the open fields who had nothing to eate nor any chaunge of apparell to put on So that they resolued to dislodge in the dead of the night and with al speed to recouer Ast. The French run out of Italie The Armie was sore afrighted and euery man coueted to bee in the Vauntgard supposing thereby to be furthest from daunger and nearest vnto places of safest retreate And thus marching forward in tumultuous maner with much ado got to Ast where they staied not long but went to Thurin and so to Lions The king was no sooner in France but all things went backewarde in Italie The great alteration in Italie all places reuolted and well was he that could first teare in peeces the Flower de Lis. Whosoeuer had beene friends before now became enemies and nothing was so hastily gayned but it was as speedily lost And the French Nation who not long before had beene the terror of the Turke the Pope the Emperor the Venetians and in a maner of al Europe were now in nothing more famous then in their dishonourable flight out of Italie leauing vnto posteritie a notable example of the chaunge and mutabilitie of these worldly affayres And as it vsually falleth out if fortune begin once to chaunge it neuer ceaseth vntill it haue throwne a man groueling to the ground so it fared with this king who began to decline a pace and to be crossed euerie day more then other His yong sonne the Duke of Orleance began to be desperately sicke and so continued languishing vntill at last he died wherewith his father was immesurably greeued The death of the yong D. of Orleanes and from that time forwards nothing thriued that he tooke in hand his friends forsooke him and his enemies dayly encreased and almost all matters stoode in verie bad tearmes Euill newes was brought from euery corner and the worst of all other was this death suddenly sendeth forth a messenger to summon him to appeare before him and to giue an account of his stewardship For as he was in a Gallerie at Ambois looking vpon such as played at tennis The sudden death of Charles the 8. King of France hee was suddenly stroken with an Apoplexie and liued not past some fiue or sixe houres after but yeelded vp the ghost 1497. hauing reigned fourteene yeares And albeit he were a very mightie Prince and had exceeding many goodly Castels beautifull houses and statly Pallaces and had conquered so many earledomes Marquesats Dukedoms and Kingdomes had made all Italie to stoope and bend at his becke had triumphed at Naples and atchieued so glorious a conquest and that so easily yea almost without drawing of his sword so that hee was now become one of the most redoubted worthies of the world yet did hee ende his dayes on the sudden and died in a verie miserable and beggerly place which sheweth the lamentable estate of all sorts and that the most mightie Potentates are subiect to a maruellous chaunge and alteration CHAP. III. Lewis the 12. King of France entreth Italy conquereth Millan taketh the Duke thereof prisoner He ioyneth with the Spanish King to conquer Naples who expelleth him and keepeth the kingdome for himselfe The battaile of Rauenna The Switzers driue the French out of Millan The death of King Lewis AFter the decease of Charles Lewis Duke of Orleance Lewis D. of Orleance K. of France and next heire to the Crowne succeeded in the kingdome who entituled himselfe king of Ierusalem Naples and Cicil and Duke of Millan intending to conquer the Dukedome and for that purpose prouided all things necessarie with all the speed that might be But by reason of the former kings expenses he foūd small store of treasure so that for to furnish himselfe he set to sale all the offices of France except such as were iudiciall a daungerous practice and none of the least occasion of that great confusion which afterwardes ensued Lewis D. of Millan forsaketh the French king Lewis Duke of Millan feared the Venetians more then the French and therfore ioyned with the Florentines to recouer Pisa But hee erred exceedingly herein for Lewis of Fraunce hauing made peace with other Princes bent all his forces agaynst Millan with whom also the Venetians ioyned in the ende Whereat the Duke was maruellously astonished and began to fortifie his owne territories so strongly as hee might But hee putting those in trust who were in most fauour and not such as had the greatest vertue and fidelitie too common a fault among great estates lost one thing after another and in a short space all things going backewarde Millan yeeldeth to the French hee was forced to forsake Millan and flie to the castell by reason the Citie was yeelded to the French Which ioyfull newes beeing brought vnto the King who was then at Lions hee determined forthwith to passe in person ouer the Alps The French K. goeth to Millan and being in Italy compounded with all the chiefe estates there and did in a maner whatsoeuer he listed The King hauing remained a while in the Duchie of Millan and taken such order for his affayres there as he liked best returned home leauing the Cardinall of Ambois for his Lieutenant in those quarters But he was no sooner
a straight commaundement to all his ordinance and men of armes to assemble themselues at Pierreport in as warlike maner as might be there to attend his further pleasure and to be in a readinesse to be employed as occasion should be offered King Philip of Spaine had likewise gathered a very strong power and al things were prouided by these two mightie Monarkes as though they ment to determine all their controuersies by some one cruel bloody battell But God who ruleth the hearts of princes disposed of their intentions far otherwise then their blind affections led them For vpoÌ„ the sudden their hard harts began to be mollified and each party inclined to peace so that the place being appointed and the deputies on both sides agreed vpon they met about the midst of October following at Cercam betweene Artoys and Pycardy There were many complaints on both sides and a commemoration of sundry indignities offered on either part Each defended others doings neither was there any likelihood of better agreement so that after many contentious words their assembly brake vp without any coÌ„clusion for peace and yet for that winter approched the soldiers were not able to keep the field Peace concluded between France and Spaine both princes dissolued their armies and licenced their men of warre to repose themselues vntill the next yere But before that time by reason of newe occurrences there was a generall peace proclaimed betweene these two nations each linked with other with very strait alliances For King Philip whose wife Mary Queene of England was lately deceassed was contented to take in marriage Elizabeth the eldest daughter of Henry the French King and Pilebert Emmanuel duke of Sauoy was affianced vnto madame Margaret his sister so that by reason of these new coÌ„iunctions there insued much quietnes to all Christendome but especially to these two kingdoms who now had made an end of all their quarels contentions and seemed to study of nothing but how they might honor and solemnise in most royall maner these new marriages There was exceeding sumptuous preparation against the appointed time all the Nobilitie of France were assembled at Paris to attend the king to honor these espousals The lady Elizabeth was coÌ„ducted by the king her father to our Lady Church at the day prefixed in most pompous and stately maner and there married by the Cardinall of Burbon to the Duke of Alua was who constituted Procurator of the king of Spaine his maister The Duke of Alua marrieth the French kings daughter for his maister the king of Spaine There were all the princes of the bloud attending in their order and many cheefe Prelates and all the officers of the crowne The Duke of Alua was accompanied with the Prince of Orenge Count Egmond and sundrie other very honourable personages The marriage being finished there was exceeding feasting banquetting and cheering with dauncing masking and all other pastimes that could be imagined both to delight the eye and please the eare The king reioyced to see his daughter so honourably aduanced the Nobilitie and commonaltie were maruailously glad to remember what ease peace and tranquilitie they should enioy by this newe affinitie and all sorts seemed to triumph hoping there would be a perpetuall league and corespondency betweene these two Nations but now behold a woful mishap and lamentable mischance wherewith all this mirth and iollity was turned into weeping wailing and great sorrow so enterchangeably doo these two accompany each other so certainely do they follow one another The French king who had bin the principall challenger at tilt assisted by the Duke of Guyse Alphonse the Prince of Ferrara and the Duke of Nemours hauing borne himselfe very nobly that day and broken many staues to his great honor and high commendation would needes in the end run a course with count De Mont-gommery a valiant gentleman of France who at the first refusing The French King slaine with running a course at â—â—lt yet commanded by the king accepted the condition and offered so freely that theyr staues flying in peeces some of the shiuers getting in at the sight of the beuer pearced into the kings head greeuously wounded him that he died within eleuen daies after to the immesurable greefe of his subiects after hee hadde raigned twelue yeeres three moneths and tenne dayes CHAP. VI. Francis the second the French King The Guises authors of all the confusion in France The Guises ioyne with the Queene mother against the King of Nauarre The King of Nauarre yeeldeth to the Queene mother The Duke of Guise made Lieutenant for the King and Henrie Cardinall of Lorraine made L. Treasurer of France They incense the King agaynst the princes of the blood The enterprise of the Lord of Renaudie The hatred of the Guises towards the three Chastillons The Prince of Conde beeing discontented goeth from the Court The order of the States of France The Admirall presenteth the supplication of the Hugonots to the king The Prince of Conde committed to prison and is condemned to die The death of the King THe Kingdome of France had for manie yeares togither beene verie well acquainted with the variable and changeable estate of vnconstaunt fortune and vnder Charles the eight Lewis the twelfth Francis the first and Henrie the seconde had by wofull experience found how subiect the most flourishing estates kingdoms coÌ„monwealths are to a continuall change and alteration and therfore hauing by long obseruatioÌ„ perfitly learned that the best means to maintain her selfe in her wonted grandeur and glory was to be leagued with her neighbour Countries and to be at peace and vnitie at home beganne to haue a flexible heart and to encline to quietnesse as much as might bee so that hauing ended all quarrels and buried all wronges and indignities in the pit of obliuion and by a neare coniunction with the Spanyard her ancient and mightie enemy in the opinion of most men procured her selfe a perpetuall peace began as it were to clap her handes for ioy and seriously to tryumph in so incomparable a benefite But the fatall and ineuitable mishap of this most noble kingdome which had florished for so many hundred yeares and had been the paragon of her neighbor nations could not as it seemeth be auoyded but that it must needes take place and wanting forraigne enemies to worke her ouerthrow must needes hatch a viperous brood which by gnawing out the belly of their owne mother haue most vnnaturally sought the destruction of her who haue most tenderly fostered and brought them vp The house of Guyse the principall cause of all the sturres in France The principall cause to produce so lamentable an effect and the only means in a maner to hatch so horrible a mischiefe was the immesurable ambition of that haughtie and aspiring house of Guyse who albeit they were straungers and no natural French men yet fortune so fauoured their attempts and made some of them
the rest of their proceedings And hauing gotten sundry strong townes forts and castels into their handes they flatly refused those conditions of peace which the Rochellers had accepted fortifying themselues with a newe association and league began to annoy the Catholiks with open warre The mareschals of Memorancie and Cossy committed to prison The King being about this time incensed against the Mareschals of Memorancie and Cossy committed them to prison and suspecting the Mareschall Danuill to be of their confederacie depriued him of his Lieutenantship in Languedo ke and gaue it vnto the Prince Dauphin son to the Duke Montpencier Which when the Mareschall vnderstoode hee aranged himselfe with those of the Religion seizing vppon sundry strong townes as Montpellier Beucary Lunell and others Mareschal Danu â—l â—oyneth with the Protestants fortifying them with sufficient garrisons and all other necessaries There were also great numbers of the Catholikes who receyuing small fauour at the Kings hands neither were so rewarded for their seruices as they expected grew maleconts and seeing Monsieur the Kings brother was departed into Polonia they thought it now fit time to take their aduauntage and by leaguing themselues with the Protestants to reforme the policy of the land and to reclaim the king who said they was wholy misled by the wicked couÌ„sels of such as were strangers and enemies tothe Crowne of France They had also practised with the Duke of Alenson the Kings yongest brother to take part with them and found him not vnwilling to becom their leader and generall in this so hautie an enterprise And where as the Rochellers would not for a long time be drawne to ioyne with the rest of the Protestants Rochell ioyneth with the rest of the Protestants malecontents at last through the dexteritie and politike inducements of La Noue a man of great credit among them they were contented to bee embarked into that action and to prouide all necessaries for the maintenance of the future wars The Confederates hauing all things thus in a readinesse attended the departure of the Duke of Alenson The Duke of Alenson disswaded from going in the Protestants the King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde from the Court and for their better safetie had sent some two hundred horse to Saint Germain in Lay but the King being made priuie hereof and his excellencie diuerted by La Moly the proceedings of the Protestants were mightily crossed for the time howbeit like men of courage and resolution they went forwards and openly inuaded the Catholiques both by sea and land Montgommerie who for a long while had beene in the I le of Gersey landed on the sudden in Normandie Montgommery landeth in Normandy ioyning with the Columbiers and incorporating himselfe with the Norman troupes made sharpe warre vpon the Papists getting many townes and fortresses which were very aduantagious for the Protestants Great preparation was made by the King to withstand these proceedings and proclamation was sent out into all parts to assemble the Bannes and Arierbannes and such was the diligence vsed herein that there was quickely gathered together a sufficient number to make two armyes which the King presently diuided sending the one into Poictou vnder the conduct of Montpencier against La Noue and the other vnder the leading of Mategnon into Bas Normandie agaynst the Count Mongommerie who preuayled mightily against the Catholiques seising vpon sundry their best townes and strongest holds and raunging euery where at his pleasure But at last the Count comming to Donfron was suddenly besieged by his enemies where he was taken prisoner being shamefully forsaken by his souldiers and so was led away to Paris and there had his head stroken off Montgommery taken beheaded the 26. of Iune to the great reioycing of the Parisians and the exceeding greefe of the Confederates CHAP. XVIII The King waxeth sicke Maketh a peace with his subiects Ordaineth the Queene mother Regent of France in the absence of the King of Polonia His death The end of the fourth ciuill warres The King waxeth sickly WHilest the Duke Montpencier besieged Fontenay the King who had now for a good while beene sickely and diseased began to waxe worse and worse insomuch as the Queene mother fearing that if he should die vpon the sudden there woulde be maruellous hurly burlies at court thought it best to sende for the Duke Duke Montpensier returneth to the Court. whom she comanded to repaire vnto the kings presence withall speed who thereupon brake vp his siege licensing his army to depart and he himself hasted to the Court. There he found a strange Metamorphosis for the king was now verie desirous to end the wars and to make a peace with the Protestants and would haue them fauoured and protected as well as his other subiects The king desirous to make peace with his subiects desiring and that verie instantly all sorts to put to their helping hands and to shew themselues furtherers of so laudable a worke Commaunding likewise his Lieutenants and gouernors in all his Dominions to cause his former Edicts to be diligently obserued to punish with all rigour and seueritie who soeuer refused to obey this his commaundement The Queene mother did likewise labour verie earnestly herein The end of the fourth ciuill warre and seemed desirous of nothing so much as to establish a peace and quietnesse throughout all Fraunce The King did still decay and death hasted his pace to ouertake him so that notwithstanding all the meanes that could bee imagined to escape so hote pursute yet there was no remedie but needes he must be arested and called to account for his former actions Which when with great perplexitie of minde and sorrow of heart he perceiued hauing ordained the Queene mother for Regent during the absence of the King of Polonia The Q. mother made Regent of Fraunce to whom the crowne of Fraunce as next heire did appertaine he yeelded vp his life the 30. of May at Bois de Vincens 1574. in the 13. yeare of his reigne and in the 24 of his age hauing bin the most bloodie and cruell Prince that euer did weare the French Diadem And as hee continually thirsted after the blood of the poore Protestants so did hee neuer cease vomiting and belching out of blood all the time of his sicknesse with most horrible swearing and blaspheming vntill his last gaspe after a most strange and fearful maner And this was the end of Charles of Valois and King of France The death of Charles the ninth King of France who beeing by nature wicked by education irreligious and by vngodly and wicked counsel easily drawne into all kinde of impious and barbarous actions began with iniustice continued with crueltie and ended in misery leauing that noble kingdome so torne and dismembred the Nobilitie so diuided and discontented and the communaltie so oppressed and impouerished that the whole state hauing lost the ancient splendor
a time and the yong Prince continued in verie good grace vntill at length by reason of newe occasions of suspition hee was forced to auoyde the Realme so exceedingly was the King his father incensed agaynst him and going to Philip Duke of Burgundie who at that present was a verie great and mightie potentate was most honorably intertained furnished with all things necessarie for himselfe and his retinue where hee remained for a long time notwithstanding the duke was very often earnestly solicited to the coÌ„trarie by the king his father At the last all the stormie tempests being blowne ouer and he vpon the decease of his father being called home to receiue the Diademe and crowne of France Lewis the 11. K. of France he departed from the Court of Burgundie where he had liued a stranger and vnder the coÌ„trolment of others towards his new kingdome and naturall Countrie which he found very peaceable and flourishing in all wealth and prosperitie where hee was no sooner quietly established but that remembring some olde iniuries Lewis the 11. reiecâ—eâ—h his faâ—hers old counsellors and disliking manie of his fathers most faithfull and trustie counsellers hee remoued sundry out of their rowmes and offices and imprisoned others electing new into their places to the great griefe of diuerse of his best affected subiects the exceeding discontentment of most of his chiefest Nobilitie wherupon ensued maruellous trouble to the common wealth and vnspeakeable care and vexation of mind to himselfe The Duke of Britaine and sundrie other of the nobility rise against the King For the Duke of Brytaine the Duke of Berry the Duke of Nemours the earle of Saint Paule the earle of Arminake Beauleu Albret and manie other great Lords and states being highlie displeased with the King and with his gouernement banded togither against him and calling to theyr ayde Count Charolois sonne and heyre to Philip Duke of Burgundie raysed a mightie and puyssaunt armie wherewith they approched Paris and held besieged the chiefest Cittie of the land The King vnderstanding the daunger wherein the towne stoode The K. marcheth toward Paris and the resolution of his enemies hasted by all possible meanes to put himselfe within Paris the safekeeping whereof woulde be most auayleable for the aduancement of his other affayres Wherefore hauing gathered a strong power marched forwardes on his intended voyage not purposing to hazarde his fortune vppon anie aduauntage that shoulde be offered but onelie to defende himselfe and to amuse his enemies vntill the tyme might minister some better meanes to accomplish his desyres notwithstanding The k forced to forsake the field through the rash headinesse of the Lieutenant of Normandie called Le Bressy who had the leading of the auauntgarde the King was constrained to fight and to aduenture to open his passage by force of armes But being valiantly resisted by his enemies after a terrible and bloodie fight hee was forced to forsake the field and to retyre towards Corbeile leauing the entyre glorie of that victorie to Count Charolois and his associates As this good fortune puffed vp the haughtie minde of the Conquerour making him proude disdainfull and highly conceyted of his owne valour which in the ende bred his owne confusion and ouerthrowe The King reconcileth his subiects and maketh peace with Count Charolois so did it teach the conquered to pull downe his spirits and with all circumspect diligence and care to prouide for his future safetie in the most politike manner that hee might and hauing though with much adoo made peace with Count Charolois an enemie that hee greatly feared and reconciled his discontented Nobles who were a long time as prickes in his eyes and thornes in his sydes and withall concluded a league with Edwarde the fourth King of Englande at Pikquennie to his great aduauntage there remayned nothing that might any way endaunger his estate but onelie the greatnesse of Charles Duke of Burgundie who though he were at amitie with the King yet for that hee had a most turbulent spirite and of all other could least abide to continue for anie long time together in peace the King thought hee had iust occasion to suspect him Charles D. of Burgundy slaine at Nancy and therefore howsoeuer in outwarde shewe he made much of him yet in heart hee wished for nothing more then his confusion and ouerthrowe which appeared most apparantly by his secrete practises agaynst the Duke and then coulde no longer be hidde when as hee heard of his discomfiture at the battaile of Nancy where the sayde Duke was slaine his armie put to flight and the glorie of that noble house of Burgundie which had flourished for the space of an hundred and twentie yeares in all pompe and magnificence was vtterly defaced and obscured For presently vppon the newes the King was so exceeding ioyfull that hee did not in a maner regarde how richly and bountifully he rewarded the Messengers of so glad and ioyfull tydings Nowe beganne hee to studie for nothing so much as howe to dismember this poore afflicted Dukedome and by all meanes possible to teare and rent it in peeces K. Lewis of France getteth a great part of Burgundie He first gayned by liberall rewardes and fayre promises the chiefest of the Burgonian Nobilitie and likewise the Captaines of sundrie strong Townes by which meanes hee gate Abbeuille Peronne Arras Hesdin Bollogne Dyion and manie other principall places so that it seemed that the better part of the Dukedome of Burgundie was nowe brought vnder the kings obedience and annexed to the rest of the Dominions of the Flower de Lis By which meanes the reuenewes of the Crowne were greatly augmented the lande exceedingly strengthened the same and honour of the king wonderfully encreased all thinges falling out in a manner as well as might be wished or desired But hee had no sooner attayned to so high a degree of happinesse but hee was presently crossed with newe miseryes and afflictions which in small continuance of tyme did wholie bereaue him of his former ioyes For beeing at dinner at a Village neare vnto Chynon hee was suddainlie stroken with so vehement a payne The King stroken with a sudden disease that hee lost his speach and sences for the space of two dayes togither not remembring nor knowing any that were nearest about him And albeit by reason of those great meanes which were vsed his bodie was somewhat recouered and his mynde much bettered so that he seemed to come to some reasonable vnderstanding and knowledge yet was hee so weakened and euerie parte of him so mightilie decayed that it was not possible to free him of his maladie so long as hee lyued Besides hee grewe so suspitious of all sortes and so iealous of his owne sonne and sonne in Lawe that hee was neuer at quyet but lyued in such continuall feare least that honour and reuerence which had beene for so long a tyme giuen vnto him shoulde now be
departed but the Cittie began to reuolt and tooke part with their olde Duke Howbeit the Switzers in whom he reposed especiall confidence and by whose valour The D. of Millan taken prisoner hee verily perswaded himselfe hee shoulde bee able to maintaine his quarrell agaynst his enemyes betrayed him to the French who sent him prisoner to the King at Lions Then there was a maruellous concourse of people assembled to beholde this captiue Duke who not long before in fame dignitie and renowme had beene equall to anie Prince in Italie The King woulde not vouchsafe to see him but sent him to prison vnto the Castell of Locces The miserable end of the D. of Millan where hee continued for the space of tenne yeares and there in verie miserable manner ended his life And thus was this Noble Duke an other argument of the mutabilitie and chaunge of frowarde fortune Now was the French King wholy set vpon the conquest of Naples and least hee might any wayes bee hindered he thought it conuenient to procure Ferdinando King of Spaine to ioyne with him The French and Spanish Kings ioyne for the conquest of Naples who was easily drawne thereto and the better to countenaunce the matter pretended a title whereby hee would proue himselfe rightfull heire to the Neapolitan Crowne Ferdinando King of Naples beeing wonderfully dismayed heerewith yeelded vppon composition to the King of Fraunce and so his Kingdome was diuided betweene the French and Spanish Kings which two Princes could not long agree but falling at dissension betweene themselues there were manie sharpe bickerings the French still going by the woorst Monsieur de La Palissa and diuerse others were taken prisoners and Monsieur de Nemours was slaine by the Spaniardes vnder the leading of the great Consaluo who albeit there were a treatie of peace and an abstinence of warre concluded yet woulde hee take no knowledge thereof but proceeded still in the warres The Spaniniards driue the French out of Naples and so brought the whole Kingdome of Naples vnder the Spanish yoake Lewis of Fraunce hearing of all this was not a little greeued in his minde but there was no remedie but patience nor any wayes to doo any good but by force Wherevpon he sent newe armies into Italie with a purpose to repayre his former losses but a composition was made and all the warre beganne to bee diuerted towarde the Venetians who were brought to marueylous great extremities But by reason the Pope beganne to growe iealous of his owne hee forsooke the French and ioyned with the Venetians taking them into his protection The Pope taketh the Venetians into his protection Whereupon the French king thought it best to desist from any further proceedings and so entring league with the Pope returned hom Notwithstanding hee quickely smelling out the fetches of his late reconciled enemie ioyned againe with the Emperour and sendeth Monsieur de Chaumont into Italie with a strong power who with the Prince of Heâ—ault ouerthrew the Venetians and tooke Legnague Mountsilice and manie other places Not long after by reason of the death of Monsieur de Chaumont Gaston de Foix a valiaunt young Gentleman was sent into Italie to bee Generall ouer the French forces who hauing intelligence that the power of the Spaniardes was comming downe to succour Marke Anthonie de Colonna whom hee besieged in Rauenna fearing the irruption of those within the Towne brake vp his siege and withdrewe his forces three miles of towards the armie of his enemies with whom for that hee intended to fight he marshalled the troupes as followeth The vauntgard wherein was seuen hundred men of armes The battel of Rauenna besides the Almaines footmen was led by the Duke of Ferrara and the Seneschal of Normandy Neere vnto them were arraunged the footmen of the middle battaile which amounted to the number of eight thousande French vnder the conduct of Monsieur de Allegres The Rereward was composed of fiue hundred Italians ouer whom commaunded Frederick de Bosuolo This battailon was flanked both by the archers on horsebacke and by the light horsmen being in all three thousand Behind al these esquadrons which were so placed as they rather resembled a croysant or new Moone then any thing else were six hundred men of armes led by Seigneur de la Palaice and Cardinall Sanauerino Monsieur de Foix had made choyce of no peculiar charge for himselfe but taking out some durtie of the valiantest Gentlemen purposed to haue an eye to euerie place and to be ready to helpe where most neede was In this warlike maner he marched towardes his enemies whom he found strongly encamped by a Riuers side who being certified of the approach of the French had thus raunged their battailes In the vauntgarde were eight hundred men of Armes and sixe thousand footmen vnder the leading of Fabricio de Colonno high Constable of Naples In the middle battaile were sixe hundred men of Armes flanked with foure thousand footemen whose principall leader was the Viceroy himselfe and with him were the Marques of Palude and the Popes Legate called Iohn de Meâ—â—â— The Rerewarde was conducted by Caruaiall a Spaniard In which battaile were foure hundred men of Armes and foure thousand footemen The light horsemen commanded by Daualos the Marques of Pescara a very yong man but of passing great hope who guarded the right side of the footmen Peter de Nauarro the General of the Spanish footmen would not tie himselfe to any certaine place but determined to helpe where most neede required And in this order they expected the comming of their enemyes who by this time were aduaunced verie neare and the skirmish began to grow hote on both sides The fight continued long and manie were slaine but the Spanish troupes beeing maruaylously torne The Spaniards ouerthrowne at Rauenna by the French and scattered with the French Ordinaunce could not endure before the men of Armes of Fraunce For Fabritio de Colonna beeing taken by the Souldiours of the Duke of Ferrara the Viceroy and Caruaiall neuer staied any further tryall of theyr fortune but fled amaine leauing the Marques of Pescara and the Marques of Palude at the mercie of their enemies Although the horsemen were ouerthrowne yet the Spanish footemen fought valiauntly and with incredible fiercenesse maintained the battaile for a long time but being wearied in the ende and not able any longer to endure they began to giue ground Nauarro taken prisoner yet so as they rather seemed to retyre then to bee driuen out of the field which Nauarro beholding rather desyred to die then liue and therefore not departing out of the battaile hee suffered himselfe to be taken prisoner Gaston de Foix general of the French army slaine after he had gotten the victorie But when as Monsieur de Foix could not abide to see Spanish footemen to go away in such souldier-like maner with their rankes vnbroken hee in a great furie charged them