excellent vse she deâ—erues rustly to bee imbraced Experience verifying the testimonie which Antiquitie doth giue her That shee is the Misâ—resse of Mans Life the Testimonie of Trueth the Recorder of Iusticâ— the resplendâ—â—t Beames of Vertue the Register of Honour the Trumpet of Fame the Examiner of Actions the Comptrouler of all Times the Rendez-vous of diuerse Euents the Schoole of Good and Euill and the Soueraigne Iudge of all Men and all Actions This praise is common to all Histories But as in a generall action euery one ought to haue a more speciall care of that which concernes his dutie So in the generall Historie of all Nations euery man is bound to be more perticularly informed of that which toucheth himselfe and instructed in the managing of the State vnder which he is borne By reason whereof I haue alwaies held the complaint of Thucidides one of the chiefe Architects of a History very considerable That it was a great shame for Grecians to be Strangers in Greece when as busying themselues in forreine Histories they were ignorant of their owne May we not in like sort say That it was a great shame that French-men should be strangers in France for why should the ignorance of our Historie bee more excusable in vs then of theirs in them Doubtlesse we often seeke for that a farre off which is neere vnto vs at home The partieâ— leâ— vse of thâ— Hâ—storie of France I commend the diligence of our men in searching out of forrâ—ine Histories But if it may be lawfull to speake of this Subiect as one of the common sort I dare say there is no Nation vnder the cope of Heauen without flattering my selfe with the loue of my Countrie since Man was borne that hath more admirable matters or more worthy euents in euery kinde and by consequence a History more memorable then ours of France Bee it for the forme of Gouernment there was neuer Kingdome nor Common-weale established with goodlier lawes then our Monarchie It is the true patterne of a perfect estate such as the wise Politicians in former times vsed to discourse off in their Academie A â—oueraigne Commander with Authoritie absolutely â—oueraigne but fortified with a power so well qualified with the Counterpoise of inferiour offices that we may rightly call the French Monarchie a mixture of all the lawfull gouernments of a Common-weale by a well gouerned proportion if the lawes prescribed be well obserued the which I haue 〈◊〉 that end planted in the front of this building Bee it for the greatnesse and stâ—ength of the State although I know well that the foure Monarchies which commâ—nded ouer Nations had larger dominions then the French yet was there neuer any Empire better vnited better grounded nor of longer continuance more 〈◊〉 for the beautie and bountie of the Land scituation of the Country Riches of the people and excellencie of wittes eyther in Peace or Warre As for the greatnesse of her Prouinces what is the French Monarchie but diuerse kingdomes vnited in one and sundry Crownes annexed to one But herein it excels the rest that although they all in generall hold as it were of the Church yet ours hath herein a speciall priuiledge hauing diuerted from Europe that great deluge of Infidels which 〈◊〉 all Christendome with Shipwracke To conclude it yeelds to no Monarchie whatsoeuer neither needs it any thing but good husbandrie As for worthy men which be a liuing law and as it were the soule of an Estate is there any nation whatsoeuer that can shew so many excellent personages yea and Kings as France may There is no Vanitie more vaine nor more vnworthy of a free minde making profession of an Historie wholy vowed to truth then flatterie But the most strictest Areopagite that euer was cannot deny but ouâ— Monarchie may produce as many excellent Kings and Princes as any other whatsoeuer The three Races haue made shew in diuerse times But the third had the continuance of a more temperate season for the estabâ—â—shing of an Estate Let iudgement bee made by an vnpassionate tryall of their Reignes and Actions to set downe Kings beautified with sundry graces as necessitie required Valiant in Warre Wise for Counsell Resolute in Aduersitie Milde to pardon faults when as Forgetfulnesse was necessary for the good of the State and the quiet of the Realme What shall wee say of great and worthy Euents such as may chance to Man being good or euill Hath any Historie more rare Examples then ours eyther ordinarie in the common sufferance of Prosperitie or Aduersitie or extraordinarie in the greatest and most â—ragicall rare accidents that may bee noted in any other Nation there was neuer State reduced into greater difficulties both within and without the Realme and not subuerted And in these extreame dangers what valiant Resolutions Truly our History sets downe in diuerse Reignes the Courage and Constancie of diuerse Kings and People in shew conquered in effect Conquerors in that they neuer dispaired of the Common-weale in the middest of their dispaire what loue of Kings to their Subiects and of Subiects to their Kings in common calamitie Our Historie is full of these Examples and of all things else considerable in the societie of Man eyther in Warre or Peace and which depends vpon their vertues which held the Helme of this great Barke Excellencies remarkable in the miraculous consâ—ruation of thiâ— State But as wee cannot hide nor depriue of their due praise those goodly lights which shine in diuers parts of our History by the many examples of Valour Equity Wisdome Magnanimity Modesty Dexterity and other Excelleâ—â— Vertues of our Kings so to iudge thereof soundly wee must flye to the Father of lights who vsing these great and worthy personages for the building preseruation or increase of this Monarchie hath inriched them with great and preâ—ious graces that acknowledging him the Author aswell of all these Vertues as of the happy succâ—â—â—e of things managed by them we may learne to yeeld him Homage for the Preseruation Continuance and Increase of this great Estate The negligence of our Kings hath too often brought our Royall Diadem into danger whereof they made themselues vnworthy making it weake and contemptible in their persons who by their basenesse and chiâ—dâ—sh gouernment suffered their Seruants to command absolutely The Kingdome hath beene as it were dismembred by the diuision of â—oyall commands And by this meanes Brothers deuided by strange and selfe-wild discentions haue abandoned all to spoyle and from these domesticall diuisitions haue sprung ciuill Warres amâ—ddest the which the Inferiours fishing in a troubled Water freed themselues and opposing against their Soueraigne became petty Kings Wee haue seene their rage extend faâ—ther attempting against the Kings person imprisoning him forcing him to quit his Crowne and in the end reducing him to that extremity as to dye desperaâ—ely seeing himselfe so outragiously dealt withall Wee haue seene Kings pâ—isoâ—ers in their enemies hands and abandoned by their Subiects Kings
treate with him So as hee begins to taste of some proposition of peace moued before Saint Disier by the Lord of Granuelle and his Confessor a Spanish Monke of the order of Saint Dominike and of the house of Gusmans A â—reatie of peace A day is appointed for the meeting of the Deputies at La Chaussee betwixt Challons and Vitry For the King there came the Admirall of Annebault and Chemans Keeper of the Seale of France â—or the Emperour Fernand of Gonzague and to know if the King of England would enter into it they sent the Cardinall of Bellay Raymond chiefe President of Rouan and Aubespine Secretarie of the State and Treasurer As the Emperour camped towards the riuer of Marne a league beneath Chalons and within two leagues of the French armie a riuer being betwixt both William Earle of Fursiemberg parted about midnight with a guide onely to view a â—oard which hee had in former times passed when as he came into France for the Kings seruice Being come to the foard he leaues his guide vpon a banke sounds it findes it easie and passeth the riuer But he discouered not some Gentlemen of the Kings house and part of the Admiralls company who had the gard that night who without giuing any alaâ—â—m put themselues betwixt the riuer him take him without resistance lead him to the Campe know him and send him to the Bastille at Paris from whence he shall not depart vntill he hath payed thirtie thousand Crownes for his ransome In the meane time the Emperour sees his armie ready to breake for hungar they cutt off his victuals behinde and on either side And if that goodly Captaine whom the Daulphin had sent to draw into Espernay the victuals thereabouts to breake the bridge vpon the riuer and to spoile the Corne Wine and other prouisions which could not be saued had carefully executed his commission the Emperour disappointed of the munition and victualls which he found in Espernay and hauing no meanes to passe the riuer had not in the end enioyed those commodities which he found in Chasteau Thiery an other Storehouse of the French campe whereby his troupes languishing for hungar recouered some strength In the end the Daulphin being come to campe at La Ferté vpon Iouarre and hauing sent a good number of men to Meaux to hinder the Emperours passage who deuising to make his retreat by Soissons he takes his way by Villiers-coste-Retz vnder hand reuiues the proposition of peace with the King The King knowing that a battaile could not be giuen in the heart of his realme so neere vnto his capitall Cittie without a verie doubtfull and dangerous consequence and the losse of men and in case he should vanquish the King of England and the Earle of â—ures would encounter him with as mightie an armie as his owne that by the losse of one and perchance two battailes his realme were in danger that winning them hee should get little especially vpon England being an Iland Moreouer the Marshall of Biez was almost forced to yeeld vp Montrueil to the English â—or want of victualls and succours the sufficiencie of the Lord of Verâ—ein gouernour of Boullen as we shall shortly see was not without cause suspected and without a conclusion with the Emperour hardly could these two important Townes be releeued The King therefore sent the Admirall of Annebault againe to the Emperour being in the Abbie of S. Iohn des Vignes in the suburbes of Soissons where in the end was concluded A peace concluded That Charles Duke of Orleans should within two yeares after marry with tâ—e Emperours daughter or his neece daughter to Ferdinand King of Roâ—aines and at the consummation of the said mariage the Emperour should inuest the said Duke of Orleans in the Duchie of Milan or in the Earledome of Flanders and the Low Countries at the choise of the said Emperour And in exchange this done the King promised to renounce all his rights pretended to the said Duchie and the Kingdome of Naples and to restore the Duke of Sauoy to the possession of his Countries when as the Duke his sonne should eniâ—y the said Duchie of Milan or the Earledome of Flanders and all things during the terme of two yeares as well on this as the other side the Alpes should remaine in the same estate as they were at the truâ—e made at Nice So the Emperour deliuered vnto the King on this side the mountaines Saint Desier Ligny Commercy and the King Yuoy Montmedy and Landrecy Steâ—â—â— was deliuered into the Duke of Lorrains hands and the fortifications razed On the other side the Alpes the Emperour had nothing to yeeld but Montdeuis and the King Alba Quieras Antignan Saint Damian Palezol Cresentin Verruë Montcal Barges Pont d' Esture Lans Vigon Saint Saluadour Saint Germaine and many other places which he possessed These treaties thus concluded and pâ—oclaimed beyond the Alpes the Duke of Anguien returned into France with as great glory and honour as a wise and valiant Prince could enioy and the Emperour retired his armie which the Earles of â—eux Bures lead ioyntly with that of England he dismissed his owne and parting from Soissons tooke his way to Bruxelles accompanied beyond the frontiers by the Duke of Orleans the Cardinals of Lorraine and Meudon the Earle of Laual la Hunauday others The Emperour is now out of the realme let vs also seeke to send the King of England beyond the seas Henry the 8. King of England according to the League he had with the Emperour landing at Calais with an armie of thirty thousand men fortified with ten thousand Lansequenets and three thousand Reistres which the Earle of Bures lead and the troupes of the Earle of Reux chiefe of the army of the Low countries for the Emperour he found Picardie very much vnfurnished of men the King had withdrawne his forces towards Champagne to oppose them against the Emperour and the Duke of Vendosme being weake in men had fiue places of importance to furnish Ardre Boullen Therouenne Montrueil Hedin all equally opposed to the inuasion of the English Henry therefore seeing no armie to withstand him making his accoumpt to carrie a legge or an arme of the body of this realme sent the Duke of Norfolke and the Earles of Reux and Buries to besiege Montrueil The King of England besiegeth Boullen Montrueil and himselfe went and camped before Boulen The Marshall of Biez was gouernour But when hee saw the enemy turne the point of his armie towards Montrueil he left the Lord of Veruein his sonne in lawe to command in Boullen from which he was disswaded by some to whom his sufficiencie was well knowne assisted by Philip Corse a Captaine very well experienced in armes the Lords of Lignon and Aix otherwise called Renty young and without experience with their regiments and halfe the company of a hundred men at armes of the sayd Marshall and he put himselfe into
ciuill warres bred in his minority and increased in his frensie so as a strange King was crowned King of France and became Maister of the greatest part of the Realme to Charles the 6. succeeded 54. Charles the 7. his sonne who established the Realme in expelling the Stranger and to him succeeded 55. Lewis the 11. his sonne who hauing incorporated Bourgongne and Prouence to the Crowne and purged the Leuen of intestin diuision left the Realme rich peaceable to 56. Charles the 8. his sonne who dying without Males left the Realme according to the law of State to 57. Lewis the 12. Duke of Orleance first Prince of the bloud who likewise dyed without issue Male leauing the Crowne to 58. Francis the 1. of that name first Prince of the bloud Duke of Angoulesme and he to 59. Henry the 2. his sonne and Henry to 60. Francis the 2. his sonne who dying without Male left it to 61. Charles the 9. his brother who dying without issue lawfully begotten left it to 62. Henry the 3. his brother the last of the royall race of Valois who being slaine by a Iacobin and dying without issue by the same right of the Fundamentall law of State he left the Realme intangled in diuerse confusions to 63. HENRY the 4. then King of Nauarre first Prince of the bloud and first King of the royall race of Bourbon A Prince indued with vertues fit to restore a State but successor to much trouble wearing a Crowne not all of gold but intermixt with Thornes wreathed with infinite difficulties gouerning a body extreamly weakned with a long and dangerous disease surcharged with Melancholy and diuerse humours sed with the furie of the people bewitched by the practises of Strangers who had crept so farre into the bosome of our miserable Country that they were ready to dispossesse the lawfull heires and to inuest a new King if God the Gardian and Protector of this Realme had not opposed a good and speedy remedie to their force in shew triumphant by the valour and clemencie of our Henry incountring his enemies with the one and by the other reducing his Subiects strangely distracted to their duties God send him grace to finish as he hath begun and Crowne the miraculous beginning of his reigne with the like issue Truly all good and cleere-sighted French-men may note how necessary this Head is for the preseruation of the State and by their daily and feruent prayers to pray vnto God for the long and happy life of our King And for the peace and tranquillity of this poore and desolate Realme Rom. 13. There is no power but from God and all powers in an estate are ordeyned of God THE FIRST RACE OF THE KINGS OF FRANCE CALled Merouingiens of Meroueé the third King of the French the most famous founder of the French Monarchie DANIEL 1.2 verse 21. The Soueraigne Lord rules ouer the Kingdomes of Men. And giues it to whom he pleaseth He putteth downe and sets vp Kings at his pleasure A particuler Chronologie of the races from the yeare foure hundred and twenty to seauen hundred and fiftie The yeare of grace Kings  420 1 PHaramond raigned 11. yeares 430 2 Clodion the hairy 20. yeares 450 3 Merouee the great Architect of this Estate and in this regard the most famous Stem of this race raigned 10. yeares 459 4 Chilperic or Childeric the first the sonne of Merouee 24. yeares 484 5 Clouis the first 30. yeares the first Christian King   The foure sonnes of Clouis to whom he diuided the whole Realme that is 514 6 Childebert King of Paris   Clotaire King of Soissons   Clodamite King of Orleans   Thierri King of Metz reigned together 42. yeares and 558 7 Clotaire the 1. reigned alone eight yeares 564 8 Cherebert King of Paris   Chilperic King of Soissons   Gontran King of Orleans   Segebert King of Metz reigne together 25. yeares 578 9 Chilperic the 2. in the end reigned alone 8. yeares 586 10 Clotaire the second 37. yeares 632 11 Dagobert the first 16. yeares 647 12 Clouis the second 18. yeares 666 13 Clotaire the third 4. yeares 670 14 Chilperic the third and  15 Thierri 19. yeares 689 16 Clouis the third 4. yeares 693 17 Childebert the second 17. yeares 710 18 Dagobert the second 5. yeares 715 19 Chilperic the 4. called Daniel by his first name 5. yeares 720 20 Thierri 20. yeares 740 21 Chilperic or Childeric the 5. the last of the race of the Meroueens hee liued with the title of a King ten yeares being degraded from the Kingdome he dyed a Moncke and left the Crowne to 750 22 Charles Martel Maire of the Palace who without taking the name of King but inioying it in effect left the Monarchie heredâ—tarie to his posteritie the date of his reigne being set vnder the name of Chilperic vnto the decease of Martell So this race hath reigned in France 320. yeares PARAMOND 420. the first King of France PHARAMOND I KING OF FRANCE· PHaramond the son of Marcomir is held for the fiâ—st King of Fraâ—ce by the consent of all our writers The fundamenâ—a l dare of the Freâ—ch Monarchie In the yeere of grace 420. He began his Reigne the yeare of Christ 420. A date very remarkable to describe the first beginning of the French Monarchie At that time Honorius and Arcadius brethren sonnes to Theodosius the great held the Romaine Empire inuaded so by strange nations as it was not onely disâ—eâ—bred into diuerse parts but euen Rome was spoyled and sackt by Alaric King of Goths Amidst these confusions the French Monarchie had her beginning vppon the ruines of the Empire The French inuited by them of Treues Estate of the Empire at the beginning of iâ— for the aboue named occasion first seized on the Cittie and from thence extended themselues to the neighbour countries they name Tongrie for their first possession which the learned hold to be the countrie of Brabant and about Liege This conquest was not made at one instant but augmented by degrees and the nearest prouinces were first surprised The French comming from beyond the Rhin it seemes they did first seize on that part which then lay neerest vnto them as the Countries betwixt the Rhin the Escaâ—t and the Mâ—use and from thence extended themselues euen to the riuer of Loyre They hold for certaine that this happie exploit of the French was vnder the name and authoritie of Pharamond their King who departed not from his natiue countrie but sending forth this troope as a swarme of Bees he reaped the honour and fruit of the conquest as the Soueraigne head Hee is commended to haue established good lawes His policie to haue framed and inured the French to a ciuil and well gouerned kind of life and to haue laid the first stone of the foundation of this great Monarchie in Gaule he reduced into one body and expounded
furie of the fight This happened in the yeare 509. The fruit of this notable victorie was so great as all yeelded to Clouis where hee marched Those of Angoulesme made shew of resistance but a great parte of the wall beâ—â—g fallen as it were miraculously not onely the Cittie yeelded butall the Countrie being terrified offered their voluntarie obedience vnto Clouis as if God holding him by the hand had put him in possession of all that Prouince as the lawfull heire Auâ—eâ—gne makes some shew to resist but in the end it yeelds with all the Citties of the Prouince In this generall reuolt against the Vuisigoths Almaric the sonne of Alaric gathers a new head in the Countries of his obedience with wonderfull speed Clouis seekes him out and finds him neere to Bourdeaux The battaile is fought and the slaughter great on either side the one armie fights for honour and the other for life and goods But Clouis remaines conquerour 504. who in detestation of his enemie calles the place the Aâ—rien field which name continues vnto this day Almaric flyes to Thierri his confederate King of the Ostrogoths in Italy with an intent to returne speedily to be reuenged of Clouis All the countrie remaines peaceable to Clouis yea Tholouse the capitall Citty of the Goths kingdome And thus he returnes leauing a part of his army in garrison in the Citties of his new conquest vnder his sonnes command and in his Standard as a trophee he caried for a deuise Veni vidi vici I came and saw and ouercame like vnto Caesar. This great conquest gotten with incredible celeritie and admirable successe is a worthy proofe of Gods prouidence who disposeth of States according to his wise and iust pleasure pulling downe one and raising vp another Thus Clouis hauing expelled the remainder of the Romaines seized on the Bourgongnons estate and the Wisigoths remaining in a maner absolute Lord of the Gaules vnder the title of the Realme of France Hee desired much to liue at Tours as indeed it is the goodly garden of France but seeking to giue a perfect forme to this new estate as one head hath but one body hee choseth Paris for his capitall Citty being seated in the Isle of France and the true mansion of Kings aswell for the fertile beauty of the Country thereabout as for the concourse of Riuers which bring infinite commodities from all parts by the chanell of the Riuer of â—eine into the which all the rest fall as the common store-house of all commodities Thus Paris from small beginings as may bee noted by the lowe buildings and narrow streetes of the Isle being the first plotte is growne to a wonderfull greatnesse being the head Cittie of all the Realme The brute of Clouis force spread ouer all with a great renowne of his valour The Emperour sonâ—s Ambassadors to Clouis moued Anastasius Emperour of the East to desire his friendship although hee had more reason to be his enimy hauing dispossessed him of his ancient inheritance Thus the Empire declined flattering his most dangerous enemies against whom he should oppose himselfe Hee salutes him with a very honourable Ambassage sends him a Senators roabe the priuilege of a Patrician and Cittizen of Rome and the dignity of a Consull in signe of the honour his successours should haue to bee Emperours and to preserue the reliques of the Empire from a generall shipwrack Clouis entertained Anastasius Ambassadours with honour and bounty desirous to ouercome them with curtesie as well as by the valour of his victorious armes The violent course of Clouis victories seemed vnresistible Clouis beinâ— conqâ—erour is conquered but behold an vnexpected enemy not onely stayes him sodenly but takes from him the greatest part of his new conquests defeats his Armie and drawes him into danger neuer to performe any thing worthily The nation of the Gothes was then very great being dispersed in diuerse parts in Gaule Italy and Spaine so as one people issued from the same beginning as we haue sayd was distinguished by diuerse names to marke the places of their seuerall aboades The Wisigoths or rather Westgoths were they that dwelt in the West that is to say in Gaule West to Italy the Ostrogoths or Eastgoths possessed Italy by consequence East to Gaule These Estgoths had done great and notable exploits in Italy taken and sackt Rome and hauing seized on the goodlyest Countryes of Italy had there established a Kingdome vnder their name the which was ruined by the Lombards and the Lombards by the French as wee shall see in the continuance of this history These Goths named Getes by the Greekes an ancient people of Asia scattered themselues first along the riuer of Danubye entring the Countrie neere to Constantinople as well on the maine land as in the Taurique Chersonese neere to this quarter And so extending their limits did possesse Valachye and Hongarie and in the end Scandia and the Country which lyes neere the Riuer of Vistula in the Country of Sueden towards the Baltique Sea where they made their last retreate after many losses receiued in many places in seeking of their fortunes The Realme of Gothie carries their name euen vnto this day 510. I thought good by the way to note the estate of the Goths fit for this subiect Thus the successe of the French forces and the allyance so carefully sought by the Emperour a capitall enemie to the Gothike name did easily moue Thierry king of the East-goths to succour his kinsman Almarick a prince spoiled of his possessions whose example did solicite all the Goths to preuent the danger which did threaten them very neere So as from Italie Sicile Sclauonia and Dalmatia by his owne meanes and the credit of his friends he gathers togither fourescore thousand fighting men the which he giues to Ibba to leade against Clouis and he himselfe remaines in Italie to make head against the Emperours desseins least hee should cause some diuision in fauour of Clouis his confederate The Gothike armie enters by Piedmont takes Grace and Antibou and in short time all Prouence obeyes him The people of Languedoc louing their old maisters and not able to indure the insolencie of a new yeeld easily to the stronger A great losse both of Provinces and men Prouence remaines thus to the East-goths and Languedoc returnes to the Vuisigoths Clouis being brought a sleepe with the imagination of a generall triumphe awakes at this brute hee armes and marcheth speedily against the enemie hee is beaten and looseth 30000. men at this incounter whereby it appeared that he held not victoires at his girdle nor they proceeded not from his valour Clouis who vanquished euery where finding himselfe beaten and not able presently to make head against a victorious enemie returnes into France rather mad then transported with furious choller tossing in his braynes how to be reuenged of so notable a disgrace The Goths giue him leaue to runne and take cold being content to haue recouered
their owne After this he attempted no more against them and the greatest part of Bourgongne returned to the children of Gondebault But in the end both Prouence and Bourgongne shall bee incorporated to the Crowne by diuerse accidents the which we will note in diuerse places Clouis cruell practisâ—s to become great Clouis suruiued fiue yeares after all these losses remaining commonly at Paris hauing no heroicke mind to attempt any great conquests yet of a cruell disposition which made him die with desire of other mens goods Hee imployed all his wits to put his kinsmen to death hauing some â—eignieuries included within the compasse of his great monarchie with an imagination â—o leaue his children a great estate vnited In this desseine he puts to death Chararic to haue Amyens Ragnachatre to become maister of Cambray and Sigâ—bert to haue no companion at Mets although he were acknowleged in all these places for soueraigne This rauishing of other mens goods was vnexcusable but his tragicall proceedings to haue it was more detestable I tremble to represent the horror of these execrable crimes you may reade them in the originall of Gregorie of Tourâ— The truth of the historie requires they should bee registred but reason would haue the memory of so dangerous examples buried in obliuion I desire to be dispensed withall if I discourse not of these monstrous enormities A modest tragedie goares not the scaffold with the bloud of Iphigenia being content to report by a messenger that she was slaine by her fathers coÌ„mand drawing a curteine to hide the blood But if any one will vrge me with the debt which a historie doth owe I will say that Clouis caused Chararic to be slaine hauing seized on him and his sonne and condemned them to monastery As they were cutting of their haire the sonne seeing his father weepe bitterly said These greene branches will grow againe meaning the haire they cut off for the stocke is not dead but God will suffer him to perish that causeth them to bee cut off Horrible murthers coÌ„mitted by Câ—ouis Clouis aduertised of this free speech They complaine for the losse of their haire sayes hee let their heads bee cut off And so they were both put to death To get Ragnachaire who had faithfully serued him both against Sâ—agrius and in all his other enterprises hee corrupted some of his domesticall seruants with promise of great rewards in token wherof he sent them bracelets of latten guilt These traitors bring him Ranachaire and his brother with their hands and feete bound Hee beholding them Outcasts saith hee of our race vnworthie of the blood of Merouee are you not ashamed to suffer your selues to be thus bound you are vnworthy to liue repay the dishonour you haue done to our blood with your bloods and so gaue to eyther of them great blowes with a Battell Axe which he held in his hand 514. and slue them both in the presence of his Captaines and Councell But when 〈…〉 Traytors demanded their reward and complained of his Bracelets Auant saâ—th 〈◊〉 Traytors is it not enough that I suffer you to liue I loue the treason but I hate Trâ—ytors But the last exceeds the rest Hee perswades the sonne of Sigibert to kill his â—â—ther This infamous parricide murthers him and returnes to Clouis to put him in possession of his treasures whom he had thus massacred who being in the chamber and â—ending downe into a Chest to draw forth bagges full of gold hee caused his braiâ—es to be beaten out and being the stronger seized on Mets making a good shew to the people as ignorant of this murther Thus Clouis liued thus he reigned and thus he dyed in the yeare of our Lord 514. of the age of 45. the thirtith yeare of his reigne in the flower of his enterprises The death of 〈◊〉 in the Citty of Paris A Prince whom we must put in ballance to counterpeise his vertues with his vices valiant politick colde wise temperate diligent in execution His vertues his 〈◊〉 of admirable authoritie and indued with excellent politicke vertues fit for an estate Contrarywise hee was extreamly couetous ambitious wilfull cruâ—â—l bloudy infinitely giuen to the world immortalizing his good hap in this mortall life by his many enterprises the which hee feared not to execute with the losse of other mens goods and liues We must not wonder if we read of confusions in the following reignes wherein we shall first see bloud for bloud and the robber robbed spoiled dispoâ—sessed according to the trueth of Oracles Woe to thee that robbest for thou shalt bee robbed that killest for thou shalt be killed the same measure thou measurest shall be measured to thee againe Vnder his reigne the Romane Empire vanished quite into the West Spaine Gaule Italy and Germany were seized on by strange nations retaining no markes of the Romaine name The East had yet some shewes of the Empire whereof Constantinople was the seate Leo Zeno Anastasius Emperours liued in those dayes with many enemies The estatâ— of the Church shame and losse The Pope of Rome thrust himselfe forward amiddest these confusions and ruines recouering that which the Emperours had lost Leo Hilarie Simplicius Foelix Gelasius liued in those times learned men The Councell was held againe at Chalcedone against Eutiches and Dioscorus The 6. raigne vnder the foure sonnes of CLOVIS Childebert Clodamir Clotaire Thierry Who raigned togither forty and two yeares as Kings of France yet with a particular title â—nder this generall but in the end Clotaire remayned King alone And therefore their raignes are distinguished To this Coniunction of foure brethren some giue the sixt degree in the number of Kings and Childebert as the eldest beares the title CHILDEBERT the 6. King of France CHILDEBET KING OF FRANCE VI CLOVIS his desseine was to rule alone in a great vnited Kingdome but he sees his resolutions frustrate for this vaste bodie compounded of many peeces is scarce vnited but it is disioyned againe yea in his life time and the rest is diuided into foure parts to his children according to the lawes of nature but to the visible preâ—udice of the Estate incompatible of so many maisters as the following â—â—â—course will shewe A lesson both for great and small and a notable president of the vaâ—ity of humane enterprises where the end is not alwaies answerable to the beginning They take great paines to settle a firme estate which shal be soone dismembred either by lawe or force and that shal be dispersed sodeinly which was gathered togither too hastily Let euery one consider what hee leaues to his Children 515 for the which there is no warrantable caution but a good title These foure sonnes diuide the realme into foure Kingdomes Childebert was King of Paris and vnder this realme was comprehended the Prouinces of Poictou Maine Touraine Champaigne Aniou Guyenne and Auuergne Clotaire King of Soissons and the dependances of this realme were Vermandois Picardie
countries Thus the war of Saxonie ended being both long dangerous those which were conquered by the truth were the true conquerers in knowing the true God Charlemagne hauing caused the Saxons to leaue their false opinions was carefull to haue them instructed in the truth Care of religion most worthy of Princes to this end he appointed holy and learned men in all places and gaue meanes to maintaine them as the Germaine histories report more particularly It sufficeth me in declaring this briefely to shew his pieâ—y compatible with his valour and happinesse and for a president to Princes to make religion the soueraigne end of their armes and authorities This Widichind was a great personage both in wisedome valour and authority and by consequence very notable in the order of our subiect From him are descended very famous races The two Henries the one called Oiseleur or the Fowler and the other of Bamberg and the two Othoes all Emperours and likewise the Dukes of Saxonie the Marquis of Misne the Dukes of Sauoy and also the most famous race of Hugh Capet is drawne from this spring The offspring of VVidichind by the common consent of learned writers the which ought to be well obserued in the continuance of this Historie From this warre of Saxonie sprung many other in the Northerne parts whereof I will intreat hauing discoursed briefely of the warre of Spaine both for that it chanced during that of Saxonie as also being very memorable for the ouerthrow of the Sarazins who threatned Christendome like a deluge Histories differ much touching this warre but I will report what is most likely by the consent of most approued writers whereof the studious reader may iudge by conference I being but a faithfull reporter The motiue of this Spanish warre was more vpon pleasure then necessitie but the zeale of religion gaue a colour and shew of necessitie to the heroycall desire of Charlemagne seeking to inlarge the limits of the French Monarchie by armes Warre in Spaine So this warre of Spaine was more painfull more dangerous and of lesse successe then that of Italy whereunto necessity and duty had drawne Charlemagne but his wise proceeding in the action did warrant him from all blame The occasion which made him bend his forces against the Sarazins in Spaine was the assurance of his good fortune the quiet peace of his realme the meanes to imploy his Souldiars the Spaniards hate against the Sarazins and the generall feare of all Christians least these Caterpillers should creepe farther into Europe This was the estate of Spaine the Sarazins had conquered a great part thereof Estate of Spaine and were diuided into diuers commands vnder the title of Kingdomes yet these diuers Kings resolued to oppose their vnited forces against Charles their common enemie Foreseeing then the tempest they seeke to preuent it and to crosse the desseignes of Charlemagne which being discouered they caused King Idnabala a Sarazin to insinuate into his friendship being a man full of subtill mildnesse This stratageâ— preuailed more then all their forces Charlemagne was thrust forwards by Alphonso surnamed the chaste King of Nauarre and by the Asturiens and Galliciens Christian people of Spaine to vndertake this warre being easie profitable and honourable and by consequence most worthy the valiant happinesse of Charlemagne Moreouer this Idnabala making a shew of friendship laboured to hasten him to the execution of this enterprise from the which he knew well he should not diuert him but in effect it was to betray him by the discouering of his intentions flattering his desire to get the more credit by pleasing him Charlemagne then well affected of himselfe and perswaded by others calles a Parliament at Noyon and there concludes a warre against the Sarazins of Spaine 786 The armie he imployed in that action was goodly both for the number of men and valour of great warriours Waâ—â—e agâ—inst the 〈…〉 being the choise of the most worthy Captaines in Christendome Amongst the which they number Milon Earle of Anger 's Rowland the sonne of Milon and Berthe sister to Charlemagne Renald of Montaban the foure sonnes of Aimon Oger the Dane Oliuer Earle of Geneua Brabin Arnold of Bellande and others the gâ—eat valour of which persons hath beene fabulously reported by the writers of those obscure times with a thousand ridiculous tales vnworthy the valour of those heroick spirits Institution of the twelue Peeres proofes of the ignorance of that age being barren of learned wits They say that Charlemagne to make this voyage more honourable in shew did then institute the order of the twelue Peeres of France Being entred into Spaine he found no Sarazin forces in field but their Citties well fortified hauing resolued a defensiue rather then an offensiue warre The most renowmed Sarazin Kings were Aigoland The treachery 〈…〉 the Saâ—azin Bellingan Denisâ—s Marsile and Idnabala which be the sâ—bâ—ect of our fabulous tales but the last as I haue sayd made shew of friendship wâ—th Charlemagne and open hatred against the other Sarazin Kings with whom notwitâ—standing he had most strict correspondencie to betray Charles Pâ—mpelune takâ—n The first Cittie he attempted was Pampelune in the Kingdome of Nauarre the which he tooke by force but with much paine losse and danger Hauing sackt it and slaine all the Sarazins he found Saragoce yeelds to him by composition with many other small Townes terrâ—fied by the example of Pampelune This beginning incouraged him to march on relying on his wonted fortune but as he passed through the Prouinces of Spaine like a victoâ—ious Prince without any dâ—fficulty hauing giuen a part of his armie to lead to Milon of Angiers his brother in law it chanced neere vnto Bayonne that Aigoland a Sarazin King hauing in this common dispaire thrust an army into field incountred â—ilon with his troupes little dreading any enemy and tooke him at such an aduantage as he defeated him The losse was very great for they report it was of forty thousand men The Sarazins victory where Milon was slaine for a confirmation of the Sarazins victory Charlemagne was farre off and not able by any diligence to preuent the losse hee pacifies this amazement least it should daunt the whole armie Hee hastens thether and gathers together the relikes of these discomfited troupes keeping the conquered Citties and such as were friends in their obedience But after this followes a second accident Aigoland puft vp with the pride of this victory â—asseth into Gasconie and besiegeth Agen to diuert Charlemagne from his pursute and to draw him home to defend his owne country The Saâ—azins 〈◊〉 into Gâ—sâ—onie So as Charlemagne fearing least his absence and the Sarazins late victory should alter the mindes of them of Guienne being then subiects of small assurance he returnes into France Aigoland hauing continued some moneths at the siege of Agen and preuailed little but in ouerrunning the country the which he did freely without
the authority her sonne had left her and the free accesse she had vnto his person made a way to the execution of her desseine for hauing corrupted such as had the chiefe forces at their command and wonne them with her sonnes treasure shee seized on him puts out his eyes sends him into Exile where soone after hee died for greefe and tooke possession of the Empire These vnnaturall and tragicke furies were practised in the East The tragicall death of Constantin whilest that Charlemagne by his great valour built an Empire in the West Irene in her sonnes life would haue married him with the eldest daughter of Charlemagne but this accident crossed that desseine After the death of Constantin she sent to Charlemagne to excuse herselfe of the murther disauowing it and laying the blame vpon such as had done it without her command And to winne the good liking of Charles shee caused him to be dealt withall touching marriage for at that time Festrude was dead with promise to consent that he should bee declared Emperour of the West and to resigne vnto him the power of the East But Charlemagne would not accept thereof the Nobility and people of the Greeke Empire did so hate her as hauing suffred her the space of three yeares in the end they resolued to dispossesse her In this publicke detestation of this woman the murtheresse of her owne Childe Nicephorus a great Nobleman of Grece assisted by the greatest in Court and with the consent of the people seizeth on the Empire in taking of Irene Irene banished diuision of the Empire whome he onely banished to giue her means to liue better then she had done He afterwards treates and compounds with Charlemagne that the Empire of the East contynuing vnder his command that of the West should remaine to Charlemagne By this transaction of Nicephorus and the consent of the Greekes the possession of the Empire was ratified and confirmed to Charlemagne and then beganne the diuision of the two Empires East and West That of the West beganne with Charlemagne and continued in his race whilest his vertues did protect it afterwards it was transported to the Princes of Germanie 8â—6 who likewise acknowledged the Germaine stemme of Charlemagne borne at Wormes crowned at Spire and interred at Aix all Citties of Germanie and the truth sheweth that as the Originall so the first commaund of the French was wholie in Germanie Hetherto we haue represented breefly as wee could considering the greatnes and richnes of the matter what Charles did whilest he was King of France onely now wee must relate with the like stile what hath hapened worthie of memorie vnder his Empire His deeds while he was Emperour CHARLES liued fifteene yeares after hee had vnited the Romaine Empiâ—e to the French Monarchy Grimoald Duke of Beneuent sought to disturbe Italie for the Lombard Warre in Italie but Charles preuented it in time by the meanes of Pepin his sonne a worthie and valiant Prince Grimoald was thus vanquished yet intreated with all mildnes so as being restored to his Estate he became afterwards an affectionate and obedâ—ent seruant to Charlemagne who was a wise Conqueror both in his happie valour and the wise vsing of his victorie About the same time the warre in Saxonie was renued In Saxony being alwaies prone to rebellion with the warre against the Huns Bohemians Sclauoniens and the second against the Sarrazins The which I haue breefly reported in their proper places here I note them onely to shew the course of things according to the order of times the goodly light of truth At Veniâ—e 〈…〉 the repuâ—â—e He had likewise a great and dangerous warre against the Venetians wherein he imployed his sonne Pepin Obeliers and Becur great personages were the cheefe Commaunders for the Venetians The Emperour and his Frenchmen receiued a great check by the Venetians who had this onely fruite of their victorie that among all the people of Italie subdued by Charlemagne they alone were not vanquished but had happily made head against great Charlemagne They did greatly increase their name and reputation but nothing inlarged their territories by this conquest glad to haue defenâ—ed themselues against so noble and valiant an enemie By reason of this Venetian war Charles stayed some time in Italie to assure his estate He would haue the Countrie conquered from the Lombards to be called Lombardie with a new name to moderate their seruile condition by the continuance of their name in the ruine of their Estate Seing himselfe old and broken his children great wise and obedient he resolued to giue them portions 〈…〉 to his childâ—â—n and to assigne to euery one his Estate To Pepin he gaue Italy to Charles Germanie and the neighbour Countries keping Lewis his eldest sonne neere about him whom he appointed for the Empire and Realme of France Hee sought to reduce all his Estates vnder one Law An order for 〈…〉 making choise of the Romaine both for the dignitie of the Empire and being more ciuill but the French loth to alter anything of their customarie lawes hee suffred them as they desired and those which had longer serued the Romaines and loued best the Romaine Lawes he gaue them libertie So as Gaule Narbonnoise which comprehends Daulphiné Languedoc Prouence do vse the written Law as the ancient Prouince of the Romaines and the rest of France obserue their customary Lawes Denmarke a dependance of the realme of Germanie and part of Charles his portion The Daâ—eâ—â—â—uolt as we haue said was reuolted from the obedience of the French Charles by his fathers commaund prepares to subdue them but God had otherwise decreed for herevpon he dies to the great greefe of his father and all the French who loued the louely qualities of this Prince the true heire of his fathers name and vertues Charlemagne mourned for his yongest sonne Câ—â—â—les looseâ—h twâ— oâ— his 〈…〉 when as sodainly newes came of the vntimely death of 〈◊〉 his second sonne King of Italie a Prince of admirable hope a true patterne of hâ—s â—athers greatnesse Thus man purposeth and God disposeth thus the sonnes die before the father thus the greatest cannot free themselues from the common calamity of mankinde Thus great Kings and great Kingdomes haue their periods 809. Charlemagne lost his children and the realme her best support for these two Princes carried with them the fathers valour leauing Lewis their brother with large territories and few vertues to gouerne so great an estate After the death of theâ—e two great Princes many enemies did rise against Charles seeming as it were depriued of his two armes the Sarazins in Spaine the Selauons and the Normans in the Northerne regions Rebellion against Chaâ—les but he vanquâ—shed them all and brought them to obedience old and broken as hee was Wee haue shewed how that Nâ—cephorus had beene made Emperour by the death of Irene It chanced that as hee fought against the Bulgartens
of grace 920. the Empire being then very weake After Conrad was chosen Henry the â—ouler Duke of Saxony and after him his sonne Otho Princes adorned with great singular vertues fit for the time to preserue the West for the East did runne headlong to her ruine so as since Nicephorus who liued in the time of Charlemagne they did not esteeme them but held them as abiects in regard of those great Emperours which had liued before them namely Michel Curopalates Leo Armenien Michel the stamering Conâ—usion in the East the two Theophiles father son Basiâ—e the Macedonien Leo the Philosopher Alexander Constantine a Romaine all which had nothing of the Romaine but the name Thus this poore sicke bodie languished being torne in peeces by the infamies of these men either of no valour or altogither wicked attending the last blow by the hand of the Mahomeâ—ans whose power they fortified by their vitious liues vntill they had lodged them vpon their owne heads A notable spectacle of Gods iust iudgement who dishonours them that dishonour him In the Church and expells them from their houses that banish him from their hearts In these confusions of State the Pope of Romes power increased daily by the ruines of the Empire who thrust himselfe into credit among Christians by many occurrents Their desseins was to build a Monarchie in the Church by authoritie power Seigneuries ciuil Iurisdictions armes reuenues and treasor being growne to that greatnes as afterwards they sought to prescribe lawes to Emperours and Kings who refusing it and disputing vpon this primacie many dissentions grew among them and so were dispersed among the people This is the summe of all that shall be discoursed in the future ages in Christendome wherein we shall view the the sea of Rome the Empire and the kingdome I treat but of matters of State 929. wherevnto the subiect and the order of our desseine doth tie me to report by degrees so long and so obscure a discourse of those ages plonged in darkenesse Plantina the Popes Secretary reports a very notable accident happened at Rome in those times a yong maide loued by a learned man these are his words came with him to Athenes attyred like a boy In vita Ioannis octaus and there profited so well in knowledge and learning as being come to Rome there were fewe equall vnto her in the Scriptures neyther did any one exceede her in knowledge so as she had gotten so great reputation as after the death of Pope Leo she was created Pope by a generall consent was called Iohn the eight But it chanced that hauing crept too neere to one of her gromes shee grewe with child the which she did carefully conceale But as she went to the Basilique of S. Iohn de Lateran betwixt the Colises and S. Clement she fell in labour Pope Ioan deliuered of a Child in the open streete and was deliuered of this stolne birth in a sollemne procession in view of all the people And in detestation of so fowle a fact a piller was erected where this profane person died So without flattering the truth not the Empire alone went to wrack but also the realme and the Church being in those daies full of confusions in which they fell from one mischiefe to an other by the barbarous ignorance of all good things both in the State and Church as the wise and vnpassionate reader may obserue in the continuance of the history plainly described But let vs returne from the Empire and sea of Rome to France Wee haue sayd that when Charles the simple was first imprisoned the Queene Ogina his wife had carried her sonne Lewis into England to Aldestan the King her brother She had patiently suffred all during the furious raigne of Raoul the vsurper while the experience of diuers masters did ripen the French-mens discontents to make them wish for their lawfull Lord. After the death of Raoul Aldestan King of England hauing drawne vnto him Willam Duke of Normandie the sonne of Rhou sends a very honorable Ambassage to the States of France intreating them to restore his Nephewe Lewis to his lawfull and hereditary dignity The French wish it so as without any difficulty Lewis the sonne of Charles was called home by the Estates of France whether he was accompanied with a great troupe of English-men and Normans as the shewe of a goodly army which might seeme to force them to that which they willingly yeelded vnto LEWIS the 4. surnamed from beyond the seas 33. kâ—ng LEWES .4 KING OF FRANCE XXXIII 935. LEWIS returnes into France hauing remayned nine yeares or thereaboutes in England surnamed D'outremer or from beyond the seas by reason of his stay there He beganne to raigne in the yeare 935. and raigned 27. yeares A disloyall and vnfortunate Prince hauing made no vse of his afflictions 〈…〉 disloyaâ—â—â—rince vnworthy the bloud of Charlemagne And thus their ruine aduanced by the default of men the which God held back by his patience He fouÌ„d the Estate of his realme like vnto one that returnes to his houâ—e after a long and dangerous nauigation He was receiued with great ioye of all men Those which had beene most opposite vnto him made greatest shewes of faithfull and affectionate seruice to insinuate into his fauour Amongest the rest William Duke of Normandy but especially Hugâ—es the great Maior of the Pallace whome wee haue already noted as the sonne of Robert the chiefe of the said League Hee had imployed all his meanes for the calling home of Lewis into France and at his returne he spared nothing to confirme his authority This was the meanes to â—ay the foundation of a greater authority for his successors They must begin the newe gouernment of this Prince with a wife to haue lawfull issue The Emperours allyance was very needefull Otâ—o heâ—d the â—mperiall dignity being the sonne of Henry the fowler Duke of Saxony â—ewis marrieth one of the Emperors sisters 〈◊〉 â—ather to Hâ—gh Caâ—et marriâ—th an other He had two sisters Heâ—bergue and Auoye King Lewis marrieth the eldest and in signe of brotherly loue he motioned the marriage of the youngest with Hugues the great Lewis had two sonnes by Herbergue Lothaire who succeeded him to the Crowne of France and Charles who shal be Duke of Lorraine and contend for the Crowne but shall loose it Hugues the great was more happy then Lewis for of the yongest hee had Hugh Capet who shall take their place and ascend the royall throne to settle the French Monarchie 937. shaken much in the confusions of these Kings vnworthy to raigne or beare any rule And of the same marriage Hugues had Otho and Henry both Dukes of Bourgongne one after another Behold now vpon the Stage two great and wise personages the King and his Maior whom we may call a second King they striue to circumuent each other the which their actions will discouer but man cannot preuent that on earth
found out very fit to accompanie him Boniface had ill intreated the Colonois one of them named Sciarra flying the Popes furie and seeking some rest had beene taken by Pirats and redeemed by a friend of his at Marseilles and so brought into France The pride of man is to bee abated saith Platina They could not choose a more fit instrument to tame his arrogancie who presumed to controul Kings and to depriue them of their Estates as Platina saith The pretext of Nogarets voyage to Rome was apparent to signifie Philips appeale from the Pope vnto a Councel to find the means to leuie meÌ„ vnder hand for at that time the Realme of Naples obeyed the French whither Philip had conueyed 60. thousand Crownes by the banke of the Petrucri Marchants of Florence to furnish this leuie The Pope was retired from Rome to Anagnia a Towne of Abruzzo where he was borne by reason of the troubles at Rome whereas the Gibilin faction was growne the stronger There were likewise in Anagnia many corrupted by the siluer of France by such meanes as Sciarra gaue vnto Nogaret so as hauing drawne in 300. Frenchmen well armed and woone many of the Cittizens vnto him the Castell whereas Pope Boniface was lodged was seazed on and at the same instant the Cittie gates with that terror which doth vsually amaze men surprised Anagnia seated on and taken by the French Then the French crie the Cittie is wonne No man dares appeare In this confusion the Castell gates being seized on by French souldiars Felix of Nogaret being armed accompanied with Sciarra Colonois and many others enters the Pallace-hall with their naked swords Boniface is not much amazed but hastely attyres himselfe in his Pontificall roabs and presents himselfe vnto his enemies Nogaret begins to say vnto him The good and noble King of France hath sent me hither to tell thee that hee appeales from thee to the Councell But the Pope hauing not the patience to attend the end Thy Grandfather sayd hee condemned for the heresie of the Albigeois was iustly punished by fire a worthy reward for his wickednes before God and man I doe not therefore wondâ—r if I bee thus traterously surprised by thee an heretike but I willingly beare what happened to that good Pope Siluerius Nogaret replyes I will lead thee then to Lions where a Councel shal iudge of thy abuses But as Boniface would haue replied Sciarra more hardy then Nogaret gaue him a great blow with his gantelet on the face which made him to bleed much The Pope cried and he stroke againe so as Nogaret hauing no commission to proceed so farre drew him out of the Colonoises pawes 1394. and hauing retired him into his Chamber howling and blaspheming like a desperate man he led him to Rome But Boniface through this accident entred into so cruell a frenzie Boniface dyes like a madde man as hee gnawed and eate his owne hands and so died pitiously the 35. day after to whom the common report registred in Histories made this Epitaph He entred his Popedome like a Fox he raigned like a Lion and dyed like a Dog Platina addes this Commentarie Thus dyed Boniface The dâ—spoâ—â—ion of 〈◊〉 Boniface who laboured to keepe the consciences of Emperours Kings Princes and generally of all men in awe more by terror then by religion who sought to giue and take away Kingdomes to expell and restore Princes at his pleasure most greedie to gather gold by what meanes soeuer Let Princes therefore both spirituall and temporall learne to gouerne their Clergie and subiects not arrogantly with insolencie and outrage as this of whom we speake but holily and modestly as Christ our King his Disciples and followers who desired to be loued not feared whence iustly proceeds the ruine of tyrants Hee writes also of him That hee nourished deuisions among the â—talians and especially betwixt the Geneuois and the Venetians Behold the testimonie of Platina and the Catastrophe of the Tragedie which Pope Boniface the eight had plotted to ruine the King and his Realme Philip aduertâ—sed of the heauie end of him who had practised to ruine both him and his estate presently sendes his Ambassadors to the Colledge of Cardinals being much amazed with this accident protesting that hee gaue no such commission to Felix of Nogaret to whom notwithstanding he gaue in recompence the Baronie of Caluisson in Vaunage neere vnto Nismes but onely to intimate to Pope Boniface his appeale from him vnto the Councell desiring them to expect all friendship and succour from him The Cardinals reuiued from their great amazement by this kinde message from Philip stood yet long irresolute in the election of a new Pope fearing to do any thing vnpleasing vnto the King In the end they choose one Nicholas a Cardinall who had assisted Philips Cosins in the voyage of Hungarie famous among the Popes by the name of Benedict the 11. He reuoakes the excommunication giuen ouâ— by Boniface against Philip and his people The Colledge of Cardinals aâ—ply themselues wholy to please Phiâ—â—p and restores the priuiledges of the Vniuersitie of Paris whereof hee had depriued them in disdaine of Philip but hee liued not long and the Cardinals desire was to accomodate themselues wholy to the Kings will they therefore by a generall consent choose Clement borne at Bazadois in Gasconie of the house of the Vicounts of Tartas and Lord of Vseste where hee built a goodly Castell called Villandrant as the Lord of Haillan doth testifie an vnreproueable witnesse being of that Countrie This Clement was the first of seuen French Popes which held the Sea one after another vnto Vrbain the 6. vnder whom the Italians recouered it againe with much trouble These seuen Popes were Clement the fift a Goscon Iohn 23 of Cohors in Quercy Benedict the 12. a Tholousan Clement the 6. Innocent the 6. Vrbain the 5. Gregorie the 11. all foure Limosins one after another Such power had this proceeding of our Philip. Clement the 5. being chosen Pope he came into France and the King receiued him at Lions The Pope Crowned at Lions accompanied with the Kings of England and Arragon in great pompe The Pope was on Horseback and the King with his two brethren on foote holding the reynes of his horse Hee was Crowned in the Temple of Saint Iust where they had built a great Theater for so goodly a spectacle but the presse of people was so great as the scaffold brake and the multitude fell one vpon another The Pope Kings Princes and Noblemen were all on a heape and the Scaffold fastened to an old wall pulled it downe so as the King was hurt in the head the Pope in the foote and the Duke of Britaine slaine with a great number of Noblemen and coÌ„mon people that were smothered vnder these ruines The Popes Crowne fell from his head into the presse 1305. where he lost an Carboncle valued at sixe thousand Florins of gold
part the realme of Naples and the Earldome of Prouence and left one sonne named Charles who had two daughters Iane and Magdalene Iane by the death of her sister remayned sole heire of these two great Estats and was married to Andrewe the sonne of Charles King of Hongarie The subiect of our discourse will not suffer mee to speake of the other children Philip the yongest sonne of Charles the Lame had one sonne named Lewis Prince of Tarentum verie faier but of a violent and bold spirit Iane began to loath her husband and preferring the filthy loue of her Cosin before the honour of marriage Iane Queene of Naples kils her husband shee caused her husband Andrewe of Hongarie to be slaine cloaking this horrible and tragike acte with an impudent hipocrisie for she takes vpon her the habit of mourning after the death of her husband whome she her selfe had slaine and writes letters to Lewis King of Hongarie brother to Andrewe full of lamentations Lewis knowing the detestable dissembling of this mastiue The kingdom of Naplâ—s taken by Lewis king of Hongarie prepares his forces against these fayned teares and without any dissembling hee marcheth towards Italie with a mightie armie resolute to take an exemplary punishment of these wretched heads but Iane and Lewis flie into Prouence before the storme Lewis fauored by the reuenging iustice of God takes the Realme of Naples easilie with Charles Duke of Durazzo left for the gard thereof and Lewis Robert and Charles Princes of the bloud The first hee beheads the rest he sends into Hongarie to perpetuâ—ll 〈◊〉 and leauing Stephen Vayuoida gouernour of his newe conquest hee returnes 〈◊〉 to his realme In the meane time the hatred betwixt the two Princes growes violent Warre renued betwixt the two Kings both by forme of 〈◊〉 by open force Philip makes diligent search both in Normandie Picardie 〈◊〉 â—oâ— al the nobility which fauored Edwards faction He caused Oliuer of Clisson to loose his head whose sonne shal be Constable vnder Chales 6 with Bâ—con Persy and Geossroy of 〈◊〉 Knights of marke in whome he notes no other crimes but that they were Englishmen Geossroy of Harcourt was sommoned but in steed of appeering at Paris he retired 〈…〉 to London to kindle the fier in France Yet in these preparations for warre Edward gaue scope to his loues for in the beginning of this warre he instituted the order of the garter with this motto Hony soit qui maly pense in honor of the Countesse of Salisbury honoring in her the chastitie which he could neuer 〈…〉 by all his amorous practises He armes on both sides in Guienne and Normandie The Duke of Lancaster general of the army in Guienne takes Vilefranche of Agenots 〈…〉 S. Bâ—sâ—â—e with many other townes Castells In Guiennâ— to whome Philip opposeth his 〈◊〉 Iohn duke of Normandy who recouers Angoulesme Villefranche froÌ„ the English But the greatest burthen of the warre fell vpon Normandie whether Edward led the flower of all his Nobility landing in the Countrie of Cotantin with aboue a thousand saile At hâ—â— entrie he puts all to fier and sword takes the Towne of Carentan In Normandy by force kills al he 〈…〉 or disarmed spoiles burnes and razeth the Towne In the champian 〈…〉 puts all to the sword saying that he did offer those sacrifices to Bacon Persy his other seruants being vniustly massacred by Philip. The reason was for that the heads of these men stood vpon the cheefegate of Carentan Then he takes and spoiles S. Lo and after a great fight he becomes master of Caen with such a terror as Falaise Lisieux 〈◊〉 yelded vnto him without any resistance These townes being taken he marcheth into the I le of France to drawe Pâ—ilip to battaile proclaiming generally that he called him to fight in the view of all France 1346. at the great Theater of his chiefe cittie of Paris At the same time by the like practises Flanders rebelled by means of Iames of Arteuille who was more then a passionate partaker of Edwards So the disordred passion of this desperate seditious man was a trappe for his owne ruine For as he not onely laboured by all meanes to shake off the French yoake but also grew so audacious as to perswade the Flemmings to leaue their naturall obedience to their Earle and to receiue a new Lord such a one as the King of England should appoint the Flemmings much displeased with this insolent proposition of Arteuille Arteuille slaâ—n by the Flemingâ— as the bloud of a faithfull subiect can neuer denie his Prince they fall furiously vpon him in open assembly and without any further processe they kill him reuenging vpon him the mischiefes they had committed by his pernitious councels Thus in the end this Tribune receiued the guerdon due to such as abuse the furie of an inchanted multitude making them the instruments of their passions against their superiours This iust execution crossed Edwards desseins in Flanders and gaue the Earle meanes to repaire to Philip with his forces and to consecrate his life to him the which he lost in this voyage Philip slept not during these proceedings of Edwards he had gathered together one of the goodliâ—st armies that euer was seene in France consisting of French Lorraines Germaines and Geneuois he which he led towards Meulan where Edward said he attended to fight with him Edward retires vpon this alarum They imagined that he fled for feare but the issue will shew that the great God of armies had appointed his victorie in another place He retiers and Philip followes who in the end ouertakes him at a village called Arenes a remarkable name to shew that all the trust of humane forces and all the desseignes of mans pollicie are like vnto a quicksand Phâ—lips great armie hauing the aduantage of being at home presumed of an assured victorie Edward retired to get the riuer of Somme at Blanquetaque but he must fight for the passage Philip had already seized thereon by Gondemar of Fate with a thousand horse and 6000. foote the most part of them Crosbow men yet Edward resolued to passe or dye With this resolution he leapes into the water and cryes out He that loues me let him follow me At this speech they all plunge into the riuer without any stay so as presently the English recouer the banke Gondemar troubled at this gallant resolution The French defeated at â—lanque taque amazeth his men with his terrified countenance All giue way to the English who incountring our men in disorder charge the rereward but the retreat was neere at Abbeuille and S Riquiâ—r places vnder our obedience The losse was not so great as the disgrace yet was it a presage of a greater mischiefe which followed France These poore men arriue at Abbeuillâ— in a throng all distempered with the amazement of this shamefull and vnfortunate flight Philip exceedingly transported with this disgracefull
in a common-weale who hauing power in the soueraigne authoritie abuse the people with a shew of the common good an ordinarie cloake for such as fish in troubled waters We shall see by the vnruly euents of the contempt of royall authoritie the King being eyther a prisoner or sick in iudgement what a body is without a head a realme without a King well obeyed and a multitude gouerned by it selfe A subiect susceptible of all impressions but of bad rather then good though alwaies couered with a shew of good an instrument of all mischiefes in an Estate when as transported by violent and disordred passions couered with a shew of common good it is not restrained with the reynes of a lawfull authoritie I meane a multitude a dangerous beast with many heads doing commonly more harme then good We shall see heere what councellours of State the ambition and couetousnesse of great men be especially when women entermedle armed with the sâ—ew of publike authoritie and to conclude we shall confesse by a sound iudgement of this discourse that all things done in our age were done before A briefe preface for the greatnesse of the subiect yet necessary for that which is represented in these raignes the which we will note according to thir occurrents The raigne of Iohn Iohn the eldest sonne of Philip of Valois succeeded his father in the yeare 1350. and raigned fourteene yeares He had made a long apprentiship in managing the affaires of the Realme vnder his father Philip but he neither ruled better nor more happily His manners shall be known by his actions He had for sonnes by Ioane Countesse of Boulogne His children and the most remarkable personages in this raigne Charles Lewis Iohn Philip and one Daughter named Ioane Charles his eldest sonne was Dauâ—phin of Viennois in his fathers life and Duke of Normandy and after him King of France Lewis Duke of Aniou Iohn Duke of Berry and Philip called the hardy first he was Earle of Toâ—raine and after through his brothers fauour Duke of Burgongne and Earle of Flanders in the right of his wife Ioane was married to Charles King of Nauarre and Earle of Eureux Princes which shall play their partes vppon this Theater in euery scene of the Tragedy that I am to represent and for this reason they are to be obserued in the beginning This Charles King of Nauarre was sonne to Lewis Earle of Eureux and of Ioane daughter to King Lewis Hutin who by the sufferance of Philip the long her vncle Charles King oâ— Nauarâ—e the scourge of thâ—◠〈…〉 The humors of Câ—arles of Nauaare succeding to the Crowne remayned Queene of Nauarre and by this right Charles her sonne carried bâ—th the title and effect of the Realme with many other great inheritances A Prince of the blood royall both by father and mother and sonne in lawe to King Iohn hauing married Ioane his onely Daughter A man of a subtill spirit eloquent actiue vigilant but 〈◊〉 vnfaithful malicious reuengefull armed with the prerogatiue of his blood and the great meane he inioyed to be a pernitious instrument to trouble the King his Realme beyond all measure but in the end he shall receiue a due reward for his actions by a death worthy of his life After Iohns coronation at Rheims with his wife Ioane being returned to Paris he began his raigne by a famous act of an vnfortunate presage for he caused Raoul Earle of Eu and of Guines to be beheaded in prison vpon light accusations A mournful beginning of his raigne as hauing intelligence with the English and that he betrayed his affaires for that he had passed and repassed into France vpon his faith giuen during his imprisonment He was Constable of France Iohn aduanced Charles of Spaine to his place grand child to the King of Castile and son in Law to the Earle of Blois and so allied to the King and exceedingly beloued of him amongst all his greatest fauourits He shal be the first fruites of many miseries when as this raigne promised some rest vnder a King of age and experience fit to gouerne a Realme Fâ—r as Iohn was busye to institute the order of the Knights of the Starre in the ende growne so common as it remaines a badge for the Knight of the watch and his Archeâ—s vnto this day there chanced a great misfortune to this Constable Charles of Nauarre complained that the King detayned froÌ„ him the Counties of Champaigne and â—rie belonging to his mother by the same title that the kingdome of Nauarre did This was true but by reason of their neerenesse vnto Paris Charles of Nauarre discontented the Kings counsell had â—â—â—ted these Earledomes vnto the Crowne and giuen in exchange the Townes of Mante and Meulan with a pension answerable to the reuenues of the said Earledomes without any preiudice to the Nauarrois But he sought an occasion for a cause smothering some mischâ—uâ—u pretence in his hart the which he discouered by many effects Not dating to complaine directly of the king he quarrelled with the Constable as the chiefe of the Councel Charles of Sâ—aine Constable of FraÌ„ce slaine in his bed by the King of Nauarre of whom he was exceeding iealous for the priuate fauour the King did beare him Hauing taken Councel with his passioÌ„ he caused the Constable to be slaine in his bed at Aigle in Normandie but with so great a presumption as he himselfe came vnto theplace accompanied with his brother Philip of Nauarre Iohn Earle of Harcourt and his brethren and with many Gentlemen his followers This murther thus audaciously committed he retires himselfe easily to Eureux whereof he was Earle from whence he writes to the good Citties of the Realme auouching this murther as done by his command and iustifying it as lawfull and reasonable King Iohn found himselfe much wronged but not able then to redresse it An imagined pardon he promised to remit the fact so as he would aske pardon with the reuerence due to his royall maiesty The which Charles is content to doe but vpon good gages holding the Kings word insuffâ—cient to secure his person So as Iohn giues him Lewis his second sonne for hostage The Nauarrois comes to Paâ—is he presents himselfe to the Kings Couâ—cell and seeks to giue some reason for this murther yet the Councell condemnes him as guilty of high Treason decrees that he should be commited to prison Iames of Boâ—rbon Earle of March newly aduanced to the office of Constable laie hold on him and puts him in gard but all this was but for a shewe to maintaine the publike respect for presently the three Queenes go to the King Ione daughteâ— to Lewis Hutin his mother in law Blâ—nche widow to Phillip of Valois and Ione daughter to King Iohn Queene of Nauarre his wife Charles likewise came himselfe and falls vpon his knees before the King both he and they seeme to weepe and to sue for mercy of
with the Burguignon being their neighbour with the Kings good liking In the meane time the Duke of Bedford leuies what men and money he can both in France and England for some great attempt Charles hath intelligence from diuers parts but what could he doe in so deepe dispaire of his affaires and in so visible an impossibilitie The famous Siege of Orleance ALL the Citties of this side Loire from the Ocean Sea were lost with the whole countries of Normandie Picardie the 〈◊〉 of France Brie and Champaigne He had nothing left but the Townes lying vpon the riuer of Loire from â—yen to Anger 's for La Charité held for the Bourguignon The chiefe was Orleance this being wonne what could hold out long for the French Bourges could make small resistance if the English had forced Orleans The enemies of our State who called Charles King of Bourges threatned to take from him this small and languishing royaltie Orleans then was the marke whereat the Duke of Bedford aimed who hauing wonne the Britton it greatly fortified the English affaires in France As for the Bourguignon he had in a manner recouered the Estates of Holland Hainault Zeland and Namur And although ambition and couetousnesse may neuer be bridled yet these Princes nothing friendly among themselues but as coÌ„mon enemies to this Câ—owne agreed well in this to make their priuate profit by the ruine of our state But man purposeth and God disposeth we shall soone see how much he scornes their vanities In this lamentable time mans reason could not discerne by what means Charles should resist so mighty enemies But in the weakenesse of this Prince I read with ioy the words of the Original which saith During the time that the English held their siege before the noble Citty of Orleans King Charles was very weake beeing abandoned by the greatest part of his Princes and other Noble men seeing that all things were opposite vnto him yet had he still a good trust and confidence in God He was not deceiued in this hope as the sequele will shew The charge of this siege at Orleans was giuen to the Earle of Salisbury a wise valiant Captaine hauing giuen good testimonies of his sufficiency for the well managing of this siege he resolued to take in all the forts neere vnto Orleans that obeyed the French beginning with the weakest parting from Paris taking his way through the Countrie of Chartâ—es he seizeth vpon all the smal Townes wherein our Captaines had so much toyled but a fewe monethes before Nogent le Retrou Puiset Rochefort Pertrancourt Ianuille Toury Mompipeau the Castell of Pluâ—eâ—s and la Ferte of Gaules The Earle of Salisbury sets downe before Orleans and approching neere the Cittie both aboue and beneath Meung Baugency and Iargeau In the ende he plants himselfe before Orleans the 6. of October in the yeare 1428. A day to be obserued for that the 12. of May the yeare following was the last fit of our disease which changed the estate of our miserable country like vnto a pleasant spring after a long and sharpe winter when as a goodly summer crownes all our labours with aboundance of peace and plenty So this siege continued iust 7. moneths The bruit of this great preparation did wonderfully disquiet both court and country vnder the French obedience in the weakenesse and confusions of the state The King after the taking of la Charité was commonly resident at Poitiers he now retires to Chinon to bee neerer to Orleans The townes willingâ—y contrâ—bute men money Charles his diligenâ—e to relieue Orleans and victualls Many great personages flie to this siege to defend the chiefe strength of our King and Kingdome Lewis of Bourbon the sonne of Charles Earle of Clermont the Earle of Duâ—ois bastard of Orleans the Lords of Boussaâ— and Fayette Marshalls of France Iohn Steward Constable of Scotland William of Albret Lord of Orâ—all the Lords of Thouars Chauigny Grauille Chabannes The Captaines la â—ire Xaintrailles Theolde of Valpergue Iohn of Lessego Lombards with many other gâ—eâ—t personages There were not any of the Prouinces of Daulphiné and Languedoc for that the Dukes of Bourgongne and Sauoy at the same instant prepared a great army by the meanes of Lewis of Chaalons Prince of Orange to invade those Countries being wholly in the Kings obedience The Orleanois resolues to defend himselfe He presently beates downe all that might accommodate the enemy suburbs howses of pleasure wine presses yea and the temples themselues Salisburie doth likewise vse great dexterity and diligence to plant his siege The Earle of Salisbury builds up sorts towards Beausse and the port Banniere he builds a great Bastille which he calles Paris Another at the port Renard which he names Rouen Towards S. Laurence another to the which he gaue the name of Windsore At the port of Bourgongne he fortified a ruined Temple called S. Loup and neere vnto it an other named S. Iohn the white At the Portereâ—n hee built a great fort vppon the ruines of the Augustines Church calling it London from the which hee wonne the Towre vppon the bridge and all with â—onderfull speede All the cittye is inuironed hauing neyther issue 〈◊〉 but with sore fighting And in these toyles they spend the rest of the yeare The first day of the new yeare the English for a new yeares gift to the citty bring their scaling ladders couragiously to the Bulwarke at the port Renard but they were valiantly repulsed by the defendants the next day the Admirall of Cullant hauing passed the riuer of Loire at a foord winter being very drie this yeare visits them of the cittie brings theÌ„ diuers necessaries vpon his returne he incounters some English troupes which came stragling from forrage 1429. He chargeth them cuts them in peeces and so retires without danger Thus the moneth of Ianuarie passeth without any other memorable exploite The battaile of Herings vnfortunate for the French But there happened a strange accident the 20. of Februarie following The Duke of Bedford sent Lenten prouision to the Earle of Salisburie with some munition of warre vnder the conduct of Iohn Fastall and Simon Bowyer with 1700. men for their garde The Duke of Bourbon brought a goodly succour of foure thousand men to the besieged He resolues to charge this English troupe hauing well viewed their numbers It was likely the stronger should haue the victorie but the issue was contrary to the desseigne For it chanced as his men marched confidently as it were to an assured victory without any iudgement the English seeing them in doubt how they should fight either on foote or horseback and irresolute in the end they resolue to charge the French it falling out many times in this exercise that he which begins winnes To conclude without any farther aduise the English imbracing this occasion charge our troupes who were so surprised with this vnexpected impression as they presently giue way to
this imagined Empire of the East the Paleologues seised thereon and gouerned it diuersly according to their passions Miâ—hel Andronic Iohn Manuel hauing brought vpon the stage both in diuers occurrents with diuers successe the most horrible tragedies which impiety could deuise to the great dishonor of the Christian name In the end Constantine Paleologus giues the last acquitance of the auncient possession of the Empire to make a new bond in fauour of the Turkes that his name might be answerable to his miserie Wee haue shewed what a breach Baiazet had made in Hongary making so great a slaughter of the french when as he tooke Iohn Duke of Bourgongne prisoner This beginning of a victorie had in shew proceded farther and ruined Constantinople the which he beseeged but that God who would suffer the Christians to breath for their amendment suppressed this tyrant by an other tyrant for Baiazet being taken by Tamberlane did then suffer for his cruelty but he left the conquest of the great Cittie to his posteritie at such time as the wise iust prouidence of God had decreed it the which was 50. years after for the battaile wherein Baiazet was vanquished after he had ouerthrowen our Christians was giuen in the yeare 1395. and Constantinople was taken the yeare 1453. the 29. of May by Mahomet the 2 grand-child to Baiazet a fit instrument to punish the impietie cruelty and all other kindes of execrable dissolution which then raigned among the Christians euen among those which had the cheefe command This Mahomet was the sonne of Amurath borne of a Christian the Daughter of the Despot of Seruia and instructed by his mother in the Christian religion to be the more fit to chastise the Christians who confessing God in their mouthes and denying him their deeds could not be ruined by a fitter instrument and more answerable to the crime whereof they were guilty then a tyrant Atheist who hauing tasted the the true religion had spued it out hauing no religion and mocking at all that caried the name of religion This Mahomet seking to settle his Empire as the eldest of his house 〈◊〉 crueltie against his bretheâ—â—n being loth to haue any companion caused his two brethren to be slaine Tursin and Calepin the one he drowned in a basen the other he caused to be strangled Hauing murthered his two brethren by two of his Bashaes Moyses and Haly he puts these murtherers to death for his bretherens bloud shedding their bloud who had beene the instruments of their murthers Hauing thus setled his Empire by these solemnities he applies all his wit to ruine the Christians being diuided of themselues by strange partialities and as it were inuiting him to their ruine He seizeth vpon the Empire by degrees being called in by the Christians to decide their quarrells and fortifying the weaker of purpose against the strongest A politick man painfull actiue and imperious getting authority by his fearefull tiranny Being seised vpon the Country hauing incombred the Christians affaires and diuided their mindes by sundrie intelligences it was easie for him to beseege Constantinople for who should succor it The greatest enemies the Christians had within the Country were the Christians themselues The Paleologues with the Churches of the East had had recourse to the Pope Emperour and King of France by their fauour to the Councells of Pisa Constance Basill one after an other but they returned with nothing but winde dispaire mockery Thus Mahomet wel assured of his enemies estate beseegeth Constantinople the which was now but the shadow of the Empire a great masse of building testifying that the beauty of the Empire was decayed The Emperour Constantin Paleologus who resigned his authority vnto Mahomet had only a fewe succors from Genua and Venice Constantinople beseeged Mahomet had two hundred and fiftie shipps of war and two hundred thousand fighting men amongest the which the most warlike were leuied in those Countries which made profession of the Christian religion The beseeged seeing their estate desperate sought to sel their liues deerely But what could they do their walles being battered downe by the horrible thunder of the Turkish artilery their port forced by their armed shippes and they themselues oppressed by so infinit a multitude Constantinople taken by the Turks So as a generall assault being giuen Constantinople is taken by force The Cittie thus forced on the one side as Constantine and many of his troupe sought to saue them selues by a gate that was free they were furiously pursued by the victorious Turkes the port being stopt by the multitude Constantine the Emperour smothered many were smothered among the which Constantine was found dead The Turke incensed for the losse of so many his men glutted himselfe with the slaughter of the poore Inhabitants of Constantinople killing all indifferently without respect of age or sexe yong and old women maidens with such exceeding crueltie as no man can write it without terror nor reade it without teares When we shalset before our eyes this goodly Country of the East this capitall Citty of the Empire where the voice of the gospell had sounded in the sacred mouthes of so many holy personages famous doctors of the Church which haue serued happily in their times to become now the dongeon of Impiety the fortresse of error the Rendezuous of al barbarisme and iniquity where Mahomet raiseth himselfe aboue the Kings of the earth thretens Christendome proudly hauing an Empire not onely fashioned but also fortified with the force power of so many kingdoms But alas what speake we of Constantinople the last of our losses in the East When we begin by Ierusalem the chiefe Rendezuous of the Elders of the house of God from whence the Gospell flowed where the holy mouth of the son of God and of his Apostles haue sounded out when we continue by Iury a land which hath so long nourished the true church bin the gard of the doctrine of helth when we crosse ouer this great country of Asia froÌ„ thence passe into those goodly Prouinces of Europe Greece Macedonie the neighbour Nations when we cast our eyes beyond the sea and behold from our windowes the heauen vnder which Affrike lies heretofore replenished with so many goodly churches and enriched with so many excellent Doctors yet all these great large Countries are at this day the receptacles of Mahomet where he vomits forth his blasphemies spoiles the miserable remaynders of the poore Christian Church where he takes the tith of sons and daughters to giue them to Moluc forcing theÌ„ to leaue the truth where he hath ouerthrowen al libertie to plant his absolute Tirany banished all learning euery thing may put man in minde that he is a man what may wee say in comparing our selues with them are wee better then so many that haue lyued in those desolate places making profession of the same Christian religion
and the same hope of eternall life Are our Prouinces more stronger fertill and richer then theirs our Townes stronger and better peopled O Christians if he be wise that takes warning by an other An excellent aduertisement to all Christians how well should these examples serue vs The same way which the capitall enemy of the Church hath made to Mahumed to inuest him in the Empire of the East is it not open by our common dissentions A miserable date the end of the warres betwixt France and England was the confirmation of the Ottomans at Constantinople and the beginning of many miseries to many nations as wee shall see in the following raignes But as misery is good for something nay rather as the prouidence of God is admirable who can drawe light from darknesse by the ruines of the Easterne Churches those of the West haue beene enriched The ignorance of all learning was very great throughout all the Westerne Prouinces since the rule of the Gothes The knowledge of learning and sciences being banished out of the East by the Turke came into the West so as by a singular miracle the West is now become East this goodly Lampe hauing lightned the Prouinces to be a herbinger to the gospell But this planting of the Muses is due to the raigne of Francis the 1. as well King of the Mules as of the Frenche The shipwarke of Constantinople did cast these great personages into Italie the which haue giuen a beginning of solide and perfect knowledge to our nations Emanuel Chrysoliras an Athenien George Trapezondee or of Trebizonde Learned men came into Europe Theodorus Gaza a Macedonien Ierosme Spartiate Gregorie Tiphernas Iohn Argyropile of Constantinople Laonicus Charcondil an Athenien Marcus Musurus a Candiot and Iohn Lascaris These haue begun but our men haue so followed as they haue surmonted them in the knowledge of those goodly professions Almost about the same time the arte of Printing had his beginning Some attribute it to the yeare 1440. to Iohn Guttemberg borne at Strausbourg Printing inuented others to Iohn Fauste at Mayence in the yeare 1452. Doubtlesse it is an excellent inuention to increase knowledge although the vanity and malice of men makes it often times their baude to the preuidice of the truth and all good manners But hauing wandred ouer so many strange Countries Let vs returne to France from whence hauing expelled the English and restored this Monarchie to her auncient beautie by the meanes of our Charles wee must nowe see the last act of his raigne and life The Last act of the raigne and life of Charles the 7. conteyned in seauen yeares From the yeare 1454. vnto 61. THis last act of the life of Charles 1455. 1456. 1457. 1458. 1459. 1460. conteyns a notable president of the vanity of this world Charles had passed a languishing youth borne in the weakenesse of his father and bred vp in the cruelties of his mother he began his life with pouerty the which was continued in the despaire of his affaires and yet he purchased peace to his realme but now he cannot inioy it Obseruations for the discours banding against his owne bloud lyuing in so wilfull a waywardnesse as in the end he brought himselfe vnto the graue after a terrible and tragick manner The whole Realme being in quiet after a long and tedious warre behold a newe storme ariseth in the Kinges house Lewis the eldest sonne of Charles and Daulphin of Viennois was not well satisfied with his father King Charles and the Daulphin discontented one with an other and his father lesse with him The occasions are rather probable then true as they are obserued by writers For to what ende should Lewis bee so discontented with his father for that hee was giuen to the loue of Ladies It is more likely that to proceed at what price soeuer names ceâ—taine Noblemen that should supplie their places that were absent in this action that nothing might want of all necessarâ—e solemnities to iustifie the condemnation To conclude according to the forme set downe in this processe Iohn Duke of Alanson was found guiltie of high treason practising to bring the English into the realme the ancient enemie of this Crowne witnesses are produced Letters auerred and the confession of the accused what more Sentence was iudicially giuen that he should loose his head and forfeit all his goods all being at the Kings goods pleasure Charles giues him his life the which neither President nor Councellor durst contradict yet Charles giues him his life condemning him to perpetuall prison and his goods to his wife and children where he continued but two yeares for Lewis being King he freed him from prison and restored him to his dignitie It is a hard law when force is ioyned to a Kings command Howsoeuer it were the cleere sighted did iudge that the Kings iealousie was the true cause of the condemnation of this poore Prince who had alwayes serued the King faithfully and the King had loued him aboue all the Princes of his bloud honouring him so much as to make him his gossip carrying his eldest Sonne Lewis to the Font. This his familiaritie with his Godson and the credit the Daulphin gaue vnto his councels was held to be a dangerous testimonie against him Were it then iustly or vniustly that this Prince was thus intreated who seeth not heere a great proofe of the inconstancie of this world of great friends they become capitall enemies nâ—ither bloud nor the gages of loue in so holy a thing as the badge of our Christianitie can subdue the violence of passion the which hath no restraint Passion makes Princes prisoners yea euen that which should be of most force to vnite loue hath most power to breed and increase iealousies A notable president in two so great personages Passion makes these two great Princes prisoners borne of one bloud the one a King the other capable of a kingdome The one is prisoner at Loches with his gard the other at Vendosme or at Tours in the greatnesse of his Court This is the difference the one endures paine forceably the other voluntarily But he that commits a sinne is hee not a slaue to sinne Charles his waywardâ—es Aâ—ter this condemnation Charles seemed alwaies grieued both in minde and couâ—tenance the iealousie which he thought to quencâ— in suppressing him whom he suspected so increased as in the end it was the cause of his death He suruiued little aboue two yeares after this Tragedie the which happened the 10. of October in the yeare 1458. and the King dyed the 22. of Iuly in the yeare 61. which time was vnto him a languishing prison or rather a pining death Doublesse he that serues God doth raâ—gne and he that serues vice is but a slaue the Crownes and Scepters of Kings haue no exception in this The quiet of a good conscience is true libertie And who can haue a good conscience but
partly with disdaine and partly with feare seeing Vrsin by the exceeding great fauours which he receiued from Ferdinand and the Florentins to bee growne mighty in all the territories of the Church A league bâ—twixt the Pope the Veneâ—iâ—uâ— and the Duke of Milan The Venetians had yet fresh in memorie the Leagues made against them in the war of Ferrara in the which Sixtus had intangled them and yet to withdrawe them hee imployed both his spirituall and temporall power They had no more confidence in Alexander Yet the policy of Lodowike did in the ende worke this League betwixt the Pope the Senate of Venice and the Duke of Milan in the moneth of Aprill 1493. Thus Lodowike is fortified on the one side but he had an other meaning theÌ„ the Pope or Senat of Venice and foreseeing that he could not long build vpon the foundation of this newe allyance he resolues to assure himselfe by forraine forces seeing that both his owne and his friends in Italie were doubtfull vnto him He therefore conuerts his thoughts on this side the Alpes seeking to drawe the King to seize vpon the ancient inheritance of the house of Anioâ— But let vs see by what right Vrban the 4. gaue the Realmes of Naples Sicile vniustly detayned by Manfroy bastard sonne to Frederic the 2. to Charles Earle of Prouence of Aniou to hold in fee being brother to Saint Lewis â—ho obtayned this title that was giuen him by armes Charles the 2. succeeded his father â—ho left it to Robert his â—on and this man died without heires Ioane daughter to Charles Duke of Calabria deceased before his father enioyed the succession Being disâ—ayned not so much for her sexe as for the lewdnesse of her life The right oâ— France to Naples and Siâ—ile she adopts Lewis Duke of Aniou brother to King Charles the wise for her sonne and tâ—en died of a violent death Lewis passing thether with an armie died of an ague in Apâ—lia seeing himseâ—fe almost in possession of the kingdome so as the house of Aniou reaped no profit by this adoption but onely of the Earldome of Prouence which was continuaâ—ly possâ—ssâ—d by the successors of Charles the 1. NotwithstaÌ„ding Lewis of Aniou son to the first Lewis and after the grandchild of the same name thrust on by the Popeâ— as often as they had any quarrell with the Kings of Naples haue often but infortunately inuaded this Realme By the death of Ioane the Realme was transported to Charles of Durazzo issued likewise from Charles the 1. to whom Ladislaus his sonne succeeded who dying without issue left his sister Ioane the 2. for his heire an vnfortunate name in that place whose indiscretion and impudency of life made them purchase the â—ame of Wolues Lewis the 3. making warre with the helpe of Martin the 5 against Ioane leaâ—iâ—g the gouernment of the Realme to those â—home she had abandoned her body she adopted for her sonne and sole refuge Alphonso King of Arrâ—gon and of Sicâ—lâ— Afterwards hauing reuoked her adoption vpon colour of ingratitude she adopted the same Lewis who imploying his forces for her against Alphonso expelled him tâ—e realme but he died the same yeare leauing Ioane in quiet possession the remainder of her life Then dying without children she instituted René Duke of Aniou and Earle of Prouence for heire being brother to the said Lewis her adoptiue sonne This institution displeasing some Barons who said that the will was forged by them of Naples they calâ—ed backe Alphonso Hence sprong the warres and factions betwixt the Angeuins and the Arragâ—nois nourished so long by the couetousnes of Popes who according to the oportunitie of times haue oftentimes granted their inuestitures diuersly Alphonso carrying it by force and dying without lawfull heires left Ferdinand his bastard to succeed as a purchased good not belonging to the Crowne of Arragon Iohn sonne to René â—ssisted by the chiefe Barons of the Countrie came to assaile him but the happines and valour of Ferdinand giues him the repulse René suruiuing his sonne Iohn and dying without an heire male names Charles his brothers sonne for heire who dying without children resigned all his inheritance to Lewis the XI Father to Charles the eight Charles was but two and twentie yeares old little experienced in affaires couetous of glorie and thrust on with a valiant desire he often neglected the wholesome coâ—â—sell of the wisest namely of Iames of Grauille All the wisâ—st of the Kings Counsell disswade him fâ—om the enterpriâ—e of â—â—alie Admirall of France preferring the aduise of sâ—me oâ— base qualitie that possessed him corrupted by the Neapolitaines thâ—â— were retyred for reliefe by the Ambassadors of Lodowick The Nobilitie of France â—ommended the wisedome of Lewis the XI who refused to accept of the Geneucis wheÌ„ they offred themselueâ— being alwaies loath to attempt any thing vpon Italie being both painfull and fatall to the Realme They knew Ferdinand to be a wise Prince rich in money and of great fame and his sonne Alphonso to be valiant and well seene in the art of warre but these were but shewes and all their reputation turned into a ridiculous smoake That for the gouernment of warre and state the Kings counsel was but weake and their experience small that had most credit with him Hee must haue a huge masse of money and there was none in his Treasorie Moreouer they obiected the craft and policie of the Italians that Lodowike himselfe for a light pâ—ofit would breake his faith That hee would be loath to see the Kingdome of Naples in the King of France his power finally to make any conquest beyond the Alpes were to vnfurnish the Realme both of men and money All this was but to cast oyle into fire alreadie kindled Charles reiects all aduice of peace and without the priuitie of any but de Vers and Prisonnet hee agrees secreâ—â—y with Lodowikes Ambassadors That an armie passing into Italie for the conquest of Naples Articlâ—s betwixt Câ—aâ—les and Lodowâ—kâ—â— the Duke of Milan should giue him passage through his Countrie hee should acompany him with fiue hundred men at armes maintayned he should suffer him to arme what 〈◊〉 hee would at Genes and before hee should march hee should lend the King two huâ—â—red thousand Dâ—â—cats On the other part The King should defend the Duchie of Milan againâ—â— all men and should especially maintaine Lodowicâ—s authoritie and duâ—ing the warre he 〈◊〉 maintaine two hundred Lances in Ast a Cittie belonging to the Duke of Orleans to sâ—ppâ—â— all necessities in the Duchie This he signed with hiâ— owne hand and promised moreoueâ— vnto Lodowike That going to the Conquest of Naples he should giue him the principalitie of Taâ—etâ—m But dâ—d not Lodowike feare the power of so great a king lately fortified with three goodly Prouiâ—ces of Bourgondie Picardie and Brittaine the which his father Francâ—s Sfoâ—ce would haue doubted if a poore Earle of Prouence had conquered the realme
in France In the meane time the soldiars sacke Ferdinands lodging and his stable the men at armes disperse themselues theresome here some Virgilius the Earle of Petellano craue a safe-conduit from the King and retire with their companies to Nole Ferdinand thinking by this iourny to haue assured the Neapolitaines returnes at the time perfixt when as the Capuans aduise him not to set forward seeing they were other wise resolued Auerse a Towne betwixt Capua and Naples sends their keyes to the King Auerse yeelds and the Neapolitains determyned to followe them Ferdinand retyred into the Castel knowing that fiue hundred Lansquents ment to take him prisoner he giues theÌ„ the mouables of the said Castell and as they were busie to diuide it he slips from them setts the yong Prince of Rosane at liberty whome by loue or force he carried with him and the Earle of Popoli Ferdinand King of Naples flies he causeth the ships that remained in the port to be burnt and sunke and saues himselfe with the Queene Don Frederick his vncle his daughter Ioane and some few seruants in the I le of Ischie and whilest he was within sight of Naples he often repeated this goodly Oracle If the Lord keepe not the Citty the watchmen watch but in vaine Thus all wauer at the Conquerors fame and with such cowardise as two hundred horse vnder the command of the Earle of Ligny going to Nole tooke both Nole Virgilius Nole taken and the Earle of Pettilano without resistance being retired thether with foure hundred men at armes attending the safe conduit they had obteyned from the King being amazed like to the rest of their army and from thence they were led captiues to the fort of Montdragon Naples yeelds and all their men stript In the meane time the Neapolitans Ambassadors come with their keyes desiring a confirmation of their ancient exemptions and priuileges The King enters the 21. of February and is receiued with such excedâ—ng â—oâ— both of great and small of all ages all sexes and all qualities as euery one runs as to their deerest redeemer from a hatefull insupportable tiranie Thus Charles without planting of tent or breaking oflaunce in foure moneths and a halfe with an admirable happines The whole Kingdome of Naples conquered by Charles came sawe ouercame They saie commonly that the poyson lies in the taile and that the hardest part to flea of an eele is the caile The perfection of the victorie consisted in the taking of the Castels of Naples The Tower of Saint Vincent built for the defence of the port was easily taken The new Castell the lodging of their Kings seated vpon the sea strong by nature by art plentifully furnished with victuals and munition and manned with fiâ—e hundred Lansâ—â—enets but abandoned by the Marquis of Pescare to whome Ferdinand had left it in gard who seeing the garrison bent to yeeld the place had followed Ferdinand was after some small defence yeelded vpon condition to depart in safetie to carry what they could away And see heere the first and greatest error which the King committed in this exploit himselfe wanting experience but his minions and fauorits no couetousnesse Hee gaue all these victuals and other moueables to the first that begged them who furnished themselues with the munition He committs a great error whereon the preseruation of the Towne and place depended The Castle de l'Oeuf built vpon a rocke hanging ouer the sea being battered with the Canon the which might onely indamage the wall but not the rock it selfe compounded if they were not releeued within a certaine time and after foure and twenty dayes siege it was deliuered into the Kings hands The King made his entrie into Naples the 12. of May in an Imperiall habit and was receiued as King of France and of both Siciles whereof the realme of Naples makes a part Emperour of Constantinople Charles makes a royall entry into Naâ—â—es But herein he made no iust accoumpt with him that gi es and takes away Kingdomes The Barons and commonalties sent away their Captaines and troupes dispersed into diuers parts of the realme Those which depended most of the house of Arragon do first turne taile The Caraâ—ses who enioyed forty thousand Ducats of inheritance The Dukes of Mâ—lfe Grauina and Sora. The Earles of Montorio Fundi Tripalda Celano Monteleon Merillano and Popoli come to doetheir homage and generally all the Noblemen of the Realme except Alphonso Auolo Marquis of Pescare the Earle of Acre and the Marquis of Squillazzo whose liuings the King gaue away An other rigour which shall be a great cause of the following reuolts Calabria yeelds willingly to the Lord of Aubigny sent thether with a small troupe except the Castell of Rhegium but they wanted meanes to â—orce it the Towne held for the King Abruzzo yeelds of it selfe Apulia erects the Standard of France except Turpia and Mantia who notwithstanding had planted the Flower-de-Liz yet refusing any other command then of the King himselfe who had giuen them to the Lord Persi d' Alegre and they returne to their first maister The Castles of Brundusium and Gallipoli were neglected with too gâ—eat confidence but they shal serue shortly as a leuaine to stirre vp a masse of rebellion The rocke of Caiette well fuâ—â—ished with all things necessary yeeldes at dâ—scretion after some light assaults Tarentum Otrante Monopoli Trani Manfredonne Barle and in a manner all other strong places yeeld at the first brute But some holding themselues wronged for that they had in a manner disdayned to heare their deputies others for that they had sent no man to receiue them will soone returne to their first demand The I le of Ischia remained yet and Ferdinand vpon the first intelligence of the yeelding of the Castles of Naples had abandoned it to Ianick d' Auolo brother to the Marquis of Pescara both most faithfull to their Prince and was retyred into Sicile The King sends thether his armie at sea the which was cast by a tempest vpon the 〈◊〉 of Corse yet in the ende they anchored vpon the realme but after the last acte of this expedition This armie holding it selfe too weake to force the foote of â—scâ—ia would not assaile it and therefore the King resolued to send into Prouence and Genes formore shippes and to assure the Sea the which Ferdinand scowred with foureteene galleys ill armed Bâ—t prosperitie doth oft times make vs become insolent and without considering the consequence wee easily let matters passe at aduenture Our French are now well lodged they dreame of nothing but feasting dancing and Turneys and the greatest about the King haue no other care but to make the victorie profitable to themselues without any regarde neither of the dignitie nor 〈…〉 of their Prince who not satisfied with the conquest of these goodly and riche estates determines to aduance his victorious forces Let vs leaue them gâ—â—tted
owne charge The Vrsins and the Gouernour of Rome a thousand men at armes Moreouer there was in Ast eight hundred men at armes and sixe thousand foote If all these forces with the French had ioyntly charged the Duke of Milan either his estate had beene in danger or hee must haue followed the Kings partie the which obtained the kingdome of Naples had beene easily recouered The Duke of Orâ—â—â—ns was appointed to this effect for the King would not directly breake the treatie of Verceil The Duke of Orleans reâ—useâ—h to make warre against the Duke of Milan in his owne name desiring the Duke should make this warre in his owne proper name The Duke refuseth to march with other title then the Kings Lieutenant either iudging his prouisions not well grounded or seeing the King ill disposed of his person whose next heire he was if hee miscaried Thus both the enterprise and the intelligences which Triuulce had against the Milanois were made frustrate There are other actions which succeed as vnhappely The Fregoses being expelled Genes by the faction of the Adornes could not returne without some notable support who coming to the gates they hoped with great facilitie to raise their partisanâ— to chase away their aduersaries and to reduce the Towne to the Kings obedience The King vppon this hope commands Triuulce to assist Baptista Fregose witâ— those forces which he had in Ast and the Florentines with Octauin Fregose to assaile Luâ—giane at the same time and the East coast whilest that Baptista should molest the Weast This enterprise did much trouble the Duke of Milan and if it had beene continued it had produced greater effects in the estate of Milan then at Genes For Lewis of Fiesque and the Adornes had brought many men into Genes and armed a fleeâ— to seâ— at the common charges of the Venetians of Lodowike and of Frederike king of Nâ—ples And Lodowike had not yet receiued his Venetians But in stead of Genes they wen to take Noui a towne able to coÌ„teine many men and the Fregoses held the castle fit to make warre in the countrie and to stoppe the passage from Milan to Genes The taking of Noui made the neighbour places yeeld to Baptista and at the same instant the Cardinall of S. Pierra with two hundred Launces and three thousand foote of Triuulies troupes seised on Vintemille and presented himselfe before Sauonne hoping that in disdaine of the Geneuois whose yoake they bare hee should find both the Citizens harts and the Cittie gates open But no signe no shew of any alteration Iohn Adorne followed the Cardinall and forced him to retire into Altare a place belonging to the Marquis of Montferrat Triuulce had an other desseing and although he had an expresse commandement from the King to surcease from making warre against the Duke of Milan and to second Baptista and the Cardinall yet did he seeke by all meanes to kindle troubles in the said Duchie and if he had beene suffered to proceed without doubt there had followed some notable effect vnder colour to assure the companies that were passed into the riuer vpon the East that he thought it necessarie to shut vp the passage betwixt Alexandria and Genes whereas Lodowike assembled his forces by the taking of Bourg and other places of importance in the Countrie But to obey the Kings will he lost a goodly oportunitie to doe great seruice vnto the Crowne for now the whole Countrie stood at gaze some for feare others being desiâ—ous of innouation The Duke of Miâ—an perplâ—xed and Lodowike as much perplexed in this aduersitie as in all other flâ—es to the Duke of Ferrara his Father in law to mediate an accord betwixt the King aâ—d him But the fruitlesse staie of Triuulce betwixt Bosco and Noui gaue the Venetians meanes The Venetians succour the Duke of Milan to send many men at armes and light horsmen to Alexandria and fifteene hundred foote to Genes and finally to send the Earle of Petilliane to succour the estate of Milan Thus the Fregose practises came to nothing the which they imputed to the Florentines who would not assaile the riuer of the East being loath to enter into a war vntill they might see the French affaires more succesfull And Triuulce leauing garrisons in Noui and Bosco takes his waie to Ast. It may bee the dismembring of these companies into peeces did hinder their enterprise and it may be if all together had gone directly to Genes the successe had beene more proffitable for besides the diuerse humors of factions most of the Reistres Lansquenets which Lodowike had sent thether were after some small stay returned vn-awares into Germanie About the end of this yeare the Kings of France and Spaine began their assemblie promised at the last truce Truce continued with the Spaniard the which they had transported from Montpellier to Narbone and afterwards broken off by the Castillians excessiue demaunds There they found the same difficulties The King would reserue to himselfe ful power to continue his enterprise in Italie refusing to yeeld to any agreement wherein it should be comprised The King of Spaine desired to haue no warre with him beyond the mountaines which might draw after it many inconueniences and yeld him small profit finally they continued their truce not coÌ„prehending any of the Potentates of Italie The Spaniard seeing the king to meditate of a second voiage beyond the mouÌ„taines hoped to perswade him to the counquest of Naples with their common forces and to take from the Venetians many ports and other places which they possessed the vsurpation whereof was very suspitious vnto him But neither of them had made his account with him who doth prolong and shorten the dayes of man at his pleasure and who doth sound the secret thoughts of men But not able to obteine this condition of Charles with all his policie he procured it of his successor to the great preiudice of his Crowne Then expired the two yeares during the which the castle of Genes had bin left in gard with the Duke of Ferrare The King pretending the foâ—faiture and disobedience of the Duke of Milan demands the possession thereof offering to lay downe in a third mans hand halfe the charge spent for the gard of the places according to the treaty of Verceil The Duke of Ferrare doth an â—ll office for the King and in the meane time the law should determine to which of them it should bee restored But the great pursuit of Lodowike and the imminent danger hee feared made him to yeeld it vp vnto Lodowike vpon restitution made of all his charges for the gard thereof And the Venetians to shewe that they held themselues more bound for that he had deliuered it to Lodowike rather then to our Charles they entertayned Ferdinand the Duke of Ferrares sonne paying him for a company of a hundred men at armes The Kings desire to returne into Italy increased still and it seemed hee
death of the Duke of Nemours for if he had liued it is likely that gouerning well his victory hee had with his helpe that giues and takes reaped the fruits worthie thereof But greatnesse comes neyther from the east nor from the west nor from the desert for it is God which gouerns he puls downe one and raiseth an other The Pope still gaped with his olde desire to haue Ferrare in his power But by the intercession of the Marquis of Mantoua the Ambassador of the King of Arragon for that Alphonso was borne of a daughter of olde Ferdinand King of Naples and the Colonnes Alphonso hauing demanded and obtayned pardon of the Pope vpon promise hereafter to do the deeds and duties of a faithfull feudatarie and vassall of the Church Iulius turnes his reuenge vpon the companies wherewith the Florentins had aided the King whome hee caused to bee spoiled by the Venetian soldiars with the consent of the Cardinall of Sion who notwitstanding had giuen them a pasport to passe safely into Tuscane And by the practises of the sayd Iulius who according to the ancient desire of all Popes sought to haue authority in this commonweale the Medicis with the helpe of the Confederats returned to Florence settled themselues by force in the dignity which their father was wont to enioye Italie being for this time freed froÌ„ the feare of the French forces the King holding nothing but Bresse Creme Legnague the Châ—sâ—elet and the Lanterne at Genes the Castells of Milan of Cremona and some other forts all these Confederats gaped after the Duchie of Milan and the Suisses on whome the Pope then partly depended opposing themselues not to suffer this estate to fall into the hands of any other Prince but of such a one as could not maintaine himselfe without their aide and succour Maximilian grandchild to Lodowike Sforce was named Duke of Milâ—â— who made his entrie in the end of December receiuing the keyes from the hands of the Cardinal of Sion Sforce restored to Milan as confirming the sayd Maximilian That he held the possession of Milan in the Suisses name An honorable act and worthy of their generosity not to yeeld the honour which belonged vnto theÌ„ to the other confederats the which notwithstanding tâ—ey should much esteeme and it may be might haue obtained it for money Nouarre returnes soone after to the obedience of Sforce Then the Genouois recouered the Chastelet of Genes forten thousand Ducats giuen to the Captaine and the Venetians beseeging Bresse Aubigni who defended it resolues to deliâ—er â—t to the Spaniards to breed a iealousie betwixt them euen as a fewe dâ—â—es before Palisse had giuen Legnague to the Emperour to nourish a discord bred betwixt the Emperour and the Venetians who beseeged it Octauian Sforce Bishop of Lode and gouernor of Milan sent foure thousand Suisses to conquer Creme for Maximilian Sforce but Benedict Cribaâ—io corrupted by gifts deliuered it to the Venetians with the consent of the Lord of Duras who kept the Castell This was of purpose to breede a diuision betwixt the Suisses and the Venetians A counsell generally concluded by the French which remayned of this ship-wrake the which in the end wrought some effects but the losse fell vpon the French for with this first disdaine of the Venetians against the Emperour by reason of Legnague behold a newe leuaine of discontent is laied by the Bishâ—p of Gurce Maximilians â—mbassador at Rome Hee made great instance that the Venetians should deliuer Vincence to the Emperour wherevnto neither soliciting intrâ—aâ—ings nor the Popes threats could induce the Venetians The Pope desyring to gratifie Maximilian that in his fauour he should approue the CouÌ„cell of Lateran against that of Pisa protested to the Ambassadors of Venice A new League where the Veâ—â—tians are excluded That he should be forced to pursue their common weâ—le both with spirituall and tempoâ—all armes So as nothing moâ—ed with this protestation the Pope the Emperour the Arragonois renue the league of Cambraye declaring the Venetians to be excluded So the Emperour by the Bishop of Gurce in the next session of ths Councell of Lateran disauowed all them that had vsed his name in the Councell of Pisa and allowed that of Lateran In the meane time the six thousand English promised by Henry King of England were arriued at Fontaraby a Towne seated vpon the Ocean frontier of the realme of Spaine towards France to asâ—aile ioyntly according to the conuentions of the two Kings of Arragon and England father in Lawe and sonne the Duchie of Gâ—ienne vpon this pretext the Arrogonois had intreated Iohn son to Alain of Albret and King of Nauarre â—but by reason of Katherin of Foix his wife heire of the sayd realme to remayne a newrer betwixt the King of France and him and that for the assurance thereof hee should deliuer certaine places into his hands promising to redeliuer them when the warre should be ended But the Nauarrois knowing well the demanders intent obtaines a promise of succors from King Lewis who to diuert the Arragonois forces treated with the Duke of Aâ—be Lieutenant generall for Ferdinand in this army But when the one partie is vigilant and politike and the other â—louthfuâ—l there soone appeeres great effects The Industry vigilancie of Ferdinand the slackenesse and too great facility of Lewis who abused with the policie and deuises of his Nephew did equally hurt the Nauarrois who suffred himselfe likewise to bee deceiued with the fradulent hopes wherewith the Arragonois entertayned him who seeing the succors of France farre off Nauarre vsurped by the Arragonois the realme vnfurnished of forces and the places not yet fortified enters into Nauarre takes Pampelune and the other Townes of the realme abandoned by Iohn being vnable to defend it and fled into Bearne And hauing no lawfull title to possesse it publisheth that hee is lawfully seized thereon by the authority of the Apostolike sea whereby the sayd realme was giuen to the first that should conquer it by reason of the alliance which Iohn had with the King of France a sworne enemy to the Church and by the Popes bull both beeing subiect to the censure as heretikes scismatikes Without doubt the Pope holds not this prerogatiue of Iesus Christ to giue kingdomes and to expose them in prey for he exhorted to yeeld and not to take from Caesar and the Apostles did not busie themselues to diuide earthly possessions Moreouer is it lawfull for the Pope to vsurpe an other mans right giue away that which is not his owne and consequently the spirituall sword against those he cannot iudge hauing declared himselfe a party After the Conquest of Nauarre the English perswaded Ferdinand to the seege of Bayâ—nâ—e who without this place made no reckoning of the rest of Guienne But he held that which he long wished for as a commodious Country and very necessary for the safetie of Spaine and could not affect the warre
of the golden fleese on Saint Andrewes day and the King of Spaine that of Saint Michell on the said Saints day The Venetians also by the Kings meanes had prolonged their truce for fiue yeares with the Emperour But the soueraine Iudge of the world hauing decreed to punish the disorders of Christendome with sundry afflictions tooke Maximilian out of this world The death of Maximilian in whose life we may obserue a strange alteration of affaires for if prosperity did often present vnto him goodly occasions aduersity did as often crosse him in the execution A good Prince mercifull courteous very liberall a great spender the which did many times hinder his good successe painfull secret well seene in the arte of warre but his happie beginnings did commonly proue fruitlesse through his owne delayes and inconstancie This death bred an equall desire in the mindes of two great Princes Francis King of France and Charles King of Spaine Francis sent the Lord of Boissy Lord Stuard of France to purchase the fauour of the Germaine Electors for the Empire Some promised all fauour for the King his master yet the cause was not so fauorable for the French hauing no correspondencie with the Germains neyther in tongue manners nor life Moreouer the Commons of Germanie were sutors that the Imperiall dignitie might not go out of the nation The Pope fauored the King but in shewe onely hoping that by these demonstrations of loue hee would hereafter giue more credit to his Councells whereby discouering that in his inward thoughts the election both of Francis and Charles were alike suspect vnto him hee labored to perswade the King that seeing there was small hope for him to carrie it by voices he should seeke by his authority to aduance some other Germanie Prince to this Crowne rather then Charles But whilest that Francis feeds himselfe with vaine hopes giuen him by the Elector of Brandebourg and the Archbishop of Triers who to drawe money from the King gaue him great assurances 1519. Charles in steed of gold brings armes to the field An aâ—my approacheth neere to Francford for the King of Spaine vnder colour there should be no force in the election the which increased their courage that fauoured his cause made them yeeld that wauered and troubled the French faction So Charles of Austria King of Spaine The election of Charles the fift of that name was chosen Emperour of Germanie the 28. of Iune The Election of a newe Emperour consists in the voyces of sixe Germaine Princes Three are of the Clergie the Archbishops of Maience Cologne and Treues Three seculars the Count Palatin the Duke of Saxony the Marquis of Brandebourg The King of Bohemia is Vmper when as the voyces are equall The Emperour is chosen at Francford and crowned at Aix la Chapelle Who could doubt but these two yong princes hauing so many occasions of Ieloâ—sie and quarrel would soone breake forth into fierce and cruell warres the which had taken deepe roote in both their hearts The King desired infinitely to recouer the Realme of Naples and did greatly affect the restitution of Henry of Albret to â—is kingdome of Nauarre whereof he sees himselfe now frustrate by the sodaine aduaâ—cement of Charles to so high a dignitie and all that which the French held in Italy was in great danger The Emperour on the other side was disconteÌ„ted that the King contemâ—iâ—g the accord first made at Paris and knowing the necessity of his passage into Castille for the which his fauour did much import had in a manner forced him to agree to new Articles Moreouer the king had taken the Duke of Gueldres into his protection an enemy to the Flemings who where subiects to Charles a sufficient cause to drawe both Francis and Charles into armes But aboue all the recouerye of the Duchie of Bourgongne caused strange alterations in the minde of this new Emperour The Duchy of Milan was a sufficient motiue of quarrell the King since the death of Lewis the 12. had neither demanded nor obtained inuestiture and therfore they pretended the possession to be of no validity and his interest to be voide yet all these were not sufficient motiues to stirre vp those horrible confusions which so afflicted the Estates of these two Princes for the space of thirty yeares Ambitious hatred is alwaies grounded vpon light beginnings In the meane time the Preachers of this voyage against the Turke dispersed through out all Christendome 1520. grew vehement promising according to the Popes Bulls pardon for all sinnes and the kingdome of heauen to such as paid a certaine summe of money Without doubt Leo vsed the authority of the Apostolike sea too boldly diâ—persing throughout the world without distinction of time or place most large pardons not onely for the liuing but also to redeeme the soules of the dead from purgatory for money And for that euery one did plainely see that these pardons were oâ—ly granted to get money which the Commissioners appointed for such exactâ—â—â— demaunded after an impudent and shamelesse sort being also well knowne that the greatest part of them had purchased their authority from the Popes officers Leo incurred great dislike many were discontented with this insolent proceeding especially â—n Germany where the ministers of this collection appointed aâ—cording to the common opinion for the deliuery of poore Christians fighting vnder the burthen of the Turkâ—sh yoake sold for a small price yea played away in their Ale-houses their authority to redeeme dead mens soules from purgatory And that which did more increase the peoples spleene it was generally reported that Laurence of Medicis had carried a breefe froÌ„ his vncle to King Francis whereby he allowed him to imploy the money gathered throughout his Realme for this warre to what vses hee pleased vpon condition to yeeld it when it should be demaunded for the voyage beyond the seas and to imploy fifty thousand crownes to the benefit of the said Laurence his Nephew A worthy cause to make the French repine seeing the money they gaue to a good intent was conuerted to contrarie vses But that which made the Germains wonderfully impatient Leo had giuen to his sister Maudlin the profit of the exaction of Indulgences in many parts of Germany who appointed the Bâ—shop Arembauld a Commissioner in that part Worthy saith the history of such a charge the which he executed with great couetousnes and extortion Being the more odious for that this holy money went to satisfie the greedinesse of a woman So as not only this exaction and the Agents thereof but also his name and authority that granted it became odious in many prouinces Martin Luther a religious man of the order of S. Austin learned and vehement The beginning of Lutheâ—â— doctrine began to preach against these indulgences in his publike sermons he taxeth the Popes authority complaines of Albert of Brandebourg Archbishop of Mayence and of the doctrine which these gatherers did teach
in steed of making his entry into the Realme shall shamefully make him retire into Castille Manye inticements drawe him into France Wee haue had said hee almost for these twenty yeares a continuall victory against the enemy The Duchie of Miâ—an which we now possesse The Emperorâ— conceit of his pasâ—age into France is a certain testimony of our triumphs we haue reason to retaine the same resolution in this warre and the same hope which conquerors ought to haue and leaue vnto the French terror and dispaire which commonly doth accompany the vanquished We are superiors in number men of better constitution more practised in the art of warre and leauing some part of our forces on this side the mountaines we haue sufficient remaining to incounter the enemies power But that which will giue vs the victory we march against one that hath broken his faith the iudicious reader may consider which of these two Princes had most right whether the Emperour taking vpon him the protection of the Duke of Sauoye or the King seeking his right by force of armes which he could not obtaine by reason from hiâ— Vncle Doubt not but we haue God for vs he is a iust Iudge and a rigorous reuenger of the breach of faith Moreouer let vs not feare that the king of France can fortifie himselfe on this side the Alpes he wiâ—â— prepare all his forces against this armie but I haue an other ready to inuade Picardy and besides tâ—e Empresse prepares one in my kingdomes of Spaine which shall come by Laâ—guedoc to iâ—yne with mee I leuy an otâ—er to assaile Champagne and Bourgorgne in the hottest of these warres the which shall performe as much for my seruice as tâ—e rest Hauing so great pâ—eparatiues and in so maâ—y placeâ— and the king so surprised as he cannot â—n time assemble sufficient forces to encounter so many armies it is impossible but on some one side we should make a paâ—sage by force euen into the heart of his Realme Wee haue good intelligences and manage great practiâ—es This spake the Emperour But Doest thou know the decres of heauen saith the Eternall reprehending man and wilt thou dispose of the gouernment thereof vpon earth What were these great practises and secret intelligences which the Emperour vaunted to haue in France A politike Commaunder doth commonly vse this kinde of speech to giue courage to his men and breede iealousie and distrust in his enemye against his subiects Hee had some secret practiser vppon the Towne of Langres bâ—t the Inhabitants were too faithfulâ— to their King and since in these latter dayes haue giuen sufficient testimony of their obedience to the Crowne Some helâ— that the Marquis of Salusses had partakers of his treachery and William Dâ—ke of Bauiere said oâ—enly that many in France holding the same party would discouer themselues at need The death of Fâ—anciâ— the Daulâ—â—in poâ—â—oned But whatsoeuer it were that which gaue a more liuely impression Francis Daulphin of Viennois the Kings eldest sonne whom his maiâ—stie going from Lions to see his army which he ment to oppose against the Emperour had left sick at Tournon dies the fourth day of his sicknesse being about tâ—eâ—ty yeares old bred vp by his father in siâ—gular expectation of all the world to proue in â—ime a great and most excellent Pâ—ince And Sebastian Earle of Monte-câ—câ—llo found guilty of poison and for that cause was drawne in peeces with foure horâ—es within Lions had by his confession declared that the Emperour had once enquired If he knew the order and manner of the kings eating and drinking An attempt so wicked as it is scarse credible that so wretched and damnable a treason should enter into the heart of so generous a Prince Notwithstanding when Don Ferdinand of Gonzague presented the sayd Sebastian to the Emperour saying that he was ready to execute that which hee had promised vnto him and to Anthony de Leue if the desseine extended vpon any places of the French obedience why did he informe himselfe of the Kings eating and drinking Besides during these practises why did Don Lopes of Sora Ambassador fâ—r the Emperour at Venice inquire who should reigne in France and against whome the Emperour should pursue these wars in case the King and his children should die If he had not bin acquainted with some fatall practise against the said Priâ—ces Thus the Emperour resolute to passe against the opinion of the clearest sighted as he afterwards confessed vnto the King with his owne mouth who hauing till then seeâ—ed to follow Councell did now rashly follow his owne head and now by diuers and many expeditions of diuision of places offices Captaineshippes gouernments gifts of Townes and Castells deuouring by presumption the goods of the Kings subiects and seruants hee left ten thousand men to continue the seege of Turin and for the affaires of Piedmont hee diuided his armie into three bands for the greater commoditie of the passage and appointed their Rendezuous at Nice and there abouts In the first were the men at armes with the Lansquenets of the Lord of Thamise conducting the artillerie and the baggage who tooke their way by the riuer of Genes In the second Don Ferdinand of Gonsague The Emperouâ—s passage into Prouence generall of the light horse and with them some Neapolitane men at armes the Lords of Iselsthein Dietriâ— Spech Wolfe Dietric of Kuttringhem Colonells of the Reistres then the Marquis of Guast with the Spaniards and the Emperours household and at their tayle Anthonie de Leue with the Lansquenets of Marc Ebensthein after whome marched the Emperour in the midest of a troupe of Spaniards followed by the Lansquenets of Gaspar of Fronsberg taking the direct way froÌ„ Fossan to Nice In the third were the Italians which tooke their way by Cony On the other side the King made his necessarie prouisions at Lions and prouiding for all parts where the enemy might land hee sent Claude of Sauoie Earle of Tende and the Lord of Bonneuall his Lieutenants generall in that army to ioyne with William Earle of Furstemberg Colonnel of his Lansquenets other Captaines placed towards Cisteron The Kings order against the Empeour vpon the passages of Roquesparuiere Terreneuue and other approches to spoile the corne eyther standing or in the barne to drawe all that might be into strong places to beate downe all ouens and milles which might any way helpe the enemie to burne the horsemeat to beate out the heads of their wine vessells if they did not speedily retire them and to cast corne into their wells to corrupt the waters All the people both great and small were so wonderfully affected to the publike good as euery man forgets the greefe of his priuat losse The Lords of Mas Calds Carses and many others pricke them forward by their example themselues setting fire on their corne barnes and mills and causing fellowes to drinke their wine And for that the King had not yet all
the Dâ—ke kept the Castell the Citadell was at his deuotion might by either of them drawe innecessary succors to vngage him The Seigneur of Tagens the Dukes Cousin aduanced with succors Bordes Captaine of the Citadell beeing prisoner among the conspirators loued the liberty of his place more then his owne life Mere Messeliere Macquerole and Bouchaux summoning the beseeged found nothing in them but a constant resolution to die rather then to yeeld and the people were willing to capitulate when as Tagens by his arriuall pacified the sedition armes were laied aside and the prisoners of both parts deliuered The Duke of Guise hauing made his peace with the King and disapointed his most faithfull Councellors yet one thorne troubled his foote The Huguenoâ—s Estate Hee therefore ceaseth not vntill hee sees them assayled in Poitoâ— and Daulphiné and whilest the Duke of Neuers prepared his armie for Poictou hee sends the regiment of Saint Paul to the Dâ—ke of Mercoeur to annoye the Protestants and not to suffer them to reape any commoditie in the Countâ—ie The Duke of Mercoeur goes into base Poictou beseegeth Montagu repaired by Colombâ—ers whome they of Nantes had hourely at their gates But at the first bruit that the King of Nauarre was come out of Rochelle to succour Montague hee retires straight to Nantes and left the regiment of Gersey to make the retreat Gersey defeated the which â—as ouertaken beaten and defeated two leagues from the suburbs of Nantes On the other side the Duke of Mayenne marched towards Daulphiné but hee planted the limits of his voiage in Lions Now are two mightie armies in field the one vnder the Kings authoritie the other all of Leaguers But this is not enough The King by a solemne oth in the Cathedrall Church at Rouan had sworne the execution of the Edâ—ct of vnion he hath sent it vnto the Bishops and commaunds them to presse the Huguenots in their diocesses to make profession of their faith and to abiure their errors in open Parliaments royall iurisdictions and comonalties This Edict then must bee confirmed as a fundamentall law of State and the King prest to assemble the three Estates of the Realme as hee had promised by tâ—e articles of the peace Henry grants a conuocation the first day of September at Blois Conuocation of the Estates there in the presence of the notablest persons of euery Prouince Seneshalâ—y and Baylewike to propound freely the complaints and greefes of euery man but not medling with any practises or fauouring the priuate passions of any But amidest these Commissions from the King the League wanted no policie to send secretly to them that were most affectionate to the aduancement of their desseins and to the most passionate Leaguers of the Realme articles and remembrances which they should put into their instructions and labour to bee chosen of the Parliament So as in a manner all the Deputies carried the badge of the League and their instructions were conformable to those which had beene sent vnto them The King comes first to Blois hee giues order for the place and for the Deputies lodgings The Duke of Guise followes but it was a great indiscretion for the Duke to goe to Blois seing the King would not come to Paris The Deputies come one after another but the King finding not the number sufficient to begin so sollemne an act he defers it vntill October In the meane time the King studies by the credit which his authoritie giues him oâ—er the three estates of his Realme to bring the Duke of Guise into open vewe and to receiue punishment for all his offences past And the Duke assâ—â—es himselfe that the most part of the Deputies would countenance his cause and would serue him as instruments to controll the Kings power So euery one labours to aduance his desseine and to deceiue one another but hee which shall bee deceiued will verifie that there is danger in delayes The sixteenth of October all the Deputies were readie for the Clergie a hundred thirtie and foure Deputies amongst others foure Arche-Bishops one and twentie Bishops and two Generalls of Orders for the Nobilitie a hundred and fourescore gentlemen for the third estate a hundred fourescore and eleuen Deputies all lawyers or marchants The seuenteenth day being the fiâ—st sitting of the best wits of all France rauished euery man with hope to heare rare propositions The Kinâ—â— speech and resolutions of great affaires for the reformation of the State The Kings oration being full of liuely affection true magnanimitie and pertinent reasons deliuered with an admirable eloquence and grace without any stay will testifie for euer that he exceeded all the Princes of his age in speaking well and that hee could grauely pertineâ—â—â—y and very sodenly make answere to the most important occasions that were offered Montelon keeper of the seale continued his proposition commended the zeale and integritie of his maiesties intentions promised the Estates Mantelon keâ—per of the seale that vnder his happie coÌ„maund they should reape in this conuocation the same effects which had bin tried in diuers raigâ—es hee exhorteth the Clergie to restore the beautie and dignitie of the Church The Nobilitie to frame themselues after the mould of pietie bountie Iustice and other vertues of the French nation so much honoured in all histories The people to reuerence Iustice and to obserue good orders to flie wrangling sutes sweariâ—â— blâ—â—phemies play lust vsurie vniust getting corrupt trading and other vices which be 〈◊〉 seeds of troubles and seditions and the ruine of flourishing Estates He layes open the Kings great debts his charge and care to roote out heresies his religion pietie and deuotion ending his speech with a commendation vnder the Kings obedience of the vnion and concord necessarie for the maintenance of religion The Clergie Renauld of Beaulne Arche-Bishop of Bourges Patriarke and Primat of Aquitania thanked the King for his loue to his subiects and God to haue installed on the throne of this Crowne a King endued from his youth with the spirit of wisedome to gouerne his people who had cast the lightning of the high God euen vpon the face of the enemies of his diuine Maiestâ—e hauing by diuers and dangerous voyages through diuers nations gotten the knowledge of affaires who by his onely wisedome and vertue had lately dispersed a great and mightie armie of strangers and giuen vs hope that vnder so good and great a King wee shall see heresie suppressed peace confirmed the seruice of God established Churches and Temples restored Iustice and peace embraced charitie abound among men by vnitie of religion begin here on earth to raigne with Christ the Idea and patterne of that heauenly kingdome whereunto wee aspire The Baron of Senesei testified the Nobilities affection to the Kings seruice confessing that to him alone belongs to worke those good effects The Nobilitie for the establishment of the honour of God the Catholike religion things profitable for
whereof he had alwayes desired the preseruation and feared the dismembring the danger into the which Brittanie was brought when as the King encountred the Spanish violences vpon the fronter of Picardie the intelligences of the greatest of the Prouince with the enemie the meanes they had to make diuers enterprises and to draw in forces to the great preiudice of the Crowne and State had caused him to continue so long in armâ—â— after his Maiesties reconciliation with the Pope and therefore hee beseecheth him most humbly to take knowledge of his good will and to countenance and vse him aâ— his most faithfull seruant and subiect His Maiesty had alwayes wished that God would giue him the grace to ende the troubles of his realme rather by a voluntary obedience of all his subiects then by force and necessity of armes that the last come might tast the same fruites which his bounty shewed to those that had formerly returned to their obedience So the sayde Duke of Mercoeur the Clergie officers Gentlemen and other persons of all qualities and conditions making their due submission and taking the oath of fealty were restored to their goods offices benefices charges dignities immunities and priuileges So our King aboue all the Princes of the earth got this commendation to haue exceeded in wisedome valour and clemency The whole Prouince not by a politike necessitie which disposeth people to the obedience of their Soueraigne Princes but as it were appoynted by God to commaund ouer them acknowledged our Henry for their Soueraigne King protested to liue and dye in the obedience which loyall and faithfull subiects owe vnto their supreme Lord. And by this milde reunion of the members with their head of the parts with the whole forgetting the bitternesse of the forepassed warre he dispersed the confusions and disorders which threatned to bury him vnder the common ruines of these vnciuill troubles So in the ende after so many labours which Hercules could hardly haue surmounted so many toyles vnder which Atlas would haue shrunke the ciuill war dispatched the mindes of the French vnited their affections mutually conioyned by a strict bond of loue vnder the obedience of their King an d all the forces of the cheefe Kingdome of Christendome were ready to fall vpon the common enemy of his Estate But you haue fought inough the bloud of your subiects oh Princes hath beene too outragiously spilt in your Champion fields the furies of your armes haue wonderfully amazed your subiects Shewe your selues hereafter to bee pastors and fathers of nations which reuerence the beauty of your Diadems Let the seas riuers and mountaines which be as a barre betwixt the territories of your Dominions limit hereafter the greatnesse of your desires Heauen the Iudge of controuersies doth pronounce that sweet and sacred name of Peace A name which cannot displease any but such as take delight in bloud spoyle and fire and hauing nothing of a man but the name breathing out nothing but impiety licentiousnes iniustice So after a long treaty betwixt the Deputies of both Kings in the ende a peace was concluded at Veruins as you may read in the following discourse A CONTINVATION OF THE GEnerall History of France from the beginning of the Treaty of Veruins in the yeare 1598 vnto these times With a relation of the most memorable accidents that haue happened in Europe Collected out of Peeter Mathew and other Authors that haue written of this subiect THe Ciuill Warres of France being ended all the Kings rebellious subiects 1598. and the reuolted Prouinces reduced to his obedience God disposed the hearts of the Kings of France and Spaine to a generall peace for the good of their subiects who had beene long oppressed with the spoyles and miseries of bloudy Warre The wisdom iustice and piâ—ty of Pope Clement the 8. Three Popes in 17 moneths Sâ—â—tus the 28. of August 1590. Vâ—han the 7. 27. of Septem Innoceâ—t the 9. the 9 of December Clement the 8. chosen the 30 of Ianu. 159â— The Pope exhorts the two Kings to Peace God stirred vp Pope Clement the 8. who powred Balme into the woundes of France not like vnto his Predecessors who reioyced at her affllictions and sought to make them incurable applying no other remedies but fire and sword He like an other Hercules sought to calme the stormes which troubled both Land and Sea he shewed himselfe a common father of Christians a Mediator of Peace and Vnion at such a time as necessity and the estate of their affayres made them to desire rest To this end he lets Henry the 4. King of France of Nauarre vnderstand by Alexander of Medicis Cardinall of Florence then his Legate in France and doth aduertise Philip the 2. King of Spâ—â—ne by his Nuncio that it was now time to lay aside all passions of hatred and reuenge to resume peaceful spirits and to ioyne together against the common enemy of Câ—ristendome who only made his profit of their ruines That their subiects had bin sufficiently drunck with the Bloud Gall and Vinegar of Discord and that it was requisite to refreshe them now with the sweete Wine of Peace These two Princes were too high minded to demaund a Peace one of an other There must be a third person to vnite these two extreames But there must be some one to make this entrance and to be as it were an Interpreter of their intentions To this end the Pope makes choise of F. Bonauentur Calatagirone Generall of the Order of the Franciscans or Grey Fryars to acquaint these two Kings with his holy charitable perswasions vnto Peace Religious men had bin actors in this War they are now held necessary for the Peace Religious men should be Angels of Peace Spirits separated from the troubles and confusions of the world are most fit for such negotiations being lesse transported with violent passions The King of Spaine did not attend to haue the Pope exhort him vnto peace He had begun his reigne by War against the French he would now end it by a Peace with theÌ„ He proclaimed Warre against Francâ— in the yeare 1557. He was now 70 yeares old being desirous to discharge himselfe of the heauy burthen of so many Kingdomes and to leaue them quiet to his sonne To this ende he must marry his Daughter Donna Isabella who remayning in Spaine without a husband might contend for the succession of the Crowne with Don Philip her brother Hee could not giue her lesse for her dowry then the Kingdome of Portugall or the Lowe Countries with the County of Bourgundy By the one he did weaken diuide his Estates by the other he gaue his daughter meanes to contend for her portioÌ„ in Spaine For it was impossible to raigne long in Prouinces diuided by irreconciliable Warre hauing two 〈◊〉 neighbours for enemies And therefore to assure Spaine he must marry the 〈◊〉 Reasons that moued the King of Spain to a Peace and to confirme that
then to leaue that willingly which they could not hold by force That the King had expresly forbidden him not to consent to any Treaty nor to the choyse of any place for an Assembly before he had assurance of this restitution That hee held it a wrong done vnto the dignitye of so great a Prince to the honour of his commaundements to the equity of his cause and to his good fortune once to hearken vnto the difficulties they made to yeelde him vp that which was his owne That whosoeuer should treat with this preiudice deserued to be punished as the authors of Treaties that were dishonourable to their Maisters The Generall of the Fryars who could get no other resolutions at his hands returned twise into Flanders to let them vnderstand that among all the reasons of the Treaty that of Restitution was inuincible and that it was in vayne to demaund a Peace of the French if they did not restore all That this Restitution was the soule of the Treaty without the which it was a fantastike body without any naturall proportion and substance That in the ende desiring too much they should haue nothing and thinking to hold all they would loose all The Archduke doth aduertise the King of Spaine that there was no meanes to enter into the Temple of Peace but by opening of the gates of Calais Ardres Dourlans and other places taken in Warre vnto the King of France God inspired the heart of the King of Spaine against the opinion of his Councell of State to yeeld vp all his pretensions for the good of a Peace rather then to leaue the world in this perpetuall Discord and Confusion He did consult with his Councell of conscience vpon the necessity of this Restitution They answered him that he could not liue with a quiet soule nor die in the integrity of his Religion if he did not restore those places The King of Spaine followed this aduice aduertâ—sing the Archduke that he would not for that which he had gotten from an other loose the meanes to leaue a Peace to his owne Estates Vpon this resolution the Generall of the Fryars returnes into France The King of Spain reâ—olueâ— to yeâ—ld all the places and passeth his word vnto the Lâ—gate Sillery for the Restitution so as after an infinite toyle of two moneths these three made all things ready for a Treaty Sillery returnes to the King leading with him the Generall of the Fryars as wel to let him vnderstand from the Kings owne mouth what he had sayd vnto him by his commaundement as also to haue the Generall tell the King what hee had promised and propounded on the Archdukes behalfe The Legate remayned at S. Quintin aâ— Gardien of the words and intentions of two Princes Being assured of eythers faith they agree vpon a place for the assembly of the Deputies and to conclude the Treaty â—he Towne of Veruins being vnder the Kings obedience and neere vnto the â—â—oâ—ters of Arthâ—is was found the most commodious Veruins chosâ—n for the conference and was presently furnished with all things necessary to receiue the Ambassadors The King Deputed Pompone de Belieure Knight Lord of Grignon the chiefe and most auncient of his Priuy Councell and Nicholas Brulart Knight Lord of Sillery Councellour of State to his Maiesty and President in his Court of Parliment For the King of Spaine and the Archduke there came Iohn Richardot Knight President of the Kings Priuye Councell and of his Councell of State Iohn Baptista Taxis Knight Commaunder de los Santos of the Military order of S. Iames and Councellor of State and of the Councel of Waâ— Lewis Verrichen Knight AudieÌ„cer chiefe Secretary Treasorer of the Charters of the Councell of State The Cardinall Medicis Legate of the holy Sea assisted by the Bishop of Mantoua was as it were an Vmper of all difficulties in this good and holy reconciliation The Kings Deputies arriued first and those of the King of Spaine presently after where hauing saluted one another with hearts full of ioy and incredible content they promised to treat Roundly Sincerely Mildely communicating their Commissions one vnto an other and reforming those errors which they found The Precedence yeelded to the French that they might begin to treat more safely and freely After much question and many protestations made by the Deputies of the King of Spaine for the Precedence in the ende they yeelded vnto the French Kings to take what place they pleased after the Legate and the Popes Nuncio At their first sitting the Legate exhorts them to shewe the fidelity and integritie iâ— this action which their Maisters desired The Legate exhorâ—â— the Depuâ—ies whereof he assured himselfe by their experâ—ences as of those which had happily managed the greatest affayres of Europe more then any other men wishing them to consider that hauing the honour to Councell two of the greatest Princes of the world who submitted their wills vnto their Councells as the most diuine thing among men when it is purged from ambitious passions violent thoughts and preiudicate opinions they should omit nothing that might regard the contentment of their good intentions and not to doubt but that God who hath an especial care of Kings and Kingdomes would infuse the light of his sâ—irit into their most seceet thoughts and threaten them with the sincerity of his Iustice if they did not apply all their indeauours to his glory and the good of the Christian common weale Then they entred into Treaty with a mildnesse fit for men of that quality and the merit of the matter It was managed with such secrecie as nothing was knowne before that all was concluded The chiefe poynt of difficulty was for the restitution of Places Many reasons were propounded on eyther side but the Kings Deputies had great aduantages the force of reason the prosperity of affayres in the recouery of Amiens and aboue all the fauour of the time and occasion The King of Spaine would not dye but in Peace he desired his Sonne might raigne in Peace and that his deerely beloued Daughter might be married in Peace The Aâ—chduke languished with a desire to be married and fearing least the promise which he had not taking effect during the life of the King of Spaine the conditions would be made worse he pressed Richardot and Taxes not to proceed in this negotiation after the Spanish manner but to remember that they must not prolong their consultations nor protract an action the praise whereof depended vpon the conclusion So after they had balanced all matters in the treaty to reduce them to a iust proportion of reason all controuersies betwixt the two Kings were reconciled and ended During the Treaty of Veruins the Emperour Rodulphus the 2. as well for himselfe as for some Princes of the Empire An Agent sent from the Emperour to the Stâ—tes of the vnited Prouinces at the instant request of the King of Spaine sent Charles
vnto him to haue had intelligence with Chastillon Admirall of France and with William of Nassau Prince of Orange touching the Low Countries This as some say was discouered by Don Iohn his vncle bastard brother vnto the King who being inexorable against them that had offended came vnto the Princes chamber in the night whereas hee found two pistols behind his beds head and some papers which did auerre the intelligences he had with his enemies The King first gaue him a gard afterwards he put him in prison and in the end to death But first he propounded to his Councell of conscience what punishment a Kings sonne deserued that had entred into League against his Estates and had conspired against his fathers life and whether hee might call him in question His Councell layed before him two remedies both iust possible the one of Grace and Pardon the other of Iustice and punâ—shment and the difference betwixt the mercie of a father and the seueritie of a King saying that if by his clemencie he did pardon them which loued him not hee could not but pardon that creature which he should most affect They desired him to imitate the Emperour Charlemagne who imputed the fiâ—st conspiracie of his sonne Pepin against him to lightnes of youth and for the second hee confiâ—ed him iâ—to a Monasterie protesting that hee was a father not a King nor a Iudge against his Soâ—ne The King answered that by the law of Nature he loued his sonne more then him elfe but by the law of God the good and safetie of his subiects went before it Moreouer he demaunded of them if knowing the miseries which the impunitie or dissimulation of his sonnes offences would breed he might with safetie of conscience pardon him and not bee guiltie of those miseries Hereat his Diuines shronke in their shoulders and with teares in their eyes sayd that the health of his people ought to bee deerer vnto him then that of his Sonne and that hee ought to pardon offences but such crimes as abhominable monsters must be supprest Hereupon the King committed his Son to the Censure of the Inquisitors commaunding them not to respect his authoritie no more then the meanest within his Kingdome and to regard the qualitie of his son as if he were a King borne making no distinction therof froÌ„ the partie accused vntil they found that the excesse of his offence would no more admit of this consideration remembring that they carried in their soules a liuely Image of the King which had iudged Angels and should without distinction iudge Kings and the Sonnes of Kings like vnto other men referring all vnto their consciences and discharging his owne The Inquisitors for the practises which hee had with the enemies of his religion The Iudgâ—menâ— oâ— the Inquisitors declared him an Heretike and for that he had conspired against his fathers life condemned him to die The King was his accuser and the Inquisitors his Iudges but the Iudgement was signed by the King which done they presented many kinds of death in picture vnto the Prince to make choise of the easiest In the end hee demaunded if there were no pittie in his father to pardon him no fauour in his Councell for a Prince of Spanie nor no wisedome to excuse the follies of his youth when as they told him that his death was determined and might not be reuoked and that all the fauour was in the choise of the mildest death He sayd that they might put him to what death they pleased tâ—hat there was no choise of any death seeing they could not giue him that which Caesar held to be the best These last words A vnloked foâ— death best deliuered with passion were followed with a thousand curses against his Fortune against the inhumanitie of his Faâ—her and the crueltie of the Inqusition repeating verie often these wordes O miserable sonne of a more miserable father Hee had some dayes of respit giuen him to prepare himselfe for death One morning foure slaues entred into his chamber who awaking him put him in mind of his last houre and gaue him small time to prepare vnto God Hee start vp sodainly and fled to the bed post but two of them held his armes and one his feet The deaâ—h of the Prince of Spaine Death of the Queene of Spaine and the fourth strangled him with a cord of silke Many hold that hee died of letting bloud his feete being in warme water The death of the Queene of Spaine foure moneths after made the world to suspect other causes of his death The King was also vnfortunate in his enterprises against Flanders and England hauing prepared a great fleet which perished in the narrow Seas almosâ— without any fight Hee is blamed for his crueltie against the Indians whome hee abandoned to the slaughter like vnto brute beasts Hee had foure wiues aâ—ter that of Portugal He married with Marie Queene of England by whome hee had no children His third was Elizabeth of France surnamed by the Spaniards the Queene of Peace by whome hee had two daughters the Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia now Archduchesse and the Infanta Catherina Michelle who was Duchesse of Sauoy The fourth was Anna of Austria daughter to the Emperour Maximilian and his owne proper Neece by whome hee had three Sonnes and one daughter of the which there now remaines the Prince Charles Laurence surnamed at his comming to the Crowne Philip the third Hee affected the Empire as much as might be and not able to attaine vnto it hee sought the title of Emperour of Spaine The King of Spaines ambition yea hee was resolued to go to the Indies to take vpon him the title of Emperour of Amerâ—â—a After all his ambitious proiects vppon Affricke his attempts against Ireland and his intelligences with the Turkes Barbarians and Persians whome he hath sought to diuide and to make vse of euen against Christian Princes but chiefly and especially against France yet in the end hee was forced to confesâ—e That all the power and pompe of this world was meere vanitie He raigned aboue fortie yeares and was buried with his Ancestors as he had ordayned We haue said that hee drew a writing out of a little Cabinet and deliuered it vnto his sonne Some writers say that it was a translation into Spanish of the Instruction which the King S. Lewis gaue vnto his Sonne Philip the hardie Others say it was the Instruction which followes Instruction oâ— the King of Spâ—inâ— to the Prince his Sonne My sonne I haue beene alwaies sollicitous and carefull to leaue you your Estates peacefull and quiet but neither the many yeares which I haue liued nor the assistance of Princes my Allyes could euer purchase it I confesse I haue spent in lesse then 33. yeares fiue hundred nintie and foure millions of ducats all which haue bred mee nothing but cares and troubles It is true I haue conquered Portugal but as France did hardly escape me so may
Rome labored that he could haue no reason of the Marquisate of Salusses The Estate of the Kings affaires in Suiâ—sâ— â—o there wanted no practises to trouble his affaires in Suisserland It is a long time since the King of Spaine discouered his iealousie for the generall allyance of the Crowne of France with the thirteene Cantons hauing long practised to haue his share Ouâ— Kings hauing alwaies hindred it hee could neuer get any footing there as King of Spaine but he hath had an hereditary alliance for the reuenues of the house of Austria So in the raigne of King Charles the 9. when as the King of Spaine demanded to be receiued into alliance Belieure Ambassador of France seeing the Catholike Cantons almost perswaded to prefer new Amities before ancient laied before theÌ„ the great succors they had receiued of the Crowne of France for the setling of their liberty· whereas contrarywise the house of Austria had done all they could to suppresse them The Prinâ—es of the house of 〈◊〉 deâ—eated â—y the Suisses That they should bee wary not to trust in the alliance of a House offended in the which the wound did yet bleede by the death of three Princes defeated by their Armes That hee was not ignorant that the King of Spaine as descended from the house of Austria had hereditary desseins vpon them by reason whereof the greatnesse and prosperity of his affaires should be suspect vnto them for as we ought neuer to feare nor suspect the prosperitie of Friends so must wee alwaies doubt that of Enemies These admonitions were of such force as for that time the Ambassadors of Spaine returned as they came But since the troubles of the last Ciuill Warre in France the King found himselfe charged with so many affaires within the Realme as hee could not possibly prouide for all abroade His owne Subiects did so trouble him as he could not answere the hopes of his Allies This was a goodly occasion for the King of Spaine to worke his will with the Suisses and to winne the game seeing that no man plaied against him And as mercenary friendship vanisheth when as Money failes the French Crownes appeering no more in Suisse The 〈◊〉 Catholike Cantons alâ—ied to Spaine the enemy caused his Ducates to bee dispersed among the petty Cantons so as they choaked all the first seedes of the Flower de Luce. Then might you see in France Suisses against Suisses and Cantons against Cantons the one shewing their duties vnto the King as his Allies the other armed against his seruice as hirelings to the King of Spaine When as they see that they were not paied their Pensions and that their Captaines and Colonels receiued nothing of that which was due vnto them the fiue petty Cantons tied themselues more straightly to the King of Spaine and Colonell Pstisâ—er who had great credit among them taught them not to cast their eyes but vpon the Sunne which riseth at the Indies The greater Cantons continued still firme in the Kings friendship The wisedome of Brulart shewed it selfe in this bad season as good Pilots are best known in the greatest Tempests for hee entertayned the Kings seruice beyond all hope in the greatest of his troubles when as the King had for a Scepter his Lance for his Louure a Tent for his credit Hope the lawful right of a Kingdom It may iustly be sayd that he did great seruice to France in this charge the wisest haue woÌ„dred how he could maintaine the affectioÌ„s of this people when they were entertained only with the words of his wiâ—edoÌ„ how he could so long continue this hope amidest the coÌ„mon despaire of the affaires of France But when as the Suisses did see that al France was reduced vnder the Kings obedieÌ„ce their PatieÌ„ce was turned into coÌ„plaints they gaue it out that if they had not effects for words wher-with they had beene fed so long as they saw the King could giue them nothing else they had courage inough to come demand it theÌ„selues During the seege of Amiens there was a Captaine of one of the petty Cantons who seeking to make his profit of the time and of the extremity of the Kings affaires propounded a bold Councell to get their pay The Realme was yet so full of treachery the King so ill serued of part of his Sâ—biects the forces of Spaine so great and so farre entred into France as if they had done what he proprounded or Caesar had not sent them backe with so good a composition as in former times he had done what he could to giue them money â—he Couâ—t of Parliament had coÌ„firmed certaine Edicts the profit wherof was appointed to content them as that of reunion of the Registers to the Reuenues that of the sealing of Lether CoÌ„panies of Handy-crafts men Whilest that the Captaines and Colonells labored for the execution the Ambassador entertained the râ—st with good words and great hopes Monsieur Morâ—ontaine which serues much to temper the impatiency of the most violent and the languishing wearines of attendants Hee imparted vnto them the Kings Councells for the reestablishment of his affaires and the paiement of that which was due vnto them The King sent them Money But as there was not so much as they expected The King sâ—nds Money into 〈◊〉 tâ—e 6. of Iune 159â— and that the greatest part was appointed for such as had serued in the last occasions so it did but increase their discontents and complaints of the rest so as in the beginning of this Yeare Morfontaine the Kings Ambassador left his charge to come into France Such as thought to make their profit of this retreat gaue it out that it was forced but it was freely of himâ—elfe who thought it expedient for the Kings affaires to make offer of this voiage and to charge himselfe with their demands but the Suisses staied not long to demand his returne after the which he died and was sollemnely buried at Soleurre in a rich Tombe After the solemnising of the King of Spaines marriage at Valentia he went with his Queene to Valladolid where he hath setled his Court imitating the example of Charles 5. his Grand-father not at Madrid which since the death of Philip the second is growne desert This Prince after his marriage gaue himselfe wholy to the exercise of Peace left the conduct of affaires to his Councel seperating himselfe in a manner froÌ„ the vew of all the great men of Spaine but only of the Marquis of Denia whom hee made Duke of Lemos or Lerma The Grandes of Spaine not able to endure this vnequall distribution of the Kings fauors vpon one only obiect being greeued that this common sunne hath no light but for two eyes they make great complaints Princes â—auoâ—s aâ—e 〈…〉 and the more for that his wife was preferred to be the chiefe Lady of Honor vnto the Queene wherwith the greatest house in Spaine had bin
Marriage were made The 4. of October the Cardinall entred into Florence with great pompe riding â—nder a Canopy and the Duke on his left hand and â—o was conducted to the Dukes pallace After Supper in the presence of the Great Duke of Tuscany the Dâ—kes of Mantoa and Bracciano the Princes Iohn and Anthony of Medicis and the Lord of Belle-garde the Kings Ambassâ—dor Hâ—s spâ—ech vnto the Queen He deliuered vnto the Queene the contentment which the Pope had of this Marriage with a sweet kinde of Grauity and Modesty a discourse fâ—ll of pleasing words he conceiued great hopes of great good to come by the meanes of this happy coniunction not only for the houses of the Kings of France the Dukes of Tuscany but also for all Christendome and not onely for Christian Kingdoms but for all the World So as the Queene moued with ioy great hope thanked his Holines for this Salutation said That God hauing so decreed it shee assâ—red her selfe The Quâ—enâ—â— answâ—â— to â—he Cardinall that the blessing of the Holy Father would bring the grace of God with it whereof she would indeuour to make her selfe worthy capable recommending her selfe most humblie to the praiers of his Holines and of the Church Which words weâ—e deliuered after so Maiesticall a manner as if this Princesse had vsed alwayes to command absolutely and so that day was spent The 5. of October the Marriage was celebrated after a Royall manner The Queene parts â—roÌ„ Florence to go into France the Legat sayde Mâ—sse the which being ended the Great Duke had a Son Christned the Seigneury of Vâ—nice giuing it the name The Queene parted from Florence the 16. of October and came to Liuorne the 17. where she Imbaâ—ked in the Great Dukes generall Galâ—ey being assisted by fiue of the Popes Gallies fiue of Malta and sixe more of the said Dukeâ— The King hauing intelligence of her imbarking prouided for her reception of Marseiles and gaue the charge of his Will to the Duke of Guise Princes and Noblâ—men sent to 〈◊〉 the Queene his Maiesties Lieutenant Generall in Prouence he also sent his Constable Chancellor with the Dukes of Nâ—mours Guise and Ventador to receiue her The Cardinalls of Ioyeuze Gondy Guiry and Sourdy with many Bishops and Noblemen of the Councell The Nauigation was dangerous in many places yet with a resolute and cheerefull countenance she seemed to scorne the Tempests of the Sea The 3. of Nouember she tooke Port at Marseilles being accompanied by the great Duchesâ—e of Florence She arriues 〈◊〉 Maâ—sâ—illeâ— the Duchesse of Mantoa her Sister D. Anthony her Brother and the Duke of Bracciano The Qâ—eene â—eauing her Gally entred vpon a Theater made of two great Boâ—tes whervnto ioyned a Bridge which went vnto her Pallaâ—e The Constable receiued heâ— the Chancellor deliuered the Kings pleasure 4 Consuls of Marseilles presented her the Keies of the Citty a Canopie of cloth of siluer vnder which she was conducted to the Pallace One of the most remarkable actions during her aboad there was the protestation of obedience which was made vnto her by the Court Parliament of Prouence in the great Hall of the Pallace Monsieur de Vair making a most eloquent Oration as you may read at large in the Originall The 17. of NoueÌ„ber the Queâ—ne came to Aix froÌ„ whence she parted the next day with aboue 2000. horse to make her entry the 19. into Auignon where she was receiued with greater Pompe Magnificence then in any other place Parting from Auignon the Queene past to Valence Rousillon Vienne câ—me on the Satterday to Guillotiere The Queenâ—â—nters into Lions The next day being the 3. of DeceÌ„ber being met by the Gouernor all the Nobility of the Town country she entred in to Lions in great State so was coÌ„ducted to her lodging where she had newes fâ—oÌ„ the King by Roquelaure who preseÌ„ted vnto her in his Maiesties name the great royal Coller of inestimable value which did beautify her other OrnameÌ„ts She staied 8. daies at Lions before she could see the King demaÌ„ding euer when he wold come in this expectatioÌ„ the houres seemed years vnto her The King after the capitulatioÌ„ of S. Katherins Fort tooke post came the 9. of DeceÌ„ber to Lions The ChaÌ„cellor aduertised her that he should come that day Being at supper a Gentleman came to tell her that the King was within a quarter of a league of the Citty and that within lesse then 〈◊〉 she should see him The ioy of this good newes had taken away her appetite to any meate The King was already entred diâ—guised and was gotten into the presse among certain Gentlemen where hee might see and not bee seene After supper 〈◊〉 retyred into her Chamber The Kings fast sight of the Queene and the King entred presently after the Queene cast her selfe at his Maiesties feete and hee tooke her vp and imbraced her where after many kinde imbracings of mutuall loue and respect the King went to supper During the which the King sent the Queene word by the Duchesse of Nâ—mâ—urs that he was come without a Bed hoping that she would afford him part of â—ers which should be common vnto them from that time To whom the Queene answered That she was come to please and obey his Maiesties will as his most humble seruant This being deliuered vntâ— the King he vnclothed himselfe entred into the Queenes ChaÌ„ber whom he 〈◊〉 in bed The Cardinals entry into Lions and then the Ladies retired The Cardinal Aldobrandizo the Popes Legare being at Chambery the King sent to inuite him to his Marriage to come to Lions with the Duke of Sauoyes Deputies where they should Treat more commodiously then at Chambery He made his entry the 16. of the month where he was receiued with honâ—uâ—s fit for so great a dignity the Prince Conty and the Duke Montpensier conducted him going vnder a Canopy carried by the Burgesses of the Towne the streets were hanâ—ed the Inhabitants were in Armes the Clergy went singing before him and in this sort he was conducted to S. Iohns Church And although the Marriage were perfect the King hauing ratefied it by Procuration and by words of the present which the said Legate had receiued so as there needed no other solemnity yet would he make his Subiects partakers of this publike ioy appointing the Ceremony the Sunday foâ—lowing the which was Celebrated before the Great Alter of S. Iohns Church whereas the Nuptiall blessing was giuen by the Legate to the married couple After the which a Largesse of peeces of Gold and Siluer marked with a speciall deuice were cast vnto the people All which performed they went to the Royall Feast in the Archbishops Great Hall The Turke this yeare sent twelue thousand Ianissaries from Constantinople to â—uda to annoy the Christians with the neighbour Garrisons 〈◊〉 yeeldâ—d to the Tuâ—ke so
Iulliers after the decease of the Countesse of Valpurg He sommoned the Gouernor to yeeld who finding himselfe to weake abandoned the place The Gouernor complayned to his Master the Duke of Iulliers but the controuersies betwixt him Prince Maurice and the States were reserued to be determined by the Imperiall Chamber The Arch-duke beseeged Ostend Oâ—tâ—nd beseeged the which continued three yeares and eleauenth weekes it was noted for the most memorable seege that euer was in Europe whereas so many thousands of men ended their daies and which endured so many hundred thousand Cannon shot before it yeelded Ostend which hath beene the place whereas all the brauest subiects of Spaine for the Arch-dukes And al the valiant English and Hollanders for Prince Maurice and the States haue in emulation one of an other shewed their corrages and whereas many French according to their diuers affections haue â—ought Honour This Ostend is a Sea Towne in the CouÌ„ty of Flanders two Leagues from Oudenbourg three from Nieuport and foure from Bruges vpon the riuer of Iperle the which runnes into the Sea making it a good port for shipping It was walled about but in the yeare 1572. and in the yeare 1587. It was better fortefied by the States of the vnited Prouinces The particularities of this seege I omit because they are written at large and published by others Ferdinand the Archduke being at the seege of Canisia demanded succors from the Pope and the Princes of Italy The Duke of Mantoa was Lieutenant Generall The Pope sent him his Nephew Iohn Francis Aldobrandino hauing deliuered into his hands the blessed Standard with Ceremonyes The King of Spaine sent him sixe thousand Germaines and the Great Duke of Tuscany two thousand foote the time was spent in contending for command betwixt the Duke of Mantoa and Aldobrandino who beeing Marshall of the Campe would receiue no direction from the Archduke Great men for the iealousie of command loose great occasions but death ended this quarrell Aldobrandino dying three moneths after of a Qâ—otidian feauer the Troupes which he conducted continued still at the seege The Pope disposed of his Estates to Siluester Aldobrandino his Sonne his obsequies were made at Rome with great pompe Rochepot beeing Ambassador in Spaine 〈…〉 Ambaâ—â—aâ—or 〈◊〉 Spaine certaine French Gentlemen among the which his Nephew was had a quarrell with some Spaniards who did iniury them and cast their Clothes into the Water they being a swimming The Spaniards had the worst and some were hurt and slaine Their Kinsmen demanded Iustice of the King who commanded his Officers to doe it but the Ambassadors lodging was forced and the Gentlemen drawne forth to prison notwithstanding any thing that he could say or doe to maintaine the liberty of his place the which is inuiolable euen among enemies The King was so offended with this iniury as hee commanded his Ambassador to returne giuing the King of Spaine to vnderstand that hee assured himselfe that he would do him reason when hee had well considered what cause he had to complaine Wherevpon all Trafficke was forbidden betwixt these two Realmes The Pope fearing that this violence done vnto the Ambassador of France could not passe without some feeling and that this Coale might kindle the fire of Warre betwixt these two great Kings hee sent into Spaine to haue the prisoners the which were sent vnto him and the Pope deliuered them presently vnto the Lord of Betunes the Kings Ambassador at Rome and so the Peace was continued The Ambassadors of Venice were better intreated in France That great and wise Senate holding themselues bonnd by the Lawes of friendship An Ambassâ—ge from Venice to deplore the misfortune and to reioyce at the prosperity of their friends hauing beene long troubled for the afflictions of France they send a great and solemne Ambassâ—ge to congratulate the fruit of the Kings victories and the beginning of his Marriage The Ambassadors were chosen out of the Procurators of Saint Marck and of the cheife men of the State They came to Paris Donâ—t Dâ—lphin Procureurs of S. Marck Ambassadors Donat was in election to be Duke the King sent the Marquis of Rhosny to conduct them to Fontainbleau and to intreat them to bee contented with their Reception in that place whereas the Queene was seeing their Ambassage was common to both and that for the indisposition of her greatnesse it could not bee at Paris which occasion did renue the ioyes of the Court the which was in so great Tranquilitye as it seemed neuer to haue beene in trouble The Great Turke sent Bartholomew de Cueur his Physition vnto the King Bartlemew de Cueur of Marseilles a Christian Renegado sent to the King by the Turke to acquaint him with the Estate of his affayres and to intreat him to mediate a Truce in Hungary When as this man spake of the Turkes power hee did so extoll it as if hee had beene able to vanquishe all the Princes of Christendome not expecting Pope nor Emperor so as the King of France did not meddle in it Hee presented a Dagger and a Cymiter vnto the Kings Maiesty whereof the Hilts and Scabberds were of Gold garnished with Rubies and a Plume of Herons feathers The King related vnto him what hee had done in Sauoy and complayned that to the preiudice of ancient Capitulations not onely the English were distracted from the Banner of France vnder whose guide and protection they were bound to trafficke but also the Flemings Hollanders and Zelanders were comprehended vnder the Banner of England To this complaint hee added an other against the courses and violencies of the Pirats of Algier and the Coast of Barbary saying that if the Iustice of the great Turke did not cause these Pirracies to ceaâ—se he should haue no reason to beleeue his friendship It was at such a time as the Great Turkes affayres were very confused and troubled in Asia The Seriuano reuolted in Asia by the reuolt of the Seriuano and almâ—st desperate in high Hungary The King of Persia had sent Ambassadors to the Christian Princes to animate them to make War against him promising to contribute an Army of a hundred and fifty thousand horse The King of Persia sent his Ambassador to the Pope Emperor King of Spaine and threescore thousand foote offering vnto the Christians liberty of Religion and free Trafficke in his Kingdomes His Spays and Iannissaries murmured against him and the bad carriage of the Empresse his Mother who during his Delights and Dissolutions held the reyns of Gouernment did alwayes through the mallice and frailty of her Sexe support the worst Councells and Resolutions They complayned dayly of the Mother and the Sonne speaking of her as the Romaines did of Agrippina crying out that they should intreat her worse then by a simple banishment and of him as the Souldiars spake of Gallienus whom they esteemed not to be borne but for the pleasures which are in and vnder the belly
tyme. Being at Aigueperses he writt vnto the King The Count of Auvergne writs vnto the King At the same place hee told the Baron of Camillac that hee was aquainted with the desseine of his taking It is true sayd hee I knew it well and I beleeue you thinke I am a very honest man He sayd that hee submitted himselfe to all the rigours of the Kings Iustice if hee had sayd done thought or attempted any thing since his Abolition All the way hee seemed no more afflicted then when hee was at libertie Hee tould youthfull and idle tales of his Loue and the deceiuing of Ladies Hee shott in a harguebuse at birds wherein hee was so perfect and excellent as hee did kill Larkes as they were flying Sometimes hee would cast forth wordes of apprehension to enter into that great heape of stones of the Bastille where hee had alreadie tryed his patience for the space of foure or fiue monethes Descures mett him at Briarre and there hee entred into a Caâ—osse and was garded and led vnto Montargis and from thence hee was imbarked vppon the riuer and presently conducted vnto the Bastille without passing by the Arcenall And entering into the Duke of Birons chamber hee knew his bed with some feeling of greefe and taking leaue of them that had conducted him He assures theÌ„ of his innocency he assured them that hee would goe out of that place as he had entred and if they found him more guiltie then he had sayd he desired them not to pittie him Entring in he sayd vnto Ruvigny that he had rather lodge in any Tap-house in Paris then in the Bastille Those that beleeue that he is not lodged there to get out so soone as hee did the other time thinke also that it is the worst that can happen vnto him But it shall be an incomparable miserie to bee alwayes depriued of the Kings grace and fauour whithout the which the best conditions are most lamentable and a life of this manner how short soeuer is a tedious and a languishing Life it is no Life it iâ— to languish and to abuse Life The happy discouery and so fitly of all that was done and in a manner thought against the Kings seruice is no small signe of the prosperity of his Raigne and of his Fortune A happy discouery of Conspiracieâ— and an assurance that those heads which shall strike against this rocke of Diamant will proue Glasse The desseignes of his enemies haue sometimes shewed themselues like vnto fixed Starres in the Firmament of their ambition and in the end they haue proued but Comets exhallations which drawne out off the Earth haue beene lost in the Ayre of their Vanity and Imagination All these practises in the end were like vnto those poore wretched Cottages built vp of Durt and couered with Stubble And if all the Conspirators bee not yet taken yet they do nothing being discouered and knowne to the eyes of the Kings Iustice. Conspiracyes are like vnto Coâ—les The Conspirators amazed which in the shadowe do flame but when as the Sunne shines on them they â—all into ashes It is not the seuerity nor the Rigour of his Iustice neither the terrour of examples and punishments that hath discouered these Conspiracies He hath not caused the Bell of Ramire King of Spaine to bee runge to terrifie all the Conspirators with the sound thereof This King being offended with the Conspiracies of his Subiects sayd D. Ramiâ—es Bell. that hee would show them a Bell the which hee had caused to bee cast the â—ound whereof might be heard throughout all the whole world Curiosity made them goe and they found in a great place the Heads of the principall men of the Realme set one vpon an other in forme of a Bell. It is the great obedience that is yeelded vnto the King euen by them that are least inured to obey that hath discouered these practises It is the great Wisdom of his carriage the Order he hath taken to be aduertised of all and to knowe all It is the Authority and respect which neuer was so absolute and perfect in his Predecessors as in him This apprehension was a famous president For the time was when he must haue had more men to take the Count of Avuergne and to conduct him vnto Paris without let Considâ—â—â—tions vpon his taking Wee may obserue in this apprehension many things that may breed Admiration and amazement and which shewe that Men do in vaine furnish themselues with Wisedome against Heauen and with Intelligences against the King The Count of Avuergne had aduertisements from all places that they should take him and that the Kings Pensioners were in the field to that effect His most inward and neerest friends and among others Florac knewe it and said nothing vnto him preferring his duty to his Prince before all affection The Constable was also as well informed thereof as any other and yet he made no shewe thereof A shewe of great Wisedome Wisedome of the Constable His duty prescribed him a Lawe to all the bounds of Nature so there is not any one but is more bound to the seruice of the King and his Country then to his owne health or to that of his Children A Gentleman being at his Table speaking of this taking said Sir if the King should command mee to take you I would doe it although I bee your most humble seruant that you march in the first rankes of Greatnesse in the Realme and that all things touching Armes depend vpon your commandments I beleeue it answered the Constable else you should do ill for the King is both your King and mine I am your Friend There is no loue nor affection to dispence any one from the Kings Commandments The Count of Auvergne long before and since his taking hath not said nor done any thing whereof the Kings seruants haue not kept register He complayned of those that were daily about him that they sayd nothing vnto him and they all answered that they were too honest to tell him anything Hee is a Prince of great vnderstanding capable of all sorts of desseins of a quicke disposition warlike vigâ—lant and full of inuentions and subtilties But all this auayled him nothing against the King of whome wee may say that hee hath wicked wretches inough in his Kingdome that would deceiue him but they are not cunning enough to doe it Soone after that the Count of Auvergne was lodged in the Bastille D' Aâ—tragueâ— commâ—tted to pâ—ison and his daughter the Marquis of Verneuil restrayned D' Antragues Gouernor of Orleans was committed to the Concergerie of the Pallace and the Marquis of Vernuill his daughter garded in her house by the Knight of the waâ—ch Sâ—ee tried that hee that is capable to loue earnestly may also hate extâ—eamely We can say nothing of the causes of this change but what may bee learned by the issue of the Processe They bee affaires which
the cause of this warre fol. 74 Charles subdues the Saxons and perswades Witichind to be a christian ibid. The ofspring of Witichind f. 75 The Institution of the twelue Peeres of France fol. 76 Treachery of Idnabala the Sarazin ibid. Pampalune taken and the Sarazins victorie ibid. The Sarazins enter into Gascoine ibid. Conditions propounded by Aigoland and accepted by Charles fol. 77 Sarazins defeated in Spaine ibid. The treason of Ganelon fol. 78 Rouland defeated at Ronceuaux he dies for thirst ibid Charles reuengeth this treacherie ibid. The end of the Spanish warre fol. 79 Bauiere incorporated to the crowne for rebellion ibid. The limits of the French Monarchy in Germany ibid. The occasion why Charlemagne was proclaimed Emperour fol. 80 Contention in the East â—or Images ibid The tragicall death of Constantine fol. 81 Irene his mother banished ibid. Diuision of the Empire ibid. Warre in Italie and in Saxony fol. 82 Charles hâ—s dâ—edes while he was Emperour Charles repulst at Venice He diuides his possessions to his children and settles an order for their lawes The Danes reuolt ibid. Charles looseth two of his best sonnes ibid. Rebellion against Charles fol. 83 The Empire confirmed to him his care to rule the Church ibid. A good Instruction for princes to loue pietie ibid. New warre in Spaine crost by secret practises ib. A happy conclusion of Chaâ—lemagnes life ibid. Charles makes his Will and dies fol. 84 The true praises of Charlemagne and his vices ibid. Lewis the gentle the 25. king and Emperour of the West THe declining of this race fol. 85 Lewis his wiues and children fol. 86 His base facilitie ibid. A furious crueltie his indiscretion ibid. Tragicall rebellion of children ibid. Abuse in the Clergie fol. 87 Lewis imprisoned by his children hee is forced to giue them portions and he dies ibid. Diuision among the brethren and the cause fol. 87 The estate of Lewis his children aâ—teâ— his death Loâ—haire thinking to surprize his brethren is surprized and defeated fol. 88 He dies a Monke ibid. An accord betwixt Charles and Lewis fol. 89 Hermingrade daughter to Lewis married to Bosan king of Arles fol. 90 Charles the bald the 26. King and Emperour A Confused and an vnhappy raigne fol. 91 Charles seekes to deceiue his Neece ibid. He is diuerted from the warre of Italie where he dies fol. 92 Lewis 2. called the stuttering the 27. King and Emperour THe princes of Italie oppose against him f. 92 The Pope vsurpes the imperial rights in Italy ibi Lewis dies and leaues his wife with child fol. 93 Regents crowned as Kings ibid. Charles borne after his fathers death ibid. The minoritie of Charles called the Simple the which continued 22. yeres vnder 4. Regents whom they call Kings The 28. raigne vnder Lewis and Caroloman Basâ—aâ—ds LEwis is defeated by the Normans and dies for griefe fol. 94 Caroloman dyâ—s of a violent dath fol. 95 Charles called the Grosse 29. King and Emperour GReat hopes of his good gouernment fol. 96 Neustria called Normandie ibid. Charles defeated by the Normans yeelds to a preiudiciall peace ibid. Hee is extreamâ—ly hated and deiected both from Empire and Realme ibid. He dies poorely in a village fol. 97 Eudes or Odon named Regent by Lewis the 2. the 30. King of France THe race of Eudes from whence Hugh Capet sprong fol. 98 Eudes maligned in his Regencie fol. 99 France full of factions ibid. Eudes resignes the Regencie to the King a little before he died ibid. Charles 3. called the Simple the 31. King of France A Memorable League made by Robert brother to Eudes against King Charles fol. 100 Charles put from the Crowne fol. 101 Robert the head of the League and in armes ibid. Robert causeth himselfe to be crowned King fol. 102. The errors of King Charles ibid. Robert defeated and slaine by Charles ibid. Charles taken prisoner by Hebert he dies for griefe ibid. Queene Ogina flies into England with her sonne Lewis ibid. Raoul the 32. King but in effect an vsurper RAâ—ul an Vsurper raignes vnfortunately fol. 103. Necessâ—rie obseruations for great Estates fol. 104 Confusions in France Italy and Germany ibid. Confusion in the East and in the Church ibid. Pope Ioan deliuered of a child in the open streete fol. 105. Lewis 4. the 33 King LEwis a disloyall prince fol. 106 Hee marrieth one of the Emperours sisters Hugues father to Hugh Capâ—t marrieth another ibid. The duke of Normandie tâ—aiterousâ—y slaâ—â—e 〈◊〉 107. Lewis deales trecherously in oppressing the Normanes 〈◊〉 The King of Denmarke comes to succour tâ—e Duke of Normandie fol. 1â—9 Lewis taken prisoner at a parle and set free vpon conditions ibid. Richard Duke of Normandy marries the daughter of â—ugueâ— the great ibid. Lâ—wis seekes to ruine Hugues his brother in Law â—ol 1â—â— Trecherie punished with trecherie Count Hebert hanged ibid. Lewis dies hated of his sâ—biects ibid. Lothaire 34. King of France LOthaire a trecherous king fâ—l 111 He attempt warre against Richard of Normandie but in vaine ibid. Lothaire makes warre against the Emperour 〈◊〉 112. Lorraine giuen to Charles of France by the Emperour ibid. Lothaire dies detested of all men ibâ—d Lewis 5 the 35. King and the last of the sâ—cond â—ace THe last King of the race of Charlemaigne fâ—l 113. God the disposer of Kingdomes and States ibid. Hugh Capet the 36. King and the first of the third Race CHarles Duke of Lorraine heire presumptiue reiected from the Crowne and Hugh Capet chosen King of France fol. 117 The reason why Chaâ—les was reiected fol. 118 Hugh Capet held most worthy of the Crowne ibid. His fathers wise proceeding fol. 119 His off-spring ibid. Why he was called Capâ—t ibid. Hugh Capets proceeding to attaine to the Crowne fol. 120. A parliament at Noâ—on â—or his election ibid. Hugh Capet crowned at Rheims fol. 121 Charles of Lorraine begins warre and surpriseth townes ibid. Hugh Capâ—t defeated and in danger ibid. Charles promiseth vnto himselfe a happie raigne ibid. He is taken in Laon carried to Orleans where he dies in prison ibid. Hugh Capet no vsurper fol. 122 The subiects doe homage vnto him ibid. Hee doth renew the orders of the twelue Peeres of France He suppresseth the Mayor of the Pallace ibid. Hugh crownes his sonne Robâ—rt King fol. 123 Roberts veâ—tues ibid. The Constable succeeds the Maior the Constables authoritie ibid. Hugh decrees that the eldest should raigne alone among his brethren ibid. He suppresseth the Mayor of the Palace ibid. The French cannot subsist but vnder a Royaltie ibid. Paris the chiefe place of Hughes residence ibid. His proceeding against Arnulph bastard of Lothaire who is deposed from his bishopricke ibid. The manners of Pope Iohn the 12. fol. 125 The estate of the Church and Empire ibid. Hugh Capet dies ibid. The Monarchy of France of greater continuance then euer any fol. 126 An order for the vse of this raigne ibid. The names of 13. Kings of the first royall branch of Capets placing Hugh Capet for
in the second royall branch called of Valois from Philip of Valois to Henry the third The names of the 13. kings of the second royall branch of Capets called of Valois Philip. Iohn Charles the 5. Charles the 6. Charles the 7. Lewis the 11. Charles the 8. Lewis the 12. Frances the 1. Henry the 2. Frances the 2. Charles the 9. Henry the 3. and last of this royall branch Philip of Valois the 50. king of France fol. 1 His controuersie with Edward the king of England ibid. Preferred to the Crowne and installed king ibid. Setles his affaires in France fâ—l 2. Suppresseth the Flemmings ibid. A notable sute of the Parliament against the Clergie ibid. Takes homage of Edward king of England for Guienne ibid. King Edwards oth to Philip. ibid. He resolues to go to the holy land fol. 3 The Pope discontented with Philip. ibid. Edward king of England makes warre with Philip ibid. Robert of Artois the firebrand of warre fâ—l 3 He flies into England fol. 4 Warre in Guienne and Scotland ibid. Iames of Artevill ring-leader to the seditious Flemmings ibid. Edwards practises in Flanders and Germanie ibid. Battell of Scluse in fauour of the English fol. 5 The English and French Army retire without fighting Edward takes on him the title of King of France fol. 6 Ione Queene of Naples kils her husband and the kingdome is taken by Lewis King of Hungary fol. 7 Arteuil slaine by the Flemmings fâ—l 8 The French defeated at Blanquetaque ibid. The battell of Crery with many particuler accidents that happened in it fol. 10.11 King Edward besieges and takes Calice fol 12.13 Dolphin incorporate to the crowne fol. 14 Monpelier purchased to the crowne ibid. Queene Ione of France dies ibid. Philips death and disposition fol. 15 Estate of the Empire and Church ibid. Iohn the 1. and 51. king of France COnsiderable obseruations in his raigne fol. 16 His children and most remarkable personages in his raigne fol. 17 Charles of Nauars humors and discontents ibid. Charles of Spaine Constable of Fâ—ance slaine in his bed by the king of Nauarre ibid. Nauars practises and force against the king fol. 18 Nauarre taken prisoner by the king and foure of his complices beheaded fol. 19 Warre in Normandie and Guienne betweene Iohn and the Prince of Wales sonne to Edward the 3. fol. 19. and 20 The battell of Poytiers where the French were ouerthrowne by the English and king Iohn taken Prisoner with the number slaine and taken fol. 21. and 22 Assembly of the Estates for Iohns deliuery with the insolencies of the people during his imprisonment fol. 23 The Kâ—ng of Nauarr set at libertie comes to Paris and the Dolphin yeelds to him fol. 24 Iohns generous answere to King Edward fo 25 The Parisians comes into the Dolphins lodging solicite the Cities to rebell but they refused them fol. 26 The Dolphin leaues Paris fol. 27 The Nauarrois seekes to ruine him ibid. A Parliament Compiegne and the Dolphin declared Regent fo 28. Two French armies one against another fol. 29. The Parisians mutiny with the English that had serued them who beate them backe in sight of the Nauarrois fol. â—0 The Regent is receiued into Paris with the Nauarrois attemps against him fol. 31 Edward repents an opportunitie neglected ibid. The desolate estate of France fol. 32 The Dolphin executes the Parisians and pacifies the rest ibid. Conditions for the Kings deliuery and preparation to defend the Realme ibid. Edward enters France with an Armie besiegeth Paris but in vaine fol. 33 Edward amazed with a thunder concludes a peace with Iohn at Bretigny ibid. The two Kings swear a mutuall league of friendship fol. 34 King Iohn brought to Calis and after receiued by his sonne with great ioy ibid. Iohn receiued into Paris fol. 35 Difficulties in the performance of the conditions of peace ibid. Iohns death in England the 8. of April 1â—64 with his disposition ibid. Charles the 5. called the wise the 52. king of France HIs raigne and manners with the augmentation of his brethrens portions fol. 36 His Marriage and children fol. 37 Warre in Brytany where the French are defeated by the English ibid. He reconciles the pretendants for Britany fol. 38 Wars receiued in Britany Flanders and between France and England ibid. The Emperor seekes to reconcile them fol. 39 Charles proclaimes war against the King of England ibid. The successe of the French army in Guienne with the exploits of the Prince of Wales called the Blacke Prince ibid. Peter king of Castile murthers his own wife fol. 40 Charles sends an army against him as a muâ—therer and a Tirant ibid. The king of England restores Peter and defeats the French ibid. Peter forsaken by the English taken prisoner and beheaded fol. 41 The English second passage through France vnder the Duke of Clarence ibid. Troubles in Flanders pacified by Philip. fol. 42 Sedition at Monpelier punished by the Duke of Berry with the sentence against them but moderated fol. 43 Charles his death disposition with some obseruations worthy to be obserued by Princes f. 44 The state of the Empire and Church with the originall of the Canto in Swisserland fol. 45 Diuision at Rome for the election of a new Pope And an Antipope chosen fol. 46 Charles the sixt 53. King of France NEcessarie obseruations for the vnderstanding of this raigne fol. 47 The minoritie of K. Charles the sixt Strange euents in the beginning of his Raigne fol. 48. Lâ—wis of Aniow Regent and Oliuer Clisson Constable fol. 49 Controuersie betweene his vncles at his coronation for precedence ibid. Tumults in France ibid. And in Flanders between the Earle and the Gantois fol. 50.51 King Charles succours the Earle of â—landers against the aduice of the Regent and his counsell fol. 52 He ouerthrowes the Flemmings and kils threescore thousand of them fol. 53 The Gantois appeased and a peace in Flanders fol. 54. Charles marrieth Isabell of Bauiere and concludes a peace in Brittany ibid. He sends men and munition into Scotland and resolues to make warre vpon England which the Regent dislikes of fol. 55 Preparation in France and England for war fol. 56 The Regent opposeth against this warre â—ol 57 The enterprise broken oâ— and Naples offered to the Regent fol. 58 The seditious and cruell insolencies of the Parisians but they faint and â—ue to the King for pardon fol. 59 Lewis of Aniow crowned King of Naples fol 60 A schisme in the Church fol. 61 Queene Ioan 〈◊〉 Naples taken and smoothered and Lewis Duke of Aniow and adopted King of Naples dies ibid. The English enter Picardie and Charles makes a truce with them fol. 62 The King hauing consulted what course to take with the mutinous Parisians enters the city with an army executes many they cry for mercie and he pardons them fol. 63.64.65 Charles out of his vncles gouernement who grew discontented fol. 66 HE giues the Dutchy of Orleans to his brother Lewis and visits
of the Gantois fed by Lewis his policie fol. 274.275 The Gantois ouerthrowne and Adolfe Duke of Guelders slaine fol. 276 Maximillian and Marie maried fol. 277 The politique liberalitie of Lewis fol. 278 The disposition of Edward King of England fol. 279. Is fed by Lewis his dilatorie hopes ibid. He neglects Marie of Burgogne ibid. Affects greatly the alliance with France ibid. A trecherous attempt at Florence against the house of Medicis fol. 280 The mutinie appeased and the murtherer hanged ibid. The battell of Guingaste where many were slain and the French left the field fol. 281 Lâ—wis seeking to reforme his Realme is hindered by infirmities yet is iealous of his authority eueÌ„ in sicknesse ibid. The death of Mary of Burgogne pleasing to Lewis fol. 282. Edward the fourth King of England dies fol. 283 Râ—â—hard murthers his two nephewes vsurpes the Crowne ibid. Lewis his disposition in his declining age fol. 284 His inuentions to make beleeue he liued still fol. 285. His death and disposition â—â—l 286 The Estate of the Church vnder Lewis â—â—l 286.287 The Estate of the Empire fol. 288.289 The Turkes ouerthrowne twice in Asia winne the third battell fol. 290 Scanderbeg his death and vertues ibid. Charles the 8. the 56. King of France A Breefe rehersall of his raigne fol. 291 His disposition and education fol. 292 Contention betweene the Duke of Orleans and the Earle of Beau-ieu for the Regency ibid. Landais gouerns the Duke of Brittaine insolentlie ibid. King Charles his coronation fol. 293 The Duke of Orleans being put from the RegeÌ„cy discontented leaues the Court. fo â—94 The Duke of Brittaine being troubled is forced to deliuer Landais who is hanged fo 295 Charles seekes to diuide the Brittons from their Duke and makes a secret treaty with the Nobility fol. 296 The Brittons reconciled to their Duke and Rieux reuoults from the French fol. 298 Ancenis Casteaubriant Vennes taken for the Brittons fol. 299 Diuision in the Brittish Army fol. 300 The Battle of St. Albin where the Duke of Orleans and the Earle of Dunois are takeÌ„ prisoners fol. 301 Diuers Townes in Brittany yeelded to the FreÌ„ch fol. 302 The Duke of Brittane after a peace made with the King dyes fol. 303 The pittifull estate of Brittaine fol 304 Anne of Brittaine succored by the English and Spanish foo 305 The Marshall of Riux and the English beseedge Brest and Conquett fol. 306 Maximillian made Arbitrator betweene king Charles and Anne of Brittaine fol. 307 Nantes and Guingam taken by the French fol. 308 A finall peace in Brittaine by Charles his mariage with Anne fol. 309 The practises of the English vpon Brittaine ibid. Arras betrayed to Maximillian fol. 310 Motiues for the voyage of Naples with the waÌ„ts for the voyage â—oâ— 31â— Lodowick Sâ—orza vsurps Milan and surpriseth the Castle fol. 312 The estate of Italy in 1490. fol. 31â— The peace of Italy ruined by Peter of Medicis â—ol 314 A league betweene the Pope the Venetians and the Duke of Milan fâ—l 3â—5 Charles his right to Naples and Scicilia ibid. He could not be diswaded by his counsell from the enterprise of Italy fol. 316 His voyage to Naples vndertaken without money fol. 31â— Lodowicks perswations to Charles with the death of Iohn Galeat Duke of Milan fâ—l 318 The â—lorentines and Peter de Medicis offer king Charles their citty withall other his demaunds â—ol 319 Peter de Medicis and his bretheren expelled â—lâ—rence fol. 32â— King Charles enters Florence ibid. The Pope perplexed hauing many enimies sends to the King fol. â—â—â— The walles of Rome and of the Castle St. Angelo fall alone at the kings entrance â—ol 322 Alphonso frighted with horrible visions for his cruelties crownes his Sonne and â—lyes fol. 323 Vpon the first entry of the French into the kingdome of Naples Capna Auerse Nola Naples yeelds fol. 324 Zemin being thrice ouerthrowne by Baiaâ—et â—lyes and is poysoned by Pope Alexander fol. 326 The Venetians discouer to the Turke an enterprise vpon Scrutaâ—y fol. 327 A league concluded against the French fol. 328 King Charles takes order for Naples and goes towards Rome and the Pope â—lyeâ— fol. 3â—9 Sauanoccllas predictions fol. 330 Milan and the whole Dutchy ready to reuolt against Lodowickâ— fol. 331 A foule reuenge by the Suisses repaired by a notable peece of seruice fol. 332 The Battle of Fornone where the King is in great danger fol. 3â—3 The Army of the league ouerthrowne fol. 334 Ferdinand defeated by Aubigny enters Naples and the most part of the kingdome reuolts from the French fol. 336 Caiette sackt by the French ibid. The Marquesse of Pescara slayne fol. â—37 The newe Castle at Naples compounds with Ferdinand ibid. Twentie thousand Suisses at Verceil for the king fol. 339 The Suisses practise to seize vpon the King ibid. The Venetians propositions to the King fol. 340 The beginning of the Poxe ibid. The treachery and couetousnesse of Entraques fol. 341 A newe French fleete in the kingdome of Naples fol. 343 Ferdinands lansquenets defeated by the French fol. 343 A truce betwixt the kings of France and Castile ibid. Charles greatly affects the enterprise of Italie but is disswaded by the Cardinall of S. Malo fol. 344 The last act of this tragedy and the French defeated fol. 345 A dishonorable coÌ„position made by the French fol. 346 The Earle of Mountpensier dies with most of his troupes ibid. King Ferdinand dies fol. 347 The Duke of Orleans refuseth to make warre against the Duke of Millan in his owne name ibid. The Duke of Millan perplexed is succoured by the Venetians fol. 348 Reasons to draw the King into Italie fol. 349 The castle of Amboyse built by Charles ibid. His death and disposition fol. 350 Lewis the 12 the 57. king of France THe happines of his raigne fol. 351 The genealogie of Lewis the 12. fol. 352 Lewis his title to the Dutchie of Millan ibid. The Pope capitulates with the King fol. 354 The Venetians and Florentines congratulate his comming to the crowne ibid. Borgia comes to court and commits a treacherous murther ibid. King Lewis associats with the Venetians fol. 355 Millan mutines against Lodowicke and hee flies shamefully fol. 356 Millan beeing yielded Lewis makes his entrie fol. 357 Vitelli besiegeth Pisa is taken and beheaded at Florence ibid. Our Ladies Bridge at Paris falls fol. 358 The estate of the East ibid. Millan and the Suisses reuolt and Sforza recouers it againe fol. 359 Lâ—dowicke Sâ—orza taken fol. 360 Millan pardoned by the King fol. 361 The potentates of Italy reconciled to the King fol. 362 The exploits of Câ—sar Borgia fol. 363 The pittifull death of the Lord of Faenza murthered by Borgia fol. 364 The warres of Naples reuiued fol. 365 The realme of Naples diuided betwixt the Kings of France and Arragon ibid. Fredericke king of Naples simplicitie fol. 366 The lamentable taking of Capua with the souldiers insolencies fol. 367 The capitulation of Fredericke who of king of Naples is