four things are to be considered 1. The Roman Empire which began in Julius Caesar or Augustus comprehended indeed all the West and herein the Gaules That Empire was made up of the ruine of many Nations by right or wrong Howsoever long prescription and the consent of Nations with the extinction of the royall Families made up a reasonable right which continued in the Roman Emperours till the year of Christ 400 when by the inundation of many Northern Nations Goths Vandales Franks and others the whole Empire was dismembred and the severall Conquerors of each part made themselves Soveraign So did the Franks in Gaules A beginning not to be excused of violence and usurpation But the ruine of the Romans prescription and the consent of the conquered people did since authorize their dominion and towards the end of the first age of these invasions they were all justified and the Conquerours remained just possessours especially when the Roman Empire ended in Augustulus An. 475. And when Charlemagne restored the Western Empire an 800. that promotion did not alter the former Title he had to the Kingdome of France It was but a Title of honour which he and after him his Sonne Lewis the Meek possest with that of King of France Afterwards by the partage made An. 843. between the Sons of Lewis the Meek each of the three brothers had his portion independent from the others and Lothary the Eldest who had the Title of Emperour pretended no right over Charles the Bald who had France for his Portion much as it is now Since which time all that would ascribe any Superiority to the Emperours over the Princes of Christendom that are acknowledged Soveraign have with good reason bin hissed out as ridiculous Only the precedence was left to the Emperour as the eldest among the brethren But the subjection which he yields to the Pope and the small right which he retains over the Lands and Princes of the Empire weaken his authority very much and make it unworthy of that precedence over all the Princes of Christendom Wherefore he doth not stir those antient pretences over all the Kingdomes of the West 2. Some Germane Historians as Trithemius Lazius Munster Fiesdorpius make the house of Habsburg which is that of Austria to descend from the first race of the French Kings a fable invented since 120. years and newly taken up again by the flatterers of that house Especially by Fiesdorpius a name either true or forged by the Spaniards To understand this we must know that the Kingdom of France was often divided into Tetrarchies under the first race Kings of Paris of Orleans of Soissons and Mets. In the last of these Brunehault reigned with great power that abominable woman so much renowned in our Histories which confounded and destroyed that house by her ordinary murthers That State of Mets being fallen into the hands of two brothers Thierry and Theodebert who contended for it Therry joyning with his Grandmother Brunehault overcame Theodebert in battell and put him cruelly to death And by Brunehaults order the two Sons of Theodebert were slain in her presence This Tragedy was acted An. 617. But these Historians to flatter the house of Austria say that of these two Sons of Theodebert the one called Sigebert escaped the hands of his great Grandmother and fled into Germany to Godfrey and Genebald Dukes of Franconie his Uncles by the Mother by whose intercession he obtained of Lothary King of France his Cosin some lands in Switzerland upon condition that he should renounce all his rights to the Crown of France That he or his Son or one of his more remote descent built the Castle of Habsburg and founded that family And upon that account the house of Austria descends from that of France That relation is a blind tale for all antient Historians affirm that both the Sons of Theodebert and he had no more were slain by Brunehault And the first that mentions that escape of Sigebert is Trithemius who lived about six score yeares ago And as it is false it is ridiculous in the ordinary vicissitude of the affairs of the world and the continuall changes of Possessions to set up Titles after an interruption of a thousand years For upon that account there is no Prince in Europe but may be degraded and no mean man but may be intitled to some principality It is with great reason that the Title of prescription is every where preferred before all Titles And though the tale were a true story that Rodolphus of Habsburg the head of the house of Austria was descended from the Family of Habsburg by the women his masculine extraction was from the house of Tiestein So this pretence is so ridiculous that it is not worth speaking 3. The branch of the house of Valois hath continued from male to male from Philip de Valois who came to the Crown An. 1328 to the death of Henry the Third An. 1589. males failing in that branch the Crown by the fundamental laws of the Land was to pass to the next branch of the Males which was that of Bourbon and so did in the end A Title so known to all the French that even in the heat of the War of the League against the honse of Bourbon as professing a contrary Religion yet they crowned the Cardinal of Bourbon and called him Charles the Tenth In these confusions Philip the Second King of Spain seeing the party of the League inclined to the Election of a King claimed the Kingdom for his Daughter Clara Eugenia Isabella as Daughter of Elizabeth of France his third wife sister and Heir of the three last Kings Francis II. Charles IX and Henry III. and of Francis Duke of Alenson the eldest of three Sisters of which the Second was Claude married to Charles Duke of Lorrain and the third was Queen Margaret wife to Henry the Fourth then only titular King of Navarra He alleadged then that representation being a good Title by the Laws of France his Daughter entred into all the rights of her Mother Elizabeth which should have inherited of her brothers and that her right extended even to the Crown as the Patrimony of her Family That the pretended Salique Law of the French was imaginary yea and against Nature against Humanity and the right of Political successions which require that all Inheritances may go to the next Heirs And though that Law had force among the French that his Daughter being not a subject nor borne in France could not be tied by these municipall Laws That between Soveraigns the Law of Nature not the particular Laws of Nations should be the rule That all Laws of Nature reject this principle that the successions should be for males only as though females were unreasonable creatures or the excrements and sweepings of mankind and no part of human society When the States of the League were assembled in Paris An. 1593. some unadvised and rash heads moved the Election of a King and the
Minor by the State 3. Lanoy being returned into Spain presently the War of the league begins in Italy at Milan at Rome and at Naples At Milan the Duke of Bourbon Generall of the imperial Army besieged Francis Sforza whom the league had taken in her protection Sforza is constrained to surrender the Castle and retire into the Army of the league the Generall whereof was Francesco Maria Duke of Urbin The Duke of Bourbon having taken Milan goeth straight to Rome takes it and is killed in the assault The Cardinalls are imprisoned and ransomed At the same time Lautree was at Naples with an Army and laid a strait siege to it by Land And Andrew Doria with the Gallies of France besieged it by Sea Yea he won a battel by Sea in which Moncado Viceroy of Naples was slaine But being ill satisfied of King Francis who denyed him the ransome of Prisoners and used him with contempt he turned to the Emperour and relieved Naples with victualls by Sea And Lautree presently after happening to die the French lost all in Italy and the Emperour settled himselfe in it with more power He restored the Dutchy of Milan to Sforza and made him marry his neece Christina daughter to the King of Denmark Yet he cut off from that Dutchy the Commonwealth of Genoa which was made Soveraign at the request of Andrew Doria He confirmed also Parma and Placentia to the Popes 4. While this War was in Italy King Francis made a league with Henry the VIII of England and both declared War against the Emperour who having said to the Herald of France that his Master was not in a condition to declare Warre against him till he had disingaged his faith and fulfilled his promises which if he repented of that he should return into prison to make a new Treaty King Francis exasperated with these words declared in presence of all the Court that he would satisfie the Emperour by a Duel and sent him a challenge saying that the Emperour lied if he said that he had broken his word The Emperour though he made a shew to answer the challenge kept himself still to his answer that King Francis was not in a condition to require satisfaction of him till he had discharged his promise So all these threatnings vanisht into smoak 5. While these Princes were thus contending two great Princesses Lovise the Kings Mother and Margaret the Emperours Aunt were labouring for an accommodation By their meanes the Treaty of Cambray was made which therefore was called the Treaty of Ladies it was in the year 1529. By that Treaty a marriage was concluded between King Francis and Eleanor the Emperours sister widow to the King of Portugal and it was agreed that King Francis should pay two millions of Gold for the ransome of his Sons And that he should disclaim all his rights to the Counties of Flanders and Artois and to the Dutchy of Milan and as some adde to whole Italy which is like enough since the Treaty of Cambray changed nothing in that of Madrid but that there was no mention of the Dutchy of Burgundy Paragraphe V. From the Treaty of Cambray an 1529. to that of Crespy an 1544. By the Treaty of Cambray War ceased between these two Princes but not the jealousies and hatred Yet they kept peace till the year 1533. when Merville an Italian Gentleman the Kings servant was condemned and executed at Milan because some of his servants had killed a man But the secret and true reason was that the Emperour had complained to Duke Sforza that this Merville was at Milan as a Spy for the French which was true yea he was a secret Embassadour and Sforza had desired that he should not openly take the title of Embassadour for fear of offending the Emperour That murther of Merville broke the peace for the King taking Armes to chastise Sforza the Emperour also took arms to defend him It was at that time that King Francis instituted a new form of Militia which was called Legionary The Emperour also was incensed by the alliance which the King had made with the German Princes Protestant though perhaps that name was not yet in fashion who being persecuted by the Emperour for their Religion had their refuge to the French King as the antient confederate of the Princes of Germany for the defence of the Rights and Liberties of the Empire These Princes were the Dukes of Saxony the Palatine the Duke of Bavier the Duke of Wertenberg the Lantgrave of Hesse Yea he lent a hundred thousand Crowns to the Duke of Virtenberg who engaged to him the County of Montbeliard But that engagement was simulate and Francis did very willingly assist the Enemies of Charles These were the motives and occasions of this War Of which these were the chief passages 1. Francis to passe to Milan demands of Charles Duke of Savoy passage through his Country The Duke denies it by the instigation of Beatrix of Portugal his wife sister in law to the Emperor very partial for him That deniall cost the Duke the losse of all his Lands both of Savoy and Fiemont which the King took and kept them till the Treaty of Chasteau in Cambresis an 1559. The pretence of that invasion was the right which Francis pretended in these States from his Mother Lovise of Ravoy A little before that invasion the Emperour seeing that thick cloud threatning Milan himself returning from Tunis with a weary and broken Army sends to the K. propositions of peace many fair words Yet he stood so stiffely upon the Treaties before very advantageous for him that the King would not hearken to him perceiving that ne would only protract the time till he had recrewted his Army Besides Francis Sforza being dead without children at the same time the Emperour had seized upon the Dutchy of Milan And it was reported that he intended to bestow it upon a Sonne of Portugal his wives brother For these reasons these two Princes fall to action The King conquereth Savoy and Piemont and the Emperour fortifies himself at Milan 2. The Emperour passeth into Italy visits the Pope Paul III an 1536 and in prefence of the Conclave inveighs against Francis relating all that past between them ever since they came to their States reproaching him especially for joining with the Princes of contrary Religion in Germany And offereth three conditions to the King to choose which he would The first was to give the Dutchy of Milan to the Kings third Son the Duke of Angoulesme not willing to give it either to the Dolphin or to the Duke of Orleans for fear said he of giving jealousie to the Italian Princes if persons so near the Crown grew so powerfull in Italy especially the Duke of Orleans who had lately married Catherine de Medicis which had some pretences upon Florence and Urbin If the King accepted that condition he desired to know what assistance he would give him against the Turk and the Heretiques
A JUDICIOUS VIEVV OF THE BUSINESSES which are at this time between FRANCE and the House of AUSTRIA Most usefull to know the present posture of the affairs of all Christendom Translated out of French by a Person of Honour LONDON Printed by W. Wilson for Henry Herringman and are to be sold at his Shop at the Anchor in the Lower walk in the New-Exchange 1657. A CHARACTER OF this Worke. THis is the Map of the present interesses of Princes the quintessence of the History of five or six Ages and of as many Kingdoms the State-resolve of a deep and consummate Polititian perfected by the perusing of many Volums of Histories and by the experience of many years I am inclined to believe that these were private Notes of some great Statesman gathered for readiness in his publique employments And that they were publisht without his name makes me suspect that they came out without his leave Howsoever this is a Treasure for all that desire to know the world and penetrate into the inside of businesses a help of memory for them that have read many Histories and an ease of labour for such as want leisure to read them The true case of the businesses which are at this time between the two Houses of France and Austria PREFACE THe two Houses of France and Austria are the greatest and most important of Christendom and such as draw to their motion all the other Crowns Between these two Houses there hath been many Warres Alterations Treaties Truces and Peaces since the rising of that of Austria of which we may assigne the beginning at the marriage of Maximilian Son to the Emperor Frideric 3. with Mary the inheritrice of Charles the last Duke of Burdundy Prince of the seventeen united Provinces of Netherland dead before Nancy in the year 1477. For the intellience of all their Divisions Truces and Alliances I frame this discourse which shall consist of five Chapters In the first The whole state of Europe shall be set down the severall Princes thereof their Religion and what neighbourhood and dependance they have among themselves In the second It shall be examined by what degrees the House of Austria is entred into the Empire and into all those great estates which she now enjoyeth by her two Branches of Spain and Germany In the third The differences between the two Crowns shal be discuss'd what right the House of France hath in Catalonia Portugal Navarra Naples Milan c. Also what claim the House of Austria hath to Burgundy Brittain Provence c. These are those disputable Rights which have begot so many Divisions and Wars between the Princes and an unreconcilable hatred between the Nations In the fourth Chapter The businesses shall be presented which past between the two Kingdoms from the Treaty of Arras in the year 1435. to the Treaty of Vervins in 1598. Wars Battels Treaties Truces and Peaces The fifth shall relate all that past from the Treaty of Vervins till now CHAP. I. The Princes that govern Europe Paragraphe I. EUrope the least of the three parts of the world known to the ancient Geographers and the most Northerly but the most populous and that within which almost all Christendom is comprehended hath on the South the Mediterranean Sea and part of the Ocean and begins at the Cap St. Vincent in the extremity of Portugal in the Kingdom of Algarba near the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean Sea begins which takes several names as it toucheth upon severall Provinces as Spain France Italy Sicily Greece The Isle of Candie is the utmost of Europe that way and it is divided from Africa by the Mediterranean Sea Eastward ascending to the North Europe is bounded again by the Mediterranean Sea under the names of the Aegean Sea called now Archipelago Hellospont now Burdanelles or the Strait of Gallipoli Propontis now Mar de Marmora Bosphorus Thracius now the Strait of Constantinople Pontus Euxinus now the black Sea or Mar major Higher it is bounded by Meotides Paludes and the River Tanais now Don remounting to its spring And thenceforward a line is imagined drawne to the North butting either at the Golph of St. Nicholas or some such other place thereabout in the great Duke of Moscovia's Country for that nothern Tract unknown to ancient Geographers is yet so little knowne that the limits of Europe that way could never be well assigned On all the East-side Europe neighboureth upon the great Asia and is Occidentall to it On the North-side ancient Geographers have set no limits to Europe but have comprehended these Nothern extremities either under the name of Hyperborean hills although there be no hills in that Tract or under the name of Mare Glaciale or the frozen Sea which we may take from the Golph of St. Nicolâ—s or the mouth of the River Oby unto the Sea which is about Norway and Finmarch and so towards the Isles of Freezland and Island On that side Europe buts upon the Pole and is not near any considerable Lands some few Ilands onely ill inhabited as Nova Zembla and Niewland On the West-side Europe hath the great Ocean from the Iles of Freesland and is-Is-land to the Cap of St. Vincent which is the extremity of Portugal And that Ocean takes divers names according to the divers Countries that it toucheth as the Britannique Ilands Norway Denmark Germany Holland Zeland Flanders the Strait of Calais the coasts of Normandy Brittain Poitou Saintonge Guienne the golph of Bayonne the coasts of Biscay Gallicia Portugal Algerke to the Cap St. Vincent These are the limits and as it were the four walls which inclose all that is comprehended under the name of Europe The length whereof may be taken from the Cap St. Vincent to the golph S. Nicholas or the mouth of the River Oby which is two thousand French common leagues or as far north-ward as one will The breadth from Morea towards the Isle Cythera to the North towards Finmarch and Lapland which is twelve of fifteen hundred leagues A more exact description of the Topography of each Country is not for this place Here only we will enumerate the States contained within that extent and that but in the great as much as is necessary to understand that which belongs to the two Houses of France and Austria the most considerable of Europe of Christendom at least We shall be begin that enumeration by the West and from thence passing to the East we shall turn to the North and there end Paragraphe II. The first Prince on the West of Europe is the King of Spain who beares the name of the House of Austria besides that which he hath in Africa and in the East and West Indies Besides a number infinite of Ilands Caps Havens from the Isles Azores to the Cap of good hope and from that Cap to the extremity of the East towards the Molukes and Philippine Ilands 1. That which he holds in Europe is comprehended in that Peninsula
enclosed within the Ocean the Med terranean Sea and the Pyrenean hills under several names of Kingdomes as we shall say in the following Chapter And these distinguisht into three general Jurisdictions of Castilia Arragon and Portugal It is true that since the late Wars the revolts of Portugal and Catalonia have clipt so much of his Domtnions and the French have taken from him the County of Roussillon 2. Upon the coasts of Spain he possesseth the two Baleares Mallorca and Minorca and the two Ilands in old time called Ophiusae now Ivica and Fromentera 3. In Italy he hath all the Kingdom of Naples which is almost the half of it and the most Easterly part from Cajeta or Fondi to the golph of Tarento and the Strait of Messina 4. In the same Italy he hath the Dutchy of Milan with the territories of Pavia Tortona Cremona c. 5. Upon the coasts of the Tuscan Sea he hath Final Piombino Porto Hercule and Orbitello Of late the Prince of Monaco hath shaken off his yoak In Toscana the great Duke of Florence doth him homage for the Common-wealth of Siena and oweth him service 6. In that Sea about Italy he hath the Isles of Sardima and Sicily and is soveraign of the Isle of Malta which the old Geographers reckon among the African Ilands The great Master of that Iland oweth him some homage for it 7. In the Celtique Gaule he hath the Franche County or the County of Burgundy and in the Dutchy of Burgundy he hath the County of Charrolois 8. In the Belgique Gaule he hath possest till the end of the last age all that was comprehended under the name of the seventeen Provinces He keeps to this day the Dutchies of Luxemburg Limburg the Dutchy of Brabant but pared about by the losse of Maestritcht the Bose Breda and Bergupzom part of the Dutchy of Guelders the Counties of Namur Hainant Artois and Flanders all maimed with the losse of some limbs by our late Wars Also the Marquisat of the holy Empire which is Antwerp and the Principality of Mechlen The remnant of these seventeen Provinces is in the hand of the States of the united Provinces besides that which the King of France hath taken In all that large extent of Lands the Spaniard suffereth the exercise of no Religion but the Roman Though he go for a great soveraign yet many of his Lands depend from oother Princes The See of Rome hath great pretences upon the soveraignty of Arragon Heacknowledgerh without contradiction the soveraignty of the Church over his Kingdom of Naples Yet it is pretended that he oweth the same homage for Sicily For the Dutchy of Milan and other Lands which he holds in Italy he must acknowledge the Empire from which he hath received the investiture of the same Franche County is an imperiall fee as also the Provinces of Netherland not depending of France did owe homage to the Empire And in the year 1608. when the truce was made between Spain and Holland these two States disputing of their soveraignty in the first Article the Emperour Rodolphus framed an opposition against that Article and claimed the soveraignty as belonging to the Empire but the Treaty past without any reflection to that claim Finally although the Spaniard acknowledge our Kings no more neither for Flanders nor for Artois it is not well resolved yet by what right he hath shaken off the yoak and the French pretend that the Treaties of Madrid Cambray and Crespy in Valois which contain that cession have not been authorized by the generall States of France The King of Spain being possessor of such a great extent of Lands is a neighbor to most of the Christian Princes as will be shewed more at large in the second Chapter and hath alwaies some difference with them The now King of Spain is Phillip the IV. of the Roman Religion Paragraphe III. Here we will look upon the King of France whose state is comprehended in the old Gally Narbonensis Aquitanica Celtica and Belgica yet doth he not possess them all the whole Narbonensis belongs to him excepting Avignon Nice Savoy Geneva and Orenge The whole Aquitanica is his since the small principality of Bearn which with small reason hath been pretended to be soveraign in her Rights and Customs hath been united to the Crown and began to have the same Prince by the coming of Henry the fourth to the Crown The whole Celtica belongs likewise to the King of France excepting onely the Franch County and the imperial Town of Besancon Of the Belgica the King of France hath the least part The I le of France Pays de Caux Boulonnois Picardi Beau-voisis Champagne Brie And by good or bad title the Towns of Mets Thoul and Verdun of which in the first invasion he declared himselfe Protector onely By the late Wars he hath made himself Master of most part of Lorrain of the Town of Brisach and of other Towns of Alsatia beyond the Rhine The subjects of the King of France are commonly Roman Catholiques yet Protestants are tolerated in the State The King of France is neighbouring upon Spain by the Pyrenean hills On that side the French and the Spaniards have not much troubled one another but of late yeares in which the French have unfortunately attempted Spain about Fontarabie but fortunately about Roussillon and Catalonia But about the Low Countries and Franche County which lie open to both the Nations there hath been much stir and action On the side of Provence and Daulphine the Duke of Savoy is neighbour to France for Savoy and Piemont joyn to the foresaid Provinces The County of Avignon belonging to the Pope is inclosed within Provence By Daulphine the French touch the Common-wealth of Geneva By the Country of Bresse and the Bailliages of Gez and Verromey they enter within Switzerland into the Canton of Berne By Champagne they have the Duke of Lorraine for their neighbour but now they are possest of his Country So all their neighbours are weak the King of Spain excepted The present King of France is Lewis the XIV of the Roman profession Paragraphe IV. In this Paragraphewe will set downe all the Princes contained within the ancient Gaules besides the King of France 1. In Gallia Narbonensis the Duke of Savoy holds the Dutchie of Savoy the Countries of Chablais and Tarantaise and the Towne of Chambery and upon the Sea coast neare the River of Var the Town and County of Nice which was sometimes a member of Provence and being upon the River of Var it is partly in France partly in Italy 2. The Pope holds the County of Venaissyn or Avignon an ancient member of Provence with the four Bishopricks belonging to it Avignon Carpentras Cavaillon and Vezon There also is Orenge belonging to the House of Nassau 3. The City of Geneva with her Territory made her selfe a soveraign Common-wealth about the year 1535. when the Duke of Savoy the Bishop of Geneva and the City being in
of France In the end seeing himself ill used by the English he grew weary of their alliance and ashamed of the harm which he had done to his Country Being then contented to agree with the King he met with him at Arras An. 1435. This was called the Treatie of Arras a fundamentall piece of the History of that age and the following By that Treaty after that King Charles the VII in as little dishonorable termes as might be had asked pardon for the killing of Duke John when he was Dolphin they agreed about many other Articles and the King gave many pieces belonging to the Crown The chief were these 1. He transported to the Duke and to his Heirs lawfully begotten the Towns and jurisdictions of Peronne Roye Mondidier to hold them by homage from the Crown and in Title of Peerdom to depend of the Court of Parliament of Paris 2. The County of Artois was restored unto him on the same Title with all the impositions amounting to fourteeen thousand Livers per an But of the rights of France upon the County of Artois we shall speak hereafter 3. He transported to the said Duke the Towns of Saint Quintin Corbi Amiens Abbeville Dourlans Saint Riquier Crevecoeur and all the other Towns Castles and Lordships seated upon the River of Somme on both sides together with the County of Ponthien and other Lands adjacent to the County of Flanders and Lands of the Empire All these Towns Castles and Lordships redeemable with the sum of 400000 Crowns Upon that Treaty all these Towns were delivered to the Duke of Burgundy and all the time of Charles the VII nothing was altered in this agreement Lewis the XI came to the Crown An. 1461. who being unthankfull and malicious although he had great obligations to the house of Burgundy yet as soon as he came to the Crown he conceived a great aversion against Charles Count of Charolois Son and Heir to Philip le Bon and would recover all those pawned Lordships arguing the Treaty of Arras of nullity and invalidity maintaining that his Father could not alienate so many pieces belonging to the State against the fundamentall Laws To disingage these Lands he laid great impositions upon the people till he had raised the four hundred thousand Crownes which he caused to be brought to Abbeville and delivered unto the Duke who soon after delivered all those places unto him Charles Count of Coarolois took that so heavily that he almost died for sorrow and conceived a mortall hatred against the Lord of Crovi whom he accused to have advised his Father to it And it was one of the causes of the War of the publique good which having been carried with various successe till the Treaty of Conflans near Paris 1465 the fourth Article whereof was that the King should give again to the Count of Charolois all the Townes seated upon the River of Somme lately redeemed with 400000. Crowns to enjoy them all his life time and besides that should give him the County of Guines for himself and his Heirs for ever This Charles who was since Duke of Burgundy enjoyed these Lands though not without Wars and Divisions against Lewis the XI Finally Charles being dead before Nancy An. 1477. Lewis the XI did suddenly invade the Dutchy of Burgundy as a masculin apanage returning to the Crown and all the Townes upon the River of Somme which the French have kept ever since Neither can the house of Austria pretend any just right to them as Heir of the house of Burgundy both because Charles the VII had not power to alienate these parts of his State as his Son Lewis the XI alledged and because all these Townes had been alienated upon condition of redemption with a certain sum which was paid by Lewis the XI unto the Duke Philip. And if they were restored to the Count of Charolois it was for his life onely Wherefore Lewis did not seize upon them but after the death of Charles At which time also he took Arras of which we will speak hereafter Paragraphe VI. Of the Dutchy of Britain The right of the house of Austria to the Dutchy of Britain hath more ground then any of the former and gave matter to many disputes especially in the time of the League the King of Spain Philip the II. representing the rights of his Daughter Isabella both to the Kingdom and especially to that Dutchy And when the Duke of Mercoeur who had cantonned himselfe in it finding himself too weak to maintain his own pretence to it which was upon another ground threatned to give entrance to the Spaniards into the Dutchy La Guesle the Kings Atturney Generall made a long speech to defend the Kings right of which the summary is this 1. That Francis the II. the last Duke of Britain dying An. 1488. left two daughters Anna and Isabella The second died young The eldest Anne had the whole succession and was married first to Charles the VIII of France by whom though she had many children none outlived the Father Who being dead she was married with his successour Lewis the XII by whom she had two Daughters Claude married to Francis the I. who by her had Henry the II who was Father to three Kings Francis the II. Charles the IX Henry the III. and to Francis Duke of Alanson all which left no issue He was Father also of Elizabeth the Third Wife of Philip the II. King of Spain who by her had the Infanta Isabella Wife to Archiduke Albert and Princess of the Low-Countries died An. 1633 and Catherine Dutchesse of Savoy 2. By the death of Henry the III all the masculine Race of Valois was extinct and the next Heir of that house was Infanta Isabella daughter to Elizabeth the eldest Sister of Henry the III. So if there was any Estate in that house inheritable by women it belonged to Isabella without question Philip the II dealing for his daughter after he was once satisfied that his pretence to the Crown of France in her behalfe was ridiculous asked that at least the Dutchy of Britain should be restored to her as the Estate which her great Grandmother Anne of Britain had brought to Lewis the XII an Estate which often had past to Females saying as it was true that she was the next in blood To these allegations these answers are given 1. That the Dutchy of Britain had been inserapably united w th the Crown by the coming of Henry the II. to the Crown for it is a fundamentall rule among the French that a King coming to the Crown uniteth unto the same all his Estate both Paternall and Maternall 2. Besides that tacit and municipall right to which all contrary pretence must yield there was an expresse union made An. 1532. at the request of the States Generall of Britain by Francis the I. upon condition that the Dolphin should take the Title of Dolphin of Viennois Duke of Britain which was then practised in the person of the
given him by the Pope that he was first to conquer it before he could enjoy the gift Great Wars he had against Manfred bastard of Friderick the II. Emperour and against Conradin the Emperours Grandchild whom he took in battel and beheaded him A bloody execution which caused much animosity and Wars between that house of France and the reliques of the house of Suaben which was Constantia daughter to Manfred wife to Peter King of Arragon who to avenge the death of that King Conradin his wives Cosin to repress the insolence of the French was the Author of the bloody Sicilian Vespers whereby the French were utterly expelled from Sicily An. 1261. and Sicily remained in the power of the house of Arragon and since although many Wars and Treaties have intervened to reunite these two States they have alwaies been separated till the house of Arragon hath got the Dominion of Naples Wherefore we will speak no more of Sicily which the French lost in effect in that massacre and since quitted their right to it by severall Treaties 4. But as for the Kingdom of Naples that French Family of Charles d' Anjou was setled in it from the year 1264. untill the death of Jane the II An. 1435. in all 171. yeares We intend not to relate that History but only to observe these things which concern our present purpose First that Charles the Lame the second King and Son to that first Charles married Mary inheritrice of Hungary and so these two Kingdomes were united Of their Children the eldest Charles surnamed Martel had Hungary for his portion and from him some Princes of Hungary are descended The second Son was Lewis who would be a Franciscan Fryer and was Bishop of Toulouse The third Sonne Robert inherited the Kingdome of Naples There were more brothers who had severall apanages But it was not this Robert that continued the line of the Kings of Naples He was Father to Prince Charles who dying before his Father left a Daughter that famous or rather infamous Queen Jane the First that ruled that State almost forty years Next it must be known that this wicked Jane lascivious and cruel so farre as to strangle her Husband Andrew a young Prince of that other Branch of Hungary filled her Kingdome with great troubles by her wickednesse Towards the end of her reigne an 1378. hapned the great Schisme of the Church when Urban the VI being made Pope by violence many Cardinals elected in his stead Robert Cardinall of Geneva who took the name of Clement the VII Queen Jane being an enemy to Urban who was born her subject declared her self for Clement Her crim whereby she had put her Husband to death had been long covered by an accomodation made by Clement the VI who appeased Lewis the great King of Hungary Brother to Andrew whom Jane had strangled But Pope Urban the VI to be avenged of Jane stirred again the House of Hungary against her and a Prince of that House named Charles de Duras came and besieged her in Castello del Ovo at Naples took her and strangled her an 1382. in the same place as some say where she had strangled her first husband 3. But the same Princess seeing that Urban invited the house of Hungary to the conquest of Naples called to her help King Charles the VI of France an 1380. by the advice of Pope Clement And by his leave for he bore himselfe for her Soveraign she adopted Lewis Duke of Anjou brother to Charles the V of France and head of the second house of Anjou He was at that time Regent of France in the minority of King Charles the VI. From that adoption the French fetch their right in the Kingdome of Naples for from the off-spring of that Lewis the French Kings have inherited 4. Charles de Duras after he had strangled Queen Jane seized upon the Kingdome and reigned in her stead and after him his two Children first Ladislaus whom the French Historians call Lancelot and Jane the Second They three held the State 53. yeares from the yeare 1382. till the yeare 1436. But because Jane the first a little afore her death had adopted Lewis Duke of Anjou that house of Duras had continuall War with the house of Anjou Lewis the I. came to Naples and there dyed Lewis the II his Son had great Wars with Ladislaus and for a time was Master of the Kingdome That Ladislaus being dead without issue an 1414. his sister Queen Jane the Second succeeded him as bad a woman as the first Jane for impudicity and extravagancy She being degraded by the Pope Martin the V and Lewis the III Grandchild of the first Lewis of Anjou named by him to reign in her place she adopted Alphonsus King of Arragon and Sicily for her Son with whom that Lewis the III had great Warres and had sometimes the better sometimes the worst But Jane being of an inconstant spirit despised Alphonsus being altogether governed by her favorite John Carraciolo which Alphonsus not able to beare made himselfe Master of the City of Naples Upon which she cancelled her will made in favour of Alphonsus and instead of him adopted Lewis the IV. of Anjou who before was her enemy That adoption made an 1422. is the second ground of the claime of the French to Naples and the seed of so many Wars and Calamities and of the greatest divisions between the Houses of France and Spain The Spaniards maintaining the first adoption as valid because Alphonsus though accused by Jane of ungratefulnesse upon which she grounded the disanulling of his adoption did nothing as they say against the respect due to his adoptive Mother but onely went about to represse the extravagancies of that light-brained woman to have that part in her affaires which by right belonged to him and especially curb the insolency of Carraciolo who kept a scandalous familiarity with that woman The French say that the second adoption is of more validity That the cause of ungratefulnesse is sufficient to break an adoption That Alphonsus misused his adoptive Mother seized upon the City of Naples besieged her and kept her shut up and did all acts of Soveraign to her contempt and disgrace 5. This Lewis the IV. Duke of Anjou having recovered Naples enjoyed it with some peace together with Jane but dyed before her an 1434. Because he left no issue she adopted his Brother René Duke of Anjou and her selfe soon after dyed But René being then kept prisoner by the Duke of Burgundy he could not go to receive his inheritance His wife Elizabeth went but too late though at the first she got some advantage In the end Alphonsus remained Master and the party of Anjou was quite expelled out of the Land Onely René kept the possession of Provence which was an appurtenance of that State for since the first adoption of Lewis the I Duke of Anjou by Queen Jane the I. that second house of Anjou had kept the
angred the Count of Charrolois and increased his jealousies Philip Duke of Burgundy dieth an 1467. Charles succeeds him 6. This new Duke of Burgundy is much considered in France by reason of his great Lands and turbulent spirit All his time hee was in Wars with the King and brought the English into France The King also did raise him Enemies which his own rashnesse did multiply He was defeated by the Switzers at Granson and Morat and killed before Nancy an 1477. 7. After his death Lewis took the Dutchy of Burgundy and Provinces annext to it given by Charles the VII to Philip le Bon as a masculin apanage with the Towns upon the River of Somme which Charles was to hold all his life not leave it to his heirs He seized also upon the Town of Arras upon which he pretended a right He did his utmost to catch Mary the inheritrix of Charles and desired the people of Gant to deliver her into his hand or make her marry Charles the Dolphin but they protected her and soon after Maximilian of Austria married her 8. In Spain after the enterview of the two King Lewis of France and Henry of Castilia and the sale or pawning of the County of Roussillon King John of Arragon seeing that Lewis had arbitrated in favour of the Castilian and had sent John Duke of Calabria for the conquest of Arragon took his time when the leagues in France were strongest against the King to make Perpignan revolt against the French The Garrison retired into the Citadel and made it good till the Town was besieged by Lewis and constrained to return to his obedience Paragraphe II. From the marriage of Maximilian with Mary unto his death This period of forty yeares comprehends four reigns of the French Kings the end of Lewis the XI Charles the VIII Lewis the XII and the beginning of Francis the I in which space the greatnesse of the House of Austria was founded by her union with that of Burgundy and then with Castilia and Arragon Vnder Lewis the XI Since the death of Duke Charles three remarkable things hapned under Lewis the XI Mary inheritrix of Burgundy whom her Father had promist to many Princes in the end was married to Maximilian of Austria an 1478. Lewis would have her for Charles the Delphin but he was but six years old and she above fifteen yeares elder then he That preferring of Maximilian before Charles was the cause of many evils to France 1. The loss of all that Mary possest which might have been united with France 2. The increase of the house of Austria which began then to be jealous of France which she was very far from before that alliance 3. Great Wars and endlesse envy by the neighborhood of these two great Houses That marriage lasted but four yeares Mary dying of a fall from her Horse as she was hunting She left two children Philip Archduke of Austria Father to Charles the V. and Margaret 2. By the jealousie risen between France and Austria by that marriage and incensed by the revolt of the Prince of Orenge a great Lord of Franch County they broke into open War and the battel of Guinegast was fought of which the event was so uncertain that both parties ascribed to themselves the victory 3. Mary of Burgundy being dead the Flemmings especially the Gantois alwayes mutinous would expell Maximilian and dispose of Mary's Children They married Margaret to Charles the Dolphin and appointed for her portion the County of Artois Franch County and other Lands Margaret was then but two yeares old and Charles twelve But Charles being married since with Anne Dutchesse of Britain Margaret was sent back to her Father Maximilian which was a new cause of jealousie betweene these two families This Margaret being seperated from Charles was married to John Son of Ferdinand of Arragon and Isabella of Castilia whom she never saw Then she was for the third time married with Philibert the II Duke of Savoy They say of her that she was three times married and dyed a Virgin Under Charles the VIII 1. Charles the VIII had civil Wars against Lewis Duke of Orleans the Duke of Britain and others which ended by the battel of St. Aubin after which Charles married Anne the inheritrix of Brittain whereby he offered two affronts unto Maximilian the one that he sent him back his Daughter Margaret withwhom he had bin married seven or eight yeares the other that he married her with whom Maximilian was married by Proxie for in Britaine all the Proclamations were then made in the name of the Dutchess and of the Arch-duke of Austria Upon which Maximilian made War against Charles and took the Towns of Arras St Omer and other places which the French held as yet in Artois But a Peace was made an 1493. by which Charles was within four years to restore the Franch County and some Towns which he held in Artois unto Philip the Heir of Netherlands Son to Maximilian An. 1494. Charles restored to Ferdinand King of Arragon Perpignan and the County of Roussillon though he received not the three hundred thousand Crowns which it was pawnned for The reason why Charles did so we have declared before 3. The same year was the expedition of Charles the VIII into Naples against the house of Arragon To that which we have said of that quarrel this must be added Alphonsus who was adopted by Queen Jane the II. and in the end expelled the house of Anjou out of Italy left Naples to Ferdinand his bastard saying that he could lawfully doe it because it was his own conquest The house of that bastard enjoyed it after him and had four Princes Ferdinand the Bastard Alphonsus his Son Ferdinand his Grandchild and after him Friderick uncle to this last Ferdinand and brother of Alphonsus Although that House of Bastards enjoyed Naples the Kings of Arragon would say that it was by their toleration becaus Alphonsus King of Arragon who had been adopted by Jane the II. had conquered Naples with the Arms the Blood and the money of Arragon that he ought not to have left it to any but hisbrother John King after him of Arragon Wherefore Ch. VIII fearing lest Ferdinand King of Arragon Son to John should disturb his conquest of Naples either to assist that Bastard House or to make it his own conquest restored unto him the County of Roussillon gratis upon Ferdinands promise not to disturbe him yea to help him but Ferdinand broke his word with him What was the right of Charles was shewed before Charles with great expedition past through Piemont Milan Pisa Florence Rome got the Kingdom of Naples without difficulty and governed it without prudence and instantly lost it by the ill behaviour of his Ministers which got him the hatred of the Neapolitans A league was made by the Pope the Venetians the King of Naples and the Duke of Milan not onely to stay his conquests but to stop his return
The Emperours second offer was to fight a Duell with the King either upon the Land or in a Boat That he left to the King the choice of the Armes That the vanquished should give all his forces to secure the sitting of a Council and to make War against the Heretiques and Infidells That the King should deposite the Dutchy of Burgundy and himself that of Milan to be the price of the Victory The third offer was that if the King refused these two conditions he declared mortall War unto him till one of the two was made the poorest gentleman of his Kingdom The King purged himself to the Pope by letters of all the Emperours accusations The War grows hot in Piemont an 1536. Many exploits are done Fossan is besieged by Antonio de Leva for the Emperour and taken The Marquis of Saluees leaves the Kings service and turns to the Emperour who enters into Provence and besiegeth Marseille but in vain being defended by the Kings presence and by the generosity of Ann de Montmorency who since was Constable of France The Emperour is beaten out of Provence At the same time the Count of Nassan makes some exploits in Picardy for the Emperour takes Guise besiegeth Peronne but is repulsed 4. Jean Capell the Kings Atturney General moveth the Parliament that a proces be made against Charles as Felon and Traitor against his Soveraign of whom he held the Counties of Flanders Artois and Charolois in fee. The Court of Peers hereupon assembled decree that Charles should be cited with sound of Trumpet upon the frontier of his States to appear before them And he not appearing he was condemned and his Dominions depending from the Crown were confiscated Presently after the King tooke many places in Artois An. 1538. the Pope Paul the III. comes to Nice where both the Emperour and the King met also the Pope communing separately with each of them for hee could not obtaine of them that they should see one another Yet they concluded a truce for ten years That meeting being ended the King returnes into France the Emperour into Spain but seeth the King by the way at Acquesmortes They confirme the truce and are civill one to another Shortly after the City of Ghent being revolted and having killed their Magistrates Charles desireth Francis to give him passage through his Lands which the King granted him In that passage the Emperour received all the royall honours The King went to meet him at Chastellerant In that enterview the Emperour gave the King some hope to give him satisfaction about the Dutchy of Milan 6. An. 1641. the King sent Antony Rincot a Spaniard that had taken sanctuary in France to the Turk and Caesar Fregosa to the Venetians Both were slain upon the River of Po going to Venice by Boat This murder was done by the order of the Marquess du Guast Governour of Milan who hoped thereby to get their Papers and Instructions but they had been sent to Venice another way The Marquess was accused and convicted of the fact by those that executed it who were taken at Venice Upon this the King breaks the truce of tens years The Dolphin who was since Henry the II falls upon the Roussillon besieged Perpignan but is repulsed with losse Charles Duke of Orleans seizeth upon Lutzenburg The Emperour on the other side makes a league with the King of England enters Picardie besiegeth Landrecy but Francis relieveth it and driveth the Emperour from the siege Barbarossa the Turk comes by Sea to the Kings help takes the Town of Nice wasteth those coasts of the Mediterranean sea goeth away having done little good to the French and ill satisfied of them having given a great matter of obloquy against Francis to the Christian Princes In Piemont after many exploits on both sides the famous battel of Cerisoles was fought an 1544. and won by the French the French Generall being the Duke of Anguien the Spaniard the Marquess du Guast At this time Ferdinand King of the Romans brother to Charles the Emperour being sore prest by the Turk in Hungary sends a Dominican Fryer his Confessor to Charles to exhort him to peace Charles is perswaded to it and Francis also Their Deputies meet at St. John des Vignes in the Suburbs of Soissons and begin a Treaty which soon after was concluded at Crespy in Valois of which these were the chiefe conditions That Charles Duke of Orleans the Kings second Son should marry the Emperours Daughter or that of Ferdinand King of the Romans at the Emperours choice within six yeares and for her portion that the Emperour should invest the said Duke with the Dutchy of Milan or the County of Flanders or Charolois or Franch County at the Emperours choyce likewise And that upon his investiture with one of these the King should renounce all his claim to all the rest and to the Kingdom of Naples That till there were Children born by that marriage if the Emperour had before assigned the Dutchy of Milan for the Ladies portion he should retain in his power the Castles of Milan and Cremona That the King should restore to Charles Duke of Savoy all that he had taken from him on both sides of the Alpes yet that he might retain the Citadels as long as the Emperours kept the Castles of Milan and Cremona That both the Emperour and the King should restore all that they had taken the one from the other since the truce made at Nice by the Popes mediation This Treaty beares date of Octob. 18. 1544. and was executed but the King restored many more places then the Emperour Paragraphe VI. From the Treaty of Crespy 1544 to that of Chasteau en Cambresis an 1559. Francis out-lived three years the Treaty of Crespy all which time he had no War with Charles who had retired himself to Bruxelles Francis being dead his Son Henry the II. succeeded him who also had no War with the Emperour till the year 1550. Two accidents made the old jealousie to break into open War 1. The Pope Paul the III. had invested his Bastard Peter Lewis Farnesio with the Towns of Parma and Placentia which the Emperour had yieled to the Church upon the claime of Leo the X. without much examining the Popes right onely because it had been so covenanted when the Pope and the Emperour united themselves to expell the French out of Italy an 1521. That investiture troubled Charles afterwards who pretended either that these Towns should remaine united to the patrimony of the Church or that in case of alienation they should return to the Dutchy of Milan Now this Peter Lewis Farnesio having made himselfe odious to his subjects by his cruelty and impudicity was slain by the people of Placentia who put themselves under the Emperours protection At the same time Paul the III being dead Jules the III that succeeded him maintained at the first Octavio Son to Peter Lewis in the investiture of Parma and Placentia But soon
after repenting of that donation which he saw to be displeasing to the Colledge of Cardinals joyned with the Emperour for the dispossessing of Octavio who put himself in Henry the II his protection and that King powerfully assisted him both against the Pope and the Emperour and was at such odds with the Pope as to prohibit the bringing of any money out of France to Rome At which the Pope amazed desired peace of the King and desisted to oppose Octavio yea and caused the Emperour to restore Placentia to Octavio since which time Octavio and his successours have enjoyed Parma and Placentia At the same time the King protected also the Prince of Mirandola whom the Pope would oppresse Before that time an 1545. the Emperour got a great victory over the Protestant Princes of Germany Their two chiefe men Friderick Elector of Saxony and Philip Lantgrave of Hâ—sse were taken prisoners Whereby the Protestant party was so humbled that in the year 1550. they implored the help of Henry the II of France who past into Germany to relieve them The Constable of Montmorency in his way seized upon the Townes of Metz Toul and Verdun upon the Rights which we have set down in the third Chapter That enterpize of Henry in favour of the Protestants made the Emperour conclude a peace with them in haste So that the King being come to Strasburg was desired by them to return because they were agreed with the Emperour Returning from Germany he took many Towns in Lutzenburg Rochemars Danvilliers Ivoy Bovillon And the Emperour towards the end of the year 1551. besiegeth Metz so well defended by Francis Duke of Guise that the siege was raised the first day of the year 1552 Terrovenne is taken and razed by the Emperour The people of Siena fearing lest that Cosmo de Medicis Duke of Florence should make himself Master of their Commonwealth had put themselves into the Emperours hands hoping that he would bring them in their liberty But seeing that he would bring them under the subjection of Cosmo they called Henry the II to their help who gave them Blaise de Montlue for their Governour who since was Marshal of France in his Commentaries he hath described how that City was besieged But in the end they were forced to submit to the Florentine In the year 1555. the Emperour Charles resigned the Imperial Crown to his brother Ferdinand and all his other Estates to his Son Philip the II. A Treaty of Peace betweene Henry and Philip was moved near Ardres and perfected near Cambray an 1556. for ten yeares and sworne by the two Kings Feb. 6. But presently after the death of Jule the III. and the Pontificat of Marcel the II. which lasted but two and twenty dayes the peace was broken upon the Election of Paul the IV. a Neapolitan of the house of Caraffa allied to that of Melpha which had alwayes been of the French faction and was odious to the Spaniards who used all their power to hinder his election And when in spite of them he was elected they raised two powerfull Families of Rome against him the Columna's and the Vitelli's who revolted against the Pope being assisted by Philip. The King sends help to the Pope so the Truce is broken Many exploits of Arms were done about Rome But Octob. 14. 1557 the Pope and the Spaniard agreed and Henry called his Army back But at the same time Philip having married Queen Mary of England made his wife declare War to Henry by a Heralt of Arms who spoke to the King himself at Reims whence followed many various effects of war in Picardie and Champagne till the memorable battell of Saint Guintin lost by the French an 1557. where the Constable was taken But Francis Duke of Guise newly returned from Italy revived the sad condition of France by the taking of Calais Guines the Land of Oye and the Town of Thionville The two Armies of these two Princes being both in sight one of another in Picardy near the River of Somme the Constable of France and the Marshall Saint Andrew both Prisoners of the Spaniard the Popes Nuntio and Christina Dowagar of Lorrain Cosen-german to Philip manage a peace which was concluded at Chasteau in Cambresis in February 1559. By the first Article of that Treaty the French King was to execute religiously all the Treaties made between Charles the V and Francis the I. whereby they understood the cessions made of Naples Milan Flanders and Artois unlesse the present Treaty did contradict it but that Treaty mentioned onely the restitutions of the Towns taken on both sides and the rendition of the States of Savoy and Piemont to Philibert Emanuel Duke of Savoy Also by that Treaty a marriage was agreed on between Philip then newly a Widower by the death of Queen Mary of England and Elizabeth daughter to Henry the II. which for that reason was called the Queen of Peace In the celebration of that marriage Henry the II was slain Paragraphe V. From the peace of Chasteau in Cambresis 1559. to the death of the Duke of Alenson 1584. There was no open war between the two Crownes all that time which comprehends the reign of Francis the II Charles the IX and great part of that of Henry the III. But by the vertue of that Queen of peace the Union was so great that the troubles of Religion being risen in France Philip assisted the French Kings with his Armes Under Francis the II. In this reign of ninteen months the History observeth two notable things which are much for our purpose 1. The State of France being in trouble at the entry of this reign by the great favour of the Guises Unkles to Queen Mary of Scotland wife to Francis the II and by the Queen-mother Catherine de Medicis who took the Regency of the Kingdome to the prejudice of Antony of Bourbon King of Navarra and first Prince of the blood of France after the Kings brothers who being kept low and all the house of Bourbon with him seemed to threaten France of a Civil War Philip the II considering that State of France sent to Francis the II a letter which was read in the Councell whereby he said that he had heard how some great men of France being ill satisfied of the Government establisht by him his brother in law Francis threatned his State of a Civill War That he Philip was ready to imploy all his Forces and his life to make him obeyed as his good confederate and neighbour remembring the good instructions and the holy education which his Father Charles the V had received from Lewis the XII his Guardian 2. The house of Bourbon being degraded from the rank it ought to have had in the Court Antony King of Navarra retired into Bearn and when the Cardinal of Bourbon and the Prince de la Roche sur Yon conducted the Queen of Spain to her husband he bore them company Now because by the Treaty of marriage that
Monarches were grieved to see a Count of Flanders and an Heir of the house of Austria a small Province of Germany advance himself so far as to offer to step before them and as many think to affect the Empire of all Europe To understand all these Wars Truces and Treaties the History must begin at the Treaty of Arras an 1435. For although these six houses Austria Burgundy Hungary Arragon Castilia and Portugal the limbes of that great Colossus of the now house of Austria were then severall houses yet that Treaty will serve to see how the house of Burgundy is fallen into the house of Austria and how their greatnesse began Here then let us say in brief what Wars and Treaties have been between these two houses since the Treaty of Arras an 1435. to that of Vervins 1598. We will divide this into many Articles according to the most remarquable dates touching only the most principall points leaving the rest to the generall History 1. From the Treaty of Arras Ann. 1435. to the marriage of Maximilian of Austria with Mary of Burgundy 1477. 2. Thence to the death of the Emperour Maximilian 1519. 3. Thence to the Treaty of Madrid 1525. 4. Thence to the Treaty of Cambray 1529. 5. Thence to the Treaty of Crespy or Saint John des Vignes an 1544. 6. Thence to the Treaty of Chasteau in Cambresis 7. Thence to the death of the Duke of Alencon and the beginning of the League 1584. 8. Thence to the Treaty of Vervins an 1598. Paragraphe I. From the Treaty of Arras an 1435. to the marriage of Maximilian and Mary of Burgundy In all that time which was not yet the time of the greatnesse of Austria the French Kings had nothing to do with that Family which in that period of years enjoyed the Empire in the persons of Albert and Friderick the III. They had also little to do with the Kings of Castilia and Arragon which were then two severall States But much they had to do with the Dukes of Burgundy founders of that greatnesse of Austria Of which this is the summary 1. Philip le Bon after he had brought the State of France into great distresse and given it for a prey to the English to avenge the death of his Father John slain at Montereau Fautyonne an 1419 Finally being ill satisfyed with the English was forced to agree with Charls the VII who had killed his Father which he did by the Treaty of Arras an 1435. whereby Charles gave to Philip what we said before Peronne Montdidier and Roye the County of Artois the enjoying of the County of Bullen for his life also all the Towns of the River of Somme redeemable with four hundred thousand Crownes and promist to join to the Dutchy of Burgundy the Counties of Mascon Chalons Langres Bar sur Siene and Auxerre for ever reserving the resort of these jurisdictions to the Parliament of Paris This Treaty raised very much the house of Burgundy After which Philip was a loyall friend and servant unto Charles and helped him to expell the English out of France Neither did he meddle with the first falling out of Charles with his Son Lewis the Dolphin who was since Lewis the XI which division was called La Ligue de la Praguerie And all the reigne of Charles nothing confiderable hapned between these two houses but that towards the end of Charles Lewis the Dolphin having withdrawn himself discontented from the Court and lived a while in Daulphiné When the King his Father would have apprehended him by the Count of Dampmartin he fled into Flanders where he was received with great honour by Duke Philip who assigned him the Town of Guenep in Brabant to keep his Court where he lived six or seaven years till the death of his Father an 1461. 2. Now comes the reign of Lewis the XI who had so much to do with the house of Burgundy but nothing with that of Austria and little with that of Arragon and Castilia Historians observe that Philip Duke of Burgundy and his Son Charles Count of Charrolois accompanied Lewis into France and were present at his coronation And that Lewis at the first was very great with the Count of Charrolois but that soon after that friendship was separated by reason of the great antipathy of their humours and because while Lewis was retired into Flanders they had been too much acquainted with one anothers conditions which brought them to a mutuall contempt Also because Charles had a suspicion that Lewis had plotted against his life and because Lewis would have brought the Gabell or impost of salt into Burgundy which the Duke did oppose Then the suddain redeeming of the Towns of the River of Somme for which Lewis payed the four hundred thousand Crowns incens'd the Count of Charolois very much These were the causes of the great hatred between these two houses which the house of Austria inherited together with the Estate Hardly indeed could these two Princes agree for Lewis the XI was malicious disobliging and dissembled and Charles Count of Charolois was peevish and arrogant and followed no Law but his own will That hatred brought forth the War of the publick good as they called it in which Charles had the better That War ended in the Treaty of Conflans whereby it was covenanted that the King should restore to Charles all the Towns of the River of Somme redeemed not long before to enjoy them all his life and that he should have the County of Guines for himself and his Heirs for ever 3. John King of Arragon was assisted by Lewis the XI and the said John sold or pawned unto him the County of Roussillon for three hundred thousand Crownes This is the ground of the claime of the French to that County 4. Henry the IV King of Castilia and John King of Arragon being in War because Henry maintained the people of Arragon against their King and about some Towns Lewis the XI was chosen Umpire and went to Bayonne where he saw the Castilian on this side of the River of Vodazo and upon the Lands of France That enterview made them despise one another for Henry was an ill favoured and ill behaved man of little wit and was altogether governed by the Count of Lodesme Lewis used a short and coorse habit and wore a little leaden Our Lady at his hat The vanity of the Count of Lodesme seemed ridiculous to the French He crost the River in a boat with a sail of golden cloath and wore pomps garnisht with precious stones Ever since that enter view the two Nations have despised one another 5. After the peace of Conflans the divisions were renewed between Lewis and the Count of Charolois because Lewis cozened his brother Charles gave him Normandy and presently took it from him banisht him into Guienne far from the other Princes with whom he was in League and gave him a little Country under the specious Title of Duke of Guienne This