dispose thereof by Testament h When as they say that women are incapable of dignities it is to be vnderstood of charges which consist in Functions and Offices A Woman cannot be a Consull a President or a Chancellour but when the dignity is patrimoniall and annexed to the Fee such a dignity may belong vnto a woman as wel as the iurisdiction The King caused a Consultation to be made of all the learned Lawyers of his Realme to know what his Neeces right was They found that it depended vpon this Maxime That the Nephew or Grand-childe represents his Father and Grand-father in the right of Primogeniture or first borne That this right is transferred to the children of the elder although hee die before the Father and holds the place of lawfull heire They did also consider the custome and common obseruation of this Realme where the eldest sonne dying and leauing a sonne hee succeedes the Grand-father as his Father should haue done The Grand-fathers second-sonne being excluded from all pretention for the Nephew excludes the Vncle and representation hath place in this Realme in Fees which are not diuisible In the time of King Charles the fifth his Maiesty sitting with the Peeres of France in his Court of Parliament Ioane of Brittany married to Charles of Blois i Charles of Blois and the Lady Ioane of Brittaine his wife did enioy this Dutchy fiue twenty years or thereabouts vntil that Iohn of Montford being succoured by the Forces of England slewe Charles of Blois in battle and expelled his wife out of the Dutchy was declared heire to the Dutchy of Brittany as representing her Father against Iohn Earle of Montfort her Vncle. She was daughter to the Duke of Brittanies second brother and the Earle of Montfort was the third brother Allain Lord of Albret as sonne vnto the eldest Vicount of Tartas who was deceased succeeded his Grand-father in the Landes of Albret and excluded from the succession the Lord of Sancte Bazille his vncle and the Lord of Oruall his Grand-fathers yonger brother k In the house of Albret there are many Earledomes The Earledome of Gaure the Earledome of Dreux the Earldome of Peyragore and many Vicounties and Baronies They held that house in the time of King Lewis the eleuenth to haue sixe thousand pound sterling of yearely rent King Philip in the yeare 1314. did iudge the suite betwixt Maud daughter to the Earle of Artois and Robert of Artois her Vncle and by his iudgement it was decreed that the daughter should succeed as the neerest vnto her father Lewis Earle of Flanders had but one daughter the richest heire of Chrstendome the which succeded her father in the Earledome of Flanders excluding the Duke of Brabant her Vncle and was married to Philip of France sonne to King Iohn and first Duke of Bourgondy l The Treaty of Marriage betwixt the Duke of Bourgondy and Margaret Princesse of Flanders was made the twelfth of Aprill one thousand three hundred sixtie nine the Dutchy of Guienne which comprehends all Gasconie as well that which is of the iurisdiction of Tolouse as of Bourdeaux and more was carried to the Crowne of England by the marriage of the daughter of William Duke of Guienne with Henry King of England m Elenor the onely daughter to William Duke of Guienne and Earle of Poitiers was married to Lewis King of France and beeing put away by him shee married againe to HENRY sonne to the King of England and Duke of Normandy Henry King of Nauare Earle of Champagne left one daughter who was married to K. Philip the Faire and succeded her Father in the Earledome of Champagne The last Earle of Poictou n The County of Poictou and the Towne of Poitiers were vnited to the Crowne by King Charles the seuenth in the yeare 1436. had one daughter named Margaret who was married to the eldest sonne of France and succeeded her Father notwithstanding that the Earle of Saint Valier her Vncle was then liuing Raymond the fifteenth and last Earle of Tolousa dying without Issue Male Ioane his onely daughter succeeded him and was married to Alphonso of France brother to the King Saint Lewis o The marriage of Alphonso of France and Ioane Coumtesse of Toâ—ouse was treated in the yeare 1228. Matthew Earle of Foix dying without children in the yeare 1398. his sister surnamed Isabel succeeded him and was married to Archambaut of Grailly Lewis of Luxemburge Earle of S t. Paul had many children but his eldest sonnes daughter who was married to to the Earle of Vandosme was sole heire of all his lands as representing her Father who was the eldest p They hold that the Countesse of Vendosme did not succeede in the Earledome of Saint Paul by right of succession but by a Treaty of peace and that her Vncles were all incapable of this sucession for that the Landes of Lewis of Luxemburg her father had been confiscate The Earle of Lauragais left but one daughter who succeeded in the Earledome whereof she made donation to the French King The Earle of Castres had one daughter who was married to a yonger sonne of the house of Bourbon Earle of Marche who after her fathers decease succeeded in the Earledomes of Castres and Vandosme and excluded them of Montfort who were her Vncles from the succession Of this marriage were borne two sonnes Iames of Bourbon the elder who was Earle of Marche and of Castres and the yonger who was Earle of Vandosme Iames of Bourbon married Beatrix of Nauarre q Iames of Bourbon Earle of Marche married with Beatrix daughter to Charles the second King of Nâ—uarre the fifteenth of August one thousand foure hundred and fiue Elenor their onely daughter was married to Bernard Earle of Armaignac and Perdiac who after her fathers death succeeded as well in the Earledome of Marche as of Castres and excluded the Earle of Vandosme from the succession True it is that these Earledomes haue remained in the house of Bourbon by transaction r The King made Donation of the Earledome of March to Monsieur de Bourbon and his wife The Duke of Nemours children beeing restored to their Landes there was a sute to ouerthrow this Donation and then an Accord was made by the which the Earledome of Marche remained to the house of Vendosme and Bourbon the Duke of Nemours children being otherwise recompensed William Vicount and Lord of Mountpellier although hee had many kinsmen of his name had no other heire but his daughter Mary wife to Peter King of Arragon Peronelle s Du Tillet saith that this Peronella of Bigorre had fiue husbands 1. Gaston of Bearne 2. Ninion Sance Earle of Sardaine 3. Guy of Montford 4. Raoâ—l Tescu 5. Boson of Mathas daughter to the Earle of Bigorre succeeded her father in the Earledome of Bigorre in the yeare one thousand two hundred sixty foure and was married to Boson of Mathas Vicount of Marsan and
borne late are soone Orphlins The losse of this infant which first had giuen him the name of Father was so sencible vnto him as Phillip de Comines saith that he made a vow neuer to loue any other woman but his owne wife and yet in many parts of his Cronicle we see him among women we find some lost some married and their husbands from base fortunes raised to great dignites with many other actions which argue not a continency equall to that of Alexander p Alexander being perswaded to see Darius daughters who were faire and yong made answer I will haue a care not to be vanquished by woemen seeing that I haue vanquished men who being a victor would not see those beauties which might vanquish him nor to that of Cyrus q They intreated Cyrna to see Panthea which he refused to doe and being told that shee was very faire it is for that reason said he I may not see her for if I doe visite her now that I haue leysure she will bind me another time when I shall be full of affaires who would by no meanes see her who he thought might bind him to see her more then once The King bare the absence of his sonne very impatiently it was a thorne in his heart which time could not pull out Death of Ladislaus King of Hungary Hee grew sicke and his sicknes was seconded by a great affliction for the death of Ladislaus r Sorrow creepes sodainly amidst ioy whiles they treat of a marriage at Toure betwixt the L. Magdalen of France and King Ladislans his Embassadors receiue newes of his death on Christmas 〈◊〉 1457. King of Hungary to whom he had promised the lady Magdalen his daughter After his recouery he thought that all the cause of his ill grew from the Duke whom he accused to haue drawne away his son and corrupted his good nature resoluing to seeke a remedy rather with deedes then wordes He leuied a great army and no man knew how he would imploy it the duke fearing that it was to make some enterprise vppon the townes of the riuer of Somme which had beene giuen him by the treaty of Arras staid not to demand the reason t In occasions which presse we must not loose time with wordes men of courage should not haue their handes on their tongues but their tongues in their handes he armes and goes into Picardy to prouide for the safety of his townes and to hinder the Kinges entry with forces The King sendes word to the Duke of Bourgondy that he was in armes to take into his protection the goods of the Lord of Rodemart u Princes haue alwaies pretextâ— to make warre and he that wil breake with his friend neuer failes to find occasions The Duke answered that he was no subiect of France that his lands lay in the Dutchy of Luxembourg that the King should speak more plainely and that he desired to know whether the king had a will to keepe the treaty of Arras or not The King had a desire to haue his sonne otherwise then by the hazard of Armes or breach of a truce which cost so much blood and drawn so many Princes into danger x In the assembly of Arras for a peace betweene King Charles the seuenth and Philip Duke of Bourgundy were present the Embossadors of the Pope of the Councell of Basill of the Emperor and of all Christian Princes They numbred about four thousand horses He feared to ingage hmselfe in new miseries and to bring France to the hazard of shipwrack which she had escaped He went to the west of his life and knew that the greatest of the Realme had their eyes turned to the East Age had coold his military heat the vigour of his nature was without edge the blood of his courage was nothing but slegme y Princes are men and borne men wherfore their best qualities and dispostions are mutable and in the and discouer their inconstancie And although that this first force of his spirits was not altogether deiected yet was it much altered France did still produce some fantastick humors vnknowne to other Prouinces as Egypt doth bring forth Beasts and Nile Fishes which are not found in other countries nor in other Riuers The house of Bourgundy had beene so beaten with the like storme as it desired to continue in this calme Declarâ—tion of the house of Bourgundy the couetousnes of great men was glutted with the calamities of innocents z The people are for the most part innocent of the causes of warre they suffer al the calamities The couetâ—usnes of Souldiers is neuer satisfied but with the miseries of innocents Calamitatibus insontium expletur auariâ—a Tac. lib. 2. the most greedy of troubles were forced to commend rest It would haue seemed hard vnto the subiects to see themselues ouerwhelmed so suddenly with waues a It is alwaies dangerous to take from the people the ease and commodities wherein they liue The iudgement of Tiberius was long in suspence before he could resolue to draw the people from the sweetnes of peace to the discommodities of warre Tac. saith Populum per tot annos moliter habitum non audebit ad durioâ—avertere The Duke would not leaue a doubtfull peace with his subiects he desired to be satisfied of the Kings intention saying that if they forced him to raise an armie they should bury him in his armes that he had no will vnto it vnlesse he were forced that the Trumper should make no noise if violence were not offered and that this Eccho should remaine quiet in the ease of solitarines but if they moued him hee would not be silent vntill that they who had caused him to speake did first hold their peace These practises past away and the King was glad that they raised no stormes not holding it reasonable to resolue to warre more by the occasion which hee had then by the inconueniences which he did foresee b All occasion to make warre should not be rashly nor ambitiously sought for what shew of profit soeuer they had It is better to haue a care to keepe subiects in peace is people townes and to increase the commerce so discipline souldiers and together treâ—sâ—re together least he be surprised in necessity besides being now opprest not with yeeres but with cares which seemes to be inseparable accidents of the life of great men and the excesse of those pleasures which Nature had made short for that they are pernicious hee suffered himselfe to be carried away with melancholly and waywardnes two rockes against which the vessell suffered shipwracke Hee grew wayward after the condemnation of Iohn Duke of Alençon to lose his head the tenth of October 1458. After which melancholly and heauines had seazed on him hee changed the troubles of his life into a perpetuall prison at Loches and gaue his goods to his wife and children c Iohn D. of
Aduise my Lord if there bee any thing whereof you repent y A breach in the obseruation of forced promises is not dishonorable and hee wants force that obserues them it is at your choise to doe it or leaue it I desire to adde one Article in fauour of the Lords of Lau Vrfet and Poncet of Riuiere that they may bee restostored to their lands and offices I am content replyed the King so as the Earle of Neuers and the Lord of Croui may bee also restored The Duke who bare a deadly hatred to these two spake no more of the rest and the King declared that he would obserue the Treatie z In Treaties which are made by equals impertinent demands are choked with the like demands Hee had so great a desire to be farre off as to make no stay of his departure he made no show of discontent Hee concealed his griefe so cunningly as it was impossible to iudge that hee felt any The Duke vsed some complements to excuse himselfe for that hee had drawne him to the warre of Liege Excuses of the Duke He had need of very artificiall poulders a Words of excuse and complements in actions which caÌ„not be excused are like spices and sauce of a delicat taste to meate which is tainted to make this sauce pleasing the gilding tooke not away the bitternes of these pilles Hee did accompanie him a mile at their farewell and imbracings the King to shew his affection and trust Words of the K. at his departure said vnto him Sir if my Brother which is in Brittanie were not contented with the portion which I giue him for your sake what would you haue me doe The Duke answered if hee will not accept it I referre my selfe to you two and care not so as he be satisfied These words beeing spoken somewhat roughly were well considered by the King who from that time resolued not to lodge his Brother in Normandie too neere to England nor in Champagne too neere to Bourgundy The Duke continued the rigour of warre vpon the country of Franchemont Warre in Franchimâ—nt leauing the Towne of Liege on fire b The Duke appointed three thousand foote to burne the Town of Liege and to desend the Churches It was fired thrice in three seuerall quarters They reserued three hundred houses for the Priests with whom many inhabitants lodged Phil. de Com. not excepting any thing but Churches and the houses of such as attended the diuine seruice c Impiety respects sacred things after that liberty hath profaned them Fab. Maximus hauing spoyled Tarentum and made it desolate with all kindes of cruelties When his Secretary came to aske him What shall we doe with our enemies Gods he answered let vs leaue the angry Gods vnto the Tarentins Plut. in Fabio They respected the Temples after they had offended him who was worshipped there by all sorts of impieties Whilest that the souldiers warmed themselues at this fire the rest endured incredible cold in the Mountaines of Franchemont whereas the wine being frozen in the hogs-heads Sharpe Winter it was cut in peeces with Axes and carried away in hats and baskets without decrease Oliuer de la March writes that the Dukes tysan was frozen in siluer flagons and that the force was so great as they brake At the same time the death of the King of Albania was spred ouer all Europe Death of the King of Albania Lewis was much grieued for that hee alone stayed the Turkes furie who were cruell scourges to punish the disorders of that depraued Age. He was the yongest Sonne of nine children to Iohn Castriot d Voysane daughter to the King of the Tribâ—leâ— a part of Macedonie Bulgaria hauing conceiued George Castriote drempt that shee was deliuered of a serpent of such greatnes as he spred ouer all Epirus who commanded at Croy the chiefe Towne of Albania who gaue him with his Brethren to Amurath to assure the faith of his promises beeing forced to yeeld vnder the yoke of that command Amurath George Castriot circumcised caled Scanberbeg the Nabuchodonosor e God hath vsed the power of infidels to punish his people and by diuers meanes he hath giuen them power to trouble them He raised Nabuchodonosor to ruine the Israelits therefore leremie calls him his seruants although he were most cruell of the Israelites made them all be circumcised and change their names George was called Scanderbeg that is to say Alexander Lord and as Alexander he began betimes to make such proofes of his valour f Scanderbeg was instructed in all the exercises of war before the force of his body could shew what his courage was He also learned the Turkish Sclamonian ArabiaÌ„ Greeke Italian tongues as euery man thoght that his militarie toyles would make him worthy of that name that he would end more Battels in effect then the Princes of his time had seene painted g When Cicero spake of PoÌ„pey he said that he had brought more battels to a happy end theÌ„ others had read in Histories conquered more Prouinces then any one before him had conceiued in his wishes that hee had triumphed almost as many times as he had followed the warre yeares that he would winne more victories then others had encountred dangers He was Sangiac the first dignitie next vnto a Basha then was he sent into diuers expeditions and knowne to be the sole authour of all the good successe which happened in Greece Asia and Hungarie there being nothing in the Art of warre but in the end came to his knowledge But this great valour had almost vndone him Amurath apprehended it to haue such a Prince neere him and the enemies of his courage but more of his hopes said that he nourisht a domestick enemie to weaken his intentions and disappoint his intelligences He put his Brethren to death beeing resolued to make him runne the like fortune if he had not made it knowne by his cariage that he had no other thought nor passion but that of his seruice and that his Father h After the death of Iohn father to Scanderbeg Amurath seazed vpon the Realme of Epirus and put a garrison into Croy. Scanderbeg dissembled the griefe of his fathers death the taking of his estate the murther of his Brethren so from that time he resolued to pull that Crowne from Amurath and his Brethren did reuiue in the affection which he bare vnto him Amurath puts Scanderbegs brethren to death And when as Amurath to sound him had offered him the crowne of Albania he said that he preferred the honour of his seruice before all the Scepters and Empires of the world and that he felt his hand fitter for a sword then his head for a Crowne This answere pleased Amurath He grovves fearfull of his valour but it freed him not from all his feares which the greatnes of his spirit imprinted in his
wont to say Che non potea la Republica crescere molto di potenze se non hauesse nell imprese di Terra impiegate le sue forze la quale cosa perche noÌ„ haue a prima fatts pero era stata molto ritardata et impedita quella grandezza alla quale se tale consiglio hauesse preso piu per tempo po teua caminare felicemente haue thought that this Common-weale had begun too late to inlarge it selfe vpon the maine land to make profit of her neighbours ruynes The two principall intentions which shee hath had for the greatnes of her estate to maintaine her selfe free and to become ritch haue succeeded for the one she hath alwayes maintained her selfe strong at Sea there beeing no other meanes to anoy her and she hath continued her traffick without the which she could not continue this goodly flower of liberty had been withered by the idlenes of her subiects The industry of marchandize should bee no lesse honorable vnto them then tillages to the old Senators of Rome both the one and the other in their labours and trafficke haue produced famous examples of publike vertues We must giue vnto Venice the glory of the best gouernment of all the Estates of the world the forme and order of her politick gonernment is in all parts so well disposed and obserued as this Common weale amidst so many diuers accidents of good fortune and bad was neuer troubled with any discord or domestick diuision which haue aflicted Aristocraticall Estates and driuen gouernours of Common-weales into such feares and distrusts as the Pallace where they haue assembled to resolue of publique affaires hath beene often dishonored with the losse of their liues or liberties h After that they of Miletum had expelled their tyrants they setled an Aristocraticall Estate but the people did still mutiâ—e against this kind of Gouernment and the great men did still liue in such feare as they could not hold a Councell in safety but in shippes The Lords of Samos were murthered by the people when they were in counsell Inevitable stormes in estates which depend not of the power of one alone whereas the lesser are alwaies kept vnder by the greater and the poore cannot long indure the felicity of the ritch who so will keepe the poore people in such obedience must after the example of Rome allow them a share in the estate i The gouernment of Rome was diuided betwixt the Consulls Senate and people with such a conformity of their duties and common Offices as neuer common weale was better instituted The power of the one was bridled and restrayned by that of the other Nulla efferre se pars supra caeteras valet nequie impotenter superbire omnia quippe in 〈◊〉 statu manent cum aliorum cehibiatur impetus aliine in se quoque insurgatur perpeuo metuunt The Venetians haue made them subiect by meanes very pleasing vnto them they haue in a manner the best part of the liberty and their pleasures are not limited but by excesse they do their affaires quietly and the Senate hath all the care to maintaine them in liberty and rest The greatest disdaine not them that are meaner they contract Allyances together and do not restraine them from certaine publique charges There is a great temper betwixt Aristocratia and Democratia For the Gouerment retayning little of the one and much of the other is freed from disorders and corruptions which haue alwaies troubled ciuill tranquillity FINIS THE CONTENTS OF of the fifth BOOKE 1 THE King considers of the Preiudice which hee receiues by the obseruation of the Treatie of Peronne 2 Assembly of the Estates of the Realme at Tours by whose aduice the Duchie of Guienne is giuen to the Duke of Normandie Thé Duke of Bourgundy adiourned to the Parliament at Paris 3 The Court of Parliament complaines of the reuocation of the Pragmatick Sanction 4 Institution of the Order of S. Michel the first Princes and Noblemen were honored and the Knights bonds 5 Warre resolued by the Estates and begunne against the Duke of Bourgundy 6 A strange change in England The Duke of Clarence Brother to King Edward and the Earle of Warwicke take Armes against the King 7 Margaret wife to Henry the sixt the Duke of Clarence and the Earle of Warwick come into France for succors 8 Henry the sixt at libertie and Edward expelled the Realme 9 Exploits in Picardie and warre proclaimed against the Duke of Bourgundie 10 The Constable perswades him to giue his Daughter to the Duke of Guienne 11 Armie of the Duke of Bourgundy before Amiens 12 A marriage sought betwixt the heire of Castille and the Duke of Guienne 13 Birth of Charles Dauphin of France 14 Practises of the Constable to breake the promises of marriage made in Castille 15 Death of Pope Paul the second 16 New designes to draw the Duke of Bourgundy into the Townes of Picardie 17 Promise made by the King to restore Amiens and S. Quentin 18 Death of the Duke of Guienne changeth the affaires 19 Obseruation of the Duke of Guiennes life and the seueritie of the King his Brother Strange death of Gilles Sonne to Iohn the sixt Duke of Brittany 20 Troubles in Nauarre the King sends forces thither 21 Letters written by the King to the Earle of Lude Siege of Parpignan Peace betwixt the King and the King of Arragon 22 Iohn Earle of Armagnac expelled his Country and the pittifull discourse of his fortune and death THE HISTORY of LEVVIS the XI THE FIFTH BOOKE THE Duke of Normandy was no sooner aduertised that the King had promised by the Treaty of Peronne to giue him the Contries of Champaigne and Brie for his portion but hee presently besought him to giue him leaue to goe thither and not to suffer him to languish any longer for the enioying of his rest and quiet the cheefe part whereof consisted in not beeing troubled to seeke it a It is a part of rest not to be in paine to seek it The King who had promised nothing freely thought to discharge himselfe of his promises at a better rate Hee wonne the Sig r. of Lescun b He that wil winne a Princes heart let him first win the cheefe ministers which possesse him who are as it were the eyes by the which hee seees and the eares by the which he hears and vndrstands who was his Brothers whole Councell The King winnes his Brother by the practise of Odet of Rye to perswade him to be conformable to his intentions and to rest satisfied not with that which he desired but with what should be offered him Yet this practise was not so secret but the Duke of Bourgondy was aduertised by the Cardinall Balâ—e a double heart and a turbulent spirit full of passion who wrate vnto him that the King treated with his Brother that they made no mention of him and that hee should looke to his busines This
de See and brought words and offers of affection and seruice on the Dukes behalfe who feared that the King would make some sodaine inuasion The D. of Brittaine demands a peace hauing an armie of fifty thousand men ready to fall vpon his country The King with all his forces p A Prince should neuer doe all that be may against his enemies would not doe what he might doe against these gyant-like enterprises reseruing his thunder-bolts to an other season The more slowly Princes take Armes the more difficult it is to draw them out of armies hee resolued to vanquish without fighting and considering that the Lord of Lescun was the first linke of the chaine of the Duke of Brittanies Councell that all the iudgement conduct and experience in Brittanie did lye in the person of this Nobleman q Phil. de Com. speaking of the Lord of Lescun saith that there was neither iudgement nor vertue in Brittanie but what proceeded from him who after the death of the Duke of Guienne his master had retired himselfe to the Duke of Brittanie a good and a loyall French man who neuer would consent that the places of Normandie should bee giuen vnto the English hee thought that if he could draw him to his seruice the accord which he should make with the Duke of Brittanie would be more firme and withdrawing him from the Duke of Bourgundies alliance hee should make him so weake as all his forces would not suffice for his defence The King drawes the D. of Brittanie from the Duke of Bourgundies alliance There r When as the Prince hath won him that is in most credit and authoritie with him with whom he treats hee doth worke his affaires safely and with aduantage is nothing so easie as to bring one whether necessitie driues him The Lord of Lescun being won giues the Duke his master to vnderstand that there is no other safety for his affaires but the Kings protection The accord was made so as the Duke might haue eight thousand pounds starling The Lord of Lescun had a pension of six hundred pounds starling foure thousand crownes in readie money the Order of S. Michel the Earledome of Cominges halfe the gouernement of Guienne the Seneshallships of Vennes and Bourdelois The Captainship of one of the Castells of Bourdeaux s K. Charles the seuenth hauing taken Bourdeaux againe he caused two Castles to be built Castell Trumpet towards the Sea and that of Du Han towards the firme land which King Charles the seuenth had caused to be built and those of Bayonne and St. Seuert Essars and Souppleinuille instruments of this negotiation were also rewarded t Phil. des Essars a GentlemaÌ„ of the house of Brittany had 4000. Crownes giuen and six score pounds starâ—ing for yearely pension with the Baillewike of Meaux and was made Master of the Riuers Forrests of France Souppleinuille who did belong to the Lord of Lescun had six thousand crownes in gift a pension and offices fit for his qualitie the Kings bounty could not suffer any seruice to passe without recompence Truce annuall betwixt the King and the Duke of Bourgundy The affaires of Brittany being compounded the King went into Picardie It was his and the Duke of Bourgundies custome euery yeare to make a truce for six monthes in the beginning of Winter during the which there were many voiages and conferences to quench the causes of warre which they held to be shut in the Constables thoughts who began to stand in feare of the Duke and to keep aloofe from the King Philip de Commines saith that the Chancellor of Bourgundy came to make it but as it was the first yeare of his comming to Court he was not very curious to vnderstand the truth the which is drawne out of the Articles that were published and signed by the Earle of S. Paul Constable of France and by Philip of Croy deputed for the King and Guy of Brunen Lord of Imbercourt and Anthony Rollin Lord of Emery for the Duke of Bourgundy The Deputies promised to cause this Truce to be ratified by the first of December it ended the first of Aprill following betwixt which they should meete at Amiens u This assembly was appointed in Amiens the first of December 1472. to treat a peace and the restitution of S t Valery which the D. of Bourgundy demanded to treat a Peace The Constable following the intention of the King his Master and that which had been treated with the Lord of Lescun would not haue the Duke of Brittany comprehended in the Truce among the Allies of Bourgundy The Deputies shewed that the Duke of Brittany their Ally did relye vpon them x To forget Allies in Treatiâ—s and Accords is an iniury against the lawe of friendship Vnde maiores cum qui socium feâ—ellisles in virorum bonorum numero non putaâ—â—erunt haberi oportere Cic. our Elders did not hold him worthy to bee put in the number of good men that deceiued his companion that they could not forget them in the number of their frends that he had not disclaimed their friendship that they held him yet for their Allie and that he had often abandoned them by Letters and words and yet had beene firme to them in effect That youth did inflame his bloud but reason did still reclaime him That the Duke did then name him among his Allies leauing it to his choise by the first of February whether he would be comprehended among the Kings Allies or the Dukes There was no remedy The King would haue fifteene daies to name his Allies and eight dayes after to adde such as he should forget The Duke of Bourgundy Ambitions designes of the Duke of Bourgundy who would spend the time of Truce in great imaginations which filled his head with fumes and his heart with perpetuall flames propounded to allye himselfe vnto the Emperor He desired to extend the bounds of his Empire from one Sea vnto the other his spirit went still on and neuer lookt backe y It is an error in Princes that they seldome or neuer look behind theÌ„ They consult vpon the passage but neuer vpon the returne Leopold Archduke of Austria talking how hee should passe an Army of twentie thousand men into the Canâ—on of Suâ—its Kune of Stocke his iâ—ster said vnto him I will not follow thee thou talkest how thou shalt enter but thou neuer dreamest how thou shalt come forth Leopold was defeated aâ— Morgarten Munster The like was said vnto K. Francis the first by Amaril vppon his proposition to passe thâ— Alpes He held himself King alreadie of one part of Gaule hee deuoured all Germany in Imagination God had giuen him great Prouinces which he thought deserued a more stately Title then of Duke of Earle for the obtaining whereof hee made a voyage to Treues to the Emperor Frederiâ— hauing made a very sumptuous preparation for the solemnitie of that publike
noe portion of the inheritance come vnto the woman but let all the inheritance of the land descend vnto the Male. The English from a Generall demand come vnto a particular and restraine it to the Dutchies of Normandy and Guienne It was answered that as Edward had no interest to the whole so his felony had depriued him of the parts m Edward the third did homage to Philip of Valois for the Dutchies of Guienne and Normandy calling him his deere Lord and Cousin in the Cathedrall Church of Amiens the 6. of Iune 1333. As the King was resolued not to giue them any land so would he not refuse whatsoeuer they reasonably demanded in money when there is no question but of money a Prince should not bee sparing nor difficult The safety and felicity of an estate is not measured by a certaine price n A Prince should not respect money to send away an enemy and rather then to giue him any part of his estate with the which hee may liue in feare to loose all he should hazard any thing Hee winkt at all that as well as at sundry other formalities which the maiesty of the Crown of France would not haue suffered to passe in another season for in all this negotiation Edward gaue him noe other stile but his Cousin Lewis of France Hee offers them threescore and fifteene thousand Crownes for the charges of the Army Articles of a peace betwixt FraÌ„ce and England the Crowne being 33. solz a peece the marriage of his Sonne the Dauphin with the Princesse of England and a Pension of fifty thousand Crownes yearely vntill the marriage be consummated These offers were accepted a Truce was concluded for nine yeares and Hostages giuen by the King of England for the retreat of his army There was also a Compromise vppon a penalty of three millions of Crownes to determine and compound their Controuersies within three yeares by the iudgement of foure Arbitrators Charles the seauenth had expelled the English out of France by the sword and Lewis hath sent them away with his penne o Wee come to one end by contrary meanes Charles the seuenth expelled the English by force and Lewis with store of crownes Hanniball by crueltie ruled Italy and Scipio by mildnes Spaine The Constable thought that these mists The Constable sends vnto the King entertained by the vapors of his pollicies would haue lasted longer and he was much greeued that the Sun-shine of peace had disperst them Hee sent Lewis Creâ—ille a Gentleman of his traine and Iohn Richer his Secretary vnto the King to let him vnderstand that he neuer had any designe but to serue him faithfully that the proofe or his seruice was the refusall he had made vnto his enemies of the entry into S t. Quentin The King descouers the Constables double dealing to the duke of Bourgondy but he was of opinion that they should find some meanes to send back this storme beyond the Seas The King who desired to haue the deceiuer deceiued p Deceiuers are alwaies deceiued They whom they deceiue watch to requite it and their owne deceit ruines them Hanniball after the death of Marcellus wrote to the Salapiens vnder Macellus name whose seale he had gotten that he would come vnto their Towne The next night Crispin Lieutenant to Marcellus who knew the deceits of Hanniball gaue notice of his death Hanniball came to the gates of Salapia the first ranks who could speake the Roman tongue demand entrance The gard being aduertised and making a good shew suffered six hundred to enter then letting downe the Port-cullis they cut them in peeces Plut. and that the Duke of Bourgondy should vnderstand how this man cosoned him with his double dealing he caused the Siegneur of Contay to be set behind a portall The Kin discouers the Constables double dealing to the Duke of Bourgondy he was an affectionate seruant to the Duke and then the Kings prisoner And with him stood Phillip de Commines to heare Creuilles charge which was nothing else but to yeeld him an accompt of the voyage which he had made vnto the Duke to withdraw him from the amity of the English and that he had so disposed him therevnto as hee was in a manner ready to charge them Creuille supposing by the Kings countenance and attention that he tooke delight in this discourse counterfeited the speech and gesture and reported the Dukes oath he stampt with his foot against the ground and sware by St. George calling Edward one-eyed white-liuer and the Sonne of an Archer who cairied that name If Contay had not seene and heard Creuille he would not haue beleeued that a man of any sence would haue spoke so vnworthily of his maister the King faining to be thick of hearing took delight in the repetition of the cheefe wordes of this tale and his heart seeming full of ioy gaue courage to Creuille to amplifie this discourse to the end that Contay might vnderstand it better Constables opinion to buy a truce and know that the Constable mockt his maister q Florence hath seene the like pollicy Peter de Medicis to make it knowne that Lewis Sforza Duke of Milan in counselling King Charles to passe the Alpes did not wish him any good successe He caused the Ambassador of France to stand behind a haâ—ging and saigning himself ill he sent for the Ambassador of Milan who entring into discourse of the designes of Lewis Sforza his Maister he told all â—e could to make it knâ—wâ— that the intentions of the French did not concurre with his maisters Guicciardin To conclude the Constable as Creuille said thought it fit they should purchase a truce of the English and that they should giue them some towne as Eu and St. Valery The King being content with that which hee had heard tould Creuille that the Constable should heare from him He set Contay at liberty to go and report vnto the Duke of Bourgondy what hee had heard behind the Portall of the Constables dissimulations who sent his Confessor vnto the King of England to aduise him not to trust vnto the Kings words nor to attend vntil he did willingly giue him Eu and St. Valery The Constable perswades K. Edward not to trust K. Lewis but to seaze thereon by force to winter his troopes in hope to lodge them better and more at large and hee offered fifty thousand Crownes to aid him to make warre Tell your Maister answered the King of England that he is a deceiuer that I repent me not of a peace seeing he hath repented him of that which he had promised me The King notwithstanding to let the Constable vnderstand that he did esteeme his Councells r There are some thinges wherein it is better to bee deceiued then to distrust The King was well informed of the Constables infidelities yet to entertaine him in good humor and not to giue him occasion to doe worse hee
that of Arragon We heare often in their pleadings Id quod nostrum est sinâ— causa nostra à nobis aufeâ—ri non potest and to fill vp the measure of his sorrow hee saw the first Branch of this Powerfull and Royall house of Aniou wither in his sonne and grand-childe René surviuing his sonne and grand-childe dyed in the yeare 1480. A Prince who had great and eminent qualities worthy of a better fortune hee was a great Iusticer and an enemy to long dispatches He said sometimes when as they presented him any thing to signe being a hunting or at the warre that the Pen was a kinde of Armes which a Prince should vse at all seasons u K. René although he were in Armes did not forbeare to doe iustice to them that demanded it saying That the pen of Princes should neuer be idle that long expeditions made them to loose the loue of their subiects They write that he drank not any wine and when as the Noble-men of Naples demaÌ„ded the reason he answered that it had made Tit. Liuius to ly who had said that the good wines caused the French to passe the Alpes The reigne of so good a Prince was much lamented for he intreated his subiects like a Pastor and Father Commendation of René of Aniou They say that when as his Treasurers brought vnto him the Royall taxe which was sixteene Florins for euery fire wherof Prouence might haue about three thousand fiue hundred hee enformed himselfe of the aboundance or barenesse of the season and when as they told him that a * The Northeast wind Mestrall winde had reigned long he remitted the moity and sometimes the whole taxe Hee contented himselfe with his reuenues and did not charge his people with new tributes Hee x Michael de Montagne in the 2 d booke of his Essaies C. 17. of presumption saith that being at Bar-le-Duc he saw presented vnto K. Francis the 2 d. a portrait which René K. of Sicile had made of himselfe spent his time in painting the which were so excellent as they are yet to be seene in the Citty of Aix he was drawing of a partridge when as they brought him newes of the losse of the Realme of Naples yet he would not draw his hand from the worke such pleasure hee tooke therein He liued long A President of Prouence making an Oration before King Charles the ninth in the yeare 1573. said that hee had beene seene by some that were then liuing Hee instituted an Order which hee called of the Cressant The Knights carried a Cressant or halfe Moone vpon their right arme with this Motto l'Os en Croissant encouraging them thereby to seeke and desire the encrease of their valour and reputation Hee dyed at Aix his wife caused his body to bee transported into France and by a witty pollicie deceiued the Prouençals who would haue had it His death made no other change in Prouencae but of the person Charles Nephew to René succeeds him Charles his Nephew sonne to the Earle of Mayne was acknowledged Earle of Prouence but his time was very short for hee dyed before he could finish the second yeare of his reigne Some few dayes before his death on the tenth of December 1481. he made the King his heire and after his decease Charles his sonne and the other Kings his Successors y The institution of the heire is set down in thâ—se tearmes in his Testament Et quia haeredis institutio est caput fundamentâ—Ì„ cuiuslibet testamenti dictus Serenissimâ—s Domiâ—uâ— noster rex in omnibusâ— regnâ—s commitatibus Vicecomitatibus c. fecit instituit ordinauit ac ore suo proprio nominauit sibi haeredem suuÌ„ vniuersalem insoliduÌ„ Christianissimum excellentissimum principem ac dominum Ludouicum Dei gratia Francorum Regem eiusdem consobrinum Dominum chariffimum atque reuerendissimum post eius obitum illustrissimun clarissimum D. Delphinum c. beseeching him with all his heart to suffer his subiects of Prouence to enioy the graces liberties and priuiledges which they held of King René Prouence giuen to K. Lewis recommending vnto him his Cousen Francis Lord of Luxembourg to keepe him in his Court and to maintaine him in the lands of Martigues which he gaue him he did not recommend him vnto any one of his seruants in particular but one Archer of his guard called the great Pickard There was little difference betwixt his Testament and his death K. Lewis takes possession of Prouence and lesse betwixt his death and the taking of possession for on the nineteenth of the same moneth of December one thousand foure hundred eighty one the King sent a Commission to Palamedes Forbin a Knight Lord of Sollier Chamberlaine to the Earle of Prouence to take possession and to command in the Countrey in quality Lieuetenant generall with absolute power to dispose of Offices to place and displace Officers to remit and abolish crimes yea high Treason to confirme or reuoke ancient Priuiledges and to grant new to assemble the Estates to impose Tributes and to leuy Souldiers for to force obedience z This commission was dated at Thouars the 29. of December 1481. in the presence of the Earle of Marâ—e Marshall of of France and of Estellan Bailiffe of Rouen The quality of this Commission was a great Testimony of the seruice which he had done the King hauing solely disposed his Maister to make this goodly present vnto France But as all changes cause amazement there was some trouble to execute this Donation some holding the party of Lorraine and others of France René René duke of Lorraine discontented Duke of Lorraine finding his friends feeble and his power weake against the King was not willing to grow obstinate in Prouence a Hee that encounters one that is more mighty doth but vndoe himselfe More mighty is to be vnderstood in dominions subiects force and treasure A wise Italian saith to this purpurpose Si tu truoui vna machina cresciuta per la felicita disciplina d'ottocento anni discostati da essa che è cosa impossibile quando pur ella cadesse che tu non rouini sotto If thou findest a worke grown by the felicity and dâ—scipline of 800 yeares auoyd it being impossible if it falles but thou shalt bee ruined vnder it He passed the Alpes with an hundred men at Armes and a regiment of a thousand foote The King sent a garrison of Scottish men vnto Bar vnder the command of the Lord of Aubigny hee caused the Walles to bee repaired and the Armes of France to be set vpon the gate such as are yet to be seene Hee remained in Italy till after the Kings death which day hee held to be the rising of his hopes the which were onely supported by the assurance which the Duke of Bourbon b This hope was not vaine for in the first yeare of the reigne
his owne bloud z Churches are Sanctuaries but they giue no safety but to Innocents and to them that are wrongfully 〈◊〉 The Temples of the Ancient were a Sanctuary to three sorts of men to Offendours to Slaues and to Debtors God did raise vp the Earle of Richmond Earle of Richmond prisoner to the Duke of Brittany who was prisoner to the Duke of Brittaine all good men desired it to reuenge the innocent bloud and this Tyrant fore-seeing that there was nothing to bee feared but from that part sent Thomas Hutton to the Duke of Brittany to deale with him that hee might not bee set at liberty a Ambition of raigne is not restrained neither by the respect of piety nor the motions of Nature Cupido regni fratre fillia potior The desire of raigne is deerer then brother or daughter Tacit. Annal. lib. 12. seeking the friendship of King Lewis who would not make any answeres vnto his Letters nor heare his Embassadours calling him most inhumane cruell and wicked for the most horrible and execrable murther of his Nephewes The King assisted the Earle of Richmond who being set at liberty by the Duke of Brittany past into England with three thousand Normanes the scumme as Phillip de Commines saith of the whole Prouince and was presently fortified by all them that were offended for the death of their lawfull Prince Earle of Richmond King of England giuing him battell within few daies after his arriuall in the which this Tyrant was slaine and the Earle of Richmond acknowledged for King In all these great reuolutions wee must confesse a Diuine Iustice which doth earely or late reuenge iniquities pursuing them euen in the generations of children who are punished for their fore-fathers offences Henry the fourth caused Richard the second to dye in prison Henry the sixth his Grand-child dyed a prisoner to King Edward the fourth Richard Duke of Glocester murthers Edwards children and Richard is slaine by Henry Earle of Richmond the seuenth of that name Who can deny but there is an Eternall Iustice in all this b When 〈◊〉 ◠wicked man commits any villany hee is presently a prisoner to GODS Iustice and like a fish hee is taken with the baite of pleasure and delight which hee hath taken in doing it which doth punish the wicked by themselues and makes vse of them to scourge others and it deferres publicke punishment for a time the secret doth neuer abandon the crime and is a perpetuall thorne in the offenders soule Francis Phoebus sonne to Gaston Earle of Foix dyed also hauing succeeded to Elenor of Arragon his grand-mother Death of Francis Phoebus King of Nauarre hee being but twelue yeares old and raigned vnder the gouernement of his mother c The Ladie Magdaline of France during her sonnes minority carried this Title Magdaline Daughter and Sister to the Kings of France Princesse of Viana Gouernesse to our most deere and wel-beloued sonne Francis Phoebus by the Grac◠of GOD King of Nauarre The Realme of Nauarre was so diuided as it had neede of a Prince of more greate respect and farre better experience and yet for that hee was neere allied to the Kings of France and Castile the most factious were quiet and tooke the oath of Alleageance when as hee entred with incredible applause into the Towne of Pampelone the tenth of December in the yeare one thousand foure hundred foure score and two Presently after his Coronation Ferdinand King of Castile offered him Ioane his second daughter in marriage The Queene his mother did still protest that her will did wholly depend vpon King Lewis the eleuenth her brother The History of Spaine saith that he had a desire to marry her to D. Ioane a Nun at Coimbra to the end hee might renue the pretensions which shee had to the Realme of Castile as daughter to Henry the fourth and by this meanes hee did alwaies assure himselfe of the County of Rousillon But when as his mother had brought him backe into Bearne hee was poisoned at Pau playing on a Flute Hee dyed with this griefe that his life nor death did not profite any man d As no man should desire to liue to himselfe alone so that death is honourable which is imployed for the publicke Turpe est sibi soli vivere mori Plut. there being nothing that doth more trouble a great spirit then when he liues and dyes not for himselfe Dying hee spake these holy words which the mouth of the Sonne of God pronounced a little before his death My Kingdome is not of this world If hee had liued he was borne to be a great Prince but the world to speake truely is so small a matter as the Phylosopher had reason to mocke at Alexander who had carried the Title of Great e Alexander would be instructed in Geometry to learne the greatnesse of the earth Hee found that the Title of Great which he carried was false cōsidering Quā pusilla terra esset ex qua minimum occupauerat Quis enim esse magnus in pusillo potest How little the earth was wherof hee held the least part who can be great in a small thing Sen. The Lady Catherine his sister succeded him Katherine of Foix Queene of Nauarre and was married to Iohn of Albret Iohn of Foix Vicount of Narbona her Vncle did quarrell with her for the Earledomes of Foix and Bearn saying that these lands lying within the Realme of France whereas women did not succeede Queene Katherine could not pretend any thing and did by force seaze vpon Maseres and Monthaut and besieged Pamiers but could not take it Queene Katherine aduertised King Lewis the eleuenth with this inuasion f France doth furnish many examples against the Vicount of Foix to shew that the daughters being neerest of bloud did exclude the Males that were farther off who sent Commissioners into the Country to forbid the Vicount of Narbona to proceed by way of fact vpon paine of loosing his right This controuersy was of such importance as he himselfe would be iudge thereof Controuersy for the lands of Foix Bern and Bigorre and after him Charles the eighth was Arbitrator In the end they must passe by the censure of the Court Parliament of Paris Iohn of Foix Vicount of Narbona and after his decease the Kings Atturney Generall as Tutor and Gardien to Gaston of Foix his sonne said against Katherine of Foix that daughters being vncapable of dignites by reason of their sexe might not succeed in the Realme g King Charles the eighth sought to make an agreement betwixt the parties and therefore committed it to the Cardinall of Foix and Monsieur D'Alby but seeing they could not agree hee sent them to the Court Parliament All which proceedings in writing were imparted vnto me by Maister Galland one of the most famous Aduocates of the Parliament Dutchies or Counties but onely the Males and that they might not
Gabardan Of this marriage issued D. Mathea married to Gaston Prince of Bearne who succeeding her father and mother brought vnto the principality of Bearne those goodly peeces of Bigorre Marsan and Gabardan In like manner by the daughter of Gaston Prince of Bearne named Margaret married to Roger Bernard Earle of Foix all that is come vnto the house of Foix. Examples which serue to confirme this generall custome obserued within the Realme That in all Dutchies Counties Vicounties Baronies Lands and Signiories the daughters being neerest in degree haue succeded and beene preferred before the Males So as if King Lewis the eleuenth had liued he would haue decided this controuersie in giuing sentence for the Neece against the Vncle His iudgement had beene grounded first vpon the right of the first borne and representation secondly vpon the conuentions of marriage betwixt Gaston of Foix and the Lady Magdalen of France making expresse mention that the children which should bee borne should succeed in all the lands of Foix and Bigorre then held by Gaston of Foix her father Thirdly vpon the ancient customes and obseruances of the Realme Fourthly vpon the testament and last will of the Earle of Foix. Alphonso of Portugall died also at the same time Death of Alphonso K. of Portugall hee had his share in the miseries of Kings hee entred a childe into the Realme t Such as God giues the prince such must the people receiue him but the wisest of all Kings saith Vnhappy is that Realme which is commaunded by a child Metius Falconius Nicomachus approuing the Election which the Senate had made of Tacitus being old and broken vsed these wordes Dij auertant principes pueros pattes patriae dici impuberes quibus ad subscribendum magistri literatij manus teneant quos ad Consulatus dandos dulcia circuli quaecunque puerilis voluptas invitet Quae malum ratio est habere Imperatorem qui samam curare non nouerit qui quid sit Respub nesciat nutritorem time at respiciat ad nutricem manum magistralium ictibus terrorique subiaceat faciat eos Consules Duces Iudices quorum vitas merita aetates familias et gesta non nouerit God forbid the Princes and Fathers of the Countrey should be tearmed children whose hands their maisters must hold when they subscribe and who are drawne to giue Offices with childish delights What a misery is it to haue an Emperour which knowes not how to maintaine his fame nor what a Common-weale is who feares his Tutor and is subiect to stripes and terror and shall make them Consuls Dukes and Iudges whose liues merites ages families and actions hee doth not know which was ill for himselfe and worse for his subiects His mother Elenor sister to Iohn the second King of Arragon was depriued by the Estates of the Regency which her Father had left her Peter Duke of Coimbra caused her to bee poysoned Alphonso tooke Armes to reuenge his mothers death Peter was slaine before Lisbone with a poysoned Arrow They would haue married Alphonso to Ioane the supposed daughter of Henry the fourth King of Castille this Tragedy hath beene formerly plaid He died at Sinta being nine and forty yeares old in the yeare one thousand foure hundred eighty two and the three and fortith of his reigne and was interred in the Royall Monastery of the Battell of the order of preaching Friers After the warres betwixt him and the King of Castille and the vnfortunate voyage which he made into France hee did nothing but languish He saw himself forst to passe into France for succors Fortune could not set him in a more wretched estate for there is nothing so miserable as to see a Prince expeld his Countrey and begging Pitty is presently changed into contempt and the consideration of that which is honest doth not ouer-sway that which is profitable They may well say that kings are brethren that one royall bloud cals another that their interrests are common that Rome is his mother the Senators his fathers their children his brethren yet if the aid which he demands doth not benefit him that giues it he shall returne more discontented then he came u In great deliberations profite goes before honesty Demetrius sonne to Seleucus hauing beene giuen in hostage and bred vp from his infancy at Rome intreated the Romans to restore him to his Realme which was held by the children of Antiochus and to moue them thereunto hee called Rome his Countrey and Nurse the Senators his fathers and their children his brethren But for all this the Senate inclined to that which was most safe and profitable they assisted the children of Antiochus being weake and yong suspecting much the great courage of Demetrius who was in the flower of his age Polib Thus behold three Kings imbarked almost at one instant in the shippe of Death Death of the Dutchesse of Bourbon onely God knowes the port whereunto they are arriued hee did call at the same time the Lady Iane of France Dutchesse of Bourbon to the end that Lewis should not be grieued to leaue the world The Chronicle calles this Princesse Most noble Powerfull Holy and the example of good liuers She died in the Castle of Moulins in May 1482. She had laboured all her life to entertaine loue and friendship betwixt the King her brother and the Duke of Bourbon her Husband knowing that the concord of France and the greatnesse of her houshold depended thereon and we may ascribe vnto her the glory of the peace which was made at Ryon by the which the principall fire-brands of the great fire of the league were quenched Whereupon all they that loued quyet cast their eyes vpon those of this Princesse and held them the Pleiades of France whose sweete Influences made the Oliue-tree of peace to flourish x Princesses by whose meanes peace doth flourish are the Pleiades of Estates wherein they are allied Pliny saith that the Oliue-tree springs vnder the Influence of the Pleiades Conâ—ipiunt oleae virgiliaruÌ„ exortu haec sydus illaruÌ„ est Polybius saith that among the Grecians the Caduce and among the Barbarians the Oliue is a signe of peace friendship At the same time dyed Iohn of Bourbon the second of that name Earle of Vendosme Here amazement stayes me suddenly why in all the History of King Lewis the eleuenth Philip de Commines hath neuer made any mention of that Nursery of Caesars and of Alexanders and of that Royall branch which hath brought forth the greatest King that euer ware Crowne or Scepter He speakes of foure sonnes of Iohn the second Duke of Bourbon of Charles Cardinall of Bourbon of Peter Lord of Beaujeu of the Bishop of Liege and makes no mention of Iohn the second Earle of Vandosme who liued vnder the reigne of Charles 7 and continued vnto the end of Lewis 11. wee must not wonder if the Chronicle hath forgotten it it doth often follow toyes and leaues
of Chastel a He was one of the Commissioners whom the King appointed for the accusation and Imprisonment of the Cardinall of Balue one of the Architects of the league found in the end that there was no better lodging then at the kings armes His fortune was ruined in Brittany and raised in France Hee did negotiate the enter-view of the King and Duke of Bourgondy at Peronne he was imployed in the Truce of nine yeares 1475. and was aduanced to the gouernment of Rousillon The Lord of Nantoillet had for a time the authority ouer all the Armies of France Lord of Nantoillet he wanted nothing but the name of Constable for he did exercise the Functions the King hauing made him his Lieutenant Generall throughout his whole Realme and afterwards Lord Steward of France He was so fauoured as the King gaue him often the moity of his bed This fauour lasted not long The Chronicle of the Kings library saith That the King could not pardon any one of whom he had suspition Death of the Lord of Nantoillet He caused his head to be cut off in the yeare 1468. and that the Hangman hauing cut off but a peece at the first blow hee lest him force and courage enough to stand vp and to protest before heauen and the people that hee died an Innocent After that Philip de Commines had said that he had serued the king well in Paris in the warre of the Common-weale he addes In the end he was ill rewarded more by the pursuite of his enemies then by the Kings fault but neither the one nor the other can well excuse themselues Anthony of Chabannes Anthony of Chabannes Earle of Dammartin brother to Iames of Chabannes Lord Steward of France saw the ship of his fortune cast vpon the shelfe in the beginning of this Princes Reigne His good fotune drew him out of the Bastille to go to the warre of the Common-weale in the end whereof hee was made Lord Steward of France hee had the chiefe charge of the Kings Army in Guyenne and was then much fauoured by this Prince with whom hee was so inward as when hee meant to marry his second Daughter to the Duke of Orleans hee discouered his secret affections vnto him by a letter which hee did write vnto him vpon that subiect wher of the Chronicle in written hand of King Lewis the twelfth makes mention hee sent him word that whatsoeuer they said hee was resolued to giue his daughter to the yong Duke of Orleans but no man should bee troubled to nourish the Children that should bee borne of that marriage Peter of Termouille Peter of Tremouille Lord of Croan saw not his life to end with the fauours and honors hee had had of this Prince His Predecessors Guy of Tremouille and Iohn of Tremouille Lord of Ionuelle were made great in following the Duke of Bourgondies party The eldest of this house married Ioane Countesse of Boulleyn and Comminges Widow to Iohn of France Duke of Berry b K. Charles 〈…〉 yeare 1430. King Charles 7 supported George of Tremouille Lord of Craon in the quarrell which he had with the Earle of Richmont for the Lands of Thouars and Benon Peter of Tremouille defeated the troopes of the Prince of Orange before Gy in the Franch-County but hauing beene repulst from the siege of Dole hee was disgraced by Lewis the eleuenth who loued the seruices better then the seruants Hee was saith Philip de Commines a very fat man who being reasonably well content and rich retired himselfe to his house Charles of Ambois did long feele the disgrace of Peter of Chaumont his father Charles of Ambois who retired himselfe in the begining of the reigne of Lewis with the Duke of Berry c The House of 〈…〉 by the Kings Commandement in the 〈◊〉 1465. He was afterwards imployed in great affaires and continued vnto the end His brother was Bishop of Alby and then Cardinall and the greatest fauourite of Lewis the twelfth who called him M r. George Philip de Commines calleth Charles of Ambois a most Valiant Wife and Diligent Man Peter of Rohan Peter of Rohan Lord of Gy did gouerne his fortune happily amidst the waues and stormes of this Princes reigne who made him Marshall of France He was one of the foure which vndertooke the gouernment of affaires during the Kings infirmity and disability d 〈…〉 the Bishop of 〈◊〉 the Lord of Châ—umont the Marshall of Gye and the Lord of Lude gouerned the Estate for 10 or 12 dayes Hee continued this great Authority vnder the reigne of Charles the eighth for the respect whereof the Lady Anne of France Regent to the King and Wife to Peter of Bourbon offended that the Duke of Orleans attempted vpon her Authority would haue taken him prisoner by the Marshall of Gye The Duke of Orleans retired himselfe and hee that was chosen to stay him was the Instrument of his returne and made his peace with the Regent Iohn of Chalons Prince of Orange Iohn of Chalons left the Duke of Bourgondy to serue Lewis the eleuenth then hee left Lewis to serue Mary daugther to the Duke of Bourgondy This first discontentment against his first maister grew for that disputing the succession of Iohn of Chalons Prince of Orange his Grand-father e Iohn of Chalons sonne to Lewis Margaret of Vienne was married to Mary of Baussac heire of the principalitie of Orange by whom hee had Lewis surnamed the Good Lewis first maried Ioane of Montbelâ—art by whom hee had William and then hee maâ—â—ied Elenor of Armagnaâ— by whom hee had Lewis and Hugh Williaâ— was married to Katherine of 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Iohn of Chalons was borne of whom wee now make mention against Lewis and Hughe his vncles the Duke of Bourgondy being President in his Councell when as the cause was pleaded made a Decree against him This despight drew him to the Kings seruice who promised to restore him to his lands and to giue him the gouernment of Bourgondy but when as he saw that he had but the name and that the Lord of Tremouille had the command of all the forces he returned to the seruice of the Princesse of Bourgondy and caused the whole Countrey to reuolt from the King He troubled him much and let him see that a great Prince hath no small enemies that a Hornet is able to put a Bull into fury Iohn of Esteteuille Iohn of Eâ—â—teuille Lord of Torcy gouerned his fortune amidst so many rockes and shelues vnto a safe port The King made him maister of the Cross-bowes and committed vnto him the guard of the Cardinal of Balue in the Castell of Montbason It was he that came and aduertised the King of the danger in suffering such numbers of English to enter into Amiens during the Treaty of Piquigny Philip of Creuecoeur Philip of Creuecoeur Lord of Esquerdes or Cordes Marshall of France He had great
to his head with foure nayles f The Emperor Henry the sixt beeing in Sicile discouerâ—d some conspiracie against him and his estate He caused the chief of them to bee apprehended to punish his ambition he set a crowne of copper vpon his head caused it to be fastened with foure nayles Nic. li. 2. Queene Margaret to effect her designe had drawne some succours from Rene King of Cicile her Father The King lent her sonne two thousand pound sterling at Chinon vpon condition that as soone as King Henry should recouer Callice hee should deliuer the gouernment thereof to Iasper Earle of Pembroke or to Iohn of Foys Earle of Candalles paying him moreouer fortie thousand crownes But all this preuailed nothing the King remained a prisoner and the Queene had much adoe to saue her selfe with the Prince of Wales her Sonne g Monstrellet saith that Queene Margaret her Son La Varenne were met by theeues that she said vnto a theefe that met her bold my friend saue the son of thy King that shee went to Scluce and from thence to Bourges and that the Duke of Bourgundy caused her to be coÌ„ducted to her Father The Princes of the house of Lancaster retired themselues whether their feete and dispaire carried them Some were seene in the Duke of Burgundies Court in miserie Misery of the house of Lancaster begging their bread Fortune how cruell soeuer can doe no worse vnto a Prince then to reduce him to the apprehensions of hunger h Ph. de Commines saith hee had seene a Prince of this house of Lancaster follow the D. of Bourgundyes traine and without hose begging his bread from house to house and that being knowne they gaue him a small pention to liue on The beasts are freed from it The fishes pay no tribute to passe from Riuers into the sea Swallowes flying through so many regions dyed not of Hunger It is a pittifull thing that men and the chiefe among men haue difficultie to liue and to finde what to eate and drinke and wherewith to cloth themselues i Nature comprehends all the necessities of the world in these three words Non esurire Non sitire Non algere not to be hungry thirstie and cold all the rest is superfluous Edward in this great prosperitie of affayres troubles not his iudgement but considers that the house of Lancaster was ruined without hope of recouerie and the Red Rose withered That it was impossible euer to rise againe if it were not assisted with the forces of France Wherefore he desired to make his alliance with the king and sent the Earle of Warwicke to demand Bonna of Sauoye the Queenes sister in marriage Edward fals in loue with a Widdow But during this negotiation Loue which may be held a kinde of furie k Loue is put in the ranke of Melancholly diseases and kindes of fury it peruerts the iudgement and confounds the good with the euill for that it troubles the iudgement carried the affections of this Prince to the seruice of a Ladie who would haue held her selfe much honoured to haue serued the Queene of England and yet she had the ambition to be so Fortune agreed with her beauty Being widdow to Sir Iohn Grey her age bound her to follow rather the life of the Doue then of the Turtle l The Empresse Barba wife to Sigismond the Emperor being told after the death of her husband that she should imitate the Turtle If I must said shee initate beasts why rather the Turtle then the Doue or the sparrow Aeneas Sil. de dict Sigismondi et Frederici Imper. for her first marriage had scarce touched the flowers of her beauty nor of her youth Edward did not liue but for her his heart receiued no law but from her eyes to whom he did submit the full disposition of his fortunes She being powerfull in the charmes of loue let him presently vnderstand that she did not accept of the sacrifice of the hearts of Kings but of the Altar of honour that he might not hope to haue her for a Mistris if he would not assure her to make her his Queene They that loue ardently are easie and tractable m Hee that loues refuseth not any thing In loue there is force and pleasure force constraines the will and pleasure deceiues the iudgement they spare neither wordes nor oathes Edward transported with this fury forgets the sute which he made in France and changeth all his wills into the obedience of this Lady who seeing her selfe to command ouer the Kinges heart assures her selfe to raigne soone in his Realme He is not capable to refuse her any thing The wind of her disdaines and the couldnes of so faire a mistris may well quence the fire in the beginning but being once kindled it giues it nourishment and increase In the end Edward promised to make her Queene and his promise was presently followed with the consumation of the marriage to the great amazement of the Nobility of England who thought the King was bewitcht n Beauty and grace are the mighty charmes of loue said Olimpias the mother of Alexander Loue which growes from amorous drinckes continues not Plutarch gueth these Epithites 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 short toublesome changeable And he saith it doth easily change into hatred and disdaine and wisht him a more honorable alliance Lewis tooke it ill and the Earle of Warwick was so greeued as from that time he was wholly the French Kings who by his counsell plotted a reuenge which shall shew it selfe in the yeare one thousand foure hundred seauenty one Marriages and alliances vnworthy of the greatnes of Princes cause murmurings and discontentments in the people o The people which loue their Princes reioyce at their victories and prosperities They are aflicted at their losses especially if they do any thing which may impaire their honor as when they treat of alliances vnworthy the greatnes of their houses Tot luctibus funesta ciuitate pâ—rs maeroâ—is fuâ—t quod Iulia Drusi filia quondam Neronis vxor dempsit in domum Rubelliâ— Blandi cuius Auum Tiburtem equitem Romanum plerique meminerant Rome did mourne generally when as Iulia daughter to Drusus the sonne of Tiberius and widdow to Nero son of Germanicus married with Rubellius Blandus whose Grandfather had carried no other title then of a Knight The great Calme which was in France King Lewis goes into Guienne did notwithstanding presage a great storme and gaue the King meanes to visit some of the prouinces of his realme he went to Burdeaux whereas he treated of a marriage betweene the Lady Margret his sister and Gaston of Foix who was sonne to Elenor of Aragon daughter to Iohn King of Aragon and Blanch Queene of Nauarre He accepted this Alliance for that this yong Prince was valiant and coragious and that the successions of the Crowne of Nauarre Foyx Berne Bygorre and other Lands lying in
France did belong vnto him The Earle of Foyx sent his Ambassadors and Deputies to the King being at Bordeaux to conclude the treaty p The cheife condition of the Marriage was that the children which should be borne without distinction of malâ— or female should succeed in the counties of Foix and Bygorre He past to Bayonne to end a controuersie betweene the 2. Kinges of Nauarre and Aragon 1462. and Henry King of Castile his Nephew A controuersie begun with great spleene and was continued with the like and had not ended without excesse if he had not dealt in it for the parties flattered themselues in their pretentions were blind in their interests and found that the obscurenes proceeded rather from the thing then their owne blindnes But behold the causes and the effects After the death of Charles the third q Charles the third King of Nauarre taking delight to build at Olîta died suddenly in September 1425. the threescore and foure yeare of his age and the thirty nine of his raigne he was buryed at Pampeluna King of Nauarre the Crowne past from the house of France and Eureaux into that of Castile and Aragon not without trouble and discord Iohn second sonne to Ferdinand of Aragon married Blanch Infanta of Nauarre presumptiue heire of the Realme of Nauarre and widdow to Martin King of Sicilie and it was agreed by a treaty of marriage that in case she should die before her husband hee should raigne the rest of his life in Nauarre after king Charles the third his father in law Of this marriage was borne at Pegna Charles Prince of Viana born Charles Prince of Vianna a title belonging to the eldest Sonne of the King of Nauarre r Charles the the third King of Nauarre ereected Viana into a principalitie and did affect it to the eldest son of Nauarre in the yeere 1421. as Dauphin to that of France The Asturiez in Castille and Wales in England Charles the third his grandfather made him to bee sworne heyre of the Realme by the Estates after the death of Iohn his Father Charles being dead Iohn was declared King of Nauarre by some and Blanch his wife was acknowledged Queene by others yet both were crowned at Pampeluna Iohn had great warres with his brother the King of Castille Marriage betwiâ—t the Prince of the Asturies and Blanch of Nauarre who did confiscate the lands which he held in Castille Iohn Earle of Foyx reconciled them by a marriage betwixt Henry Prince of the Asturies sonne to Iohn King of Castille and Blanch Daughter to Iohn king of Nauarre s By the constitution of the marriage of this Princesse which was of 42112. Florens of gold wee may iudge in what estate K. Charles the third had left the Realme of Nauarre The marriage was celebrated with great pompe and solemnitie but the Prince was vnable to consummate it The which the Princesse did long dissemble Shee had great cause to complaine of this want and to wish her selfe to be a widdow or her husband vnmarried t The dissembling of couiuâ—all imperfections is very seemly especially in a woman Tullia a great Romane Lady is blamed for her ordinarie complaints murmùring at her husbands disabilitie De viro ad fratrem de sorore ad viruÌ„ se rectius viduam illuÌ„ caelibem futurum Tit. Liu. but like an other Eusebia shee did long suffer for the disabilitie of Constans desiring rather to wrong her youth and beautie then her modestie A while after Blanch Queene of Nauarre died and king Iohn married againe with Ione Henriques Charles Prince of Viana fearing that his alliance would keep him back from the hope of raigning and from the inheritance of the Queene his Mother did not dissemble his discontent u A desire to raigne makes the father iealous of the sonne Plutarc saith in the life of Demetrius that the greatest and most ancient of all Alexanders successors did glorie that he feared not his sonne but suffered him to approch neere his person holding a Iauelin in his band pretending that by the lawes of the Realme his Father by marrying againe had lost the fruit of the Crowne Behold all naturall affection is altered betwixt the Father and the Sonne The desire of rule makes them enemies the Father growes iealous and would not suffer his Sonne to come neere him armed On the other side this second wife seeing her selfe mother to Ferdinand did what she could to show that she was mother in law to Charles x What will not an ambitious mother doe and vndoe for her children D. Ioane lying in the bed of death by reason of a Cankar which did consume her remembring what she had done to assure the Realme vnto her Sonne spake often these words with sighes which are reported in the 21. booke of the history of Spaine O my Son thou hast cost me deare For him she had caused Don Charles to bee poysoned and neuer ceast vntill this young plant were quâ—â—â—ht by the nipping cold of her bad intentions seeking to haue a share in the regencie of the Realme in the absence of the king who had reuiued the warre in Castille Hence sprung those two great factions Factions of Beaumont and Grandmont that of Beaumont which followed the intent of of the Prince against the King and that of Grandmont which was for the father against the sonne so as presently the Realme was diuided into two kings two constables Lewis of Beaumont Earle of Lerin was Constable to the Prince and Peter of Perault was Constable to the king The kings cause as the better and more iust remained victorious the Prince beeing twice ouerthrowne is forced to flye to Alfonso king of Arragon Valencia Sardinia Maiorca Minorca and Sicile hee had recourse vnto his clemencie and besought him to pardon him The king who could not forget the loue of a Father vnto him who shewed the dutie of a Sonne receiues him but hee had new aduertisments that hee made secret practises to trouble him wherefore he sent him prisoner vnto the Alferie of Saragossa from whence hee was drawne by the Cattallans who tooke armes for his libertie Charles of Nâ—uarre poisoned by his mother in law but he went out of the prison to enter into a graue y Charles Prince of Viana died being forty yeares old a valiant Prince a great Historian a subtill Philosopher and a good Poet hee translated Aristotles Ethicks into the Castilain tongue and hee wrote the History of Nauarre vnto the time of King Charles his Grandfather For the very day of his deliuerie he was poisoned and dyed with much repentance for that hee had rebelled against the king his father The Infant Don Ferdinand was acknowledged heyre of the crowne of Arragon They of Cattellonia tooke armes to reuenge the death of Prince Charles The seditious who blow the cole of this desection said that his soule walked in the