Flaunders and Normandie Clodamyr King of Orleans and the estates of this realme were all the Duchie of Orleans Bourgongne Lionois Daulphiné and Prouence Thierri was King of Mets and to his realme were subiect the Country of Lorraine and all the Countries from Rheims vnto the Rhin and beyond it all Germany which was the auncient patrimony of the Kings of France Hee was receiued in this royall portion with his bretheren although hee were a bastard the which hath beene likewise practized by others in the first line And as euery one of these foure Kings called himselfe King of France so they also added the name of their principall Citty where they held their Court. Thus they called them by speciall title Kings of the Cittie where they had their residence And in truth euery one caried himselfe as King in the Countries vnder his obedience not acknowledging the elder but by mouth onely As the plurality of Masters is a plague in an estate so is it miraculous that the realme had not beene ruined by so many Kings especially amidst such monstrous confusions Horrible confusion among brethren which then reigned full of treacheries cruelties and parricides I tremble to enter into this labyrinth the which I will but passe ouer measuring the Readers sorrowe by my griefe in reading and writing these tragicall confusions But let vs obserue things by order After these foure brethren had peaceably made their diuisions and taken lawes of their owne accord in the yeare 515. according to the most approued calculation they marry their sister Clotilde to Almaric sonne to Alaric King of the Vuisigoths who had recouered a good part of Languedoc the which Clouis had taken from his father and by this marriage they yeeld vnto him the Cittie of Toulouse But this alliance was the cause of great diuisions and ruine Ambition and Couetousnes good Counsellers of state made euery one to conceiue as great a kingdome for himselfe as that of his father perswading them to attempt any thing to bee great Bourgongne was quietly returned into the possession of Gondebaults children Sigismond had the name of King as the elder and Gondemar a portion Clodomyr King of Orleans as nearest neighbour castes his eyes vpon this goodly Country although hee had no cause of pretension but onely conueniency Yet hee findes a colour to beginne this quarrell The rights pretended by his mother Clotilde issued from the house of Bourgongne and the zeale of Iustice to chastise Sigismond for that he had slaine his eldest sonne to please his second wife and her Children Clodomir takes and is taken He enters into Bourgongne with a mighty army seizeth on Sigismond his wife and children brings them to Orleans and there castes them all into a well Thus God punished the cruelty of Sigismond an vnkinde father by a cruell and disloyall hand Clodomir presumed that he had conquered all hauing slayne the King of Bourgongne But the Bourguignons incensed with this crueltie confirme Gondemar in his brothers seate and leauy an army to defend him against Clodomir The armies ioyne Clodomir puft vp with this first successe promysing vnto himselfe a second triumph thrusting himselfe rashely into his enemies troupes is slayne with a Lance and is knowne by his long haire the marke of Kings and Princes of the bloud as wee haue said The Bourguignons cut off his head pearch it on the top of a Lance and make shewe thereof to the French in derision who retire themselues after the death of their Generall But Childebert Clotaire his brethren returne into Bourgongne with a strong army force Gondemar to flie into Spaine leauing them free possession of 〈◊〉 reâ—â—me the which was their proiect rather then the reueÌ„ge of their brothers death 〈◊〉 was dâ—â—ided among the brethren as a coÌ„mon prey all the realme of Bourâ—â—â—â—â—â— is therin coÌ„â—rehended Thierri King of Metz had his part but the poore children 〈◊〉 are not only excluded Cruelty of brethren but two of them are barbarously slaine by the cruel commaundement of their vnnaturall Vncles 520. and they say that Clotaire slewe one of them with his owne hands Cruelâ—â—e of bretheren in the presence of Childebert the other was thrust into a monastery This confusion was followed by two others Thierri King of Metz making warre against them of Turinge called his brother Clotaire to his aide being repulâ—ed at the first by the force of that nationâ— aided by his brother he preuailes and the vanquished stands at the mercy of the conquering bretheren but behold they fall to quarrell for the spoile Thus the ende of a forein warre was the beginning of a ciuill dissention betwixt them Warre betwixt the bretheren They leauie forces with intent to ruine one another Childebert ioynes with his brother Thierri against Clotaire Such was the good gouernment of these bretheren as desire and ambition did counsell them They are in armes ready to murther one another As their armies stood in field ready to ioyne behold a goodly cleere day ouercast sodenly with such darkenesse that all breakes out into lightening thunder and violent stormes so as the armies were forced to leaue the place and by this aduertisement as it were from heauen An admirable reconcilement these Kings assembled to shed blould change their mindes and turne their furious hatred into brotherly concord Thus God the protector of this estate hath watched ouer it to preserue it euen when as they sought to ruine it and that men hastened to their owne destructions But from thence the vnited bretheren passe into Languedoc against Almariâ— King of the Visigoths their brother in lawe The cause of their quarrell came from their sister Clotilde maried to this Gothe as we haue said so as she which should be the vniting of their loues was the cause of their bloudy dissention She was a Christian and hee an Arrian This difference in religion was cause of the ill vsage shee receiued from her husband and his subiects These bretheren incensed by the complaint and calling of their sister enter into Almarics Country with their forces who hauing no meanes to resist seekes to saue himselfe but he is taken and brought before his brethren in lawe by whose commaundement he was slaine Thus Childebert and Thierri hauing spoyled the treasure and wasted the Country of their confederates returne into France accompained with their sister but shee died by the way inioying litle the fruite of her vnkinde impatience although shadowed with the cloake of inconsiderate zeale Thierri dies soone after leauing Theodebert his son heir both of his Realme and of his turbulent and ambitious humour A part of Bourgongne was giuen him with the title of a King the which he left to his sonne and as a chiefe legacie the hatred he did beare to his brother Clotaire King of Soissons As soone as he sees himselfe King by the decease of his father hee takes part with his Vncle Childebert King of Paris against
expell the customers sack many good houses vnder colour to seeke for these exactors the commons enter to the towne massacre all that follow not their party Moneins lieutenant for the King within Bourdeaux sends a number of shot out of the Castle of Ha thinking to terrifie this inraged multitude But all this increased their popular furie They forced the Councellors of the Parliament Cruelties comitted in Bourdeaux by the rebels to lay aside their gowns to put on Mariners caps to carry pikes to follow their Ensignes the maisâ—ers of Saulx bretheren the one Captaine of the towne the otheâ— of Castle Trompet to be their leaders to assist at the sacking of many houses and to see their friends fellow cittizens massacred before their eyes They spoile the Towne-house a goodly store-house for armes to increase their villanies they murther Moneths most cruelly being come amongst them thinking with courteous words to pacifie the fuâ—ie of these muâ—mes Hauing wrought their wils and being laden with booâ—y they disband some one way some another the parliament fortified with men of honor and resuming their authority punish by exemplary iustice La Vergne one of the chiefe Tribunes of this rebellion La Vergne drawne with â—oure horses and some other of the most apparent The King was no lesse ready to reuenge this outragious and rashe rebellion then the commons were actiue in the execution The Constable had the commission for Guienne Francis of Lorraine Duke of Aumale whom we shall afterwards see Duke of Guise so famous vnder Francis the 2. and Charles the 9. that of Xaintonge with foure thousand Lansquenets many French horse This man seeking to win the reputation of a mild mercifull Prince pacified the CouÌ„try without punishment of what had passed The other marched after another maner for ioyning both armies togither he entered into Bourdeaux disarmed the people tooke and burnt all the records registers rights priuileges of the Câ—ttizens of al the country of Bourdelois he caused the Court of Parliament to cease beats downe their bells forced 7. score of the chiefe to go vnto the Carmes they had three daies after the mutiny in the night takeÌ„ vp this poore dismeÌ„berd carcase lying filâ—â—ly vpon the ground with a gentleman of his named Montâ—lieu to fetch the â—odie of Mâ—neins and to conduct it in mournful sort vnto S. Andrews Church by the punishmeÌ„t of the two Saulx Estonnac an other Tribune who had seized vpon the Castel Trompâ—t many others he purged their offence Talemagne and Galaffie Colonnels of the coÌ„mons were afterwards broken vpon the wheele either of them carrying a Crowne of burning iron for a marke of the soueraignty which they had vsurped The end of this yeare was more comicall Anthony of Bourbon Duke of Vendosme married Ioane of Albreâ— daughter to Henry of Albret King of Nauarre and of Marguerit sister to King Francâ—s the 1. and the Duke of Aumale the daughter of Hercules of Esâ—é Duke of Ferrare of Renâ—è of France Daughter to king Lewis the 12. And during these sports in Court that extraordinary chamber against them whoÌ„ they call Lutherans was erected who persisting constaÌ„tly in the profession of their faith suffred their bodies to be consumed to ashes The birth of Lewis the Kings yonger son the 3. of February at S. Germaine in Laye his baptisme the 19. of May the coronation of Queene Katherine at S. Denis the x. of Iâ—ne the stately entry of their Maiesties at Paris the 6. of the same moneth and the great â—ournoy at the Tournells made in fauor of the Ladies continued the sports in Court which finished the King sitting in his seat of Iustice the 2. of Iuly would giue sentence in his Court of Parliament at Paris according to the ancient custome of his predecessors The presence of the Prince giues authority to the Magistrate and the eye of the king saith the wise man scatters il counsells Troubles in England At that time the nobility of England weâ—e at iarre with the CoÌ„mons The people required restitutioÌ„ of religion The nobles who by their change of religion enioyed the Clergy lyuings would not yeeld So the people rise the nobility takes armes Thomas Semer Admirall of the realme Vncle to yoâ—g King Edward the 6. by the mother is accused to haue supported their party which folowed the Romish church by coÌ„sequence to haue conspired against the king his own brother the Dâ—ke of Somerset caused his head to be publickly cut off Edward 〈◊〉 for those forces which he had prepared beyond the seas against our Henry Cleâ—eâ—s Gueldrois Bourguignons and Germains a means to reconcile the Nobles with the Câ—mmons During these tumults in England the King sent Paul Lord of Termes to continue the war in Scotland begon by Essé who hauing lately defeated the English before Hedingâ—on and taken the Isle of horses resigned his charge to his successor In the moneâ—h of Iune Iames of Coucy Lord of Veruein was beheaded at Paris Oudard of â—â—ez Marshall of â—rance degraded after a long imprisonment the one for that he had incoâ—sideratly comitted the gard of Boullen to his son in Law the other for that he had so lightly yeelded vp a strong and well fortified place vnto the enemy Yet in the yeare 1575 â—he heire son of Veruein shal restore the memory of his father grandfather by the mother side to their former honor dignity and renowne There falls out an other suâ—e since the yeare 1540. the Parliament of Prouence had for matter of religion condemned 17. persons of Merindol to be burnt the village to be razed and the trees to be cut downe withi◠〈◊〉 huÌ„dred paces The Clergy pursued it but some gentlemen and others lesse bloudy staied the execution of this decreee and King Francis fiue monâ—thes after sent â— pardon to these Vaudois of Merindol other places vpon 〈…〉 within three monethes they should abiure their errors They appeere in 〈◊〉 protest that 〈◊〉 â—â—ue not maintayned nor published any erroneus thing ofâ—â—ag to 〈…〉 the word of God they can shew them any sounder doctrine they 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 in writing with an answer to the reproches wherewith 〈◊〉 were taxed and require to be allowed or iudicially heard in their defences Foure yeares passe away 1549. during the which being onely threatned with 〈…〉 subsist But the President Chassané being dead Iohn Menier his successor a violen◠〈◊〉 became a mortall enemie to those of Cabrieres and Merindol amongst whome◠〈◊〉 dwelt certain subiects of his Oppede whose lands he possessed to ioine theÌ„ to â—is 〈◊〉 Through the perswasions of Menier the Cardinall of Tournon obteines letters paâ—e its from King Francis to the Court of Parliament for the execution of the first sentence according to the which Menier terming himselfe Lieutenant of the Lord of Grignan gouernour of Prouence accompanied with the Baron of la Garde and a great
was greatly troubled with diuers factions among the which the Kings part was reckoned the greater but experience shewed it was the weakest for Eudes kept them in awe The King who had the greatest interest thought least thereon being ill aduised by them who sought to abuse his simple and tractable disposition and to aduance themselues by his ruine Hee solicits Eudes in such sort as in the end he strips himselfe of all authoritie and resignes it into the Kings hands who knowes neither how to manage it nor how to auoyd his owne misfortune the which Eudes preuented whilest he liued It was not long before his death that he resigned al his authoritie of Regent vnto Charles as to the lawfull heire the which hee could not long keepe when hee was in possession thereof according to his soueraigne desire CHARLES the 3. called the simple 31. King CHARLES .3 KING OF FRANCE XXXI HEE was Crowned in the yeare 902. Eudes gouerning with him eight yeares from his coronation 902. Charles remayning alone after the death of his Regent in the yeare 902. raigned 27. yeares His raigne was miserable both in the beginning midest and ending He ratified the accord made with the Normans by Charles the Grosse and sealed it with the marriage of his sister Gilette with Rhou or Raoul hee is also called Rhoulon their chiefe Commander who hauing left the Pagan superstition and imbraced Christian religion purchased a great reputation in that Country whereof he was first called Duke But the Normans sute ceasing a more violent fire is kindled by confusion All breaks forth A league made against the King discouers it selfe and takes armes without shame or respect A memorable league of Robert against King Charles the 3. but being the breeding of the change of this second race We must obserue it very distinctly and seeke out the motiues thereof The League of Robert brother to Eudes 906 against king Charles the simple the first steppe to the change of this second Race The which laie smothered 53. yeares before it was fully discouered vnder Hugh Capet from the yeare 923. to 976. ROBERT Duke of Aniou that is to say gouernour by the death of his brother Eudes becomes the head of this League accompanied with many great men of France The motiue of this league The euent shewes that their intent was to reiect Charles the simple as vnworthy to raigne and to choose a newe King I doubt not but Robert affected the Crowne for himselfe but that is very likely that hee couered this his desseine with some goodly pretext The writers of that obscure age haue concealed the motiues but as by the effects we knowe the cause so by the euent of this League when it was strongest we may iudge of the intent They aduanced a Prince of the bloud for king causing Charles to quit the Crowne Charles 〈◊〉 from the Crowne disgracing him with the name of simple or foolish and delaring him incapable of so great a charge Who seeth not then the reason that during the minority of Charles the simple the diuersity of masters had bred infinit confusions in the state and that since his coronation things were nothing repaired although Eudes had resigned him the Regency They pretend it was necessary to furnish the realme with a more worthy Prince to giue an end to these miseries But that which cheefely mooued the vndertakers was their priuate interest the which they cloaked with the common-weale The humors of this insufficient King offended many too milde to some too seuere to others and ingratefull to such as had best serued him The commentary which hath beene added to the text of the Originall is not likely that Robert as brother to Eudes pretended the Crowne as heire vnto his brother beeing lawfully chosen by the States But wherevnto tends all this Eudes had leâ—t no suspition to pretend any interest vnto the Crowne hauing beene Regent after others and enioying it but by suffrance resigning it willingly or by constraint vnto the lawefull heire Truely the French mens carefull keeping of their Queenes wombe their acknowledging the childe borne after the fathers death for King their choosing of Regents their placing and displacing of one and the same Regent do plainely shewe both the efficacy of the Lawe and the resolute possession of the French the which they yeelded not easily to a man with so weake a title What then I should rather thinke that the peoples complaint tired with so long calamities Robert the head of the league and in â—â—mes was their colour to furnish the realme with a more wise and profitable guide and that they sought a Prince as in the ende they tooke Raoul King of Bourgongne the first Prince of the bloud of which League Robert was the ringleader as the first in dignity and most valiant in courage or the most rash in so dangerous an enterprise The memory of his brothers wise and peaceable gouernment and his owne valour opposite to the foolish and base disposition of Charles blemished with this name of simple for his folly and contemptible humors gaue a great Lustre to this enprise with those great intelligences he had within the realme and namely with the Normans his confident friends With this assurance hee armes boldly against Charles promising himselfe an vndoubted doubted victorie by the valour of his men and the basenes of his enemie Charles the simple awakes at this strange reuolt and distrusting his owne subiects who 〈◊〉 sees risen in armes to dispossesse him of his estate he flies to Henry the 3. Emperour and prepares al hee can to calme so great a storme As their armies approach Robert to haue some title to make a warre causeth himselfe to bee crowned King at Rheims Râ—bâ—rt câ—useth himselfe to be crowned King by Herué the Archbishop who died three dayes after this vnlawful Coronation The opinions are diuers but for my part I doe not hold that Robert caused himselfe to bee crowned with a better title then his brother Eudes who was neither crowned nor raigned as King but as Regent But all the French complayned that they needed a better King then Charles the simple who would loose the Crowne if it were not foreseene The erroâ—s of King Charles He had alreadie ratified the follie of Charles the grosse in continuing the vsurpation of Neustria to the Normans who with the Kings consent were seized thereon with the title of lawfull possession and moreouer they were much incensed that hee had put himselfe into the protection of the Emperour Henry to giue him a cause to inuest himselfe King of France as of late dayes the Germains had infranchised themselues from the French Monarchie by the diuision of brethren which had raigned and the minoritie of Charles who then commaunded This iealousie inflamed the hearts both of the one and the other and serued Robert for a shew meaning to fish in a troubled water Now they are in armes
army he retires to Paris detesting his infidelity Hebert imbracing this occasioÌ„ comes to Hugues and according to the familiarity of their ancient friendshippe he laughes at him in suâ—â—â—ing himselfe to be abuâ—ed by his approued enemy abandoning his trustie friends against al right The shame to haue failed of his word despight to haue bene deceiued â—ade Hugues soone resolue not onely to leaue Lewis but to imbrace Richards party against him with all his power It was a notable stratageme to diuide Hugues and leaue him discontented with Lewis but being assured of his friendshippe they send into Den-marke from whence the Normans â—ere descended to King Aigrold kinsman and friend to Richard for succors the which succeeded more happily then they expected Lewis is at Rouan who doth not onely command there as Soueraigne but doth seize on their goods Lewis oppreseth the Norâ—mans whome he doth any way suspect deuising occasions and holding it for a capitall crime to be any way affected vnto Richard fauoring his followers with the best matches in the Country and giuing them credit and authority in the Prouince by marriages he imposeth extraordinarie charges vpon the people 945. already surcharged with the feeding of so many horsemen To conclude he doth all a man may doe that hath no other councellor but his greatnesse and that seekes his owne ruine by his blinde couetousnesse In the meane time Aigrold armes in Denmarke The King of Denmarke comes to succour the Duke of Normandie and in the end comes into Normandie with a goodly armie the King likewise brings his forces to field Richard who had the chiefe interest is at Senlis in safety and Hugues at Paris a looker on Aigrold before hee enters into open hostility sends his Ambassadors to Lewis to let him vnderstand that the reason which had drawne him into Normandie with his armie was to mainteine the right of his cousin Richard who had not deserued to be spoyled of his estate vpon no other cause but his minority who although hee had no father yet should he not bee destitute of Kinsmen and friends And therefore hee intreated Lewis rather then to come to the doubtfull euent of armes to suffer Richard to enioy Normandie as his father and grand-father had done And this he did to haue the right on his side Lewis bold in deceiuing and a coward in danger charged with the wrong hee had done vnto a pupill seeing himselfe abandoned by Hugues whom he had discontented out of season and not trusting much the other Noblemen that followed him hee makes a very milde answer to Aigrold and after some negotiations he yeelds to a parlee with him as the chiefe mediator of Richards rights Bâ—ing in field and conferring together vpon this occasion behold an vnexpected accident falls out He which had beene the cause of the Earle of Flanders quarrell and by consequence of the murthering of William the father of Richard was there present with the King Our histories say it was Ellâ—in Earle of Montreuill A Dane an old friend of Williams knowes him hee chargeth him therewith and as they grow to choller hee kills him Then both parties fell to armes the French charge the Danes but they finde themselues too weake all are dispersed and with this vprore the Kings breake off their parlee Lewis goes to horse the which being strong headed carries him among the thickest of the Danes Behold he is now prisoner in the hands of some souldiars but as in this tumult the gard was neglected he escapes yet in the end he is taken againe Lewis taken prisoner â—t a paâ—lâ—e and and lead in triumph to Rouan Thus the murther supported by Lewis was the cause of his imprisonment and he seeking to wrong a pupill did releeue him with his owne person in exchange that he had restrained him against all right The Queene Gerberge greatly troubled for her husbands imprisonment flies to Othâ— the Emperour her brother who preuented by Hugues his other brother in law and seeing the wrong Lewis did to disquiet a young Prince in the possession of his estate refuseth to succour him so as necessitie inforceth Gerberge to vse Hugues to her great griefe to be a mediator for the deliuery of the King her husband Hugues intreated by the Queene his sister in law deales at length in this accord but vpon good termes That the King should yeeld to Duke Richard all the Duchie of Normandie and for a surplusage that of Brittanie Enlarged vpon conditions to hold them freely without retention of soueraignty or homage the which was much more then the pupill required who would willingly haue done homage to the King as to his soueraigne Lord and haue yeelded him faithfull obedience Behold the issue of Lewis his deceite being deceiued by a poore young man whom he thought to circumuent verifying by a notable example That whosoeuer seekes to take away an other mans right looseth his owne Behold Richard restored to his estate where he carrieth himselfe with such equity and moderation by the wise aduise of Bernard and Osmond his Gouernours as he wins the loue of his subiects and by their councell he takes to wife Agnes or Eumacette the Daughteâ— of Hugues the great Richard marries the daughter of Hugues the great for confirmation of the good turne hee had receiued from him in his necessity This allyance of Hugues with Richard increased Lewis his iealousie against him so as hee resolued to imploy all his forces to suppresse him He goes to the Emperour Otho his brother in law informing him that Hugues practised to depriue him of the realme and that he would speedily attempt it if hee were not preuented 951. with whome he so preuailed through this common iealousie of Princes Lewis seâ—kes to ruine Hugues his brother in lawe who impatiently do see any other to growe great by them as he leuied a great army the which ioyned with that of France and beseeged Rouan but with such vnhappy successe as the Emperour hauing lost both his Nephew and a great number of his men aduised the King to compound with Hugues his brother in lawe and to leaue Richard Normandie in peace according to their former treaties So hauing labored to reconcile these brothers in lawe he returned into Germany This counterfeit reconciliatioÌ„ was but a breathing of the peoples miseries which they suffred by the dissention of Princes but there was no firme friendship for Hugues trusted not Lewis but kept aloofe in his great Citty of Paris leauing the King at Laon being then the chiefe seat of his royall aboade Hugues by this cunning proceeding kept himselfe out of Lewis his hands who on the other side dissembled seeing that force could not preuaile he watched all oportunities to surprise his enemies amongest the which he hated none so much as Hebert Earle of Vermandois both for that which hee had done against his father and his late proceedings against himselfe He
all sutes among his subiects and happily hee might haue preuailed in reconciling that great deuision betwixt the Emperor and the Pope if zeale to releeue the afflicted Christians had not made him to abandon his owne quiet with all his good workes to transport his treasure and life into Affrick and there to leaue them among the Barbarians All declined in the East Mahomet preuailed so both there and in Affricke as Europe was threatned by their neighbor-hood Spaine as the neerest and Prouence and Languedoc by the easie aboard of the Mediterranian Sea Lewis not able to liue without seeking the aduancement of the Christian religion resolues a voyage into Barbarie Lewis goes into Barbèrie against the aduise of his estate and contrary to his owne experience A zeale which shall succeed ill for himselfe and his whole realme whom we cannot excuse of indiscretion Thus he inrouled himselfe the second time and his Sonne Philip likewise which shall succeed him with Peter Earle of Alanson and Iohn Earle of Neuers surnamed Tristan He left the Regencie to Simon of Neele and Mathew of Vendosme of whose fidelitie he relyed much Before his departure he made a league with the King of England to whom he had done many good offices in his great necessitie It was agreed A League wiâ—h Enâ—land 1269. â—hat the English should pretend no interest to Normandie nor to the Earledome of Aniou Maine Poitou and Touraine and as for Guienne hee should enioy the Countries of Quercy Limosin and Xainronge vnto the Riuer of Charenton all which Countries hee should hold by homage of the Crowne of France and in this regard he should be Vassall and Leege-man to the King of France For confirmation of this accord Edward his Sonne enters into societie of Armes with Lewis for the voyage of the Holy-land to maâ—che at the same time This accord was made in the yeare 1269. and their departure was the yeare after 1270. the first day of May. He paâ—ted from Aigues-mortes and not from Marseilles as some haue written for that there was no good port vpon the Mediterranian Sea hee caused the Cittie of Aigues-mortes in Languedoc to bee built and compassed it with goodly Walles which speake yet of him and with Chanels for the commoditie of the shoare the largest is calâ—ed The great Lewis by his name Edward takes his course for Asia and Lewis for Affrike the French armie consisting of forty thousand fighting men that of England is not specified The voyage was shott vnhappy for them both but especially for our good Prince Lewis had scarce lost the sight of shoare and discouered the Iland of Sardinia when as both he and his whole Fleete had almost perished in a storme Lewis in danger at Sea A presage of a mournfull successe In the end he lands in Affricke A Country worthy to loose that ancient name among vs and to be called Barbarie for the barbarous and vnfortunate successe it brought Lewis resolues to take Carthage a new Cittie built vpon the ancient name and held for a strong garrison of the Barbarians He takes it but with great paine and losse From thence heâ— goes to Thunis a strong and well garded Cittie resolute to haue it at what price soeuer But man purposeth and God disposeth For as Edward sonne to the King of England turned backe from his voyage of the East The Armie infected with the plague hauing passed but to Malta and Charles King of Sicilia going to ioyne with him to set vpon the Barbarians of Affricke altogether In a manner at the same time as they arriued all at Thunis the plague had deuoured a great part of the French armie and taken away many Noblemen And to encrease the mischiefe 1270. it enters the Kings pauiâ—â—on and strikes Lewis although some say it was a Flux But whatsoeuer it be our Lewis is extreamly sicke and feeling it deadly Lewis being sicke giues his sonne instruction hee calls for Philip his eldest sonne whose age and vertue preferred him to the Crowne Hauing giuen him goodly admonitions and exhorted him to serue God to liue verâ—uously and to gouerne his people â—atherly vnder the obedience of his lawes which hee himselfe must first obey hauing recommended vnto him the loue of his brethren Lewis dyes and intâ—eated all the Nobilitie about him to obey Philip he yeelded vp his soule to God to take his true rest in heauen leauing all his followers in great heauinesse being the most perfect patterne of a good King that euer was read off in Historie He only wanted the happinesse of a good writer although these small gleans which wee finde in the writings of the Lord of Ioinuille make his vertue admitable A Prince borne for a testimonie to that obscure age Lewis his vertues and for ours which is corrupted to be a President to all Kings and Princes of Religion Equitie Clemencie Wisdome Valour Magnanimitie Patiencie and Continencie to Loue Pietie Iustice Order and Peace to ioyne the loue of holy things and the modestie of manners with armes and State Hauing shewed that it is very fitting for a King To be a good Christian a good Warriour a good Husband a good Father a good Gouernour a good Iusticer and to know how to make Warre and Peace Verâ—ues required in a prince That it is very necessary to ioyne vnto the Maiestie royall Pietie Clemencie and Authoritie to gaine the Loue Respect and Obedience of all men And to conclude That the best gaâ—de and most assured reuenew of a Prince is the loue of his subiects worthy of that venerable name of Holy wherewith posteritie hath iustly honored him He was twelue yeares old when he began to raigne His raigne and gouerned 44. yeares So hee died in the 56. yeare of his age hauing receiued this mortall Crowne in the yeare 1226. and the immortall in the yeare 1270 the 25. of August Of Marguerite the Daughter of Raymond Earle of Proâ—ence His Children hee had foure Sonnes and foure Daughters A Princesse worthy of so great a husband the sole Wife of one husband and hee the onely Husband of one Wife His Sonnes were Philip surnamed the Hardie King of France Peter Earle of Alanson Robert also Earle of Alanson succeeding his brother Peter deceased without Children and he likewise died without any issue and Robert Earle of Clermont in Beauvoisin His Daughters were Blanche Queene of Castile Isabell Queene of Nauarre Marguerite Countesse of Brabant and Agnes Dâ—chesse of Bourgongne His posteritie in his two sonnes Philip and Robert So as of his foure Sonnes there suruiued but two Philip and Robert From Philip the 3. called the Hardie his eldest Sonne are issued successiuely eyther from Father to Sonne or from brother to brother or from the neerest kinsman to the next of bloud Philip the 4. called the Faire Lewis the 10. called Hutin Philip the 5. called the Long Charles the 4 called the Faire Philip
parties being hard the widow of Charles of Blois being called King Charles reconciles the pâ—eâ—endants for Britâ—aine and the matter debated he reconciles them vpon these conditions That for the interest which Ioane pretended for her and hers to the Duchie of Brittaine she should haue the Earldome of â—onthieure the Seigneuries of Auaugour Guello Gincamp Rochedorie Lauuton Chaâ—â—eaulin in Cornwaille Dualt Vhelgost and Rospreden to the value of twentie thousand Eures or franks of rent 2000 pound starling and if Iohn of Montfort died without lawfull heires the Duchie of Brittaine it should returne to Ioane and her issue male or female This accord drew Iohn of Montfort to Paris where hauing done his fealtie and homage as well for the Duchiâ— Brittain as the Earldome of Montfort and other Lands hee had in France the widow of Charles of Blois ratified it by vertue of the decree Oliuer of Clisson at the same treatie was restored to the possession of all his Lands forfaited when his father was beheaded as we haue saied He shal be Constable and shall giue vs good cause to speake of his life This accord was made in the Towne of Guerande in the yeare .1365 but it continued not long for Lewis of Aniou the Kings brother sonne in lawe to the Duchesse of Brittain was not pleased with this agreement whereby he saied he was greatly wronged Iohn of Montfort distrusting King Charles had his recourse to the King of England to whome he went in person to require ayde against the forces which he pretended would come against him The warre reuiued in Brittanie leauing Robert Knowles an Englishman in Brittaine who not attendâ—ng Iohns returne began to make warre vpon the French with all violence Charles being pressed both by the Duches Ioane and by Lewis of Aniou his brother declares Iohn guiltie of high Treason for that he had broken the accord would noâ— appeare vpon sundry summons dayly made vnto him So the warre began againe the successe whereof we wil note heere after Thus there passed six or seauen yeares with varietie of accidents in Brittaine In Fâ—anders Whilest that Brittaine was thus shaken with sundrie stormes Flanders was not without trouble by the accustomed practises of the English Lewis Earle of Flanders sonne to that Lewis which was slaine at the Battaile of Crecy had one only daughter named Marguerite who remayning heire of this great and rich estate was the Lâ—uaine of the antient iealousie betwixt the two Kings Charles and Edward striuing who should haue her The Citties of Flanders of greatest power in this purâ—ute held stoutly for the Engliâ—â— Conâ—e Lewis father to the maide was in suspence feaâ—ing both the English and the Freâ—ch for diuers respects and yet hee loued the first and feared the last But in the end by the meanes of Marguerite of Arthois mother to the Earle a marriage was concluded in fauour of Philip the hardy brother to Charles King of France to Edwards great griefe both father and son who in disdaine of this refusal sought al meanes to breed new troubles in France The treatie of Bretigny ministred a newe subiect and apparent cause of discontent to the King of England who complayned that hee had beene deceiued by Charles vnder a shewe of faithfulnesse hauing restored vnto him all his hostages receyuing onely the sommes promised for the ransome leauying vpon his simple word the reuenues of those Seigneuries granted him by the treatie The cause of new warre 〈…〉 and â—nâ—â—and Charles had retyred all his hostages in good time paying readie money and making knowne vnto Edward the sundrie charges he had giuen to the Countries and places comprehended in the treatie to yeeld them selues whollie into his power he likewise signified vnto him his subiects answers who in the beginning excused themselues ciuilly by honest delayes but in the ende the generall Estats giue Charles to vnderstand That the question being for the generall interest of the States they were not to bee forced to yeeld to an vnlawfull action directly contrarie to the fundamentall lawe of the realme which suffers not the King to preiudice the Crowne nor to alienate the reuenues thereof which were not to be alienated That tâ—is accord made in prison for the Kings redemption was forced and so by consequence vneiuill and not to be allowed by the Lawe of nations The effects followed this resolution with such an obstinacie of the Countries Citties Noble men which were charged by this treatie to yeeld as they protest freely to Châ—rles that they wil willingly spend goods liues rather then fal into the king of Englands hands coÌ„trariwise wold imploy al their meanes to liue vnder the subiectioÌ„ of the king of Fraâ—ce This faithâ—ull constancie of the interessed subiects must needs be pleasing vnto Charles 1366. but to that he himselfe had made this treatie his honouâ— was greatly ingaged the which he must 〈◊〉 by good and auaylable reasons and make it â—nowne vnto all Europe who haâ— tâ—eir eyes fixed vpon these two Princes playing their parts vpon so famous a Theater 〈◊〉 complaines by a sollemne Ambassage to the Emperour Charles the fourth 〈…〉 the paines to come into France The Emperor seâ—kes to reconcile theiâ— two Kings with an intent to imploy his authoritie and 〈◊〉 to reconcile these two Princes but it was in vaine The cause of this fruitlesse 〈◊〉 pâ—oceeded from Edward being resolute to haue his part tryed by armes being 〈…〉 by his victorious successe in the former raignes Châ—rles â—ad alwayes protested to obserue the treatie of â—retigny inuiolable But hauing 〈◊〉 the geneâ—all resolution of the States and of the countries and Noblemen 〈◊〉 bâ— the said treatie he resolues to protect them and hauing excused himselfe both to the Emperour and forraine Princes by a publike declaration he sends a Gentleâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Bâ—â—ussâ— called Chapponeau to the Prince of Wales being at Bourdeaux summoning 〈◊〉 to appeare before him at Paris Câ—arlâ—s proclaimes waâ—â—e against the Kinâ— of Eâ—â—â—lâ—nd at the instance of the Nobilitie and commons of 〈◊〉 complaining of him He also sent a Herald to the King of England to proclaime wâ—rrâ— against him The Earle of Armagnac the Lord of Albret who had newly maried 〈…〉 Boâ—rbon and by this alliance was become French the Earles of Perigort Cominâ—â— and Carmaâ— the Lords of Barde Condon Pincornet Pardaillan and Agenois began 〈…〉 against the King of England followed by all those Prouinces protesting 〈◊〉 the crowne of France At 〈◊〉 example all the Townes of the Countie of Ponthieure yeelded to Guy Earle of 〈◊〉 and to 〈◊〉 of Chastillon Maister of the Crosbowes Then the Kings armies marche 〈◊〉 parts vnder the commands of the Dukes of Aniou and Berry the Constable 〈◊〉 to whose wisedome especially to the Chancellor Dourmans The successe oâ— the Frâ—nâ—â— armie in Gâ—â—â—nne they attribâ—â—e the obedience of the people of Guienne discreetly practised by them Limoges and
in this sodaine accident An order for the gouerment of the Realme the King being aliue of years And they concluded That during the Kings infâ—rmitie and without any preiudice to his authoritie the soueraigne gouernment of the Crowne of Frâ—nce should be giuen to the Princes of his bloud But this point being decided there was an other of no lesse difficultie To what Prince The order of the fundamentall Lawe called Lewis of Orleans the Kings Brother as first Prince of the bloud but neyther his age nor the present necessity could allowe therof The States yeelding vnto reason Contention for the gouerment decree That being apparantly necessary to prouide for the State by reason of the kings weaknesse being verie sâ—cke it were not conuenient to lay so heauie a burthen vppon so weaâ—e shoulders as the Kings brother a young Prince but that the Dukes of Berry and Bourgoâ—gne his vncles next to his brother should haue the gouernment of the realme vntill the Kings recouery Iohn Duke of Berry was elder then Philip but hauing pourchased an iâ—l fame in Languedoc The disposition oâ— Pâ—ilip Duke of Bourgongâ—e to be couetous and violent hee was nothing pleasing so as the French were better affected to Philip the hardy Duke of Bourgongnâ— a cunning cold temperat mild patient and popular Prince but ambitious factious reuengefull and malitious Being therefore pleasing to the States the chiefe charge was imposed on him the title was common to both brethren but the effect of the authoritie was proper to him aloane The Estates adde to their decree especially in his fauour that the Duchesse of Bourgongne should haue the first place next to Queene Isabell our sicke Kings wife and by consequence they giue her accesse to her chamber and the goâ—ernment of the Children at all euents This was Marguerite the heire of Flanders a woman of a manly courage Women rule in the State raised for her great possessions and wholly bred to ambition This newe presidence displeased Valentine the Duchesse of Orleans who yeelded nothing vnto her in greatnesse of courage We stand now vpon good termes that must be gouerned by three women a Germain an Italian and a Flemings all which had absolute authority ouer their husbands whose distaffes did cut like swordes wherof they will giue vs presently a sufficient proofe Philip Duke of Bourgongne Aduanced to the gouernment of the Realme by a decree of the States BEhold the Kings Vncles now at the helme to the great discontent of the Duke of Orleans and of Iames of Bourbon his Vnclâ— by the mother side The winde changeth and the sailes turne Two facâ—â—onâ— in Court the Court is transformed There are two factions but that of Berry and Bourgongne is the stronger The Dukes of Orleans Bourbon make the other but there is no equality The authority of the whole gouernment and of the treasor is in their hands to whome the States had decreed it Such force hath this sollemne consent of the â—rench in matters of State Such as had bin of Charles his most secret Councell were out of fauour An alteraâ—ioâ— in Court and the fauoâ—â—rs diâ—graâ—ced the Constable Begue de Villaines Montagu la Riuiere and Mercier they are all in bad estate for their ouerthrow is plotted by what meanes soeuer The Dukes authority must begin with them yet there was no loue betwiâ—xt the two brethren for who can bâ—leeue that ambition and couetousnesse are fit to winne friendships bâ—t onely to ruine their common enemies and to suppresse their authority Such as were in their rowle had their turâ—es but diuersly The Duke of Bourgongne standing vpon his gard restrayned his imperious wife who at his first aduancement to this great commande would haue turned all topsie tuâ—uy but he seekes all meanes to prâ—uâ—nt his enemies being resolued to begin with the Constable as with the strongest The mignona of King 〈◊〉 aâ—e ill intreâ—ted and this he concluded with hâ—s brother of Berry Montagu cunningly smels out this practisâ— and withall the best hee could carry away saues himselfe at Auignon attending some better oportunity but he shall returne too soone to loose his head on a scaffold The Constable Clâ—sson at his fiâ—st speech with the Duke of Bourgongne is so checkt and thretned by him as â—wallowing this pil quieâ—ly he steales out of Paris retiers to his house at Montlhery from whence with extreame danger he saues himselfe in Brittain The Consâ—â—ble Clisson flâ—â—s from Paâ—is hauing the Duke for hâ—s capitall enemie But hee had his son in Lawe there the Duke of Aniou the Earle of Ponthiâ—ure and so many friends within the Country as in the ende the equity of his cause shall draw the Duke of Brittain to reason being his most dangerous enemy After notice that the Constable was fled Begue de Villaines a gentleman of Beausse who had married the Contesse of Rebelde in Castille la Riuiere and Meâ—cier were coopt vp but all escaped by sundry meanes only Montâ—gu in the end shall loose the mould of his doubleâ— although he seemed to haue better prouided for his safety â—hen all the rest That we may hold for an vndoublted Maxime in all the resolutions which mans reason can set downe in greatest dangers That what God keeps is well kept Yet not rashâ—ly to omit the lawful meanes of our preseruation neyther to rely ouer much vpon our owne wisdomes no more then to a rotten planke in passing of a great riuer The Duke of Bourgongne had nothing lesse in his heaâ—t nor more in his mouth then the sacred name of Iustice. Hauing the Court of Parliament of Paris at his deuotion he bâ—gins to plant his artillery against the Constable by this authority The Kings Aduocate hauing framed a complaint against him Comissions are sent into Brittain to summon him who not finding him The Coâ—stable condemned being absent they proceede against him by exceptions al formalities being obserued they condemne him by a decree of the Court of Parliament in the presence of the Dukes of Berry and Bourgongne as guiltie of high treason hauing attempted against the Kings person by poyson and against the state by theâ—te and treason That as guilty of these crimes he was degraded of the office of Constable condemned in a hundred marks of siluer to the King and banished the Realme A â—trange alteration â—he which the Hâ—story represents in these versâ—s Inconstant Fortune neuer staies her motions turning are alwaies The highest mounted on the wheele is strangely cast behinde the heele But truth coâ—rects the vanity of this popular opinion God is Iudge he raiseth one and casts downe another Aduancement comes not from the eâ—st nor from the west but Goddoth raise vp and pull downe by his wise prouidence for God that hath made the world should not he gouerne the woâ—ld the eye sees not the Sunne through a thick cloude and yet it is in heauen notwithstanding the weakenes of our
perplexed there fell out a fauourable occasion to raise him vp againe The Queene being much discontented with him incenseth the Daulphin This young Prince had some of his houshold seruants from the Bourguignon she vsing the authority of a mother The Queene discontents the Daulpin so as he writes to the Bourguignon takes them from him and puts them in prison the reason was for that she feared these men were of the Bourguignons faction The Daulphin takes this as an affront and writes to his father-in-father-in-law to assist him The Bourguignon imbracing this vnexpected occasion calls a newe assemblie of his subiects and shewes them these letters And making his profit thereof he giues them to vnderstand how needefull it was to leauy an armye to free the King and Daulphin whom the Orlean faction held in captiuâ—ty and vppon this cause he writes to all the Citties of the Realme intreating them to assist him in so good a worke He abuseth the Daulphins letters and worthy of good subiects to their Prince Hereupon he leauies an armie and goes to field making a publike declaration That he takes armes to set the King and Daulphin at liberty and is followed by many French so as his armie increaseth daily Hauing passed the riuer of Some he enters into Compiegne doth summon Senlis to send him the keyes of their gates as maâ—ching for the Kings seâ—uice but a countermand comes from the Daulphin which doth frustrate his desseine The Daulphin wonne by the Orleanois protesteth that he had neuer written these letters The Daulphin disauowes the Bourguignon and disauowes the Bourguignon He writes letters vnto him of a contrarye tenour requesting him to forbeare to torment the people vppon so vniust a cause protesting that he was not onely in â—ull liberty but doth also inioy his authority 1415. by vertue whereof hee commands him to dismisse his troupes and to leaue Francâ— in quiet The Bourguignon goes on his course meaning to enter Paris and to stirre the people to a newe â—edition and so hee marcheth with his troupes neere to the city He is 〈…〉 and stayes at S. Denis but his proiect had no successe The Daulphin assures the Cittye walles and the peoples harts against him who seekes by all meanes to speake to the King or people approching himselfe neere the citty sending his Heralds with letâ—ers planting his colours neere the gate and in the ende conuaies a staffe with letters â—o it but all this would not preuaile The King doubles the battery of his Edicts against him as guilty of high Treason 〈◊〉 guilty or 〈◊〉 treason and a disturber of the publike peace commanding all men that were in his armye to leaue him vpon paine of confiscation Hereat the greatest part of his troupes flie away yea his Flemings abandon him who had alwayes protested vnto him in all his assemblies neuer to carry armes against the King nor Daulphin In the ende the King and Daulphin accompanied with the Princes of his bloâ—d maâ—ch with a goodly armie they besiege Compiegne where the Bourguignon had left a garrison and takes it by composition from thence they march to Soissons a Towne of greater strength hauing taken it by force and Enguerand of Bournonuille his right hand in it The king mâ—rcâ—eâ—h with an 〈◊〉 against the 〈◊〉 he leaues the towne in peace and cuts off Bournonuilles head at Paris with many of his companions to the peoples great content glad of this new bloud and in the ende he passeth to Arras the which he beseegeth with his victorious armie The Bourguignon amazed at these vnexpected euents demaunds peace of Charles obtaines it with much intreatie by the meanes of the Countesse of Hâ—inault his sister and the Duke of Brabant hir brother It is called the peace of Arras beeing made at that siege This was grieuous to the Dukes of Orleans and Berry who said He sues for peace that both the King and Daulphin had promised them not to laye downe armes before they had vtterly ruined the house of Bourgongne But God wiser then they would vnite all the French to oppose themselues with a common consent against the English their common enemie and will soone shewe that it is a meere vanity for mortall men to nourish immortall hatred against their enimies to satisfie their insatiable reuenge We haue said that Henry the 5. King of England watcht all oportunities to feede the confusions of this miserable raigne and to that end he did sometimes succour the Bourguignon sometimes the Orleanois still supporting the weaker And knowing well the Duke of Bourgongnes humor seeing the Daulphin incensed against him he leauies a goodly army to make a benefit of these diuisions The euent fauoured his desire but not his proiect for meaning to assist the Bourguignon hee findes that he had made his peace with ouâ— Charles Hauing landed at Harâ—â—eu a sea Towrie seated vpon the Riuer of Sâ—ine he sends his Herald to demaund his daughter Katherine This was a matter farre fetcht Henry the 5. King of 〈…〉 France 〈◊〉 an aâ—mye and demands 〈…〉 Kings daughters and a strange course but this daughter must be the ground of many miseries for this Realme and likewise an occasion to free this Realme absolutely from the English by a strange meanes and as wee may say admirable as the course of our History will shewe Henry takes Harfleu by composition Before he takes possession of this conquest he goes â—ate footed to the Church to giue God thankes He had not his whole armye with him one part attended him at Calais hauing an inrent to ioyne with them so to fortifie his troups With this resolution he lodgeth at Fauille passing through Caux to the county of Eu he comes to Vimeu to passe the riuer at Bâ—anquetacque an inâ—amous place by our losse where the passage beeing surprised he takes his way towards Arianes from thence to â—aillu in Vimeu seeking to passe the bâ—idge at Remie but not able to force it he recouers Hangest vpon Some and so passeth the riuer at Voyâ—nne Bâ—thencourt places ill garded by them of S. Quintin and then he lodgeth at Mouchy la Gaâ—he towardes the riuer of Miramont He had in his army six thousand horse and twenty thousand foote That of King Charles was far greaâ—er of it selfe besides the Burguignons troupes which were drawne togither for another intent then to fight with the English They were in al aboue tweâ—tie thousand horse and threescore thousand foot The numbers of the English and French armye and therefore Henry did shunne the baâ—taile and sought how to saue himselfe through the â—ennes Our accustomed rashnes and wilfull forgetfullnes of two experiences past against the same nation and in the like occurrents made vs to note with blacke and mournful letters that ouerthrow and calamitie Henry demanded passage to returne into England yeelding vp Haâ—fleu and other places conquered in this voiage
the Countrie in alarme Occasions are offred of dayly skirmishes and daylie the English are beaten But the long stay of this little army and this thorne of Saint Denis stirred vp the people of Paris who loth to be so restrayned prepare a great power to force Saint Denis at what price soeuer The Marshall of Rieux loath to ingage himselfe beeing in all shewe the weaker retyres honorablie to Meulan without any losse The English beat downe the defences of Saint Denis being a common retreat to all men without any more labour eyther to keepe it or to recouer it The accord of Philip Duke of Bourgongne with Charles the 7. King of France IN the ende behold an agreement made with Charles so much expected so vnprofitablie sought after and nowe freely offred by the Duke of Bourgongne The deputies of the Councell presse both French English and Bourguignon to ende al quarrells by some good composition The Cittie of Arras is allowed of by them all to treat in The Assemblie was great from the Pope and the Councell of Pisa there came the Cardinalls of Saint Croix and Cipres An assemblie to treat of a peace with twelue Bishops For the King of France there was the Duke of Bourbon the Earle of Richmont Constable of France the Earle of Vendosme the Archebishop of Rheims Chancellor of France the Lords of Harcourt Valpergue la Fayette Saint Pierre du Chastell du Bois Chastillon du Flay de Railliq de Rommet Curselles and de Cambray first President of the Parliament at Paris with many wise and learned men as Iohn Tudart Blesset Iohn Charetier Peter Cletel Adam le Queux Iohn Taise and la Motte For the King of England the Cardinalls of Yorke and Winchester the Earle of Suffolke the Bishop of Saint Dauids Iohn Ratcliffe keeper of the great seale the Lord of Hongerford Ralfe the wise the Official of Canterburie and some Doctors of diuinity For Philip Duke of Bourgongne there came the Duke of Gueldres the Earle of Nassau the Bishop of Cambray the Earle Vernambourg the Bishop 〈◊〉 Leâ—ge the Earles of Vaudemont Neuers Salines S. Pol and Ligâ—y besides the deputies oâ— many of his best Townes The pompe was great both on the deputies behalfe of the Duke of Bourgongnes who intertained theÌ„ with all the honour good cheeâ—e that might be 〈◊〉 But leauing these circumstances I make hast to the principal matter The Kâ—ngâ— of France and England began the treaty The â—undamentall question was to whom the Crowne of France belonged The English did challenge it The question for the crown of Fâ—anâ—e both for that he was 〈◊〉 from a daughter of France as also by the graunt of Charles the 6. who did instâ—â—ce Henry the 5. and his successors heires of the crowne had disinherited Charles 〈◊〉 7. whom he termed an vsurper The deputies for Charles answered that they ought 〈◊〉 to call in question the ground of the Estate which cannot stand firme without that 〈…〉 heire to whom the lawe appoints and therfore without prouing of that which was apparent of it selfe they came to offers for the ending of all controuersies That if the King of England would both disclaime the title of King of France yeeld vp the countries held by him in diuers parts of the Realme he should inioy the Dâ—chies of Guiâ—nne and Normandy doing homage for them vnto the Kings of France as his soueraigne and with those conditions which his Ancestors Kings of England had formerly inioyed theâ— They stood vpon very different tearmes their authority was limited and possession puâ—t vp the English But sometimes he refuseth that after sues He that striueth to haue all most commonly looseth all One moitie in effect had more auailed the English then all in imagination who in the ende shall finde that the soueraigne Iudge the preseruer of the lawe and of States giues and takes away Charles the English cannot agree appoints and disapoints according to his good and wise will and that there is no force nor wisedome but his Tâ—e mâ—tter was soone ended betwixt the Kings of France and England seeing right could do no good the sword must preuaile Thus the Ambassadors of England returne without any effect those of France stay to treate with the Duke of Buurgongne and his deputies amongest the which he himselfe was the chiefe as well for his owne interest as for his iudgement in affaires A man exceeding cunning who could imbrace all occasions to make his profiâ— by an other as the discourse of his life hath made manifest Bâ—t 〈◊〉 what ende serues all this morter and so great workemanship to frame a building which shall be ruined vnder his sonne and shal bury him in the ruines thereof It is a â—oolish reason which thou calledst reasâ—n hauing no ground of reason and doest not hearken to the voice of heauen O Foole all thy riches shal be taken from thee this night Man walâ—es in a shadow he toyles in vaine to 〈◊〉 â—is name immortall in the graue he hunts with infinite labour and takes nothing As for Charles he sought to retire the Bourguignon from all league and alliance with tâ—e King of England and taking from him all occasions of discontent so to ingage him 〈…〉 honours as he should resolue to follow his faction as the most profiâ—â—â—â—â— knowing that his own priuate interest was the chiefe end of his desseins Matters 〈◊〉 câ—rried in shew according to the humour of that age the dâ—sposition of the court 〈◊〉 for the honour of Charles who must aske the Duke of â—ourgongne pardon hauing 〈…〉 father to be slaine against his faith Charles sends a blank to the 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 what conditions he pleased But was it not true must not the crime be câ—nfessed by hiâ— that was culpable Charles therefore resolues to send him a bâ—anke tâ—e accâ—rd doth testâ—fie that the Bourguignon fiâ—led it with so many vnreasonable conditâ—ons as it is strange so great a monarch should stoâ—p so much to his subiect vassall but necessity â—ath no law A presidâ—nt for great men not to attempt any thing against reason least they bee constrayned to repaiâ—e it with reason and yet to know that it is an amendment of a fault to yeeld to necessity for the good of the state beeing a great thrift to loose for gaine The â—â—iginall sets downe at large all the conditions of this treaty wâ—o so please may reade 〈◊〉 Monstrellet in the history of S. Denis The summe is that the massacre 〈◊〉 〈…〉 person of Iohn Duke of Bâ—urgongne at Montereau-â—aut-yonne 〈…〉 repaired by confession and ceâ—emonies Great sommes of present money with goodly Seâ—gâ—â—uries are giuen to the Duke of Bourgongne so many assurances for him and hi◠〈◊〉 a great volume is full of these scrupulous conditions The Duke of Bourgongnes promise is more simple that he should declare himselfe a friend to Charles the 7. King of France King Charles and the
keepe those two Prouinces in subiection Oliuer was there some dayes without suspect during the which hee corrupted thirtie or fortie men and fraught with their promises hee sent secretly to the Lord of Mouy that at the breake of a certaine day appointed hee with his company and some other troupes would be in the suburbes Hee comes at the appointed time and maister Oliuer with his men giues him entrance to the content of the people but not of the gouernours of the which hee sent seuen or eight to Paris who departed not whilest that Lewis liued To speake truly Oliuer shewed both witt and valor in this stratageme and for the action of Gand he is not so much to be blamed as he that imployed him Conde a smal Towne betwixt Tournai and Valenciennes cutt of all vittels from the french and hindred the victualling of Tournay It was taken and burnt for that it did but imploy men which might serue elswhere and Tournay was sufficient to keepe the Countâ—ie in obedience It seemed that the prosperitie of the kings affaires and his great desseings began to trouble his spirits for proofe whereof a gentleman of Hainault the originall doth not name him associated with many others offers to deliuer vp the principall Townes and places of the said Countie Hee talkes with the King who likes not of him nor of the rest he named The reason is they would sell a good piece of seruice very deere Yet he referred them to the Lord of Lude bred vp from his youth with him But Lude seasoned with the same humour transported with his priuate profiâ— demands at the first what the townes would giue him to manage their affaires So as the Hannuyer who would haue no competitor in his gaine departed without effecting of any thing and the enterprise proued vaine Without doubt God would not glutt vs with felicitie and it is needfull to haue some crosses to make vs to know our selues Moreouer it was not reasonable to vsurpe any thing vpon this Countie of Hainault for that it holds of the Empire and in regard of the ancient alliances betwixt the Emperours and our Kings whereby they ought not one to take from another And for proofe Cambray Quesnoy le Conte and some other places of Hainault had willingly put themselues vnder the protection of Lewis the which hee deliuered as freely with the 40. thousand Crownes that they of Cambraie had lent him for the charges of the war Ambassage from Mary of Bourgongne Whilest the King was resident at Peronne an Ambassage comes to him from the Infant of Bourgongne consisting of the principall men about her as namely Chancellor Hugonnet a very wise man and honorable Himbercourt a gentleman experienced in matters of waight Vere a great Nobleman of Zeland Cripture otherwise called Grutuse or Gruture with other Ecclesiastical and secular men They intreat the King to retire his armie Their propositions to the King that al controuersies might be quietly ended according vnto right reason They shew that by the customes of France the ordinances of his Predecessors Kings the women did succeed in the Counties of Flanders Arthois and other prouinces there abouts That remaining but one only daughter of the deceased Duke of Bourgongne yong an orphelin he should rather protect theÌ„ oppresse her That the mariage of the Daulphin with her should be more proportionable then with the daughter of England And for the more credit they brought a letter writteÌ„ part of it by Mary the Infanta of Bourgongne and some part by the Douager her Mother in lawe Sister to Edward King of England and some part by Rauastein brother to the Duke of Cleues and neere kinsman to the yong Ladie yet none of any credit but that of the Infanta This letter gaue authority to Hugonnet and Himbercout and sayed moreouer That Mary Duchesse of Bourgongne was resolued to gouerne her affaires by the aduice of foure persons The Douager Rauastein Hugonnet and Himbercourt Mary beseeched the King that whatsoeuer it should please him to negotiat with her should passe by their hands and that hee should not impart it to any other The King foreseeing that by the confusion of this people hee should settle his affaires will cunningly make his profit of this letter but not thinking it should cost two so vertuous heads in sowing diuision betwixt the Dâ—chesse her subiects Yet before he giues audience to these Ambassadors he treats priuately with eyther of them Diâ—isiâ—n betwixt Mary and the Gaâ—toâ—â— Huâ—gonnet and Himbercourt whereof the first had all his liuing in Picardy and the other in Bourgongne they desirous to be continued in their ancient authorities giue eare to the Kings offers they promised to serue him so as the foresayd marriage might take effect The rest whose Estates were not vnder the Kings command would not tie them selues by promise but with the alliance of the houses of France and Bourgongne This was most expedient for the King but the violent conditions they propounded withdrewe his loue much both from her them in particular supposing he should soone haue all without accepting of a part by an accord Lewis esttranged from Mary by the violent conditions that were propounded Moreouer he was possessed with a wonderfull desire to conquer Arras The Lord of Cordes might do much Hee was Lieutenant in Picardie vnder the deceased Duke Seneshal of Ponthiâ—u Captaine of Courtray Boulongne and Hedin Gouernor of Peronne Montdidier and Roye he was younger Brother to the Lord of Creuecoeur and alreadie did shewe himselfe to bee french his estate lying within the territory of Beauuais The Townes vpon the riuer of Somme by the death of Charles the last issue male of the house of Bourgongne returned to the King so des Cordes became the Kings liege man His duty then bound him to yeeld vnto the King such other places as he coÌ„manded but he was bound by oath to his mistresse seruice A dispensation will salue it There is no â—oâ—le but Lewis finds a pinne for it Vpon his motion to the Ambassadors that the deliuery of Arras would make the way plaine for a good peace and request that they would be a meanes to Cordes to open the Citty of Arras vnto him for in those dayes there were both walles and ditches betwixt the Cittie and the Towne Hugonnet and Himbercourt dispense des Cordes of his oath and consent to the deliuery of the sayd Cittie Arras yeelded to Lewis by des Cordes Hee doth it willingly and sweares fealtie to the King who presently stoppes vp all approches to the Towne then he goes to incampe before Hedin leades acs Cordes with him whose men made a shewe to defend the place as ingaged by oath to their Ladie for their credits sake they endured the battery some dayes then seeing their defences taken away and their loope-hoales battered Ralfe of Launoi Hedin followes giues eare to his Captaine and
of diuision amongst them wherby he should greatly incomber them Hee staies the Ambassadors vpon their speeche That their Princesse would not conclude any thing without the Counsell of the three Estates of the Country wherevnto he replies that they spake without warrant and that he is duly informed her meaning is to gouerne her affaires by priuate persons who desired no peace And vpon their protesting to the contrarie affirming that they were grounded vpon good instructions the King opens Maries letters brought by Hugonnet Himbeâ—court and other Ambassadors at their first Ambassage and they returne with no other dispatch then this letter Behold here a company vnexperienced in affaires returne light with care but fraught with reuenge and diuision they make their report vnto their Ladie assisted with the Duke of Cleues the Bishop of Leege and many other great personages They strike on that string which they ment to play vpon That the King had proued them liars in that they mainteyned constantlie that she reâ—erred the gouernment of her affaires to the resolution of the States And foâ— proofe as they mainteined the contrarie not imagining her letter to had beene produced behold the Pensionarie of Gand a brutish man and without respect draws the said letter out of his bosome and confounds this bashefull Princesse before the whole assemblie The Dowager Rauasâ—ein Hugonnet and Himbercourt were likewise present The Duke of Cleues treated the marriage of his eldest sonne with the Infanta hee sees himselfe now frustrate by the aboue named so as he presentlie becomes a mortall enemy to Himbercourt from whome he expected fauour in this sute The Bishop of Leege complained of manie disorders committed by him at Leege wherof he had the gouernment The Earle of Saint Paul sonne to him that was beheaded Great 〈◊〉 against 〈◊〉 and â—â—â—bercoâ—â—â— loued neither Hugonnet nor Himbercourt for they had deliuered his father to the Kings seruants The Gantois according to their humors hated them deadlie for that they were men of merit and had beene good and loiall seruants to their master To be short the night after the letter was deliuered Hugonnet and Himbercourt were tumultuoslye seized on and deliuered to suborned men of their Lawe and â—oâ— that they had caused the Citty of Arras to be yeelded by the Lord of Cordes as they saied or rather vpon certein corruptions in iustice and bribes which they said had bin receiued by them of the Citty of Gand in a sute against a priuate man and vpon many extorsions in their charges They are 〈◊〉 supposed crimes câ—â—â—demned 〈◊〉 beheadâ—â— and other things contrary to the priuileges of Gand against the which said they whosoeuer offends must die these two reuerend and graue personages were with a shadow of Lawe condemned by the Sheriffe of Gand and notwith standing their appeale before the King in his Court of Parlament at Paris supposing that this respect and delay might giue their friends meanes to procure their deliuerie they were vnworthily put to death Oh vniust barbarous anâ— inhumane people That the humble and earnest supplication of thy Princesse being in the Towne house nor her weeping and desolate presence before that mournefull scaffold were not of force to preserue and keepe the liues of these her two faithfull seruants This execution ended they sequestred from this poore Princesse the Dowager and Rauastein Mary ouerruled by the â—antâ—is who had signed the Letter they disposing absolutely of her Poore without doubt hauing not onely lost so many good and great Townes but also sees her selfe now in the tyrannicall possession of the ancient persecutors of her house A great corrosiue to bee commanded by such as should obey Afterward they banished whome they pleased placed and displaced officers after their owne appetites chase away indifferently all such as had best deserued of this house of Bourgongne And to continue their popular furie they deliuered out of prison Adolfe Duke of Gueldreâ— whom Charles had long deteined and making him their head they made a leuie in Gand Bruges and Ypâ—e of about twelue thousand men the which they sent to Tournay The Gantois ouerthrowne and Adolfe Duke of Gueldres slaine and burnt the suburbes and then they retire But the garrison issuing forth put wings to their feete so as Adolf a valiant Pâ—ince of his person turning head to fauour them that fled and to make the retreate was ouer-throwne and slaine with a great number of his people with him The Infanta was nothing greeued for if this stratagem had succeeded for the first fruites of his armes some hold they would haue forced her to marry this Adolfe But we haue wandred long enough in Arthois and Flanders let vs retire a little into Bourgongne and consider how this Duchie became French Iohn of Chaalon Prince of Orange was in great credit there Hee possessed much land both in the Duchie and Countie he was a man of action and much esteemed in the Countrie and pretended some inheritances against the Lords of Chaumergnon his Vncles Charles of Bourgongne had giuen sentence in fauour of his aduersaries The conquest of Bouâ—gongne and as he sayd to his great preiudice so as hee had twise left his seruice Now the question is to winne him againe The King promiseth to inuest him in all those places which hee pretends to belong vnto him by the succession of his grand-father and to giue him good preferments in France So he makes him in shew the head of that armie which the Lord of Craon commanded being Lieutenant generall for the King in Bourgongne whom the King trusted more then the Pâ—ince beeing rashe and light in the change of parties Craon hauing commandement to enter into Bourgongne hee sends the Prince of Orange before to practâ—se the Towne of Dijon Hee wrought so politickly that Dijon and many other places both of the Duchie and Countie did willingly submit themselues to the French command Auxonne and some other places of strength continued still vnder the obedience of Marie of Bourgongne Craon seeing himselfe in possession of all these places desired rather to hold them vnder the Kings authoritie then to deliuer them to the Prince of Orange notwithstanding the Kings promise and instance who desired to gratifie this Prince and yet would not discontent Craon who commanded the forces The Prince hauing to doo with a man that would yeeld nothing without good consideration The reuolt of the Prince of Orange and seeing himselfe frustrate of his pretensions he ioynes with Chasteauguion his brother and Claude of Vaudry a braue Gentleman raiseth some troupes with the which he draweth from the King the most part of the aboue-named places with as great facilitie as if hee had conquered them for him and then followes the Infantaes partie whose age and weaknesse required a great support by some worthy alliance There was some speech of Charles the Daulphin but he was yet but nine yeares old The Duke of Cleues laboured for his
rest persisted in the Kings seruice In the meane time the Kings armie prepares to go into Base Brittanie and to beseege Guingamp but the Marshall of Rieux changing his partie makes them to change their proiect Rieux was at Ancenis wonderfully perplexed to see the French entred the Countrie by a breach which the Nobility of Brittain had voluntaâ—iâ—ie made them deuising some meanes to repaire these confusions drawne therevnto by his reception into grace The Earle of Cominges going Ambassador to the King passed by Ancenis and confirmed Rieux in this good resolution perswading him to go vnto the Duke with assurance that he should be gratiously receiued Rieux thinking to strike two stroakes with one stone sends Francis du Bois to the King who at that time was at Font de Larche giuing him intelligence that the Duke of Orleans the Prince of Orange and others retired into Brittaine were willing to leaue the Country so as they night rest safely in their houses without touch for that was passed Which being concluded he beseeched his Maiesty to retire his men at armes according to the tâ—eaty he had signed with his owne hand Anne hearing this proposition My friend sayed she vnto the gentleman say vnto my Cousin the Marshall of Rieux your master that the King hath no companion and seeing he is entred so farre he will make it good The Earle had no better satisfaction An answer discouering the Kings intentioÌ„ which was to incorporate this Dutchie to the Crowne the which caused the Marshall to yeeld to his Prince without dissembling He drawes some souldiers from Nantes in October and deliuers his Towne of Ancents into their hands swearing they should keepe it for the Duke In the end Francis of Baâ—al Baron of Chasteaubriant sonne in law vnto Rieux suffers him to enter the Castell holding him to be the Kings seruant Being the stronger lodging his troupe within the Towne hee commands 〈…〉 yeelded to the Duke seeing that the King had broken the contract all those that would not sweare fidelitie and seruice to the Duke to retire the next day with bag and baggage Could he be ill receiued of his maister carrying with him the deliuery of two so good places The Prince of Orange hauing ioyned with some Germaine succours sent by Maximilian and lead by Baldwin bastard of Bourâ—gongne and some three thousand men of the countries Cornouaille Leon Trâ—guer â—oello resolued to besiege Quintin where the Brittons ioyned with the French that â—ere commanded by the Baron of Pont-Chasteau did wonderfully annoy Guingamp who being in a towne vnfit for warre left the place and gaue the Prince meanes to campe before la Chaize a Castell belonging to the Vicount of Rohan But weakened by the losse of many of his men part of them going daily to the â—rench The Prince of Orange army breakes off it selfe part disbanding by reason of the winter he retired his armie to Montcontour resolute to take a view to punish such as were departed without licence Yet notwithstanding all his care and the Dukes seuere command to the gentle men to returne to the Campe within two dayes vpon paine of the losse of their goods and honors and to others of corporall punishment those few forces which remained vanished sodenly Thus the Duke wauers betwixt hope and feare fortified on the one side but weâ—kned on the other seeing his estate incline to ruine He had two pillers Compâ—tiâ—oâ—s for the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 which in his conceit might raise him or at the least support him Anne and Isabell. The Prince of Orange wooed Anne for Maximilian Rieux the Lady of Laual and the greatest part of the Nobilitie for Alain of Albret The first promised greater conditions yet the King had incombred him much in Flanders supporting the Gantois against him so as he could not succour his pretended father in law neither with his person nor his subiects hauing small credit amongst them and lesse money for that they would nor assist him to preiudice the King Alain whom others call Amand had some forces in hand and fed with this plausible hope he brought about a thousand men out of Castile three thousand Gascoins The Duke would willingly haue made two sonnes in lawe of one daughter vrgent necessity forced him like vnto Charles of Bourgongne to promise her to many whom he could giue but to one euen as Erisichtâ—on satisfied his glutto◠〈◊〉 and continuall hungar whervnto Ceres had condemned him hauing cut downe her groue by the many sales of his daughter Mnestra In th' end Anne is promised to Maximilian who should come to marry in Brittanie withall he should bring great troups of men to succour the Duke against the oppression of the French But hee abuseth no lesse then he is abused Herevpon Alain comes with his Castillians and Gascons At his first arriuall he went to salute the Dâ—ke at Nantes and then his Mistresse thiâ— king to haue the greatest interest in her loue But oftentimes two braue Grey-hounds coursing of a Hare a third crosseth them and carries away the game as we shall â—oone see The Marshall of Rieux being arriued gaue his consent in fauour of Alain at the Countesse of Lauals request sister in law to the said Alain It was no time now to leaue this Marsâ—all newly reconciled idle The Duke giues him the charge of his armie with commâ—ssiâ—n to take Vennes where Gilbert of Grassai Philip of Moulin of whom we shall make mention in the battaile of Tournoue commanded He marcheth thether batters iâ— and takes it by composition the third of March Then S. Cir Forsais who led the hundred men at armes of Alains company declared themselues Brittons by their Captaâ—â—es commandement Vâ—nnâ—s taken for the Brittâ—â— building friuolously vpon this marriage yet some of the comâ—â—â—â—â— reâ—iâ—ed to the King The Kings armie wintered Aâ—ceâ—â— and 〈◊〉 tâ—ken for thâ— King but Lewis of Bourbon aduertised of the taking of Vennes by Rieux requiâ—es him by the surprise of Ancenis and Chasteauâ—â—â—â— places razed neere the riuer to make the siege of Fougeres more easie on the 〈◊〉 being a frontier towne and of good defence and on the other side that of S. 〈◊〉 Cormier The Brittons army had bin eighteene moneths in field without â—est to make head against the French 1488. but now they must shew what courage is in them The Duke of Orleans Alain of Albret the Earle of Dunois the Marshall of Rieux the Lord Scales an Englishman commanding some 300. men of his nation sent by Henry King of England by the meanes of the Lord Maupertuis the Seignior of Leon eldest sonne to the Vicount of Rohan the Seigniers of Chasteaubriant Crenetes Pont â— Abbé Plessis â—aliczon Montigni Baliues Montuel and other Captaines of bands go forth of Nantes with an intent to raise the siege Their armie was 400. Lances 8000. foote besides 300. English and 8000. Germaines sent by Maximilian
owne charge The Vrsins and the Gouernour of Rome a thousand men at armes Moreouer there was in Ast eight hundred men at armes and sixe thousand foote If all these forces with the French had ioyntly charged the Duke of Milan either his estate had beene in danger or hee must haue followed the Kings partie the which obtained the kingdome of Naples had beene easily recouered The Duke of Orâ—â—â—ns was appointed to this effect for the King would not directly breake the treatie of Verceil The Duke of Orleans reâ—useâ—h to make warre against the Duke of Milan in his owne name desiring the Duke should make this warre in his owne proper name The Duke refuseth to march with other title then the Kings Lieutenant either iudging his prouisions not well grounded or seeing the King ill disposed of his person whose next heire he was if hee miscaried Thus both the enterprise and the intelligences which Triuulce had against the Milanois were made frustrate There are other actions which succeed as vnhappely The Fregoses being expelled Genes by the faction of the Adornes could not returne without some notable support who coming to the gates they hoped with great facilitie to raise their partisanâ— to chase away their aduersaries and to reduce the Towne to the Kings obedience The King vppon this hope commands Triuulce to assist Baptista Fregose witâ— those forces which he had in Ast and the Florentines with Octauin Fregose to assaile Luâ—giane at the same time and the East coast whilest that Baptista should molest the Weast This enterprise did much trouble the Duke of Milan and if it had beene continued it had produced greater effects in the estate of Milan then at Genes For Lewis of Fiesque and the Adornes had brought many men into Genes and armed a fleeâ— to seâ— at the common charges of the Venetians of Lodowike and of Frederike king of Nâ—ples And Lodowike had not yet receiued his Venetians But in stead of Genes they wen to take Noui a towne able to coÌ„teine many men and the Fregoses held the castle fit to make warre in the countrie and to stoppe the passage from Milan to Genes The taking of Noui made the neighbour places yeeld to Baptista and at the same instant the Cardinall of S. Pierra with two hundred Launces and three thousand foote of Triuulies troupes seised on Vintemille and presented himselfe before Sauonne hoping that in disdaine of the Geneuois whose yoake they bare hee should find both the Citizens harts and the Cittie gates open But no signe no shew of any alteration Iohn Adorne followed the Cardinall and forced him to retire into Altare a place belonging to the Marquis of Montferrat Triuulce had an other desseing and although he had an expresse commandement from the King to surcease from making warre against the Duke of Milan and to second Baptista and the Cardinall yet did he seeke by all meanes to kindle troubles in the said Duchie and if he had beene suffered to proceed without doubt there had followed some notable effect vnder colour to assure the companies that were passed into the riuer vpon the East that he thought it necessarie to shut vp the passage betwixt Alexandria and Genes whereas Lodowike assembled his forces by the taking of Bourg and other places of importance in the Countrie But to obey the Kings will he lost a goodly oportunitie to doe great seruice vnto the Crowne for now the whole Countrie stood at gaze some for feare others being desiâ—ous of innouation The Duke of Miâ—an perplâ—xed and Lodowike as much perplexed in this aduersitie as in all other flâ—es to the Duke of Ferrara his Father in law to mediate an accord betwixt the King aâ—d him But the fruitlesse staie of Triuulce betwixt Bosco and Noui gaue the Venetians meanes The Venetians succour the Duke of Milan to send many men at armes and light horsmen to Alexandria and fifteene hundred foote to Genes and finally to send the Earle of Petilliane to succour the estate of Milan Thus the Fregose practises came to nothing the which they imputed to the Florentines who would not assaile the riuer of the East being loath to enter into a war vntill they might see the French affaires more succesfull And Triuulce leauing garrisons in Noui and Bosco takes his waie to Ast. It may bee the dismembring of these companies into peeces did hinder their enterprise and it may be if all together had gone directly to Genes the successe had beene more proffitable for besides the diuerse humors of factions most of the Reistres Lansquenets which Lodowike had sent thether were after some small stay returned vn-awares into Germanie About the end of this yeare the Kings of France and Spaine began their assemblie promised at the last truce Truce continued with the Spaniard the which they had transported from Montpellier to Narbone and afterwards broken off by the Castillians excessiue demaunds There they found the same difficulties The King would reserue to himselfe ful power to continue his enterprise in Italie refusing to yeeld to any agreement wherein it should be comprised The King of Spaine desired to haue no warre with him beyond the mountaines which might draw after it many inconueniences and yeld him small profit finally they continued their truce not coÌ„prehending any of the Potentates of Italie The Spaniard seeing the king to meditate of a second voiage beyond the mouÌ„taines hoped to perswade him to the counquest of Naples with their common forces and to take from the Venetians many ports and other places which they possessed the vsurpation whereof was very suspitious vnto him But neither of them had made his account with him who doth prolong and shorten the dayes of man at his pleasure and who doth sound the secret thoughts of men But not able to obteine this condition of Charles with all his policie he procured it of his successor to the great preiudice of his Crowne Then expired the two yeares during the which the castle of Genes had bin left in gard with the Duke of Ferrare The King pretending the foâ—faiture and disobedience of the Duke of Milan demands the possession thereof offering to lay downe in a third mans hand halfe the charge spent for the gard of the places according to the treaty of Verceil The Duke of Ferrare doth an â—ll office for the King and in the meane time the law should determine to which of them it should bee restored But the great pursuit of Lodowike and the imminent danger hee feared made him to yeeld it vp vnto Lodowike vpon restitution made of all his charges for the gard thereof And the Venetians to shewe that they held themselues more bound for that he had deliuered it to Lodowike rather then to our Charles they entertayned Ferdinand the Duke of Ferrares sonne paying him for a company of a hundred men at armes The Kings desire to returne into Italy increased still and it seemed hee
thousand Ducats to enter Bourgongne at the same instant with three thousand horse and eight thousand and foote Germaines and Suissâ—s promising the Suisses a certaine summe of money to ioyne their forces with Maximilian being content they should reteâ—ne a part of Bourgongne vntill they were fully satisfied According to this agreement the English enters the marches of Picardie camps before Therouenne with fiue thousand horse of combate and aboue fortie thousand foote But the English forces did not molest France at land only the Admirall of England ran along the coasts of Normandie and Brittanie And the King to resist their incursions caused foure Gallies to passe the straight of Gibralâ—ar vnder the charge of Captaine Pregent At the first incounter the Admirall chased Pregent into Brest Here Pregent turnes his force fights with the Admirall and hurts him whereof he died within few daies after After that foure score English ships and twenty Normands and Brittons ships fought with equall forces ours hauing the winde But in the end Primauguet a Britton Captaine of the Nunne which Queene Anne had caused to be built beset by ten or twelue English ships and resolute to sell his death dearly grapled with the Regent the chiefe ship of the enemies fleete and fiering it burnt both the one and the other with all that was in them Therouenne was defâ—nded by two hundred and fiftie Lances and two thousand foot whilest the King prepared two thousand fiue hundred Launces ten thousand Lansquenets led by the Duke of Gueldres sixe thousand others Thâ—rouâ—â—â—e beâ—eeged which the Duke of Norfolke brought being fled long before out of England and tenne thousand French to succour the beseeged who in the meane time molested the enemie day and night with their artillerie with the which the great Chamberlaine of England was slaine and Talbot Captaine of Calis lost a legge The troupes assembled the King sent them to Aire vnder the comand of Lewis of Longueuille Marquis of Rotelin Captaine of the hundred gentlemen of his houshold Victuals grew scant in Therouenne when as the Lord of Pieâ—es gouernour of Picardie and the French Captaines chose out the most resolute of all their troupes and gaue them charge to carrie victuals to the Towne And for that their enterprise had happily succeeded retyring too confidently and reproching the enemie of couardise hauing no intelligence of their intent the English hauing sent their horse and fifteâ—ne thousand foote to cut off our mens passage who did ride on their nagges disarmed they charge them vnawares being readie to wade through a riuer that passeth at Huchin they kill about three hundred and take many prisoners amongst others the Marquis of Rotelin Bayard la Payete Clermont of Aniou and Bussy of Amboise all the rest casting away their Launces and trusting to their heeles and horses saued themselues by flight And therfore they call it the battaile of spurres which caused the yeelding of Therouenne the which was dismantled The incounâ—â— of 〈◊〉 to take away all cause of discord betwixt the Archduke Charles who by ancient right pretended it and the English who challenged it as conquered from the enemie by the sword From Therouenne Henry went to campe before Tournay following in this resolution not so much the actions of a good Commander in the warre seeing the taking of this place lying within the low Countries brought him small profit as the perswasions of Maximilian hoping that this Towne pulled from the French might in time returne to the obedience of his grandchild Charles to whome they pretended it appertained Tournay taken Tournay vnfurnished of men of warre and dispayring of succours for that the King not being maister of the field nor of sufficient force to incounter the English could not succour it saued her selfe from spoyle paying a hundred thousand Crownes To crosse the English at home The Scots defeated the King had stirred vp Iames King of Scotland an ancient allie to this Crowne but the chaunce of armes was nothing fortunate for him neither at land nor at sea for ioyning with the English armie where Queene Catherine was present he was vanquished vpon Til and slaine with aboue twelue thousand Scots After these victories the end of October approching Henry left a great garrison in Tournai The English retire dismissed his strangers and toke his way towards England carrying no other recompence for so great and sumptuous a preparation for warre but the Cittie of Tournay But some desseins vpon Scotland fallen into a pupils hands hastned him home An other storme threatned France The Suisses armed according to the former conuentions the King sends Tremouille vnto them to disperse them vnder whome many of the Colonels had receiued the Kings pay But neither by presents not promises preuailed he any thing onely he had a secret intelligence giuen him from some Captains to prouide for the defence of his gouernment of Bourgongne whether the Pope the Emperour Sforee did thrust them And behold foureteene or fifteene thousand Suisses with the troupes of the French Countie a thousand horse The 〈◊〉 enter into Boâ—â—goâ—ne and the artillerie which the Emperour gaue them vnder the conduct of Vlric Duke of Wirtemberg camped before Dijon Tremouille was returned with a thousand Launces and six thousand foot who by his practises had greatly altered the Colonels when as the multitude doubting the faith of their Captaines takes the artillerie and batters the wall Tremouille not able to resist the force of this nation which increased daily flies to the last remedy and without expecting any authoritie from his Maiestie agrees with them That the King should renounce the rights he had to the Duchy of Milan should pay them 400000 crownes within a time prefixt which they preteÌ„ded was due for their seruices in the former wars and for assurance therof he gaue for hostages his nephew of Mezieres Bailife of Dijon and foure bourgesses of the said towne who sauing themselues awhile after in Germanie escaped the threats of this people to cut off their heads if the King did not ratifie it Doubtlesse these were wise men to saue their heads from the Suisses choler A very preiudiciall accord for the King if he had beene constrayned to ratifie it But was it not better to lull the Suisses asleepe then to loose Dijon Our Lewis is now freed off two incombrances the English and the Suisses But the exemption of present dangers freed him not from a relaps for the English departing threatned to returne in the spring and prepared alreadie being loth to stay any more so long at the warre The Emperour had the like intent to annoy him The Catholike King deuised as was discouered by a letter written to his Ambassadour resident with Maximilian the meanes to draw this Duchie of Milan to Ferdinand their comon granchild yonger brother to Charles the Archduke shewing that by that meanes all the other estates of Italie should bee forced to take their law
had no sonner turned his backe but Anthony de Leue came and recouered Biagras the 18. of the sayd moneth and prepared to passe into Lomeline to take Vigeue and Nauare but Lautrec aduertised of this attempt sends backe Peter of Nauarre with six thousand French foote and some men at armes who chased the Spaniard into Milan setled Sforce in Biagras The Lansquenets being arriued Lautrec tooke the way to Plaisanee where the Duke of Ferrare it may be well pleased to see the Pope against whom he had beene long incensed receiue some disgrace leauing the Imperialls ioyned in League with the King and there was concluded the marriage of Hercules his eldest sonne with Renée the yongest daughter to King Lewis the 12. The Marquis of Mantoue a friend to the strongest did likewise ioyne with the confederats The Emperour then foreseeing that the inuasion of the realme of Naples by Lautrec would force him to call backe his forces which hee had in the territories of the Church he sent his Comisson to set the Pope at liberty which done after many treaties he agreed the last of October The Pope deliuered To attempt no thing against the Emperour neyther for the estate of Milan nor the Realme of Naples To pay three hundred and fiftie thousand duâ—ats that is three score thousand presently to the Lansquenets and thirtie fiue thousand to the Spaniards the like summe within fifteen dayes and the rest three moneths after The Pope to free himselfe from prison fled to those remedies which hee had before his restraint neglected hee made Cardinals for money the most of them saith the histoâ—â—e being vnworthy oâ— so great an honour Necessary it was that the Court of Rome should thus be disgraced that they might lâ—sse meâ—dle in worldly affaires looke to their spirituall duties The 10. of December was come when as the Spaniards should conduct the Pope to a place of safetie but knowing the bad affection of the Spaniards especially of Don Hugues de Moncade Viceroy of Naples by the death of Launoy and â—earing a worse condition or some other change he deceiued his gardes the night before disguised like a marchant he went secretly out of the Castâ—e saued himselfe in Oruiete but his hostages payed his ransome A rare example to bee noted in the Church since the time it came to that greatnes To see a Pope issued from one of the greatest families in Italie â—allen from so great a dignitie to loose Rome to be a prisoner and to haue all his estate possessed by the violence of Christian armes then in few moneths to be restored to his seat and by the meanes of the eldest son of the Church to recouer his estate greatnes authoritie Without doubt the Emperour suffering himselfe to bee so much prest for the Popes deliuerie shewed that the Counsell of Spaine was more gouerned by ambition then deuotion The Pope being at libertie he exhorted the Confederats to draw their Companies out of the territories of the Church that by their example the Imperials might make their retreat according to promise as in deed they did he gaue thankes to Lautrec in particular for that he had assisted him in his deliuerance adding that he was as much bound vnto the King and hâ—m as if hee had beene freed by his forces But the Moore changeth not his hewe He held saith the historie his accustomed disposition hauing not by his imprisonment left his craft and couetousnesse As the Kings of France and England required him to reioyne his armes and means with them and their allies sometimes hee fed them with hope that he would imploy himselfe for a generall peace and the good of all Christendome sometimes with excuses that wanting men money and authoritie his coniunction with them would be fâ—uitles and giue the Imperials occasion to wrong him in many respects Lautrec stayed at Bologne attendâ—ng directions from the King eyther of a full resolution of peace or to proceed in his course of armes The Emperour offred to settle Sforce in his estate and to compound with the Venetians Florentines other confederats But the Emperour and the King stâ—od vpon the point of honour which should trust other A point which plainely discouered the bitternes of their spleene The King would not be bound to draw his armiâ— out of Italie before he had recouered his children yet hee offred to put hostages iâ—to the King of Englands hands for performance of whatsoeuer hee should be bound vnto if vpon the deliuery of his children hee did not presently withdrawe his armie The Emperour was obstinate and saying that hee could not trust him who had once deceiued him The King of France and England proclaimed war against the Emperour The Ambassadors of France and England tooke their leaues of the Emperour and according to their maisters Commission proclaimed war against him The Emperour accepts it cheerefully but to stay the Ambassadors presently to send them fâ—fteene leagues from Bourges where then the Court of Spaine remayned to giue them a gard of shot halberds and not to suffer them to conferre or to write in any sâ—â—t Was not this to violate the Law of Nations The fire is now kindled they dreame of nothing but warre Lautrec proceeds in his course he takes the way to Rimini Antone and Râ—â—anate chaceth the Imperials before him into the realme of Naples where we sâ—â—ll soone see the expliots of his armes The King aduertised of the detention of the Bishop of Tarbe his Ambassador who was afterwards made Cardinal of Grandmont he coÌ„mitted Nicholas Perienot Lord of â—ranuelle the Emperours Ambassador to the Chastelet at Paris staied al marchants sâ—biects to the Emperour But this was not all The Emperour had before time at Crenado when as they treated of a peace betwixt them sayed That he would willingly end all controuersies with the King 1528. by a single combat of his person against the Kings he now deliuers the same words vnto the Herald that denounceth warre vnto him adding That the King had basely and treacherously broken his faith with him The King would not haue refused it but his Ambassador did then wrong him in concealing this speech It may be the Emperour had such an intent He was a most vaâ—iant Prince but our Francis did yeeld nothing vnto him in courage Hee had no sooner intelligence of his challenge but calling togither the twentie eight of March all the Princes all Ambassadors with the whole Court into the great hall of the Pallace at Paris King Francis challengeth the Emperour to the combat sitting in his royall seate he caused Iohn Robertet one of his Secretaries of Estate with a loud voyce to reade a Cartell signed with his owne hand That the Emperour accusing the King to haue falsified his faith had spoken vntruly and as often as he did speake it he did lie To the end therefore heeshould not deffer the deciding of their controuersies
Guise his brother the command in warre This was properly to giue the Constable to vnderstand that without warrant hee should take his leaue the which hee did after that hee had conducted his good maister to the graue And to play their parts absolutely without controule they send the Prince of Conde into Flanders vnder colour to confirme the peace and him of Roche-sur-yon to carry the order of France to the King of Spaine then at his returne they depute him with the Cardinall of Bourbon to conduct Elizabeth to Philip her husband In the meane time the Guisians call the Cardinall of Tournon from Rome a man fitte for their humors They displace part of the ancient officers of the Kings house and place new at their deuotion they furnish Prouinces and fronter Townes with gouernours of their owne choise they obtaine a declaration from the King sitting in parliament whereby he made it knowne that touching all affaires which concerned the estate of his Crowne and house his pleasure was they should hereafter repaire to his two Vncles To conclude they do and vndoe place and displace in Parliament and priuie Councell like to a King of absolute power And the Queene mother challengeth the gâ—ft of money growing of the confirmation of offices and priuileges of Townes and commonalties the which by right cannot be exacted but when the realme falls into a collaterall line Now are they setled in this vsurped gouernment they haue officers at their pleasure But there is yet a moate in their eye Those of the religion who then were called reformed let vs hereafter call them Protestants for their common cause with the Protestants of Germanie multiplied infinitely Some Princes and many Noblemen did countenance them and were ready to take their protection To weaken them nay rather to ruine them quite the Kings letters pattents are granted the 14. of Iuly with a Commission to certaine Iudges for the triall of Anne du Bourg and foure of his companions prisoners It was to be feared their proceeding against these fiue Counsellors would preiudice the whole party They beseech the Queene by their letters who had made shew to incline to their doctrine when as she was barren to vse her aâ—thoritie in the restraint of these rigorous pursutes She passeth her word to the Prince of Condé and Admirall so as they will liue secretly and without any scandale Herevpon Anthonie King of Nauarre greatly prest by some Princes and Noblemen the Constable at the death of Henry had perswaded him to seize first on the gouernment arriues in Court being at S. Germaine in Laye Anthony King of Nauarre comes to Court and is disgraced hauing at Poitiers giuen good hope to some Ministers of the Protestant Churches to make open profession of their religion But what entertainment do they giue to this first Prince of the bloud of France his harbingers finde no lodging for him within the Castle It shall cost me my life and ten thousand more with me said the Duke of Guise to his harbinger before they take from me the place and lodging which the King hath giuen me neere vnto his person No man goes to meete him those of Guise looke that he should go to salute them and which is worse the next day he haâ—h no place in Councell After some dayes the King sayes vnto him that his Vncles hauing the charge of affaires hee desired them that would haue his fauour to obey them in all things So hauing obtained confirmation of his offices and pensions he approued by his silence the vsurpation of the house of Guise who lead the King to Rheims where he was triumphantly annointed the eighteene of September by the Cardinall of Lorraine Archbishop of that place Soone after the Coronation The Princeâ— and chiefâ— officers of the Crowne disgraced the Queene mother gets a resignation from the Constable of the office of Lord Steward in fauour of the Duke of Guise in recompence made his sonne Marshall of France The Admirall foreseeing that they would dispossesse him of the gouernement of Picardie hee first gaue the King to vnderstand that it belonged to the Prince of Condé for that his predecessors had long enioyed it 〈◊〉 resignation was willinglie accepted but not the condition It was better to pâ—â—chase a good seruant and partisan which was the Marshall of Brissac Thus the Prâ—â—ces and chiefe officers of the Crowne were disgraced but those that were 〈…〉 among the people were not mute They had a good share in the priuate discontent of these great personages foreseeing the disorders that might ensue and require a Parliament as the Soâ—etâ—â—â— cure for such diseases whereby the Queene Mother might be excluded from the Regencie and those of Guise put from the Kings person To please the King theâ— perswade him that they sought to bridle him and to make him a ward that hee should hold them enemies to his authority and guiltie of high â—â—eason that talke of a Parliament The King of Spaine crosseth them and by letters written to the King his brother in Lawe the which were read in Councell in the presence of the King of Nauarre he declares himselfe saieth hee for the good affection he did beare Tutor and Protector of him his Realme and his affaires against those that would change the gouernment of the estate as if the King were not capable of the gouernment Pleasant people which reiect so much the word of lawfull Tutâ—lage and yet they vsurpe it against the Lawes and orders of the Realme holding it onely by tyranie This other affront sent the King of Nauarre home into Bearne whence he came All this did but increase the hatred of great and small against the Guisians Many treaties are published written and printed and all tend to proue That it belonges to the Estates to prouide gouernours for Kings in their minorities that these two bretheren are incapable of the gouernment being both strangers the one a priest the other presuming to say in the life of the decreased King that the Realme belonged to the house of Lorraine as issued from Charlemagne from whome Hugh Capet had vsurped it A proposition which they haue presumed to publish in these latter times but so often confuted as it needes no further discours The King began to growe and euen nowe hee complayned that they kept him from hearing of his subiects complaints but he was so sickely as there was no hope of long life To get â—â—re footing in the gouernment of Estate they resolue to purchase many seruants in the Courts of Paliament to winne the affections of Courtiers and men of warre and by a burning zeale to the rooting out of Protestants to purchase the loue of the Clergie and people Anne du Bourg executed They publish sundrie Edicts against them they promise great recompences to them that discouer their assemblies many Townes fill their prisons they imploy aire fire and water to ruine them and yet it seemes that the more
but such as were ordinarily with him That the Gouernours of places who were then the Dukes subiects and now the Kings could witnes if there were any fauour vsed And if in making warre hee had any other obiect but the execution of his Maiesties commandements That if he had had any bad intent he had not yeelded vp Bourg so easily as he did To the fourth vppon the aduise giuen to the Gouernour of Saint Katherins Fort to kill the King He beseecheth his Maiestie to remember that hee alone did disswade and diuert him from going to vew the Fort giuing him to vnderstand that there were very good Gunners in the place and that he could not goe without great danger That vpon this aduise his Maiestie altered his purpose saying that if hee desired to see the place hee would bring him a plot of it the next day offering his Maiestie to take it with fiue hundred hargubuziers and that â—e himselfe would goe vnto the assault To the fift that he had treated with the Duke of Sauoy and the Count of Fuentes by the mediation of La Fin. He answered that being denied the keeping of the Cittadell of Bourg hee grew into that dispayre as he had desired to bee all couered with bloud being capable to say or to doe any thing At these words the Chancellor asked him with what bloud hee desired to bee couered with mine owne answered the Prisoner wishing to liue no longer after this refusall and I would haue ingaged my selfe in such sort among the enemies as I would haue dyed there or would haue returned all couered with bloud That for two moneths space he had written and spoken more then he ought but he had not omitted to doe well Hee added moreouer that La Fin had â—oe bewitched him with inchanted waters and by speaking Images as hee was forced to submit himselfe to his wil That he spake not vnto him but in secret vnknowne words calling him his Master his King his Prince his Lord. And scratching his left eare He spake execrable things against La Fin to moue the Court not to regard his accusation testimony Hee that had not seene the fact verefied by his owne letters would haue sayd it was Vlisses accusation forgâ—ng false letters from Priam to Palamedes He still fled to his pardon saying that hauing done nothing since the Kings clemency should remit his fault and that if he must implore it once more he had his Knees as supple as euer to doe it The Chancellor sayd vnto him that he had written a letter vnto la Fin since the Daulphins birtâ— by the which hee did aduertise him that seeing it had pleased God to send the King a Sonne he would no more dreame of those vanities desiring him to returne and if he had not imployed him he would not haue written This letter was produced to shewe the continuance of his bad desseignes whereof he made vse to iustefie himselfe and to shewe his repentance saying alwaies that hee had done well â—rooâ—e by writing of the conâ—â—nuâ—nce of his practises although hee had some thought of doing ill The Chancellor sayd vnto him that seeing he felt his coâ—science so cleere and knowing that hee had done nothing why did he not laie himselfe more open vnto the King who sought him with great affection at Fontainbleau to tell him the truth of that which hath beene since discouered by the processe Hee wauered at this demand saying that he did not thinke the King had knowne any thing of that which had passed betwixt him and la Fin for that hee had assured him by othes and fearefull curses that hee had sayd nothing that might hurt him That hauing conferred with a relligious man of the order of the Minimes to knowe if hauing past his word with an othe to la Fin neuer to discouer what had past betwixt them he might with a safe conscience say any thing He had answered him that seeing there was no more any intent to execute the things that were sworne betwixt them he ought not to reueale them That this resolution continued so constant in his minde that although the Arch-bishop of Bourges had visited him in prison and had giuen him many reasons to free him from these scruples yet hee held it an act vnworthy of a man to falsefie his oth and that it was onely fit for a Soule hardened with Atheisme the spring of all impiety to sweare with an intent to circumuent Here his speech fayled him with the violence of his greefe but recouering his spirits he spake these words My misfortune hath this consolation that my Iudges are not ignorant of the seruices which I haue done to the King and Realme and with what loyaltie I haue carried my selfe in the greatest and most important affaires to restore the King vnto the Realme and the Realme vnto the King to preserue the Lawes of State and to settle you in this place from the which the Saturnales of the League had expelled you This Bodie wherof you hold the life and death in the disposition of your Iustice hath no veine which hath not beene opened and which I would not willingly open for you This hand which did write the letters which are nowe produced against mee is the same which hath done the contrary to that which it hath written It is true I haue written I haue sayd and I haue spoken more then I ought but no man can shewe that I haue done ill And there is no Lawe that punisheth the lightnesse of a simple word or the motions of the thought with Death my words haue beene alwayes Feminine but the effects of my courage Masculine Choller and Despight haue made mee capable to say all and to do all but Reason would not suffer mee to doe any thing but what deserued Praise and Imitation I haue had bad desseignes but they neuer past my thougâ—t At the same instant they sprong vp they were smothered If I had beene desirous to nourish and make shewe of them I haue had great meanes and occasions I could haue done bad seruice to the King in England and in Suiserland There are aboue a hundred Gentlemen that can witnesse of my behauiour in the first Ambassage and for the second He shewâ—â— by what means he might hauâ— done ill I desire no other testimony but that of the Seigneurs Sillery and de Vic who know in what maner with what fidelity I imployed my selfe to reconcile and vnite so many wills disioyned with-drawne from the Kings alliance If you will consider howe I came and in what Estate I lefte the places of Bourgongne it wil- be impossible to haue any badde conceite of my desseignes They found not a man of Warre in my Gouernment I haue left the places without garrisons I haue giuen the Captaines no other commandement but to serue the King well and to doe that onely where vnto they are bound Euery man aduised mee not to
long Hayre by the which hee was hanged King Lewis then did alwayes say That Pride carried Ruine behinde him A Heart which knowes from whence the good comes which it inioyeth is alwayes an enemy to Pride So there is but a moment betwixt Glory and Ruine Great Trees are long in growing but are rooted â—p in an instant And it is true if the Duke of Biron had had a Brayne he had not lost his Head and had not brought it into the handes of his Princes Iustice whom hee had so much offended The Marshall Bâ—â—ons Virtues This Marshall had goodly parts communicable to fewe his Valour was admirable and happy in all his incounters of an inuincible Courage infatigable and neuer tired with any toyle continuing ordinâ—rily fifteeene dayes together on Horse-backe He was not inclined to Volâ—ptuousnesâ—e nor much to the loue of Women sober ynough the which began to quench that furious humour as Intemperancy greatnesse increased or that Rest did moderate his boyling passions He was extremely Vaine-glorious His Vanity Glory yea sometimes he would refuse his meate and content himselfe with little to feede his Fantasie with Glory and Vanity He was of a meane stature Blacke reasonable grosse hollow eyd and rough in speech and conuersation He was aduenturous in War Ambitious beyond all measure The excesse of his Ambition made him to braue it without iudgement He became so presumptuous as he thought that the King nor France could not subsist without him He was become ill-tounged speaking ill of all the Princes threatning the Parliaments and the Officers of Iust ce some with death and to dispossesse others of their places He was aduanced from the meanest to the highest degrees of Honours of a simple Souldiar hee became a Captaine then a Colonell afterwards Admirall and Marshall and in the ende Lieutenant of the Kings Armies and in his Heart he aspired to be Duke of Burgundy Son in Lawe to the Duke of Sauoy A comparison betwixt Silla and the Duke of Biron and Nephew to the King of Spaine If Sylla were Resolute Cruell and Bloudy he yeelded nothing to all men together If he were Valiant this man exceeded him by ten degrees and all the Romaine Princes together Their Actions and their ends were almost alike but that Sylla died after he had vanquished this before he could vanquish and in the middest of his Course did feele the Vengeance of Gods wrath His Credit and how hee was esteemed Howsoeuer he had wonne the Souldiars hearts to whom hee gaue all liberty he purchased credit with them that had neuer seene him for they that had seene and felt him wished him at the Indâ—es and made Strangers admire his valour the Constable of Castille in the Franche-County the Archduke at Amiens and the Marquis of Waranbon in Artois whom he made to pay forty thousand Crownes for his ransome with many Spaniards which he caused to be hanged sodainly for that they had called him Baron Moreouer the Kings exceeding fauours the prayses wherewith he did publikely honour him his admirable fortune his coÌ„ming to the restoring of the last ruines of the State like to an other Camillus to deliuer the Capitoll had made him not onely famous throughout all Europe fearefull to all the neighbours but necessary for France Behold a man that was happy full of content which held Fortune captiue withall her treasures he coÌ„manded the felicities of this world he had Glory Honour Riches those gifts which Fortune imparts to her darlings He was raised to the top of Fortunes wheele but he fell for he that gouerns the Helme and all her motions could no longer endure his insolency and vanity Sequitur superbos vltor a tergo Deus The causes of his ruine are infinite Shame followeâ— Pride the contempt of piety is the chieâ—e this ground taken away all vices abound and as the seruant said to King Atraeus O Prince follow the infallible way of Piety your Scepter shal be durable for wheras Faith Holines hath no place there is no happines the reason is for that without God we hold all things indifferent the Law folly Iustice frensie and Faith a fantasie we hold the words of vertue vice to be idle wheras the feare trust in God limits our passions insatiable desires so as gouerning our actions by a iust proportion we cannot erre â—e was oftentimes seen to iest at the Masse to laugh at theÌ„ of the Reformed Religion with whoÌ„ he had bin bred vp from his infancy â—or at the age of eight yeares the Lady of Brisambourg his Fathers sister being of the reformed Religion did so affect him for his actiue disposition as she demanded him of his Mother the which she granted froÌ„ that time she made him her onely heire Vntill the age of 16. yeares he was called Charles of Gontault for then he had an elder brother which died since at the Duke of Alançons voyage into Flanders bred vp at Brisambourg nere vnto S. Iean d' Angely where he was nothing giuen to his booke but wholy inclined to Armes for which consideration his Father the Marshall Biron a Martiall Man then a Catholike â—ooke him froÌ„ his Aunt led him for a while with him through the Countries of Xaintonge Aulins Angoulmois where he caused him to be instructed in the Catholike Religion but vpon false principles which he did learne of some Courtiars he did often mocke at all Religion The second cause of his ruine was the alteration of his Fortune After the death of his elder Brother his father caused him to be called Baron of Biron brought him to Court where at the first he had a quarrell with the Lord of Carency son to the Earle of la Vauguion the which was ended by a Combat of three against three Biron Loignac Ienissac of the one side slue Carency Estissac and la Bastie their quarrell grew for the heyer of Caumont which either of theÌ„ affected in mariage yet neither of theÌ„ had her The Duke of EspernoÌ„ got his pardoÌ„ the which was coÌ„firmed through the credit which his father had theÌ„ in Court Some say that being thus in troble he went disguised like a Carrier of Letters He went to a Mathematicien to know his Fortune vnto one la Brosse a great MathematiciaÌ„ whoÌ„ they â—eid to be skilful in casting of Natiuities to whom he shewed his Natiuity drawn by some other And disseÌ„bling it to be his he said it was a Gentlemans whom he serued that he desired to know what end that man should haue La Brosse hauing rectified this figure said vnto him That he was of a good house no elder then you are said he to the Baron asking him if it were his the Baron answered him I wil not tell you But tel me said he what his Life his meanes end shal be This good old man who was then in a little Garret which serued
are giuen to many Nations are held vaine and ridiculous being separated from this constant and immutable aâ—fectâ—on of keeping their faith As the Greekes haue beene commended for many actions of Valour and Vertue the which notwithstanding vanish away shamefully in the reproch which hath alwayes beene made vnto them to deny their words easily and neuer to binde themselues but with an intent not to hold And contrariwise the memory of the Faith and Constancy of the Romains is immortall who abhorred the breach of promises and held it an inexpiable Crime to violate Treaties It is not Armes alone but the constancy of Religion and their faith giuen that had raised them to so great a power as they held in their hands the Reynes of all the Prouinces of the habitable Earth In the beginning the neighbour people did not esteeme them as a Citty but rather a campe of Theeues a neast of Tyranny and a Cittadell in the middest of them to trouble and practise all the furies of their Ambition The estate of ancient Rome But when as they vnderstood that Faith onely and a simple oath all feare of punishment layde aside did gouerne the Citty they grewe to such Reuerence and Respect as they held it a greater happines to obey a people so generous in their actions so constant in their Words and so religious in their oaths then to command ouer others The formes of the Common weale of the Grisons haue great conformities with the politike and military Lawes of the Romaines and as it yeelds nothing vnto them in Valour and Generossity so hath it alwayes preserued like vnto them the Religion of their Word and Promise holding publike Faith the Foundation and Ground-worke of Estates as Treacheary is the Plague and Ruine thereof This sufficeth to shew howe odious the Perswasions or rather Practises and Inchauntments of those should bee that councell them to reuoke the Alliance made and sworne with the Common-weale of Venice Which be good Couâ—cells Wee must cherish and respect the Councells and Remedies of such as loue the sicke Patient but we must suspect all things that come from the hand of a Neighbour that is an enemy they minister nothing how sweete soeuer which causeth not great Motions and Alterations in the Bodye His Honey is worse then that of Cholchos which did not infect the Heart nor trouble the Vnderstanding but for a day In the distinction and choice of aduice wee must preferre those that preferre Honour and augment Posteritye before those that dissolue the Concord and Quiet of an estate Those sayd a great Orator to the Atheniens are to be credited that Counsell to entertaine Alliances with friends for there is nothing more befitting a free Citty then the care and loue of Equity and Iustice. Those that by their pollicies and roughnesse would separate the Grisons from the Alliance of their friends haue happely some desseignes vpon their liberty the which they cannot execute better then by cutting off the number of their frienâ—s the which can neuer bee too great howe great and mighty soeuer he be And if they haue not this desseigne yet their Councell is alwaies vniust seeing the effect concernes the shame and ignominy of this Nation which cannot go from the truth of their promises vnlesse they wil be generally taxed for treachery and basenesse A repâ—och so much the more to bee feared beeing certaine that as soone as a Common-weale hath giuen any subiect to doubt of her Faith shee must inuent newe formes of Relligion to purchase credit with other Estates and vnknowne people to trust vnto their promises for such as knowe the deceiuers will auoyde the deceit And although among the corruptions of our age fayning and dissembling be esteemed vertues haue in the opinioÌ„ of the vulgar notable qualities yet among those that haue conteyned themselues within the boundes of ancient Integrity and knowe not the pollicies and deceits of the new-come The people that are defamed for treachery and disloyaltie loose all their friends And in the end this Alliance hath bin sworne by the most sollemne acts of Relligion The name of the lyuing God who should not be taken in vaine and is poluted by the lightnesse of an oth hath beene called vpon It is an extreame Impiety to make that Soueraigne Spirit that Infinit Immutable and Incomprehensible Essence who is all Iustice and all Trueth a witnesse of our basenesse and lying that the Holinesse of his name should couer our Dissembling his Iustice our Wrong his Trueth our Deceit and approue that which naturall Reason cannot allowe of And this bond of Fayth giuen is of such necessity as it must be kept euen with Enemies whereof that great Captaine Iosua hath left a memorable example refusing to breake the Treaty which hee had made with the Gabionits Pagan Infidells Although hee had discouered their deceite and was intreated by the chiefe of the Army to loose their Alliance The answer he gaue them was grounded vppon Reason saying That they had giuen them their Faith and that they must feare least the furie of God by whose Name they had sworme should come vpon them There was great difficultie to retayne these people inclyning to change vppon the huge promises made them by the Count of Fuentes The great promises oâ— the Count of Fâ—enteâ— to the Grisoâ—s They could not resolue in their Councells The weight of will and hope carried them away Hee would reduce them to extreame necessity taking from them the Commerce of Milan without the which they could not liue The Grisâ—ns Estate is meerely popular consisting of sixe and twenty Comunalties the which are dâ—uided into three Cantons It is a difficultye to finde any thing equall constant or well aduised among so many Heads bredde vp in the Maximes of a Democratiâ— The Count of Fuentes had debauched foure who had like to haue corrupted the rest as a little Leuaâ—ne marâ—es a great lumpe of Dâ—we For they stucke onely vpon Money which the one demanded and the other offered He gaue so good entertainement to the Ambassadors that came to him to Mâ—lan as they passed so many Articles as he pleased applying themselues to his humour of Peace which beeing dishonorable is of worse condition for Free men then Warre it selfe But when at their returne they would haue drawne the people to allowe thereof the Ambassador of France arriued so happily as hee let them vnderstand the preiudice and wrong that they did vnto themselues So as the best aduised being informed of this surprise resolued not to stray from the obseruation of the Alliances of France and Venice Resolution of the Gâ—isons nor to depend for their passages vpon the aduice and command of the Count of Fuentes nor of his successors as he had bound them by his Articles presuming that he could defend with the Sword that which hee had gotten with Gold True it is that they made offer to enter into a new Capitulation of all
Seine Espernay Ceant in Othe Sens Auxerre Neuers Corbigny Aurillac Moulins Issoudun Mans Vendosme Anger 's CraoÌ„ Blois Tours Bourgueil places thereabout Poitiers Rouen Valongnes Vire S. Lo Dourdeaux Agen and generally in all parts of the realme are read at large in the Originals and would augment this volume beyond the iust proportion Time and leisure may hereafter giue all this discourse specified more particularly Let vs onely obserue the most memorable exploits chanced during these first troubles from the moneth of Aprill in the yeare 1562. vnto the publication of the peace The Protestants of Meaux exceeding the Catholikes in number had vntill the end of Iune continued the exercise of their religion without any disturbance Particular troubles at Meaux then transported with an indiscreet zeale and ill aduised presumption grounded vpon their numbers they flie to the Churches beat downe images and make the Priests retire This insolencie made the Court of Parliament at Paris to censure them and to abandon them to any that could spoile or kill them without any forme of processe Therevpon Lâ—noux brother to Montluc comes to Meaux and with the consent of the Protestants restores the exercise of the Catholike religion and then giues commandement to the inhabitants to bring their armes into the Towne house Some obey others to the number of foure hundred march to ioyne with the prince Portian they charge them and kill them all but fortie which recouer Orleans with much adoe leauing their wiues to the mercie of the stronger whereof many were forced to go to the Masse with blowes many marriages solemnized anew many children but without order baptized againe The 13. of February 1563. some fugitiues tried to recouer the place but this caused a totall ruine of their companions who remained within the towne they were massacred drowned and hanged their wiues and children rauished their goods spoiled and their houses made inhabitable At Chaalons des Bordes the Lieutenant to the Duke of Neuers gouernor of Champagne slue many men and women imprisoned handicrafts men spoiled their houses At Chaalons caused marriages to be resolemnized and children to be rebaptized At Bar. Those of Bar vpon Seine became the stronger but rashly in a place easie to be forced Some Cannons planted onely against the Castell scattered all within it like vnto partriges So the beseegers entring finding fewe men to execute their reuenge on they fall vpon the women maydens and Children open some of their stomakes pull out their hearts and with a furie vnworthy doubtlesse of one created after the same image and likenesse teare them with their teeth Ralet a yong Aduocate sonne to the Kings Proctor was a prodigious thing hanged by his fathers procurement In the moneth of Ianuary following some fiftie horse of the garrison of Antrain surprised the towne at the breake of day and at the first tied this Ralet to the top of his house then with their pistolls caused him to expiate the death of his sonne The other murtherers were murthered and their spoile spoiled by other spoilers So the Lord requires the bloud of man by the hand of man himselfe 1562. Saint Estienne being returned from Orleans with two of his bretheren and 〈◊〉 â—thers to refresh himselfe Saint Estienne in a house of his neere vnto Reims was besett beâ—eegeâ—â— battered with the Cannon by a troupe of fifteene or sixteene hundred men who 〈◊〉 forth vpon their word to speak with the Duke of Neuers who they sayd 〈…〉 him was murthered by his owne Cousin germaine the Baron of Cerny and 〈…〉 bretheren with sixteene others stabde At Sens. A hundred persons of all qualities were miserably slaine at Sens their bodiâ—s 〈◊〉 naked into Seine their houses spoiled and as if it had beene no sufficient reuenge their vignes were pulled vp At Neuers The eleuenth of May 1562. the Catholikes of Neuers 〈◊〉 in many gentlemen of the Countrie seized vpon the gates and three daies after fell vpon the Protestants Fayete arriues ransackes their houses rebaptizeth the Câ—â—â—dren expells whome hee pleased and so laden with bootie worth fiftie â—hou â—â—d Crownes At Corbigny he retires to his house in Auuergne Noisat Marshall of the companie of Fayete intreated them of Corbigny in the like sort Captaine Blany surprised the 〈◊〉 fewe dayes after and restoâ—ed the Protestants to the publike exercise of theiâ— religion At Antrain Captaine Blosse surprising the Towne of Antrain stayed the Catholikes from committing the like excesse as they had done at Auxerre Steuen Blondelet a preest and an other called the Dangerous were hanged and shot Issertieux called in by the Protestants of la Charité to take the charge of the Towne was set vpon by Cheuenon At la Charite Achon and other troupes and finally beeing beseeged by Fayete hee yeelded vp the Towne vpon an honest composition for his partie This was the x. of Iune but the Grand Prior entring he pulled the Capitulation being signed out of Issertieux hand and afterwards la Fayete abandons these poore protestants to spoile and ransome like to them of Neuers The 3. of March following the Captains du Bois Blosset and Blany reenter by Scaladoe Leauing it afterwards in gard to du Boise who defended it with threescore and seauen soldiars and some Inhabitants against an armie of foure thousand foote and horse slue aboue foure score of them and forced them to raâ—â—e the seege Chastillon vpon Loire Those of Chastillon vpon Loire standing amidest many difficulties and in the ende spoiled of all their commodities fortified their little Towne and the 5. of Ianuary endure an assault against the Lord of Prie kill seauen or eight of his men and hurt many others the men defending themselues with stoanes and the women powring boyling water vpon the assaylants In the end Monterud gouernour of Berry beseeged it battered it and tooke it by force killed men and women young and olde spoiled the Towne euen to the hingells of doores glasse and barres of windowes At Gyen Gyen maintaynes it selfe long the Protestants weâ—e the stronger but the insolencie of Captaines and soldiars whome the Prince of Condé sent thether from Orleans to refresh themselues one after an other forced manie of the Inhabitants to retire to Orleans So the Towne remayning at the deuotion of the kings army who camped before it it was subiect to the violence of the stronger where the Italians among other â—nâ—olencies cut a yong childe being aliue in two peeces and with a horrible furie eate his liuer At Montargis Montargis was the Sanctuary of many Protestant families vnder the countenance of Renèe of France daughter to King Lewis the XII and Duchesse dowager of Ferrara The Duke of Guise sonne in lawe sends Malicorne thether with foure companies of men at armes but the prey hee sought was safe within the Castell his furie fell vpon an olde man met by chance who was slaine and cast into the
riuer Malicorne threatens the Duchesse to bring the Cannon to force her to yeeld the Casteel and the Protestants that were in it But the generous resolution of this Duchesse and the death of the Duke of Guise stayed the execution of his threats At Aurillac Bresons according to the CoÌ„mission he had from the Duke of Guise to seise vpon the forts of high Auuergne enters into Aurillac murthers eight men spoiles the Towne that of Argentat with some Castells rauisheth wiues maydens making his 〈◊〉 to roote out all the Protestants in the Country if the Edâ—ct of pacification had not forced to surcease Montare comes to Moulins with like Commission 1562. 1563. expelled out of the Towne whom he doubted then giuing a libertie to his troupes spoiled the houses and farmes there abouts he caused six men to be hanged and fiue others to be drowned returning from Orleans with three marchants of Dauphiné At Moulins and suffred the hangman to execute those without any forme of processe whom the multitude deliuered vnto him to bee put to death Thirteene yong men of Issoudun were beaten downe in the water the 8. of May at S. Lisaine a village two leagues from the Towne and the 9. of Iuly following Sarzay seized vpon Issoudun armed the Catholike Inhabitants At Issoudun drew malefactors out of prison and filled it with Protestants who for the most part died being smothered vnder the ruines of a Tower of sixteene that escaped ten saued themselues at Bourges Vntill the Edict of Peace he spoiled both the towne and Country ransomming â—ome deliuering others to the hangman which had not means to redeeme theÌ„selues he rauished wiues mayds and to conclude exposed these poore creatures to all the insolencies of soldiars The 3. of Aprill .1562 those of Mans became masters of the towne But violence neuer continued long At Mans. and soldiars led by a Commander of small credit and little authority did neuer see their armes prosper These men are no soner armed but they imploy themselues to the beating downe of images sacking of Churches and from the towne they run to the villages nere The commons assemble kill such as they meete and res kue the bootie In the end an apple of diâ—cord diuides them of the Towne the Castle the insolencies of the Captaines and souldiars amaze the Protestants the Duke of Montpensier prepares to assaile them of three Captaines which command within the Towne two haue intelligence with him This being discouered the towne being also ill furnished La Mothe Tibergeaâ— drawes forth tumultuously eight hundred men carrying armes leading them through many difficulties into Alançon who then tooke sundrie parties some not practised in armes remained there others put themselues into the troupes of the Conte Montgomery others of the Duke of Bouillon and the other two Captaines submitted to those to whom they had giuen their words Thus the Catholikes haue their turne they were driuen out of the towne and now they reenter and full of spleene they spoile the protestants houses both within the towne and abroad eight leagues compasse without respect of kindred kill spoile and ransome men women and children Some women of state some simple people seruants chambermaides some retired to their farmes or to their friends in the country remaine at the deuotion of fiue hundred Harguebusiers leuied for the gard of the towne and country there abouts who forbeare no kind of reuenge rigour The prisons are filled they forbid by any means to sollicite for theÌ„ the accused are not admitted to except against any witnesse and for the last act of this Tragedie aboue two hundred persons of al qualities sexes purge by their mournful deathes the insolencies of these first furies The absent were executed in picture their goods confiscate that were dead carrying armes Cruelties committed in Mans. their children degraded from al offices and declared incapable to succeed In villages nere farther of aboue six scoore persons yeelded their throats to the reuenging swords of them whome the change of armes had now giuen the aduantage One Captaine Champagne to glut the pikerils in a poole which he had doth gorge them with aboue fifty persons Bois-Iardin his Lieutenant fills two trenches nere vnto his house with fiftie or threscore carcases La Ferté Bernard Sablé Maine Loire Castle Memers Belesme and Martigue had the fields there about white with the bones of the slaine whose flesh was deuoured with birds and beasts The Images ouerthrowne at Vendosme the altars beaten downe At Vendosme yea the monumeÌ„ts of the house of Vendosme too insolently broken might not these stirre vp some reuenge You beat downe say the Catholiks the images and destroy the reliks of the dead but we will beate downe as many lyuing images as shall fall into our hands The Monkes of Saint Calais second them and of many Protestants which held their Abby they massacre fiue and twentie or thirtie Some troupes which kept the fields kill the first that passe stoane them and cast them into wells The Lord of Congnee ioyning with some gentlemen comes to charge them kills the murtherers and except a feâ—e which fled betimes puts them all to the sword then hee dischargeth the rest of his fury vpon the Priests and Monkes 1562. and causeth two of the most 〈…〉 to be hanged in their Church yea where the alarum had rung to assaile the Pâ—â—â—â—stants Those of Anger 's become the stronger yet without any offence to their feâ—loâ— ciâ—izens At Anger 's and make an agreement with themselues To liue peaceablie one with an oâ—her â—nder the Kings obedience with obseruation of the Edict of Ianuary This modesty contâ—â—ued from the 5. of Aprill to the 22. Then they loose all patience ouerthrowing the images and relikes of S. Samson The Catholikes rest patient but they could well chooâ—e â—â—e time of their aduantage It chanced that the Prince of Condê required a suppâ—â— of men and money from the Protestants of Anger 's Many Gentlemen and souldiars march and by this meanes make their party weake Puygaillard a Gascon Captaine sent by the Duke of Montpensier enters the Castles the 5. of May and the next dâ—y wins a part of the Towne then to lull the Protestants asleepe and to haue them in the ende at his deuotion he graunts them feee liberty of religion But two dayes â—fter vnder colour of disarming them they enter their houses A receiuer of subsidâ—es and some others barre vp their gates They sound the alarum their houses are spoiled and the prisons filled with men and women and after the eleuenth of the said month vnto the end of the yeare aboue foure score men were executed after diuers manners Many women of all qualities were put into sacks drawne through the dirt and their bodies cast into the riuer their daughters rauished and some making strong resistance were stâ—bbed with their daggers And the Duke of