declaration of King of Gaule-Belgicke He came thither about S t Michell in the yeare 1473. the Emperor went to meet him D. of Bourgundy goes to the Emperour to 〈◊〉 conducted him into the Towne and offred him his lodging The Duke was contented to returne and lodge in a Monasterie without the Towne To haue that which he pretended he offred vnto the Emperor the marriage of his Daughter with the Arch-duke Maximilian his sonne who succeeded him in the Empire It was an Act of wisedome in the Duke z A Prince should alwaies prouide that his successor be not vncertaine Ne successor inâ—erto â—it This certaintie preuents practises and partialities to prouide for the succession of his Estates seeing that he had but one daughter but it was vanitie to buy the Title of a King so deerely The crowne the Scepter and other royall ornaments were made there was no let but in the Emperor why the Duke did not vse them but hauing demanded vnpleasing conditions their enteruiew brake off and neither Royaltie nor marriage succeeded The Emperor not to delay him and abuse him refused him the Crowne sodainely a Although they hold sodaine refusals to be the best and that he which denies speedily abuseth least yet when he that is refused mightie and may be reuenged they must win time wherewith all things are accommodated departed secretly from Treues and imbarked vpon the Rhin without giuing him any answere The Emperor mockes at the dukes demand not thinking himselfe bound to bid him farewell that was come without his priuitie The Duke was left alone with his mouth open to the ayre of his hopes swearing by S. George that Frederic should repent it and that he would haue by force that which he refused him vpon his intreatie and merit They continued a month together the publike discourses were of the meanes to make warre against the Turke the priuate past about this Royaltie Thus they parted both as much discontented as they seemed pleased at their meeting b Cranzius who writes this enterview hath these wordes Tandem minori alacritate digresti quam congressi sunt visi In the end they parted with lesser ioy then they came to gether The Duke of Bourgondy visited the Lands that were ingaged vnto him The Duke passeth by the County of Ferette where his soldiers intreated the poore Peasants so cruelly as from that time euery man studied how to returne to his first maister c The Duke was no sooner gone out of Brisac but the soldiers spoiled the towne coÌ„mitting a thousand insolencies and buâ—nt the Augustins Monastery Colmar refused to open her gates He past his Christmas at Brisac and there ended the yeare 1473. In the beginning of the next he returned to Montbelliard from thence to Besançon and then to Dijon The ministers of both Princes foreseeing that whilst the Constable liued Peace would be vncertaine 1474. and that one and the selfe same Sunne would see it spring vp and dye they make religious remonstrances and full of Conscience vnto their maisters and dispose them to a good reconciliation for the which by their consents there was a conference appointed at Bouuines Assembly at Bouines d This Conserence of Deputies for the K. and Duke of Bourgondy at Bouines in the yeare 1474. was sought by Imbercourt to reuenge the iniury which the Constable had done him at Roy. neere vnto Namur The King sent the Lord of Curton Gouernour of Limosin and Iohn Heberge Bishop of Eureux For the Duke of Bourgondy came William Hugonet his Chancellour and the Lord of Imbercourt The first proposition was to make away the Constable who was much aflicted for the Duke of Guiennes death it was the swarme which gaue him both hony and waxe e A great authority caÌ„not maintaine it selfe in a season when it is not respected that of the Constable could not continue but in warre warre was his element it entertained his Estats made him to bee respected both of the King and the D. of Bourgondy They held him to be a spirit of discord from whence came all Inuentions to make peace of no continuance and warre euerlasting Resolution taken to do iustice of the Constable and to maintaine his authority in Confusion They said that he was like vnto the bay tree in the hauen of Amicus which they called mad for that one branch of it being put into a ship all that were in it fell to iarres and deuision wherevppon they resolued that who so could first seaze on him should put him to death within eight dayes after his taking or deliuer him to the other party to dispose of him at his pleasure The best resolutions vanish away as soone as they are discouered The Constable had an inkling of this proposition f Great affairs should be managed with secrecy iudgement The resolution taken at 〈◊〉 against the Constable was not secret he was aduertised and by this meanes anoided the storme which threatâ—ed him but this was but to deferre an ineuitable mischefe and assembled all the trickes and deuises of his braine to breake off this assembly he aduertised the King how the Duke had sought him The Conble creepes into the Kings fauor to draw him to his party and of his great attempts to shake his loyalty and with what constancy and generosity hee had reiected his offers hauing no desire to affect any greatnes more assured nor any assurance more happy then the seruice of his King without the which there is not any thing in the world that deserued his loue or remembrance beseeching him Not to beleeue the passions g It is necessary to haue a sound and perfect Iudgment to discerne with what intention aduertisments are giuen which concerne the loyalty of a man of credit for oftentimes they are the practises of Enemies to make them frustrate When a Prince is iealous of his good seruants he remaines at the discretion of others Zenon vsed this policy against Phalaris of the Deputies of Bounines who set his head to sale to make a cruell sacrifice thereof to the Duke of Boâ—rgondies reâ—enge and to satisfie his discontent for that he could not draw him aliue vnto his seruice nor perswade him to so base a treason against his Prince The King beleeued him the more easily for that he knew well that the Deputies of Bouines were the Constables enemies in particular and desired to find their reuenge in his disgrace with the two Princes The priuate h A man that hath power authority and aspirces to more cannot indure to bee â—rost or contradicted Crastus being in an assembly which was held â—or the diuiding of the gouernmeÌ„ts of Prouinces seeing himselfe gainsayed by another bee flrooke him on the face with his first sent him away all bloudy Plut. hatred grew for that the Constable in an assembly held at Roy had giuen the lye vnto the Lord of
was buried in the Monastery of Poblete He was a great Prince like vnto others had past the pikes of fortune It hath beene said before that his son Charles and after his death his subiects of Barcelona and after all that the king of Castille and then the kings of France made warre against him he saw his realme in horrible combustions by the factions of Beaumont and Grandmont which he had seene spring vp neglected to quench them in their breeding About the end of his dayes when as he had more need of a Tombe then a wife and that the law Papia z Augustus in his latter dayes caused the Senate to make the Law Papia it had many heads amongst others a man of 60 yeares old a woman of 50 might not mary This word Buckle was vsed by Seneca and after him by Lactantius Quid ergo est quare apud Poetas salacissimus Iupiter desierit liberos tollere sexagenarius factus est illi â—ex papia fibulam imposuit had buckled him vp being aboue fourescore years old he fell in loue with a yong maid named Francina Rosa which was no helpe for him to recouer his sight which extreme age for the interest of so long an abode in the world had taken from him The yeare before his death he went to see his son D. Ferdinand at Victoria to conferre with him vpon the affaires of the realme which he should leaue vnto him In this incounter the father had not any with him but ancient men aboue threescore years old and the sonne was attended on by the flower of all the Nobility of Castille It was noted that the father in all things gaue place to the king D. Ferdinand his son as the head of the house of Castille from whence he was desended a Alphonso the fifth King of Arragon brother to Iohn the second king of Nauarre would haue his Embassadors giue place to them of Henry the fourth K. of Castillâ— in signing the Articles of a Treatie made at Naples The dispute of this precedence had bin begun in the Councell of Constance and decided in that of Basil in fauour of Castille Alphonso the fift king of Arragon would not yeeld it to his father Iohn the second King of Castille b It is a difficult thing sometimes for the prerogatiue of nature to giue place to that of fortune dignity witnesse the Senator of Venice who would not giue place to his sonne although he were Duke who to binde his Father did alwayes carry a great Crucifix to the which the father said hee did his duty The law of Maiesty was of more force then that of respect and naturall obedience wherof the son how great soeuer many not dispence himself towards his father The Crowne of Castille had alwaies pretended that Arragon depended of it in soueraignty and that if it were free it was by grace The King D. Iohn the second at his returne from this voyage dyed at Barcelona It was by his aduice that a peace was at that time treated Peace and Alliances renewed with Spain of betwixt king Lewis the eleuenth and the kings of Castille to confirme the ancient Alliances that were betwixt the two Crownes d Philip de Comines saith that the Alliances of France and Castille are betwixt King and King Realme Realme Man Man of their subiects The Embassadors of France were the Lord of Lescut and the Bishop of Lombais Abbot of S. Denis they of Castille were Iohn de Gamboa Gouernour of Fontarabie and Iohn de Medina one of the kings Councell This peace being concluded the Embassadors of Castille came into France they were receiued at Paris with great honour on Saturday the third of Iuly 1479. they did the like to the Embassadors of France who went to Guadalupa whereas D. Ferdinand and D. Isabella were busied in punishing the disobedience of the Marques of Villena who had hindered D. George Manriquez from chastizing them of Cinchilla who had reuolted At that time when as the Court was at Guadalupa the Marques of Villâ—na head of the faction being incensed that his enemies had caused six of his Souldiers to be hanged wold do the like to as many of theirs being his prisoners the chance fell vpon a Souldier of Villeneufue of Laxara neere to Allarcon in whose place the yonger brother presented himselfe and intreated that hee might dye for him for that his brother had wife and children who was set at liberty and his offer accepted Hist. of Spa. Lib. 22. The Articles are sworne by the king and moreouer it was agreed that the Towne of Parpignan should be put into the possession of the Cardinall of Spaine that the two kings should name an Arbitrator to decide within fiue yeares what K. Lewis did pretend to be due vnto him After the death of D. Iohn the 2 d king of Nauarre and Arragon D. Ferdinand succeeded in his fathers Estate of Arragon and Sicile and D. Leonora to the Mothers as daughter to Blanche Queene of Nauarre but this succession which shee would haue aduanced contrary to the Lawes of Nature and Humanity beeing blamed by the Histories of Spaine to haue caused her elder Sister to be poysoned f D. Blanch being put away by D. Henry the vnable was carried as it were a prisoner to Lescut in Bearne by Gaston Earle of Foix her Brother-in-law to the end she should not marry againe The Spaniards write that her sister Elenor caused her to bee poysoned did not passe the fifteenth day after her Coronation Shee had by Gaston Earle of Foix many worthy Children Gaston Blanche Countesse of Foix mother of many children Earle of Foix Iohn Vicount of Narbona Peter Cardinall of Foix Iames who serued King Lewis the twelfth in the warres of Lombardy and fiue daughters g Out of this house of Foix were issued four Queenes cousin germans at one time Catherin Q. of Nauarre German Q. of Castille and Arragon Anne Queene of France and Dutchesse of Brittaine Anne Queene of Bohemia Hungary Mary wife to William Marquis of Montferrat Ioane married to the Earle of Armagnac Margaret to Francis Duke of Brittanie Catherine to the Earle of Candalâ— and Elenor promised to the Duke of Medina Celi The peace of Castille did not hinder the warre which the King had against Maximilian of Austria 1479. who to diuert the Kings forces and frustrate his designes besieged Therouenne h Maximilian camped before Therouenne with 20000. Flemings some Troopes of Germans and 300. English It was reâ—ieued by de Cordes with 8000. Franke Archers and eleuen hundred men at Armes the Lord of Cordes came to succour it Maximilian went to meet him and both Armies encountred at Guinegaste The i The Gaules Horsemen were alwaies estemed and feared Plutarch Polibius and Appian coÌ„mend theÌ„ Caesar saith that in the war of Affricke 30 horsemen Gaules put to rout 2000. horsemen Numidians
that Pius the second his Predecessor n Pope Pius the second did excommunicate those that did appeale from the Pope to a Counceil Iulio the 2 d renued the same excommunicatioÌ„ Silvest verbo excommunicat T. Num. 39. had called such forme of proceeding against the Pope Execrable yet it seemed they could finde no better meanes to restraine the excesse Euery man cryed after the reformation of abuses but that which might be commendable in publicke complaints did not iustifie the boldnesse of a priuate man who presumed to censure the Pope and the number of fooles doth not excuse the folly o A common errour giuest some excuse but the number of them that faile makes not the fault lesse It is alwaies ill done to play the foole with them that are not wise Sixtus declared him an Heretick and a troubler of the Churches quiet from whose body he was cut like a rotten member vnworthy to exercise the ministery to hold any dignity or to be partaker of the holy Sacraments condemning him to remaine prisoner in a Monastery with bread and water vntill he had made full expiation of his crimes In like manner the Emperour found the proceeding of this Bishop very bold gaue him to vnderstand that seeing he was but a priuate person he desired to know by what authority he pretended to call a Councell He answered That the publike necessity of the Church approued his zeale and coniured the Emperour to maintaine it after the example of the Emperour Sigismond p The Emperor Sigismond laboured Christian-like to smother the new opion of the Hussites of Bohemia he procured the conuocation of the Councell of Costance was there in person and his predecessors who had not spared any thing for her quiet and peace and to root out abuses wherfore he besought him not to shew himselfe difficult to grant out Patents and necessary pasports for the convocation of a Councell otherwise hee should answere before God for the ill which his negligence would make incurable The 4 th day of December Peter of Kettenheim Pryor of Velpach the Pryor of Erford and the Pryor of Mortau present themselues anew vnto the Senate of Basill and declared that they had charge to proceed against them by all the rigors of the Churches iustice if if they did not deliuer this reuolted person into their hands to be exemplarily punished He was honoured by some like a S t. Paul that great Citizen of heauen the pillar of Churches an earthly Angell and a heauenly Man he was contemned of others as a seditious man an Abironite and a Rebell Some thought it hard that because he had said not secretly like vnto spies and slaunderers but publickly and in the Cathedrall Church of such a Towne that fire was at the doore that the mine was ready to play to ouerthrow the whole building and that Sathan had planted his ladders whilst that the Centinels slept they wold entreat a Bishop so rigorously and that howsoeuer they should consider the thing that was good and wholesome q They say wee must consider the Councell apart and him that giues it apart The Ephores caused the aduice which had been giuen by a bad man to bee pronounced by one which was good In his quae à malis bene fiunt hic tenendus est modus vt appareat authorem displicuisse non factum Plin. Paneg. Traiani and not the person that might be passionate They also remembred that many great personages about that time had said Words of Gerson that in these disorders they might follow extraordinary motioÌ„s either of powerful authority or of charitable admonition r In the time of K. Charles the seuenth euery man spake of reformation Gerson presumed to say that the pursuite might bee made Per quos cunque fideles praesertim maiores authoritatiua potestate siue charitatiua admonitione Gers. in Propos. vtil ad extirp schis Others said that the desire was good but being guided by pride presumption it made him odious that propounded it that hee which was sttooken with death for that of his owne motion he had put forth his hand vnto the arke fearing lest it should fall did serue as a terrible example shewing how dangerous it is to deale vnreuerently in holy things The Senate answered Basill excommunicated by the Pope that they could not satisfie the Popes desire before they vnderstood the Emperous pleasure Vpon this answere the Towne was interdicted The Emperour sent a Franciscan Frier to Basill who had audience in a great assembly where there assisted the Embassadours of the Princes of the league of Italy s In this assembly assisted Iosias of Seligni Bishop of Syon Grenoble Anthony of la Roche Pryor of Mortau Claude of Tholsugeoâ— and William of Rochefort where hee deliuered his charge and spake of this Archbishop as of a Goliath who had raised himself against the Lords host Hee said also that being at Rome for the affaires of the Archduke Maximilian when as the Pope had beene aduertised of these troubles and motions for the calling of a Councel the Pope had commanded him to go to the Archduke Sigismond and then vnto the Emperour to know of them whether they did approue and fauour this revolt Pope coÌ„plaines of the towne of Basill and in like manner to complaine that the Towne of Basill which had beene alwayes very obedient to the Holy Sea had suffered it selfe to bee carryed away very inconsiderately with such Impostures and Impressions t The desires and the effects of Desires which tend to reunite the members of one Family vnder one head are iust and commendable and God doth assist them There is none but Sathan which hath fauoured and aduanced schisme and diuision We are all of one stuffe we make but one part of the garment we haue need but of one seame Sarrura tantum opus est But it is not fit to heare all them that speake That the Emperour hauing found that whatsoeuer he did for the calling of a Councell proceeded from extreame hatred and that his reason was wholy conuerted into passion against the Pope and impudent arrogancy presuming in the quality of a priuate person to attempt the reformation of the Church and to call a Councell the which belonged onely to the Pope The Emperours intent was u It was not for that the Emperour did not earnestâ—y desire the hoâ—ding of a Councell hauing written to king Charles 〈◊〉 7 th to come or send to Mentz to the end they might remedy the necessities of the Church in the yeare 1423. but hee did not allow of this particular Instance that they should seize vpon the person of this Archbishop and that they should put him into safe keeping and in such a place whereas he might be represented vnto the Pope At the same instant he produced the Emperours letters patents The Emrour commands the Archbishop to be appâ—ehended by the which
Gabardan Of this marriage issued D. Mathea married to Gaston Prince of Bearne who succeeding her father and mother brought vnto the principality of Bearne those goodly peeces of Bigorre Marsan and Gabardan In like manner by the daughter of Gaston Prince of Bearne named Margaret married to Roger Bernard Earle of Foix all that is come vnto the house of Foix. Examples which serue to confirme this generall custome obserued within the Realme That in all Dutchies Counties Vicounties Baronies Lands and Signiories the daughters being neerest in degree haue succeded and beene preferred before the Males So as if King Lewis the eleuenth had liued he would haue decided this controuersie in giuing sentence for the Neece against the Vncle His iudgement had beene grounded first vpon the right of the first borne and representation secondly vpon the conuentions of marriage betwixt Gaston of Foix and the Lady Magdalen of France making expresse mention that the children which should bee borne should succeed in all the lands of Foix and Bigorre then held by Gaston of Foix her father Thirdly vpon the ancient customes and obseruances of the Realme Fourthly vpon the testament and last will of the Earle of Foix. Alphonso of Portugall died also at the same time Death of Alphonso K. of Portugall hee had his share in the miseries of Kings hee entred a childe into the Realme t Such as God giues the prince such must the people receiue him but the wisest of all Kings saith Vnhappy is that Realme which is commaunded by a child Metius Falconius Nicomachus approuing the Election which the Senate had made of Tacitus being old and broken vsed these wordes Dij auertant principes pueros pattes patriae dici impuberes quibus ad subscribendum magistri literatij manus teneant quos ad Consulatus dandos dulcia circuli quaecunque puerilis voluptas invitet Quae malum ratio est habere Imperatorem qui samam curare non nouerit qui quid sit Respub nesciat nutritorem time at respiciat ad nutricem manum magistralium ictibus terrorique subiaceat faciat eos Consules Duces Iudices quorum vitas merita aetates familias et gesta non nouerit God forbid the Princes and Fathers of the Countrey should be tearmed children whose hands their maisters must hold when they subscribe and who are drawne to giue Offices with childish delights What a misery is it to haue an Emperour which knowes not how to maintaine his fame nor what a Common-weale is who feares his Tutor and is subiect to stripes and terror and shall make them Consuls Dukes and Iudges whose liues merites ages families and actions hee doth not know which was ill for himselfe and worse for his subiects His mother Elenor sister to Iohn the second King of Arragon was depriued by the Estates of the Regency which her Father had left her Peter Duke of Coimbra caused her to bee poysoned Alphonso tooke Armes to reuenge his mothers death Peter was slaine before Lisbone with a poysoned Arrow They would haue married Alphonso to Ioane the supposed daughter of Henry the fourth King of Castille this Tragedy hath beene formerly plaid He died at Sinta being nine and forty yeares old in the yeare one thousand foure hundred eighty two and the three and fortith of his reigne and was interred in the Royall Monastery of the Battell of the order of preaching Friers After the warres betwixt him and the King of Castille and the vnfortunate voyage which he made into France hee did nothing but languish He saw himself forst to passe into France for succors Fortune could not set him in a more wretched estate for there is nothing so miserable as to see a Prince expeld his Countrey and begging Pitty is presently changed into contempt and the consideration of that which is honest doth not ouer-sway that which is profitable They may well say that kings are brethren that one royall bloud cals another that their interrests are common that Rome is his mother the Senators his fathers their children his brethren yet if the aid which he demands doth not benefit him that giues it he shall returne more discontented then he came u In great deliberations profite goes before honesty Demetrius sonne to Seleucus hauing beene giuen in hostage and bred vp from his infancy at Rome intreated the Romans to restore him to his Realme which was held by the children of Antiochus and to moue them thereunto hee called Rome his Countrey and Nurse the Senators his fathers and their children his brethren But for all this the Senate inclined to that which was most safe and profitable they assisted the children of Antiochus being weake and yong suspecting much the great courage of Demetrius who was in the flower of his age Polib Thus behold three Kings imbarked almost at one instant in the shippe of Death Death of the Dutchesse of Bourbon onely God knowes the port whereunto they are arriued hee did call at the same time the Lady Iane of France Dutchesse of Bourbon to the end that Lewis should not be grieued to leaue the world The Chronicle calles this Princesse Most noble Powerfull Holy and the example of good liuers She died in the Castle of Moulins in May 1482. She had laboured all her life to entertaine loue and friendship betwixt the King her brother and the Duke of Bourbon her Husband knowing that the concord of France and the greatnesse of her houshold depended thereon and we may ascribe vnto her the glory of the peace which was made at Ryon by the which the principall fire-brands of the great fire of the league were quenched Whereupon all they that loued quyet cast their eyes vpon those of this Princesse and held them the Pleiades of France whose sweete Influences made the Oliue-tree of peace to flourish x Princesses by whose meanes peace doth flourish are the Pleiades of Estates wherein they are allied Pliny saith that the Oliue-tree springs vnder the Influence of the Pleiades Conâ—ipiunt oleae virgiliaruÌ„ exortu haec sydus illaruÌ„ est Polybius saith that among the Grecians the Caduce and among the Barbarians the Oliue is a signe of peace friendship At the same time dyed Iohn of Bourbon the second of that name Earle of Vendosme Here amazement stayes me suddenly why in all the History of King Lewis the eleuenth Philip de Commines hath neuer made any mention of that Nursery of Caesars and of Alexanders and of that Royall branch which hath brought forth the greatest King that euer ware Crowne or Scepter He speakes of foure sonnes of Iohn the second Duke of Bourbon of Charles Cardinall of Bourbon of Peter Lord of Beaujeu of the Bishop of Liege and makes no mention of Iohn the second Earle of Vandosme who liued vnder the reigne of Charles 7 and continued vnto the end of Lewis 11. wee must not wonder if the Chronicle hath forgotten it it doth often follow toyes and leaues
had suffered vnder the gouernment of the Duke of Berrie his vncle hee commanded the Dukes of Berrie and Burgondy to retire and would not haue any other prince neâ—re vnto his presence but Lewis duke of Bourbon his vncle by the mothers side and Iohn of Burbon Earle of March of V endosme whom hee loued infinitâ—y giuing a reason hereof openly That he loued those Princes for that they had neuer serued any other maister and had neuer had any ambition nor design against the state neither had they euer giuen him any occasion to complaine of them This vertue was neuer found in a great spirit but it did purchase power and affection with others Pride is barren humility fructifieth a vine spreading vpon the earth beares excellent fruit the high and straightest Cypres-trees are vnfruitfull Hee was not so bountifull of his fauours to the Lord of Beaujeu but hee was as sparing to the Duke of Bourbon his brother he had an implacable hatred against Iohn Duke of Bourbon sonne to Charles the Achilles of France This hatred was nourished with a fresh apprehension for that this Prince lamenting the disorders of the State the miseries and oppressions of the people and the bad vsage which Charles Duke of Berrie suffered had laid the first foundations of the league had left it by the Treaty of Ryon and re-entred againe into it vpon despight for that during this Treaty the Duke of Millan by the Kings commandement had ouer-run and ruined his Countrey of Beaujolois and Forrest But for that hee was a Prince of great power great courage and great credit in the heart of all France hee would not euaporate this fire of reuenge and indignation which hee had against them and considered rather what he might doe then what he should do And the Duke who was acquainted with the disposition of this King knewe well that all Princes write offences done them in brasse and the seruice which they receiue vpon sand wherefore he remained long in his Dutchy of Bourbonois and would not come to Court The King whose chiefe care was to weaken his enemies and to diuide them gaue him the gouernement of Languedoc dissembling the remembrance of things past Vpon this assurance the Duke of Bourbon shewed that hee did not breathe any thing but the Kings seruice neither had he any greater content then to yeeld him proofes equall to his affection and therefore hee followed him to Peronne and we must beleeue that without him in this voyage hee had giuen his Enemies more courage to execute those dangerous councels hauing resolued to stay him For besides the respectes of Alliance the Duke of Bourgondy respected this Prince who had the two principall partes necessary in great Captaines Valour and good Fortune l The two qualities necessary in the Generall of an Army are Valour and good fortune Duo sunt quae Claros Duces faciunt summa virtus summa foelicitas Lat. Pac. Paneg. Wee haue formerly seene that the Constable of Saint Pol did what hee could to drawe him to the Duke of Bourgondies partie Fidelity of the Duke of Burbon and to make him ioyne with the King of Englands forces and that this braue Prince made it knowne that nothing was able to shake his loialty no not if he should be reduced to the misery of Iob m An extreme oppression is no lawfull cause to arme against the Prince rebels seeke pretexes and coulors to shadow their discontents but good subiects suffer with patience although that the sincery of his actions could neuer wipe away the blemish which distrust had put in this Princes eyes yet would he not trouble the content which hee had receiued by the testimony which his conscience gaue to fidelity and vertue The King also fore-seeing that if his enemies were fortefied with his fauour and forces hee should be much troubled hee coniured him to come vnto him The Duke excused himselfe vpon a resolution which hee had taken to liue quietly in his house the which no man could enuy him hauing purchased it with incomparable toyles and crosses Hee besought the King to suffer him to rest in the port of this tranquility after so many stormes and to content himselfe with the seruice which the other Princes of his house and his Bastard the Admirall did him The King entreated and coniured him to come and to reape the same fruits in Picardy which he had sometimes receiued in Guienne n The honour of the glorious victory of Fromigny is giuen to Iohn the second Duke of Bourbon who then tooke the title of Earle of Clermont for hee charged the English with such fury as with the losse of tenne men onely hee defeated fiue thousand English and tooke 1400. prisoners to the shame and confusion of the English sending the Bishop of Mande vnto him to deliuer his requests and recommendations more confidently and to assure him that the occasion was not lesse glorious then at Fromigny The Duke being loath to faile France in so great an occasion and remembring that his predecessours had not desired a more glorious graue then to die vpon a field of battell couered with the bloud of their enemies o The Princes of the house of Bourbon who haue dyed for the seruice of the Crowne are Peter of Bourbon slaine the 19. of September 1356. at the battell of Poicters Iames and Peter his sonne at the Battell of Brignay neere vnto Lyon Lewis at the Battell of Agincourt 1415. Francis at the battell of Saint Bridget on holy Crosse day in September 1525. Iohn at the battell of Saint Laurence 1557. and Anthony at the siege of Roan 1562. and to free the King from all conceite that he had a will to giue eare vnto the Constable who did solicite him with all vehemency he deliuered the Constables letters into the Bishops hands protesting that hee would neuer carry Armes against the Kings seruice The effects did not differ from his words for seeing the Duke of Bourgundies troupes approach to enter the Country he went to horse and put them to rout The Earle of Conches was slaine there the Earle of Rousillon Marshall of Bourgundy was taken prisoner there with the Earle of Dammartins sonne and the Signiors of Longy de Lisle Digoin Ruygny Chaligny and the two sonnes of the Signior of Viteaux one of which was Earle of Ioygny Being then assured of the discent of the English and that they had passed the Sea he came vnto the King with sixe hundred horse and commanded part of his Army which was neere vnto Beauuais Matters being reduced to those tearmes that the King desired and the King of England hauing repassed the Sea he retired himselfe to Moulins to performe the last duties to his mother p The Lady Agnes of Bourgundy dyed in December 1476. Shee was wife to Charles Duke of Bourbon and mother to Iohn the second of that name Duke of Bourbon to Charles Cardinall and Arch-bishop of Lyon
as it seemed he would canonize him before his f Flattery giues honors to mortall men which belong not vnto them Tertullian reprocheth the Pagans of lying and flattery which made them declare men Gods and Tacitus saith Deum honor Principi non ante habetur quam agere inter homines desierit Tac. An. lib. 15. The honor of the Gods is not to bee giuen vnto the Prince vntil hee hath left to liue among men death after this followed an accord by the which the Duke of Burgundy should for a reparation aske pardon of the King vpon his knee The Queene the Dauphin the Kinges of Sicile and Nauarre the Duke of Berry making the like request for him in the presence of the Children of the Duke of Orleans melting with teares and weeping with sobs to see the bloud of their Father put to compromise and themselues forced to forget so sencible an Iniurie France was presently deuided into two factions of Orleanois and Burgundians A league of Armagnacs Th' one taking his fauour and authority from the ruines disgrace of the other The Duke of Burgundy hath the soueraigne gouernment of affaires and forceth them of the howse of Orleans to make an offensiue and defensiue league against that of Burgundy g League of Orleanois at Gâ—en the tenth of March 1410. the heads were Charles Duke of Orleance and his brethren Iohn Duke of Berry Lewis Duke of Bourbon Iohn Earle of Alanson Francis Earle of Clermont Bernard Lord of Armagnac and Charles of Albert Constable of France The heads of the Bourgundy faction were Iohn Duke of Bourgundy his brethren Charles King of Nauarre son to Charles the bad the Dukes of Lorraine Brabant Brittaine the Marques of Pont the Earles of Neuers Vaudemont St. Paul Ponthure The name was of Armanacks the marke a white scarfe the cause the Kinges liberty who was in captiuity vnder the law and will of the Duke of Burgundy Challenge sent to the Du. of Burgundy and to the end the quarel might be ended with lesse danger losse of men and time Charles Duke of Orleans sent a challenge to the Duke of Burgundy to fight a combate with him and to be reuenged of his fathers death The Duke of Burgundy who had drawn the Queene vnto his party had noe great dificultie to perswade the King that the designe of the howse of Orleans was nothing but ambition and rebellion in denying him to demaund succors from Henry the fourth king of England The Dolphin being of yeares able to iudge of the intentions of the one and the other The sonne in lawe against the father in lawe found that the interest of the house of Orleans was that of the Crowne and that the ambition of the Duke of Bourgondy his father in law h Queene Isabel being banded against her nephewes of Orleans adhered to the Duke of Burgundy made the marriage of his daughter Catherinâ— with the Dauphin Lewis was the cheefe motiue of those troubles wherefore he vndertooke to crosse his designes and to make a peace this soule was seasond with good thoughts at the siege of Burges for when they told him that in a salley which the besieged had made some of his seruants were slaine and that the souldiers dyed of poisoned waters he said vnto the King his Father and the Duke of Burgundy That this warre lasted too long and that he would make an end of it Iohn of France Duke of Berry and i Enguerand of Monstrelet notes in what manner the Duke of Berry came to this treaty in his armes notwithstanding that hee was 70. yeares old for he llued aboue 80 hauing vpon theÌ„ a Cassocke of purple with a band poudred with marigolds and so he is painted in the gallery of the â—oâ—ure Philebert of Lignac great master of Rhodes employed themselues vertuously to reconcile the nephewes and the vnckle The conditions of this peace were concluded at Burges Peace of Burges sworn in a great assembly at Auxerre the names of that fatall faction of Armagnac and Burgundian were comprehended in the forgetfulnes of things past and Philip Earle of Vertus was married to the Duke of Burgundies daughter But all the parts of France recouer not their former health The warre renues againe and the Dauphin is no more for the Burgundian whose principall force consists in the sedition of Paris and the succours of the English who making their profit of ciuill diuisions win the battell of Azingcourt which was called the vnfortunate day of the 25. of October 1415. The battle of Azing-Court The Duke of Orleans armed to reuenge his fathers death and the libertie of his country was led prisoner into England and if religion had not comforted him he had no lesse reason then Pompey k The Mitcleniens came to salute Pompey after the battel intreating him to land which he refused and aduised them to obey the victor and not to feare any thing for that Caesar was a iust man and of a mild nature and then turning to the Philosopher Cratippus who was also come to see him he complained and disputed a little with him touching the diuine prouidence wherein Cratippus yeilded mildly vnto him putting him still in better hope to be amazed at the prouidence of God which seemeth to fauour the most vniust party tyranny against libertie and couetousnes against freedome Death of the Dolphin and Duke of Turraine This losse was followed by the death of Lewis the Dauphin and of Iohn Duke of Touraine the Kings second sonne By the death of these two Charles Earle of Ponthieu saw himselfe in the first degree of the Princes of the bloud and presently made show that he had been bred vp to apprehend the iniury which the Duke of Burgundy had done vnto his vncle All the Princes and Noble men which had followed the house of Orleans came vnto him and among others the Constable of Armagnac but his greatest affliction was for the vnnaturall hatred which the Queene his mother bare him who declared her selfe against him Regent of the Realme was maintained in that quarrel by the Duke of Burgundy vnder her was that cruell massacre committed the 12. of Iune 1418 whereas the l Amassacre at Paris vpon the Armagnacks from 4 of the clock in the morning the 12 of Iune vntil the next day 10. of the clock To note the Constable by the scarse which he carried they flead a bend of his skin and tyed it crosse his body his office was confirmed to the Duke of Lorraine and the Chancellors to Eustace de Lastre Constable of Armagnac and the Chancellor de Marle were slaine and the Dauphin ranne a daungerous fortune if Tanneguy du Chastel Prouost of Paris and his faithfull seruant had not saued him in the Bastille Paris saw it selfe reduc'd to that miserable estate as it seemed a retrait for Beares and Tigers During this fatall diuision the English
such as are malecontâ—nt of his actions These reasons pierst the harts of the most distracted The Princes fearing to be abandoned Euery one desires grace of the King their partie growing weake and decreasing dayly they sued for grace vnto the King Hee offered it them by the Earle of Eu who did negotiate their accord and did perswade them to goe to Clermont to receiue his commandement wherevnto they yeelded so as they might bee assured The King was so good as he gloried to be vndeseruedly offended by men who reduced to their duties very profitable hee gaue a pasport for the Duke of Bourbon and Alençon but not for Tremouille Chaumont nor Prye whom hee held to bee the Authors of this trouble and of the assembly at Noion u An assembly at Noion of the Duke of Alencon Anthony of Chabanâ—s Earle of Dampmartin Peter of Amâ—oise Lord of Chaumont Iohn de la Roche Seneshall of Poictou and of the Lord of Tremâ—uille They complaine that they are abandoned and inflame the bloud of this yong Prince in such sort as seeing the Dukes of Bourbon and Alençon returne to conduct him to Clermont hee swore that hee would not goe x A Prince must haue care of them that haue followed him Monstrelet vppon this occasion writes those words When the Daupâ—in vnderstood it hee said vnto the Duke of Bourbon My faire Gossip you haue no thankes to tell how the matter was concluded that the King had not pardoned them of my houshold but would seeke to doe worse When the King saw that he came not that the prefixed day was past and that the English who besieged Harfleu called him into Normandie hee would temporise no longer but suffered his Armie to spoile the Duke of Bourbons Countrie His foreward did besiege and take Vichy Cusset and Varennes yeelded The whole countrie of Rouanna obayed Clermont and Mont-Ferrant persisted in their fidelitie from the which no Towne may in any sort separate y He cannot be held faithfull that for any respect wâ—atsosoeueâ— hath ceased to bee so Senec. it selfe but it presently looseth the glorious title of faithfull The wilfulnes of this Prince ruined the countrey euery man found his desseigne vniust and the affection he bare vnto his seruants vniust the consideration of whom should bee of more force then that of the publicke good for the which they might sometimes straine Iustice it selfe z To obserue Iustice in great maâ—teâ—s they must sometimes leau it in lesser Wherefore the Duke of Bourbon and Alençcon perswaded him to submit this affection to the Kings will and the interest of his seruants to his discretion intreating the Earle of Eu to bee a meanes that the king would be pleased that might bee done at Cusset which was not performed at Clermont The King grants it The Daâ—phin restored to fauour They come and present themselues vnto him bending their knees thrice vnto the ground before they approch beseeching him to pardon them This humilitie a Humilitie only pleades for great peâ—sons Monstrelet speakes in this sort of this pardon Being come into the chamber where the King was they kneeled thrice before they came vnto him and at the third they intreated him with great humilitie to pardon them his indignation did wipe out of the kings heart the feeling of such sensible offences Hee imbraced them and said vnto the Dauphin Lewis you are welcome you haue stayed long goe and rest you we will talke to morrow with you But hee protracted no time to reprehend the Duke of Bourbon Reprehâ—nsion of the D. of Bourbon drawing him a part b Great men will be praised in publike and reprehended in secret he put him in minde of his faults hee notes him the place and the number being fiue hee reprocheth vnto him the iniustice and indiscretion of a designe which sought to put the father vnder the sonnes gouernment adding that if that loue and respect of some did not withhold him hee would make him feele his displeasure What could hee answere The very feeling of his fault did presse him The offender must yeeld to the iustice and the Innocent to the force of the stronger He renues all the vowes of his obedience and affection and submits his will vnto the kings hee commends his bountie so apparant by the number of his offences and so necessarie for them that had offended whose preseruation did serue as an increase to his glorie and a trophee to his clemencie c They to whome the Prince giues life liue not but to the glorie of his clemencie The next day the Dauphin presents himselfe vnto the king who did not entreat him as nurses doe children which flatter them when they fall Hee did let him vnderstand that his fall had carried him to the ineuitable ruine of his honour and fortune if the bountie of a father had not as much will to retire him as the iustice of a king had reason to punish him In a word he said he would cease to be a good father vnto him if hee did not begin to be a better sonne d Hee that is good must striue to be betteâ— for when hee doth not begin to gâ—ow betâ—er theâ— he ends to be good and that he desired not to be held good for not punishing the bad The Dauphin assuring himselfe of his fathers bountie and clemencie speakes no more but for his seruants The Dauphin will not leaue his seruants to whom safe conducts had beene refused The king declared that they had made themselues vnworthy of his grace that they had deserued to bee made an example to others as the authors of this rebellion which had made the wicked impudent and brought good men to despaire Yet there must bee a distinction e A Citizen of Sparta 〈◊〉 Châ—rilaus highly coÌ„mended for 〈◊〉 bounty And how sâ—id hee can hee bee good seeing hee is not seuere vnto the wicked It is as great crueltie to pardon all the world as not to pardon any Senec made betwixt the effects of clemencie and bountie that for their punishment he was contented not to see them and that they should retire themselues vnto their houses The Dauphin held firme against these torrents of his fathers choller lets him know that if there be no grace for his seruants he desires not any for himselfe From this opinion f Opinion is the falling sicknes of the minde that is the Caue which coÌ„taines the windâ— fâ—om whence the tempests of the minde come that is to say disordinate passions which is they Caue from whence the windes issue which torment his soule or rather from the impression which his seruants had giuen him that in being resolute he should haue whatsoeuer hee desired Opinion causeth terrible motions in the soule he drew this yong and rash speech I must then my Lord returne for so I haue promised To whom the King answered coldly Lewis goe if you
he was freed from taxes Necessitie in whose schoole hee had learned great experience dispenst with him for the obseruations which are made in the choice of souldiers These were called Franke Archers who being well led did great seruices being able to indure all paine as beeing bred vp in discommodities and wants without cunning or malice They beganne their profession at the siege of Vernon The defects which are obserued in the life of this Prince as the griefes of Kings n The raignes of Princes doe not continue and end alwaies as they haue begdnne The first fiue yeares of Neroes raigne were iust Constant was good ten yeares cruell twelue and prodigall ten doe not alwaies incounter ends like vnto their beginnings His loues and his diuersions could not hinder it but that France hath giuen him the well deserued title of Victorious The end of the first Booke THE CONTENTS OF the Second BOOKE 1 KIng Lewis his going into France His entrie and Coronation at Rheims 2 The Duke of Bourgundy doth him homage and followes him at his entrie into Paris magnificence of the Parisians vpon this occasion 3 Estate of the Kings affaires with Pope Pius the second Reuocation of the Pragmatique Sanction 4 Discontent of the Noblemen of the Realme vpon the Kings first actions An obseruation of his Humors 5 His voyage and designes in Brittanny 6 Oppression of the people by new inuentions of Subsedies 7 Strange and furious reuolutions in England betwixt the houses of Lancaster and Yorke 8 Edward the fourth expels Henry the sixt King of England 9 Hee seeks to marry the Queene of France her Sister and takes a widdow in England 10 The King goes to Bourdeaux and there treates a marriage betwixt his Sister and the Earle of Foix. 11 Troubles betweene the Crownes of Castill and Arragon The Earledome of Rousilion engaged to the King 12 The Kings of Castille and Arragon referre their differences to the King 13 Enteruiew of the Kings of France and Castille vpon the Riuer of Vidaazo 14 The King returnes to Paris redeemes the Townes vpon the Riuer of Somme and visits the Frontiers 15 The Duke of Bourgundy comes to the King at Lisle to demaund his aduise touching a voyage which he pretended to make against the Turke 16 Ariuall of Lewis Duke of Sauoy at Paris 17 The King declareth his pretentions vpon the soueraigne rights of Brittany 18 The Earle of Charrolois stayes the Bastard of Rupembrâ— at the Haage 19 Ambassadors from the King to the Duke of Bourgundy vpon diuers complaints 20 The Duke of Bourbon first author of the league of the common weale Death of Charles Duke of Orleans 21 Charles Duke of Berry the Kings brother retires into Brittany 22 His Letters to the Duke of Bourgundy and his declaration vpon the taking of Armes 23 Death of Pope Pius the second to whom succeeded Paul the second a Venetian THE HISTORY of LEVVIS the XI THE SECOND BOOKE A Death which brings Scepters Crownes 1461 doth not alwaies meete with sorrow and teares When there is a question of the succession of the Realme An heyres teares are sone dried vppe a desire to raigne doth presently dry vp the teares which the law of Nature drawes from the eyes a There is no water whose spring is sooner dryed vp then that which flowes from a profitable mourning Lewis longed too much to be at home to be grieued when as they brought him newes that Charles the seuenth had quit him the lodging Hee had already spent two third parts of his age in obeying hee held the rest very short to command and to end at in great enterprises worthy of his qualitie b Life is very short for great entrriprises and inconstancie makes it much shorter Hee entertained the Iuie of his hopes in the ruines of this old building he did not hope for any light but by the ecclipse of this Sunne and his vowes were no let that his Father was not already among the God c The Romans held their Fathers dead in the number of the Gods and their Images were reuerenced as persons deysied Wherfore among the predictions which Antonin had of his adoption and successim to the Empire they note that In somrio saepe monitus suit penatibus suis Adriani simulacrum inserere Capitol Hee was often admonished in his sleepe that hee should place Adrians Image among his boushould Gods And what can a Kings eldest Son desire but to raigne euery obiect lesse theÌ„ a crown is vnworthy of his birth Lewis comes into France but the wishes are vnnaturall monstrous vpon vniust effects To desire for a crownes cause the death of him of whom he holds his life is ingratitude impiety The same day that Charles dyed Lewis was aduertised of his death d They that haue written that these newes were sent by Charles Duke of Aniou Father in lawe to Charles the seuenth are mistaken both in the name and matter for Lewis Duke of Anion liued since the yeare 1417. He went presently to horse to goe into France fearing least Charles his brother should make his profit of his absence The Duke of Bourgundy and the Earle of Chartolis accompany him with foure thousand horse chosen out of the flower of all the forces of their Estates and the Princes their friends He makes his entry into Rheims Hee entred into Rheims the fourteeene of August e The King arriued at Rheims the 14. August and caused himself to be annointed the next day A remarkable diligence They cannot goe too speedily to so great a Feast The Duke of Bourgundy being followed by the Earl of Charolois the Earle of Neuers the Earle of Estampes the Duke of Cleues the Earle of S t. Pol and many other Noblemen went out of Rheimes to the Abbcy of Saint Thierry to meet the King being attired in white and crimsin damask vpon a white courser caparonessed with the armes of France The next day he was anoynted and crowned The peeres of the Church were there in person The Duke of Burgundy Deane of the peeres The Duke of Burbon held the place of the Duke of Normandy The Earle of Angolesme for the Duke of Guienne The Earle of Eu for the Earle of Tholousa The Earle of Neuers for the Earle of Flaunders and the Earle of Vandosme for the Earle of Champagne The King is anoinâ—ed and Crowned The ceremony of his coronation was beautified with an other which they found very new and strange The King is anointed and Crowned The King drawing his sword presented it to the Duke of Bourgundy and intreates him to make him Knight He gaue this honour of Knight-hood to an hundred and seauenteene Gentlemen the first were the Lord of Beauieu Iames of Burbon the Earle of Geneua the Earle of Pontieu the Earle of Witembergh Iohn of Luxembergh and to the Marques of Saluces Sonne From the Coronation they went to the Royall feast whereas
the nations of christendome The Pope a party and many times subiect to great plagues besides that the chiefe question being touching the contradiction which was made to the Cannons of councells their opinions could not be free and the King was well aduertised of the league which was made against Rene King of Siciie and his children whreof they made the Pope the head That when as a place of liberty and safety should be chosen in some other Prouince the Pope if hee thought good might transport himselfe thither with lesse pain then he should receiue if he continued his designe to go in person into the East for the good of Christendome or elce hee might send his Legates as his predecessors had formerly done That the last Counsells hauing been held in the townes of Italy and Germany d Many generall Councels haue beene held in France and we find in the History of the Church the Councell of Lyon 2. Orleans 4. 5. Tours Paris Auuergne reason would that now it should be held in France as Pope Nicholas the fift had promised and therefore the King offered to prouide amply for all that should be necessary That his Maiesty could not imagine that the Pope by his new Bull against appellations to the Councill had any thought to interdict the vse in such sort as in no case no not when there was question to maintaine the Orthodoxall faith or for the extirpation of Schisme or the reformation of the vniuersall Church in the head and members for the wrongs which Popes might doe vnto Princes and there estates it might not bee lawfull to flie vnto this remedy e Neque etiam existimandum est â—undem S N D. per litteraâ— quas Mantuae publicasse fertur que incipiunt Execrabilis et Inauditus c. voluisse prohibete vt in nullo casu fiue tang at conseruationem Orthodoxae fidei fiue extirpationem Scismatis fiue vniuersalem reformationem Ecclesiae in capite et in membris super grauaminibus quae per aliquem summorum Pontificum inferri contingeret Principibus liciat quouismodo habere recursum ad iudicium plenarii concilii cum sub generali prohibitione non veneant ea quae speciali expressione indigerent seeing that vnder generall prohibitions they could not comprehend matters which required a more speciall and perticular expression and principally those which did regard the offences of Religion and the vnity of the Church and which fauoured Scismes and troubled the vniuersall estate of the Church Wherefore if the Pope attempted any thing against the obseruation of the holy decrees of the pragmatick Sanction the King ment to flye to a Councill Protestation of the King to fly vnto a Councel f vbi vero idem D.N.S. cui potestas data est in aedificationem non in destructionem eam conuertere vellet contra ipsum D.N. Regem aut viros ecclesiasticos vel etiam seculares ipsius dominii constitutos sibi subditos adhaerentes propter obseruationem Cannonum grauare et molestare Protestor ego Iohannes Dauuet Procurator Regius generalis in parte specialis nomine antedicto per notarios subscriptis de talium sententiarum ac censurarum nullitate iuxta canonicas Sanctiones c. and vntill it had determined thereof he protested of the nulity of all censures according to the forme of the Canonicall Sanctions the which in many cases declared the sentences and censures of Iudges and Pastors void yet submitting themselues to the iudgement of the vniuersall Church That if the Pope should refuse and would deferre the calling of the Councill the King declared that he would exhort all Christian Princes to labour iointly for this Conuocation yet hoping that the Pope hauing duly considered of this iust and necessary instance would not put him to that paine To make this protestation more sollemne and to shew that the King did affect it France the Sanctuary of Popes and that the Pope should haue a care not to incense a realme which had alwaies beene the sanctuary and refuge of Popes g Gregory 3. demanâ—ed succors of Charles Martel against Luytprand King of Lombards who was forced to yeeld the lands which hee had vsurped of the Church Carol. Sigonius lib. 3. de Regno Italie An. 739. Plat. Pepin his sonne forced Astolpho King of Lombards to restore the sixe gouerments of Rauenna to Pope Stephen â— and hee made warre against Guaiâ—ier Duke of Aquitanie who vsurped the goods of the Church Regin Sigebertus Charlemaine defended Adrian against Didier King of the Lombards and restored Pope Leon. C. Volumus 2. Q. i. Adrianus dist 63. Lewis the gentill and Charles the bald gaâ—e great succors to Pope Iohn 8. Paul Emilius Pope Gelaâ—ius 2. went into France to demand succors of Lewis 8. against Henry the Emperor Platina in Gelatio 2. Innocent 2. and Eugenius the third being driuen out of Rome came into France and the Kings of FraÌ„ce haue the honor to haue restored seuen Popes to their seaâ—es And France hath lodged the 70. yeares in Auignon Paloti de rubros Nauarra who had neuer found more speedy and better succors against their enemies then the sword of France and who haue with reason called this Realme the admirable quiuer bound to Gods side out of the which he drawes his chosen arrowes to shoot them with the Bow of his mighty arme against Infidells His maiesty would that Andrew de Laual Lord of Loheac Mareschall of France should be present with many other men of quality Stephen Cheâ—alier Treasurer generall of France and Iohn Barbin Aduocate generall in Parliament It was made in the presence of Iohn Abbot of the Monasterie of S t. Eâ—oy de braue of the order of Premontre and of Peter Quesnot pryor of the priory of S t. Sauiour neere vnto Bray vpon Seyne Soone after the new raigne of Lewis the eleuenth made it knowne that things maintained so religiously by King Charles h Charles the seuenth was made Lord of the obseruation of the Pragmaticke Sanction if death had not preuented him â—ewâ—s resolued to call an Nationall Councel to haue it better obserued Pope Pius the second exhorts K. Lewis to abolish the pragmatick Sanction were not religiously respected by him The Pope hauing well obserued it caused him to be exhorted to respect the holy Sea to apprehend the danger of excommunication He sent his Nuncio vnto him to perswade him and to put him in minde of the name of most Christian which his predecessors had carried and which the Councill of Mantua had newly confirmed to King Charles his Father They found the pursuite of this reuocation more vnfit for Pope Pius the second Pius the second dâ—â—aâ—owes his owne writings then for his predecessors for he himselfe had been the instrument of these Decrees he had beene present at the resolutions hee had written them and vndertaken the defence of the Councell of Basill against that
them that fled s A Generall of an army should not abandon his campe to follow them that fly Alexander had like to haue miscarried in the last defeate of Darius for hauing followed the chase of his enemies too rashly he was in great danger Cyrus had alwaies men appointed to follow them that fled contemning the aduice of an old Gentleman of Luxembourg called Anthony the Britton who held him lost if hee past any farther The French rallied them-selues againe together to renew the fight and to vanquish or loose all He prest still forward desiring rather to repent him of his Fortune then to haue shame for his victory t Q. Curtius giues vnto Alexander 〈◊〉 se brane and hardy woâ—ds I had rather repent me of my fortune then bee ashamed of my victory The Lord of Contay spake more boldly vnto him and caused him to returne Repassing through the village he went to charge a troupe of footemen who seeing him come fled A soldiar let him know that hee would not giue his life for nothing striking him on the brest with his Pertâ—â—isan whereof hee shewed the marke at night Then passing towards the Castell hee saw the archers of the Kings garde where at he was much amazed thinking that the victory had bin absolutly his and that there was not any more resistance Hee turned on the one side to come vnto the place of Battle but there fell sodenly vpon him u Euery man runnes where the generall is euen ashippe wanting a Pylot and helâ—e dotâ— soone yeeld to the violence of the waues so he that can by pollicy and good aduice finde meanes to beat the chiefe of his enemies the rest will soone faint Polib lib. 3. twelue or fifteene men at armes Earle of Charolois hurt and in danger to be slaine or taken who at the first slew Philip of Org his Guidon and hurt him in the throat Yeeld my Lord cryed Captaine la Hire and Gilbert Grassar wee know you well enough The beuer of his helmet being not made fast in the morning descouered all his face Hee made noe answer but with his sword and this summons to yeeld inflamed his courrage to defend and free him-selfe Iohn Cadeâ— sonne to a Phisition of Paris big heauy and strong three goodly parts which the History giues him being mounted vpon a puissant hors passeth through them Oliuer de la Maâ—ch calls him Robert Cotâ—reaâ— â—â—nne to the Earles Phiâ—â—tion diuides them and saues his maister This Act of valour and fidelity was presently rewarded for the E. of Charolois made him a Knight He came to his campe x There is noâ— retreat in a day of Battle but to the camp for â—ee that leaues it hath lost the field How many armies saith the Consull Paulus â—emilius haue there beeâ—â— which hauing had noe good successe in the battle but bin driuen into their sorts by their enemies yet â— sallying forth aâ—terwards â— they haue put them to rout who held themselues victors Tit. Liu. lib. 44. all bloudy and his men repayred vnto him in small bands and tyred the footmen complayning that the men at armes had in the morning disâ—rdred them and troden them vnder their horses feete y A wounde gotten in a good place is glorious Baies chaines noâ— grownes are not alwaies carried but such markes are neuer left at home Such as beheld Sertoâ—ius who had lost his eye few with his losse a testimony of his valour and the Earle seemed much pleased to haue receyued a hurt on the face for a perpetuall marke of his prowesse The French recouered the dich where they had so valiantly contended and as it were diuided the fortune of the combat But they were amazed to see them-selues without a head Brut of the Kings death and the bruit was that the King was dead This brute was grounded for that the Seneshal of Normandy who ware his apparell and armes to confirme his loyalty z The King grew into some iealousie that the Seneshale of Normandy was of the league and spake of it to whome he answered Siâ— to shew what I am giue me your coate of armes to saue your life for your enemies seeke but after your person had beene slaine in the beginning of the incounter when as the Bourgondians knowing wel that if the king were ouerthrowne the rest could not stand had charged furiously whereas he shewed him-selfe This feare augmented the number of the runne-awaies and made them to fly who should rather want life then courrage The Earle of Maine who was suspected to haue intelligence with the enemies and Montauban a Britton led away the reereward Their courages fell to their feete not any one had the heart to strike stroake in sauing his life to saue his honour a To make a feightlesse dishâ—norable it must bee done like vnto the Parthians or Scithians who shoote in flying and sauing them-selues speedely they alwaies fight and so take away the infamy of their flight Plut. in the life of Crass. The flight was of eight hundred men which depriued the King of the honor of an absolute victory and of the meanes wholy to ruine his enemies The rest wauered betwixt feare and duty The King appeared in this amazement b The Princes presence cheers the soldiers harts It is the Planet of Mars from whence great courages borrow the constancy assâ—rance of warlike Vertue and by his presence gaue courage vnto his men who from that time cared more how to vanquish then to liue how to fight then to saue themselues The enemies had more anoyed them that fled then the rest as Fortune doth sooner suppresse them that yeeld vnto her then them that resist The Earle of St. Pol leaues the forrest whether hee was retired and comes to the place of Battell with an order befitting men and not with violence which is proper to fooles and beasts c To go vnto military actions râ—shly and without iudgement is no valour â—easts fooles goe 〈◊〉 That which nature makes proper to valour turnes to rashaes iâ— reason doth not gouerne both parties were so tired as they stood at the gaze They made some shot with their great Ordnance Disorders common in both armies The Earle had more men in his Army then the King but he alone was worth 10000. his presence assuring that which was much shaken d No good can be expected of an army that is scattered but the Princes presence In this battel of Montâ—berry without the King who animated his meÌ„ with good words all had fled Phil. de Com. the amazement was great on either side a desire to saue themselues from danger did presse the French as well as the Burgundians and many did their e One told Pompey that to come vnto him and to leaue Caesar hee had abandoned horse to whom Cicero said You haue done more hoâ—or to your horse then to your selfe to make him know
the good of the publike y In these Estates they did not thinke of the publike good nor of the peoples ease who complained for Lewis leuied much more then King Charles and dismist them giuing order for the intelligences which hee had vpon Amiens Abbeuille and St. Quentin Then representing vnto himselfe how much the discontentments of the great men of this Realme had ruined his affaires hee inuented a meanes to vnite their mindes to his will and to keep them firme by new bonds of honor and fidelitie Institution of the order of S t Michell the which hee found in the order of S t Michael making it not onely a recompence for vertue like to the Consulship of Rome but a marke of the Nobilitie of bloud and extraction z The dignity of Consull at Rome was as Valerius said vnto his soldiers Premium virtutis non sanguinis and went to seek out the vertuous in any house at any age Princes should haue things in their meere disposition which should be out of the commerce of their subiects 1469 and wherevnto they may not aspire but by the degrees of Vertue Honors which may bee recouered for money are no more honors for the sale may make them fall vpon vnworthy heads a The sale of honors makes them to be lesse esteemed vertue to bee contemned sufficiency lesse necessarie euery one thinking that he may attaine vnto it for money It is a great disorder when as such as are aduanced cannot say that they are bound vnto their vertue although they haue glorious shewes and that is not held rare which may be recouered for money b Glory is the desire of great courages Caesar would haue scorned him that should haue giuen him gold but hee dyed with desire to haue a crown of bayes Fortune may impouerish the greatest houses of Christendome but the honour which they hold from their Ancestors remaines for euer and a branch of Laurell which remaines of their fathers Crownes is more deere vnto them then any other thing Wee see not any Prince reduced to that necessitie as hee prefers siluer before honor And that King hath no great power in a Realme wheras they obtaine all for coyne The King making himselfe Generall of this Order The King great master of the order of S t Michel would also haue them that were neerest vnto him honored c By these orders the Prince becomes a companion to the whole Colledge Tiberius made an order of Knights which were caled Augustales and made himselfe grear master to the end it might haue more reputation hee would haue Drusus his sonne with T. Claudius and Germanicus his nephews to be of it Tac. An. Lib. 7. He gaue the first coller of the Order to Monsieur his Brother the second to Charles Duke of Bourbon and Auuergne Hee thought to draw in the Dukes of Bourgundy and Brittany but they would not bee bound to appeare at the Chapter With this Order were also honored the chiefe Noblemen of the Realme First knights of S t Michel d The ancient order of France was of the Knights of the starre institututed by King Iohn surnamed the good in the yeare 1351. the 6. of Ianuary the Knights weare a starre of gold in their hats and vpon their cloakes and the deuice was Monstrant regibus Astra viam A hundred and eight yeares after Lewis the eleuenth made the order of S t Michel the 1. of August 1469. A hundred ten yeares after that Henry the third instituted the Knights of the holy Ghost and in the yeare 1579. After an Age all things grow old Lewis of Luxenbourg Earle of S t Paul and Constable of France Andrew of Laual Lord of Loheac Marshall of France Iohn Earle of Sancerre Lord of Bueil Lewis of Beaumont Lord of Forest and Plessis Lewis of Estouteuille Lord of Torcy Lewis of Laual Lord of Chastillon Lewis Bastard of Bourbon Earle of Roussillon Admirall of France Anthony of Chabannes Earle of Dammartin Lord Stuard of the Kings house Iohn Bastard of Armagnac Earle of Comminges Marshall of France and Gouernor of Dauphiné George of Tremouille Lord of Craon Gilbert of Chabannes Lord of Curton Seneshall of Guienne Charles Lord of Crussol Seneshall of Poitou Taneguy of Chastell Gouernor of the Country of Roussillon and Sardinia The King reserued to make vp the number of six and thirty Knights to his Election at the first chapter The Duke of Bourgundy at the same time receiued the Order of England and the Duke of Brittanie that of Bourgundie the one instituted by Edward the third f Edward the third instituted the Order of the garter of fiue and twenty Knights in the yeare 1348. Philip that of the goldeÌ„fleece in the yeare 1428. of one and thirty Knights Amedee of Sauoy caled the greene Earle that of Anunciado in the yeare 1409. of fourteene Knights the other by Philip Duke of Bourgundy As this Order had one head so had it one certaine and determinate place one habite one marke or Ensigne of Officers one forme of reception one oath and one rule The place was the Church of Mont S t Michel The place for the assembly of the Order transferred since to Bois de Vincennes as well for that the place was then noted to haue neuer yeelded vnto that yoake of the ancient enemies of the Crowne of France as also for the King Charles the seuenth said that beeing vpon the bridge of Orleans when he entred with the Virgin Ioan he saw not by any fantastical visions of Southsayers like to Caesar g Caesar going to the warre against Pópey a South-sayer came vnto him transported said â— Caesar thou shalt ouerecome It was true and Caesar soone after writing vnto his friends sent them this word Veni vidi vici but truely that Arke-angell fighting on his right hand Hee appointed seates for the cheefe of the Order and Knights in the Quier of the Church with their Armes aboue their seates The habit was a long cloake of white Damaske downe to the ground The habit of the order with a border imbrodered with cockle shells of gold interlaced and furred with Ermines all of one length and one fashion with hoodes of Crimson vellet and long tippets the hood of the chiefe of the order was of Murry Skarlet h The Knights aâ—â—ired in this habit are bound on S t Michels Eue to come vnto the Pallace of the chiefe of the Order to conduct him to the Euensong and the next day to Masse whereas euery one offers a peâ—ce of gold for his deuotioÌ„ The marke or enseigne was a coller of Golde Marke of the order i They are alwaies bound to carry the coller but when they trauel remaine in their houses or goe a hunting then they may weare the Image of the Order in a silke ryband in the midest of which vpon a rocke was the Image of Saint Michael
facile puellas oculis adiiceret easque deperiret the Earle of Warwick being wounded in so sensible and tender a part began to distaste the seruice which he did him and repenting him of that which he had formerly done hee retired from Court into his Earldome of Warwicke The Earle of Warwick reuolts whereas his hard fortune made him know the difference of his friends b In the disgrace and crosses of fortune friends are knowne Namertes answered him that required a rule to know them by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plut. and where he shews that a great courage had rather die reuenged then liue with the reproch of a wrong or an affront The Duke of Clarence the Kings Brother the Archbishop of Yorke and the Marquis of Montague came vnto him Euery one brought his complaint with him and the vlcer he had in his heart against Edward The Earle of Warwick represented vnto them the miserable estate they ranne into if they did not labour to restore King Henry to his Fathers throne and themselues to libertie To binde the Duke of Clarence to this designe hee giues him his Daughter He makes a league with the Duâ— of Clarence Proximitie of bloud did sufficiently binde the other two being his Brethren whose friendship he might account among the sweet fruits of his felicitie c It is a part of the sweetnes felicitie of life to see Telemachus recounting his miseries amoÌ„g which he reports that he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without a broâ—â—er Plut. The partie was made and the resolution taken vpon the consideration of things present to come was that he should goe to Calice and in his absence they should make some stirres in the Prouince of Yorke to the end hee might haue a subiect to come thither and to arme The pretext of rising was for the deniall of some Corne which they of the Earle of Warwicks faction refused to pay for the entertainment of St Leonards Hospitall in Yorke and there were others which did murmure giuing it out that what should serue the poore was spent by great men d Sedition can haue no iust causes but the most apparant are wheâ— as priuate men make their profit of that which belongs to the publike In a word it is inequalitie and Iniustice This refusall did so incense the people Commotion in Yorkshire as in a short time there were fifteene thousand men in armes which marched directly to Yorke to haue reason of them which refused to pay what they ought vnto the Hospitall But when as they found themselues too weake An Armie at the gaâ—es of London being a multitude of seditious and mutenous fellowes who are naturally cowards and hauing no Canon to force an entrie they past to London to demand Iustice of the King with torches of rebellion in their fists e Seâ—ition is alwaies saint and cowardly and cowards are euer most seditioâ—s QuantuÌ„â—abes ad â—ustinendum laboreÌ„ miles tanto ad discordias proÌ„ptior Tac. Hist. Lib. 2. The Earle of Warwick was no sooner aduertised of these broiles but he parted from Calice with the Duke of Clarence and came and ioined with this multitude who wanted not any thing but a head King Henries presence and the Earles did countenance the faction and increase it with a greater number with the which he resolued to giue Battell to recompence the errors ruines and occasion past f Hee that knowes how to giue a Battell recouers â—is reputation if it were blemished it restores him if he be ruined excuseth all errors which he hath coÌ„mitted in warre for a Battell won defaceth all misfortunes reproch of other precedent actions The Earle of Pembroke whom the King of England had sent not to fight but to punish those rebels was put to route and they had the victory Richard Lord Riuers father to Queene Elizabeth and his sonne Iohn Wooduille with some other Gentlemen lost their heads The King sought to make some accord with the Earle of Warwicke and vpon the assurance which he gaue him neglected to keep good gard in his Campe the which should not bee omitted euen among friends Loue goes naked by day and armed by night g Crates said that loue went al day naked but at night hee caried a Cuirasse that a prince which trusts in the loue of his subiects may by day goe in safety and without feare but by night he should haue his gard The Earle of Warwicke hauing obserued this carelesse guard by his spies he vndertooke to charge him by night â—dward defeated and taken prisoner with so great aduantage as killing all he found in the trenches hee came without any resistance to the place where the King was whom he tooke prisoner and led away But for that they could not make good vse of this fortune they ruined themselues and vndid King Henry for whom they had taken Armes God who hath a speciall care of Kings depriued them of Iudgement for although they knew well that it was impossible to settle King Henry peaceably in the Realme during Edwards life yet could they not keep him so well but hee escaped hauing corrupted his gards with hopes and goodly promises whereof great men are no nigards when they haue need of their inferiors Edward being at libertie recouers Yorke where he was receiued with ioy which was as great as it was vnexpected From thence he went to London to confirme their wils whom his captiuitie had made to wauer and considering that victory doth alwaies fauour them which haue the aduantage both of Councell and force h A prince hath a great aduantage ouer his enemie when he exceeds him in Armes and that hee hath the CouÌ„cels executions sooner readie then he he raised a might Armie and went to seeke out the Earle of Warwicke Earle of Warwick defeated whom he put to rout and returned triumphantly the victorie was made famous by the death of ten thousand men Queene Margaret Prince Edward her Sonne the Duke of Clarence and his wife the Earle of Warwick with their children and friends were forced to flye They came to Calice but the Earle of Warwicks Lieutenant would not receiue them nor scarce suffer them to carrie two bottels of Wine for the Duchesse of Clarence who was deliuered of a Sonne whilest the ship rode at an Anchor This rudenes and indiscretion did so please King Edward and the Duke of Bourgundy as the one sent him authoritie to command as Gouernor of Calais and the other a good pension to increase his entertainement The Earle of Warwicke who was much esteemed in France and in great credit with the King for his worthy deeds which had made his reputation great and not easie to bee shaken i ReputatioÌ„ is a Colosse which is hardly raised by reason of its waight buy wheÌ„ it is vp it staÌ„ds firme and supports it selfe by his owne heauines It is hard to lay the
to Monsieur Dalby who carries a commission directed to him to Monsieur Charluz and to the said Destueille and to euery of them to cause great store of victuals to be carried to Narbona and other places of the fronter to the end the men at Armes may haue no want but you must haue a care that vnder coâ—llor thereof none be carried to Perpignan I haue giuen charge to the said Beauuoisien to be gouerned by you and in case that Mousieur de S. Priet lead the hundred Lances of Dauphinâ— the said Beauuoisien shall bring vnto me Hardouin de la Iaille whom I haue written to S. Priet to send me I haue sent vnto you Raoulet of Balparque and Claux the Canonier to assist you imploy them well and spare nothing The Seig r of Bouffille shall part within two or three daies and in my opinion with those hundred Lances with yours those of Dauphinè Lanquedoc and of Captaine Odet with the three thousand Franc of Archers you shall haue forces sufficient to spoile and burne their whole Country and to take and beate downe their paltry places or ruine and burne such as you cannot beat downe I doe also write vnto the Generall Treasurer and Officers of Languedoc that they doe whatsoeuer Monsi r Dalby and you shall commaund them Beauuoisien shall tell you the rest Farewell my Lord Gouernor I pray you let mee vnderstand of your newes Written at Senlis the 9. of Aprill V. Lewis and vnderneath N. Tilhart The Kings armie besieged Parpignan Siege of Parpignan D. Iohn King of Arragon maintained the siege the Prince D. Ferdinand came to succor him and forced the French to retire Lewis hearing of this shamefull retreat commanded his Captaines to returne speedilyâ— and to take the place or to die there The siege continued eight monthes the besieged were wonderfully prest with famine for when as they had eaten horses dogs Cats and Rats they deuoured their flesh that were slaine at assaults chosing rather to dye after this manner then to returne vnder the command of the French Famine and yeelding of Parpignan Yet their obstinacy was no hinderance from letting the K. suffer them to feele the effects of his Clemencie receiuing them vpon composition euen when as they could no more u The obstinacy and fury of a Town besieged should not hinder the bounty and clemencie of a Prince Laurence Palatin of Hungarie being amazed that the Emperor Sygismond left them their liues goods and held them for good subiects whom hee had vanquished answered in this manner I kill my enemies in pardoning and in doing them good I binde them Aeneas Sit. lib. 3. Com. So the Contâ—e of Roussillon remained to France all the raigne of King Lewis King Charles his Sonne restored it to King Ferdinand x Charles the eight yeelded the Countie of Rossiâ—lon to Ferdinand King of Arragon did acquit him of the same for the which hee was engaged this was in the yeare 1494. It had cost the King his Father many men and much money His Chronicle relates that it was said in those times that the Contrie of Arragon was a Church-yard vnto the French Philip de Commines saith that in the Contie of Roussillon there died many good men for this warre continued long A Peace was mas made betwixt Lewis and D. Iohn King of Arragon and Nauarre Embassadors from the King of Arragon sent into France whose Embassadors being come into France were well receiued and graciously vsed by the King who gaue them two cups of gold waying fortie markes y As a weake Prince should not make any show of his forces so hee that is mighty glories to shew what hee can The King out of one Citie of his realme musters a huÌ„dred thousand men in Armes the 20. of Aprill 1470. and esteemed worth three thousand two hundred crownes of gold and to the end they might iudge of the whole peece by a patterne he caused them to see the Inhabitants of Paris in Armes they did muster a hundred foure thousand men the Originall saith they were all in one liuerie in red Casacks and white Crosses The fortune of the house of Armagnac was intangled in that of Arragon Iohn Earle of Armagnac expelled his Country Iohn Earle of Armagnac had married Ioane of Foix Daughter to Gaston Earle of Foix and D. Leonora of Arragon This alliance could not defend him from the indignation of King Lewis the eleuenth in the furie whereof he found first the losse of his libertie then of his goods and lastly of his life The King could not forget with what vehemency he had followed the Bourguignon party in the war of the Common weale after that he had promised to retire himselfe from all Leagues and associations contrary to the Kings intentions nor with what affection he had followed the youthfull follies of the Duke of Guienne his brother who had restored him to his lands contrary to his commandement In the yeare 1469. one called Iohn Bon of Wales in England brought letters vnto the King which King Edward had writen to the Earle of Armagnac Accused by a welchmaÌ„ and the answer which the Earle made him The King reading them with the passion where-with he was possest and easily beleeuing one man alone a To draw many heades in question vppon the report of one tongue is an act of extreame odious Iustice. Graue militibus visuÌ„ quod in causa falconis multos milites ad vnius serui testimonium occidi preceperat Pertinax Iul. Capitol to ruine one who was worth many and who would cost him much thought that Infidellity was noe new thing in a spirit who had already shewed the proofes and without further inquisition sends the Earle of Dammarting with twelue or thirteene hundreth Lances and with ten or twelue thousand Franc Archers to seaze vpon the Earles person lands and estate Being come into the Towne of Rhodets he put the whole Country into the Kings hands His lands put into the Kings haÌ„ds changed the officers and caused a Proclamation to be made by the sound of a Trumpet that noe man of what estate or condition whatsoeuer should advowe himselfe seruant nor officer to the Earle of Armagnac nor make any poursute for him vpon paine of confiscation of body and goods b There is nothing so powerfull nor fearefull as a publik declaration of the Princes hatred against any one especially among a people which esteem not their Gouernors but by the authority and credit they haue with their Superior In these extremities there is not any man that will willingly loose himselfe for another Good men are loth to drawe their friends into danger As it is an office of frendshippe to runne into danger for ones friends and rashnes to goe into perils without occasion so it is cruelty to bring others into danger The Earle of Dammartin made booty of all the places and Siegneuries which did
and burnt aliue by iudgement of the Magistrate for crimes which cannot bee too seuerely punished s There is noe wickednes that is new but hath some president In former times wee haue heard speake of all the the disorders villanies which are now committed by soldiars The Chronicle of Basill saies that these men were burnt for Sodomy forcing of women and for that they had profancd Churches and troden the holy Sacrament vnder foot burnt murthered and sowed vp womens priuy parts In those times they made noe warre in winter the souldiers retyred to their garrisons It beganne againe in Aprill the next yeare very furiously and the King was forced to enter into it The Germaines and Swisses complayned that hee stood gazing on them that fought Kings army in the Duke of Bourgundies contry euery one laboured to ruine the house of Bourgundy whose greatnesse made all men enuy and whose dissipation promised proffit to many t A mightie Prince that is enuied of many maintaines him selfe hardly that state which is least enuied is most durable The Emperor Frederick put men and victualls into Nuz and presents him-selfe with all the forces of Germany to make the Duke dislodge The King makes warre against him in Picardy Bourgoundy and Artois The Duke of Lorraine sends him a defie The Swisses beseege Pontarlier vpon the riuer of Doux they take Blammont Orbe brings them the Keys and in two monthes they become Maisters of nine townes or Castells The Bourgoundians burnt 40. villages about Pourrentru and Montbeliard and spoyled all the Mountaine All this amazed him not the more enemies the more Triumph The greatnesse of his desseignes made all difficulties smale They could not represent vnto him so many inconueniences but hee did hope for more profit by this Germaine warre Places takeÌ„ by the kings troupes in Picardy The King tooke the Castell of Tronquoy by assault Mondider and Roye yeelded by composition Corbie endured 3. daies batterie Those two townes were burnt contrary to that which Phillip de Commines had propromised them in the Kings name making the capitulation It was not his entent to haue this warre contynue long but to force the Duke of Bourgundy to prolong the truce and to content himselfe with two or three enemies which hee had without the Realme It was not that which the Kings friends desired for they were discontented to see him a newter whilest that he incouraged them to fight and this newtrality did not diminish the number of enemies nor of friends x Although that neutrality doth not bind friends nor ruine enemies neque amicos parat neque inimicos tollit yet when a Prince hath meanes to be as he may bee 〈◊〉 he exceeds either in greatnesse dignity â—r in force and power theÌ„ that conteÌ„d he hath alwaies the honour to be arbitrator iudge But for petty Princes neutrality is dangerous They must either bee the strongest or with the strongest On the other side the Duke of Bourgondy feeling the secret blowes which the King gaue him desired rather to haue him an open enemy He was also so full of reuenge and indignation against the King who had gathered together all the clouds and wyndes to raise this storme against him as hee would rather haue troubled Hell then not to let him knowe the fury of his passion His resolutions were so strange as they did not promise him other safty then danger Danger in the continuance of the seege of Nuz danger in a new warre against the Swisses and danger to serue himselfe with the succors of England which he attended impatiently The King commanded the Bastard of Bourbon Bastard of Bourbon makes wâ—â— in Artois Admirall of France to carry a burning besome into the countries of Artois and Ponthieu vpon the aduice which a Lady gaue him y Philip de Comines saith that they gaue credit to this woe man for she was womaÌ„ of state but hee commends not her deed for that saith he she was not bound vnto it Shee receyued great losses in this war which the King repaired the which she repented for shee was singed in the flames of that fier which shee her selfe had kindled At the taking of Arras Iames of Luxembourg the Counstables brother with the Lords of Contay and Caroucy were taken prisoners The King sent Iohn Tiercelin Ambassage sent by the King to the Emperer Frederick Lord of la Brosse vnto the Emperor Frederick to aduise of the progresse of his forces against the Duke and to inuite him to doe the like for his part that they might diuide his spoyles betwixt them the Emperor taking for his part the Prouinces which depended of the Empire and the King those which did hold of his Crowne This Ambassador more faithfull to him that sent him then pleasing to him to whome hee was sent reapt noe great fruits of his Legation An apology for an answere The Emperors answere was by this Apology Three huntsmen going to take a Beare which did anoy the country had drunke freely vpon credit in a Tauerne vpon an opinion of profit which they should make in selling the skinne and their Host increased their reckning a Example is a very good means to perswade may bee framed not onely of things done but of those that are sayned as fables bee which delight instruct Stesiarus vsed theÌ„ in discoursing to the Imeriens Esope to the Samiens Menenius Agrippa to the Romaines comming neere the caue where they thought to surpize him the Beare came out vnto them and so terrefied them as one got into a tree another fled towards the towne and the third not so good a footeman fell flat on the ground as if he had beene dead for he had heard say that this beast pardons dead folks as the Lyon doth them that humble themselues The Beare put his mussell to his nose and eare to iudge if he were dead and thinking him to be so for that he held his breth he left him Hee that was in the tree and had obserued all asked his companion what the Beare had said in his eare he tould me said he that we must neuer make bargin for the Beares skinne vntill he be dead Whereby hee would let this Doctor vnderstand that they must first take the Duke and then talke of diuiding his spoile and that there is noe wisedome which holds firme when they must resolue vpon that which is to come b It is folly to deliberate vpon things not yet hapened he that aimes so far off neuer hits the white we may well foresee diuers accidents but the variety is so great as two or three may happen so little foreseene as they may change all other resolutions The Duke contynued the seege before Nuz meditating furious reuenges against them that had so ill intreated his subiects That great exployt of Arras where hee had lost his cheefe commanders did much afflict him and the
an enemie who departs discontented x Words of contempt or mockery inflame mens hearts to other resolutions theÌ„ are expected Cabades a Captaine of Persia besieging Amida and finding 〈◊〉 that the siâ—ge would be long difficult resoluâ—a to leaue it The inhabitaÌ„ts grown proud thereat came running to the waâ—s calling him coward and mocking at his retreat Wherewith Cabadeâ— was so incensed as â—e returned prest forced and spoiled the Towne The Deputies of either side met but could not agree euerie one seeking to maintaine his owne The King told his that he would not haue so many words and causing the Dukes deputies to come he shut himselfe in with them and before they parted concluded a Truce for nine yeares beginning the 13. of September 1475. and ending the same day in the yeare 1484. The Duke would haue Baldwin Bastard of Bourgundy the Lord of Renty Iohn de Chata and Philip de Commines excluded and to loose the benefit of this Truce the which notwithstanding was not so soone published to saue the Dukes oth who had sworne not to hearken vnto it so soone As they were vpon the Treatie the King of England being discontented that the Duke of Bourgundy treated apart sent Thomas of Montgomerie vnto the King to assure him that be would return in the Spring with a mighty Armie to finish the Duke of Bourgundies ruine but the King who loued him well where he was answered that the Truce which was then in question was no other then what had been made with him without any alteration but that the Duke desired to haue his Letters Patents apart Thus a peace was made both with the English and Bourgundians These mists which were so thick as there was no hope to see the Sunne all the day were disperced in a moment leauing France in the same cleerenes that it was before The wisemen of those times saw and did acknowledge the particular care of Gods prouidence ouer this Monarchy hauing by his singular grace escaped so terrible a storme It was not the first brunt nor the greatest fit which tryed the firmenes of her forces The foundations of this Estate are so well layed y Al the estates in the world haue tried her Inconstancie what are become of the Empires of Assiria of Persia of Media of Egypt of Iudea of Macedon Quicquid in altum â—ortuna tulit ruitura leuat Whatsoeuer fortune hath raised on high is to fall againe And Plato saies that euery thing is in this world as vpon Euripus sometimes aboue sometimes beneath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 her lawes haue so wisely preuented all kindes of accidents that although there bee nothing constant in the world and that nature turnes euery thing sometimes aboue sometimes beneath yet it stands amidst the greatest shakings and supports it selfe like a Colosse with his owne waight The composition of this body is so strong and vigorous as it entertaines it selfe euen with his excesse and disorders other Estates with all their good order are not in better case and the least disorder they commit brings their life in danger z Plutark said that the reputation of Sparta was like vnto a body which alwaies tooke a dyet which was distempered with the least disorder The Kings wisedome was the Instrument of Gods prouidence to free this Realme from the danger which did threaten it It is true that if necessitie which hath no law did not excuse the proceedings of this Prince and if the honour of the action did not remaine to him that hath the profit there might be exceptions taken to that which the King did to haue this Peace A wise Prince and lesse fearefull would haue aduentured a Battell rather then be subiect to his enemies pride but these high and generous formes of treating are buried in the ruines of proud and triumphant Rome and there is nothing remaining but admiration which the History represents The Romans neuer receiued condition nor capitulation a As the Romans did neuer receiue offers nor conditions from an enemy so long as he was armed so did they neuer goe whether they called them If thou beest mighty thou maist force me if thou canst not I must goe whether my commoditie leades me from an armed enemie they neuer made retreat in disorder Neuer did Generall of a Roman Armie giue place to any one were he a King Neuer did they in strange Prouinces quit the markes of their authoritie Neuer did they allow a stranger how great so euer to enter into their lodging on horseback b When as Tigranes came to Pompey to yeeld himselfe into his hands the Sargeants told him that he must light for that no man was euer seene to enter on horseback into the Romans lodgings Plâ—t And in a word neuer had Prince his minde and resolutions raised to more generositie FINIS THE CONTENTS OF of the seuenth BOOKE 1 THe Constables perplexitie after the peace 2 The King sends for the Constable 3 The Constable leaues S. Quentin and retires to Mons in Hainault 4 The King seazeth on S. Quentin and summons the Duke of Bourgundy to effect the Article of the Assembly of Bouuines touching the Constable 5 Hee is deliuered to the King and conducted to the Bastille his processe made condemned to die and executed 6 Profit and blame which the Duke of Bourgundy receiued by the Constables death 7 Armie of the Duke of Bourgundy in Lorraine 8 Attempt vpon the Dukes life discouered by the King 9 Armie of the Dukes against the Suisses 10 The Kings voyage to Lyon 11 Siege of Granson The Suisses giue and winne a Battell and recouer Granson with a great spoile 12 The Duke seeks vnto the King for a continuance of the Truce 13 Rene of Aniou King of Sicile comes to the King at Lyon 14 Duke of Bourgundies Army before Morat defeated by the Suisses 15 The Suisses enter into the countrie of Vau and the Duke retires into the Franche Conty 16 Yoland Duchesse of Sauoy the Kings Sister leaues the Bourgundian party 17 Alfonso of Portugall comes to demand succors of the King 18 Henry the fourth King of Castille declared vnworthy of the Crowne 19 Accord betwixt the King of Castille and the King of Portugall 20 Affliction heauines and griefe of the Duke of Bourgundy after the Battel of Morat 21 Rene Duke of Lorraine besiegeth and takes Nancy 22 Armie of the Duke of Bourgundy before Nancy and treason of Cont Campobasso 23 Defeat of the Duke of Bourgundy and his death an obseruation of his courage and a memorable example of his Iustice. 24 Death of Galeas Duke of Milan THE HISTORY of LEVVIS the XI THE SEVENTH BOOKE AT the Treaty of Piquigny the Constable of Saint Paul resembled a Tree beaten with three contrary winds which notwithstanding conspyre all together to teare it vp by the roote The Constable in ill terms with all men a Great wits doe often-times commit great errors and you
waxt by which hole we did looke into the Castle-yard Hee saith also that Margaret of Clisson Mother to the Earle of Ponthieure came scoft at him vsing these words Deposuit potentes de sede He hath put the Mighty from their seate Hist. of Brit. Lib. 11. it had felt the ruines and desolations which the Iustice of God brings vpon Principalities for the sinnes of the Princes and People The diuision betwixt the Houses of Montfort and Blois had brought it to the last extremity and it had seene an Act of wonderfull presumption of a vassaile against his Lord Duke Iohn hauing beene prisoner to Oliuer of Blois with such vnworthy vsage as hee was in a manner depriued of the aire which all the powers of the world cannot take from Man there beeing nothing but death that can depriue him of breath This poore Prince had no Aire at all but was in darkenesse p When as God saith Epictetes takes from thee necessary things as food raiment and thy sences he sounds a retreat hee opens the doore and commands thee to come and in a little Chamber where hee could not see but by a hoale made with a Pinne the Sunne for the which many haue beleeued they were in the world Anaxagoras said that hee was in the world to admire the Sunne A more tedious kinde of life then death it selfe and hee that is reduced vnto it hath a strong resolution if he doth not murmure that God suffers him to liue so long One of the wise Stoickes thought that hee gaue man leaue to depart this life when as he gaue him no meanes to liue But let vs returne vnto the King Townes vpon the riuer of Somme recouered by the king Before the newes of Duke Charles his death was assured hee brake the Truce which should haue continued seuen yeares longer and seized vpon Abbeuille Dourlans Monstreuil Montdidier Peronne Han Bohain Saint Quintin and the Townes vpon the Riuer of Somme which by the death of Charles the last Male of the House of Bourgondy returned vnto the King Hee wisht hee might haue done as much to all the Low Countreyes and by some iuster meanes then by Armes in marrying his sonne to the heire of Bourgondy Lewis desires to marry his sonne to the heire of Brittain But beside the great inequality of their ages hee had promised him to the Princesse of England and he desired to giue him the heire of Brittaine for she was more sutable to his sonnes age and this Princesse was a Rampart against the fury of the English who being seconded by the Dukes of Brittaine haue entred that way and come into the heart of the Realme He perswaded himselfe to preuaile by other meanes he had good seruants at Gand who had made shew that this kinde of gouernement was against their mindes and that they affected new Maisters q The day after that the Ganto is receiued newes of the Dukes death they put to death 25 men of their Lawe The pretex was for that they had executed a man before they were confirmed in their charge He thought that in taking some of the chiefe Townes of the Countrey the rest in this confusion of Councels and weakenesse of forces would yeeld of themselues and as if there had beene no other difficulty he disposed already of places and gouernments of Prouinces His humor was to imploy meane men in great affaires and to handle great works with small engines He sent Robinet of Odenfort to S. Omer and Oliuer le Dain his Barber to Gand who was of such power and authority euen with the King as the French going out of the Realme they demaunded of them in mockery among other newes of Court Presumption of Oliuer le Daine if Lewis were in good tearmes with Oliuer r StraÌ„gers mock at princes which depend vpon 〈◊〉 companions and giue themseles as it were in a prey to their conduct This man for that hee was borne in a village neere vnto Gand was so presumptuous as hee thought he could make this Towne subiect to the Kings will and tooke this charge vpon him to goe thither vnder colour to carry some message to the Princesse who had called an Assembly of the Estates at Gand s Estates in the Law Countries held at Gand. The Oath of fidelity was renued to the Princesse for it had in already taken by Guy of Roâ—â—fort Lord of PluvaÌ„t her Chamberlain by Guy Perrot her Secretary of state and vnder hand practised men to what he had intended he stiled himselfe Earle of Melun This purple-hue did nothing at all beautifie the Ape but made him more ridiculous to them that knew the basenesse of his breeding t Basenesse of birth is a reproach which is giuen to them that gloriously forget theÌ„selues Iphicrates Tully and Marius endured it Yet the King perswaded himselfe that hee would doe wonders in this Citty telling the chiefe Noble-men of his Court that they whom he had sent to Gand and Saint Omer were able to get the keyes of the Towne and to draw in his Troopes He made account of the one as Augustus did of Mecenas u Augustus Caesar loued 2. men aboue all others Agrâ—ppa for his patience and Mecenas for his secresie and discretion Being in Councell with them after the war of Actium how hee should gouerne himselfe Agrippa aduised him to liue a priuate life but Mecenas wisht him to think of a monarchy Dion Plut. Suet. and of the other as Agrippa Oliuer hauing demanded audience of the Princesse Affront done to Oliuer at his audience with the Princesse and refusing to speake vnto her but in priuate hee caused himselfe to bee scorned and this disgrace concerned him that had sent him who had not considered that such Commissions did properly belong to men of birth or of great merit and that it seemes they contemne the Prince to whom they send Embassadours of base condition x They that carry the Title of Embassadours should be men of credit reputation Caesar said that the Suisses sent Embassadors vnto him the chiefe wherof was Deuico he who in the Cassian warre had bin their Generall The Gantois hauing discouered Negotiation of Oliuer le Dain at Gand and taking of Tournay that hee had some secret practises in their Towne hee was in danger to haue beene cast into the Riuer whereupon hee retired to Tournay and practised thirty or forty men by whose meanes hee brought in Mony with his Company which hee had at Saint Quintin and seized of the Towne sending seuen or eight of the Gouernors to Paris The Princesse Councell seeing that her subiects fidelity was shaken and the Townes of Picardy deliuered vnto the King that she had to deale with a Cyrus Embassage sent from the Princesse of Bourgundy to the King and that she was no Tomyris y Cyrus hauing attempted against the Massagets a people of Scythia Tomyris their
Frontier I finde that Guerin le Groin Baliffe of Saint Peter le Moustier and Robinet of Quesnoy Either of them Captaine of a hundred Lances tooke a great Conuoy of Money which came to Doway and with a small Troupe defeated a great number of Horse which did gard it If the King of England had declared himselfe for the Princesse of Bourgundy there had beene a great alteration and she had lesse apprehended the power and hatred of the French King who had wisely preuented it Lewis entertaines friendship with the English He knowing that King Edward loued his ease and that he would not shew himselfe too passionate in his Neighbours quarrels caused his Embassadours to obserue him and entertained him often with Visits and Presents d To send wise and polliticke Embassadours to Princes whoÌ„ they feare vpon diuers pretexes is the true meanes to preuent their designes but especially with the hope of a Marriage betwixt his sonne and his daughter Whom in England they called the Dauphine He caused the fifty thousand Crownes due by the Treaty of Piquigny to be paied at the day in the Citty of London which the English called the Tribute of France He gaue great Pensions to the Chancellor Chamberlaine Admirall and Maister of the Horse in England This made some to speake and others to hold their peace touching the affaires of France e To cast Gold into a Princes Councell is a great charme for greedy minds Gold is a medecine which at one instant workes two contrary effects To speake and to be silent There neuer came any Embassadours but commended his bounty at their returne and held themselues in a manner bound to fauour his intentions by which proceedings hee held himselfe in a manner assured on that side This made the Princesse of Burgundy resolue to marry to follow the counsell of the Lady of Haluin Princesse of Bourgundy wil haue a maÌ„ to her husband her first Lady of Honour which was to take a man and not a child for she was capable to beare them f There was a great disparitie of age betwixt the Dauphin and thus Princesse who was mother of three children before the Prince was a eleuen yeares old Shee refused the king of Englands brother It was thought that if they had propounded the Earle of Angolesme father to King Francis the 1. she would haue hearkened vnto it g The Annales of Aquitane speake thus vpon this occasion King Lewis wanted indgment in this action for if he had not hee wold haue married her to Charles Duke ef Angolâ—sme father to King Francis that now is her affections inclining to haue a Prince of France although she were much discontented for that the King had beene the cause of the death of her two good seruants Hugonet and Imbercourt The Emperour Frederick sent his Embassadours vnto her to put her in minde of the letter which she had written by the commandement of Duke Charles her father carrying a promise of marriage to the Arch-duke Maxamilian his son The Duke of Cleues who had another designe instructed her to referre her selfe to her Councell h In a Councell held vpon the reception of the Embassadours the Duke of Cleues said that after they had deliuered their message the Princesse of Burgundy should say vnto them that they were very welcome and that shee would referre it to her Councell and no more Phil. de Com. and not to say any thing to the Embassadours but at the sight of this Letter and a Diamond which did accompany it she declared that she had written the Letter and giuen the Diamond Princesse of Bourgundy marries Maxmilian by her fathers commandement The marriage was treated and Maximilian came into Flanders to consomate it and before the yeare was expired Philip father to Charles the 5. was the first fruits of this marriage Maximilian was then but twenty yeares old i When as Maximilian came into Flanders he was but twenty yeares old Hee was borne in the yeare 1458. Elenor daughter to Edward king of Portugal was his mother desiring to shew that the loue of the Princesse of Burgundy was not blind in choosing him among so many Corriuals he sought to recouer that which she had lost The King sent Craon into Bourgundy Kings Army in the French County k Peter or George of Tremouile Lord of Craon Liuetenant of the Kings Army in Bourgundy who hauing a power and being assisted by Iohn of Chalons Prince of Orange reduced the Towne of Dijon vnder the Kings obedience The Prince of Orange seeing himselfe deluded by him and that he did not deliuer vp the places vnto him which he had taken according to the Kings commandement grew discontented reuolted and recouered in a manner all that Craon had wonne in the County and then cast himselfe into Gy. From thence Craon besieged Dole Dole besieged contemning them that were within it as men whom he held to be without courage or defence This contempt accompanied with carelessenesse made him to loose his honour the Kings fauour and the Towne which he might haue taken for the besieged made a sally in a night that was windy darke and rainy with such aduantage as they surprized him and forced him to ritire with the losse of some of his Ordinance and of three thousand men l The fault of a Generall of an Army is sufficiently punished by the losse of his honour and his Princes loue and fauour The Romanes had no punishment for such errours to the end their Commanders should not haue their minds troubled with the dangers and ordinary Inconueniences in such charges and with the examples of such whose faults had bene punished with death For it is impossible to resolue iudiciously betwixt feare and suspition Charles of Amboise Lord of Chaumont was substituted in his place who aduised the King to renew his aliance with the Suisses and thereby to weaken the house of Bourgondy The perswasion of this counsell was not difficult the King thought nothing more fit for the safety of his estate then to make his enemies weake of Intelligence and Friends He sent some to practise this league and pursued it with great vehemency He had receiued so great content in the ruine of the most obstinate of his enemies as after the Battels of Granson and Morat hee did nothing but speake of the Suisses valor m Lewis the â—1 greatly aduaÌ„ced the reputation of the Suisses After victories which they had wonne against Charles Duke of Bourgondy he caused them to bee much esteemed Hee sent Embassadours with rich presents hee gaue them after the battell of Granson vntill his death aboue a million of Florins of the Rhin and esteeme their Friendship He put them in greater reputation then euer they had beene although they had much honoured the establishment of their liberty with a triumph of nine or ten Battels and that we may say of them as Titus
circumstances and dependances not doing or suffering any thing to bee done to the contrary either now or hereafter vpon any cause or occasion what soeuer forcing all them that shall oppose themselues to the contrary by the taking away of their letters granted to the contrary 〈◊〉 thereof seizure and detention of their goods in our hands imprisonment of their persons euen as is accustomed to be done for our own affaires notwithstanding any opposition appeale or complaint or any Ordonance made or to be made by Vs or our said sonne restraint or commandement defences or letters to the contrary for the which wee will not haue the contents effect and execution of these presents in any sort deferred stayed or hindered And for that many men haue need of these Presents in diuers places We will that full credit shall be giuen vnto the Copy therof made vnder the seale Royall or signed by the said Parrent or any other of our Notaries or ordinary Secretaries as to this present Originall In witnesse whereof we haue caused our Seale to be set to these Presents Giuen at our Castle of Ambois the 22 of September in the yeare of grace 1482. and of our reigne 22. By the King my Lord the Dauphin the Earle of Beaujeu the Earle of Marle Marshall of France the Archbishop of Narbona the Signiors of Bouchage Percigny Plessis of Solhes Iohn Doyac Gouernor of Auuergne Oliuer Guerin Steward of his houshold and many others being present Miscounting in the History Signed Parrent The date of this Edict discouers the mis-counting of Philip de Commines n Philip de Comines was sent into Sauoy to set at liberty the Signior of Illins a Dauphinois whom the King had giuen for Gouernour to Duke Philebert his Nephew When as the Earle of Bresse sawe the Kings Armie at Maston hee did what they desired who saith that in the yeare 1483. the King would see the Dauphin his sonne whom he had not seene in many yeares before and that soone after he had spoken vnto him he fell into the extremity of his sicknesse whereof he died for this Remonstrance was made in the Castle of Ambois in September 1482. and the King died not before August the yeare following But to resolue the doubt of times it may be that the King some few dayes before his death had a will to see the Dauphin when as they conducted him to Paris to make his entry and to celebrate his marriage and that Philip de Commines not beeing at Ambois when this first Remonstrance was made beeing stayed in Dauphin or Sauoy whether the King had sent him with Troopes against the Earle of Bresse hee had no knowledge thereof and therefore hath written That the King had not seene the Dauphin in many yeares before If a History bee the Image of Truth o A History is the proofe of time the light of truth the life of memory the mystery of life and the Trumpet of Antiquity It is the Image of truth and as the image is perfect that doth rightly represent the Originall so a History should represent all things in their simple truth and if Truth can haue but one vniuersall face in all things how can it accord the Chronicle with this Edict It writes that the King going to Saint Claude and before his departure out of Tourraine sawe the Dauphin at Ambois and gaue him his blessing That in the moneth of October the same yeare beeing fallen into a Relapse of his sickenesse hee caused himselfe to bee carried to Ambois to exhort him to that which hee should doe which makes mee to wonder if in matters that bee secrete and important Writers doe not alwayes giue full perpetuall and immutable Assurances seeing that in these they dispense so freely with the Certainety The Instructions which the King gaue vnto the Dauphin were found Good and Holy but they could yeeld no good fruits but with a peace All the rest without it had beene of small vse there being nothing whereof a Father who leaues a yong heire should bee more carefull then to leaue him his inheritance quiet and assured Being therefore resolued to giue a peace to France who attended it as a gift from heauen p There can bee nothing giuen more pleasing noâ— more healthfull to the people then a peace Vt circumspiciamus omnia quae populo grata â—â—nt atque iocunda nihil tam populare quam pacem quam concordiam quaÌ„ otium reperimus Let vs looke vnto all things that are pleasing and acceptable vnto the people wee shall not find any thing more popular then peace concord and ease Cicerâ— pro Le Agr. he thought to giue his sonne a wife but not the Princesse of England who was promised him by the Treaty of Piquigny After the death of the Dutchesse of Bourgondy the Gantois had seized vpon Prince Philip Estate of the Low-countries at the discretion of the Gantois and the Princesse Margaret her Children telling the Arch-duke Maximilian that the Guard and Tutele belonged vnto them The King who desired to haue the Princesse Margaret married vnto the Dauphin and knewe well that by the Gantois meanes the Propositions of the Treaty would bee to his aduantage commaunded Des Cordes to make some Ouerture thereof with two or three petty Companions of the Towne of Gand who had purchased some credite in the Seditions and Mutinies of the people These Men sitting their duety to the time and fortune A proposition of a peace and marriage transported with priuate passion a deadly poyson q All passion priuate affection is a poyson in the conduct and managing of affaires Peffimum veri affectus Iuditij venenum sua euique vtilitas Euery mans private interest is a deadly poyson to true iudgement Tacit. in Affaires of importance and distasted with the soft and effeminate commande of Maximilian consent speedily to the Propositions of Des Cordes and promise to make them succeed to the Kings good liking There was little paine in the effecting of this businesse for the Gantois to preuent all difficulties which the Father might propound in the marriage of his Daughter told him plainely that they would haue no more warres with France They insulted ouer him doing and vndoing many thing contrary to his Intentions On the other side Pope Sixtus both by the reason of his Office P. Sixtus mediates a peace as a common Father and by the Law of Religion which doth nothing more Christian r There is nothing more proper for a Christian then to make peace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 BASIL then to make peace solicited the King and the Archduke thereunto to ioyne their forces against the common enemy of Christendome and had sent the Cardinall of Saint Peter ad Vincula to exhort them The Deputies of either side met at Arras A Treatie of peace and marriage they layd open all the Pretences of the Crowne of France to the House of Bourgondy
The Kings intention was that the Riuers should returne vnto the Sea from whence they came and his reason was grounded vpon the Law of the Realme which giues no part of Reuenues of the Crowne in propriety to the Females and portions giuen to the Princes of France passe not to their daughters when as they leaue no sonnes s In old time the Infants of the House of France had their Portions in Soueraignty This was abbrogated in the third race and so ordered as the yonger sonnes could not pretend any thing to the Succession of the King their Father but a prouision for their entertainement the which hauing no Heires Males returned to the Crowne Heereupon there was a Sentence giuen to the benefite of King PHILIP the third for the Earledome of Poitiers and Lands of Auuergne against CHARLES the first King of Sicile brother to Saint LEVVIS in the Parliament of Tousaints 1283. Finally vpon that Maxime That the reuenues of the Crowne are Inalienable and not subiect to prescription For men cannot prescribe any thing against God nor priuate men against the Estate To apply the square vnto the stone and the Hypothesis vnto the Thesis the Kings Deputies did shew that the Dutchy of Bourgondy the Franch-County with the Earledomes of Flanders Artois and Henaut were peeces of the Crowne If their discourse was not in these tearmes it was so in substance The beginnings of the diminution of Flanders as they of all the great Empires of the world haue beene weake vncertaine and fabulous t Estates as all other things in the world haue three times the beginning the decrease and the declining The Countrey was peopled by a Colony of Saxons whom Charlemaigne brought thither gouerned vnder the authority of the Crowne of France by their Lords Forresters u The Gouernors and Guardiâ—ns of Flanders saith M r. du 〈◊〉 before Baldwin surnamed Iron-Arme were Officers mutable at the will of the Kings of FraÌ„ce although that some sonnes haue succeeded in their fathers Offices for that that they were heires of their vertues were called Forresters not that their charge was onely vpon the land being fall of Forrest for coles but the guard of the sea was also commutted to them The Estate began by Baldwin suruamed Iron-arme and continued in his posterity but as it ended by Maud daughter to Baldwin the fifth Flanders past vnder the commands of the Dukes of Normandy then of Thierry Earle of Alsatia who married Sibilla daughter to Foulques of Anjou King of Ierusalem and had but one daughter who was heire to the Earledome of Flanders and married to Baldwin the fourth of that name Earle of Henaut of this marriage came Baldwin Earle of Flanders the eighth of that name who was Emperour of Constantinople who died at Andrinopile who left but two daughters Ioane who died without children and Margaret Countesse of Flanders x Margaret Countesse of Flanders who raigned thirty yeares had two husbands the first was Bourcher an Englishman by who she had one sonne which dyed yong and William of Dampierre second sonne to Archambauld Lord of Bourbon Father to Guy Earle of Flanders Father to Robert of Bethunes who married William of Bourbon Guy Earle of FlaÌ„ders sonne to Archambâ—uld Lord of Bourboun He was father to three sonnes William who died without children Guy Earle of Flanders and Iohn Lord of Dampierre Guy Earle of Flanders married Maud daughter and heire to Robert others named him Fegard of Bethunes Robert of Bethunes by whom hee had fiue sonnes and three daughters Robert of Bethunes his sonne who hath deserued the surname of Great as well for the greatnesse of his vertue as his fortune succeeded him Charles of Anjou King of Sicile brother to Saint Lewis gaue meanes to acknowledge his valour more gloriously hauing set two Crownes vpon his head by the Victory of the battell of Benevent y Battle of Benevent the 10 of February 1565. where as Manfroy bastard to Conrade whom he had poysoned was slaine whereas the Parricide Manfroy ended his tyranny honour and life Hee had enioyed them longer and more happily if hee had followed the councell of this Prince z Robert of Bethunes Earle of Flanders did not allow of the death of Conradyne The History which detests it reserues him this honour Vtrique nouâ— ac regio nomine indigno crudelitatis in or be Christiano exemple fecuri vitam eripit frustra Flandriae Comite monente generosum victorem decêre moderationem clementiam Sed vicit vox cruenta vita Conradini mors Caroli mors Conradini vita Caroli Hee tooke away both their I was by an example of cruelty which was new in the Christian world and vnworthy the name of a King the Earle of Flanders â—â—lling him in vaine that moderation and clemency did become a generous victor but that cruell voyce preuaâ—â—d The life of Conradine is the death of Charles and the death of Conradine is the life of Charles who found the death of Conradine and Frederick of Austria Prisoners taken in the warre barbarous and inhumane Of this Marriage Charles was borne who dyed yong a Charles of Bethunes son to Robert Earle of Bethunes dyed at a eleuen yeares of age They write that he brought from his mothers wombe the figure of a Crosse betwixt his shoulders and Lewis who was father to Lewis the second Lewis the second of Bethunes Earle of Flandes Hee married Margaret of France daughter to Phillip the Long who treating of the conditions of this Marriage would that Robert of Bethunes his Grand-father should declare the children that were to be borne of this marriage Earles of Flanders This Lewis of Bethunes surnamed of Cresse for that he dyed at the battell of Cresse Lewis the third of Bethunes left one some called also Lewis and surnamed of Mallaine These so diuers names haue but one Spring Mallaine is Bethunes and Bethunes is Flanders The greatest Families of Europe haue forgotten their first names to continue them of their portions and successions So we see Bourbon for France Austria for Habspourg and in this Genealogy of the Earles of Flanders Dampierre for Bourbon Bethunes for Flanders and without any other distance but from father to sonne Neuers and Mallaine for Bâ—thunes Lewis of Bethunes or of Mallaine married Margaret daughter to the Duke of Brabant and had his onely daughter Margaret who was first married to Phillip Duke of Bourgundy and afterwards to Phillip the Hardy sonne to King Iohn From this truth we must conclude that the Crowne of France had the right of homage and of Soueraignety ouer the Earledome of Flanders before this marriage The like is said of the Townes of Lisle Douay Orchies and Bethunes Consequently Artois cannot bee separated from France no more then the Earledome of France from whence it is come County of Artois for the parties follow the nature of their whole King Lewis the ninth performing the will of
most famous actions As there are iniuries which are repaired by the quality only of them that doe them y The basenesse of him that doth a wrong defaceth the fearing of the iniurie Crates hauing receiued a blow on the face by Nicodromus a Man of base condition was contented for revenge to set these words vpon his wound Nicodromus faciebat so we see writings of so poore a fashion as it is indiffrent whether they be inserted or not But how comes it to passe that so diligent so exact and so iuditious a Writer had neuer cast his eyes vpon this house which had held all them of France in admiration and had not spoken of the actions of Iohn the second Earle of Vendosme which were no workes of ambition but of vertue and had not glory for their simple obiect but the contentment of his owne conscience desiring rather they should be grauen in the memory of good men then vpon the front of publicke workes An Historian that doth surpasse honour wrongs the publicke and as a sacriledge doth rauish the recompence of vertue z The sweetest fruit of a great and heroicke action is to haue done it they are deceiued which thinke to giue any other glory vnto vertue then it selfe She cannot finde out of her selfe any recompence worthy of her selfe and doth enuy the fruit that may grow thereby For although that men may be borne generous and full of heate for the loue of vertue yet it is needfull that the precepts and Images be often represented vnto them and that the statues which 〈◊〉 set vp in the Temple of memory grauen with the sciffers of eternity should bee shewed them yet it is not sufficient to shew them adorned with the Palmes and Crownes of their Triumphes they would haue them represented in such sort as they may seeme to breath speake and say vnto them a Mens mindes are excited to the loue of vertue by the examples of glory honor which adornes the memory of men whom she hath made famous werefore Polybius saith that they did represent to the youth of Rome their Images as liuing breathing to encourage them to that desire of honour which doth accompany good men Poly. lib. 6. You shall be as we are if you will liue as we did This labour may haue great defects they are found in the most perfect A History should be free from loue or hatred but they shall rather seeme to come from want of Iudgement then of will the which I finde free in this kinde of writing from hatred and loue furious passions which disguise both truth and false-hood They shall rather reproch me with ignorance then with lying and my writings shall alwayes haue more salt then spleene with what face shall they appeare in this age so much bound vnto the Kings glorious actions if they were dishonored as the rest with so iniurious a forgetfulnesse of his Predecessors Iohn Earle of Vendosme great great Grand-father to Henry the fourth King of France and Nauarre was sonne to Lewis Lord Steward of France and Gouernour of Picardy sonne to Lewis Earle of vendosme sonne to Iohn Earle of Marche sonne to Iames Constable of France the yonger sonne of Lewis of Clermont Duke of Bourbon eldest sonne to Robert of France second sonne to S. Lewis His Grand-mother was Katherine heire to the house of Vendosme his mother Ioane of Lauall daughter to Guy of Lavall surnamed dé Gaure b The Signiory of Laual was erected to an Earldome by K. Charles the seuenth at the instance of Lewis of Burbon Earle of Vandosme was the first act of Soueraignety which he did after his Coronation His father dyed in the yeare of our Lord 1447. and this death happened in a time so full of troubles as hee was forced to gird his sword vnto him more for the necessity of common defence then by reason of his quality or for seemelinesse Hee past his first Apprentiship in Armes vnder the braue Achilles of France Iohn of Orleans Earle of Dunois and was at the siege of Rouen Bourdeaux and Fronsac with Iohn Earle of Clermont sonne of Charles Duke of Bourbon and Carles of Bourgondy Duke of Neuers He serued King Charles the seuenth in all occasions that were offered to restore France and to free it from the oppressions of her enemies and did merit the Title of Most faithfull seruant of his Kings will and an inuincible companion of his dangers These two qualities which should haue purchased him loue with his successor Loialty of the Earle of Vandosme were the cause of his disgrace wherein hee did comfort himselfe by the knowledge he had of this Princes humor who did not loue any of his bloud nor them whom his Father had loued This was not able to withdraw him from his duty for hee still preserued the reputation of the ancient fidelity of them of his house vnto the Crowne c This branch of Vandosme hath that of glorious that it hath neuer left their kings in a maner all the Princes of France were of the league of the Common-weale yet Iohn Earle of Vandosme would not hearken to it When as the Duke of Orleans tooke Armes against the Lady Anne of France he drew vnto his party Charles Earle of Angoulesme the chiefe Noblemen of France onely the house of Vendosme remained with the Kings Gouernesse And although that Iohn the second Duke of Bourbon had declared himselfe of the league of the Common-weale for that the King had dispossest him of the gouernment of Guienne from whence he had expelled the English and had reduced it vnder the obedience of the Crowne yet would he not imbark himselfe in the same ship and for that he would not looke vpon this storme from a safe shore he was present at the battell at Montlehery with Francis and Lewis his children one of which was prisoner to the Earle of Charolois As the example of the head of his house did not make him reuolt so the feeling of his owne interest did not make him discontented His father had carried the Staffe of Lord Steward and his great grand-father the sword of Constable of France King Lewis the eleuenth disposed of the one and the other in fauour of men as farre inferiour in comparison of his merites as in qualities of his birth yet he did not murmure nor seeme discōtented considering that it is no more lawful for the greatest Prince of the bloud then for the least Officer of the Crowne to prescribe a law to the Soueraignes will to make it yeeld vnto his passions and that the elections of Kings in the distributions of honors are not subiect to the rules of distributiue Iustice which obserues a proportion betwixt recompence and merit d The King of France holding his Crowne of God only the ancient Law of the Realme distributes honors as he pleaseth It is a great violence to force a a minde full of courage to hate
Peter Lord of Beaujeu Lewis Bishop of Liege and Iames who dyed at Bruges and to the Lady Ioane of Bourbon married to the Lord of Arlay Prince of Orange and Margaret of Bourbon wife to Phillip Earle of Bresse and from that time resigned his aboade at Court vnto his brethren After the Duke of Bourgundies death hee would not bee an actor in the warre which the King beganne against his daughter and with a discourse free from all flattery a vice vnworthy of a great courage q A great courage speakes frâ—ely but without btterner or slander Fattery is the marke of seruitude and slaunder deth falsely vsâ—rpe that of liberty Adulationiâ—oedum crimen seruitutis malignitati falsa specieâ— libertatis in est Tacit. Hist. Lib. 1. hee did not dissemble his opinion saying that the King should haue giuen it a better and a more reasonable Title then a simple desire to ioyne the Low Countries to his Crowne this so free and true a iudgement did much offend the King who from that time resolued to let the Duke of Bourbon know that this last offence had renewed the feeling of the first He caused secret informations to be made against him yet doubting his courage reputation he would not haue the rigor of his iustice aime directly at him Hee beganne with his Officers and gaue commission to Iohn Auin Councellour in the Court of Parliament and to Iohn Doyac to enforme against him thinking that to free themselues from trouble they should bee forced to engage their Lord r Claude of Seyssiell saith that King Lewis the eleuenth sent vnto â—he Duke of Bourbon some of his ministers men of base condition to doe him some intollerable wrongs vnder colour of Iustice thinking for the great spirit which hee knew to be in him to prouoke him to offer some violence or to make resistance but the Duke knowing to what end all was done endured it with patience and escaped by sufferance dissembling they decreed a personall adiournement against his Chancellour his Atturny the Captaine of his Guard and many others who appeared with more confidence to defend themselues then slander had assurance to accuse them vpon their answere the Commissioners knew not what to say and the Court of Parliamen which knew well that it was a practise to trouble the Duke of Bourbon whose probity and integrity two rare qualities in that age had purchased him the surname of Good and the affections of all the people enlarged them The Chronicle saith that this proceeding was against God and Reason It was a very sencible griefe vnto him to see his loyalty called in question and his seruices contemned But hee considered all these occurrents with an open eye and a resolute brow with the a â—uantages which a good conscience gaue him and did iudge thereof with a setled spirit lamenting the bad counsell which entertained the King in his great rigours in an age which was not fit for it s Seuertty is not good in a Prince whose age is declining It is needefull to purchase loue Galba knew it well Some other would not haue forborne teares for so peircing a griefe he would haue lost his sleepe and his body should haue found no other rest but that which disquietnesse brings by the agition of the mind but afflictions which assaile good men do them no other harme but burne the bonds which hinder them to lift their hands with their hearts vp to heauen They blesse the name of God in the midst of flames Imprisonment doth not depriue him which suffreth for iustice of the sweetnesse of a profound sleepe His rest is so sound as the Angell of the Lord which comes to deliuer him must awake him It is now time that Lewis go the way which these great Kings haue traced vnto him There wants nothing but this peece to the triumphant Charriot of death and hee could not desire better company then of these three Kings his neere kinsmen who were there already t Hauing passed through all the charges of life we must not refuse that of death Seneca said to him that was loath to leaue the charges and offices wich he had exercised in his life time Quid tu nescis vâ—um esse ex vitae officijs mori Dost thou not know that to die is also one of the duties of life Sen. Epist. 77. he had passed by all the offices of life there remained nothing but the last but it is the most difficult and would bee lesse if he had thought on it in time if going by the way of life he had thought of the lodging of death those feares which hold him in worse estate then death it selfe should be dispersed Accidents foreseene a farre off considered without amazement and attended with resolution do not trouble the minde like vnto those which surprise it His thoughts were ingaged in so many mortall and perishable things as he had small care of Immortall and yet these went before him and attended on him and the others followed after him and abandoned him He hath busyed himselfe to gather vp Attlantas Apples and hath so much the more hindred the fruite and prise of his course In the way of health he that staies retires and hee that retires looseth himselfe and goes astray There are three sorts of men whom God loues not they that stay they that turne backe and they that wander Wee must giue courage to the first call on the second and direct the others Lewis found himselfe to be in so difficult a passage as he had need to be encouraged Lewis fals into new apprehensions of death supported and directed u It is a sweete consolation to a Princes minde among the trances and feares which are found in the passage of life and death when hee hath not to doe with any but himselfe that all his enterprises are ended and that he may say I die content hee could not but murmurre against the Law of Nature which did not suffer him to glut himselfe with the pleasures of life But to haue content of the rest at the point of death hee must make prouision thereof throughout the whole course of his life That word I dye content is not alwaies found in the mouth nor proceeds not from the heart of Princes who haue had so much paine to content theÌ„selues in whose liues as in those of other men we finde Vanity weakenesse inconstancy and misery The great oppositions which Lewis makes against the decree of death shew that he is not yet content with the fruits of life He complaines that he hath discouered the Port and desires to thrust himselfe againe into the violent waues of the world He thought that a little more life would haue made him reape the fruites of so many designes which hee had sowne in diuers places and did grieue that death would not suffer him to see that ended which he had begunne Yet it is a very remarkeable thing
yeeld to any thing contrary to the dignity of his Crowne which cannot endure to be forced and doth neuer shew himselfe in publicke actions but with what is fit and necessary for his greatnesse and power e The words and actions of Princes are so considered and the people iudge of them as they vnderstand them and therefore should alwayes appeare Maiesticall and if it may bee Diuine And ancient Grecian said That a Prince should not speake before the people but as if hee were vpon a stage in a Tragedy This Maiesty is like vnto Moses Rod Maiesty compared to Moses rod. the which being held in the hand was the Instrument of admirable things but creeping on the earth there was nothing but horror and contempt Lewis the eleuenth was alwayes very carefull to maintaine this Maiesty being wonderfull desirous of reuerence respect and reputation and yet his priuate and familiar actions were very contrary This care was the last garment he put off hee shewed it vpon the tigpe of his lippes when as hee thrust forth the last words of his life He gaue it two supporters Feare and Admiratition f 〈…〉 that greâ— God who the Prince doth represent It is the support and protecâ—sion of an estae and confâ—â—â— bee contemned nor wronged but the whole body will be distempered maiestas Imperij solutis tutela Maiestly is the guardian of the Empires health another would haue maintained it with Loue and Authority but hee mist this first way at his comming to the Crowne and could neuer after recouer it hee found such sauadge humors and so accustomed to liberty that as the intemperance of the Patient iustifies the seuerity of the Physitian he was forced to vse fury to make mad men wise Thus his Maiesty was feared of the greatest Princes of Europe it was not contemned of any man without punishment and it was reuerenced of all his subiects This Maiesty was like vnto those Pictures which seemed fairest farre off It was admired in forraine Prouinces but it was something blemished by his carelesnesse and facility wherewith he did often wrong his greatest actions The Castillians at the voyage of Bayone scoffed at him to see him with so little pompe and maiesty Custome of Lewis 11 at ceremonies Vpon dayes of great shew hee caused some one to bee attired like himselfe g At the enterview of King Lewis the eleuenth and Edward the fourth at Piquigny Philip de Comines was attâ—â—ed like the King And yet a Prince should neuer doe any thing that should cause him to bee sought for among his subiects and seruants the brightnesse of his Maiesty must shine like vnto a Planet ouer the lesser starres Great men which inuiron a Prince giue a lustre to the greatnesse of Maiesty Offices of the crown The Offices of the Crowne are ordained to that end and the great dignities which France doth impart to great merites addes reuerence and doth incite their mindes to merit them It is like vnto the Garden of Phaeaces which abounds with all sorts of fruites It is not vnfitting to set downe heere who tasted of them during this Reigne h When as king Lewis the eleuenth came vnto the Crowne there was no Constable Arthur Duke of Brittanie Earle of Richmond was vnder the Reigne of Charles the seuenth Constable Lewis of Luxembourg Earle of Saint Paul no other carried the Sword during this Reigne Chancellour Peter of Moruilliers Iuvenall of Vrsins Lord of Treynell and Peter of Oriole Lord Steward The Lord of Nantoillet IOHN of Croi CHARLES of Melun ANTHONY of Croi sonne to IOHN of Croi and ANTHONY of Chabannes Earle of Damartin Chiefe Chamberer IOHN the second Duke of Bourbon i The Office of chefe Chamberer or Gentleman of the Chamber continued long in the house of Bourbon The King Saint Lewis gaue it to Robert of France his sonne Lewis the first Duke of Bourbon Charles the first Iohn the second Peter the second Dukes of Bourbon Lord Chamberlaine IOHN of Orleans Earle of Dunois ANTHONY of Chasteauneuf Lord of Lau. Marshals of France ANDREVV of Lauall Lord of Loheac IOHN Bastard of Armagnac Earle of Comminges Ioachim Rouant Lord of Gamasche of Boismenard and Peter of Rohan Lord of Gye There were but two vntill King Francis the first Admirall Iohn Lord of Montauban Lewis Bastard of Bourbon Earle of Rousillon Lewis Lord of Grauille Maister of the Crosse-bowes k The maister of the Ordinance of France or the Coâ—oncll of the Infantery haue succeeded in this charge Iohn of Estouteuille Lord of Torcy Great Butler the Lord of Lau. Wee finde not that hee had any Maister of his Horse or Maister of the Pantry Ioachim of Rouant was Maister of the Horse at his Coronation Yuon of Fau his chiefe Hunts-man Lewis of Lauall Lord of Chastillon was maister of the Waters and Forrests The ancient order of France was that Knights Banneret the Maister of the Pantrie the chiefe Caruer and the chiefe Cuppebearer should serue the King at the foure Annall Feastes and to either of them was giuen foure poundes sterling but when as Lewis the eleuenth neglected this Gratuity they forgot the Dutie It is one of the precepts of Maiesty that the markes of Soueraignty bee not imparted to any l A prince shold not be more sparing of any thing then of honours which depend of his maiesty yet hee suffered the Prince of Orange to stile himselfe Prince by the grace of God Here P. Mathew is deceiued and to René King of Sicile to seale in yellow Waxe in the yeare one thousand foure hundred sixty nine the which doth onely belong to the Kings of France other Princes of Christendome seale in waxe of diuers colours and to Charles Earle of Angoulesme to release prisoners when hee made his first entry into any Towne where he commanded m In this priuiledge but for once to Charles Earle of Angoules me prisoners for high Treason were excepted It was granted in the yeare 1477. Hee was very staied in giuing Titles of Honour and Dignity to great Families a Prince cannot bee too warie therein for it falles out often that the considerations which fauour the priuate merite of any one end with him when hee dies but when the dignitie is tyed vnto the person as the feodall titles of Dukes Marquises Earles and Barons bee the Family for the which the gratification was made is dispossest thereof when as the Landes goe away n Many disallowed that the feodall Titles of Dukes Marquises c. should bee giuen in France to the Land and not vnto the Bloud for it happens that some one loosing the land doth also loose the meanes to maintaine the Title which remaines Hence it comes that in England such dignities are not annexed to the Landes and Fees Policy in England for the titles of Houses but to the Bloud and the Descendants of the Familie The German doth not impart it to the
of Chastel a He was one of the Commissioners whom the King appointed for the accusation and Imprisonment of the Cardinall of Balue one of the Architects of the league found in the end that there was no better lodging then at the kings armes His fortune was ruined in Brittany and raised in France Hee did negotiate the enter-view of the King and Duke of Bourgondy at Peronne he was imployed in the Truce of nine yeares 1475. and was aduanced to the gouernment of Rousillon The Lord of Nantoillet had for a time the authority ouer all the Armies of France Lord of Nantoillet he wanted nothing but the name of Constable for he did exercise the Functions the King hauing made him his Lieutenant Generall throughout his whole Realme and afterwards Lord Steward of France He was so fauoured as the King gaue him often the moity of his bed This fauour lasted not long The Chronicle of the Kings library saith That the King could not pardon any one of whom he had suspition Death of the Lord of Nantoillet He caused his head to be cut off in the yeare 1468. and that the Hangman hauing cut off but a peece at the first blow hee lest him force and courage enough to stand vp and to protest before heauen and the people that hee died an Innocent After that Philip de Commines had said that he had serued the king well in Paris in the warre of the Common-weale he addes In the end he was ill rewarded more by the pursuite of his enemies then by the Kings fault but neither the one nor the other can well excuse themselues Anthony of Chabannes Anthony of Chabannes Earle of Dammartin brother to Iames of Chabannes Lord Steward of France saw the ship of his fortune cast vpon the shelfe in the beginning of this Princes Reigne His good fotune drew him out of the Bastille to go to the warre of the Common-weale in the end whereof hee was made Lord Steward of France hee had the chiefe charge of the Kings Army in Guyenne and was then much fauoured by this Prince with whom hee was so inward as when hee meant to marry his second Daughter to the Duke of Orleans hee discouered his secret affections vnto him by a letter which hee did write vnto him vpon that subiect wher of the Chronicle in written hand of King Lewis the twelfth makes mention hee sent him word that whatsoeuer they said hee was resolued to giue his daughter to the yong Duke of Orleans but no man should bee troubled to nourish the Children that should bee borne of that marriage Peter of Termouille Peter of Tremouille Lord of Croan saw not his life to end with the fauours and honors hee had had of this Prince His Predecessors Guy of Tremouille and Iohn of Tremouille Lord of Ionuelle were made great in following the Duke of Bourgondies party The eldest of this house married Ioane Countesse of Boulleyn and Comminges Widow to Iohn of France Duke of Berry b K. Charles 〈…〉 yeare 1430. King Charles 7 supported George of Tremouille Lord of Craon in the quarrell which he had with the Earle of Richmont for the Lands of Thouars and Benon Peter of Tremouille defeated the troopes of the Prince of Orange before Gy in the Franch-County but hauing beene repulst from the siege of Dole hee was disgraced by Lewis the eleuenth who loued the seruices better then the seruants Hee was saith Philip de Commines a very fat man who being reasonably well content and rich retired himselfe to his house Charles of Ambois did long feele the disgrace of Peter of Chaumont his father Charles of Ambois who retired himselfe in the begining of the reigne of Lewis with the Duke of Berry c The House of 〈…〉 by the Kings Commandement in the 〈◊〉 1465. He was afterwards imployed in great affaires and continued vnto the end His brother was Bishop of Alby and then Cardinall and the greatest fauourite of Lewis the twelfth who called him M r. George Philip de Commines calleth Charles of Ambois a most Valiant Wife and Diligent Man Peter of Rohan Peter of Rohan Lord of Gy did gouerne his fortune happily amidst the waues and stormes of this Princes reigne who made him Marshall of France He was one of the foure which vndertooke the gouernment of affaires during the Kings infirmity and disability d 〈…〉 the Bishop of 〈◊〉 the Lord of Châ—umont the Marshall of Gye and the Lord of Lude gouerned the Estate for 10 or 12 dayes Hee continued this great Authority vnder the reigne of Charles the eighth for the respect whereof the Lady Anne of France Regent to the King and Wife to Peter of Bourbon offended that the Duke of Orleans attempted vpon her Authority would haue taken him prisoner by the Marshall of Gye The Duke of Orleans retired himselfe and hee that was chosen to stay him was the Instrument of his returne and made his peace with the Regent Iohn of Chalons Prince of Orange Iohn of Chalons left the Duke of Bourgondy to serue Lewis the eleuenth then hee left Lewis to serue Mary daugther to the Duke of Bourgondy This first discontentment against his first maister grew for that disputing the succession of Iohn of Chalons Prince of Orange his Grand-father e Iohn of Chalons sonne to Lewis Margaret of Vienne was married to Mary of Baussac heire of the principalitie of Orange by whom hee had Lewis surnamed the Good Lewis first maried Ioane of Montbelâ—art by whom hee had William and then hee maâ—â—ied Elenor of Armagnaâ— by whom hee had Lewis and Hugh Williaâ— was married to Katherine of 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Iohn of Chalons was borne of whom wee now make mention against Lewis and Hughe his vncles the Duke of Bourgondy being President in his Councell when as the cause was pleaded made a Decree against him This despight drew him to the Kings seruice who promised to restore him to his lands and to giue him the gouernment of Bourgondy but when as he saw that he had but the name and that the Lord of Tremouille had the command of all the forces he returned to the seruice of the Princesse of Bourgondy and caused the whole Countrey to reuolt from the King He troubled him much and let him see that a great Prince hath no small enemies that a Hornet is able to put a Bull into fury Iohn of Esteteuille Iohn of Eâ—â—teuille Lord of Torcy gouerned his fortune amidst so many rockes and shelues vnto a safe port The King made him maister of the Cross-bowes and committed vnto him the guard of the Cardinal of Balue in the Castell of Montbason It was he that came and aduertised the King of the danger in suffering such numbers of English to enter into Amiens during the Treaty of Piquigny Philip of Creuecoeur Philip of Creuecoeur Lord of Esquerdes or Cordes Marshall of France He had great
honors and deserued great aduancements in the house of Bourgondy he receiued the Coller of the golden Fleece when as D. Charles did first solemnize the order at Bruges after his fathers death f Charles 〈…〉 should haue stood with these words which are read in a Chronicle M. S. of the Kings library The Earle of Neuers being adiourned by the letters patents of the most high and most excellent Prince my redoubted Lord the Duke sealed with the seale of his order of the Fleece to appeare in person at this present Chapter there to answere vpoÌ„ his honor touching witchcraft and abusing the holy Sacraments of the Church hath not appeared but hath made default And to auoid the sute and depriuation of the order to bee made against him he hath sent back the Coller and therefore hath been and is declared out of the order and not called in the offring when as the Earle of Neuers was degraded more vnworthily then the respect of his house made him to hope from a Prince his neere kinsman The Duke gaue him the gouernment of the County of Boullein afterwards of Artois He came vnto the Kings seruice and deliuered into his hands the Towne of Arras after the Dukes death It seemes that Philip de Comines would not speake all he knew nor call a Fig a Fig. He knits it vp shortly in these words He could not mistake in submitting himselfe vnto the Kings seruice vnlesse he had taken a new oath to the yong Lady of Bourgondy and in yelding vp that vnto her which he held of hers They haue and will speake diuersly hereof wherfore I referre my selfe to the truth Tristan the Hermit whom the rigor of this reigne hath made so famous for the suddennesse of his executions was high Prouost Tristan the Hermit King Charles the 7 th made him knight after the siege of Fronsac g After the siege of Fronsac there were made knights Iohn of Bourbon Earle of Vendosâ—ne Iohn of â—ourbon his base brother the Vicount of Turaine the Lords of Rochefautaut Commery Rochechouart Grignaux de Barres Mommorin Bordeilles Fontenelles and Estauge The name of Tristan was giuen to Princes borne in some great affliction Iohn of France was surnamed Tristan for that he was borne at Damiete during the Imprisonment of S. Lewis his father In like manner the sonne to the King of Sicile was called Tristan for that he was borne in Catelonia when his father was a prisoner Philip de Commines Lords of Argenton Philip de Commines Some haue thought that he freed the king from the danger of Peronne and that it was the cause of the great fauour which he had purchased with the king I haue wondred why the king did not adde the honour of the Order of S. Michael and how it was possible that it should faile a man who wanted not any thing and who was so much fauoured and so familiar with the king as he did often lye in his Bed eate at his Table sit at his Councell and carried his most secret designes to Princes treated q Wee doe often finde the 〈…〉 of the secrets in Lawyers books Procopius sayth that the wâ—ters of 〈◊〉 were called a Secretis Honor qui tunc dabaâ—ur egregijs dum ad Imperiale Secretum tales constet eligi in quibus reprehonsionis vitium nequeat inveniâ—i An honour which was then giuen to worthy men whilst such are chosen to the secrets of the Empire in whoÌ„ no vice of reprehension can bee found happily but by them that know them by the beginning Secretarie of state a necessary Office progresse and effects by whose eyes and hands they see them and then dispatch them Sufficiency Experience and Fidelity serue as a lampe in obscurest deliberations and giues them Ariadâ—es threed which keepes them from meeting the Minotaure of repentance r The Venetians whose state is Aristocraticall change all their Officers yearely and some euery two moneths but the Duke the 〈◊〉 of S t. Marke the Chancellor and the Secretaries of State are for life the which the Florentines ordained in their state whâ—â— as Lewis the twelfth freed them from the tyranny of Count Valentine in the intricate Labyrinth of Enterprises For this reason in some well-gouerned Common-weales where as Offices are annuall that of Secretary is perpetual to the end that one alone may be Register of that which is concluded by many and an inviolable Guardian of Secrecie which is the soule of affaires and returnes neuer when it is once let slip s Secrecie is the soule of affaires and as Valerius calles it Optimum ac 〈…〉 agendâ—rum vinculum The best and safest hand for the managing of Affaires France cannot passe without the Counsell and experience of him who for that hee hath serued foure Kings in that great and painfull charge is held by all Europe for the Oracle of all resolutions and reuolutions There is not any thing vnpenetrable to his Iudgement who entring into the most confused and obscure affaires doth presently draw light But it is time to go to land This name so famous and renowned throughout all the world is the rocke of Adamant which drawes my ship Hee is the Port of this Nauigation which I finish he shall be the North-starre of another which I continue The profit of them shall redound to all in generall the thankes vnto the King and the glory vnto God The end of the History of Lewis the eleuenth MAXIMES IVDGEMENTS AND POLITIKE OBSERVATIONS OF PHILIP DE COMMINES Lord of Argenton VPON THE LIFE REIGNE AND ACTIONS OF LEWIS the eleuenth and of diuers other occurrents PLACES AND TITLES of these Maximes Prouidence of God Princes Realme Salique Law Enter-view of Princes Gouernments Councels and Councellors Court of Parliament Embassadors Treasure of the Prince Assemblies and Treaties People and Subiects Townes and Nations House of Bourgondy Enemies Enterprises Battels Warre Souldiars Sieges Victories Changes Prosperity and Aduersity Diuision Tumults and Sedition Liberalitie Iustice and Iniustice Punishment Iniury and Offence Wisedome Secresie Experience Knowledge Historie Nourishment Nature Hope Age. Fore-sight Carelesnesse and Vigilance Pride and Presumption Treacherie Dutie A good Man POLLITICKE MAXIMES PROVIDENCE OF GOD. ALL well considered our onely hope should be in God In the end of the first booke for in him consists all our assurance and all goodnesse which cannot bee found in any other thing in the world But wee do euery man acknowledge it too late and after that wee haue neede yet it is better late then neuer Grace and good fortune comes from God Lib. 1. chap. 4. In all enterprises wee must haue God of our side Lib. 2. chap. 1. God hath alwaies loued the Realme of France Lib. 4. chap. 1. To see things which God hath done in our time Lib. 4. chap. 13. and doth daily shewes that he will leaue nothing vnpunished And we may see plainely that these strange workes come