Queene being Imperious high minded proud sent him the choice either to go assaile her in her owne countrey where she would attend him or that he would stay in his owne and she would go vnto him to say vnto him If thou comest not I will goe that euery one followed the strangers fortune they sent a great Embassage vnto the king consisting of many Noble-men and of all the orders of the Countrey among which were William Hugonet her Chancellor and the Lord of Himbercourt the dukes chiefe seruants they found the king at Peronne where he had made his entry and present the Princesses letters vnto him who besought him to protect her rather then oppresse her as hauing the honour to come out of the House of France and rather consider the pittifull estate of her present Condition and Sexe the which besides was subiect to the Councels and Authority of passionate Men then the respects of his owne priuate Interest That all subiects of Hatred and Offence should bee buried in the Tombe of Duke Charles her Father z When 〈◊〉 the Supreame Authority lights vpon a woman she must of necessity bee supported with great and eminet vertues with a generous courage and a wise conduct to gouern her selfe vpon the first refusall discontētments grow and then factions Simon Rosgon Bishop of Agria demanded of Q. Elizabeth daughter to Sygismond and wise to Albert King of Hungary the Arch-bishoprick of Strigonia to whom shee answered Whilst I raigne you shall not haue it and he replied as long as I liue you shal not raign and they both kept their words That it was piety for a great Prince her Kinsman and Soueraigne to defend her in her Countries and Estates whereunto she succeeded according to the Lawes and Ordinances of Kings his Predecessors and in the end that she was resolued to referre her affaires to the good gouernment of foure persons of the Dowager her Mother Sister to King Edward of England of Rauasteen brother to the Duke of Cleues her neere kinsman of Hugonet her Chancellour and of the Lord of Himbercourt The King gaue them good words The King winnes the Princesses Embassadors and hauing entertained euery Deputy a part following the first precept not to force all at once but to pull of the horses taile haire by haire a To shew that perseuerance cōtinuance doth by little and little preuaile ouer all things Sertorious caused two horses to be brought the one leane feeble and old the other fat and strong behind the leaner he set a strong and mighty man and behind the other a slender weake one a signe being giuen the strong man tooke the leane horse by the taile and sought with all his force to pull it of but he laboured and sweate in vaine The weake man who was behind the great horse began to pull it haire by haire and soone stript it without any paine Plu. Hee drew the cheife of them to be at his deuotion vpon the assurance of the marrying of his sonne with their Mistresse Hugonet hauing all his lands in Picardy towards Amiens and Himbercourt in Bourgundy giue themselues vnto him and for the first proofe of their affection they dispose Phillip of Creuecoeur Lord of Cordes to open the gates of Arras vnto him holding him freed from his oath to the Princesse They thought that if this marriage tooke effect there were nothing to be diuided betwixt the house of France and Bourgundy Vpon the same opinion Townes yeelded to the King Hedin Therouenne and Monstreuill yeeld b That which the Ancients called Gessoriacum is at this day named by the French Bologne by the English Bollen and by the Flemings Beunen Beatus Rhenatus saith that he had seene an old Inscription where were these words Gessoriacum quod nune Bononia Bulloine did not beleeue so lightly it endured a Battry the King entred and finding this Towne fit for the fortification of the frontiers as it hath bene alwaies famous on either side the Sea he compounded with Bertrand de la Tour who was Lord in propriety and as the new Lord he did homage without Girdle or Spurres bare-head and on his knees to the Virgin Mary offering as a right and duty vnto her image a Hart of Massiue Gold weighing two thousand Crownes Boloigne vnder the Virgine Maries homage vpon condition that from thence-forth he and his successors Kings should hold the Earledome of Bulloine of the Virgine should do her homage and at euery change of a Vassall should pay a Hart of pure Gold of that weight Thus the Princesse of Flanders Arras besieged saw herselfe forced to quite that which she could not keepe c It is better to quite that which we cannot keepe then to loose it in keeping it Phillip of Macedon did willlingly abandon many places vnto the Romanes and a great continent of his Country which he saw he could not defend rather then to be seene to haue lost it vnwillingly So after the Battell of Cannes the Romanes refused to succour many of their Allies desiring rather to loose them then to be blamed for that they were not able to defend them T. Liu. Dec. 4. yet the King held nothing of Arras but the Citty which de Cordes had deliuered vnto him and wherein he remained Gouernour The Lord of Lude defeated the Horsemen which they of Doway had sent and in this Encounter Vergy was taken and remained a whole yeare prisoner in chaines for that he would not be sworne vnto the King protesting obstinately that he could not cease to be seruant to the house of Bourgundy nor begin to affect that of France d It is dishonorable rashly to fall from the duty which we owe vnto the Prince L. Maenius an Officer to Augustus being carried prisoner to M. Anthony he demāded of him What wilt thou shall bee done with thee that they strangle mee answered Maeniu◠forneither for grace nor punishmēt will I euer cease to be Caesars souldiour neither will I beginne to be yours They of the Towne seeing themselues prest demanded a Pasport of the Bastard of Bourbon Admirall of France for two or three and twenty Deputies vnder colour of going to Bollen to treat with the King They go forth with this pasport but being followed and surprised vpon the way to Flanders they were led to Hedin and by a sentence giuen by the Prouost condemned to loose their heads the King arriuing vpon the execution staid it Princes alwaies cause punishments to cease when they are in presence They told him that among them that were executed there was a Parisian called Oudard of Bussy to whom he had giuen the office of a Maister of Accompts in the chamber at Arras Hee caused his head to bee set vpon a stake in the Market-place wearing a scarlet hood furred with Meneuer Arras yeelded by composition A breach being made an assault valiantly giuen basely defended Arras yeelded by composition the
THE HISTORY OF LEWIS THE ELEVENTH VVITH THE MOST MEMORABLE accidents which happened in Europe during the two and twenty yeares of his Raigne Enricht with many Obseruations which serue as Commentaries Diuided into eleuen Bookes Written in French by P. MATHIEV Historiographer to the French King And Translated into English by EDVV GRIMESTON Sergeant at Armes †LEWIS ✚ THE ✚ XI ✚ FRENCH ✚ KING ✚ At London printed by GEORGE ELD 1614. SEMPER · EADEM TO THE MOST NOBLE AND WORTHY OF ALL HONORS THOMAS Earle of Suffolke Lord Chamberlain to his Maiestie WHO begins my most Noble Lord and not ends the Race receiues no Crowne I haue begunne to submit to your Patronage my former endeauours And therefore thus continue their grace with prescription of your honorable name Your most Noble disposition neuer giuing ouer free and honest seruices T' were inconstancie respectlesse and rude to relinquish or not euer to celebrate you Or to an encreasing Nobilitie and merit to decrease in obseruance and Tribute I haue chosen now to present your Lordship with the Life of one of those Kings which my former French disfranchisements and makings free in our English haue in other sort toucht at Now selected augmented and more particularly illustrated by the neerer and more labor'd insight of one of their learned'st and most profit-making Obseruers All obiections to his labours he hath answered himselfe in Sequell my paines being onely to render him truely and with as much grace of our English representation as I might Nought rests but your Lordships leasurable perusall and examination of both Together with my zealous desire of your honorable conceit that all Offices performed on my part in this or any other worthy subiect shall euer be particularly confined to your chosen seruice and noble acceptance So euer remaining in all things Your LL. most deuoted EDVV GRIMESTON AN ADVERTISEMENT ALthough that all Bookes which are presented vnto the King proceed not from those excellent pens which haue taken life vnder his raigne to aduance the French eloquence to the height of glory no more then all Statues which were dedicated to Apollo in Creet Rhodes and Cypres were not made by the hands of Zeuxis or of Phidias nor the wine which was offered to Iupiter in his sacrifice did not alwaies come out of the cup nor grew in those Vines which he desired yet this History being but in her Infancy hath merited the fauour of his iudgement and of the greatest of his Court who haue taken delight to see as in an Astroâ—ab the rising and fall of those which are on earth as the Sunne is in Heauen This is the rampier wherein shee fortifies her selfe against so many affronts wherewith she hath been threatned for curious spirits are not pleased with all kinds of writing no more then the Planets feed vpon all sorts of vapours The most difficult to please will obiect against her and mee thinkes I vnderstand these words proceeding out of their mouthes or from their thoughts why the History of Lewis the eleuenth more then of any other can they giue vs a better then that of Philip de Commines to all these exceptions she hath but one answere What though I giue not all humors content A worke that 's great cannot please eu'ry taster But of so many tasts so different Let it suffice me that it likes my Master I haue not affected in this worke the glory of mine owne wit I haue contented my selfe with that of obedience I haue made it such as you see it his commandement carries his reasons and staies the curiositie of such as desires others This great Prince who entertained himselfe and slept sometimes vpon the actions of this King as Alexander did vpon those of Achilles and who made no lesse esteeme of Phil. de Com. then the Emperor Charles the fift had done would haue his History beautified and illustrated in the same manner that I present it vnto you to the end that being compared with his Iudgement might make the difference and that of two they might frame a liuely Image of that which might serue for the conduct of a Prince The brightnes of truth appeares by the opposition of her contrary and shadowes giue grace to liuely coulours examples are of more force then precepts Cowards instruct the Couragious and lyars make Men speake the truth He that turnes from vice encounters vertue Ismenias mingled both good and bad Flute-players together to the end that the diuersitie of their musick might be a lesson to imitate the one and leaue the other and that comparison might make the difference There is nothing so difficult as to paralel Princes if there be any conformitie in their fortunes it is found in their vertues if they haue attained to one end it hath not been by the same course and therefore they say there are a hundreth yeares required to breed a great Prince or a great Captaine Lewis hath carried and Henry doth yet carry the glorious Title of the most renowned and magnanimous Princes of their ages but they haue not purchased it by the selfe same meanes the difference hath beene great in their humours and in their kinde of gouernement Both had one kinde of beginning the one of the house of Valois the other of that of Bourbon two branches of S. Lewis There was some conformitie in their first fortunes being both retired from Court and both instructed in patience in the schoole of necessitie The beginning of their reignes had some resemblance for both had seene a great and mighty faction raised against them vnder two goodly pretexts the one of the Common-weale the other of Religion both haue been in paine to expell forraine enemies to pacifie domestique and to diuide their humors but what the one hath done by policie and force the other hath effected by the iustnes of his armes and the mildnes of his clemencie Both were troubled to moderate those spirits which had yet a feeling of ciuill diuisions they haue tried the infidelitie of their seruants and haue made themselues to bee feared and redoubted but the one hath maintained the respect of his Maiestie by feare and seueritie and the other by wisedome and loue The raigne of the one was a Sea of stoâ—mes and tempest the other a calme milde and cleare hauen Lewis of much did little Henry of nothing did wonders Lewis thrust himselfe into apparant dangers to reap doubtfull fruits Henry was neuer seene in any place but fortunate and victorious Lewis medled with all things and would see and know all Henry is a Prince of all howers and for all affaires Lewis feared the fat of his people Henry beleeues that the felicitie of the subiect is the glory of the Prince Lewis the eleuenth had royall vertues but they were not all pure his wisedome had a touch of ounâ—ing his iustice of seueritie his valour of rashnes his clemencie of feare his liberalitiâ— of profusion and his pietie of dissimulation Henry takes
embroydered He is receiued with great pomp into Tournay as a signe that their heartes were all French This Towne bragging that they had neuer knowne any other command then French There the Lord of Crouy came vnto the King who made him Lord Steward of his howse and gaue him the County of Guisnes In the beginning of Lent and at the end of the yeare whose beginning was then accompted from the resurrection the King went to Lisle whether the Duke of Bourgondy came to conferre with him of his voyage to the holy land Crâ—ysado published against the Turke Pope Pius the second continuing the designes of Calixtus the third had published a Croysado to releiue the Christians of the East t Calixtus the 3. perswaded all Christian Princes to make warre against the Turke he sent Lewis of 〈◊〉 a â—rier to Vsâ—m Casâ—an King of Persia and Armenia and to the great Tartarâ— hee exhorteth them with such vehemency as they were resolued Platin. Hee inuited all the Princes who imbraced his designe with such resolution as Mahomet was terrified with the great preparation u The deuise of this Câ—oysado carâ—ied these words Dieu la veut God will haue it Mahomet was so amased as writing to Pius the second he said I am not guilty of the death of Iesus Christ do abhorre the Iewes who crucified him The Pope declared that he would go thither in person Croysado published against the Turke But great Cosmo de Medicis said that it was the designe of a yong man in a great age The Kinges of Naples and Hungary were resolued to accompany him The Duke of Bourgondy promised also to be of that party and demanded aduise and leaue of the King who represented vnto him the discommodities both of his age and voyage finding him much broken to beginne such a building x The age must be considered in great and lâ—ng enterprises Marcus Crasâ—us found King Deiotarus in the Realme of Galacia who being very old built a new Citty who said vnto him in mockage O King mee thinkes you build very late beginning at the last hower of the day To whom the K. answered sodainely And you O Captaine came not forth very early to make warre against the Parâ—hians Foâ— Crassus was aboue 60. yeareâ— old But the Duke carried his courage beyond all these difficulties The king propounded so many vnto him as hee diswaded him for a yeare assuring him that after that yeare hee would giue him 10000. men entertained for foure monthes to accompany him The Duke of Bourgondy for that hee would not giue the Pope any subiect of discontent sent Anthony his Bastard thither with 2000. men The king left the Duke of Bourgondy at Lisle and returned to Paris Duke of Sauoy comes into France He found Lewis Duke of Sauoy the Queenes father at S t. Clou who was come to see him and to complaine of Phillip his yonger sonne who for that he had a more generous and actiue spirit then the elder had wonne the heartes of the chiefe of the Noblemen of Sauoy and of his Subiects y The Duke of Sauoy was a simple and a mild Prince Amy Prince of Piemont his eldest sonne was of the same humâ—r and had great inclinations to solitariâ—â—s Phillip his yonger Brother giuing greater impressions of his generosity and courage was followed by all the great men of the Country vppon this complaint the king commands Prâ—â—ce Phillip to repaire vnto him z Lewis Duke of Sauoy dyed at Lyon the 24. of Ianuary 1466 his heart and bowels were interred in the Celestins Church which he had caused to be built His body was carried to Geneua and laid by Ame of Lusignan his wife and he comes with speed beeing arriued hee was sent prisoner to Loches The Duke being well satisfied to see his sonne lodged whereas hee repented him of his ambitious and extrauagant humors returned into Sauoy and two yeares after dyed at Lion whereas hee attended the king who was at Molyns Amy his sonne succeeded him The king being at Paris made it presently knowne that he was not to indure that which the necessity of time had caused his forefathers to suffer to the preiudice of the rights of the Crowne and hauing prepared his designes he made choyce of the occasion to execute them a To haue a will to doe and disposition to know how to doe and yet to attend the occasion of well doing it the act of a Prince of great patience and wisdome he sent Moruillierre his Chancellor to the Duke of Brittaine to let him vnderstand that if he called himselfe any more Duke of Brittaine by the grace of God if hee continued to coine any gold b The Duke of Brittaine as a souâ—raigne Prince had right to coyne â—â—â—uer but that of gold was reserued by treaty to the Crowne of France the great whereof should bee expresâ— Charles the fift gaue it to the Duke of Berry who did coyne peeces of gold stampâ— with a sheepe which Bodin affâ—rmes to be the finest gold that euer was since within this Realme or if he hindred him from leuying of taxes and from the collation of Benefices in his country he proclaimed warre against him The Duke being amazed at this demaund answered that it was so great and of such importance as hee could make no answer without the aduise of his estates intreating the King to giue him three monthes respite to assemble them But this was to plead law to men that were armed c PoÌ„pey being in Sicile pressing the Mammartines to acknowledge his authoritie they sought to auoid it pretending that they had priuiledges and ancient Decrees from the people of Rome to whom Pompey answered in Choller will you plead law vnto vs who haue our swords by our sides Plut. The King had an Army vppon the frontier The Duke was prest and surprised yet resolute rather to loose himselfe then to quit that which his fathers had purchased for him wherefore he thought to make answer vnto the Kings intentions by armes rather then by wordes He aduertised the Duke of Bourgondy of the estate of his affaires and coniurd him to thinke of their common safety seeing that the Kinges designe was to entreat them alike and to ruine them Romille Vice Chancellor of Brittanny made many voiages into Flanders vppon that subiect The King who had eyes and eares in euery place being aduertised thereof commanded the Bastard of Rubenpre d The King sent a sea Captaine and the bastard RubeÌ„pre with him into Holland he landed at the Hage with three others in his coÌ„pany Hee was examined what hee was and wheÌ„ce he came but hee made some difficultie to discouer his name and the cause of his coÌ„ming The Earl of Charolois being their caused him to be apprehended as a Pirate to passe with a ship along the Coast of Holland to surprise Rommille and to bring him vnto him or to
to the toombe of his Father at the Celestins at Paris the 21. of February 1504. by the commandement of king Lewis the twelfth his sonne After the battell of Azincourt he remained fiue and twenty yeares prisoner in England The English would not deliuer this Flower-deluce without ransome and to redeeme him the D. of Bourgundy payed three hundred thouthousand crownes What a change Iohn Duke of Bourgundy depriues Lewis of Orleans of his life Philip Duke of Bourgundy his sonne giues libertie to Charles of Orleans and to make the bond perfect he giues him the golden fleece and marries him to his Neece Mary of Cleues shee was the third wife hauing before his imprisonment married Isâ—bel of France widdow to Richard King of England and Bonna of Armagnac x The afronts which are receiued from great persons must not onely be disgested patienâ—ly but also after a constant manner murmuring auailes nothing Many haue made of scratchings incurable wounds oftentimes the iniury is doubled and renewes when as they make it knowne that it is receiued according to the designe of him that doth it x By Mary of Cleues hee had Lewis the twelfth his onely sonne and two Daughters Mary was promised to Peter of Bourbon and afterwards married to Iohn of Foix Vicount of Narbonne father to that Achilles of France GastoÌ„ of Foix Duke of Nemours of Germaine Queene of Arragon Anne of Orleans was Abbess of Fonteueâ—aud The Duke of Bourbon hauing opened the passage to this designe of the warre of the common-weale The Duke of Berry retires into Brittany they attended no more but to see the head Charles of France the Kings brother beeing at Poictiers and making show to goe a hunting whiles the king was in his deuotions steales away and goes vnto the Embassadors of Brittaine Iohn of Rommille vice chancellor of Brittaine and Tanequy of Chastell who were come to haue a Prolongation for other three monthes to make answere to the kings demands carried him away speedily by the meanes of the Lord of Lescon a Gascoine and led him into Brittanie y The King being gone in deuotion to our Lady of Pont in Limosin the Duke of Berry retires into Brittaine He was but eighteene yeares old hee held life so short and that of Princes which liue in subiection so troublesome as if he did not speedily know what it was to bee a master the knowledge would euer come to late He was welcome for this was the firebrand which they must cast to set France on fire The Duke of Brittanie promised him the seruice of his person and all the succors of his forces Hee declared the cause of his departure by letters which hee wrote to the Duke of Bourgundy and to the other Princes of their intelligence The most apparent was drawne from the bad gouernment of the affaires whereof the Princes of the bloud z It concernes the Princes of the bloud to look into the disorders of the estate and to assist the King faithfully to rearesse theÌ„ whiles there is heat in tâ—is bloud wee may hope for the life and continuance of the body which haue the chiefe interest and care of the whole bodie should apprehend the dangerous euents and had subiect to complaine to see vnworthy men without honor or merit to deale in that which should passe by their hands and to leap ouer their heads to great offices That his armes and his desires had no other obiect but to restore order vnto the Realme and there withall to ease the people of their oppressions the which he could not otherwise hope for but in making the King know in the beginning of his raigne a At the Câ—mming of new Pâ—aces they make demands and pursuits for that which they dâ—sire the rest of the Raigne for when they are well settled they will no more beare speake That 〈◊〉 Petcennius hauing prepared his companions to mutine hee said Quando ausuros exposcere remedia nisi noâ—â—m et nutantem adhuc Principem vel armis adirent Tacitus lib. 1. Annal. the extreame necessity whereinto it was brought His will was manifested more amply by his letters to the Duke of Bourgundy which Monstrellet setts downe in these termes Most deere and welbeloued Vncle I recommend me vnto you I let you vnderstand that of late I haue often heard the clamors of the Princes of the blood my kinsmen and other Noblemen of this Realme in all estates of the disorder and pittifull gouernment which now doth raigne by the councell of men being about my Lord full of all lewdnes and iniquity who for their owne profit and priuate disordered affections haue drawne my Lord into iealousie and hatred against you me and all the Noblemen of the said Realme yea against the Kinges of Castile and Scotland so long allyed vnto the Crowne b The most ancient alliances of the French haue beene with the Scots and then with the Castilians The Crowne of France hath had pretentions vpon Castille at the inheritance of the Lady Blanch of Castile mother to St. Lewis as euery man knowes In regard how the authority of the Church hath beene kept Iustice done and administred the Noblemen maintained in their rights and priuiledges and the poore people supported and freed from oppression I write no more vnto you for I know you are sufficiently informed and I am greeued at the said thinges as I ought to be as he whom it doth so neere concerne as euery man doth know c The Children of one family are interessed in the 〈…〉 and the Princes of the bloud in the gouernment of the estate and desire to prouide for it by the Counsell of you of the said Princes and kinsmen and other Noblemen who haue all promised to aid and serue me not sparing body or goods for the quiet of the Realme and the publick weale thereof and also to saue my person which I found to be in danger For incessantly and openly my said Lord and they about him spake such wordes of me d The words of such as are neerest vnto a Prince make men iudge of his intentions The Duke of Berry hearing that the seruants of the K. his brother spake freely against him thought that their discourses were framed vpoÌ„ his Good words entertaine friendship and bad dissolues theÌ„ as I might with Reason haue cause to doubt I therefore left my said Lord and am come vnto my good Cosin of Brittaine who hath giuen me so good and commendable reception as I cannot sufficiently commend it and is resolued to serue me with body goods and all his power to the good of the said Realme and publicke weale And therefore my most deere and welbeloued vncle my intention and desire is to imploy my selfe with you and the said noblemen my kinsmen whose counsell I will vse and not otherwise to restore and redresse the said desolate Realme knowing that you are one of the greatest of the Realme whom
had troubled They propounded a peace with goodly conditions The Princes make show that they desired not warre but for the publike quiet and to liue without wrong They made many truces to treat that they which lasting but little was not much distinguished from warre d A short truce fauours more of war then peace Ignâ—uum tempus nec pâ—ce laetuÌ„ nec bellis exercitum Cognatae induciis Insidie sunt as the middest doth alwaies leane more to one of the extremes then to the other The treatie was begun by diuers but the King ended it who one morning came by the riuer to Conflans Before he went out of the boat hee said vnto the Earle who attended him on the banke Enteruieâ— of the King Earle of Charolois Brother doe you assure me that to whom the Earle of Charrolois answered I as a brother e The word of an enemie is a dangerous assurance K Lewis the eleuenth had no other to goe into the Princes Army which were iust against him If there coÌ„fidence hath vndone some it hath bin successefull to others and Scipio Africanus went vpon this assurance to Siphax who although he were abaroarian a cruell enemie to the Romane name yet the mildnes and generositie of Scipio made him a friend Ladislaus King of Bohemia went freely to Mathias King of Hungary his capitall enemy to end controuersies which could not be determined at Olmutz they became great friends Dubrau lib. 2â— He receiued the King with much respect and the King spake vnto him with great mildnes which made his heart apt for any impression so great is the force of words and so well hee could handle his tongue the which he vsed as a pensill for all coulours He that will haue effects according to his owne heart must not spare words to his liking that may giue them Mens spirits are gouerned by words as a ship is gouerned by the helme and a horse by the bit and wee cannot say what power the sweetnes of words haue ouer the minde of man f Words are the Instrument by the which the minde of man is animated thrust forward and held backe A Prince that knowes how to vse them hath a great aduantage in all that he treates and when it is acompanied with such sweetnes as grauity is not wronged it workes what it lists in the hearts of men The King framing his speech to this tune said vnto the Earle Brother I know that you are a Gentleman and of the house of France why my Lord answered the Earle For that said the King When the foole Moruillier spake so boldly vnto you you sent me word that I would repent the words hee had spoken before the yeare were past you haue not failed and before the time The King spake these words with a countenance so free and full of affection although his heart were full of indignation and spleene as the Earle tooke delight in it He disauowed Moruillier and tooke the seales from him Princes play with their subiects and disauow them when as their negotiations are not answerable to their hopes He did walke long by the riuers side betwixt the Earle of Charolois and the Earle of S t. Paul and heard their Intentions g The King who thought nothing wel done if he were not an Actor went to the Earle of Charolois preferring the necessity of his affaires before the consideration of his qualiâ—â— for he held that the honor and glory of an action depended on profit Yet they had deputed somâ— of either side to treat For the King were imployed Charles of Aniou Earle of Maine The Signeur of Pressigny President of the Acounts 10. Dauuet President of the Parlament of Toulâ—sâ— For the Princes the D. of Calabria the Earle of Dunois and the E. of S t. Paul The Earle of Charolois demanded the Dutchie of Normandie for the Duke of Berry and the riuer of Somme for himselfe little for the publike and much for priuate men The King told him plainely that he would neuer consent to dismember the Duchie of Normandie but he was content to restore him the Townes of Somme and finding that the Earle of S t. Paul was the Oracle of the Counsels and will of this Prince he offered him the office of Constable By these offers the strict bond of this league began to be dissolued for there is nothing so fast bound but it is vndone when as one string begins to slip The King did and spake all things so cunningly mingly offers with threats and curtesies with braueries as the Earle applied himselfe to his intentions The day after this first conference h This conference of the King and the Earle was the end of the war It was not thought fit the King should seeke vnto the Barle but to do his busines hee past all formalities would not comit that to hope which he might doe by discretioÌ„ What doth it import to ascend to any place to vse staires of wood or ston or whether the key bee of gold or iron so as it open the Earle of Charolois mustred his Armie Muster of the leagues Armie in view of the King whether the King came with thirty or forty horse commending those goodly forces The Earle of Charolois speaking vnto them vsed these words My masters you and I are for the King our Soueraigne Lord to serue him when soeuer hee shall haue need of vs. The Kings offers bred a iealousie betwixt the Princes of the league euery man cared for his owne affaires The Earle of Charolois saw one day vpon his conferences and propositions three Councels and three bands whereat hee was discontented saying that there should not be any thing secret in his presence During these conferences and enteruiewe Isabell of Bourbon Countesâ—e of Charolois died the Earle mourned and the King did comfort him This death gaue some more facilitie to the peace for the marriage of the Earle with the Lady Anne of France the Kings eldest Daughter was propounded with the transport of the Counties of Bry and Champagne i In marriages of the daughters of France Kings haue somtimes giuen money sometimes lands of the Crowne vpon condition they should returne Charles the fift gaue to his two eldest daughters a 100000. franks of gold and to the rest 60000. Charls the sixt gaue eight hundred thousand to Isabell married to Richard the second King of England King Iohn gaue the Contie of Somiers in Languedoc to Isabel his daughter married to the Duke of Milan Lewis the yong gaue to Margaret his daughter married to Henry the third King of England the Contie of Vexin for her dowrie and preferment which the Kings Predecessors had neuer done in marrying their daughters The Earle of Charrolois affected nothing more but vpon the doubt which was made vnto him of the alienation of these two Prouinces he sent William Hugonet and Iohn Carandolet to Paris to know if these two peeces
gaine preferre their owne priuate Interest before all publicke consideration The soundest Estates haue alwayes some vlcers to change the remedy and to change the Physition is one thing Wounds haue no time to close vp when they doe often change plaisters Hee dismist the Duke of Bourbon from the gouernement of Guienne Changes in diuers Charges and gaue it to the Bastard of Armagnac c IOHN of Andie Lord of Lescun bastard of Armagnac Earle of Comminges head of the house of Riberac Hee tooke from the Lord of Bueil the Office of Admirall of France and gaue it to the same Bastard and afterwardes to the Bastard of Bourbon his Sonne-in-lawe who did him great seruices yet hauing no consideration thereof hee tooke from him the Gouernement of Picardie to giue it to PHILIP of Creuecoeur Lord of Cordes Hee would haue the Lieutenants in the Gouernement of Bourgondy to hold their places as the Wolfe by the eare Hee tooke it from Des Cordes and gaue it to Chaumont who died in the yeare one thousand foure hundred eighty one d King Lewis the eleuenth being discontented that the Lord of Tremouille had not taken Dole hee tooke from him the Gouernment and gaue it to Charles of Ambois who was gouernor of Champagne Hee tooke the Seales from PETER of Moruillier and gaue them to IUVENEL of Vrsins from whom hee had taken them when he came to the Crowne them hee gaue them to Peter of Oriole Hee tooke the Office of Marshall of France from the Lord of Loheac and to restore it to him againe hee tooke it from the Earle of Comminges bastard of Armagnac Charles of Melun was his Lieutenant in the Citty of Paris hee dispossest him of that charge to giue it the Earle of Eu and made him Lord Steward of his house Entring into Paris hee made Iames of Villiers Lord of Lisle-Adam Prouost of Paris After the Warre of the Common-weale hee dismist him from that Charge and gaue it to ROBERT of Estoteuille His whole Chronicle is full of these changes in all sorts of dignities and Offices Magnificence Magnificence of Lewis 11. The Maiesty of a Prince is followed by his Magnificence which is one of the Flowers of his Crowne It is a Foile which giues lustre to this Dyamond e Iamblicus cals Magnificence the crown of the Empire of princes saith that it is chiefly admired among the principall actions of a Prince it shewes it selfe in many places and vpon many occasions but her Theter is in his House and at his Court shee presides in his expences and appeares in the priuate Ornament of his person Lewis the eleuenth did respect it so little Habit of Lewis 11. as to see his Apparrell you would haue said that he desired to liue poore and to dye rich Hee attired himselfe plainly in course Cloath and tooke no delight to see sumptuous Apparrell His Chronicle saith That hee ware Doublets of Fustian Whether hee did it to make his Fashion more popular or by his example to cut off vaine and vn-necessary expences thinking that a King who should carry nothing that doth sauour of a Woman is more adorned by the Ornaments of the minde then by those of the body f A Princes habit should not be too stately ful of pompe Romulus attiring himselfe in scarlet or purple lost the loue of his people nor lasciuicous and dissolute like to Nero Calligula Commodus and Heliogabalus nor of a strange fashion for the which Hieron of Syracusa was odious vnto his subiects It neuer represents him well apparrelled but once This was when to conclude the Treaty of Conflans hee went to the Mercers Grange with a small Traine and little brute Attired in a long Roabe loose furred with Ermines the which was much more seemely then the other garments which hee was accustomed to weare There is to bee seene at this day in the house of a Councellor of State Bed of Lewis 11. the bed wherein hee lay the which wee cannot behold without admiring the excesse of this Age and the simplicitie of that It is of Yellow and Carnation Damaske without any Lace and the Fringe without fashion Bodin saith That in scorne hee ware a greasie Hat and the coursest Cloath In the Chamber of Accounts there was an Article found of his Expences making mention of two shillings for a newe paire of Sleeues to an old Doublet and another Article of three halfe-pence for a Boxe of grease for his Bootes 300000 L sterling and yet hee raised yearely three millions more then his predecessors had done and did alienate a great part of the Crowne lands The expence of his house was much lesse then that of many Noble men of that time All things were very exact there frugality was recommended in such sort and superfluity so odious as they needed not to passe out of Sclauonia g Dissolution hath been great in priuate persons by the examples which Athens doth produce and among others of Aesope a player of Tragedies who being come into Sclauonia to eate Creuices which were much esteemed in that Prouince when as they told that those of Affricke were better he sailed into Affricke into Affrick to eate creuises By the accounts we find that they increased according to the years voyages and affaires It did not exceed three thousand six hundred pounds starling vntil the yeare 1480 when it amounted to foure thousand three hundred threescore and one pounds eight shillings Sterling In the yeare 1481. it came to sixe thousand sixe hundred sixty and eight pounds Sterling h The expence of the Kings house for that which concerned the mouth onely was in the yeare 1471. two thousand 800. and three pounds two shillings Sterling In the yeare 1472 2900. pounds The yere 1473 3280. pounds In the yeare 1474. 2520. pounds Sterling The yeare 1475. 3020. pounds In the yeare 1476. 3040. pounds in the yeare one thousand 4. hundred seuenty and seuen three thousand 600. and foure score pounds In the yeare 1478. 3480. pounds and in the yeare 1479 3700. pounds sterling And yet hee went not from Plessis from the eight of Nouember vntill the seuenth of September the yeare following that he was carried to be buried at our Lady of Clory The number of Seruants for the ordinary seruice of this expence was not great their wages small in comparison of these times They serued the whole yeare and it beganne in October There are none but these set downe in the rowle of his voluntary pensions Two Chaplins and to either of them twenty shillings a month and to a Clarke of the Chappell tenne shillings A Groâ—me of the Kings Chamber nine pound a yeare Fowre Squires of the Kitchin to either twelue pounds a yeare One Hastler one maker of Brothes a Sauce-maker a Head-cooke a Butler and two Groomes of the Carriages to either of them twenty shillings a month Two Vnder-Cookes of the Kitchin at sixeteene shillings a
Kings owne mouth Clemency Clemency This goodly Pearle is not seene in his Crowne b The vertue which rayseth Kings to heauen is Clemency Consulere patriae pâ—rcere afflictis fera Caede abstinere tempus arque ira dare Orbi quietem saeculo pacem suo Haec summa virtus petitur hac coelum via Sen. in Octau this great and royall vertue which pardons the afflicted rayseth vp them that are deiected Lewis the 11. knew not how to pardon and breakes the current of choller was vnknowne vnto him Yet neuer Prince found more occasion to winne himselfe honour but that deceitfull Maxime that a Princes iustice may alwaies and in all cases dissemble c A Prince may mingle prudence with Iustice he may bee a Doue and a Serpent with these three conditions that it be for the necessary apparant and important good of the State that it be with measure and discretion and that it be for an offence and not to offend and sow the Foxes skinne vnto the Lyons fil'd his raigne with tragicall examples of seuerity and gaue him in dying that contentment not to haue left any offence vnpunished Phillip de Commines being to liue vnder the sonnes raigne hath not written all he knew and could haue spoken vpon the fathers and yet he saies but too much to shew his rigour Hee was these are his words suspitious as all Princes bee which haue many enemies and which haue offended many as he had done Hee was not beloued of great men nor of many of the meaner sort and had charged his Subiects more then euer King had done If Commines would haue painted out a cruell Prince hee could not haue imployed other coulours then those wherewith hee sets forth his rigorous prisons his Cages of Iron and his fetters d Cardinall Balue inuentor of these Cages of Iron was lodged there with the first and continued 14. yeares Lacum fodit aperuit eum incidit in foueaÌ„ quam fecit He digged a pit and opened it and fell into the Ditch whicâ— hee had made Hee saith That they were of wood couered with plates of Iron that he had caused Germanes to make most heauy and terrible fetters for mens feete Rigorous prisons of Lewis the eleuenth and there was a ring to put vpon the legge very hard to open like vnto a choller the chaine was great and waighty with a great bullet of Iron at the end much more weighty then was fit and they were called the Kings Snares Although that punishments be the effects of Iustice and very necessary for that hee hurts the good which pardons the wicked yet it caries some shew of cruelty when as the Prince himselfe seemes more carefull thereof then he ought and that hee doth employ them as well against innocents as those that are guilty e The more rare executions bee the more profitable is the example Remedies which curemildly are to be preferred before theÌ„ which burâ—ne mutulate To affect new punishment and against accustomed manners of the Country are markes of cruelty I haue seene saith Phillip de Commines good men prisoners with fetters on their feete who afterwards came forth with great honour and receiued great fauours from him amongst others a sonne to the Lord of Gruture of Flanders taken in battell whom the King married and made his Chamberlaine and Seneschall of Anjou and gaue him a hundred Lances Also the Lord of Pieâ—â—es a prisoner in the warre and the Lord of Vergy For hee found in the end that vigour doth but distract mens minds the violent gust of the Northen wind cannot make a passenger to abandon his Cloake whereas the Sunne casting his beames by little and little doth heate him in such sort as hee will bee ready to strip himselfe into his shirit Generous horses obey the shaddow of a small Wand whereas Asses tell their paces by the number of their blowes The raigne of this Prince was wonderfull stormy they could not say of him as of Antonyn that hee had shedde no bloud f The raigne of the Emperour Antonyn was so good as Herodian called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say without bloud Tristan his great Prouost who for his barbarous and seuere behauiour did as iustly as Maximin deserue the name of Sowre was so ready in the execution of his rigorous commandements as hee hath sometimes caused the innocent to bee ruined for the offendor Hee alwaies disposed this Prince rather to vse a sword to punish faults then a Bridle to keepe them from falling A more temperate Spirit would haue staid him and Princes in these stormes doe but what pleaseth them which guide the effects of their Wils A Prince is no lesse dishonoured by the multitude of executions g A multitude of executions saith Seneca breeds as bad a reputation to the Prince as a multitude of Burials to a Physitian too great rigours makes the paines contemptible augments the number of offendours and makes them to become wicked through despight then a Physitian receiues blame by the death of his Patient Claud of Seyssell could not say any thing more bitter to the memory of this Prince then that which hee writes That there were seene about the places of his abode many men hanged vpon Trees and the prisons and other houses neere full of prisoners who were often heard day and night crying out for the torments which they endured besides others which were cast into the Riuer Many great Princes haue felt the seuerity of his humours Iohn Duke of Alençon had in the end as much cause to murmurre against his iustice as hee had to commend his Clemency in the beginning of his Raigne Hee had beene condâ—mned to loose his head vnder Charles the seuenth The King restored him to his liberty and honour to make him some yeares after vndergoe the like censure h The Duke of Alençon being prisoner in the Casile of Loches was led to Paris the sixt of Iune 1473. by the Lord of Gaucort Chaletiere Steward of the Kings house with 24. Gentlemen and 50. Archers Hee caused him to bee apprehended and carried to the Towre at the Louure His Processe was made in the yeare one thousand foure hundred three score and foureteene and a Sentence pronounc't the eightenth of Iuly in these termes Sentence against the Duke of Alençon The Court hauing seene the Charges Informations and Confrontations of witnesses against Iohn of Alenâ—con his voluntary confessions the Processe and other things which were to bee seene touching the great and heynous crimes committed by him by the conspiracies practises and treaties which hee hath many and sundry times had and made with the English the ancient enemies and aduersaries of this Realme and other Rebels disobedient to the King and to the great preiudice of the King and subuersion of the publique good of the Realme forgetting through ingratitude the great grace that the King had done
innocency for it appeared not nor to the Kings Clemency which was tyred with releeuing him hee appealed to Faith which is the first vertue of a Prince saying That hee had not yeelded but vpon assurance of a pardon which was promised him The King protested that he had not promised him any thing and that he would rather haue forced him in the Castle of Carlat then receiue him to saue his life hauing so often deserued death Hee therefore would haue the chiefe points whereof he was conuicted drawne out of his processe and sent to other Parliaments throughout the Prouinces to the end they might know what had incensed the seuerity of his Iustice. Hee neuer pardoned any that had beene ingaged in the league of the Common-wealth nor those which had banded themselues against him to follow his brothers dessignes His hatred against the Bishop of Paris appeared most after the death of this Prelate for being aduertised that hee was lamented by all the Orders of Paris hee commanded the Prouost and Aldermen of Paris to make him an Epitaph which shewed the bad seruices hee had done his Maiesty by his intelligences with the Princes of the League As they that were neerest vnto his bloud haue felt the effects of his wrath so they which thought themselues to be neerest vnto his heart haue not beene freed s Princes fauors are not immortall Fato potentiae saith Tacitus speaking of Maecenas raro sempiternae an satias cupit aut illos cum omnia tribuerunt aut his cum iaÌ„ nihil reliquum est quod cupiant and haue not growne old before they haue tryed the truth of this old Maxime Fauours of Princes last not That Princes fauours soone grow old For a Prince is weary of giuing or hee that is fauoured being full of fauours doth not care to husband the continuance They make mention of the feare hee put the Lord of Ludé and the Earle of Sancerre in Antony of Chasteauneuf Lord of Lau may well be produced for an example both of his fauours and of the miseries which doe accompany fauorites The Chronicle saith that hee was chiefe Butler of France Seneschall of Guienne Lord Chamberlaine to the King and more beloued of him then euer any one had beene hauing had in lesse then fiue yeares three or foure hundred thousand Crownes in reward from the King But we must attend the end and not iudge of the building before it bee finisht t Aluaro de Luna whoÌ„ Iohn King of Castile aduanced and loued aboue all men of his Realme said to them that admired his fortune Iudge not of the building before it be funâ—shâ— He dyed by the hands of Iustice. behold the backeside of the Medal At his returne from the voyage of Peronne he caused him to bee put in prison in the Castle of Suilly vpon Loire He commanded Tristan to draw him from thence and to leade him to Vsson in Auuergne but he escaped Many were punished for this euasion Charles of Melun a man at Armes of the Admirals company and Captaine of Vsson lost his head at Loches his wiues sonne called Remonet and the Kings Atturney at Vsson This Charles of Melun must not bee taken for Charles of Melun who commanded in the Bastille when as Paris was besieged by the Army of the league and who could not auoyd it but his fidelitie was otherwise censured by his King then it appeared in the proofes of his seruice He felt the stormes of fortune in the disgrace which hee receiued when as the king tooke from him the Office of Lord Steward of France to giue it to the Lord of Craon The ordinary examples of new punishments for old faults made repentance vaine his searches being feared of Innocents did forbid them that were guilty to trust vnto the assurances of his clemency All were in feare and stood vpon their guard not so much for him as against him They knew well that he had his eyes blindfold to strike of euery side according to his choler and the suddennesse of Tristan Seuerity of Tristan the Hermit who had reduced the markes of Maiesty to the Sword and Halter If hee had sworne by as many Gods as the Aegyptians Assyrians Persians and Grecians did worship u The Egiptians did worship as many Gods as the Earth brought them forth fruits the Assyriars as many as they had Town the Persians as many as they saw stars or fires the Gretians as many as they had fountaines no man would haue trusted him wherefore they that followed his brother considering that hee knew not how to forget iniuries and that hee made a iest of that royall precept A Prince that will saâ—e much must pardon much they went to serue them whom they held to bee least reconcileable with him Claude de la Chastre who had left him vpon some discontentment to serue the Duke of Guienne who honoured him with many charges and among others with the guard of his person had retired himselfe vnto his house at Nancy after the death of this Prince x If a Prince hath any subiect of choller it should bee open and soone gone it is not generous to conuert it into hatred and the King who had both his choler sudden and his hatred long against offences of this kinde and who neuer held the smallest that were committed against him to be light sent to take him prisoner by his Gossip Tristan and held him about a moneth in suspence what he should doe with him for hee had committed no fault but in seruing the Duke of Guienne loyally preseruing his faith vnstained amidst great temptations and seeing himselfe a prisoner hee did more glory to bee an Innocent in prison then guilty at liberty y Admirable is â— at faith which amidst great accidents and vehement pursutes remains vntainted hee caused him to come before him and demanded of him if he had a will to serue him as faithfully as he had done his brother He answered that he could neuer do so great seruice vnto his Maiesty but his affection would be greater and that the seruice which he had done vnto the Duke of Guienne was a proofe of the fidelity which he would alwayes shew to him that should be his Maister The King told him that hee would vse his seruice and hauing an intent to make his guard as well of his owne subiects as of strangers z The Infidelity of subiects forceth Princes to imploy strangers for their guards Alex. Seuerus was the first which tooke souldiers of a rough aspect terrible fearfull and therefore Dyon saith that his entry into Rome was odious The Emperours did ordinarily imploy Gaules Italiaâ— Spaniards Germans or Macedonians The Emperour of Constantinople was guarded by Englishmen Tiberius by Germans Nero had Hollanders or Frisons Herod of Iudea Germans hee sent him with a Commission to raise a Company of an hundred Gentlemen for the guard of his person then remembring
Florence after Argyropile Hee went away through the practise and iealousy of Angelus Politianus and retyred to Milan Marcus Musurus a Candiot Iohn Lascaris of the Imperiall race whom the Magnificent Laurence de Medicis employed to get leaue from Bajazeth to visite the Libraries of Greece from whence are come many good books which where so many Lampes â— dispierce the clouds of Ignorance and Barbarisme The Vniuersity of Paris as fruitfull a moâ—â—er of good wits as a carelesse Nurse to cherish them is much fallen from her first glory Her Schooles which were sometimes more famous then those of Athens in Greece are vnpeopled the water of her Fountaines which did water all the youth of Europe is troubled there is no Spring in the yeare for these goodly flowers which are cherished of some for the rarenesse of others for the smell and of all for the assurance of fruites The Northerne blasts of the last troubles haue in a manner withered them and hardly will they recouer their beauty if the same Sunne which hath raised the Flower de Luce doth not reuiue them Hercules after so many glorious labours did not disdaine the name of Musagete y Fuluius caused a Temple to be built in Circo Flaminio at Rome to Hercules Musagete that is to say the conductor of the Muses and Eumonius the Rector giues this reason Quia mutâ—is operibus premijs iuuari ornaâ—ique deberent Musarum quies defensione Herculis virtus Herculis vocâ— Musarum For that they should be releeued and adorned by their mutuall workes and rewards The quiet of the Muses by the defence of Hercules and the vertue of Hercules by the voice of the Muses France dare not hope that any other will finish that which Henry the fourth shall leaue vnperfect he will not suffer that she which carries the glorious name of his eldest daughter and hath purchased it by her immortall watches and by the production of many great personages which haue worthily serued the Church and State shall languish any longer in hope to recouer her first dignity There wants nothing else for the tryumph of his glory Iames Dauid Cardinall du Perron High Almoner of France nothing but that can make his Bayes immortall The Muses haue neede of Hercules valour and the labours of Hercules haue need of the recommendation of the Muses The generous thoughts which our Augustus hath of this restauration are wonderfully reuiued by the liuely and powerfull perswasions of the learned Cardinall the miracle of our daies But where shall we finde so many Bâ—deus Turnebus Cuias Murets and Scales as is necessary to haue the effect answereable to the designe and reputation Temperance Temperance wherein it consists If it were not taken but for the moderation which seasons all things that great temper which he had in prosperities and his constancy in aduersities had purchased him the palme of this vertue but if they take it for the rule and restrainte of voluptuousnesse and of other motions of the minde it is not so apparent in his heart as in that of Alexanders Cyrus and Scipioes The two base daughters which he had shewes that he was not contented with the lawfull intemperance of marriage z After the Battell of Montlehery the King gaue his base daugâ—ter to the Bastard of Bourbon and the assuraÌ„ces were made in the Towne house of Paris Hee married the first to the Admirall of Bourbon and the other to the Lord of Saint Valier The letters which were dispatcht for the declaration of her Armes would not be vnprofitable to insert in this place and they were in these termes Lewis by the Grace of God King of France to all to whom these present Letters shall come greeting Hauing of late treated and accorded the Marriage of our deere and louing Base daughter Mary with our deere and faithfull Cozen Aymard of Poicters Lord of Saint Valier Wee haue thought it expedient to appoint the Armes which it shall please vs our said daughter shall cary Wee therefore giue to vnderstand that being assured that the said Mary is truely our base daughter and desiring to honour her and her posterity that shee may enioy the honours dignities and prerogatiues which belong to the Bastards of Princes for the great loue and affection which we beare her a Du Tillet saith that the Surname of France is allowed to the base daughters of Kings if vpon the aduow there be no other Surname giuen theÌ„ and the Armes of France with the difference of a Bende Some haue beene aduowed by letters Pattents and others by fact being nurst Wee will and ordaine by these presents that the said Mary our base daughter carry the Armes of France and for a difference a Bend Or beginning at the sinister Canton as base children haue accustomed to do for the which wee haue and do giue her power and faculty for euer In witnesse whereof wee haue caused our Seale to be set to these Presents Giuen at Meslay the eleuenth of Iuly 1467. and of our Raigne the sixt By the King the Lord of Crussol Peter Doriole others being present L. Toustain It were a great proofe of Inconstancy Opinion that Charles the 8. was supposed and prophane pollicy if that were true which many haue said that King Charles the 8. was not sonne to Queene Charlot and that the King hauing him by a Mistresse made this supposition They that write things whereof they cannot speake which are not knowne to all men do often erre for that they trust to their owne conduct and turne away their eyes from that which might giue them light in the darkenesse of such difficulties It is the melancholy of men of this profession presumption and vanity b Vanity hath much power among learned men Iustus Lipsius hath obserued it in his time O litterae litterae quam semper à vobis aliqua vanitas quam illud verum oportere omnibus corydalis cristaÌ„â—inesse makes them thinke that they see cleere enough and as the Citties of Greece ruined themselues for that they would do their businesse a part Errour of learned men not to communicate they loose by this disvnion that which they might preserue by conference I haue alwaies held it an honour to learne and a happinesse to bee reprehended A man should hold himselfe more bound to bee warned of a fault in his writings then of a blemish in his face Vpon this supposition I went to Monsieur du Haillan for that in the second booke of the estate of the affaires of France he reports this opinion and promiseth a more ample discourse in the History of this King not yet printed c Many were of opinion that Charles the 8. was supposed others held that hee was the Kings sonne but not by the Queene and that the King to quench the troubles which had beene raysed by his brother made this supposition the which is more amply written in 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
bene made and it was reason that he which had done the harme should shew some repentance and serue as a table in the history of France that a Prince which wants piety towards God and Iustice towards men falls alwayes into o He that hath pietie iustice for the guide of his actions frees himselfe happily from confusion in all sorts of affaires These bee the glorious titles which Demetrius purchased 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 religious to the gods and Iust to men confusion The Duke said that he pardoned him for the loue of God promising him to be his friend enemy to his enemies and to renounce the aliance of England and the deputies of the Councell dispenst him of the oath which he had made not to treat without the King of England This happie and memorable peace Peace of Arras sworne the 24. of Nouember 1435. was followed with great blessings for the French and great ruines for the English This was the Comet which threatned their ruine in France and which brought the Duke of Bedford vnto his graue Death of the Duke of Bedford Regent in France for the English With the like griefe six dayes after the treaty p Isabel of Bauaria contemned of the English and Bourgundian for whom shee had â—anded her selfe against her sonne dyed at S. Paul house the last of September 1435. she was carried by the Riuer of Seine to S. Dennis and buried without pomp Her tombe was built in the same place where her husbands was and her portrait is yet to bee sâ—ene in the window of that Chappell dyed that old malicious woman the Queene mother stepmother to the king and Realme She wanted meanes to liue before her death for being no more assisted by the Duke of Bourgundy the Duke of Bedford caused her to fast vpon dayes which were not commanded to be fasted lying in Saint Paule house She had alwaies liued full of honors and affayres and now she dyes plunged in miseries and contempts The reduction of Paris was the fruit of the peace she opened her gates vnto the King Reduction of Paris which shee had shut against him for the loue of the Duke of Bourgundy for she hath dealt with friendships as with flowers the new haue alwaies beene most pleasing vnto her The King was at Montpelier when Paris was reduc'd The q The English were chased out of Paris the 27. of February 1436. where they had entred in the yeere 1420. English depart the Lillies flourish and the Kings will with the lawes of the Realme are honored there The King made his entry and was receiued as victorious of his enemies by his valor and of himselfe by his clemencie forgetting so many iniuries whereby the people had incensed him Here I seeke the Dauphin and the Historie doth not showe me him 1437. although it be credible that the father did not forget to haue him seene in this great occasion in his capitall Citie no more then at the assembly of the estates which he called at Orleans But I finde him on horsebacke at the age of fourteene yeares and commanding the Kings armie before Monstreau Faut-Yonne Hee tooke the towne by assault and the Castle by composition and made so good warre with the English that were within it as they gaue him thankes in the Kings presence confessing that hee had giuen them cause in admiring his valor to commend his bounty to the which they were bound for their liues r A Prince which saues his life whom he may kil cannot do any thing that brings him sooner to the height of glory and reputation nec vlla re propius homines ad deum accedunt quam salute hominibus danda Cic. Neither is there any thing which makes meÌ„ liker vnto Gods then by giuing life vnto men This first beginning applauded by some old Knights flattering this yong Alexander who beganne to bee discontented for that his father left him no worke to doe made him to conceiue better of himselfe then hee ought For such flattering opinions s Flattery doth so transport young Princes with a good opinion of what they are or should be as it is easily conuerted into presumption and admits no counsell nor conduct are fruitlesse sproutes and vnprofitable leaues which grow too fast in these yong plants and in the end kils them The Father who had made him Captaine so soon repented as suddainely for he beganne to make showe that hee was not borne to follow but to goe before Martin Gouge Bishop of Cleremont Christopher of Harcourt and the Lord of Chaumont make him beleeue that his valor and courage would not suffer him to stay there that the more he should eleuate his trumpet of fame the farther it should bee heard that he could not beginne any exercise of glorie and reputation to t Alexander at 16. yeares of age defeated the Megariens and was at the battell of Cheronea wherefore Demosthenes called him child Hannibal was but eleuen yeares old when hee made open professioÌ„ of armes Wee must obserue saith Phil. de Commines That all men which haue don gret matters haue begunne very yong Warre is a science which is not learned by discourse It is a troublesome practise for him that hath not accustomed it from his youth Paul Emil. soone and that he should not attend vntill that fortune tooke him by the hand to lead him to the Empire of men but he should goe and meete her These Councellers were spirits that were not capable to command nor to be commanded and which could not liue vnder that great rigor of the Kings authoritie Bad counsell giuen to Lewis who knowing his humors allowed him not what he desired and made him giue eare to such as found no other course for their greatnes and who assured him that there was no other way for his rising then to absent himselfe from the presence of his father An aduise which could not bee commended but by such to whom all wickednes is commendable For of badde counsels such as was neuer giuen by men that were u Integrity or fidelitie sufficiencie or wisedome are the two principall qualities of good counsellors they add a third which depends of the precedent to haue his heart free from passion and priuate interest wise discreete and without any priuate interest three rare qualities but necessarie for him that takes vpon him to counsel another the worst and most pernicious is that which deuides the Sonne from the Father and withdrawes him from the dutie wherewith hee is bound by the lawes of nature and religion x The commandement of the Childrens dutie was halfe written in the first table which regards Gods right and halfe in the second table wherein are commâ—ndements which concerne our Neighbours as beeing partly diuine and partly humane nothing beeing able to extinguish this bond free this seruitude nor dispence him from the obedience due to the fathers commandements how
called an assembly of the Princes and chiefe noblemen and propounded this question which he seemed to receiue from the K. of England to haue his aduice What punishment that farmer descrued who hauing inuited his maister to come vnto his house had put him to death All concluded that the crime was punishable and Hubert said that hee ought to be hanged You shall bee said the King you haue condemned your selfe And hee had noe sooner spokeÌ„ the word but hee was hanged the simple being lodged at the foot of the Tower where he had beene imprisoned He made some offer to pacifie the Duke and to giue hostage to procure such satisfaction from the Liegeois as was fit He had friends in the Dukes Councell i The aduice of that which was done in the D. counsell came as it was said from Phil. de Commines and casting twelue or fifteene thousand Crownes among them And he himselfe writes after this manner The King had some friend which aduertised him that he should haue no harme if he did yeeld vnto those two points but if he did otherwise hee thrust himselfe into very great danger he was by that meanes aduertised of the Resolutions which were taken wherof the mildest and most moderate were not pleasing vnto him The first opinion was that they should keep promise with him so as he would declare himselfe an enemy to them of Liege The second that being offended as he was it was dangerous to giue him liberty to reuenge himselfe The third that they should send for the Duke his brother and the other Princes to consult what was to be done In the end they past by this straight that he was constrained and it is the greatest violence that may be done vnto a King to consent vnto a a warre against them of Liege who had relyed vppon his protection The Duke continued three dayes in great alterations and past the third night in such disquietnes as he did not vncloath himselfe but lay downe vppon his bed then rising sodainly he would walke and talke to Phillip de Commines his Chamberlaine whose integrity and moderation did serue to calme those violent stormes that troubled his soule He was wholly French k Philip de Commines became a Partisan to the King who drew him into France gaue him the signory of Argenton in Poictou and the Seneshalship of the same Country and from that time some thought he resolued to retire himselfe into France But it is not credible that there was any trechery in him The vptightnes and sincerity of his writings frees him from suspition If he had been blemished with infidelity ingratitude vices which dissolue al humane society l All the greatest reproches are comprehended in these two wordes Ingrate and trecherous Nihil aeque Concordiam humani generis dissociat et distrahit quam hoc ingratitudinis vitium Sen. the King had not trusted him with so many great and important affaires The Duke went early in the morning vnto the Castell to the King who was already aduertised of what he would say vnto him and had time to thinke of his answer and to fit it not so much vnto reason as to necessity m Amazement should neuer bee seene on a Princes forehead He should be maister of his wordes but much more of his countenance for his lookes do often contradict them and betray the secrets of the heart and aboue all to carry so euen a countenance as the Duke should not discouer that he had any ill game or that he had any apprehension to loose for if he had thought that hee had made him affraid he would haue done him a mischeefe n Many times a bad designe begun is not ended when as he that doth it thinkes that he is not discouered And it is a maxime grounded more vpon experience then Conscience in such occasions not to do so much or to do more all together The Duke was accompanied by the Lordes of Crequy Charny and la Roche He could not by the humility of his wordes so well dissemble his proud and threatning gesture The Duke coniures the King to go to Liege but the trembling of his voice discouered the motion and storme which choller caused in his heart â— And then there is no great reason in humble wordes and respectiue countenances when as the effects are contrary and that the inferior braues the superior o To what end sâ—rues respect and humility of wordes if the action be proud The day when K. Iohn wâ—â— taken at the battell of Poictâ—ers the prince of Wales serued his maiesty at supper bareheaded The King intreated him to sit downe It belongs not to the subiect answered the Prince and yet hee held him prisoner He demanded of him if he would hold the treaty and come to Liege to help to reuenge him and the Bishop of Liege his kinsman of the Liegeois who by reason of his comming were reuolted The King granted it the Peace was sworne vppon Charlemaignes crosse and the whole towne was full of ioy for this accord the 12. of October 1468. 1468. Oliuer de la March reports this otherwise then Phillip de Commines The King saith he was not well assured but as soone as he saw the Duke enter into his Chamber he could not conceale his feare but said vnto the Duke Brother I am not safe in your house and in your Country and the Duke answered yes sir and so safe as if I should set an arrow come towards you I would put my self â— before you to preserue you And the King said vnto him I thank you for your good will and will goe where I haue promised you but I pray you let the peace be presently sworne betwixt vs. Then they brought the Arme of St. Leu and the King of France sware the peace betwixt him and the Duke of Bourgondy and the Duke of Bourgondy sware the said peace and promised to keepe and entertaine it with and against all men The next day they parted and came to Cambray p Notwithstanding their speeches vnto the Duke of BourgoÌ„dy that hee should be blamed to break the assurance which he had promised the King hee still answered Hee hath promised me and hee shall hold it I will make no Conscience to force him Peter of Goux his ChaÌ„cellor was one of those which counselled him not to offâ—nd the King Oli. de la March. and entred into the Contry of Liege in the beginning of winter The King had no forces but his scottish garde and 300. men at armes The Duke held a Counsell in the sight of Liege what he should do Some were of opinion that he should send back part of his Army for his forces were too great against a demantled towne which could not be releeued seing the King was with him He gaue no credit to this Counsell and it succeeded well for he could not be too strong hauing a mighty
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
with the Spaniards 24 Blanch Countesse of Foix Queene of Nauarre the mother of many children 25 Battell of Guinegast 26 Siege of Rhodes by Mahomet the second and the valiant resistance of the great Master ⧠THE HISTORIE Of LEWIS the eleuenth THE EIGHTH BOOKE TWO great occasions presented themselues vnto the King to augment his Empire 1477. after the death of the Duke of Bourgondy In the first it seemed that Italy was not diuided but to vnite it againe vnder the gouernment of one alone and that not any one but the French King might vndertake it or hope for it They councelled him to make his profit of these diuisions K. Lewis councel'd to make his profite of the diuision of Italy and to renue the right which the Crowne of France had to the Realme of Naples since Charles Earle of Aniou a Pope Vrban the third called Charles of Aniou against Māfroy and promised him the Inuestiture of both Siciles Charles came to Rome in the yeare 1264. in May and receiued it frō Clement 4. and from the same hand the Crown at S. Iohn de Latran the 28. of Iune Prouence brother to the great King who renowned by the power of Armes and much more by the holinesse of his life deserued to be declared a Saint Robert of Saint Seuerin came vnto the King b Robert of S. Seuerin came to the King to make him resolue to come into Italy Paulus Aemilius saith that the King answered him that he had learned frō his Predecessors that the Frēch could neuer keepe any thing in Italy and made him diuers ouertures to moue him thereunto but he who was a Prince which made more account of the essence then of the appearance of things would not hearken to it The Geneuois intreated him to take them vnder his command hauing liued happily vnder King Charles the 7. He was contented that Iohn Galeas Duke of Millan c Iohn Galeas Duke of Millan did homage for his mother for the Dutchy of Genoa to the Lord of Argenton returning from his Embassage to Florence in the yeare 1476. should do him homage and whē they said that they gaue themselues vnto him he gaue them vnto the Diuell refusing a command so ill grounded as vpon the quicke-sand of the will of a multitude He was also resolued not to meddle with the affaires of Italy hauing learned from his fore-fathers that to send Armies beyond the Alpes was nothing but to purchase repentance with much charge and great difficulties d The Geneuois haue often sought a Maister Guichardin saith that desiring with great instance to giue themselues to Lewis the eleuenth he did not accept the donation and had often refused Dimescolarsi in Italia come cosa piena dispese difficulta all vltimo perniciosa al regno di Francia to meddle with the affaires of of Italy as a thing full of charge and difficulties and in the end dangerous for the realme of France Guic. l. 1. He sent the Signior of Argenton to Florence Troubles at Florēce being full of troubles for a conspiracy made against the house of Medicis Laurence de Medicis liued in that Common-weale as a Cittizen and commanded as a Prince for alwaies in states which depend of the authority of many heads there are some which excell the rest e In popular Estates there hath alwayes beene some priuate man more eminent then the rest Pericles at Athens Epaminondas and Pelopidas at Thebes His Grand-father the great Cosmo Cosmo de Medicis surnamed the Great had laid the foundation of a great authority which did threaten the Common-weale with a new forme of gouernement vnder the power of one alone He was in such reputation through fauour of his wisedome as he began to terrifie the liberty of the Citty and as Machiuel saith the other Citizens held it dangerous to offend him and most dangerous to suffer him The contrary faction attempted to stoppe the growing of this designe the which they thought they could not effect but in killing Laurence and Iulian de Medicis brethren who were not odious vnto great men but for that they had too great credite and their vertue too much reputation and applause f In a free Cittye the great vertue and reputation of one alone is alwaies suspected Cato said against Scipio that a Citty could not termed free in the which the Magistrate did respect feare a priuate man Heauen which reserues vnto it selfe the disposition of States and which aduanceth or staies the Destinies as it pleaseth had resolued to raise the house of Medicis by the same meanes that their enemies sought to ruine it g Conspiracies do many times succeed happily for them against whom they are made Brutus in his History of Florence the 6. Booke saith Consilia quae à coniuratis ad Medicum potentiam euertendam inita fuerant ad eorū principatum stabiliendum mirifice contulerunt The councels which the Cōspirators had taken to ouerthrow the house of Medicis did wonderfully serue to settle their power and authority It was already growne to that splendor and raised so high as the fight of the vulgar sort was dulled and could not discerne it The Lords which carried this Name being hardy and couragious knew their owne merit and knowing themselues capable to reigne worthily past all difficulties to reigne assuredly The Conspiracie was executed vpon Iulian being at Masse in Saint Reparees Church but Laurence saued himselfe in the Vestry The Conspirators were hanged at the Palace-windowes and the Conspiracie held so execrable throughout all the world as Mahomet h All Princes are interessed in the punishment of traytors When as Mahomet vnderstood that one of the Conspirators was in Constantinople he caused him to be apprehended and sent bound to Florence would not suffer one of the Conspirators to liue safely in Constantinople Pope excommunicates the Florentines The Archbishop of Pisa was among them that were hanged Nicholas Cardinall of Saint Georges was put in prison Pope Sixtus the fourth was offended and fauoured all those that had beene dealers in this Conspiracie he did excommunicate the Florentines Army against the Florentines and caused Ferdinand of Arragon King of Naples to Arme against them the Duke of Vrbin was Generall of the Popes Army and of the King of Naples and with him the Kings two sonnes they did ouer-runne the Territories of Florence yet they spared that which did belong to Laurence de Medicis to bring him into suspition and to make the people beleeue that he had intelligence with them i So Hanibal spoiling and burning the houses which were about Rome forbad the Souldiers to touch any thing that did being to Fabius Maximus This Common-weale was in deadly conuulsions of her liberty Changes of gouernment at Florence scarce knowing what should become of her Her Physitions had rather see her rot with languishing then to cure her or bury her
Caualarie of France shewing their ancient valour Battell of Guinegaste brake that of Maximilian and chased them as farre as Aire which made their Foot-men to wauer yet they were staied by the constancy and good order of the Captaines which did fight on foot Maximilian put himselfe among the foot-men the Earle of Rhomont and Engelbert Earle of Nassau behaued themselues so valiantly that day as they carried away the honour and Maximilian had the field and profite The French being Victors busied themselues at the spoyle k Greedinesse of spoyle hath many times made them loose the victory who had it most assured They that escaped froÌ„ this battell and were at that of Nouora committed not this error in pursuing the victory as to fall to spoyle they were heard to cry out in the sield Companions remember Guinegaste and lost the victory which they had certaine When newes was brought vnto Lewis hee would not beleeue that the losse was such as they said If it be true said he that the victory be lost for me fare-well all my Conquests This losse made a Truce and the Truce a peace Christendome had great need to vnite her forces against Mahomet who besieged Rhodes The King obtained a Iubile from Pope Sixtus and caused it to be published throughout his Realme to gather mens Almes and Deuotion for the reliefe and defence of that mighty Bulwarke of Christendome But the History doth not say that he gaue any thing of his owne to the Relligion as King Charles the seuenth had done to prepare himselfe against the Agression of so mighty and fearefull an enemy who vnder a vaine and deceitfull proposition of peace l Nothing doth so much fauour the designes of warre as an opinion of peace Mahomet caused his sonne Zizimi to make some ouerture of a truce vnto Demetrio Sofrano Embassador of the Order and vnder his negotiation he prepared for the warre laboured to discharge vpon them all the furies of warre But it was vaine against Rhodes Siege of Rhodes by Mahomet valiantly defended by the valour and vigilancy of the great Maister of Aubusson who vpon the first aduice that was giuen him of Mahomets designe prouided carefully for the defence and safety of the Towne hee caused some Churches to bee beaten downe which might haue annoyed them if the enemy should get them but hee would not attempt this demolition tumultuously nor of his absolute authority but would first haue the Priests Monkes and all others that were interessed These men by the permission of the Metropolitan of the Grecians and of the Archbishop m There is alwaies a great correspondency betwixt the Order of the Church the inferiors ordaine nothing without the aduice of their superiors The Synode of Laodicea forbad the Bishops diuided among the Villages of the Prouince to doe any thing without the Bishop which was in the Towne Colossensis or of Rhodes for there is a great Relation of authority and obedience of power and respect among them consented In all his designes hee euer respected the Kings aduice and counsell and informed him of all that past yea of the fortifications which he made in the Island and of the ouertures of an accord which Mahomet made to deceiue him beseeching him that the French Commanders and Knights which were within his Realme should not loose so goodly an ocasion to serue Christendome The siege of Rhodes began after that of Scutari n At the siege of Sâ—utari the Assailants shot so many Arrowes into the Towne as the besieged for a long time after the siege burnt no other wood but Arrowes Mahomet was forced to raise the siege The Venetians Lords of Scutari left it him to haue a peace in the end of May 1480. 1480. After that Mahomet had knowne Tribute refused to Mahomet that it was impossible for him to haue that tribute from the Rhodians which he demanded in regard whereof he would suffer them to liue in peace the Army camped on Saint Stephens Mountaine and vpon little Hilles thereabouts it consisted of an hundred thousand men and a great quantity of Artillery A great troope of horse and foote came furiously from the Mountaine to discouer the Towne of Rhodes the which were twice beaten and repulst Their Batteries being planted the Canon played against S. Nicholas Tower The great Maister was informed of euery thing in the Turkes Army by a Germaine Inginer who cast himselfe into the Towne and left the Infidels making shew that the onely zeale of religion had moued him hee related the whole estate of the Campe and discouered that which they could not learne but by him But his zeale was meere treachery and treason Treason of a German Inginer for the which he was soone after hanged by the commandement of the great Maister who feared Traitors more then Enemies o At the siege of Towns the practises within are no lesse to bee feared then the attempts without Scipio Affricanus said that he was not so carefull to defend himselfe from the enemy as from traitors He refresht the Garrison in S. Nicholas Tower and placed of the most valiant Knights and best Souldiers to guard it he viewes the ruines which the battery had made and causeth them to be repaired speedily The Turkes assaile it with an incredible fury but they were so receiued Assault giuen by the Turkes as in lesse then an houre they lost 700 Souldiers besides them that were wounded and they that retired suddenly to their Gallies were drowned The great Maister went triumphing to Rhodes to giue God thankes for this victory The Turkes to weaken the forces of the besieged and to vanquish them the more easily being diuided batter the Towne in many places p The Artillery battering the walles of Rhodes caused the Iland tremble and it was heard plainly at the Iland of Castle Rosso towards the East an incredible way off with peeces and Engines of warre of an vnknowne greatnesse There was neuer Fort more furiously battered neither was there euer Campe more annoyed by the battery of the besieged The assailants made some shot whose noyse was like vnto Thunder and their ruines like that of Thunder-bolts The Rhodians had a Canon which they called the Tribute which carried away great heapes of the enemies The Scorpions Rammes Slings and Crosse-bowes of the old warres which carried and forced Mil-stones and Rockes with such great violence and so farre off wrought not such terrible effects The Turkes shot out of Engines the stones whereof ruined houses where they fell And after this maner Philip Augustus and Richard King of England had in former times ruined Ptolemaid There was danger to remaine within and danger to come out of the houses q Pauâ—us Aemilius saith that at the siege of Ptolemaid Saxorum ictu quae Tollenonibus mittebantur tecta domorum superne perfringebantur The toppes of housâ—s were broken downe with the stones they cast out of engines
impossible he should escape death if he were knowne for his son Treachery of Haly Bassa he recommended him to Haly Bassa intreating him to saue him This Treacherous wretch to purchase the fauour of the new Prince discouered this innocent creature vnto him Calepin was veiwed and knowne by thirty Matrons and presently strangled Haly Bassa did not liue long in the impunity of this treachery for after the taking of Constantinople Mahomet caused him to be strangled accusing him of Infidelity of Intelligence with the Christians and that he had diuerted his father Amurath from the siege of that Citty Hee carried his designes higher then his Predecessours he breathed nothing but the Monarchy of the whole world and the desire of glory made him to loue those which keepe the glory of Princes from decay and to fauour men of knowledge o Mahomet much delighted in Histories and Historiographers fauoring Iohn Maria of Vicenza for that hee wrote the PersiaÌ„ warres against Vssan Cassan in the Turkish and Italian tongues against the intention of his Law-giuer who the better to keepe vnder the minds of men and to make them subiect to the yoke of seruitude did forbid them the knowledge of learning Hee caused to be written in the Arabian tongue the liues of great Captaines and especially that of Alexander whom he tooke for his Paterne but he had not his generosity in battels nor his moderation in victories He vsed it more cruelly Cruelties of Mahomet at the taking of Constantinople other places when as at the taking of Constantinople hee caused the head of the Emperour Constantine to be carried in mockery through out his whole Army and troupes of men to be slaine like sheepe The most apparant which were retired into Saint Sophias Temple p The Temple of S. Sophia which had beene built by the Emperour Iustinian was spoyled of the treasure and pretious relickes which Constantine the Emperour had preserued so deerely It was made a Brothel-house and a Stable for horses being brought before him as he was at meate he gaue himselfe that cruell content to see their heads flye off vnder the hang-mans sword When as he tooke Trebizond he gaue his word to the Emperour Dauid Comnene and to his two sons he led them in triumph to Constantinople with the chiefe Noblemen their wiues and children but this was but to adde vnto the infamy of their death the quality of their misery and to make the spectacle more solemne causing them to be publiquely executed At the taking of Chalcide q Mahomet besieged Chalcide in Negrepont in thâ— yeare 1470. Hee tooke it in 30. daies lost 40000. men it was a capitall crime to pardon any man being aboue twenty yeares old He caused some Noblemen of Albania to bee fleed by peece-meale and caused this barbarous inhumanity to continue fifteene daies to the end hee might haue time to taste the sweetnesse which he tooke in this cruelty He besieged the Castle of Iaisse in Bossina the King yeelded by composition that he should carry away all that was within it but there was no faith kept with him for he caused him to be bound vnto a Tree and to be shot to death reproaching his auarice vnto him that he had rather saue himselfe with his Treasure then with his Honour r There is nothing more shamefull and dishoâ—ourable to a Prince then to yeeld without defence or danger They that bend without blowes are more worthy of blame and reproach then they that do their endeauours to resist couragiously Thucidides in his admonitioÌ„ to the Athenians He had emploied Mahomet Bassa in his greatest affaires and loued him as one that had bene bred vp with him from his youth This miserable man had beene a Christian and in his greatest honours did still sigh for Christian liberty for the greatest haue no other title but of slaue to the great Signior and although hee were aduanced aboue the highest in the State yet his nature being proud and ambitious he held himselfe vnder all so long as hee should be a slaue and that he should see one or two aboue him s An ambitious spirit cannot endure any thing higher then it selfe Marcus Crassus is the picture of men of this humour This foolish ambition had so blinded him as he could not bee satisfied to precede so many millions of men but he held himselfe in a maner the last of all that all things failed him for that they esteemed him onely inferiour to two Plut. in the life of Marcus Crassus Trusting therefore in his Maisters loue and fauour he made him a sumptuous feast and at the end thereof offered him fifty thousand Crownes beseeching him to declare him free and take from him that odious name of slaue leauing him that of most faithfull and most obliged seruant Pride troden vnder foote Mahomet was so incensed at this demand as hauing instantly commanded this Bassa to couch with his belly against the ground hee set his foote diuers times vpon his necke vntill that this miserable wretch began to cry I thanke you my Lord I thanke you it is too great a happinesse for me to liue vnder your feete To liue after this was to declare himselfe vnworthy to haue receiued life Generosity of a yong boy of Sparta and to haue lesse courage then that Boy of Sparta t A yong boy of Sparta being forced to serue said he would not do it He spake the word and performed it for when as they commanded him to bring a Chamberpot he ran his head against the walles whereupon Seneca saith Tam prope libertas est seruit aliquis Doth any man serue when as liberty is so neere who seeing himselfe forced vnto a seruice which his condition should not refuse cryed out â— I will not serue and in speaking this hee ranne his head against the Wall The siege of Belgrade was the Theater of his power and misery for he neuer made greater attempt nor had a mightier Army Hee had caused his Cannon to bee carried in peeces by his Souldiours and when hee was in Mysia hee made diuers Peeces to bee cast of an vnmeasurable greatnesse for hee tooke delight in those fearefull Engines hauing at the Siege of Constantinople imployed a Bombard to moue the which he vsed the force of two thousand men and of seuenty yoke of oxen Hitherto fortune had euer smiled on him now she makes him to receiue so sencible an affront as he is forced to hold them happy which had bene alwaies miserable for being ignorant of the estate of prosperity they did with more patience endure their misfortunes u Aduersity is insupportable to the which haue alwaies tasted of prosperity Denis of Corinth held them happy which from 〈◊〉 iâ—fancy had beâ— vnfortunate Lâ—â—ioâ—es relinquet quos nuÌ„quam fortuna respexit quam quos deseruit Sen. Fortune 〈◊〉 the more 〈◊〉 whom she hath neuer fiuored then wâ—oÌ„
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