King more â—euer subiects gaue with greater ioy to their Soueraigne then the French did to hâ—m â—haâ— glorious surname of Father of his people FRANCIS the first of that name 58. King of France FRANCES THE I. KING OF FRANCE .58 1515. HAppie is that Realme saith the wise man which fals not into a childs hands This was the first comfort which reuiued the hearts of the French oppressed with mourning and heauinesse for the death of their good King Lewis the twelfth The second was that they cast their eyes vppon a worthie successor a Prince well borne iudicious and of a generous spirit liberall courteous in the prime of his age and fit for gouernment affable to the people fauorable to the Clergie pleasing to the Nobilitie who doe naturally loue their Princes good countenance and that which all subiects admire in their Soueraine of an excellent beautie Thus capable was he of the royall dignitie Francis being then two and twentie yeares old before Duke of Valois and Earle of Angoulesme tooke vppon him the gouernment of this Monarchie as sonne to Charles Earle of Angoulesme sonne to Iohn Earle of Angoulesme who was the yongest sonne of Lewis Duke of Orleans murthered by the Bourguignon at Paris in the time of Charles the sixth who was also the yongest sonne of King Charles the fiâ—t Hee was anointed at Rheims the fiue and twentith of Ianuary being attended on by the Dukes of Bourbon and Alanson the Earles of Montpensier Vendosme and Saint Paul the Prince of Roche-sur-Yon al of the house of Bourbon Then hauing made his entry into Paris a sollemne Tournie kept in Saint Anthonies street he confirmed all the ancient officers of the Crowne and to suppâ—ie those which were vacant hee creaâ—ed Charles Duke of Bourbon Constable of France being void by the death of Iohn the second Duke of Bourbon Anthonie Prat Chancellor for then Steuen Poncher Bishoppe of Paris was keeper of the seale Charles of Bourbon Earle of Vendosme Gouernour of the I le of France making the said Countie a Duchie and a Peere of France the Lord of Lautree Gouernour of Guienne Palisse Marshall of France Boisi his gouernour in his youth Lord Steward and Superintendant of his house with whome he ioyned Fleuremonde Robertet His dessâ—â—ins Secretarie of State With this title of King of France he tooke vppon him that of the Duke of Milan not onely as descending of the house of Orleans the true heire of that Duchie but also as comprehended in the inuestiture made by the Emperour according to the treatie of Cambraye And for that hee succeeded equally both to the Crowne and the desire his Predecessor had to recouer that goodly estate of Milan he therfore to worke it with more facilitie renued the peace made betwixt the deceased King and the King of England sending home Mary the widoâ—e of Lewis with a dowrie of threescoore thousand Crownes a yeare· who afterwards married with the Duke of Suffolke Hee also confirmed the alliance this Crowne had with the Senat of Venice The Archduke Charles sent a very honorable Ambassage to the King whereof the Earle of Nassau was the cheefe to doe him homage for the Counties of Flanders Arthois and other Lands which held of this Crowne and the which gaue great hope of a future peace betwixt these two Princes both being yong but marked for great matters to treat a marriage betwixt the said Charles and Renèe the Queenes sister who was after wife to the Duke of â—errare And for that the sayd Earle was greatly fauoured by the Prince Charles the King desirous to gratifie him caused him to marrie with the daughter of the Prince of Orange bred vp in his Court. Charles was yet vnder age but so carefully instructed by that wise Lord of Chieures of the house of Croye whome the deceased King Lewis had made choise of to gouerne him in his youth for that Philippe the father of Charles had by his testament intreated Lewis to accept the charge of his sonne that euen in his yonger yeares hee made him capable to vnderstand the affaires presenting vnto him all pacquets that came causing him to make report thereof vnto his Councell and to determine all things in his presence He did foresee that after the death of Ferdinand his grandfather by the mother the French might crosse him in his passage from Fâ—anders into Spaine holding it dangerous to stand in the midest betwixt the Kings of France and England vnited togither and not to fortâ—fie himselfe with this common alliance Moreouer his subiects of the low Countries would haue no warres with the Realme of France The King likewise desired to take from him all motiues to gouerne himselfe hereafter by the councell of his two grandfathers They therefore agreedâ— That the marriage proceeding betwixt the Archduke and Rene the King should giue him six hundred thousand Crownes and the Duchie of Berry for euer to her and to heires vppon condition she should renounce all rights of inheritance both from father and mother namely to the Duchies of Milan and Brittanie That after the death of the Catholike King the King should ayd the Archduke with men and shippes to goe and receiue his Realmes of Spaine The Arragonois demaunded a continuance of the truce but the King meaning to put out that clause Not to molest the Duchie of Milan during the truce their parle was fruitlesse The Emperour who ioyned his desseins to the councels of Ferdinand opposed against the amitie of the French The Suisses were as forward as before As for the Pope Francis desired to be freed from all bond to him that he mightt resolue for the best according to the course of his affaires To build vpon these foundations he now imployes his Captaines men at armes and the prouisions which his Predecessor had first prepared and makes his armie march with speed to Lions whether his Maiestie comes in Iuly An armie â—o all in the Duchie of 〈◊〉 hauing left the Regencie of the Realme to Louise of Sauyoe his mother The Duke of Bourbon Constable led the foreward accompanied with his brother Francis newly created Duke of Castelleraud the Marshals of Palisse and Triuulce Charles of Tremouille Prince of Talmont sonne to Lewis Vicont of Touars the Earle of Sancerre the Baron of Beard the Lords of Bonniuet Imbercourt and Teligni Seneshall of Rouergue Peter of Naurrre whome the King had drawen to his seruice giuing him his libertie without ransome commaunded six thousand Gascons and the Lords of Lorges grandfather to the late Mongomeries Pirault of Margiron Richbourg Iorteil little Lainet Onatilleu Hercules of Daulphine and Captaine Commarque euery one commaunding fiue hundred foote making foure thousand and eight or nine thousand Lansquenets led by Charles Duke of Guelders The King led the battaile followed by the Duke of Vendosme Lorraine and Albania the Earle of Saint Paul Claude of Lorraine Earle of Guise brother to the Duke of Lorraine the
of age should obscure the fame of his first exployts he returnes in the beginning of the new yeare laden with ladders and seeks to surprise it but in vaine Cooled by the seege of Faâ—nze Pollicie not succeeding he returnes to force and by the taking of Russy and other places of the countrie he makes the enterprise easie A new breach is made and new asâ—auâ—ts giuen the first without effect the second gaue hope of victorie but the violence of the Canon which battred in flanke the incouÌ„tring of a deepe large trench the death of Ferdinand Farnese with many other men of worth and the number of the wounded makes them to leaue the assault But at length he carries it The losse the Fauentines had receiued in this assault and the dispaire of succours cooled this first heate feare making theÌ„ apprehend hard conditions if force reduced them into the victors power they treated to yeeld their liues and goods saued vpon condition that Astor their Lord Facuze yeelded should with his libertie choose what retreat he pleased enioying the reuenewes of his patrimonie But poore Astor oh Burgia who soeuer shall read the detestible life and horrible death of thy father will alwaies iâ—dge thee a right and worthie sonne of such a father being yong and verie beautifull was with goodly shewes and honorable demonstrations of loue reteyned in the Valentinois Court 1501. and soone after conducted to Rome where some one sayeth the Originall The pittiful death of the Lord of Faâ—â—s murthered by Borgia naming no man but noting the vilain with his fingar hauing taken his pleasure of him and glutted his lust they caused him to be secretly murthered with his bastard brother and the Pope with the approbation of the Colledge giues to his sonne Borgia the inuesting and title of Duke of Romagnia This estate seemed to him imperfect without the adiunction of the territory of Bologne But the Kings expresse commandement not to attempt any thing against the estate of Iohn Bentiuole whome he had taken into his protection caused the Valentinois to content himselfe for that time with a transaction from Bentiuole to haue passage and victualls through his country a tribute of nine thousand ducats yeerely a certaine number of horse and foote and Castel-bologne a place vnder the iurisdiction of Bologne and so he transported his forces into Tuscane Marke here a notable example of a childe to his father One of the sonnes of the L.G. Montpensier going to Pozzuolo to visit the sepulcher of his father suffred himselfe to be so much ouerruled with passion that after he had washed all parts of the monument with his lamentable teares he fainted and fell downe dead vpon the Sepulcher of his father who had as little sence of those his latest forrowes as he had feeling of so great a fault to giue such libertie to the rage of nature The Florentins are mightely perplexed they had greatly mooued the King by their bad order in the recouery of Pisa The Florentiâ—s in gâ—eat perplexity as we haue heard before but there springs vp newe motiues of discontent The exceeding charge they had beene at and were still forced to beare for the warres of Pisa the iealousie of the Popes forces and of his Borgia made them slacke in paying the King the money which the Duke of Milan had lent them and the debt which hee pretended to bee due vnto him by reason of the pay made by his maiesty to the Suisses which he had sent against Pisa whom hee had maintayned with his owne money vpon refusall which the Florentins had made them vnder colour that they would retire into their Country before their time perfixed and the King who sought to empty their cofers to the ende he might gouerne them more absolutly demanded it very earnestly Moreouer they grewe more weake by their owne ciuill discords which troubled them in the popular gouernment wherein many of the Cittizens being suspected eyther as friends to the Medicis or desiring an other kind of gouernment matters were managed with more confusion then counsell and to increase their crosses the King did presse them for the aides and summes of money promised for the voâ—age of Naples pretending That he had performed the conâ—entions they had made togither whereto they were bound seeing that by their owne fault they had hindred the recouery therefore hee was no more bound to protect them And in truth Iulian de Medicis beseeching him in person and at the Popes perswasion The Fâ—oâ—entins freed by a fayned transaction with Borgâ—â— to restore him and his breâ—heren into their estates vpon promises of a great summe of money hee most willingly opened both eare and heart to these offers All these considerations drewe the Valentinois into Tuscane with seauen hundred men at armes fiue thousand choise foote which Bentiuole gaue him the French companies lodging apart to attend the Kings army which began to march But he knew that the King would not bee pleased with this entry in Hostile manner into the Florentins Country and that otherwise his army was both weake of men and munition to force any Towne The Florentins also knowing themselues naked both of horse and foote others then of the Country oppressed with iealousie feare and diuisions hee makes this accord with them That there should bee a confederacie betwixt the common-weale of Florence and the Duke of Valentinois with a prohibition not to aide the rebelles on eyther side and that the Florentins should entertayne him for three yeares at their charge with three hundred men at armes and six and thirty thousand Ducats yearely which men at armes hee should send to them when soeuer they had neede eyther for themselues or any other and should not oppose themselues against him for the defence of the Lord of Plombin who was in their protection But this composition was onely to disarme the Valentinois and to send him packing And hee well informed of the policie staying in the same County spoyled it in reâ—enge both by fire and sacke most like to an open enemy tyring them with demandes which partly they refused partly differred hoping that the Kings authority should free them from these bonds which necessity of the time and Borgias force had extorted from them The King indeed held the rodde but stayed his arme he was pleased the Valentinois should terrifie them but not tyranise ouer them For although hee would willingly haue seene some other forme of gouernment at Florence yet an alteration then would haue beene very preiudicial vnto him the King being loath to see the Valentinois aduanced to any other authoritie or by any other forces then his Maiesties So The warres of Naples reâ—â—ued by the commaundement of Lewis he leaues Florence and enters the territorie of Plombin taking Surgeretâ—e Scarline and the Islands of Elbe and Pianosa where leauing a sufficient garrison as well to guard the places as to molest them of Plombin
tyme in curling of his haire The battaile of Coâ—tras The nine teenth of October accompanied with the Prince of Condé the Conte Soissons his brother the Viconte of Turenne and other good commanders hee takes his lodging at Coutras to passe the riuer of Drougne at a ford The Duke supposing to haue him at his deuotion betwixt two riâ—ers giues the rendezuous to all his forces the next day betwixt Roche-Chalais and Coutras and there made choise of his place of battaile to his best aduantage halfe a League from Coutras The King of Nauarre and his souldiars had swet more in skiâ—mishes then in tenis-Courts and did take more pleasure in the dust of their enemies chase then in feasts The inequalitie of the number doth not amaze them Hee marcheth before resolues his men to fight makes them to fall on their knees and pray to God puts his horsemen into foure squadrons his owne that of the Prince the Earles and the Viconts The souldiars inflame their courages by mutuall skirmishes and reprochfull speeches from words they goe to blowes The King of Nauarres artillerie thunders fiâ—st at eight of the clocke and at the first volle sweepes away seuen Captaines of the regiment of Picardie The Dukes answeares him but without effect The ignorance or malice of the Canâ—oniers hauing planted it so low as it fell vpon a little â—ill betwixt both armies The Dukes horsemen led by Lauerdin and Captaine Mercoeur giue the charge and at the first encounter force through the King of Nauarres squadron and passing on the Vicont stayes him and beates him backe The Duke presuming by this first good happe to obteine a totall victorie ouer thâ—ee cheefe heads of the house of Bourbon aduanceth resolutely flancked with two hedges of armed men to charge with the Lance. The foure commaunders march euery one in the head of his troupe first easily the pace then the trott and after in their full carier They charge and breake them This conflict which consisted for the most part of Leaguers Defeat was almost as soon dissolued as it was resolued on it began at nine of the clocke and at tenne not any of the Dukes men had any offensiue armes some aâ—e ouerthrowne some taken and some seeke their safetie in flight The victors poursue them thâ—ee Leagues and strewe the fields with men horses and armes The Duke is compassed in by a squadron of men at armes A voyce reuiues the memorie of the slaughter made at Saint Eloy and of the Companie of Pueilhes at the brute whereof he is slaine presently Death of the Duke oâ— Ioyeâ—se without any respect of his qualitie His brother Saint Sauueur Bresay who carried the white Cornet Roussay the yonger brother of Pâ—ennes guidon to the Duke the Earles of Suze Ganuelo d' Aubiâ—oux the Lords of Fumel Neufui the elder brother of Perigord yong Rochefefort Croisete Gurat Saint Fort guidon to Saint Luc du Bordet his enseigne de Vaux Lieutenant to Bellegarde gouernour of Xaintonge Montigni enseigne Tiercelin master of the Campe Pluuiault la Brangerie Campelis the yonger la Vallade Bacullard with many other Caâ—taines and a great number of men of account and qualitie with about halfe of the armie made the battaile of Coutras famous by their deaths as the most memorable of all that haue been giuen for religions cause in France Many rich prisoners and a very rich spoyle All his Cornets taken his cannon carried away and his baggage seized on At their returne from the pursute thankes were giuen to God vpon the place of battaile died with bloud and couered with carcases But that which honoured the King most in the midest of this so commendable a moderation of his victory hee shewed himselfe no lesse milde and courteous to the prysoners and the wounded then wise and valiant in heate of the fight He caused the dead to be buried cured the wounded sent home almost all the prisoners without ransome gratified most of the Commanders caused the enseignes to bee deliuered to Montigny aboue the rest commended him to haue behaued himselfe valiantly in the battayle whereby hee began to purchase fauour with the King of Nauarre and afterwardes gotte great reputation with him for his valour and fidelity when as hee vnited both Crownes into one The Prince of Condé at the first charge had a blowe with a Lance on the side and beeing ingaged vnder his horse it did so preiudice his health as the griefe thereof did soone hasten him to his ende This is the greatest losse of the Protestants army in this coâ—bate in the which there was a very small number slaine and not one of account The King of Nauarre is nowe freed from the snares that were layed for him nowe hee aduanceth towards the spring of the riuer of Loire and giues aduice of his desseine to the army of strangers which then was in Hurepois about the Lands of the Lord of Chastillon The King camped vpon Loire betwixt Cosne and Neufui and by aduice of the Duke of Neuers hee cloyes the passages with trees stoanes and other hindâ—ances where the horses should passe The second cause next to God of the ruine of this army to whom they thought the King at his entry would haue presented a blanke to prescribe what they pleased The Duke of Guise followed them at the heeles and the Duke of Mayenne on the one side and yet both of them could not keepe them from surprising of some small Townes to refresh their army But when as they see themselues frustrate of all hope to ioyne with the King of Nauarre or to passe the riuer of Loire that they must eyther retire or march forward to meete with the King of Nauarre or ingage themselues farther within the realme to seeke bread for themselues and forrage for their horses or else march on the left hand and wander into vnknowne Countries they growe amazed they mutine they faint Some Frenchmen attempt la Charité but their enterprise succeeds not The Germaine aâ—my in Beausse In the ende they leade the army into Beausse where they should finde meate both for man and horâ—e The seauen and twentith of October they lodged at Vimorry and places there abouts neere to Montargis To take from them this lodging the Dukes of Guise and Mayenne taking aduantage of the passages of the riuer of Loing come at supper time with fifteene hundred horse and fiue thousand foote and charge the Baron Donneau beeing lodged in Vimorry with seauen or eight Cornets of Reistres Charged at Vimorry but they had almost verified the saying of the King of the Epirots vanquisher of the Romaine army We are vndone if we get such an other victorie for three hundred horses of baggage the Barons two Cammells and the death of fifty souldiars with a hundred seruants was not sufficient to recompence the bloud of fortie braue and gallant Gentlemen and two hundred good souldiars slaine vpon the place by the Reisâ—res who
put the principall authors thereof to death as the ringleaders of rebellion Gillon entertaines this aduise he puts them to death that were the instruments of Chilperiâ—s disgrace And so with one stone giues two stroakes He take them away that might frustrate his desseine and disposeth the Frenchmens hearts to desire their ancient King And thus he makes the way for Chilperics returne by a very happie dexteritie and the â—â—ent was answerable Gillon hauing put these aforenamed to death became very odious to the French Guyemans abandons Gillon and cunningly embraceth this occasion in fauour of Chilperic He blames the French for their lightnes to haue expelled their naturall Lord and reciued a stranger farre more insupportable Chilperic called home chasticed by affliction Thus he makes them resolue to call home Chilperic who vnderstanding their desire and seeing the peece of gold the token of his returne sent by his faithfull friend returnes confidently into France he is receiued by the French and by their ayd forceth Gillon to resigne him the place and to retire himselfe to Soissons Such was the first part of Chilprics life The last was of another temper for being taught by himselfe he was so addicted to do good as he got the good will of the French of whome he was beloued honoured and obeyed all the rest of his life So as to good minds capable of reason affliction serues as a chastisement and not for a ruine for an instruction and not a destruction Hee did fight happily against Odoacre King of the Saxons subdued the Germans woon a great couÌ„try along the Rhin He added to this State the Country of Aniou hauing forced the citie of Angiers and to make absolute his happines hee had one sonne who augmented and assured his Realme They only obserue one notable error committed after his returne in taking Basine to wife being the wife of Basin King of Turinge who had courteously entertained him in his distresse violating the sacred lawes of hospitalitie suffering himselfe to be abused with the loue of a woman 585. accounted a witch for they say this woman who had forsaken her husband for him was a witch causing him to see a vision the first night of their vnlawfull marriage the which did represent the state of the succeeding kingdome by lions vnicornes leopards the which appeared fiâ—stin this visioÌ„ then by beares and wolues And lastly by cattes dogges and other small beasts the which did teare one another in sunder You must pardon these fables of antiquity bred as it seemes long after by the which she would represent the estate of the three races according to their diuerse occurrents Chilperic hauing liued thus and raigned thirtie yeares he left Clouis his sonne for successor and heire of one of the goodliest and bewtifullest pyllers of the French Monarchie as shall appeare by the following discourse CLOVIS the 1. the 5. King of France and the first Christian King CLOVIS .5 KING OF FRANCE CLOVIS succeding his father Chilperic was installed in the Royaltie by the French according to their ancient custome borne vpon a target in open assembly Hee began to reigne the yeare 485. and raigned thirtie yeares Hee had scarse atteyned to the age of fifteene yeares when as he mounted to the royall throne A yong man of great hope borne for the stablishment of this monarchie His forefathers had layed the foundation but he did build vpon these goodly beginings with so great valour wisedome and good fortune as he is to be held for one of the greatest Architects of this estate hauing had the honour to be the first King of France that receiued the Christian religion the greatest beautie of this Crowne and a priuilege so carefully planted by his successors as they haue purchased the title of most Christian as a marke of their chiefest greatnesse The progresse of the Historie will shew both his vertues and vices But at this entrie his mind being guided to so great a worke whereunto the wise prouidence of almightie God had appointed him fortifies it selfe the first fiue yeares of his raigne 485. being the time of his apprentiship before he vndertooke any thing the which hee did manage so discreetly embracing all occasions that were offered as in the end hee thought himselfe able to subdue all Gaule if God had not stayed the ambitious course of his vnmeasurable desires to shew vnto great personages that hee reserues a Soueraigne prerogatiue ouer all their enterprises We haue saâ—d before that in the dissipation of the Empire the Gaules had many vsurpers Bourguignons Goths and Frenchmen the Romaines had the least part for hardly could they keepe Soissons Compiegne Senlis and other small townes thereabouts The Bourguignons enioyed a great countrie the two Bourgongnes the Duchie and the Earledome Sauoy Lyonnois Forests Beauiolois Daulphiné and Prouence Arles being the Metropolitane Citty of the Realme The Goths possessed all Gaule Narbonnoise to the which they gaue the name and all Guyenne with the appertenances The French had the best part from the Rhin vnto Loire imbracing all the richâ— Prouinces of the Lowe countries vnto the Ocean the countries of Heyâ—ault Cambresie Picardie Normandie the Iâ—le oâ— France Maine Anâ—ou Touraine Vandomois the prouince of Orleans Beausse Hurepois GastiÌ„nois Sologne Berry and the neighbour countries although these great and large territories had particular Lords amongst the which the King was acknowledged for Soueraigne Such was the state of Gaule when as Clouis vndertooke the helme of this French monarchie To become absolute Maister of this goodly country which was set to sale to the mightiest he begins with the weakest the neerest Clouis aspireâ— to the Monarchie of all Gaule and him with whom hee had the most apparent shew of quarrell which was the Romane who held nothing of this great name but the shâ—w and pride in a weaknesse altogether contemptible Siagrius sonne to that Gyles of whom we haue spoken commanded at Soissons for the Romans Clouis had an hereditarie quarrell against him hauing sought to vsurpe his estate irreconciliable quarrels among Princes Hauing so goodly a shew to demand reason for so notable a wrong he dâ—fies him They assemble their forces Clouis calleâ— to his aide Ragnachaire the petty King of Cambray and Chararic of Amyens the first assists him the other excuseth being desirous to keepe the stakes and to be a looker on The first rooting 〈◊〉 of the Romaines and then to ioyne with the stronger Siagrius is ouercome in battell In this ouerthrow he leaâ—es his estate to Clouis and flies to Alaric King of the Goths being at Tholouse Clouis not content with Siagrius goods demands his person of Alaric and obtaines it Siagrius is sent vnto him his hands and feet bound Hauing him in his power he makes him taste the griefe of his misery reproching him that he had basely lost his gouernment deserued capitall punishâ—ent and so he cuts off his head afterwards he suppressed Chararic
a people which had possessed a part of Thrace neere vnto Constantinople he was slaine in the conflict Hee had one sonne named Staurat who by reason should succeed him but Michel his brother in law seizeth on this poore young man and makes him a way and hauing corrupted the chiefe men with gifts hee vsurpes the Empire The Empire conâ—iâ—med to Charles and least that Charlemagne should crosse his desseignes he seekes to insinuate with him not onely ratifying what Nichâ—phorus had done for the diuision of the Empire but by a new contract doth acknowledge him Emperour of the West Thus the affaires of our Charles were daily confirmed but his minde toiled with these new losses and the painfull difficulties he had suffered throughout the whole course of his life required nothing but rest All his life time he held the Church in great reuerence Charles his care to â—â—le the Church had imployed his authority to beautifie it and bountifully bestowed his treasure to inrich it but this great plenty in so happy a peace made the Churchmen to liue loosely Charles well instructed in religion knowing how much it did import to haue doctrine and good manners to shine in them that should instruct others he doth call fiue Councels in diuers places of his dominions for the gouernment of the Church At Mayence at Rheims at Tours at Châ—alons and at Arles and by the aduise of these Ecclesiasticall assemblies A good instructiâ—n 〈◊〉 â—rinces to louâ— piety hee sets downe orderâ— for the reformation of the Church in a booke intituled Capitula Caroli magni which they read at this dayâ— for a venerable proofe of the piety of this great Prince A worthy president for Princes which seeke true honour by vertue whereof the care of piety is the chiefe foundation He held likewise a great Councell in the Citty of Francford â—These are the very words of the History of the Bishops of France Germanie and Italy the which hee himselfe would honour with his presence where by a generall consent The false Synode of the Greekes I 〈◊〉 the very words of the Originall vntruly called the seuenth was condemned and reiected by all the Bishops who subscribed to the condemnation 〈◊〉 there fell out a new accident which drew Charles againe to armes Adelphonse King of Nauarre surnamed the chaste by reason of his singular temperance did careâ—ulâ—y adâ—ertâ—se him New warre in Spaâ—nâ— crost by secret practises that there was now meanes vtterly to subdue the Sarazins in Spaine Charlemagne who desired infinitly to finish this worke so oft attempted without any great successe giues â—are to this aduise leuies an armie and marcheth into Spaine relying on the Spaniards fauour being Christians Adelphonse meant plainly but so did not the chiefe of his Court nor his associates who feared his forces no lesse then the Sarazins and euâ—n the most confident seruants of Adelphonse doubted to be dispossessed of their gouernmeÌ„ts by a new Maister So they crosâ—e Adelphonse in countermanding of Charles but the lots were cast his army is in field and he resolute to passe on He enters into Spaine where he finds so many difficulties as he returnes into France and so concludes all his enterprises imbraciâ—g againe the care of religion and of the Church as a subiect fit for the remainder of his dayes A happy concâ—usion of Charlemagnes life Hee was thâ—ee score and eight yeares old when he left the warres so he spent three whole yeares in his study reading the Bible and the bookes of Saint Augustin whom he loued aboue all the Doctors of the Church He resided at Paris â—o haue conference with the learned where hee had erected a goodly 〈◊〉 â—urnished â—ith learned men such as that time could afforde and enriched 〈◊〉 goodly priuileges Hee had an extraordinary care to haue the seruice of the Câ—urch suppâ—â—ed as a Nursery of the holy Ministery Thence grew so many Colledges of Chanoins with such sufficient reuenues 81â— Thus Charles spent three yeares happily in the onely care of his soule leaâ—â—ing a goodly example to Princes to moderate their greatnesse with pietie their enioying of temporall goods with the hope of eternall and to thinke of their departure out of this life in time He makes his 〈◊〉 Thus foretelling his death wherevnto he prepared himselfe by this exercise he made his will leauing Lewis his sonne sole heyre of his great Kingdoms and bequeaths to the Church great treasures as more at large is conteined in his will set downe in the Hâ—story His Testament was the messenger of his death for soone after he fell sicke He dyes and continued so but eight dayes dying happily vnto the Lord in the yeare of grace 814. of his age the 71. and of his raigne the 47. including 15. yeares of his Empire He was interred at Aix La Chapelle where hee was borne and his memory honoured with a goodly Epitaph set downe in the History The true 〈…〉 and Hee was one of the greatest Princes that euer liued His vertue is the patterne of Princes his good hap the subiect of their wishes The greatnesse of his Monarchie is admirable for he quietly enioyed all France Germanie the greatest part of Hungaâ—ie all Italy and a part of Spaine But his vertues were greater then his Monarchie his clemencie wisdome and valour his learning yea in the holy Scripture his vigilancie His vices magnanimitie and singular force be the theater of his immortall praises And yet his vertues were not without some blemish as the greatest are not commonly without some notable vice for hee was giuen to women adding Concubins to his lawfull wiues by whom hee had bastards I haue noted elsewhere the number of his wiues and children Lewis the weakest of them all remained alone the sole heire of this great Monarchie of France the Romaine Empire but not of his noble vertues We are now come to the top of this great building we shall see it decline and therein note the admirable prouidence of God who amidest the confusion of this estate hath alwayes preserued the Maiestie of this Crowne LEWIS the gentle the 25 King 815. and Emperour of the West LODOWICKE I. KING OF FRANCE XXV AS the vertues of Charlemagne had raised this estate to an admirable greatnesse so the small valour or rather the vices of his posterity caused the declining and if God had not preuented had beene the ruine thereof His intent was onely to change the race vnworthy to raigne but not the realme the which hee hath preserued vnto this day by his prouidence in the bosome of one country and in it his Church for the which he maintaines both the estates where it remaines and the whole world which cannot subsist but in regard of it Thus the French Monarchie being come to the heigth of her greatnesse The declining of this race the lawe imposed vpon all humaine things would haue it decline that of
declared capable to gouerne the estate alone be freed from Tutors But oh the weakenes of mans wisedom he did not foresee that his son should be ill gouerned by his Tutors in his minority that the age of 14. should not free him from Tutors and that euen his sonne coming to mans estate should giue more scope to the ambition of his owne vncles more worthily to be called murtherers then tutors then his weakest youth had done He had a Fistula in one arme by the which those ill humors were drawne away which grewe by poison and gaue him great ease when it did run It chanced this Fistula stopt and then his maladie encreased much Charles resoluing by this sharpe alarum to go the common way of all flesh calls for his three Bretheren Lewis Iohn and Philip and hauing recommended his children and subiects vnto them he giues them particular aduise for the gouernment of the Realme leaâ—ing the custody of his sonne and the Regency of the Realme vnto them He died the 16. of September .1380 in the Castle of Beauty seated vpon the Riuer of Marne He commaunded that Oliuer of Clisson should be Constable hauing commended his fidelity and sufficiency and that they should carefully preserue the amity of Germany Thus died Charles the wise wonderfully beloued and lamented of his subiects leauing his Realme in good estate Charles dies after so horrible a desolation And although the confusions passed had wonderfully impouerished the subiects and wasted the Kings Treasor neyther was his raigne free from warre yet did he leaue the Prouinces of his Realme very wealthy and an infinite tresor in his cofers although he had built the Louure S. Germaine in Laye Montargis Creill the Celestures and some other Churches Of such power is good husbandry in this realme as in riches it yeelds not to the treasors of Peru not in â—eâ—tility to any country vnder heauen to subsist amidst so many storms and to be presently restored by good husbandry An example for Princes to imitate and not to despaire in like confusions but to hope for all that may be wished for in the restoring of an estate by paâ—ience and dexteâ—ity vertues proper to our wise Charles A Prince so much the more praise worthy hauing preserued this Estate when it seemed lost His dispositioÌ„ religious wise modest patient stirring and stayed when need required able to entertaine euery man according to his humor hauing by these vertues wonne a great reputation both within and without the Realme and honourable to his posterity as he to haue saued France from shipwracke He loued leaâ—ning and learned men Nicholas Oresme was his schoolemaister whom hee honoured with great preferments He caused the bible to be translated into French imitating S. Lewis I have seene the originall in the Kings lodging at the Louure signed by King Charles and his Brother the Duke of Berry A goodly obseruation of the auntient simplicity of those royall characters I haue likewise seene a Manuscript of the translation made by the commaundement of S. Lewis He delighted in the reading of the holy Scâ—iptuâ—e Phâ—losophy hauing likewise caused the Eâ—hicâ—s and Politicks of Aristotle with many bookes of Tully to be translated into French The fauâ—ut he shewed to learned men stirred vp many good witts who began to draw the Muses from their graues both in France and Italy The History doth paâ—ticulaâ—ly note that he did often vâ—sit his Coâ—rt of Parliament and his chamber of accompts gaue audience vnto sutors read their petâ—tions and heard theâ—r complaints and reasons imploying some dayes of the weeke euen in his greatest affaires to do those fatherly and royall workes of Iustice. He tooke greaâ— delight to aduance his houshold seruants giuing them meanes secretly and without the pâ—iuity of any to instâ—uct their sonnes and to marâ—ie their daughters A testimonâ—e of a good conscience and of a wise man This bond of loyaltie could haue no better foundation then in transpoâ—ting it from the Father to the sonne nor almes be better imploied then from the maister to the seruant Royall vertues and worthy of eternall memory But alas what shal be the successe of this bounty and wisedome The raigne oâ— his sonne Charles shâ—lbe most miserable 〈◊〉 hath done the part of a good Brother of a good master a good Father and a good 〈◊〉 but God the Soueraigne of Kings had limited the euents of his cares To â—each vs 〈◊〉 a notable example That vnlesse the Lord build the house the worke men lâ—bour but â—n vaine if the Lord keepe not the citty the watchman watcâ—eth but in vaine for an eternal maxime of â—â—uernement and state ConsideratioÌ„s worthy to be obserued by Princes Whosoeuer glories let him glory in the Lord. But vertues are noâ— herâ—dâ—â—ie Iohn not very wise begat Charles a wise and happy Prince and he begets a frantâ—ke man vnhappy both in youth and age We may on the other side oppose other considerations very disputable Profit aduised him to marry the heire of Flanders not onely to pacifie that country but also to inlarge his owne dominions adding therevnto that great and rich estate of Flanders from whence so many mischiefes haue sprong to France but his delight made him preferre the fayre before the rich Moreouer the rules of State did not permit him so to aduance his brother making him in a manner equal to himselfe in power the which must needes be the cause of many inconueniences as it after happened The cause of his brother Philip Duke of Bourgongne is ordered by the same rule for who can with reason mislike that Charles giues a portion to his brother by his fathers will and that in the rich marryage of a Prince his vassall and of a neere estate whereby his realme was dayly annoyed he preferres his brother before his capitall enemy But God had reserued the honour to himselfe Bourgongne since Robert the Grandchild of Hugh Capet had beene successiuely in the power of Princes who had alwayes done faithfull seruice to the crowne and now it shal be a scouâ—ge vnto it yet in the ende it shal be vnited vnto the crowne againe and taken from such as had abused it Experience doth teach that in matters of State the ende is not alwayes answerable to the beginning nor the successe to the desseine to the ende that Princes may depend of him who is greater then themselues who hath made them and can marre them without whom they cannot do any thing Behold the life death race raigne and manners of Charles the 5. called the wise But before we enter into the troublesome raigne of Charles the 6. The Estate of the empire Let vs obserue the estate of the Empire and of the Church We haue saide that Charles the sonne of Iohn King of Bohemia had beene chosen Emperour and called Charles the 4. Hee held the Empire 32. yeares beginning in the yeare 1350. So the raignes of Iohn and Charles
the bridge to be fortified with three turnepikes to stoppe their free entrance into the Towne whether the Bourguignon must come by dutie vnto the Daulphin This succeeded according to his desseine but it carried the shewe of an enemie The Bourguignon sends three gentlemen of his houshold to the Daulphin Thoulongâ—â—â— Ernoy and Soubretier to aduertise him of his comming They giue him notice of the two barricadoes made vpon the Bridge and wish him not to aduenture Hauing referred it to his Counsell all beeing on horsebacke he resolues in the ende to passe onâ— he lights at the Castle where his lodging was assigned and setts his gardes at the entry of the gate towards the Towne Hereupon Tanneguy of Chastell come vnto him who after a due reuerence saluted him from the Daulphin saying that he attended him at the bridge foote at the towne gate Then Iohn of Bourgongne hauing chosen out ten of his most trusty followers Charles of Bourbon the Lords of Nouaille Fribourg S. George Montagu Vergy 〈◊〉 Pontauillier Lens Giaâ— and his Secretarie Seguinat hee approcheth to the first barre where he inco unters with som from our Charles who intreat him to enter vpon their maisters word and assure him by oath Before he enters as if his heart had foretold his harme he stayes sodainely and askes aduice of his company who incouâ—aging him to passe on he enters the second barre the which was presently lockt and then he caused some to go before him and some behind he remaining in the midest Tanneguy of Chastell comes to receiue him and the Duke laying his hand vppon 〈◊〉 shoulder very familiarly This is he saies the Duke in whom I trust I will conclude this bloudy Catastrophe with the very words of the Originall And so he approched 〈◊〉 vnto the Daulphin who stood all armed with his sword by his side leaning on a barre Before whom he kneeled with one knee on the ground to do him honour and reuerence saluting â—im most humbly Whereat the Daulphin answered nothing making him no shewe of loue 〈◊〉 charged him with breach of his promise The Daulphin causeth Iohn of Bourgongne to be slaine for that he had not caused the war to cease nor drawn his men out off garrison as he had promised Then Robert de Loire tooke him by the right armâ— and said Rise you are but too honourable The Duke hauing one knee on the ground and his sword about him which hong not to his minde somewhat too farre backe kneeling downe he laid his hand on his sword to pull it forward for his ease Robert said vnto him doe you lay your hand vppon your sword before my Lord the Daulphin At which 〈◊〉 Tanneguy of Chastell drew neere vnto him on the other side who making a signe saiâ— It is time striking the Duke with a little axe so violently on the face as he cut oâ—f his chinne and so he fell on his knees The Duke feeling himselfe thus wounded layde his hand on his sword to draw it thinking to rise and defend himselfe but hee was presently charged by Tanneguy and others and beaten dead to the ground And sodainely one named Oliuer Layet with the helpe of Peter Fortier thrusts a sword into his belly vnder his coate of Maile Whilest this was doing the Lord of Nouailles drewe his sword halfe out thinking to defend the Duke but the Vicont of Narbonne held a dagger thinking to striâ—e him Nouailles leaping forceably to the Vicount wrested the dagger from him being so sore hurt in the hinder part of the head as he fell downe dead Whilest this was acting the Daulphin leaning on the barr beholding this strange sight retyred backe as one amazed and was presently conducted to his lodging by Iohn Louuet and other his councellers All the rest were taken except Montagu who leaped ouer the turnepike and gaue the Alarum There were 〈…〉 vpon the place but Iohn Duke of Bourgongne and Nouailles S. George and a Aâ—cre were hurt The Dukes men charged home vnto the turnepike but they were eâ—sily repulsed His troupes retyring to Bray are pursued by the Daulphinois with losse and in the ende the castle is abandoned by him that had it in gaâ—d The Dukes body stript off al but his Doublet and Bootes is drawne into a Mill and the next daye buried This happened the tenth of September in the yeare 1419. Behold the ende of Iohn Duke of Bourgongne Seeing then this murther troubled the Daulphin who had caused it to be committed what stonie heart would not be amazed thereat Truly the breach of faith is vnexcusable howsoeuer it be disguised for as faith is the ground of humane society so doth it extend euen vnto enimies with whom it must be inuiolably kept This blowe shall be deere to Charles Through this hole the enimye shall enter so farre into the Realme as he shall put him in danger and in the ende he shall be forced to confesse his fault not able to excuse himselfe without accusing of his councellours But from vniust man let vs ascend to the wisedome of that great Iudge of the world who is alwaies iust The Oracle cries He that strikes with the sword shall perish with the sword and The disloyall to the disloyall They loued misery and misery found them out And wise antiquity saies God punisheth great wickednes with great paines euen in this life And Hardly can tyrants descend into the graue with a dry death that is without blood or murther Oh iustice of God alwaies iust alwaies wise and alwaies good Thy iudgements are righteous O Lord. I condemne the errour of men yet I held my peace Bloud punished with bloud because thou dâ—dest it Draw the curten Iohn of Bourgongne hath played his part vpon this Theater He had slaine the the Duke of Orleans traitorously and now he wallowes in his owne goare being treacherously slaine by the Daulphin Charles Now let vs see the care his son Philip Earle of Charolois had to be reuenged of Charles for this cruell murther but all is not yet ended The Catastrophe of this miserable raigne Philip sonne to Iohn Duke of Bourgongne stirres vp great troubles against Charles the Daulphin in reuenge of his fathers death BY whose meanes Isabell an vnkinde mother makes warre against Charles her sonne and peace with Henry the fift King of England then a capitall enemy to the state She giues him her daughter Katherine in marriage and procures King Charles the 6. her husband to declare Henry his lawfull heire and to dis-inherit his only sonne Charles the 7. from the realme of France 1420. During these occurrents Henry the 5. and Charles the 6. die leauing the Crowne of France in question betwixt Charles the 7. and Henry the 6. proclaimed King of France at the funeralles of Charles the 6. From the yeare 1419. to the yeare 1422. AFter this tragicall and strange murther of Iohn of Bourgongne Philip his sonne Duke of Bourgongne by his decease seekes
making a defensiue warre attending the successe of Tartas Talbot fearing least Galardon should be surprised by the French doth raze it and this was all Let vs now returne to Tholouse to conduct Charles from thence to Tartas Taâ—taâ— releeued by King Chaâ—les for there lies the waight of his affaires Assignation is giuen it must be held To conclude the King comes at the appointed time with a goodly and mighty army the condition is performed he demands his hostages and the effect of accord So young Albret is deliuered Tartas continues vnder his obedience the day honorably kept and all the Prouince in quiet Tartas thus victoriously assured Charles resolues both to husband the occasion with his forces and to proceed farther Saint Seuer was held by Thomas Rameston with a hundred men at armes and fouerteene hundred Cros bowes and fortified what might be in those dayes Charles takes it by force slewe the greatest part oâ— the English and takes the Commander prisoner Acqs hauing endured a seege of sixe weekes is yeelded by composition The Earle of Foix was with the King and imployed both his person men and meanes to do him seruice but the impatiency of the French thrust them vpon his Country where they committed many insolencies The Bearnois discontented with the French assembles his forces and chargeth them as enemies but they had their reuenge for they fell vpon this ill armed multitude and slue seuen hundred to the great griefe of Charles fearing that this escape might alter his affaires but the Earles discretion couered this excesse and Charles continued his course Agâ—n held for him from thence he summons Toneins Marmande Port Saint Marie which yâ—eâ—d him obedience Reole being obstinate was beseeged and assayled with dâ—fficultiâ— but in the ende it was taken The shaâ—pe winter hindâ—ing the course of Garonne for the vitteling of the army made the seege both long and difficult and gaue the English meanes to recouer Saint â—â—uer and Acqs not very well garded but the Earle of Foix winnes Saint Seuer againe The deaâ—h of Potâ—oâ— and la Hire and the Earle of Lomaigne Acqs. A great number of the Nobility of the Country forced to make a good shew during the English force submit themselues to the King as the Lords of Puiols Rauson Roquetaillade and Pelegrue Thus Charles hauing made the Lord of Coitiuy Seneshall of Guienne gouernor of that conquered Countrie he makes his returne into France Being at Montauban he lost those two great Captaines so famous in his raigne Pothon and la Hire more rich in vertue honor then in substance yet Pothon was maister of the Kings horse and his sonne was Marshall La Hire left for his chiefe welth the immortall memorie of his loyaltie and valour the which hee happily imployed in the greatest necessitie of this Crowne Names in truth most worthy to be consecrated to the perpetuall memorie of posterity for a president to such as manage armes and make so great profession of honour with what title were these most hâ—nored for their vertues or for their Castells A happie exchange to change perishing gold which oftentimes makes him hatefull that loues it with the pleasing smell of immortall praise An vnreprouable ambition amidest the reproches of this golden age which loueth gold more then honour So Montauban was a tombe for their bodies and the whole world the Epitaphe of their praises At that instant and in the same place Charles ended the controuersie for the Earldome of Cominge Ioane daughter to the Earle of Cominge and Boulogne married at the first to Iohn Duke of Berry soone to King Iohn was after his decease married to Mathew Earle of Castel-bon of the house of Foix. She had one daughter by this Mathew but for that there was no good agreement betwixt them she makes a will to bridle her husband that by vertue of the authority of a father he should not enioy her lyuing instituting King Charles the 7. her heire in case her daughter died without lawfull heires In disdaine of this testament Mathew much yonger then she and who had not taken her but for her Crownes kept her prisoner an aged woman of foure score yeares The Daughter of Ioane of Cominge beeing dead the Earldome belonged vnto the King as lawfull heire by the donation of Ioane the lawful heire So Charles was bound by a double bonde to defend the gray haires of this old woman against the insolencie of her cruell husband who finding himselfe supported by the fauour of the Earle of Foix and Armagnac his Cousin hauing alreadie seized vpon some Townes of Cominge and playing the pettie King during the confusion of times and the neighbourhood of the English thought all things to be lawfull The King adiournes them both to appeere at Tholouse The Parliament of Tholouse erected wheras then he established a Parliament for all the Countries of Languedoc Foix Cominge Gaure Quercy Armaignac Estrac Lomaigne Mcgnaoc Bigorre and Rouergue Mathew deliuerd Ioane his wife into the Kings hands and it was decreed by the Court of Parliament the which they noate to be the first of this sollemne assemblie that Ioane should liue in free libertie out of Mathews power and should enioye the moity of the reuenues of Cominge and the rest should go into the Kings cofers The Earle of Foix and Armaignac yeelded vp the Townes of Cominges which he had vsurped and was adiourned vnto Paris to yeeld an account of many rebellions whereof he was accused especially for that he set in his titles â—ernard by the grace of God Earle c. A marke fit for soueraintie the which appertaines not to Seigneuries subiect to this Crowne Thus Charles remembers Lawes in the heat of warre but it requires an other Comissioner to execute this decree by force of armes after the death of Ioane who being conducted to Poictiers liued not long in this libertie Charles bâ—ing returned to Poitiers about the moneth of Maâ—ch resolues to imploy his sonne Lewis both to fashion him to affaires and to drawe him from suâ—h as would seduce him He giues him the gouernment of those Countries which lies betwixt the riueâ—s of Suze and Seine For the well imploying of this newe authority there were two goodly occasions presented one vpon an other Deepe was reduced to the Kings obedience this was a great annoyance to Rouen for the freeâ—ng whereof the Duke of Yorke doth beseege it raising forts to keepe them from all releefe This seege had continued nine monethes very tedious to the beseeged The Dâ—ulpâ—ins happie exploicts when as behold the Daulphin accompanied with the Earles of Dunois and Saint Pol and the Lord of Gaucourt assailes these forts and forceth them killes three hundred English and many Normaines either by the sword or water and so frees Deepe This occasion was followed by an other which chanced in a manner at the same instant Ioane Countesse of Cominge dies at Poitiers soone after she had tasted the aire of
mounted on a horse of the same proportion rushes through them diuids them that held him Then happilie arriues the bastard of Bourgongue and the Earles garde by means whereof the French retire themselues to their ditch Charles of Bouâ—ggongâ—e taken and rescued where they had beene in the morning During the which a false brute of the Kings death had almost ouerthrowne all for euery one began to faint The Earle of Maine the Admirall of Montauban and the Lord of Barde imbracing this common beleefe flie with al the rereward Lewis aduertised of this amazement takes off his helmet shewes him selfe to his soldiars and so assures them that he is aliue On the other side the Bourguignon rallies his men dispersed and wearied readâ—e to flie if they had bin charged At the same instant the Count Saint Paul goes to the field and gathers together vnder his enseâ—gne about eight hundred men at armes and but fewe foote Behold the two armies ranked one against an other noâ— like vnto tired men but hauing vewed one another and mutuallie discharged their Canon The night approched A famous battaile for running away which ended the battaile an in counter where the nâ—table flying on either side did wonderfully moderate the furie of the fight The which beâ—ng thus ended the King was conducted by the Scottes to the Castell of Montlehery hauing neither eaten noâ— dronke all that day and then he retyres to Corbâ—il The Earle keeps the field â—poiles the dead and therfore holds himselfe a Conqueror· Amongest the Kings men were knowne Iefferie of Saint Bâ—lain Charleâ— Earle of 〈◊〉 mastâ—r of the plâ—â—e of Battaile the great Steward of Normandy Captaine Flâ—â— uel Baylife of Eureux with many gentlemen to the number of foure hundred horse and but fewe of foote men Our Burguignons the Lords of Lalain Hames Oâ—gnie Varenne and almost all the Earles Archers Haplainonurt Aimeries Inchy and many others were taken flying and brought prisoners to Paris of footemeÌ„ there were more slaine then of the Kings part A'l which were estemed by some at two thousand of both sides The number the dead others heâ—d theÌ„ three thousand six hundred but al affirme constantly that there were more Bouâ—guignons theÌ„ French although Lewis lost more horsemen In trâ—th the firme resolution the constant labour the dangerous hazards manfully passed by the King were sufficient motiues to incourage his men to honor and if he had beene well and couragiously followed notwithstanding his small number and want of artillery the Earle of Charoloâ—s soldiars had digged their graues at Montlehery Three daies after the battaile the Earle of Châ—rolois being aduertised that his confederates approched Succors come to the Earle of Charolois went to receiue them at Esâ—ampes The Dukes of Berry Brittaine the Earle of Dunois and Dammartin the Lords of Lohâ—ae Marshall of France of Buâ—â—l Chaumont and Charles of Amboise his sonne all disgraced by Lewis and put from their offices although they had well serued the King his father They brought with them saith the historie eight hundred good men at armes most Brittains who had newly lest the companies euery one pretending some discontent Of Archers and other men of war resolute wel appointed six thousand on horsebacke all of the Brittons charge who assured by some meÌ„ at armes that fled vpoÌ„ the Kings death promiseth to himselfe much good in conceit in case the Duke of Beâ—ry come to the Crowne And if at that instant they would haue giuen him credit they should haue suppressed the Bourguignons or at the least dismissed them verifiyng That there is small loyaltie and lesse pitty in men of warre On the other side the Duke of Berry began to loath these broyles for in open Councel hauing vewed seuen or eight hundred hurte men wandering vp and downe the Towneâ— he said how much more glad would I haue beene if this warre had neuer begon 〈◊〉 Duke Beâ—â—y lotheâ— the esâ—uâ—iâ—n of bloud then to purchase my selfe riches and honor which the price of so much bloud A speech worthy of a milde Prince and not bloudie but ill digested by the Bourguignon supposing that Charles would easely make his peace vpon the least motion made by Lewis And to assure him selfe as wel without as within the realme he sends William of Cluni afterwards Bishop of Poitiers to Edward King of England although he had alwayes supported the house of Lancaster from whence he was issued by his mother against that of Yorke Hauing refreshed their troups they all dislodge from Estampes and take the way to Saint Mathurin of Laroham and Moret in Gastinois and hauing an intents to passe the riuer of Sâ—ine the Earle imployes many coopers to make pipes hauing brought great store of stuffe for that purpose whereon a bridge was made for want of conuenient boats through the fauour of the Canon which the Earle had planted in an Isâ—â—nd in the midest of the riuer There ioynes with them Iohn Duke of Calabria the onelie sonne of René King of Sicile the Prince of Orange Thibauld of Neuf-chastel Marshall of Bourgongne Other succors come to the confederate Princes and Montagu his brother the Marquis of Rotelin the Lords of Argueil and Thoulongeon with many others leading nine hundred men at armes of the Duchie and Countie of Bourgongne six score men at armes barded Italians commanded by Galeot and Campo-bâ—sso foure hundred Germain crosse-bowes sent by the Cont Palatin and fiue hundred Suisses the which were the first that came to our warres A fatall and lamentable alliance for the Bourguignon as we shall see in his place of other footeman very fewe All this great torrent of a hundred thousand men inuiron Paris Paris beleagard they seize vpon S. Maur on the ditches Pont Charenton Consâ—ans S. Deâ—is and other Places there abouts they tyre the inhabytants with contynuall skirmishes euen at their gates and shakes theyr affections by practises and deuises The Duke of Berry writes to the Clergie to the Court of Parlement to the vâ—iuersitie which then was in great credit in Paris and to the Bourgesses to euery one a part shewing them that all these forces tend not but to the peoples ease and profit and requires them to depute men of iudgement and learning to vnderstand more at large the causes of this their great assemblie Ten Deputies heare their complaints being led by William Chartier Bishop of Paris they report it to the Counsell of the Cittie who answeres That the Cittie shal be free for the Princes to enter into at their pleasure they and theirs abstaining from violence and paying their expences Surely this would haue beene a Conquest of the cittye of Paris But the great Maister of Nantouillet the Marshal Ioachim and other Captaines take a vew of their forces and by this meanes retayne the Parisiens who changing their minds are fully confirmed by the arriuall of Iohn of Rohan Lord of Montauban Admirall of France with
not to deale at all in the warres which Lewis pretended against them A foule and dishonest trafficke made to the preiudice of so great personages The Duke signes and sweares this fraudulent and counterfeit peace A blowe able to amaze the Dukes of Guienne and Brittaine at the first hearing to see themselues thus abandoned of their chiefe support But he repayres it with an after blow by letters of credit writteÌ„ with his own hand giues theÌ„ aduice to continue their course that his intent was only to recouer his townes vpoÌ„ Somme Notable deâ—â—â— and 〈◊〉 which done he will beseech the King by especiall Ambassadors to desist froÌ„ making war against theÌ„ vpon his refusal he will succour theÌ„ with body goods that as the King at his pleasure had brokeÌ„ the treaties of CoÌ„â—tans Peronne so might he infringe his promise oath As for the Earles of Neuers and S. Paul Constable although he had a iust occasion to hate them 1472. yet would he remit their iniuries and suffer them to inioy their owne and beseech the King to doe the like by the Dukes of Guienne and Brittanie suffering euery one to liue in peace and safetie vnder the Articles respectiuely accorded if not he would succour his allies Craon and Oriole had likewise sworne for the King leading Simon of Quinchi a gentleman bred vp in the Dukes house to receiue the othe of his Maiestie But from a new subiect springs a new proiect Behold newes are brought that the Duke of Guienne is sick and without hope of recouerie Vpon this aduice the King delaies the oath findes â—uasions attending the course of his disease and in the meane time doth speedily seize vpon many places of Xaintonge he doth presse Rochell the which vpon these accidents of reconciliation and sicknesse inclines to a composition he withdrawes many of his brothers chiefe seruants and resolues to signe this peace as the sundrie euents of his affaires should lead him and in the meane space he protracts time with the Bourguignon during the which Charles Duke of Guienne dyes at Bourdeaux the 12. of May The Duke of Guienne dyes by the which Lewis recouers the Duchie without blowes and moreouer retaines Amiens and Saint Quintins O subtill wits both deceiuers but not of like industrie so our Lewis shall more easilie auoide the snare But oh death in generall which by the dissolution of the body and soule doest dissolue great desseings The Brittons were ready to enter building vpon great intelligences and practises within the Realme the which without doubt had much troubled the State But oh vnseasonable death in particular how fitly shalt thou serue to shadow the filthy and hatefull yet well coloured reproches of enemies and the murmurings of the most respectiue A death too much neglected but by some affectionate seruants to the deceased Duke who discouer that Iourdain Faure borne 〈…〉 Daulphiné great Almoner to the Duke and Abbot of S. Iohn d' Angely By poison assisted 〈◊〉 Henry de la Roche one of the said Dukes Kitchin had hastened his death by so violâ—nt a â—â—â—son that with a strange and lamentable contraction of his sinews his hayre 〈◊〉 and teeth fell out before his death The Lord of Lescut retired himselfe into Brittanie leading prisoners with him these cursed murtherers Note the murtherers of Princes where the Abbot was found one morning starke dead in his Chamber with a Thunder-clap Hauing his face swollen his body and visage black as a coale and his tongue hanging halfe a foote out of his mouth God doing that iustice in the twinckling of an eye which men delayed Let vs confesse the trueth and without passion the veritie of the Historie doth presse vs vnto it that Charles had beene an ill brother and ought more honour and obedience to him to whom that great Author of Nature had giuen the right of eldership aboue him yet should he haue beene regarded as a sonne of France Note and from his infancie receiue a portion fit for the entertainment of his estate and house Kings haue alwaies power to comptroule the insolencies of their neerest allied when they forget their duties But howsoeuer let vs obserue the order of diuine iustice who easily raiseth vp home-bred scourges but in the end he doth cast the rod into the fire Lewis must be measured with the same proportion he had measured his father and Charles must suffer for the rashnesse of his rebellions This death being little lamented makes such to speake as had but too diligently obserued Lewis his speech hearing one day of the death of the King of Castils brother He is but too happy saith he to haue lost his brother but hatred and ill will grounds their passions euen vpon a Needles point At the same instant Nicholas Marquis of Pont heire of the house of Aniou one of the aboue named riualles made sure to Anne the eldest daughter of Lewis abused with the great yet vaine promises of the Duke of Bourgongne renounced this so worthy an alliance of hâ—s Soueraigne Lord for a frustratorie hope which the vassalle gaue him to marry his daughter but he was ignorant that death the yeare following would punish this rashnesse and preuent him from the inioying either of Anne or Marie The Marquis of Pont dyes and the Earle of Eu. A season likewise famous by the death of Charles Earle of Eu a wise and vertuous Prince whose faithfull seruice to France deserues this testimonie that being sonne to Philip of Bourgongne Earle of Neuers and Rethel and grand-child to Philip the hardie a sonne of France and Duke of Burgongne and by consequence neere kinsman to Charles yet in all these combustions he had faithfully serued the King and preferred the Flower-de-Luce before the Red Crosse. Let vs likewise obserue the death of William Chartier Bishop of Paris The Bishop of Paris dyes who after his conference with the League before Paris in the Kings absence was alwaies in such disgrace with him as after his death Lewis caused his Epitaph to be changed making mention of the bad seruices he had done him during the warre of the common-weale suborning the inhabitants in fauour of the Burguignon The death of the Duke of Guienne had wonderfully afflicted Charles of Bourgongne to increase it he had intelligence that the Brittons would not arme considering that he was dead for whom they should rise In the meane time the chance was cast he had beene at great charge The Bourguignons practises against Lewis and to turne head without restitution were a shame but that which made him mad Amiens and S. Quentin were lost he must hazard all And first he writes to many townes he chargeth the King to haue consented to his brothers death and labours to draw them into armes declaring himselfe their protector but no man stirres so the small effect of his letters sets him on fire and in this choller he marcheth to Neâ—le
keepe those two Prouinces in subiection Oliuer was there some dayes without suspect during the which hee corrupted thirtie or fortie men and fraught with their promises hee sent secretly to the Lord of Mouy that at the breake of a certaine day appointed hee with his company and some other troupes would be in the suburbes Hee comes at the appointed time and maister Oliuer with his men giues him entrance to the content of the people but not of the gouernours of the which hee sent seuen or eight to Paris who departed not whilest that Lewis liued To speake truly Oliuer shewed both witt and valor in this stratageme and for the action of Gand he is not so much to be blamed as he that imployed him Conde a smal Towne betwixt Tournai and Valenciennes cutt of all vittels from the french and hindred the victualling of Tournay It was taken and burnt for that it did but imploy men which might serue elswhere and Tournay was sufficient to keepe the Countâ—ie in obedience It seemed that the prosperitie of the kings affaires and his great desseings began to trouble his spirits for proofe whereof a gentleman of Hainault the originall doth not name him associated with many others offers to deliuer vp the principall Townes and places of the said Countie Hee talkes with the King who likes not of him nor of the rest he named The reason is they would sell a good piece of seruice very deere Yet he referred them to the Lord of Lude bred vp from his youth with him But Lude seasoned with the same humour transported with his priuate profiâ— demands at the first what the townes would giue him to manage their affaires So as the Hannuyer who would haue no competitor in his gaine departed without effecting of any thing and the enterprise proued vaine Without doubt God would not glutt vs with felicitie and it is needfull to haue some crosses to make vs to know our selues Moreouer it was not reasonable to vsurpe any thing vpon this Countie of Hainault for that it holds of the Empire and in regard of the ancient alliances betwixt the Emperours and our Kings whereby they ought not one to take from another And for proofe Cambray Quesnoy le Conte and some other places of Hainault had willingly put themselues vnder the protection of Lewis the which hee deliuered as freely with the 40. thousand Crownes that they of Cambraie had lent him for the charges of the war Ambassage from Mary of Bourgongne Whilest the King was resident at Peronne an Ambassage comes to him from the Infant of Bourgongne consisting of the principall men about her as namely Chancellor Hugonnet a very wise man and honorable Himbercourt a gentleman experienced in matters of waight Vere a great Nobleman of Zeland Cripture otherwise called Grutuse or Gruture with other Ecclesiastical and secular men They intreat the King to retire his armie Their propositions to the King that al controuersies might be quietly ended according vnto right reason They shew that by the customes of France the ordinances of his Predecessors Kings the women did succeed in the Counties of Flanders Arthois and other prouinces there abouts That remaining but one only daughter of the deceased Duke of Bourgongne yong an orphelin he should rather protect theÌ„ oppresse her That the mariage of the Daulphin with her should be more proportionable then with the daughter of England And for the more credit they brought a letter writteÌ„ part of it by Mary the Infanta of Bourgongne and some part by the Douager her Mother in lawe Sister to Edward King of England and some part by Rauastein brother to the Duke of Cleues and neere kinsman to the yong Ladie yet none of any credit but that of the Infanta This letter gaue authority to Hugonnet and Himbercout and sayed moreouer That Mary Duchesse of Bourgongne was resolued to gouerne her affaires by the aduice of foure persons The Douager Rauastein Hugonnet and Himbercourt Mary beseeched the King that whatsoeuer it should please him to negotiat with her should passe by their hands and that hee should not impart it to any other The King foreseeing that by the confusion of this people hee should settle his affaires will cunningly make his profit of this letter but not thinking it should cost two so vertuous heads in sowing diuision betwixt the Dâ—chesse her subiects Yet before he giues audience to these Ambassadors he treats priuately with eyther of them Diâ—isiâ—n betwixt Mary and the Gaâ—toâ—â— Huâ—gonnet and Himbercourt whereof the first had all his liuing in Picardy and the other in Bourgongne they desirous to be continued in their ancient authorities giue eare to the Kings offers they promised to serue him so as the foresayd marriage might take effect The rest whose Estates were not vnder the Kings command would not tie them selues by promise but with the alliance of the houses of France and Bourgongne This was most expedient for the King but the violent conditions they propounded withdrewe his loue much both from her them in particular supposing he should soone haue all without accepting of a part by an accord Lewis esttranged from Mary by the violent conditions that were propounded Moreouer he was possessed with a wonderfull desire to conquer Arras The Lord of Cordes might do much Hee was Lieutenant in Picardie vnder the deceased Duke Seneshal of Ponthiâ—u Captaine of Courtray Boulongne and Hedin Gouernor of Peronne Montdidier and Roye he was younger Brother to the Lord of Creuecoeur and alreadie did shewe himselfe to bee french his estate lying within the territory of Beauuais The Townes vpon the riuer of Somme by the death of Charles the last issue male of the house of Bourgongne returned to the King so des Cordes became the Kings liege man His duty then bound him to yeeld vnto the King such other places as he coÌ„manded but he was bound by oath to his mistresse seruice A dispensation will salue it There is no â—oâ—le but Lewis finds a pinne for it Vpon his motion to the Ambassadors that the deliuery of Arras would make the way plaine for a good peace and request that they would be a meanes to Cordes to open the Citty of Arras vnto him for in those dayes there were both walles and ditches betwixt the Cittie and the Towne Hugonnet and Himbercourt dispense des Cordes of his oath and consent to the deliuery of the sayd Cittie Arras yeelded to Lewis by des Cordes Hee doth it willingly and sweares fealtie to the King who presently stoppes vp all approches to the Towne then he goes to incampe before Hedin leades acs Cordes with him whose men made a shewe to defend the place as ingaged by oath to their Ladie for their credits sake they endured the battery some dayes then seeing their defences taken away and their loope-hoales battered Ralfe of Launoi Hedin followes giues eare to his Captaine and
for his Crowne vnto the Emperour foure score thousand crownes In the meane time there springs vp new seeds of warre in Germanie Pius the 2. making the Emperour and his deuotion to the Romaine sea his support puts Ditericke Isebourg from the Arch-bishopricke of Mayence establishing Adolph of Nassau in his place Isebourg opposed himselfe vigorouslie against the Popes exactions who spoiled as he said the Prouinces vnder a pretext of warre against the Turke and moreouer he would not tye himselfe by othe vnto the Pope who would likewise binde future Ecclesiasticall Electors not to assemble the Electors of the Empire for the election of any new Emperour or for any other cause concerning the Empire before he â—ere duely informed to the end his pleasure might bee preferred before all others An audacious and vnciuill demand Frederick the victorious Conte Palatin of 〈◊〉 then administrator of the Electorship for his Nephew Philip the sonne of Lewis his brother being a pupill stood firmely for Isebourg Lewis Duke of Bauiere surnamed the rich ioynes with Frederick The Emperour hated them both and desired much to crosse them although in his heart he had reason to fauour that party for the which they fought but hee feared the valour of Fredericke and the wealth of Lewis The Pope vrgeth him to stirre vp some great Princes of Germanie to oppose against the Protectors of Isebourg rather then against Isebourgh himselfe Adolph of Nassau was assisted by Albert Marquis of Brandebourg Lewis of Bauiere surnamed the black Charles Marquis of Bade and his brother Iohn Bishop of Mets with Vlric Earle of Wirtemberg all which enuied the prosperitie of Frederick and yet feared to trie his valour Frederick was the weaker in men but right hath a strong partie Warres in Germany They neglecting their enemies small forces charge him disorderly he resists them valiantly beats them defeats them and puts them to flight takes the Marquis of Bade the Bishop of Metz and the Earle of Wirtemberg prisoners the first of Iuly 1461. and to let them vnderstand that they had erred in the discipline of warre spoiling the corne burning tâ—e Mills he caused them to sup the first night of their imprisonment without bread The end of this warre was the beginning of an other more fatall for the Emperour The Pope deposed George Boiebrac from the crowne of Bohemia as fauouring the doctrine of Hus and appoint Matthias surnamed Coruinus but the Emperour would not graunt it depending of the Empire Matthias was much moued and the more when as after the death of George the Lords of Bohemia and the Emperour likewise leauing him made choise of Ladislaus the sonne of Cassimir King of Polland and of Elizabeth daughter to Albert of Austria In this warre the imperiall Maiestie was not only shaken but through Fredericks misfortune almost ruined and he in a maner expelled 〈◊〉 al Austria it reduced vnder the power of a strange Lord mighty and warlike When aâ— behold Albert Duke of Saxony sonne to Frederick 2. Elector of Saxony father to the Duke George and Henry Grand-father to Maurice and Augustus Electors leaâ—e a goodly armie at his own charge assailes Matthias so weakens him in many battels as he abaÌ„dons the greatest part of Austria forceth him in the end to accept a peace with such conditions as Albert would impose During these parâ—iaâ—ities in the West God raised vp some meanes to crosse the Turkes exploits if the diuisions of Christian Princes for the most part procured by the Popes whilest they setled themselues had not conuerted their owne forces against themselues Troubles in the East Three yeares after this pâ—tâ—â—full wound which the christian church receiued by the losse of Constantinople Mahumed the 2. besieged Belgrade but to his confusion A handfull of men lead by that braue Huniades in two dayes togither giue him two bloudy battailes wins them A great defeate of Turkâ— kills aâ—oâ—t fortie thousand of his men spoiles his campe takes his Artillerie with some difficultie he saued his person being wounded in the left pappe and carryed out of the fight as dead Mahomet seeing by this disgrace â—483 that the land did not fauor him he meanes to tâ—ie an other ayre hee rigges a great fleet of gallies to seize vpon the Islands of the Archipelagus But he had purchased a mighty enemy Vssumcassan of the race of Asâ—â—bei a Turke Lord of Cappadocia Armenia some other Countries adioyning who had lately slaine Molaonhre or as some write Demir of Persia and by that victorie inuaded tâ—e Realme Vssameâ—ssan hauing disapointed that desseins of Mahomet grewe so proud that to maâ—◠〈◊〉 victory the more famous he drewe rich presents out of the treasures of Persia and sent them vnto Mahomet requesting him not to attempt any thing against Trebiâ—onde nor Cappadocia a conquerors request imports an imperious commande countries which belonged vnto him by reason of the dowry of his wife the daughter of â—auid Comnene Mahomet not able to digest that a meaner then himselfe should presâ—ribâ— him a lawe The Turkes 〈…〉 twice in Asia winnâ— the third â—attayle imployes all his wit to obscure the glorie of this newe King Hee therefore sends a part of his fleete into Asia directly to Pontus and Sinope towards Trebisordâ— And he himselfe with an incredible speed crosseth Asia and campes neere to Vssamcâ—ssan Three battailes are fought Vssumcassan wins the first against Amurath Bascha a Greeke by nation neere to the riuer of Euphrates which Bascha was slaine and the second against Mahomet where he was in person These two battailes did wondeâ—fully weaken the Tuâ—kes forces In the third the Persians amazed with the vnaccustomed noyâ—e of the Turkish shot vnable to endure the terrour of the harguebusse Vssumcassan and his men oppressed with this newe army lost the honour of the two first dayes and Zemald the sonne of Vssumcassan was slaine with a shot Mahomet pursues his good fortune beseegeth and takes Sinope the capitale Cittie of the Prouince and afterwards all Paphlagonia then he campes before Trebisonde batters it by sea and land and in the end takes it spoiles the treasors of King Dauid Comnene sends him prisoner with his two sonnes and his Cousin Iohn le Beau to Constantinople to serue for a shewe the day of his triomphe causing them afterwards to be baâ—barously slaine rooting out the race of Comnenes In the same voiage he tooke Cilicia from Piramet Caraman and being returned to Constantinople hee conquered with his armie by Sea the Ilands of Lemnos and Lesbos he vnpeopled Mitilene and transported the Inhabitants of the I le into an other country With his forces at land hee assayled Dracula Prince of Valachia who with such small forces of foote and horse as the shortnesse of time would suffer him to leuie did so surprise and shut vp Mahomet as both he and his army were in a manner ruined when as behold Mahomet Bascha Lieutenant Generall in the Turkes
this pattent to the Chancellor Francis Chrestien to be sealed brings a coÌ„mandement from the Duke to that effect the which the Chancellor refused to do Behold Landais hath purchased two enemies for one both haue sworne his ruine but they must countenance it with justice They depute the Lord of Pont Chasteau to summon the Chancellor to do iustice vpon Landays to appoint Iudges for his triall and to force him to appeare They make informations against him wherevpoÌ„ they decree to appreheÌ„nd him It is bruted throughout the toâ—ne that Landays by sentence should be committed prisoner The people runne by heaps they fill the Castle yard will not depart vntill Landays bee deliuered He â—aues â—imselfe in the Dukes chaÌ„ber The Nobilitie doth force the ChaÌ„cellor to repaire to the Castle and to demand this man The Duke being constrayned deliuers him but vpon condition that he shâ—uld not be vsed coÌ„trarie to Iustice The Duke forced to deliuer Landays Lâ—ndays hanged commands vpon paine of death that he suffers no outrage be done vnto him vnder colour of Iustice. The Nobilitie being aduertised of his taking posts to Nantes and offer themselues vnto the Duke like humble subiects suing for his fauour Landays pâ—ocesse being made with that of Iohn of Vitry one of his seruants by certaine Commâ—ssioners they were hanged This done the people were pacified and the Nobilitie by the intercession of the Earle of Comminges returned into fauour The Earle of Dunoys causeth â—ew combustionâ— obteyned letters of pardon Then returnes the Earle of Dunois to his Towne of Parthenay in Poictou but without the Kings permission The King that is to say the twelue vnder his authoritie suspect his returne and fearing least the Duke of Orleans had sent for him or that he practised some newe worke sends for the Duke Hee sends backe the messenger with promise to followe vpon a second charge by the Maâ—shal of Gie doubting the humour of the Countesse of Beauieu and moreouer mad at his ill vsage keeping 〈◊〉 as it were confined within Orleans without libertie to go forth in safety he parts from Orleans vnder colour to go a hauking he takes the way to Fronteuaux and from thence to Nantes A league made by the Orleannois whether the Earle of Dunois went to meete him This departure was presently knowen and Parthenay was sodenly beseeged taken and razed with many other places in Guienne belonged to the Earle of Cominges and others that were in Brittain These men slept not A league is presently made vnder the Dukes of Brittain and Orleans whereinto there enters the Prince of Orange Francis of Laual Ladie of Dinan and Chasteaubriant Iohn Lord of Rieux Earle of Aumale Marshall of Brittain the Earles of Angoulesme and of Dunois The Duke of Lorrain who fiâ—des no great satisfaction of promises is easily drawen into it Maximilian King of the Romains gaues his consent Charles opposeth Lewis of Bourâ—on Earle of Roche-sur-Yon great grand father to the Duke Montpensier that nowe liueth and makes him his Lieutenant general in this war with Lewis of Bourbon the yongest brother of the Earle of Vendosme he giues them for assistant maister Lewis of Tremouille Viconte of Thouars who had married Gabrielle of Bourbon sister to the sayd Conte Lewis Francis Duke of Brittain had no great reason to be a Sanctuary for these mutines by receiuing them to drawe all the forces of France vpon his decaied age attending nothing but his graue But supposing to protect himselfe from the Kings surprises he must ruine his Country his Nobility and his subiects But then falles out an other accident The Lords lately reconciled grewe in iealousie that the French were come to reuenge the wrong done vnto their Duke or else with their ruine and the Dâ—kes to make their peace in France They desired to send them home for two respects the one to content the King and his Sister the other for that they should not growe in any such credit with the Duke as in the end he might imploy them against themselues wishing in a manner for Lanâ—ays to oppose him against them Moreouer they feared Iames Guibé a Captaine of the Dukes men at armes and in good credit Nephew to Landais and his seruant The King seekes to diuide the Brittons from theâ—r Duke least hee should seeke some reuenge for his Vncle death If it should be so how could they subsist The King discouers this secret iealousie and findes a good expedient to thrust them on to their owne mutuall ruines To this end he sends Andrew of Espinay Cardinall of Bourdeaux and the Lord of Pouchage with instructions to Rieux Marshall of Brittain and commission to offer them men and meanes to expell the French out of Brittain The best aduised discouer the Kings intent that acceptiâ—g of this offer they make the way open for the King to enter into Brittain A secret treatie of the Nobility of Brittain with King 〈◊〉 But in the end they agree That hee should not send into Brittain for this succour aboue foure hundâ—ed lances and foure thousand foote and that at the Barons request That the King should pretend nothing to the Duchâ—e whilest the Duke liued That he should nor beseege nor take any towne Castell or fort within the Country and that his soldiars should take nothing without paying That when as the Duâ—e of Orleans The Conditions the Earle of Dunois and others should retire out of Brittain the King should â—ee bound to withdrawe his forces And for the Brittons That the Noblemen of Brittaine should arme with him and accompanie his armie to expell the French The confirmation of these Articleâ— is seconded with foure hundred Lances and fiue or six thousand men led by the Lord of Saint André The French enter Brittain who enters Brittaine on the one side the Earle of Roche-â—ur-Yon on an other and the Vicont of Tours on the third All the Country is sodenly filled with Frenchmen at armes and the Orleanois are amazed being vnfurnished both of force and counsell to resist The Earle of Dunois beeing of more iudgement then the rest considers that the company of a hundred Lâ—nces belonging to Alain of Albret was a part of those foure hundred commanded by Saint André that it was conuenient to winne him and with this desseine to put him in hope of the marriage of Anne of Brittaine An inuention according the necessity of the time but this was not the Earles intent who labored to winne her for the Duke of Orleans neyther the Prince of Orange 1487. who vnder hope oâ— this alliance had drawne the Arche-Duke Maximilian into this league whereby he should enter into Bourgongne with a mighty army led by the Duke of Lorraine whilest that he himselfe should annoy the King in Flanders and Picardie But great shewes and smal fruits He was so poore and needy as the King might easily disappoint all his pracâ—â—â—es and
to labour for the Popedome building chiefely vpon Cardinall Ascanius promises whome two yeares before he had drawne out of the Tower of Bourges But so many ambitions braines fraught rather with diuisions and partialities euery one for his owne priuate proffit then assisted with the holy spirit to whome notwithstanding they giue the first voice in their election Election of a newe Pope did in the ende frustrate both the French and Spaniard to install Francis Piccolomini Cardinall of Siene beeing old worne sickely to the which the whole Colledge agreed both for that this neutrall election might disperse the diuers pursuits of the pretending nations as also for that the newe Popes infirmity gaue them hope to proceed shortly to the subrogation of another To reuiue the memory of Pius the second his vncle who had made him Cardinall hee was called Pius the third Yet this election did not pacifie the troubles within Rome The Valentinois and the Vrsins being within the walles fortify in themselues daylie with newe companies resolued to obtaine by force the Iustice which their reasonable demandes could not get of the Colledge of Cardinalls when as their Partisans were arriued This contention did greatly trouble both the Court and the people of Rome did mightily preiudice the French affaires for this vehement affection wherewith they see the Valentinois supported by France drewe the Vrsins to the Spaniards pay whose forces were of no small consequence for an absolute victory But the desire the Venetians had to see the King disapointed of the Realme of Naples The Vrsins Colonnois reconciled â—bandie against the Valentinois and the liberty they gaue the Vrsins to leaue their pay made the world to iudge that eyther they had perswaded this family to the Spanish party or at the least they had coÌ„sented thervnto And this was an other cause of discontent to be reuenged of them in time The Vrsins being entertayned by the Spaniard and reconciled with the Colonnois by the mediation of the Ambassadors of Spaine and Venice and ioyntly resolued for a common reuenge vpon the Valentinois they fall vpon his troupes in the suburbes the which beeing vnable to withstand so violent a charge were forced to giue way vnto their violence and the Commander to saue himselfe in the Castell Saint Angelo hauing likewise with the Popes consent taken the Captaines oath to depart when hee pleased The tumult beeing thus pacified it gaue them free liberty to attend a newe election for Pius nothing deceyuing their conceyued hope of his shorte Popedome died the twentie sixt day after his creation But alas Alexander had serued but as a scourge for that great Iudge but nowe hee takes his rodde in hand to breake Italie in peeces The Cardinall of Saint Pierre mighty in friends in reputation and in wealth was chosen the last of October and named Iulius the second by nature factious and terrible vnquiet and turbulent but stately Iulius the 2. chosen Pope a great defender of the liberties of the Church and a most franke receiuer of the loue and fauour of all those that might aduance him to this dignity The Valentinois flight to the Castell of Saint Angelo and the dispersing of all the troupes hee had with him made the Townes of Romagnia which had till then continued constant firme in his obedience to call home their ancient Lords or to imbrace sundry parties And the Venetians good fishermen in a troubled water aspiring to the coÌ„mand of all Romagnia had seized vpon the Castels of the vally of Lamone of the Towne of Forlimpople of Rimini Faenze Montefiore S. Archange Verruque Gattere The vsuâ—paâ—ions of the Venetians Sauignagne Meldole and in the territorie of Imole Tossignagne Solaruole Montbataille and had easily seized vpon Imola and Furli if by the new Popes complaints whom they had strangely discontented they had not put their men into garrison The Venetian vsurpations did wonderfully displease Iulio but what could he doe being newly aduanced to the chaire vnprouided of forces of money or of any hope of succours from the Kings of France and Spaine being not yet resolued whose Ensignes to follow To retaine in fauour of the Church some places which the Valentinois yet held and to oppose him in some sort against the Venetians although he loued the Valentinois heeles better then his face he agrees with him that he should go to Ferrara and Imola to receiue such forces as he could leuie But he is no sooner parted but a new desire of command sugests that it should be good the Valentinois should deliuer vnto him such Castles and places as he commanded to the end the Venetians should not inuade them in his absence And to this end he sends vnto him the Cardinals of Volterre and Surente Vpon the Valentinois refusall the Pope being offended sends to arrest the Gallies wherein hee had imbarked at Ostia and causeth him to be brought from Magliana to Vatican honoured and much made of but safely garded Thus you see the Valentinois power reduced to nothing spoiled in a manner of all he had vsurped The Valentinois a prisoner his troupes stript by the Florentins and himselfe at this instant so well watched as he could not go the length of himselfe But let vs see what becomes of so many great and goodly desseignes of our Lewis He intends not onely to recouer his losses in the realme of Naples but also with one breath to crosse the affaires of Ferdinand in Spaine The Lord of Albret and Marshall of Gié marched towards Fontarabie with foure hundâ—ed Lances among the which Peter of Foix Lord of Lautree and the Lord of Lâ—scun so famous in our Historie made first shew of their vertues and fiue thousand foote Gascons and Suisses And to make warre in the Countie of Roussillon was sent the Marshall of Rieux accompanied with Geston of Foix Duke of Nemours by the death of Lewis of Armagnac the Vicounts of Paulin and Bruniquet the Earle of Carmain The attempts of the French against Spaine the Lords of Montaut Terride and Negrâ—pelisse leading eight hundred men at armes and eight thousand foote French Gascons and Suisses And at the same instant an armie was readie at sea to inuade the coast of Catalogne and the realme of Valence but he that ouergripes himselfe holds little these were but shewes without effect For the Lord of Albret being entred into the Prouince of Guiposcoa whether that the enemies forces were greater then his or fearing least the Castillan should be reuenged of the King of Nauarre his sonne he retired and went into Languedock to the Marshall of Riâ—ux to besiege Saulses with their ioynt forces But the King of Spaine hauing assembled a great armie at Parpignan from all his realmes and marching in person with a resolution to raise the siege by some notable stratagem ouâ— men finding themselues too weake retired to Narbonne with a successe contrary to the Lord of Albons in
the yeare 1496. And the Spaniards after some roades and spoilings on this side the mountaines content to haue repelled the enemy concluded a truce for fiue moneths A truce betwixt Spaine and France by the meanes of Frederick whom Ferdinand King of Arragon and of Castile held in hope to restore him to his throne and Queene Anne moued our Lewis therevnto onely for the regarde of that which concerned the affaires of France By this truce the thoughts and forces of these two Kings are conuerted to the warres of Naples Thâ—â—arres of Naples reuiued The French armie hauing passed the lands of Valmontone and of the Colonnois marched through the territories of the Church with an intent to take in the Castle of Seeque Here our men receiued their first affront Secque well assailed was well defended causing our men to retire who dispairing to winne S. Germaine take their way by the Sea coast But the question was how to passe Garillan which was not to be waded through at that season Gonsalue was incamped on the other side our French by reason of their Canon winne the passage of the riuer make a bridge thereon and aduenture to passe The Spaniards repulse them euen to the middest of the bridge and by the furie of their shotte force them to go to land Infortunate at the first hauing lost fiue hundred men French and Suisses and some hundred drowned the enemy two hundred and Fabius the sonne of Paul Vrsin a young man and of great hope It is a matter of dangerous consequence to attempt to passe a riuer in the face of a mightie armie and commanded by a discreet Captaine if they be not well fortified with trenches This second disgrace incouraged the Spaniard terrified our French and made them loose all future hope Doubtlesse the most important part of an armie is a good commander and commonly few doe willingly vndergo the command of a stranger if he be not especially fauoured by the heauens hath won great credit and giuen great testimonies of his valour Herein the Spaniards did exceed them and this defect in the French armie had bred great contempt of their generall and more confusion then concord among the Captaines The Marquis of Mantoâ—a generall of the French giue ouer the charge of the armie So as the Marquis of Montaua Lieutenant for the King eyther thinking himselfe vnfit to gouerne so great an armie or as Sandrâ—court charged him carrying away with him the Italian forces that the French might be so much the weaker or for that hauing receiued this double repulse he would no farther ingage his honour parted from the armie laying all the fault vpon the contumacie of the French All difficulties conspired their ruine the hard season of the winter the situation of the mooâ—ish countrie the continuall raine and snow want of pay the impatiencie of the toyles of warre and moreouer the great suffrance of the enemy who fortified with a deepe ditch and two bastions in the front of the enemies armie continually garded the passage whilest that our men wasted themselues with fruitlesse attempts and by their vnseasonable stay the which quailed as much the heat of their courage as the couetousnesse of the victualers the ordinary theft of the Treasurers the dissention of Captaines and the disobedience of souldiers vsuall in troupes wanting a vigilant commander and of authoritie and the increase of ordinary diseases did hurt them Being inuironed with these difficulties the enemie hath a new supply by Bartlemew of Aluiano with the rest of the Vrsins And Gonsalue finding himselfe now to haue 900. men at armes a thousand light horse and nine thousand Spanish foote aduertised moreouer of the disorders and continuall decay of our armie the which being stronger in caualerie then in footmen those being cut in peeces which they had lately lest at Castle Gâ—illaume were so dispersed as their lodging conteined ten miles in circuit a grosse erâ—or of the Marquis of Saluce hauing an enemie in front who could well imbrace all aduantages he secretly casts a bridge ouer the Garillon foure miles aboue that which our men had made at the passage of Suie where the French kept no gard he passeth the 27. of December in the night and possesseth Suie The Marquis vnderstanding that the Spaniard did passe riseth sodenly breakes his bridge and causeth the armie to march towards Caiete Gonsalue hinders his passage by Prosper Colonne and the light horse men that being molested by them they should be inforced to march the more slowly he ouertakes them right against Scandi and stayes them with continuall skirmishes vntill that Gonsalue eomes vpon the reereward of them An armie that retires with feare receâ—ued the first stroake of death when they are skirmished with Our French were driuen to the passage of the bridge which is before Mole of Caiete and whilest the Viceroy staied there to giue the Canon time to passe the battaile and rereward of the Spaniards arriue Bernardin Adorne the Lords of Cramont and S. Colombe with some Cornets of French Italians make it good a long time and fauour the retreat of the foot vntill that by the death of Adorne and many others with the wounding of S. Colombe the rest of these horsemen seeing the troupes to haue gotten some ground doe likewise take their way to Caiete alwaies beaten behinde euen vnto the head of two wayes whereof the one leads to Itri and the other to Caiete The French defeated 〈◊〉 Here all disband those which are best mounted saue themselues the slowest the wounded the sicke the Canon and the munition remaine at the victors deuotion 1504. At the same time Fabricio Colonne hauing passed the riuer with fiue hundred horse and a thousand foote spoiled the companies of Lodowike of Mirandole Alexander of Triuulee Peter of Medicis who followed the French armie retiring by sea to Caiete with many Gentlemen and foure peeces of artillerie their barke ouertaken with a storme in the mouth of the riuer was swallowed vp in the waues and all in it drowned Gonsalue knew well that so great a multitude of men being retired into Caiete would breed a sodaine famine and soone yeeld him the Towne He besiegeth it and our men not able to dispose themselues to endure the tediousnesse of a doubtfull expectation of succours The realme of Naples wholy lost by the French made the first day of the yeare 1504. famous by this accord with him To depart with liues and goods out of the realme of Naples eyther by land or by sea and that the Lord of Aubigni and all other prisoners should bee deliuered on eyther side So our French are againe dispossessed of the estate of Naples and exposed to cold hungar and to a long and painfull retreate that although of so great an armie few were slaine by the enemies sword yet the most part of them which departed after this capitulation found their graues in hospitalls market places
Lord God a paire of spurres of gold All these Princes were wonderfully incensed against the Venetians by reason of the vsurpations made by them in their estates A League against the Venetians They make a League for their common defence and to offend the Venetians meaning to pull from them what they had vsurped And for that the promises which Maximilian had vainely giuen to Lodowike Sforce were the cause to hasten his ruine he was a meanes the King should set him at libertie and giue him some good pension to liue withall in France But this was a short comfort for Lodowike whose turbulent spirit would haue practised some alteration This capitulation being so profitable to all these Princes the Pope being comprehended therin 1509. it was likely it should hold But there must be stronger bands to tie it that is a reciprocall loue without the which all treaties are fruitles The end of this yeare is famous by the death of Frederike Frederike of Naples dies sometimes King of Naples the which depriued him of all his vaine hopes to recouer his Realme of Naples by the accord of theâ—e two Kings and by that of Isabel Queene of Castile a vertuous Princesse noble wise and beloâ—ed of her subiects The yeare following disposed the two Kings and the Potentates of Italie to lay aside armes Ferdinand of Arragon hauing new desseins and foreseeing that by the death of his wife Philippe his sonne in law would challenge the Crowne of Castille as hauing married the inheritrix of the said Realme desired only to preserue the realme of Naples by meanes of the capitulation lately made Our Lewis was not altogither freed from doubt for that Maximilian delayed according to his vsuall tediousnesse to ratifie the peace The Pope desired innouation but his forces were too weake without the support of some mightie Prince The last League had put the Venetians in alarum hauing thereby three mightie enemies against them To pacifie the neerest they offer vnto the Pope to restore all they had vsurped except Faense Rimini and their appurtenances The Venetiâ—anâ— reconciled to the popâ— And the Pope knowing that the Emperors warre agaiâ—st the Elector Palatin would hinder his passage into Italie ioyntly with the King for that yeare accepted the obedience the Venetians offered him in regard of the said places without making them any shew of a more mild and tractable disposition The King for the accomplishment of that which had beene treated of sent the Cardinall of Amboise to Haguenau a Towne of Alsatia newly taken from the Countie Palatin where the Emperour did sollemnly sweare and proclaime the articles agreed vpon according to the which the Cardinall payed halfe the money promised for the inuesting of Milan Nâ—w troubles in Iâ—alie During this ratification there growes new seeds of dissention in Italiâ— The Cardinall Ascanius brother to Lodowike Sforce treated with the Ambassador of Venice at Rome and had also according to the common opinion some secret intelligence with Gonsaluâ— It was in shew to inuade the Dâ—chie of Milan the which they knew to be vnfurnished of French souldiars the people inclining again to thename of Sforce and that which made them the more bold the Kâ—ng being surprised with so dangerous a sicknesse as the Pihifitians dispayâ—ing of his â—ealth the Queene prepared to send all her iewels into Brittanie if the Marshall of Gié had not placed men vppon the way to stay theÌ„ for the which the king afterwards was as wel placed as the Queene by her dislike sought to bring him in disgrace Doubtles the people should oft times suffer much if their counsels were not stayed by the prouidence of God The King recouers his health Appeased by the deâ—th of Cardinall Ascanius and the Cardinal Ascanius dies sodenly of the plague at Rome interring with him the desseins of Milan The King is freed of one danger And as God by means vnknowne of men change the great â—tormes into calme sun-shines our Lewis who till then had the greatnesse of the Arch-Duke Phillippe in iealousie fearing to mâ—ke him his enemie hee finds now that the death of Isabelle of Castile doth free him of his feare for that the Arch-Duke contemning the testament of his mother in Law deuised to take the gouernment of the Realme of Castill from Ferdinand his father in lawe the which could not be done but by their common quarels and the weakning of their forces the King remaining betwixt both free from troubles should thereby fortifie him selfe with men money and munition for the aduancing of his desseins And the Aragonois on the other side â—orced to seeke a support against his sonne in lawe desiring a peace with the King hee obtaines it by the marriage of him and Germaine sister to Gaston of Foix daughter to his Maiesties sister vppon condition That the King should giue her in dowrie that part of the Realme of Naples which belonged vnto him A peace betwixt the king and Ferdinand the King of Spaine binding himselfe to pay him within tenne yeares 7. hundred thousand ducats for the charges past and to indow his new spouse with 300000. ducats Which dowrie Germaine dying in marâ—iage without children should returne to Ferdinand but if he died first it shold returne to the crowne of France 1505. A happy coÌ„clusion both of a peace and of the yeare if it could haue intertained loue betwixt these two Princes 〈◊〉 with the 〈…〉 to 〈◊〉 But it shal be soone broken and alwayes our peace with the Spaniards hath beene full of discord Let vs now open the springs of new warres The Pope had without the Kings priuity giâ—en all the benefices that were fallen voyde in the Duchie of Milan by the death of Cardinal Ascanius and other Clergie men Moreouer in the â—reation of many Cardiâ—alls Motâ—â—es of nâ—w troublâ—â— he had refused to admit into the society the Bishop of Auchx Nephew to the Cardinall of Amboise and the Bishop of Baieux Nephew to the Lord of Tâ—emouille And moreouer hee had armed some galleys to be in a readinesse â—s some gaue out to free Genes froÌ„ the rule of the French in case the King died as â—ome feared and other did hope All these considerations together with the Kings disâ—ontent seemed to breed some diuision with the Pope yet his friendshiâ— was profiâ—able for the King in the warre he pretended against the Venetians against whom he knew the Pope to bee ill affected for the desire he had to recouer the Townes of Romagnâ— Hee therefore sent the Bishop of Cisteron his Nuntio into France to propound vnto him many offers and desseines for the execution of this common enterprise Moreouer the Pope seeing himselfe as it were forced at the Kings instance to prolong the Cardinall of Amboise his legation in France and for iealousie he had that this Cardinall aspired by al means to the popedome he could not resolue to ioyne in all points with the King
house of Austria the Suisses in the French armie and those in his which refused plainly to fight one against an other vniting their forces should deliuer him to the enemie for that Iames Stafflet Colonell of his Suisses had with much arrogancie demanded their pay he secretly departs from his armie in the night Maximilian retires with two hundred horse so as he was twentie miles off before they were priuie to his departure His armie wanting both a commander and money tooke the same course The Earle of S. Paul with the Lords Montmorencie and Lescu pursuing them defeated a great number whereof three thousand part Germaines and part Spaniards yeelded to the French and Venetians being in Campe and our Suisses notwithstanding they had beene paied for three moneths went home to their houses except some three hundred which remained with Peter During these garboiles the Pope smothering his conceits laboured to be as pleasing as he could to either party yet was he grieued the Emperour had brought so great forces for he could not remaine a victor but he must afterwards seeke to oppresse all Italy or put Leo from the Papall seat to hold it himselfe according to the common report On the other side as we iudge of causes by the effects the King had many reasons to suspect the Pope He had consented to the Emperours descent Colonne the Popes pensioner did accompany Maximilian He refused to send fiue hundred men at armes for the defence of Milan and to pay three thousand Suisses as he was bound by the treatie of Bologne So as the King to let Leo know that the brightnesse of his Miter did not so dazell his eyes but he discouered his practises he made him Brewiste of the same bread· declaring that seeing the league they had made was fruitlesse in time of warre he would contract a new one which should not tye him but in time of peace The Emperours armie being dissolued the Duke of Bourbon returnes into France and of his owne motion resignes his gouernment into the Kings hands by whose command the Lord of Lautrec Bresse yeelded taking the charge of the armie to free the King from that bond ioyning with the Venetians returned to Bresse which pressed with two batteries one by the French the other by the Venetians yeelded to the King their liues goods saued and Lautrec deliuered it to the Venetians Verona had a harder issue for beâ—ng battred by the French towards Mantoua Verrona yeelded and by the Venetians towards Vincence giuing two assaults afflicted with want of victuals and munition and troubled by the hurting of Marc Anthonie Colonne gouernour of the Citty yet being assured of eight thousand men led by Cont Roquendolfe that came to their succour they held out vntill Christmas at what time famine forced the Spaniards to yeeld the Towne the which was in like sort deliuered to the Venetians The Pope to make profit of the Kings victory and forces solicits Lautrec to aide him to dispossesse Francis Maria of Rouere of the Duchy of Vrbin The motiues of this warre which Leo pretended against him were for that Francis had denied the Pope those men for the which hee had receiued pay of the Church and had treated secretlie with the enemie That hee had slaine the Cardinall of Pauia and committed many other murthers That in the hottest of the warre against Pope Iulius his Vncle hee had sent Balthasar of Chastillion to the King to receiue his pay and at the same instant he denyed passage to some companies that went to ioyne with the army of the Church and pursued in the estate Francis Maria chased from Vrbin and. Laurence of Medicis inuested in the Duchie which he held as a feudatarie of the Church the soldiars which saued themselues at the defeate of Rauenna Lautreâ— desyring to please Leo sent Lescun his brother the Lord of Chifle the Knight of Ambrun the Lords of Aussun and S. Blimond and many other Captaines with good numbers of horse and French foote Who in fewe daies reduced the sayd Duchie to the Popes obedience who did inuest Laurence of Medicis his Nephew in the sayd Duchie Moreouer the Kiâ—gs friendship was very necessary for the Catholike King Charles the Archduke tooke vpon him that title after the death of Ferdinand his grand-father by the mothers side to make his passage more easie from Flanders into Spaine and to assure himselfe of the obedience of those realmes Fitting therefore his resolutions according to the time and necessitie by the aduice of the Lord of Chieures his gouernour hee sent Philip of Cleues Lord of Rauasâ—ein to the King to make choise of a place where their deputies might meete to decide all controuersies betwixt them Noyon was named and for the King there came Arthur of Goufiers Lord of Boissy Lord high Steward of France for the King of Spaine Anthonie of Croye Lord of Chieures both gouernors of their masters nonage and both assisted with notable personages Who concluded That within sâ—e moneths the Catholike King should yeeld the realme of Nauarre to Henry of Albret A peace concluded betâ—wixt the King and the Archdukâ— Charles sonne to Iohn of Albret and Catherine of Foix deceased the same yeare or els should recompence the sayd Henry within the sayd terme to his content els it should be lawâ—ull for the King to aide him to recouer it That the King should giue his daughter Lowise who was but a yeare olde in marriage to the Catholike King and for her dowrie the rights he pretended to the realme of Naples according to the diuision made by their Predecessors vpon condition that vntill shee came to yeares of marriage Charles should pay vnto the King a hundred and fiftie thousand Ducats yearelâ— towards the maintanance of his daughter That shee dying if the king had any other daughter hee should giue her to the Catholike king vpon the same condiâ—ions If hee had none then Charles should marrye with Renee Daughter to the deceased king To propound and conclude marriages so disproportionable of age is it not properly to mocke one an other Seeing that onely two yeares time bring forth occasions which make Princes to alter their courses whose wills are often inconstant This treaty was respectiuely sworne by both Kings who appointed an enteruiew at Cambray attending the which they sent their orders of knighthood one to an other And sence the Emperour ratified these conuentions but wee shall see small fruits theâ—eof France reaped an other benefit of this peace The Suisses seeing a surceasse of armes betwixt the Emperour and the King compounded as the former had doone That the Kâ—ng should paie vnto their Cantons within three moneths three hundred and fiftie thousand ducats and after that a perpetuall and annuall pension That the Suisses should furnish him whensouer hee demanded a ceraâ—ue number of men at his charge But diuersely for the eight Cantons bound themselues to furnish against all men indifferently and
of the golden fleese on Saint Andrewes day and the King of Spaine that of Saint Michell on the said Saints day The Venetians also by the Kings meanes had prolonged their truce for fiue yeares with the Emperour But the soueraine Iudge of the world hauing decreed to punish the disorders of Christendome with sundry afflictions tooke Maximilian out of this world The death of Maximilian in whose life we may obserue a strange alteration of affaires for if prosperity did often present vnto him goodly occasions aduersity did as often crosse him in the execution A good Prince mercifull courteous very liberall a great spender the which did many times hinder his good successe painfull secret well seene in the arte of warre but his happie beginnings did commonly proue fruitlesse through his owne delayes and inconstancie This death bred an equall desire in the mindes of two great Princes Francis King of France and Charles King of Spaine Francis sent the Lord of Boissy Lord Stuard of France to purchase the fauour of the Germaine Electors for the Empire Some promised all fauour for the King his master yet the cause was not so fauorable for the French hauing no correspondencie with the Germains neyther in tongue manners nor life Moreouer the Commons of Germanie were sutors that the Imperiall dignitie might not go out of the nation The Pope fauored the King but in shewe onely hoping that by these demonstrations of loue hee would hereafter giue more credit to his Councells whereby discouering that in his inward thoughts the election both of Francis and Charles were alike suspect vnto him hee labored to perswade the King that seeing there was small hope for him to carrie it by voices he should seeke by his authority to aduance some other Germanie Prince to this Crowne rather then Charles But whilest that Francis feeds himselfe with vaine hopes giuen him by the Elector of Brandebourg and the Archbishop of Triers who to drawe money from the King gaue him great assurances 1519. Charles in steed of gold brings armes to the field An aâ—my approacheth neere to Francford for the King of Spaine vnder colour there should be no force in the election the which increased their courage that fauoured his cause made them yeeld that wauered and troubled the French faction So Charles of Austria King of Spaine The election of Charles the fift of that name was chosen Emperour of Germanie the 28. of Iune The Election of a newe Emperour consists in the voyces of sixe Germaine Princes Three are of the Clergie the Archbishops of Maience Cologne and Treues Three seculars the Count Palatin the Duke of Saxony the Marquis of Brandebourg The King of Bohemia is Vmper when as the voyces are equall The Emperour is chosen at Francford and crowned at Aix la Chapelle Who could doubt but these two yong princes hauing so many occasions of Ieloâ—sie and quarrel would soone breake forth into fierce and cruell warres the which had taken deepe roote in both their hearts The King desired infinitely to recouer the Realme of Naples and did greatly affect the restitution of Henry of Albret to â—is kingdome of Nauarre whereof he sees himselfe now frustrate by the sodaine aduaâ—cement of Charles to so high a dignitie and all that which the French held in Italy was in great danger The Emperour on the other side was disconteÌ„ted that the King contemâ—iâ—g the accord first made at Paris and knowing the necessity of his passage into Castille for the which his fauour did much import had in a manner forced him to agree to new Articles Moreouer the king had taken the Duke of Gueldres into his protection an enemy to the Flemings who where subiects to Charles a sufficient cause to drawe both Francis and Charles into armes But aboue all the recouerye of the Duchie of Bourgongne caused strange alterations in the minde of this new Emperour The Duchy of Milan was a sufficient motiue of quarrell the King since the death of Lewis the 12. had neither demanded nor obtained inuestiture and therfore they pretended the possession to be of no validity and his interest to be voide yet all these were not sufficient motiues to stirre vp those horrible confusions which so afflicted the Estates of these two Princes for the space of thirty yeares Ambitious hatred is alwaies grounded vpon light beginnings In the meane time the Preachers of this voyage against the Turke dispersed through out all Christendome 1520. grew vehement promising according to the Popes Bulls pardon for all sinnes and the kingdome of heauen to such as paid a certaine summe of money Without doubt Leo vsed the authority of the Apostolike sea too boldly diâ—persing throughout the world without distinction of time or place most large pardons not onely for the liuing but also to redeeme the soules of the dead from purgatory for money And for that euery one did plainely see that these pardons were oâ—ly granted to get money which the Commissioners appointed for such exactâ—â—â— demaunded after an impudent and shamelesse sort being also well knowne that the greatest part of them had purchased their authority from the Popes officers Leo incurred great dislike many were discontented with this insolent proceeding especially â—n Germany where the ministers of this collection appointed aâ—cording to the common opinion for the deliuery of poore Christians fighting vnder the burthen of the Turkâ—sh yoake sold for a small price yea played away in their Ale-houses their authority to redeeme dead mens soules from purgatory And that which did more increase the peoples spleene it was generally reported that Laurence of Medicis had carried a breefe froÌ„ his vncle to King Francis whereby he allowed him to imploy the money gathered throughout his Realme for this warre to what vses hee pleased vpon condition to yeeld it when it should be demaunded for the voyage beyond the seas and to imploy fifty thousand crownes to the benefit of the said Laurence his Nephew A worthy cause to make the French repine seeing the money they gaue to a good intent was conuerted to contrarie vses But that which made the Germains wonderfully impatient Leo had giuen to his sister Maudlin the profit of the exaction of Indulgences in many parts of Germany who appointed the Bâ—shop Arembauld a Commissioner in that part Worthy saith the history of such a charge the which he executed with great couetousnes and extortion Being the more odious for that this holy money went to satisfie the greedinesse of a woman So as not only this exaction and the Agents thereof but also his name and authority that granted it became odious in many prouinces Martin Luther a religious man of the order of S. Austin learned and vehement The beginning of Lutheâ—â— doctrine began to preach against these indulgences in his publike sermons he taxeth the Popes authority complaines of Albert of Brandebourg Archbishop of Mayence and of the doctrine which these gatherers did teach
inducing the people to beleeue confidently that by the purchase of these pardons they must needes be saued as if the vertue of these money-pardons could wipe away any sinne and the money put into the coffers of the Church or of the Commissioners could drawe mens soules out off purgatory and send them into Paradice And therevpon he exhorts euery man to beleeue soberberly and to gouerne himselfe wisely in this busines and rather to imploy their money otherwise then in this friuolous marchandise The people giue eare vnto him finde his doctrine plausible and Frederic Duke of Saxony his Prince doth embrace it Luther supported by the fauour of his Prince and the people proceedes he publisheth propositions wherein he doth dispute at large Of purgatory of true repentance of the office and duety of Charity of indulgences and Pardons to seeke out said he the trueth calling all such to dispute as would propound any argument to the contrary He intreated all such as could not assist to answer by writing protesting that he would not maintaine any thing but submit himselfe to the censure of the holy Church yet reiecting all things that should not be conformable to the holy Scripture and the decrees of the fathers In the end he incounters the Popes authority the Images of the Church the celibate of religious persons restrayning the Popes authoritye within the limits of the Bishopprick of Rome and publishing the doctrine which hath caused the Generall schisme vnto this day The Pope to quench this fire cites Luther to Rome forbids him to preach declares him contumax if hee do not obey and submit himselfe to the Ecclesiasticall censure Notwithstanding the Originall saith he did not reforme many things that were of bad example which Luther did blame with reason being very odious to all men vsing his pontificall office with small reuerence But this was to cast oyle into the fire These Ecclesiasticall armes did but increase Luthers reputation with the people Neither the religious men which Leo sent to preach against him nor the letters which he did write to the Princes and Prelats nor all the other meanes he imployed to suppresse him could any thing withdraw the peoples inclination nor the fauour of Frederic from him This action seeming still of greater importance to the Court of Rome made them to feare some great disgrace to the Popes greatnesse to the profit of the Court of Rome and the vnion of Christian Religion Many assemblies were made at Rome many consultations in the Popes chamber betwixt the Cardinalls and Diuines appointed to preuent these inconueniences Some did shew that for as much as they did not correct in themselues so many vices and damnable things which did scandalise all Christendome the persecution of Luther would but augment the hatred of nations against him giuing Councell like vnto that of Gamaliel in the fift of the Acts of the Apostles that it had beene better to haue wincked at such a folly which happily would haue vanished of it selfe Notwithstanding the heate and violence of others preuailed so as not onelie the persecuions were doubled against him and his followers who by his name were called Lutherans but an excommunication was decreed against Frederick Duke of Saxony the which did so incense him as of a fauourer hee became a vehement protector of the cause the which since hath beene dispersed ouer all Christendome so as neither prisons nor banishment fire nor water sword nor tortures nor any other punishments could preuaile against it Without doubt wee haue learned by experience that religion is not planted nor rooted out by violent meanes The altars of pietie are enemies to armes drums and trumpets Mens consciences must bee gently intreated not violently forced Let vs attend this so desired re-union from heauen The mediation of the mâ—st Christian King is necessary let vs hope that the continuance of a holy peace wiâ—l giue him the meanes as hee hath a desire to chose men capable thereof who not regarding their priuate interest will seeke the aduancement of Gods glorie But let vs returne to our history Whilest that Charles the fift was crowned at Aix the people of Spaine foreseeing Troubles in Spaine that by the meanes of his aduancement to the Empire he should remaine for the most part out of Spaine being also incensed against the Lord of Chieures and some Flemings which had gouerned Charles in his youth through whose couetousnesse offices graces priuileges and expeditions which had beene vsually giuen to Spaniards were now deerely sold vnto them they rebelled refusing to obey the Kings officers They erected a forme of popular gouernment with the aduice almost of all Spaine whilest the Nobilitie sought by force to suppresse this popular libertie The King by the Popes Counsell who makes his profit of Chistian Princes quarrels that he might haue peace whilest they are at war seeing that the Emperour being often vrged did in no sort performe the articles of the treatie of Noyon sent an armie into Nauarre vnder the commaund of Esparre brother to Lautrec Nauarre recouered who in lesse then fifteene dayes reduced Nauarre to the obedience of Henry of Albret their lawfull King This was enough for Esparre It had beene better to returne a victor triumphing with glory and honour then to follow the aduice of too violent a Councellor Saint Colombe Lieutenant of Lautrecs company promising to him selfe it may be the conquest of Spaine as easily as that of Nauarre or fed with a hope to make some good bootie carried Esparre euen to the frontiers of Catalogne who hauing taken Fontarabie did runne as farre as the Grongne The Spaniards being incensed the Nobilitie against the people had endured the losse of the kingdome of Nauarre but seeing them to inuade their owne marches they put in practise the by-word of the dogs who fighting togither laied aside their quarrell to fall vppon the wolfe their common enemie So these being at great discord amongst them selues gaue ouer their intestine quarrels to pursue their generall professed enemies The Nobles and Commons ioyne their forces they incounter Esparre who to saue the souldiars pay had dismissed some part of his armie giuing leaue to all that would in yeelding halfe a pay they charge him defeate him and take him prisoner being hurt in the eye with a Launce whereof hee was blinded The Lord of Tournon was likewise taken with many other good men So the Spaniards finding Nauarre vnfurnished of souldiars Taken again recouered Pampelune with as great faciâ—â—ie as the French had conquered it The first breeder of the horrible confusions which shall follow But let vs see an other motiue of warâ—e betwixt these two Monarchs which rising from a small fire shall flame ouer all this Realme and many other estates The Prince of Simay of the house of Croy had before time obteined a sentence against the Lord of Aimeries giuen by the Peers of the Duchie of Bâ—uillon which iudge souerainly for the Towne
intelligence that warre was proclaimed against him prepared his forces to withstand the Emperour and to this end he gaue a commission to Francis of Bourbon Earle of Saint Paul to leuie six thousand foote to the Constable of Bourbon eight hundred horse and sixe thousand foote and to the Duke of Vendosmâ— the like charge And to reuenge the disgrace receiued by Esparre he sent six thousand Lansequenets of whom Claude of Lorraine Earle of Guise was generall vnder William of Gouffiers Lord of Bonniuet Admirall of France to whom he gaue fiue companies of horse and commission to leuie what number of Gascons and Basques he should thinke necessarie The Lord of Lescut was in like sort â—eleeued with French and Suisses Open warre for the warre of Italy The armies on eyther side were in field there remaines nothing but for the one to make a breach the imperialls begin There had beene a long and a great quarrell betwixt Lewis Cardinall of Bourbon and the Lord of Liques a Gentleman of Hainault for the Abbie of Saint Amand which the Cardinall enioyed Liques takes this occasion to assault the Abbie which being of no strength was deliuered vnto him by Champeroux Lieutenant for the King in Tournaisis in the which de Loges Gouernour of Tournay was surprised We might pretend that these were but priuate quarrels but Liques aduanced with his forâ—es to Mortaigne a place subiect to the King the which he said he had some times enioyed In the end Pranzy Captaine of the sayd place hauing no hope of succours yeelded it Seege of Tournay not to Liques but to the Lord of Portien vpon condition to depart with their liues and baggage But contrary to the lawe of armes and honestie they were pursued stript and hardly escaped with their liues On the other side Fiennes of the house of Luxembourg Gouernour of Flanders besieged Tournay with a thousand horse eight thousand foote and six Canons continuing there fiâ—e moneths whilest that the Bourguignons did take spoyle and raze Ardres the Lord of Teligni in exchange did charge defeat and cut in peeces six hundred Bourguignons that were entred the realme to spoile it In the beginning of these garboyles Henry King of England did offer himselfe an Arbitrator betwixt these two Princes Charles and Frances and Calis was named for the treatie of a good peace But what meanes was there to yeeld to the Emperours vnreasonable demaunds to restore him to the Duchie of Bourgongne with an abolition of the homage which hee ought vnto this Crowne for the low Countries beeing vnreasonable as he pretended that an Emperour should doe homage to a King of France as if wee did not commonly see Princes hold their lands by homage of simple gentlemen So this parle tooke no effect Hitherto the Imperials dealt vnder had protesting not to make warre against the King· but now they discouer themâ—elues and come with enseignes displayed to beseege Mouzon they batter it in two places the one by the medow towards the Port of Rheims the other from the mountaine going to Iuoy The footmen newly leuied and not yet trayned grew amazed and force Montmort the Captaine of that place to demaund a composition for the obteyning whereof hee went with Lassigny his companion to the Earle and obteined That euery man at armes should depart Mouson takeâ— with a â—urtall vnarmed and the foote men and archers without armes and a white wands in their handes what policie was this to see two Lieutenants to a King go forth off a place to capitulate with the enemie without doubt they diserued the shame which many haue suffered â—or the like rashnesse to be detained prisoners put to ransome and forced to yeeld the Towne at discretion The taking of all these Townes without opposition drew the Earle to Meâ—â—eres commaunded by the Cheualier Bâ—yard Seege of Mezieres but hee found a more valerous resolution then at Mouzon The experience and valour of the Captaines and the desire which Anne Lord of Montmorency had to doe the King some notable seruice in his youth had drawne him into the Towne with many well minded gentlemen of the Court amongst the rest the Lords of Lorges d'Annebault Lucè Villeclair Iohn de la Tour Lord of Bremont Iohn Dureil Lord of Berbee Nicholas of Thouâ—rs Lord of Suilly Mathurin and Charles des Cleres whose valours and fidelitie deserue a place in our Historie Anthony Duke of Lorraine whose Lieutenant Bayard was and the Lord of Orual gouernour of Champangne commaunded either of them a hundred men at armes Boucart and the Baron of Montmoreaâ— had either of them a thousand foote This might seeme too much for a small place but it was strong and of importance The Canon did no sooner begin to batter but most of the foote grew amazed and in despight of their Captaines â—â—ed some by the gate others ouer the wals Bayard by the basenesse of them that fled tooke occasion to assure the resolutions of such as remained For said hee preseruing the Towne with the helpe of few men wee shall haue the more merit and reputation our troupes are of the more force being discharged of this vnprofitable burthen The Earle comming neere to Mezieres sent to summon the Commaunders to yeeld the Towne vnto the Emperour The Valianâ— resolution of Bayard He reports to the Earle of Nassau sayd Bayard to the Trâ—mpeâ— That before hee shall heare mee speake of yeelding vp the Towne which the Kâ—ng hath giuen mee in charge I hope to make a bridge of my enemies carkases ouer the which I may march Henry makes two batteries and shakes the wals for the space of a moneth But fiâ—ding by sundrie sallies in the which the beseeged did most commonly carrie the honour and profiâ—e the resolution of the Commaunders men at armes and souldiers hauing also intelligence of the defeat of a hundred choise horse of the Eâ—perours Campe and two hundred foote led by Earle Reinfourket to spoile Attigni vppon Aisne all which Francis of Silli Baylife of Caen Lieutenant to the Duke of Alenson had put to the sword except fiue or six which were carried prisoners to the said Earle to Rheims the Towne hauing beene also releeued the first of October with a thousand foote led by Lorges foure hundred horse by â—â—â—gni and some munition hee abated the first furie of his aâ—tâ—llerie and despayring to 〈◊〉 the Towne by force or famine he raised his Campe and made his retreat by Mont-Coâ—â—et in Ardennes Maubert fontaine and Aubenton to Verâ—in and Guise spoyling burning and killing The Earle of Nâ—ssau leâ—ues Meâ—â—ers men women and children without distinction a mournefull beginning of the cruelties which haue beene committed in the succeeding warres Bâ—yarâ— for a worthie reward of his vertue was honored by the King with a companie of a â—undred men at armes and the order of Saint Michell In the meane time the King assembles his forces at Fernacques to cut off the enemies way about
at the first dislodging of the French Campe he might easely prâ—uâ—nt them and ioyne with his forces But those â—â—thin the Towne had good and â—iâ—e commanders who suffred not their men to issue forth but to good purpose and alwaies to the enemies losse As for remouing of the Campe Montmoâ—ency would not hazard the estate nor the forces of the King his master he â—opes by the rout of his enemies aâ—mie to preseâ—ue his owne and according to the aduertisements he had of the Imperâ—als deâ—â—eins he restrayned or gaue libertie for the execution of his Councels and commandements The surprise of Brignoles had made him more warie yet not to dâ—unt the courage of his men he continually stuâ—â—ed of reuenge vexing the Impeâ—ials with daily alarums incounters and charges and all without any losse or preiudice The Dâ—ulâ—â—in comâ—s to the Campe. The King being aduertised of the approches which the Emperour had made to Marseilâ—es Henry the new Daulphin and Duke of Brittaine desirous to make proofe of his person in so iust and honourable a war and against so worthie an enemie obteines by 〈◊〉 instant prayers and the intercession of such as might preuaile much with his Mâ—iestie leaue to go to the Campe Not to commaund presently sayd the King but to leaâ—â—e to commaund hereafter and vnder the Lord Steward as an other Palantes vnder â—neâ—s who passeth his appâ—â—ntâ—ship in the art of warre His coming made the youth â—o câ—ie for battaile whensoeuer they went to consult whether it were more expâ—diâ—â—t to approch neere their enemie or to prolong the warre by tempoâ—â—sing and delayes and many which till now had followed the last opinion were carried away to the â—ontrary Many considerations mooued them the Kings forces able to incounter the Eâ—perours the presence of a yong Prince burning with desire to trie himselfe in the warre the dishonour as they sayd in suffering the Towne of Marseilles to be beseeged the meanes they had to defeat their enemies before the Emperour could bring all his forces to succour them who for want of victuals were constreined to â—e dispersed But the Lord Steward and the wisest heads found it farre more safe to win the victorie without striking stroake cuting off the enemies victuals as they had done before Marseilles was well fortified furnished with all necessarie munition manned with valiant Captaines Reasons why the French would not fight with the Emperour and men of resolution Contrariwise famine and pestilence which did much afflict and daily increase in the Emperours campe would soone ruine his power It was now neere at hand The pesants had lately carryed away slaine and hurt all the beasts which carried the biscuit that was made at Toulon and continuing to molest them by these affronts they brought the imperiall arâ—â—e into wonderfull wants and necessitie Moreouer the dayly checks which the French men at armes gaue vnto the enemie made the Emperour thinke of his retreate It was therefore a wise constancie and resolution of the Lord Steward not to submit the importance of this warre to the discretion of a doubtfull hazard There is no lâ—sse honour to vanquish an enemie by counâ—ell and gouernment then by battaile and not to hazard himselfe to the chance of armes without necessitie it is an abusing of the bloud and liues of men Herevpon newes comes to the King Exploits in Piedmont that his armie beyond the Alpes had brought most part of Piedmont vnder his obedience and all the Marquisate of Salusses except some Castels His Maiestie vsing his tights might haue annexed this Marquiâ—ate vnto Daulphiné whereon it depends as confiscate by the rebellion treachery of the Marquis Francis But let vs heare an act of his naturall clemencie and bountie Iohn Lewis brother to the sayd Francis was prisoner at Paris for the like rebellion The King â—et him at liberty he did inuest him in the Marquisate takes his oath of fealtie to â—im and against all other men he causeth money to be giuen him to furnish him and â—is â—â—aine and then sends him to take possession Francis within few weekes after came to â—â—rmagnole Iohn Lewis receiues him into the Castell and suffers himselfe to be so carried away with sweet words as he sweares by nothing but by the confidence he had in his brother Francis Francis was farre more malitious and cunning Iohn Lewis â—â—â—inst the aduice of Saint Iulian a Gentleman Gascon bred vp in the house of Salusses whom the King had sent with Iohn Lewis to obserue the actions and the going and comming of this new Marquis being a simple and dull man he suffers himâ—elfe to be dâ—â—â—ne out of Carmagnole and to be lead to the Castle of Valfeniere where Francis â—â—â—â—ined him prisoner then seekes to recouer the places of the Marquisate S. Iulian foreseeing the issue of this subtill stratagem practâ—sed Saluador d' Aguerres by his persâ—asions and receiued of him in the Kings name the strongest Castle of Vrezeul a beâ—â—e in Francis his eye which kept him from being absolute Marquis Andrew Dorie comming then from Spaine brought victuals and money to the Emperour vpon whose arriuall he made a Proclamation throughout the Campe The Empeâ—ouâ—s retreat That all men bearing armes should be ready to muster without doubt the great decay of his armie the which from fiftie thousand men that hee had parting from Nice hee found decreased to 25. or 30. at the most did touch him to the quick to receiue money and prepare to depart vpon the day assigned euery man to be furnished with eight or ten daâ—es victuals This proclamation made the King suspect that he meant to come and assâ—â—â—e his campe or to marche after the Duke of Alba to the siege of Marseilles And seeing the Emperour was there in person the King did hope to haue meanes in the midest of these great armies to effect the contents of the challenge he had before sent to the Emperour by an Herald as we haue heard But his Maiestie was no sooner come fâ—om Valence to his campe neere Auignon as he was giuing order to prepare to receiue or giue battaile newes comes vnto him that the Emperour with all his Campe is â—â—â—lodged from Aix leauing behind him besides the dead bodies which were infinit aâ—re being corrupted round about a great multitude of sick men which could not follow the armie neither on horseback nor on foote and taking the route of Spaine Aix burnt by the imperials spoiled with all the desolations which warre could bring forth except fire from which the Emperour did preserue it Onely the pallace and especially the Chamber of accompts were abandoned to the fire at the instance of the Duke of Sauoy who would assist in person at the burning thereof hoping it may be to abolish the memorie of the titles whereby it appeares that Piedmont belongs to the Earldome of Prouence But the Lord Steward had foreseene this inconuenience sending them to a strong
Prince of Milphe the Lâ—â—ds of Barbesâ—â—â—â— Burie Viâ—lâ—ers Corneilles vndertake the worke and cast downe â—alfe a Tower pâ—ssiâ—g from the Towne to the Castell but that 〈◊〉 whicâ— ioyned to the Castell stâ—â—ding firme the place was not much weakened Tâ—e King then 〈◊〉 to attempt it by batterie and hee himselfe shewes the place where to plant the Cannon At the approches Lâ—sarches and Pont-briant 〈◊〉 experienced Commissaries of the artillery with many Caâ—â—oniers and others loose their liues The Cannon planted vpon the brinke of the â—â—ench plaies two daies togither and the third they make a breach of thirtie fadomes The Kings presence being the rewarder of vertue setts many yong gentlemen on fire being desirous of reputation and before that order be giuen â—or the assault carries them to the toppe of the breach But they find the like valout in 〈◊〉 them some are slaine vpon the place others returne â—ore wounded Charles of 〈◊〉 among others Earle of Sincerre a yong Noble man who followed the â—â—â—ppes of his 〈◊〉 vertue Aubigny Lieutenant to Sercu and Damiâ—te enseigne beâ—â—er of the sayd Company testified by their deathes the hope of their youth if the chance of armes 〈◊〉 â—ent them a longer life Haraucourt a Lorraine and his â—rother his Lieutenant sons to the Lord of Paâ—oy Lieutenant to the Duke of Guise in the gouernment of Champagne and of his companie of man at armes Fâ—leâ—eres soâ—nâ— to Mardicoque and many others returned backe lame Yet this attempt amazed thâ— beseeged and helpt the generall For when as they see the order the King had giuen to assaile them in the morning a great number of men at armes on foote with fiue or six hundred light horsemen all the rest on horse-backe the whole army readie to be put in battaile if the enemy approched some appoynted to march first others to second them and some to releeue them that went to the assault the resolution and courage of the night past made them enter into composition whereby they departed with theiâ— baggage leauing the artilleâ—ie munition victualls The King committed it to the gard of Sercu The Castell of 〈◊〉 â—â—ken giuing him a company of fifty men at armes and a thousand foote Saint Paul neere vnto Hedin might much annoy him and reduced to the Kings obedience crosse the garrisons of Betune Arras Liliers and other places there abouts Annebault did this exploit and Anthonie of Castell an Italiâ—n Ingenâ—ur vndertooke the fortification of the Towne and Castell Saint Paul and Lilâ—iers taken Lilliers abandoned by Lieuin Captaine of the Towne was by the Lord Steward and Duke of Guise visiting the Country added to the former Conquests and left vnder the commande of Martin du Bellay Captaine of two hundred light horse ioyning vnto him la Lande with a thousand foote to keepe them of Saint Venant and Maruille from annoying the forragers victuallers of the French Army The Bourguignons had fortified an Iland at Saint Venant vpon the riuer of Lis. The Lord Steward vndertakes to force it and takes with him the Earle of Fursâ—emberg with eight thousand French and Germains At the first the beseeged repulse the Lansqueâ—ets kill some and wound many And now the day began to faile when as Charles Martâ—l Lord of Bacqueuille la Lande discouering one part of the trench worse manned then the rest they crosse it with their Normands and Picards and come to handâ—e bâ—â—wes they loose some men and kill many of the enemies force the trench the â—ampar and the bastion they compell them to abandon and leaue their defeâ—ceâ— and make way for the rest of their companies and troupes to enter who châ—â—ing the enemies make a great slaughter of men to reuenge the death of their companions They presently set vpon the second fort the bridge whereof was crâ—st with great long peeces of wood ioyned one to another and betwixt manned with good shott defended with a mill of stone well perced and furnished with harguebuses of Crocke and other shot But nothing is difficult to a resolute mind and the fâ—â—st flying to the second fort strooke terrour into them they force them and put them all to the sword The number of the dead was estemed twelue or fifteene hundred on both sides the place spoyled the bootie carried away and the houses burnt There passed no day without an enterprise of one side or other courses and recourses prises and reprises of men victuals and places ill garded or not gardable The King seeing the Emperour had no armie readie able to crosse his new conquest content for that yeare to haue taken Hedin and fortified Saint Paul he caused Liliers to bee burnt reseruing the Abby of Nunns and the Churches and the walls to bee beate downe that the enemie lodging there should not annoy Therouenne and Saint Paul he gaue the gouernment of S. Paul to Iohn d'Estouteuille Lord of Villebon Prouost of Paris with his coÌ„pany of men at armes that of Moyencourt named de Hangest to Martin du Bellay with his two hundred light horse and two thousand foot coÌ„manded by the Captaines la Lale and Saint Aubin Normans Blerencourt and Yuille Picards euery one fiue hundred and in the Castle a thousand men vnder the charge of René of Palletiere He left the Earle of Furstemberg in garrison at Dourlans with his Lansquenets and a hundred men at armes vnder the guidons of the Lords of Estree and la Roche du Nâ—â—ne But these bands were so ill compleet as they made not halfe their numbers then hauing in like sort prouided for other places hee brake vp his campe and dismissed his troupes to giue order for the affaires of Piedmont where the enemie grew strong The King thus disarming the Earle of Bures armes fower and twentie thousand Lansquenets six thousand Walons and eight thousand horse and resolues to charge the Lansquenets lodged neere to Dourlans to make the seege of Saint Paul more easie which he ment to attempt By the surprise of some letters he learned that the fortificatioÌ„s of the place required yet 2 c. dayes time to make it able to repulse the enemie He changeth his opinion and truning head to Saint Paul makes his approches the tenth of Iune notwithstanding the many sallies and skirmishes of the beseeged hee recouers by meanes of a great hollow way which the sodaine arriuall of the Imperials would not suffer them to make euen the point of a great Bulwarke vpon the way to Mouchy they vndermine day night shoot sixteene or eighteene hundred canon shot make a breach of three or foure paces Saint Paul beseeged by the Imperials and by the furie of seuen or eight peeces of artillerie force Martin de Bellay Blerencourt and Yuille to abandon the breach which lookes towards Dourlans their cheefe and almost only defence hee giues an assault with fiue or sixe hundred men onely to vew the breach and by the thunder of their Canons which battered all along the
safetie among other toyes he promiseth In case he giues him an assured passage to inuest him or one of his children in the Duchie of Milan But oh notable policie he desires not to be prest to signe these promises To the end saith he it may not be spoken 1539. that I haue done them by constraint to obtaine a passage and requires the King to take his word for assurance This was to build a Castle vpon a quick sand Notwithstanding the King iudgeth another mans heart and intentions by his owne he grants his brother in lawe such â—ssurance as he demands Being sick he parts â—rom Compiegne to go to meet with him sending his two sonâ—â—â—â—o Bayâ—nne The Emperours passage through 〈◊〉 to receiâ—e him and to accompany him to the place where the King and he might meete which was at Chasteleraud giues him authoritie to make entries and to deliuer prisoners in many Townes of the realme as if he had beene in his owne countrie feasts him in all places causeth him to be conducted by his sayd children vnto Valeâ—â—iennes the first place of his owne territories where hee is moued to confirme that which he had promised before his departure from Spaine but it was to no effect The Emperour defers the matter vntill he had conferred with his Counsell of the Lowe Countries It may be hee would haue kept his promise if hee had found the Gantois so desperately affeâ—ted as hee must needs haue vsed the ayde of France to force them to obedience But seeing themselues abandoned by the King they sought and found mercy vpon certaine conditions which hee prescribed them And â—he Constable who relying vpon the word of such a Prince as the Emperour had giuen the King assurance was for this cause in disgrace with his Maiestie and retyred himselfe from Court to his house from whence wee shall see him called and restored to his dignities Let vs obserue the craft and subtiltie of the Spaniard to bring the King into dislike with his friends and allies The Venetians were ill satiâ—fied of the League they had made with the Emperour against the great Turkes their treasure was wasted and their estates after that great and famous victorie in Hongarie were in danger They were for their owne safety ready to enter into a treatie of peace or of a long truce with the Turke To breake this the Emperour sollicites the King to enter into this common League and the King perswaded therevnto sends by his instigation the Marshall of Annbeault Lieutenant generall for his Maiestie in Piedmont by the death of Montiean lately deceased to go in company with the Marquis of Guast to Venice and the Lord of Gié to the Pope as sollemne Ambassadours and to giue them hope That the King of France ioyning his forces to theirs all ioyntly together would make an armie both by Sea and land to extirpate the race of the Ottomans out of Europe The Emperour strooke three stroakes with one stone he disswaded the Venetians from all accord with the Turke Hee bred a hatred and dislike betwixt the King and the Turke And put the King of England in iealousie who could not well like of this great allyance and fraternitie which the Emperour did cunningly make shew to haue with the King So as the English was perswaded that the King had withdrawne his loue grew strange and began to assure himselfe of the Emperour And which is more all the Kings other confederates seeing that honourable and respectiue entertainment giuen to the Emperour and the Ambassadours of both their Maiesties ioyntly sent into Italie they conceiued many causes of distrust blaming the King in leauing them at neede to the Emperours mercie from whom they could not expect if hee did vanquish them in warre any better vsage then that of the Gantois This yeare William Bude Maister of Requests dyed at Paris 1540. a man of singular learning and godlinesse to whom all men that loue learning are much bound Bude dyed hauing by his learned and laborious writings eased them of much paine whose credit with the King and the Cardinall Du Bellays caused honest pensions according to that age to be giuen to those whom wee call the Kings readers and professors a fountaine from whence are sprong so many great riuers that in the end they are spred ouer all Europe The extreame heate and great drouths did likewise make this season the more memorable by the name which it carryes yet of the yeare of Râ—asted Vines The Emperour hauing by his dissembling disappointed the King of his hopes 1541. it was now needfull to satisfie his friends and Allyes touching the truth of things past for to incense all the Potentates of Christendome against our King the Emperour had vnder hand giuen them to vnderstand that the King treated with him of matters to their preiudice 1541. To this end he sent Caesar Fregose to the Senate of Venice and Anthonie Rinson a Gentleman of his chamber to the great Turke The Kings Ambassadors surprised and murthered The Marquis of Guast hath some notice thereof and to surprise these Ambassadours with their instructions and letters of credit which notwithstanding were not found about them the Lord of Langey who could not disswade them from the passage of Po had so preuailed with them as they sent their instructions vnto him to conuey them vnto Venice an other way hee sets watches vpon all the passages especially vpon the Po knowing well that Rincon a big fatte man would rather passe by water then by land and causeth them to be murthered in their barke passing at Cantalone three miles aboue the mouth of Tesin putting all the Water-men into the dungeon of the Castle of Pauia as well those which carried the Spaniards that were the murtherers as the French they were Souldiars of the garrison of Milan and of the sayd Castle An odious and reprochfull act Some Packets coming from Venice to the King and from the King to Venice were surprised and the carriers wounded by men attired after the Marquises deuise But see the notable pollicie of Langey to discouer the truth of a fact which the Marquis thought to haue managed so secretly as it should neuer haue come to light Gifts sayes an ancient pacifie both Gods and men Langey findes a meanes by money to file a sunder the grates of the prison towards the Castle ditch with secret Files drawes forth the Marriners winnes some of the faction to the Kings seruice learnes from them the number the names and the nation of the murtherers the order the manner and the houre of the murther and all other auaileable circumstances to incounter the dissembling of the Marquis who making a good shew of a bad cause seemed to enquire carefully of the crime by the Captaine of the Iustice at Milan The Emperour was then at the Diet at Ratisbone An Interim graunted by the Emperour where he granted an Interim to the Protestants that
Gouernour of Bapaulme being more vigilant incounters them betwixt a wood a village and a riuer chargeth them and in a moment takes from them both their bootie and their liues at his discretion The Imperialls seeing Mariâ—mbourg victualed opposed a Fort called Giuets whence forraging all the neighbour Countrie they did starue Mariembourg Twentie thousand foote some enseignes of the old Spanish bands and fiue or sixe thousand Reistres vnder the command of Count Farlemont camped about this Forte to hinder an othâ—r victualing conducted by the Duke of Neuers the Admirall Sansac Bourdillon and others with eight hundred men at armes eight hundred light horse and some eight thousand foote The 26. of Iuly the French horse charge the Reisters and driue them into their fort then seeing the Imperials loth to make any farther aduenture the time bâ—ing very tainie and vnseasonable want of forrage colde hungar and many other discomâ—odities caused them to sound a retreat and to leaue the third victualing of Mariembourg to Sansac and Bourdillon after the which the rigour of the season and the iniuries of the aire forced both parties to liue in rest Whilest they remaine quiet vpon the fronter let vs visit them beyond the mountaines The Marshall of Brissac had the winter past seized vpon Yuree and â—ielle War beyond the Alpes in the spring he had fortified S. Iaco taken Crepacuore surprized by the industrie of Captaine Saluoison gouernor of Verrue Cazal the storehouse of victuall and munition prepared by the Imperials for the recouerie of Piedmont ruined Poman S. Saluador and other small places not to be held and vneasily fortified in any short time About the end of Iuly the Duke of Alua successor to Gonsaque in the gouernment of Lombardie went to field with twenty thousand foote foure thousand hoâ—se and forty Canons who at the first besieged S. Iaco but he found good resistance Birague Vimeâ—cat commanding in the place forced him to retire to fortifie at the bridge of Sture hoping to vanquish those by famine who had repulsed his attempts by force The Marshall being fortified from the King with foure thousand horse fourteene thousand â—oote lead by the Duke of Anguien Prince of Conde Dukes of Aumalâ— Nemours Vidame of Chartres Aubigni Gonnor Vantadour d' Vrfé la Chastre and Lâ—de with a great number of voluntarie gentlemen besieged Vulpian defeated the succâ—â—s which the Duke of Alua sent tooke the high and the lowe towne by force and the Castle by composition Montâ—aluo both Towne and Castle after the dismanteling oâ— Vulpian followed the conquerours fortune the French made these conquests in September and October the remainder of the yeare was more quiet But before we proceed let vs speake something of the warres of Siene which beginning long before were ended this yeare The insupportable behauiour of Don Diego of Mendosa gouernour of Siene forthe Emperour had driuen the Cittizens to put themselues into the Kings protection and to bring into their Cittie foure thousand men vnder the command of the Earle of Peâ—illano who being entred force the Spaniards kill some and expell the rest by composition These men chased from Siene seize vpon Orbittello fortifie it After the siege of Metz the Emperour sent Don Garsie of Toledo Viceroy of Naples with fifteene hundred horse and twelue thousand foote to spoile the Countrie of Siene and the King to crosse him sends the Lorde of Termes with twelue thousand foote besides the Inhabitants of the Countrie all hauing vowed to roote out the gouernement of the Spaniards Termes being entred hee prouided for the fortification of tâ—e Cittie and assured himselfe of Montselice Montelie and Montalâ—in against the threats of the viceroy and of Aseanius dela Corne attending the arriuall of Peter Strossy who came with the title of Lieutenant generall for the King with a good troupe of men at armes Strossy being arriued hee makes newe leuies in Italie Cosme Duke of Florence giues intelligence to the Pope and Emperour all ioyne togither to send home the French giuing the charge of their coÌ„mon army to Iames of Medicis Marquis of Marignan The Marquis beseegeth Siene and at his first approch had almost surprised it by night the fortifications being not yet finished The Sienois withstand him giue him the repulse Sienne beseeged and kill many of his men He then incamps before the Towne spoiles the Country and had already reduced them to necessity while that Strossy was busied to prouide for the other places within the estate of Siene Strossy comes into the Towne and goes presently to field againe with six hundred men he surpriseth Ralphe Baillon and Ascanius de la Corâ—e who had an enterprise vpon Chiusi he defeates their troupes kills Baillon and sends Ascanius prisoner to the King Tâ—e King releeued him with newe supplies in Tuscane and likewise in the Isle of Corsâ—â— where the Lord of Termes had taken from the Genouois partisans to the Emperour the Townes of Saint Florent and Saint Boniface a port of the sea These last succors consisted of fiue thousand Suisses and Gascons with some light horse And whilest they take breath in Siene Strossy makes a second sallie with fiue hundred good horse and six thousand choise foote takes Montcalin and Montcarlo from the Duke of Florence and by this stratageme he forceth the Marquis to leaue Sienne for to succour the Florentin then seeing the Marquis fortified with newe troupes hee returnes with his men to Siena Moreouer Leo brother to Peter Strossy ranne along the coast of Tuscane and spoiled the ports belonging to the Duke of Florence But as he approched too neere to Scarlin to discouer the place he was slaine with a shot Strossy to reuenge this death comes to coÌ„tinue the seege attending the succours which the Lord of Montlue brought Montlue being arriued Strossy makes an army compounded of 600. Italians two thousand Gascons two thousand Suisses two thousand fiue hundred Lansquenets and about a thousand horse with which troupes hee resolued to sight with the enemy if he presented himselfe hauing left the gard of Siena to Montlue he went to batter Ciuitelle in the territory of Florence The Marquis goes to succour it and at his arriuall chargeth Strossy who makes head against him and both the one and the other bathe the field with a great effusion of bloud Strossy leaues Ciuitelle to set vpon Foian a strong and a rich place hee batters it and the first day takes it by assault cutting Charlot Vrsin in peeces with all those that kept it spoiles it and abandons all to fire and sword But see a troublesome Catastrophe The Marquis approcheth better furnished with artillerie and Strossy marcheth towards Montpulcian fauoring the retreate of his men with many and rough skirmishes Then the Italians beeing the chiefe strength of his army slippe from him and leaue him much inferiour to the Marquis who following with speed ouertooke him betwixt Martian Lucignan and Foyan giues him
to the Towne being opened â—alaâ—s taken and the beseeged sodainely surprised without hope of speedy succouâ—s first the castle and then the towne returned to the obedience of this crowne as gâ—adly as we haue seene her antient Burgesses bid their poore desolate country mournfully farewell in the yeare 1347. The county of Oye 1558. and all the forts the English held there returned likewise to the subiection of their first and lawfull Lord. Guines and other places dismantled spare the cost which should be consumed in the defence thereof On the other side the Duke of Neuers did take for the King the Castle of Herbemont the forts of Iamoigne Chigny Rossignol and Villeneufue The Daulphin married to Mary 〈◊〉 of Scotlâ—nd Thus their sorrow was turned into ioye their hearts panting yet with that bloudy battell of S. Laurence The Court was partaker of this ioy celebrating the 28. of Aprill in the midest of these prosperities the marriage of Francis Daulphin of Viennois with Mary Steward Queene of Scotland daughter to Iames the 5. and Mary of Lorraine daughter of Claude Duke of Guise During these happy victories and coniunctions of alliances the Duchesse Dowager of Lorraine laboured to increase these solemne and publike ioyes by the conclusion of a peace betwixt the two kings The Cardinall brother to the Duke of Guise met with her at Peronne to that intent but this parâ—e without effect hastened the execution of an enterprise vpoÌ„ Theonuâ—lle the which being battered froÌ„ the 5 to the 21. of Iune with fiue and thirty Canons and the mynes ready to plaie receiued an honourable composition The proiect of this prize is giuen to the Duke of Neuers the glory of the execution to the Duke of Guise and the Duke of Nemours the Marshall of Strossy who was slaine there with a shot vnder his left pappe the Duke of Guise leaning on his shoulder as they caused a platforme to bee vndermined the Lords of Montluc Theonâ—â—â—le taken by the French Vâ—elleuillâ— and Bourdillon had the honour to haue giuen good testimonies of their valours in this prize Chigny taken afterwards from the Wallons was fortified Arlon Villemont and Rossignol burnt and made vnprofitable for the warre The English in the meane time spoyled the coasts of Normandy and Picardy and the King to stop their courses prepares two small armies one at la Fere vnder the Duke of Aumale the other at Calais vnder the Marshall of Termes who succeeded Stroâ—â—y The Marshall attempts Berghes they feared not the French there the towns which the Spaniards held vpon that coast were ill furnished he takes it sacks it and by that meanes opens the way to Dunkerk Dunkerkâ— being taken and spoyled in foure dayes inriched both the souldiers and boyes of the armie But the Flemings force them to make restitution the Marshall camped before Grauelines and the Cont Aiguemont Lieutenant for the King of Spaine in the Lowe Countries hauing speedily assembled out off the neighbour garrisons and of other forces about sixtâ—ene thousand foote a thousand or twelue hundred Reâ—stres and two thousand horse cuts off his way vpon the Riuer of A which comes from S. Omer and forceth him to fight At the first charge the French army ouerthrowes some squadrons of horse but at the second shocke The Marshall of â—ermes defeated the Marshall is hurt and taken with Villehon Senarpont Moruilliers and Chaune a great number of Captaines and souldiars are slaine vpon the place and all the troupes so discomfited as of all the companies of men at armes of three corners of light horse Scottishmen fourteene enseigns of French foot and eighteene of Lansquenets fewe escaped death or imprisonmentâ— a wound which reuiued the â—â—ar of S. Laurence and did frustrate the Duke of Guise his enterprise vpon Luxembourg but it was partly recompenced by the Lord of Kersimon vpon six or seuen thousand English Flemings which landed at the hauen of CoÌ„quest spoyling and burning the weakest parts of the coast of Brittain This was in the end of Iuly The Duke of Guise fayling of Luxembourg came to lodge at Pierrepont in Tirasâ—â—e and there â—ortified with seauen Cornâ—ts of Reistres brought by William younger sonne to Iohn Frederick Elector of Saxony and a newe regiment of Lansquenets led by Iacob of Ausbourg made the French army as strong as the yeare before Aboue all others were most apparant the companies of the Duke of Guise Lieutenant geneâ—all of the Dukes of Montpensier Neuers Aumale Bouillon Nemours Saxony Lunembourg of the Prince of Roche-sur-yon of the Prince of Salerne of the Cont Charny the Marshall S. Andre the Marquis of Elheuf and of the Lords of Rochefoucault Randan Curton Montmoâ—ency the Constables elâ—est sonne Esâ—henets Roche du-Mâ—â—â—e Ienlis La Veuguion Mourdillon Tauanes of Beâ—uuais The light horse of the Earles of Eu and Roissy of the Lords of Valete Bueil Laigny Rottigotty Lombay and others wherof the Duke of Nemours was generall and so great a number of â—ermaines Suisses and Frenchmen as this flourishing armie of men lodging neere to Amiens along the riuer of Somme preuailed much for the treatie of peace which followed soone after Philip had his armie likewise vpon the riuer of Anthie both intrenched and fortified with artillerie as if they meant to continue there and in time to tire one another Some moneths passe without any other exploite then inroades and light skirmishes In the end the eternall God of armes who from his heauenly throne beheld tâ—e seate of these two mightie armies changed the bitternesse of former warre into a pleasiâ—g peace confirmed by alâ—iances the yeare following The Abbie of Cercamp vpon the limits of Arthois and Picardie gaue tâ—e first entâ—ie And as the Constable being freed from prison the Marshall of S. Andrew the Cardinall of Lorraine Moâ—uilliers Bishop of Orleans and Aâ—bestiâ—e Secretarie of State assâ—mbled for the King treated with the Duke of Alua the Prince of Orange Regomes de Silues Cupbearer to King Philip Granduelle Bâ—shop of Arras and Vigle of Zuichem President of the Councell of State of the Lowe Countries behold the death of Charles the 5. Emperour chancing in September and that of Mary Queene of England aâ—out the middest of Nouember changed both the place and the time of this conclusion Castle Cambresis had the honour to finish it at the second conference the which was confirmed by the marriages of Philip with Elizabeth eldest daughter to King Henry of Phillibert Emanuel Duke of Sauoy with Marguerite the Kings onely sister and of Charles Duke of Loâ—raine with Claude a yoâ—ger daughter of France The King yeelded to the Castillan all that hee had taken from him as well on this side as beyond the mountaines To the Sauoyard he restored Bresse Sauoy Piedmont to the Genouoiâ— the Isle of Corse and about foure hundred places more conquered during these â—atall and pernitious Warres which had made so many Prouinces desolate ruined so many Castâ—es Villages
Queene the 17. of October The Princes gouerned by their innocencie arriue the eeue of All Saints and passe from the Portereau to the Kings lodging vpon the Estappe The Princes arâ—â—ue betwixt two rankes of armed men The Cardinall of Bourbon and the Prince of Roche-sur-yon receiue them Not a Courtier nor a Bourgeios meetes them and for their first affront when as they sought to enter on horse-back according to the vsuall custome they were answered with a Brauado The great gates do not open The King attended them at the first hauing done their duties to his Maiestie and no man aduanced to bid them welcome I am said he to the Prince of Condé aduertised from diuers places that you haue made many enterprises against me and the estate of my realme and therefore I haue sent for you to know the truth â—rom your owne mouth Lewis iustifies himselfe so plainly and doth charge his enemies so directly as the King himselfe could not impute these accusations bâ—t to the wilfulnesse of his Vncles agâ—inst his owne bloud But he was possessed by them and suffered himselfe to be easiâ—â—e abused So hee commands Chauigny The Prince of Conde impriâ—oned Captaine of his gards sent by them of Guise to seize vpon the Prince Chauigny shuts him vp in a house hard by beâ—ore the which they make a fort of Brick fâ—â—nked with Canoniers and furnished with field peeces to defend the approches The Lady of Roye his mother in law was likewise carried from Anici a house of hers in Picardie prisoner to S. Germaine in Laye by Renouarâ— and Carrouges Ierosâ—â—e Groslot Bayliffe of Orleans vnder colour that his father had beene Chancellor to the deceased King of Nauarre and hee an affectionate seruant to the Princes accused also to be the Protector of the Lutherans in Orleans was likewise imprisoned two dayes after the Princes arriuall La Haye Councellor in the Court of Parliament at Paris who did solicite the Princes affaires was also in trouble Amaury Bouchart maister of Requests vnto the King and Chancellor to the Nauarrois was sent prisoner to Melun which others brought from Lions to haue proofes against the Prince whose triall they did hasten with all speed But they meant no harme to Bouchart he had already retired himselfe and blabbed by his Letters to the Cardinall of Lorraine to the preiudice of his maister Neither the informations taken at Lions by the Marshall S. André noâ— the prisoners at Melun were sufficient to make the Prince a spectacle vpon a scaffold They send for the president of Thou Commissioners to aâ—aigne the Prince Bartholmewe Faye and Iames Viole Councellors of the Parliament at Paris to examine the Prince vpon the point of high Treason and if this peece of batterie were not of force then to touch him vpon the point of religion and to condemne him for heresie The Prince propounds diuers causes of recusation and appeales from them to the King The priuie Councell reiects his appeale and decrees That vpon paine of high treason the Prince should answer before these Commissioners He answers purgeth himselfe cleerly of all crime and aduowes his religion freelie The Prince condemned By this confession iudgement was giuen against him he condemned to dye a day appointed the x. of December to countenance the beginning of the Parliament They onely note the Earle of Saâ—cerre the Chancellor and the Councellor Morâ—ier which did not pollute their soules with the approbation of this vniust sentence This sentence should in the end cause the ruine of all that were accused or suspected as well for matter of State as religion And for the execution of this desseine the forces of the realme diuided into foure marched already into diuers Prouinces vnder the command of the Duke of Aumale and the Marshals of S. André of Brissac and of Termes And with the same furie the King of Nauarre should bee confined into the Castle oâ— Loches the Constable and his children to the great Tower at Bourges the Admirall and some principalls into one at Orleans the which was afterwards called the Admirale neere to that of S. Aignan But behold there are two more violent and more brutish councellors Brissac and S. André they hold opinion that to auoide trouble in giuing the King of Nauarre any gardes they should put him to death they imploy both poison and sword but neither succeeds God had otherwise decreed reseruing these princes for a more honourable death But howsoeuer let vs confesse that the Lord hath strange meanes to punish the ambition of great men we shall scarce see any one of those which acte these furious parts vpon the theator of this Historie end his dayes by an ordinarie and naturall death The x. day of December approched and the Deputies for the Estates ariue by degrees They presently forbid them in the Kings name vpon paine of death not to moue any thing concerning religion his Maiestie hauing referred this controuersie to the Councell which the Pope being then Pius the 4. successor to Theatin lately deceased appointed to begin at Trent at Easter following Those of Languedeâ— amongst the rest came furnished with ample instructions both for the State and religion but they found meanes to stop their mouthes seizing both on their persons and instructions The ix day of the moneth they giue commandement to the King of Nauarre to be ready to go to horse-back their meaning was to carry him to Loches whilest they should present the prince his Brother vpon a mournefull Scaffold to the people of Orleans But O God we haue heard with our eares and our Fathers haue declared the worke which thou hast done in their time A miraculous deliuerie and in the old time before them Behold the King is taken during Euen-song with a great fainting continued with a paine in his head at the left eare accompanied with a Feuer The Guisâ—ens notwithstanding send forth many Commissions to leuie men and command the Marshaâ—l of Tâ—rmes to ioyne with the Spaniard who tooke the way of Bayonne to spoile the Country of Berne and then to assaile all those whome he should finde to haue fauored the King of Nauarre and the enterprise of Amboise It may be they would haue sold their liues deerely Seauen or eight hundred gentlemen go speedily to horse followed with fiue or six thousand foote resolute when the Marshall should passe Limoges to â—emme him in betwixt two riuers He hath some intelligence thereof and râ—tires to Poitiers This desseine being made frustrate the Kings sicknesse encreasing those of Guise meane to proceed with violence and to murther the King of Nauarre God raysed vp the Cardinall of Tournon who thinking to do a greater act preuents it Hee aduiseth to attend the Constables comming with his Children and Nephewes to the end sayd he that killing one we saue not the rest who afterwards may do more harme then the Princes The dispaire of the Kings helth made them of
Seine Espernay Ceant in Othe Sens Auxerre Neuers Corbigny Aurillac Moulins Issoudun Mans Vendosme Anger 's CraoÌ„ Blois Tours Bourgueil places thereabout Poitiers Rouen Valongnes Vire S. Lo Dourdeaux Agen and generally in all parts of the realme are read at large in the Originals and would augment this volume beyond the iust proportion Time and leisure may hereafter giue all this discourse specified more particularly Let vs onely obserue the most memorable exploits chanced during these first troubles from the moneth of Aprill in the yeare 1562. vnto the publication of the peace The Protestants of Meaux exceeding the Catholikes in number had vntill the end of Iune continued the exercise of their religion without any disturbance Particular troubles at Meaux then transported with an indiscreet zeale and ill aduised presumption grounded vpon their numbers they flie to the Churches beat downe images and make the Priests retire This insolencie made the Court of Parliament at Paris to censure them and to abandon them to any that could spoile or kill them without any forme of processe Therevpon Lâ—noux brother to Montluc comes to Meaux and with the consent of the Protestants restores the exercise of the Catholike religion and then giues commandement to the inhabitants to bring their armes into the Towne house Some obey others to the number of foure hundred march to ioyne with the prince Portian they charge them and kill them all but fortie which recouer Orleans with much adoe leauing their wiues to the mercie of the stronger whereof many were forced to go to the Masse with blowes many marriages solemnized anew many children but without order baptized againe The 13. of February 1563. some fugitiues tried to recouer the place but this caused a totall ruine of their companions who remained within the towne they were massacred drowned and hanged their wiues and children rauished their goods spoiled and their houses made inhabitable At Chaalons des Bordes the Lieutenant to the Duke of Neuers gouernor of Champagne slue many men and women imprisoned handicrafts men spoiled their houses At Chaalons caused marriages to be resolemnized and children to be rebaptized At Bar. Those of Bar vpon Seine became the stronger but rashly in a place easie to be forced Some Cannons planted onely against the Castell scattered all within it like vnto partriges So the beseegers entring finding fewe men to execute their reuenge on they fall vpon the women maydens and Children open some of their stomakes pull out their hearts and with a furie vnworthy doubtlesse of one created after the same image and likenesse teare them with their teeth Ralet a yong Aduocate sonne to the Kings Proctor was a prodigious thing hanged by his fathers procurement In the moneth of Ianuary following some fiftie horse of the garrison of Antrain surprised the towne at the breake of day and at the first tied this Ralet to the top of his house then with their pistolls caused him to expiate the death of his sonne The other murtherers were murthered and their spoile spoiled by other spoilers So the Lord requires the bloud of man by the hand of man himselfe 1562. Saint Estienne being returned from Orleans with two of his bretheren and 〈◊〉 â—thers to refresh himselfe Saint Estienne in a house of his neere vnto Reims was besett beâ—eegeâ—â— battered with the Cannon by a troupe of fifteene or sixteene hundred men who 〈◊〉 forth vpon their word to speak with the Duke of Neuers who they sayd 〈…〉 him was murthered by his owne Cousin germaine the Baron of Cerny and 〈…〉 bretheren with sixteene others stabde At Sens. A hundred persons of all qualities were miserably slaine at Sens their bodiâ—s 〈◊〉 naked into Seine their houses spoiled and as if it had beene no sufficient reuenge their vignes were pulled vp At Neuers The eleuenth of May 1562. the Catholikes of Neuers 〈◊〉 in many gentlemen of the Countrie seized vpon the gates and three daies after fell vpon the Protestants Fayete arriues ransackes their houses rebaptizeth the Câ—â—â—dren expells whome hee pleased and so laden with bootie worth fiftie â—hou â—â—d Crownes At Corbigny he retires to his house in Auuergne Noisat Marshall of the companie of Fayete intreated them of Corbigny in the like sort Captaine Blany surprised the 〈◊〉 fewe dayes after and restoâ—ed the Protestants to the publike exercise of theiâ— religion At Antrain Captaine Blosse surprising the Towne of Antrain stayed the Catholikes from committing the like excesse as they had done at Auxerre Steuen Blondelet a preest and an other called the Dangerous were hanged and shot Issertieux called in by the Protestants of la Charité to take the charge of the Towne was set vpon by Cheuenon At la Charite Achon and other troupes and finally beeing beseeged by Fayete hee yeelded vp the Towne vpon an honest composition for his partie This was the x. of Iune but the Grand Prior entring he pulled the Capitulation being signed out of Issertieux hand and afterwards la Fayete abandons these poore protestants to spoile and ransome like to them of Neuers The 3. of March following the Captains du Bois Blosset and Blany reenter by Scaladoe Leauing it afterwards in gard to du Boise who defended it with threescore and seauen soldiars and some Inhabitants against an armie of foure thousand foote and horse slue aboue foure score of them and forced them to raâ—â—e the seege Chastillon vpon Loire Those of Chastillon vpon Loire standing amidest many difficulties and in the ende spoiled of all their commodities fortified their little Towne and the 5. of Ianuary endure an assault against the Lord of Prie kill seauen or eight of his men and hurt many others the men defending themselues with stoanes and the women powring boyling water vpon the assaylants In the end Monterud gouernour of Berry beseeged it battered it and tooke it by force killed men and women young and olde spoiled the Towne euen to the hingells of doores glasse and barres of windowes At Gyen Gyen maintaynes it selfe long the Protestants weâ—e the stronger but the insolencie of Captaines and soldiars whome the Prince of Condé sent thether from Orleans to refresh themselues one after an other forced manie of the Inhabitants to retire to Orleans So the Towne remayning at the deuotion of the kings army who camped before it it was subiect to the violence of the stronger where the Italians among other â—nâ—olencies cut a yong childe being aliue in two peeces and with a horrible furie eate his liuer At Montargis Montargis was the Sanctuary of many Protestant families vnder the countenance of Renèe of France daughter to King Lewis the XII and Duchesse dowager of Ferrara The Duke of Guise sonne in lawe sends Malicorne thether with foure companies of men at armes but the prey hee sought was safe within the Castell his furie fell vpon an olde man met by chance who was slaine and cast into the
which he had receiued from the Prince of Condé to bring him forces to Orleans which succeeded ill for him as we shall see Burâ—e and Montluc did run vp and downe the country to crosse the Protestants desseines and those of Bourdeaux hauing too slackly proceeded in an enterprise made against the towne and Castles caused the Parlement to search their houses and to put them to death who had not in time retyred themselues vnder Duras Enseignes Montluc incensed especially against them of Agen tryed all his wits to bring them vnder his power and command He had against him the Lord of Memy Generall of the warre for the Protestants in Guienne and the neighbour countrie a sickly man and not greatly practised in such affaires for if he had made benefit of the great forces which he had at his command and would haue beleeued Arpaion and Marchastell hee might in shewe haue cut Montluc in peeces beeing much weaker of men who knowing the carriage of his aduersary wearied him with dayly courses and alarums to the contempt of the Protestants which fell into his hands as hee himselfe doth vaunt in his Commentaries a true portrait and table where wee may read at large the horrible desolations chanced in those countries during the first troubles In the ende those of Agen seeing their Towne vnable to resist the Canon make a troupe of about sixe hundred men and retyre for the most part to the Castle of Penne committed by Duras to Captaine Liouran The next day the common people of Agen troupe together spoile and kill all they meete Bury and Montluc flye thither they execute many prisoners and such as were absent they hang in picture Duras not able to diuert this heauy accident takes the way of Quercy wins Lausette by force kils fiue hundred threscore and seuen men amongst the which nine score fourteene Priests were found slaine without any respect oftheir order through this detestable warlike insolencie For a counterchange Montluc comes to beseege the Castle of Penne forceth the place after the death of Liouran puts man woman child to the sword and continuing the course of his prosperitie takes and sackes Castel-ialoux Marmande Saint Macaire Bazas Tâ—ncins Port S. Mary Villeneufue of Agenois the castle of Duras and Montsegur leauing bloudie trophies of an vnciuill and pitifull victorie Lectoure the capitall Towne of Armagnac was at the Prince of Condés deuotiâ—â— Bugole a Captaine of Bearne and a Catholike commanded there who by the taking of Sauuetat of Gaure Lectoure of Larromien and of Tarraube had assured the Protestants of his constant affection to their party Monluc sends Captaine Peirot his sonne to suppresse Bugole Peirot treates with Bugole and reapes the fruites which follow by his paâ—â—e Captaine Mesmes lead two hundred souldiars to fortifie Lectoure Bugole cauâ—eth them to stay vpon the way vnder colour to send them a garde to make their passage easie And to this intent he speedily sends to field three hundred men at armes fiâ—e and forty Argoleters himselfe leads other troupes of foote to Tarraube that by the weakning of Lectoure Peirot might haue meanes with his men at armes to hinder the returne of the troupes of Tarraube to Lectoure and by the same stratagem cuts off the passage for Captaine Mesme leauing him in prey at Roquebrune a poore village from whence he passed through his enemies being 4. or 5. to one and retired into â—earâ— Moreouer although Tarraube were vnfurnished of meale and water yet hee kept his footmen therein that being besieged they might more easily be at Petâ—ots mercy as it afterwards fell out And to fill vp the measure of his treacheries soone after the yeelding vp of Tarraube he with a brother of his followed Peirots enseignes against his plighted faith he beheld him to cut in peeces 231. prisoners at Tarraube hang some and ransome many Bearn Monluc aduertised hereof assembles the commons with six companies of foot besiegeth Lectoure makes a breach giues an assault in foure places Brimont giues him the repulse hauing not with him aboue 100. souldiars a weake number the which induced him in the end together with the Queene of Nauarres intreatie to whom the Towne belonged to depart by composition Duras in Guyenne Now we must performe our promise touching the exploits of Duras in Guyenne with the first forces he had gathered together he tried to assure Bourdeaux but hauing failed of his desseine he chose the country betwixt the riuer of Garonne Dordonne to review his troupes S. Macaire gaue him bullets as he passed in steed of victuals kils some of his men His fâ—rst defeate He is offended therewith assaults the towne forceth it takes his reuenge of the former outrage Burie Monluc pursue him they knew well that hauing slaine him all Guienne vnfurnished of a coÌ„mander would be at their discretion they ouertake him neere to Rozan and charge him at their aduantage being abandoned by the most part of his company which were vnwarlike and not capable of discipline This first check was sufficient to make him abandon all yet the cause whereof he had taken the defence did summon him once more to trie the hazard of armes He gathers together what he can assembles new forces takes the way of Agenois and of Querâ—y helps them of Agen reuengeth his iniuries vpon Lauâ—erte as we haue heard marcheth towards S. Antonin and there fortifies himselfe with two companies of foot lead by Marchastel His meaning was to go into Languedoc and ioyne with the Lord of Crâ—sol but the Earle of Rochefoucault inuites him to the succour of Orleans for a gard sends him Bordet a valiant gentleman of Xaintonge with 60. horse 200. Argoletiers 〈◊〉 enseigns of foot These troupes consisting of about 5000. men horse and foot march to Montauâ—an there they receâ—ue men munition artillery and so turne to Xaintonge in the way they force the Castle of Marcues take the Bishop of Cahors there threaten to hang him as the author of a massacre made of the Protestants within his diocesse fiue or six souldiars made satisfaction for this offence by their deaths Bordet had a splene against them of Sarlat they had in his passage slaine two of his gentlemen A great error So at his perswasion Duras incampes before it the 1. of Octob. Burie and Monluc â—â—ie to succour it with a great number of horse and some 8000. foote Duras raiseth the siege and to lodge at ease diuides his men into Heudreux Ver and other places neere the rainie wether gaue them likewise some impression and confidence of the enemies temporising But they were vigilant fearing lesse the iniurie of the aire then Duras they came thundring vpon him Without doubt when 2. armies are neere together the first that makes his retreat giues the other an aduantage Duras who supposed they had bin but the enimies scouts determined to retire softly to put
battered Ganache the fourth of Februaâ—â—â—â—uing spent eight hundred Cannon shot hee made two breaches and gaue a◠〈◊〉 with the losse of aboue three hundred men and growing resolute in this 〈◊〉 where his honor was ingaged hee letts Plessisgecte Captaine of the place vndeâ—â—tand that hee had wonne reputation inough in the defence of so weake a place that his obstinacie did preiudice the King of Nauarres affaires That the King by the execution done at Blois had sufâ—iciently declared warre against the League and that he mâ—â—t to imploy the saied Kings forces against them Plessis aduertiâ—eth the King his mastâ—â— he marcheth to succor him but his violent traâ—ell on foote to get him a heate in an extreame colde season Ganacâ—e yeelded to the Duke of Neuâ—rs made him stay so dangerously sicke of a feuer at Saint Pere as the newes of his death was carried to Court So Plessis yeelded vp the Towne his armes and baggage saued But this royall armie came to nothing The Duke went to refresh himselfe at his house wauering some moneths doubtfull of his party and the King of Nauarre whom God would vse in so confused a time to bring him vpon the Theater not as a disinâ—erited Child according to the intent of the Estates but to teach men that their sâ—â—â—uing is in vaine against the decrees of his diuine prouidence hauing recouered his peâ—â—eâ—t health assured himselfe of the places neere vnto Niort Saint Maixant Mallâ—zaye Chastelleraut Loudun Lisle Bouchard Mirebeau Viuonne and others pretending to do the King some great and notable seruice The King by this blowe had amazed but not suppressed the League He had begun well for the waranty of his Estate but he must not do things by halues In steed of going to horse making his armes to glister shewing himselfe betwixt Orleans and Paris calling backe his army out off Poictou to oppose it against the attempts of the Duke of Mayenne Error in state and being armed and the Townes amazed at this great effect to diuert the mischiefe which oppressed him within fewe monthes hee returnes to his first remedies being soft and fearefull against a mad multitude hee is content to send words to retayne his subiects alreadie entred into sedition hee releaseth some prisoners whome he held least dangerous continues the Estats renues the Edict of vnion and by a generall forgetting of what was past thinkes they will lay downe their armes against him to imploy them against the King of Nauarre But a multitude growes mad with mildenesse and is reteyned by seuerity The King finds that in lesse then sixe weekes â—ours and Baugency are the fronters of those prouinces that were vnder his obedience And whereas he thought to begin hee nowe ceaseth to raigne So God who had laughed at the vaine attempts of the one will likewise heâ—pe vpon the other remedies no lesse violent then those he had practised Nowe manie awaked from their amazement and began to stirre the people studâ—â—ed of new mutinies and new armes Orleans shut vp their gates the Towne made barâ—icadoes against the Cittadell Paris shewed the furie of their mutinie against the Louurâ— they beate downe the Kings armes impryson his seruants and aswell by their ransomes and spoile as by a voluntary contribution they leuie a great summe of money for the warre Marteau Cotteblanche Compan Roland and others deliuered vpon promises to reclaime the Parisiens had contrariwise seduced the people The sixteene let vs know them by their names euen as they are set downe in an oration made by the Bourgeses of Paris to the Cardinall Caietan la Bruyere Crucé â—ussyle Clere the Commissary Louchard Morlier Senault the Comissary de Bart Drouart an Aduocate Aluequin Emonnâ—t â—ablier Messier Passart Oudineau Tellier Morin a proctor of the Chastelet euery one of which had many Agents followers like sixteene fuâ—ies coÌ„ming out offhel sharpened their weapons kindled the coales of murther dissolutenes first at Paris then in a maner in al the good townes of the realme being seasoned with the leuaine of these furious tribuns The Preachers fire brands of these furies came not into the pulpit Paâ—isiens insolencies but to poure forth reproches and iniuries against the King and by an Iliade of Curses to kindle the peoples mindes to rebeâ—lion The people came neuer from their sermons but hauing fire in their heads readines in their feet to runne and disposition in theâ—r hands to fall tumultuously vppon such as were not branded with the marke of the League Hee was neither a good nor a zealous Catholike that had not a beadroule of outrages to detest and abhore that execution of Blois The porters at the Palace babled nothing but a cursing of the Kings life an elegie to lament the calamitie of these two bretheren an oration in memorie of the commendable exploits of the Duke of Guise in Hongary against the Turke at Iarnac against the Protestants at Poitiers at Montcontour against the Reistres of Thoré at Vimorry and at Auneau They cried aloud at Paris That France was now sicke and could not bee cured but by giuing her a drinke of French bloud And because they haue not the bodie at their deuotion those things he possesseth must suffer for it his furniture at the Louure his pictures are broken his armes beaten downe his images dragged vp and downe his great sâ—ale defaced they call him impious vniust vilaine prophane tyrant damned The Colledge of Sorbonne concludes by a publike act of the 7. of Ianuary That the people of France are freed from the othe of obedience and fealtie which they ought to Henry of Valois and that lawfully and with a good conscience they may arme against him receiue his reuenues and imploy it to make warre against him On the other side Charles of Lorraine Duke of Mayenne dreaming on his brothers death prouided for the assurance of his owne life The Duke of Maâ—ennes courâ—â—â—â— and consulted with the Arche-bishops Officiall the Lord of Botheon Seneshall of Lionnois and some others of the chiefe whether there were any safety for him within their Towne We are sayd they bound vnto the King before all others Make no tryall we pray you of your seruants in that which shall bee contrary to the Kings will Arme not your selfe against him without doubt hee will seeke your seruice when you shall submit the passion of reuenge vnto reason and will aduance your house to the good of all France the which trembles with apprehension of the calamities which this warre shall cause If the people call you to set them at lâ—berty you shall abandon them to the spoile and to defend the Monarchie against the King you shall make your selfe the head of a confused and monstrous Anarchie God did neuer forget the protection of Kings against their mutinous subiects They bee the image of God the children of heauen and whosoeuer armes against them armes against heauen Moreouer the winde of the peoples
these Tribunes hee shortned their number weakened their authoritie and maintained his owne as well as hee could and to paeifie the people guiltie of this mutinie hee published the 10. of December an abolition of things past in this disorder The King in the meane time made his necessary prouisions for the siege of Rouan and appointed his store-houses at Caen Pont Larche Ponteau de Mer and other places On the other side the hope of speedy succours from the Stranger the presence of Henry of Lorraine eldest sonne to the Duke of Mayenne and the arriuall of the Segnieur of Villars with sixe hundred horse and twelue hundred Musketiers A treacherous decree of the Court of Parliament of Rouan made the Cittizens to persist in their rebellion and the Parliament to forbid all men by a dâ—cree in any sort to fauour the part of Henry of Bourbon vpon paine of death ordaining that the oth of the vnion made the 20. of Ianuary in the yeare 1589. should bee monthly renued in the generall assembly made to that effect in the Abbay of Saint Owen with commandement by the sayd Court to the inhabitants to obey the Lord of Villars Lieutenant to the sayde Henry in all hee should command for the preseruation of the Towne Moreouer Bauquemare then first President procured that all the Inhabitants should sweare before La Londe Mayor of Rouan to reueale all such as by worde or deed should fauour the King of Nauarre to be exemplarily punished Villars hauing got footing within Rouan hee presently displaced his superior 1592 settles his authority expells all such as hee suspected fortified Saint Catherins mount and did all acts of hostility against the King annoying his army what he could the which besides the obstinacy of the beseeged was to encounter with the extreame rigour of the winter sicknes and want of victualls But they surpassed all these difficulties cheerefully and the beseeged were readie to yeeld when as newes comes that the Dukes of Mayenne and Parma had taken Neufchastell abandoned by the Kings garrison and were lodged at Franque-Vâ—â—le halfe a daies iourney from Rouan The Duke of Guise la Chasire and Vitry his Nephew led the foreward The Dukes of Mayenne of Parma and Sfondrate Nephew to Gregorie the 14. the battaile The Duke of Aumale the Earle of Chaligny brother to the Queene Douagâ—r Boisdaulphin Balagny and Saint Paul the rereward Bassompierre and la Motte Lorrains led the Suisses and the artillery Whilest that the King made a necessary voiage to Diepe to frustrate some intelligences of his enemies the Marshall of Biron drawes forth seauen peeces of artillery to Bans a village aboue Darnetall plants them in three places and puts himselfe in battaile to receiue the Duke of Parma who should come to lodge in the valley on that â—ide and by his countenance made them thinke that hee had a desire to fight The King arriâ—es continues in battaile almost thirtie houres and prouoakes his enemie by continuall â—kirmishes But he was encountered by a cunning temporiâ—er who passing with his troupes wide of Darnetall made the King to deuise a new stratageme to drawe him on more and to engage him as it happened soone after The King dismisseth his Nobility but with charge to be readie at the first command and by continuall skirmishes kept Rouan from any releefe from the twentith of March to the 21. of Aprill In the ende the Dukes of Mayenne Guisâ— and Parma seize vpon Caudebec Rouan succored but not victualed from whence the garrison was dislodged and the same day they come to Rouan but staie not many howers neyther had they meanes to victuall it His Maiesty seeing that Rouan was not supplyed with victualls passeth at Pont-Larche causeth his armie to aduance towards Fontaine le Bourg and sends for all his garrisons of Louuiers Mante Meulau Vernon and other places nere so as fortified with aboue three thousand horse and sixe thousand foote in lesse then sixe daies hee turnes head towards the village of Iuetot where the Dukes of Mayenne and Guise were lodged chargeth their foreward and deâ—eates it quite The enemy defeated of Iuetot chaseth the Dukes aboue two leagues from Parmaes quarter leauing their baggage and plate in the possession of la Guisch The first of May hee takes from them an other lodging leaues aboue sixe hundred Leaguers dead vpon the place and looseth but fiue souldiars and eighteene or twentie hurt All these checkes should drawe the Dukes to fight but Parma seekes onely to free himselfe from the King and the rest had no desire to make tryall of their sufficiencie They held themselues verie close intrenched and fortified within their Campe issuing forth no more then they had lately done neere vnto Lagny The King presseth them and takes from them all passages both for victualls and retreat They likewise intrench a great woode and to stoppe the Kings approach lodge there two thousand Spaniards and Wallons In sight of their whole armie his Maiestie forceth this intrenchement and had it not beene for a small number who by great speede recouered the army had defeated the whole troupe For ten daies space the King tired them with continuall skirmishes and inroads during the which hee vewes the situation of their Campe the tenth of May hee made choise of such forces as hee held necessary and by fiue of clocke in the morning chargeth a quarter which the Leaguers held to bee most safe and without resistance kills about two thousand fiue hundred men vpon the place carries away aboue two thousand horse and winnes all the baggage To conclude this warre brought forth nothing so memorable as that which was done at Caudebec at Iuetot and at Aumale But for a proofe of the perpetuall assistance and fauour of heauen to our King amidest this thundring of artillery and so many showers of shot his Maiestie was hurt with a Harguebus in the reynes but yet so miraculously The King miraculously hurt as the force of the bullet was spent in the emptines of the aire and lay betwixt his armor and his backe giuing the King this lesson by a diuine aduertisment My Lord husband your life more sparingly it is necessary for your subiects The Duke of Parma â—scaped not all these encounters without a musket shot in the arme the wound did accompany him to his graue The Dukes â—etreaâ— In the end blowes hungar and extreame thirst forced these Dukes to take their way to Paris in confusion from whence Parma carrying no tokens of victory passed through Brâ—e recouered Arthois and so went to refresh himselfe at Bruxelles then in the ende of the yeare he died in Arras as hee returned from the Spawe His reputation beganne to decay Death of the Duâ—e of Paâ—â—a He had preuayled little in France and Conte Maurice did daylie take some thing from him in the Lowe Countries Hee had beene aduertised as by a prognostication that hauing taken the Towne of
Antwerp against the opinion of all the world in the yeare 1585. hee should shake hands with warre Doubtlesse this Prince should haue ended his labours by this great seruice done to King Phillip his master as the most glorious tryumph which Spaine had of long time seene Thus the Duke of Parmaes troupes by land were weakened and those he had imbarked were fought withall some taken and the rest sunke by the Hollanders So Sfondrate came to consume his troupes in France Thus France escaped at this time the proud threats of her ancient enemies Rouan pressed with as great necessity as before brought corne out of Villars stoore-houses at his owne price whereby he got an infinit treasure The King weâ—ghing well the toyle his Nobâ—â—ity had endured dismissed some and reteyned the most resolute and to hinder the Parmesan from attempting any thing Death of the Marshall of 〈◊〉 hee sent the Marshall of Biron to followe him at the heeles Who loath to remaine idle beseegeth battereth and takes Espernay But Espernay must be the fatall place to ende his labours and by his death breake off some other desseins which his Maiesty had who to stoppe the entry of another army of Strangers which King Phillip at the intreaty of the chiefe of the League nothing sorry for the Duke of Parmaes disgrace whose pride they could not beare determined to send vnder the conduct oâ— the yong Duke of Parma assisted by the Duke of Feria vntill the comming of the Arch-Duke Ernest brother to the Emperour Rodolphus gaue order for the most vrgent affaires of his realme The Kingâ— proceeding hee diuided his forces into the most conuenient places to set vpon the League where they had greatest strength and labored to effect some intelligences hee had within Paris But the periode of his happinesse was not yet come During these practises the Duke of Mayenne surpriseth Ponteau de mer. and to get more bagges of double pistolets The Duke of Mayennes he treats againe with the Agents of Spaine touching the assembly of their Estates to make the Crowne electiue against the fundamentall Lawe of the realme But he had his desseine a part and the greatest part of the Parliament was tired with this hideous confusion vnder the which their scarlet roabes could not appeere so beautifull as vnder a stately Royalty and the chiefe of the third Estate inclyning vnto peace The Duke of Nemours abhorred these tedious furies of the League The Duke of Nemours for his part layed the foundation of a petrie Monarchie at Lions but he built it vpon the sand He was nowe instâ—lled in the Towne which Maugâ—ron had sold him treacherously considering the shewe hee had made of faithfull seruice to the King and the towne and Castells of Vienne in Daulphinè the which he had receiued to the preiudice of the truce which was then betwixt them of Lions and Daulphiné Being assured of these good places hee goes to field but with more brute then fruite for hee did not fortifie his party but by the taking of Saint Marcellin and Eschelles places of weake resistance 1552. and doubtlesse Belliere won more honour in the defence then the Duke did in the conquest of the last The Colonnel Alphonso and Les Diguieres vpon assurance of the truce were farre off the one in Prouence the other in Languedoc where both opposed themselues against the forces of the League This breach recalled them soone into Daulphiné where with their ioynt forces they recouer that which the Duke had taken not daring to oppose himselfe In the end Les Diguieres hauing thrust the Duke of Nemours out of Daulphiné Les Diguieres who by fauour of the forces of Sauoye thought to settle himselfe there enters into Piedmont in the moneth of September fortifies Briqueras batters and takes the Towne and Castell of Cauours chargeth the Dukes men at Vigon forceth and defeats them The Duke of Sauoye posts to Turin aâ—d seekes to take the fort begun at Briqueras by scalado Hee is repulst with dishonour and losse They charge him in his retreat but some feare of an ambush made them retire And Les Diguieres hauing left the Lord of Poët to commaund in Piedmont returnes to Grenoble whether the affaires of the Prouince did call him On the other side seing the armes of Spaine had preuailed so little on the land they must trie if some enterprise by sea would repaire their former losses The Gouernour of Fontarabye had long practised vpon Bayonne with a Physician named Blancpignon Bayonne attempted by the Spaniards who had intelligence with a Spaniard that had liued long in the Towne and vnder borrowed tearmes of arte did by letters negotiate the surprise of Bayonne and the rooting out of all the Kings officers and seruants Their treason was so well aduanced as a fâ—eet of ships with an armie at land was readie for the execution when as by Gods permission La Hilliere Gouernour of Bayonne surprised the Lacquay comming from Fontarabie with letters of credit to the Traitors who being taken and beheaded afterwards discouered soone the whole practise but the Spaniard chose rather to die then to write those letters hee was required to giue direction to the attempters and to lay a plot for his companions In October the Duke of Bouillon followed with foure hundred horse two hundred harguebusiers before the Towne of Beaumont defeated Amblise great Marshall of Lorraine and Lieutenant generall to the Duke Defeat of Amblâ—se accompanied with eight hundred horse aod two thousand foote he â—lue the Commaunder and aboue seuen hundred others tooke their artillerie their enseignes and their Cornets sent home foure hundred Lansquenets with white wands and lost not one man of marke A small fish called Remora stayes a great shippe so a paultrie hens roust ruines the League in Languodoc and Quercy Duke of Ioyâ—uze The Duke of Ioyeuze brother to him who died at Coutras hauing spoyled the Countrie about Montauban with six hundred masters and foure thousand foot French and Lansquenets in the end became master of Monbequin Mombartier Monbeton and tooke Barte by composition but in reuenge of foure score souldiars hee had lost before it contrary to his faith hee put most of them that yeelded to the sword A treacherie which caused his brothers death and for the which the vengeance of God shall soone confound this man The fort of Saint Maurice came in like â—ort into his power and then hee beseeged Villemur The Lord of the place called Reniers commaunded about two hundred and fiftie souldiars whome the Lord of Themines Seneshall of Quercy a wise and valiant gentleman releeued sodenly with sixe and â—ortie men as well cuirasses as harguebusiers led by the Seigneur of Pedoue and then being ioyned with the Duke of Espernon he caused Ioyeuze to raise the seege recouered Mauzac and some other smal places thereabouts But whilest his troupes sleepe at their ease after the order and manner of
the common licentious conuersing with the people for the auoiding of scandales which do often followe That all reuersions of Benefices may be taken away as well for that it is against the Cannon Lawe and the holy Constitutions of Councells as also for that it is a cause to shorten the liues of the Incumbents That the Contracts before time passed betwixt their Maiesties and the Clergy may be confirmed without breach or supposition for the Subsidy granted vnto his Maiesty by the Clergie That it would also please his Maiesty to prouide them conuenient remedies vpon the complaints which they had presented vnto him Wherevnto the King made a very short but a pithy answer the effect was this I confesse that what you haue saied is true The King â— answer to the Clergy but I am not the author of these Innouations these mischiefes were brought in before my comming During the Warres I haue runne to the greatest fire to quench it I will nowe do what is needfull in time of Peace I know that Religion and Iustice be the foundations and pillers of this Estate the which is maintained by Pietie and Iustice. But if they were not I would plant them by little and little as I do all things with the helpe of God I will settle the Church in as good Estate as it was a hundred yeares since as well for the discharge of my conscience as for your content but Paris was not al built in one daie Let the people bee as much perswaded by your good examples to do well as they haue beene heretofore disswaded You haue exhorted me of my duty I do admonish you of yours let vs all do good Go you one way and I will go an other if wee meete we shall soone haue done My Predecessors haue giuen you Words but I with my graie Iâ—cket will giue you Deeds I am all gray without but I am all of Gold within I will write vnto my Councell to see your complaints and will prouide for you as fauorably as I may During these admonitions of the Clergy The Iesuitâ— seeke to be restorâ—d the Cardinall of Florence mooued the King for the restitution of the Iesuites The 7. Article of the treaty of Peace at Veruins did suffer the Subiects and seruants of either side as well Clergy men as Laye to returne enioy their Offices Benefices Reuenues obtayning permission letters patents vnder the broad seale from the Prince Many thought that the Iesuits should be comprehended in this Article and that if by this Peace the Spaniards were held Allies and as it were Cousin germains to the French those whom the Kings Aduocate had the yeare before in open Parliament termed Emissaires to the King of Spâ—ine shold returne to their Colleges from whence they had bin expelled by a sentence giuen in December in the yeare 1594. But the light ofPeace shines not vpon them The neâ—e world which it doth produce hauing cast the cenders of Warre Rancor and Reuenge into the Aire allowes them no retreat within the Iurisdiction of Paris The decrees which had banished them are grauen in Marble the Water of Praâ—ers Fauours and Teares although it perceth Stoanes preuailes nothing At the same time was concluded the marriage of Madame Catherine Princeâ—se of France and of Nauâ—rre The Kings only Sister 〈◊〉 to the Prince of Lorraine the Kings onely Sister with the Marquis of Pont Duke of Baâ— and Prince of Lorraine after many Iourneyes made by the sayd Prince vnto the most Christian Kingâ— in which accord there were great difficulties as well by reason of the diuersity of Religion the sayd Princesse refusing to leaue the reformed wherein sâ—ee had beene bred as also for that she could not be perswaded to go out off France Sâ—e had beene formerly sought by many great Princes to whom shee would not consent for the one or the other of these two causes and somtimes for both togither Francâ—s Monsiâ—ur Duke of Alenson desired her in the yeare 1582. but the difficulty was then greater for matters of Religion And before that King Henry the 3. comming out of Poland did affect her and it is thought that if he had seene her at Lion at his returne he would haue married â—er but Katherine de Medicis the Queene Mother described her to be a Dwarfe and crooked the which was most false for she was of a meane stature and of a good countenance It is true she had one legge somewhat shorter then an other which is a marke of the house of Albret for so had Alain Lord of Albret Father to King Iohn great Grand-father to the sayd Princesse Katherine The Qâ—â—ene Mother did this good turne for her God-daughter seeking to disgrace the King of Nauarre â—hom she haâ—ed from his youth vpon an imagination beeing told by an Italian Sooth-saier that he should succeed her Children Then the Duke of Lorraine who since was her Father in Lawe sought her The Prince of Condy loued her The King of Spaine sent to see her in the yeaâ—e 1580. promising great aduancement to the King of Nauarre This fayling the Duke of Sauoy sent twise in the yeare 83. promising no waie to impeach her Religion His Agent being refused he went into Spaine about his marriage with the Infanta Catherina Michelle In the yeare 86. the King of Scotland sent Master Meluin a Scotishman and others The Prince of Anhault being come to the succour of tâ—e Kâ—ng her Brother at his first comming to the Crowne of France demaunded her himselfe in person but through the necessity of the Warres which were dispersed throughout all France he returned as hee came with some discontent During these Warres two Princes of the bloud affected her the Earle of Soissons and the Duke of Montpensiâ—r but the neerenesse of bloud the diuersity of Religion and the indisposition of affaireâ— hindred the effect of their desires So as in the end he enioyed her to whom God had appointed her The ceremonies obâ—erued at this marriage wee will shew in the following yeare In Italie there grewe newe â—â—irres by reason of the death of Alphonso d' Esté Duke of Ferrara who was the last of that Noble house of Esté The Duchie of Ferrare is a masculine â—ee for so the Lawes call it belonging to the Holy Sea This fee had in former times beene graunted to the family of Esté by the Holy Sea in regard of seruices done by them vnto the Church Tâ—â—ubles for the Duâ—hy of Feâ—rara vpon condition that the Males onely should hold the sayd Dâ—chie and for want thereof it should returne againe vnto the Church to dispose thereof as it pleased Alphonso then being deceased without lawfull heires Males the Church demaâ—nds her right and for this effect there were great stirres on either side Duke Alphonso had in his life time labored all hee could to settle Caesar de Esté his last Brothers Sonne in the right of this dignity and the succession
them to Alba regalis promising the Turkes to deliuer them Shuartzbourg or if he would not trust them they would shew them the meanes to take him in Zolnock whether hee should come to bring their money Scuartzbourg had intelligence thereof yet some of the Traitors inuited him by their letters to come promising to open him the gates being come the kept him and sought to surprise him so as hee was forced to send Captaine Scharpffenstein with the Cannon to force them the 22. of Iune The Traitors receiued carts loden with prouision from the Turkes and deliuered them Christian prisoners which they carried a way to Vesprin and Alba regalis with great treacherie crueltie euery one deliuering vp his Host. In the meane time Michael Marot aduertised Schuartzbourg to come himselfe to beseege Pappa for that the Traitors were at diuision among themselues killing one another Schuartzbourg goes takes one of these trecherous Captaines at a sallie causing him to bee flead aliue and his head to be set on the end of a Pike to stirke terror into the rest They also take a Bastion from them by force by the which they might let in Turkish â—uccors who did all they could to succour them the which they could not effect by reason of the great floâ—ds and the resistance of the Christians The Traitors being famâ—shed and in great want of all things grew desperate desiring rather to die then to yeeld and be executed Among others they make one sallie in the night the last of Iuly and charge Marsbourgs quarter where finding the souldiars dronke they defeated many and put the whole Campe in armes Schuartzbourg a braue and valiant Captaine going to giue order for this tumult was slaine with a shot to the great greef of all the Câ—ristianâ— Schuartzbourg slâ—iâ—e before Pappa Notwithstanding his death the seege was continued the Traitors defended themselues desperately making a sallie the next day carrying many prisoners 〈◊〉 tâ—e Towne with some Captaines and slue three hundred And being perswaded to yeeld they answered that when all their victualls were spent they would eate their prisoners yea and Michael Marot the Gouernor The Emperour giue the charge of this army to Melchior Reder who had brauely defended Vaâ—adin The Traitors seeing they could hould no longer fore-cast how they might 〈◊〉 and the 9. of August they dryed vp a poole which did enuiron Pappa of one side and for that the bottome did sinke they did cast Hardles Strawe and other baggage into it Reder aduertised hereof sends Nadaste the Count Thurin and Colonitz to sâ—rprâ—ze them The Traitors flying had alreadie gotten vnto a wood at the end of the Poole where they ouertooke them and refusing to yeeld some of them were cut in peeces And among others la Motte their Captaine with a hundred more were slaine Their Mediator with the Turkes was taken with many of the chiefe of the Treason In the meane time Marot the Gouernor whom the Traitors had put in prison being freed from his bonds gets forth with others and comes to the Campe. Reder by this meanes enters into Pappa and deliuers the other prisoners At this entry many of the Traytors were slaine some were reserued for execution and were sent to other Garrisons to serue for an example Some were Impaled others broken vpon the Wheele and scorched with a small fire and basted with Lard Diuers punishmâ—nts of Trayâ—ors some had their Bowells pulled out off their Bellies and burnt before their faces and their thighes shoulders and other parts of their Bodies scorched some had their Hearts pulled out aliue others had their throats filled with Sulpher and Pouder and so set on fire some were buried aliue vp to thechinne and ther heads broken with Bullets euery one by order of Martiall Lawe to make them apprehend by the seuerity of their deaths the foulenes of their treason Which diuersity of seuere punishments seeming to tend to cruelty was very necessary to make all Christians abhorre treason The Lords of Sillery and Alincourt by the Popes aduice and the Kings commandement went from Rome to Florence A Treatie of the Kings marriage to treat a marriage betwixt the King and the Noble Princesse Mary of Medieis the which had beene propounded before This demaund was so pleasing vnto the great Duke as he made no difficlulty Her Portion was six hundred thousand Crowns comprehending that which the Great Duke had lent the King of the which he paid himselfe with Iewells and other precious moueables The Contract was past in the Pallace of Pitty the 25. day of Aprill in the presence of Charles Anthony Putei Archbishop of Pisa and Virginiâ— Duke of Bracciano All Florence shewed great ioy thereat and the Princesse was presently declared Queene of France She dyned publikely vnder a cloth of Estate the great Duke sitting farre beneath her The Duke of Bracciano gaue her Water and Sillery the Kings Ambassador the Towell The rest of the day was spent in all kind of sports Soone after Monsieur Alincourt went to carry these good newes vnto the King with the Queenes picture which the great Duchesse sent him The King sent Frontenaâ— The Queenes Picture sent to the King to serue the Qâ—eene as her cheefe Steward who presented vnto her his Maiesties first Letter and withall he sent his Portrait to the great Duke The King resolued to effect the promises of Marriage as soone as the Duke of Sauoy had performed his touching the Restitution or the Exchange of the Marquisate of Salusses and to go to Auignon to receiue the Queene but the Duke was much perplexed what hee should doe After the Duke of Sauoyes departure the King went to passe the Lent at Fontainbleau where there was A Conference at Fontainbleau a great Conference betwixt the Bishop of Eureux and Philip de Mornay Lord of Plessis Marly Gouernour of Saumur Intendent of the house and Crowne of Nauarre in the presence of the King Princes and Officers of his Crowne Councellors of State Prelats and other Noblemen of marke It was touching a booke which Monsier du Plessis had published of the Institution of the Lords Supper and against the Masse wherein the Bishop did taxe him to haue falsified many Authorities Whervpon du Plessis presented a Petition vnto the King that his Maiesty would be pleased to appoint Commisioners to examine euery passage of Scripture cited in his booke The King yeelded to this Conference that the trueth might be made cleare against the darknesse of sâ—ander referring the care thereof to his Chancellor The Commissionars appointed for the Catholiks were Augustin Thuanus President of the Court Parliament at Paris Pithou Aduocate in the Court and Fieure Schoolemaister to the Prince of Condé in whose absence came Martin the Kings Phisition And for the other the President of Calignon Chancellor of Nauarre in whose place entred de Fresnes Gauaye President of the Chamber of Languedoe and Casaubon his Maiesties Reader
Alexander to put Philotas to death being giuen to vnderstand that if he pardoned him he would maâ—e him able to attempt newe treasons against him when as it should not bee in his power to pardon him A pardon doth not change the bad intent of a mighty malefactor This Philotas knewe well that they which had exhausted all mercy and drawne it drie hauing no more hope did runne head-long into dispaire That there are benefits which are odious for that hee blusheth to confesse the cause and to acknowledge himselfe debttor for his life to anâ— one Alexander had enemies enough abroad he had no neede of any at home and assurâ—ng his Estate of these hee needed not to feare the rest Kings like vnto Physitions must knowe the diseases of their States the accidents that â—â—e past the present and the future and imploye Iustice as a drogue the which is not good for them that bee sicke and may pâ—ofit others before the disease hath actually seized on them There remaines one only consideration that the Duke of Biron may do great seruice and that it is not impossible but he may returne to the way of his first innocency Therâ— is lesse harme not to beleeue it then to beleeue it Wee must not vpon an vncerteâ—â—tie that is to come neglect the râ—medy of a present mischiefe There is more trouble to absolue him and more daâ—ger to set â—im at liberty then to put him to death Heer 's not likely to doe any more good we can expect nothing but reuenge from his courrage There is no more any Fuâ—ius Camillus who changed his exile into a bonde vnto his Country that had banished him Serpents seeme dead in winter the cold keepes them from hurting but when as the Sunne recouers his forces they spend their venom The prisoners bad intents might sleepe for a time but it shold be to awake againe and neuer to leaue the State at rest Qui 〈…〉 profit exempâ—â— He that can neuer profit by his vertue nor his loyalty must profit by his example These were the reasons of the Court vpon the which by a generall consent a sentence of death was concluded against the Duke of Biron There were fewe in condemning him but sayd that it was fit to araigne la Fin and giue warrant to apprehend him and that it was impossible hee should be cleane from the slâ—â—ne which he had handeled that if the affaires of Spaine which is like vnto the Temple of Hecatompedon the which goes forward in words and not in workes had bin answerable to the vehemency of their affection hee had sayd nothing The King was aduertised â—hereof who assured la Fin by his letters that he would neuer endure that so great a seruâ—ce done vnto the Crowne should be his ruine It was reason for if the Ancients did appoint Honours for Beastes that had done any seruice to the Common-weale they should bee no lesse thankefull vnto a Gentleman that had saued his Country Whosoeuer discouers a Conspiracy against the sacred and inuâ—olable perâ—on of the Prince ought to bee rewarded by the publicke So was Vindicius by the Romains Princes loue them for a while that haue done some great villamies for their seruice They that reueale conâ—piracies are to be rewarded the which is soone turned into deadly hatred lothing to looke on them for that their presence doth reproch them with the wronging of their conscience But this happenns not to him who without any instigation of the Prince but mooued onely with his duty doth reueale a CoÌ„spiracy chosing rather to faile in the office of a Friend then in duty of a faithfull Subiect The Chancellor concluding their opinions pronounced the sentence of death The Chancellor pronounceâ—h the sentence of death and by graue reasons and great examples reconciled some fewe opinions for the apprehending of la Fin. Saying that the enterprise of the prisoner condemned was not in his head alone that there were others who hauing a desire to say some-thing would retire themselues when they should see la Fin so intreaâ—ed who in the common opinion had deserued reward And although that Mars would not haue the day which is giuen vnto him to bee the last to one that had deserued the name of a second Mars yet the shadow of death did enuiron him on Twesday about Noone seeing a great multitude of Parisians about Saint Anthonies gate he then beleeued that he should be a spectacle vnto them The Lord of Vitry's Lieutenant freed him from this imagination The Duke of Biron deâ—iers to see Mâ—nsiâ—ure de Rhosny making him beleeue that it was to see certaine Gentlemen fight Herevpon and of that which the heart doth alwaies Diuine in the like accidents seeing more signes of death then of life hee framed in his imagination infallible consequences of his death sending the Seigneur of Baranton to intreate the Marquis of Rhosny to come vnto him or if he could not to be an intercessor vnto the King for his pardon He answered that he was extremely greeued that hee durst not do the first and had not meanes to effect the second I hat the King was sorry that at his comming to Fontainbleau hee was obdurat and would not deliuer the truth which tooke from him the meanes to saue his life and for his friends to sue for him This multitude did not runne to the gate without some occasion they knewe that the sentence of death was giuen the day before Certaine officers of the Court and the Executioner were seene enter in the Bastille the Scaffold which should bee set vp at the Greue was made but they were ill informed for the King hauing commanded the Chancellor to send him the sentence after he had giuen it in the Parliament that he might let him vnderstand his pleasure touching the execution Sillery who had carried it to S. Germaine returned with letters by the which for the auoyding the ignominy of his death at the suâ—e of his friends and for other coÌ„siderations his Maiesty was pleased to change the place of the execution and to appointe that in the Bastille which should haue bin done at the Greue The King would haue him executed in the Bastille These letters being verefied on Wedensday morning the last of Iuly the Chancellor accompained with the first President of the Court of Parliament de Sillery and three Masters of Requests followed by some Officers of the Chancery The Châ—ncellor comes to the Bastilâ—e De Voyson register for Crymâ—nall causes 6. vshers came to the Bastille about 9. of the clock in the morning to let him heare the sentence of the Court. At his entring hee coÌ„manded them to make the Prisoner dine and not to aduertise him of his comming remayning in a little Chamber nere the entry on the left hand about an houre and halfe where he resolued who shold be sent for to assist at this execution of whoâ—e names he made
did owe to gentlemen that had nothing to shew for it and among others to the Ambassador in England when the Chancellor had dined hee came to see him with the fiâ—st President found that as a troubled water growes cleere being setled so the time which he had giuen him to thinke of his affaires had takeÌ„ from him the violent agitations of his fantasie freed his heart from the feare of death He coÌ„mandded al that were in the place to retyre and they sat downe togither about halfe an houre but their dâ—scourse is vnknowne In the ende the Chancellor sayd vnto him I should doe wrong vnto your courage if I should exhort you vnto death shee hath presented herselfe vnto you in so many places as it is not in her power to trouble the Constancie and Patience wherunto I beleeue you are disposed You find it hard to die in the flower and vigour of your age but if you consider that our dayes are lymited and that they depend of the fore-sight of the Gouernor of the whole world you will receiue this death as by the will of God who meanes to retyre you out of this world for your owne good before that some great and long miserie shall send you As we may not desire a death which is farre off so may we not reiect that which offers it selfe No no answered the Partie condemned labour not my Lords to fortifie me against the feare of death theâ—e twentie yeares it hath not feared me and knowing not where she would take mee I haue expected her euerie where You haue giuen me fortie dayes to thinke vpon it yet I could not beleeue that beeing not in the power of my enemies to take away my life I should be so miserable as to be seazed on by death with the consent of my friends The King said the Chancellor hath cuâ—t of al that might be shamefull and ignominous He then asked him if hee would speake with any one Hee sayd that he desired to see La Forse and Saint Blancart They tould him that they were not in the Cittie He deâ—ires to see his â—riends but there was a gentleman of the Lord of Badefous and after that he had demanded for Preuost Comptrouler of his house and that they had answered him that he was gone three dayes before to a house of his in the Countrie he then sayd that hee ought not to haue beene there that he had all his blankes adding thereunto these wordes of Compassion The Chancellor takes his â—â—aue of him All the world hath abandoned mee In these crymes friendship is dangerous friends fayle and the disease is taken by acquaintance as well as by infection He is wise that knowes no man nor no man knowes him At these words the Chancellor and the first President tooke their leaues of him with teares in their eyes He intreated them to receiue a good opinion of his life by the assurance which he gaue at the point of death that he had neuer attempted any thing against the King that if he would haue vndertaken it the King had not beene liuing three yeares since The Chancellor went out of the Bastille with the first President and Sillery stayed in the Arcenall vntil the execution was done The Duke of Biron intreated the Knight of the Watch to go after him to request him that he would suffer his Body to be interred with his Predecessors at Biron for although Nature hath prouided that no maÌ„ shal die without a Graue yet meÌ„ thinke curiously thereof before they die and imagine that as glory preserues the reputation of the life so the Graue maintaines the remembrance of the Body He that had seene him would haue thought hee had not bin readie to die so little care hee had of death or els he promised to himselfe some vnexpected effects of the Kings mercy or to escape by some miracle There is no such deceit as imagination frames in these extremities when shee flatters her-selfe with vaine hope imagining that God doth greater wonders and that they haue seene a pardon come betwixt the Executioners sword and the Pâ—â—soners necke Voisin asked him if he pleased to say any thing else that might serue to discharge his conscience The Preachers exhorted him not to conceale any thing to consider that they could not giue him Absolution but for what he should confes He answered that although the King did put him to death vniustly yet he had so much loued his seruice and had serued him with so great loue â—bedience neuer diuiding tâ—e one from the other as he felt in his thoughts of death those of his loue to be so liuely and ardent as he would not conceale any thing that he knew to be against his person or Sâ—ate for aâ—l the world no not for the assurance of his life hee would not speake any thiâ—g tâ—at was not true He drewe Voisin and his Confessors a part and whispered some-thing vnâ—o them the which was presently written He praies before he goes forthe of the Cappell Hauing continued with his Confessors halfe an houre being neere fiue oâ— the Clocke one came and told him that it was time to part Goweâ— sayd he seeing I must He then kneeled downe before the Altar makes his praier and recommends him-selfe vnto God before hee goes out of the Chappell He asked if there were any one that belonged vnto the Marques of Rhosny Arnaut was there whome he willed to present his commendations vnto his Master in remembrance not so much of him that went to die as of his Kins-folkes which remained aliue and to assure him that he held him for a good seruant to the King and profitable and necessary for his seruice and that â—e was sorry he had not followed his Councell Hee knew one that followed the Duke of Mayenne and intreated him to say vnto him that if in his life he had giuen him some cause not to loue him yet he desired him to beleeue that hee died his seruant and the Duke of Esguillons and the Earle of Sommeriues his Children He sends câ—mmendatioâ—s to the â—ount of Auueâ—â—ne Hee charged Baranton to deliuer his last words of loue and affection vnto his Bretheren coÌ„manding them to keepe the faith which bound them vnto the Kings seruice not to apprehend his misâ—ortune nor to come at Coâ—â—t vntill that time had worne out the Sâ—arres of his ignoâ—inious death Hee intreated one of them that had garded him to go tel the Earle of Auuergne that he went to die without griefe but for the losse of his frieâ—dship that if God had giuen him a longer life hee would haue done him more seruice beâ—eeching him to beleeue that he had sayd nothing at his Arraignment that might hurt him if it were not that hee had more want then bad meaning The Count of Auvergne receiued this far well as from a true friend with a feeling worthy of his friendship he intreateâ—
long Hayre by the which hee was hanged King Lewis then did alwayes say That Pride carried Ruine behinde him A Heart which knowes from whence the good comes which it inioyeth is alwayes an enemy to Pride So there is but a moment betwixt Glory and Ruine Great Trees are long in growing but are rooted â—p in an instant And it is true if the Duke of Biron had had a Brayne he had not lost his Head and had not brought it into the handes of his Princes Iustice whom hee had so much offended The Marshall Bâ—â—ons Virtues This Marshall had goodly parts communicable to fewe his Valour was admirable and happy in all his incounters of an inuincible Courage infatigable and neuer tired with any toyle continuing ordinâ—rily fifteeene dayes together on Horse-backe He was not inclined to Volâ—ptuousnesâ—e nor much to the loue of Women sober ynough the which began to quench that furious humour as Intemperancy greatnesse increased or that Rest did moderate his boyling passions He was extremely Vaine-glorious His Vanity Glory yea sometimes he would refuse his meate and content himselfe with little to feede his Fantasie with Glory and Vanity He was of a meane stature Blacke reasonable grosse hollow eyd and rough in speech and conuersation He was aduenturous in War Ambitious beyond all measure The excesse of his Ambition made him to braue it without iudgement He became so presumptuous as he thought that the King nor France could not subsist without him He was become ill-tounged speaking ill of all the Princes threatning the Parliaments and the Officers of Iust ce some with death and to dispossesse others of their places He was aduanced from the meanest to the highest degrees of Honours of a simple Souldiar hee became a Captaine then a Colonell afterwards Admirall and Marshall and in the ende Lieutenant of the Kings Armies and in his Heart he aspired to be Duke of Burgundy Son in Lawe to the Duke of Sauoy A comparison betwixt Silla and the Duke of Biron and Nephew to the King of Spaine If Sylla were Resolute Cruell and Bloudy he yeelded nothing to all men together If he were Valiant this man exceeded him by ten degrees and all the Romaine Princes together Their Actions and their ends were almost alike but that Sylla died after he had vanquished this before he could vanquish and in the middest of his Course did feele the Vengeance of Gods wrath His Credit and how hee was esteemed Howsoeuer he had wonne the Souldiars hearts to whom hee gaue all liberty he purchased credit with them that had neuer seene him for they that had seene and felt him wished him at the Indâ—es and made Strangers admire his valour the Constable of Castille in the Franche-County the Archduke at Amiens and the Marquis of Waranbon in Artois whom he made to pay forty thousand Crownes for his ransome with many Spaniards which he caused to be hanged sodainly for that they had called him Baron Moreouer the Kings exceeding fauours the prayses wherewith he did publikely honour him his admirable fortune his coÌ„ming to the restoring of the last ruines of the State like to an other Camillus to deliuer the Capitoll had made him not onely famous throughout all Europe fearefull to all the neighbours but necessary for France Behold a man that was happy full of content which held Fortune captiue withall her treasures he coÌ„manded the felicities of this world he had Glory Honour Riches those gifts which Fortune imparts to her darlings He was raised to the top of Fortunes wheele but he fell for he that gouerns the Helme and all her motions could no longer endure his insolency and vanity Sequitur superbos vltor a tergo Deus The causes of his ruine are infinite Shame followeâ— Pride the contempt of piety is the chieâ—e this ground taken away all vices abound and as the seruant said to King Atraeus O Prince follow the infallible way of Piety your Scepter shal be durable for wheras Faith Holines hath no place there is no happines the reason is for that without God we hold all things indifferent the Law folly Iustice frensie and Faith a fantasie we hold the words of vertue vice to be idle wheras the feare trust in God limits our passions insatiable desires so as gouerning our actions by a iust proportion we cannot erre â—e was oftentimes seen to iest at the Masse to laugh at theÌ„ of the Reformed Religion with whoÌ„ he had bin bred vp from his infancy â—or at the age of eight yeares the Lady of Brisambourg his Fathers sister being of the reformed Religion did so affect him for his actiue disposition as she demanded him of his Mother the which she granted froÌ„ that time she made him her onely heire Vntill the age of 16. yeares he was called Charles of Gontault for then he had an elder brother which died since at the Duke of Alançons voyage into Flanders bred vp at Brisambourg nere vnto S. Iean d' Angely where he was nothing giuen to his booke but wholy inclined to Armes for which consideration his Father the Marshall Biron a Martiall Man then a Catholike â—ooke him froÌ„ his Aunt led him for a while with him through the Countries of Xaintonge Aulins Angoulmois where he caused him to be instructed in the Catholike Religion but vpon false principles which he did learne of some Courtiars he did often mocke at all Religion The second cause of his ruine was the alteration of his Fortune After the death of his elder Brother his father caused him to be called Baron of Biron brought him to Court where at the first he had a quarrell with the Lord of Carency son to the Earle of la Vauguion the which was ended by a Combat of three against three Biron Loignac Ienissac of the one side slue Carency Estissac and la Bastie their quarrell grew for the heyer of Caumont which either of theÌ„ affected in mariage yet neither of theÌ„ had her The Duke of EspernoÌ„ got his pardoÌ„ the which was coÌ„firmed through the credit which his father had theÌ„ in Court Some say that being thus in troble he went disguised like a Carrier of Letters He went to a Mathematicien to know his Fortune vnto one la Brosse a great MathematiciaÌ„ whoÌ„ they â—eid to be skilful in casting of Natiuities to whom he shewed his Natiuity drawn by some other And disseÌ„bling it to be his he said it was a Gentlemans whom he serued that he desired to know what end that man should haue La Brosse hauing rectified this figure said vnto him That he was of a good house no elder then you are said he to the Baron asking him if it were his the Baron answered him I wil not tell you But tel me said he what his Life his meanes end shal be This good old man who was then in a little Garret which serued
hauing seuerall charges to plant Petards to two gates whereof the one was towards the Sea and the other to the Land eyther of them being followed by twenty Knights and Souldiars There did two squadrons aduance to support them eyther of them consisting of fifeteene Knights and fiue and twenty Souldiars the one of them was commanded by the Seigneur of Harleâ— Sonne to the Lord of Saint Luc deceased great Master of the Artillery of France In the meane time the Knights who had the charge to plant the Ladders were dilligent so as both the one and the other contemning the infinite number of shot which came fâ—om the Towne in the which there were 800. fighting men to defend the walles in a short time the gatâ—s were forced and layed open with the Petards Then came they to handâ—e blowes with the enemies as they did in like sort that were appointed for the Scaladoe who recouered the Walles notwithstanding any resistance the Turkes could make but the Christians increasing both in number and courrage forced them to abandon the Courtine and to retire into the streetes and houses then the bodie of the Christians aduanced which entring slewe many Turkes who seeing themselues still forced got vp to the toppe of their houses from whence they did much annoy the Christians with Arrowes Dartes and Stones desiring rather to be slaine then to yeeld themselues Captiues so as after foure houres fight the Christians were Masters of all the Towne During this time some Turkes and Moores had fortefied themselues in the Sangiacs house whether the Seigneur of Harleu came with his troupe hee entring the first into the house the which by his and their valour was soone forced but neglecting to put on a Cuirasse hee was vnhappely thrust through the bodie with a Lance and died six houres after being much lamented of the Christians His body was buried at Malta with a funerall Pompe worthy of his name reputation The Christians hauing no knowledge of a false Port there were aboue 2000. perâ—ons that escaped The Seigneor oâ— Harlâ—â— S. Luâ—â— sonne slaine at Maâ—omâ—â—te so as there remained but 396. prisoners The Towne was sackt and not being able to keepe it for many wants especially of victuells they fired it and made an honorable retreate to their Gallies in the vewe of a great number of horse and foote that were come to succor the Towne returning to Malta the sixteenth of August The great Master went presently with al his Knights to the chiefe Church praising and thanking God for so notable an assistance in so dangerous an enterprise hauing lost but foure Knights and fiue and twenty souldiars and about fourescore and ten hurt and of the Mahometains there were aboue three hâ—ndred slaine vpon the place But let vs returne into France and obserue the tragicall History of two famous Murthers which happened this yeare by reason of Adultery the one in Burgundy Murâ—hers happened this yeare for Adultery the other at Paris The first of a Gentlewoman which caused her Husband to bee slaine and his Nephew by her Ruffians and the last oâ— a Gentleman which slew his Wife and her Adulterer finding them in bed together In the Iurisdiction of the Towne of Langres in a Village called Aprez Claude Berenger Lord of Pont and Guillemette of Metz his Wiâ—e made their residence hauing also a Nephewe of the sayd Berengers with them named also de Pont. This Woman being suborned by a Chanons Bastard of Langres named Chauvitey Nicholas Iourneè and Iohn Pernet called the youth to satisfie their fleshly lust without suspiâ—ion and at more liberty they resolued with her and a Maide of hers to make away her Husband and his Nephewe This plot being layd they found an easie meanes for the execution These three Adulterers seeing the Gentleman gone to Langres goe a hunting with his Nephewe whom they slewe in the thicke of a Woode and thrâ—we him into a deepe hollowe place betwixt two high rockes out of the which he could neuer be drawne These Murtherers seeing themselues ridde of this poore young man reported vnto the Gentlewoman what they had done concluding with her to cut her Husbands throat at his returne from Langres the which they put in practise the same night that hee returned for this poore Gentleman hauing receiued a kisse of this daughter of Iudas being very weary went to bed and slept the which shee knew and presently brought these Murtherers into his chamber who comming easily to this poore yong mans bed beeing a sleepe they cut his throate and burye him abroad among the Rockes After this Murther they giue it out that the Lord of Pont was slaine in his voyage to Langres His Wife puts on a Mourning weede and makes a counterfeit shewe of heauinesse but God suffers not such offences to be vnreuealed a poore man found out the hole where they had buried him and gaue notice thereof vnto the Iustice who went to the place and caused the Gentlewoman to be brought thither who at the first seemed not to know him but seeing that he was knowne by euery one and vanquished by apparent signes which they shewed her in the ende shee knewe him But the Officers did not proceede against her with that dexterity that Lugoly did to the wife of Claude Anthoine a Marchant of Wines at Paris who had also caused her Husband Anthoine to bee sâ—aine comming from a house of his by Souldiars whom one named Iumâ—au her Adulterer had suborned for the Wife of the saide Anthony was hanged and Iumeau broken aliue at the place Maubert but this Gentlewoman du Pont seeing the Iustice to proceede against her by Informations and that they ment to apprehend her she made an escape with all her Complices and her Seruant and could neuer after be taken yet through their contempt their processe was made and all of them were hanged in Picture The other accident happened at Paris One Scipio at Paris slew his Wiâ—e her Adulterer together of a Gentleman which slewe his Wife and her Adulterer lying together in this manner This Gentleman called Seigneur Scipio beeing aduertised that his Wife a fayre young Gentlewoman did abandon her selfe to lust and defiled his bed with a yong man he admonished his Wife and said vnto her That he did willingly pardon what was past but if she returned any more to her sinne he would kill her with her Ruffian if he found them together The Gentlewoman skornes this aduice and to an other giuen her by a Wise and Vertuous Gentlewoman That if shee did not carry her selfe more discreetly without doubt her Husband would do her a shrewde turne She answered her That her Husband was too very a Foole to attempt it Seigneur Scipio aduertised of the Impudency lewd behauiour of his Wife takes his horse makes a show to go into the Country his wife goes to the Sermon at S. Germain l Auxerrois Scipio returnes and shuts himselfe into his Closet
of the Gantois fed by Lewis his policie fol. 274.275 The Gantois ouerthrowne and Adolfe Duke of Guelders slaine fol. 276 Maximillian and Marie maried fol. 277 The politique liberalitie of Lewis fol. 278 The disposition of Edward King of England fol. 279. Is fed by Lewis his dilatorie hopes ibid. He neglects Marie of Burgogne ibid. Affects greatly the alliance with France ibid. A trecherous attempt at Florence against the house of Medicis fol. 280 The mutinie appeased and the murtherer hanged ibid. The battell of Guingaste where many were slain and the French left the field fol. 281 Lâ—wis seeking to reforme his Realme is hindered by infirmities yet is iealous of his authority eueÌ„ in sicknesse ibid. The death of Mary of Burgogne pleasing to Lewis fol. 282. Edward the fourth King of England dies fol. 283 Râ—â—hard murthers his two nephewes vsurpes the Crowne ibid. Lewis his disposition in his declining age fol. 284 His inuentions to make beleeue he liued still fol. 285. His death and disposition â—â—l 286 The Estate of the Church vnder Lewis â—â—l 286.287 The Estate of the Empire fol. 288.289 The Turkes ouerthrowne twice in Asia winne the third battell fol. 290 Scanderbeg his death and vertues ibid. Charles the 8. the 56. King of France A Breefe rehersall of his raigne fol. 291 His disposition and education fol. 292 Contention betweene the Duke of Orleans and the Earle of Beau-ieu for the Regency ibid. Landais gouerns the Duke of Brittaine insolentlie ibid. King Charles his coronation fol. 293 The Duke of Orleans being put from the RegeÌ„cy discontented leaues the Court. fo â—94 The Duke of Brittaine being troubled is forced to deliuer Landais who is hanged fo 295 Charles seekes to diuide the Brittons from their Duke and makes a secret treaty with the Nobility fol. 296 The Brittons reconciled to their Duke and Rieux reuoults from the French fol. 298 Ancenis Casteaubriant Vennes taken for the Brittons fol. 299 Diuision in the Brittish Army fol. 300 The Battle of St. Albin where the Duke of Orleans and the Earle of Dunois are takeÌ„ prisoners fol. 301 Diuers Townes in Brittany yeelded to the FreÌ„ch fol. 302 The Duke of Brittane after a peace made with the King dyes fol. 303 The pittifull estate of Brittaine fol 304 Anne of Brittaine succored by the English and Spanish foo 305 The Marshall of Riux and the English beseedge Brest and Conquett fol. 306 Maximillian made Arbitrator betweene king Charles and Anne of Brittaine fol. 307 Nantes and Guingam taken by the French fol. 308 A finall peace in Brittaine by Charles his mariage with Anne fol. 309 The practises of the English vpon Brittaine ibid. Arras betrayed to Maximillian fol. 310 Motiues for the voyage of Naples with the waÌ„ts for the voyage â—oâ— 31â— Lodowick Sâ—orza vsurps Milan and surpriseth the Castle fol. 312 The estate of Italy in 1490. fol. 31â— The peace of Italy ruined by Peter of Medicis â—ol 314 A league betweene the Pope the Venetians and the Duke of Milan fâ—l 3â—5 Charles his right to Naples and Scicilia ibid. He could not be diswaded by his counsell from the enterprise of Italy fol. 316 His voyage to Naples vndertaken without money fol. 31â— Lodowicks perswations to Charles with the death of Iohn Galeat Duke of Milan fâ—l 318 The â—lorentines and Peter de Medicis offer king Charles their citty withall other his demaunds â—ol 319 Peter de Medicis and his bretheren expelled â—lâ—rence fol. 32â— King Charles enters Florence ibid. The Pope perplexed hauing many enimies sends to the King fol. â—â—â— The walles of Rome and of the Castle St. Angelo fall alone at the kings entrance â—ol 322 Alphonso frighted with horrible visions for his cruelties crownes his Sonne and â—lyes fol. 323 Vpon the first entry of the French into the kingdome of Naples Capna Auerse Nola Naples yeelds fol. 324 Zemin being thrice ouerthrowne by Baiaâ—et â—lyes and is poysoned by Pope Alexander fol. 326 The Venetians discouer to the Turke an enterprise vpon Scrutaâ—y fol. 327 A league concluded against the French fol. 328 King Charles takes order for Naples and goes towards Rome and the Pope â—lyeâ— fol. 3â—9 Sauanoccllas predictions fol. 330 Milan and the whole Dutchy ready to reuolt against Lodowickâ— fol. 331 A foule reuenge by the Suisses repaired by a notable peece of seruice fol. 332 The Battle of Fornone where the King is in great danger fol. 3â—3 The Army of the league ouerthrowne fol. 334 Ferdinand defeated by Aubigny enters Naples and the most part of the kingdome reuolts from the French fol. 336 Caiette sackt by the French ibid. The Marquesse of Pescara slayne fol. â—37 The newe Castle at Naples compounds with Ferdinand ibid. Twentie thousand Suisses at Verceil for the king fol. 339 The Suisses practise to seize vpon the King ibid. The Venetians propositions to the King fol. 340 The beginning of the Poxe ibid. The treachery and couetousnesse of Entraques fol. 341 A newe French fleete in the kingdome of Naples fol. 343 Ferdinands lansquenets defeated by the French fol. 343 A truce betwixt the kings of France and Castile ibid. Charles greatly affects the enterprise of Italie but is disswaded by the Cardinall of S. Malo fol. 344 The last act of this tragedy and the French defeated fol. 345 A dishonorable coÌ„position made by the French fol. 346 The Earle of Mountpensier dies with most of his troupes ibid. King Ferdinand dies fol. 347 The Duke of Orleans refuseth to make warre against the Duke of Millan in his owne name ibid. The Duke of Millan perplexed is succoured by the Venetians fol. 348 Reasons to draw the King into Italie fol. 349 The castle of Amboyse built by Charles ibid. His death and disposition fol. 350 Lewis the 12 the 57. king of France THe happines of his raigne fol. 351 The genealogie of Lewis the 12. fol. 352 Lewis his title to the Dutchie of Millan ibid. The Pope capitulates with the King fol. 354 The Venetians and Florentines congratulate his comming to the crowne ibid. Borgia comes to court and commits a treacherous murther ibid. King Lewis associats with the Venetians fol. 355 Millan mutines against Lodowicke and hee flies shamefully fol. 356 Millan beeing yielded Lewis makes his entrie fol. 357 Vitelli besiegeth Pisa is taken and beheaded at Florence ibid. Our Ladies Bridge at Paris falls fol. 358 The estate of the East ibid. Millan and the Suisses reuolt and Sforza recouers it againe fol. 359 Lâ—dowicke Sâ—orza taken fol. 360 Millan pardoned by the King fol. 361 The potentates of Italy reconciled to the King fol. 362 The exploits of Câ—sar Borgia fol. 363 The pittifull death of the Lord of Faenza murthered by Borgia fol. 364 The warres of Naples reuiued fol. 365 The realme of Naples diuided betwixt the Kings of France and Arragon ibid. Fredericke king of Naples simplicitie fol. 366 The lamentable taking of Capua with the souldiers insolencies fol. 367 The capitulation of Fredericke who of king of Naples is
made Duke of Amou ibid. A treatie betwixt the Emperour and Lewis fol. 368 The beginning of diuision betwixt Lewis and Ferdinand fol. 369 Gonsaâ—ue the great captaines vertues ibid. New broyles in Italie fol. 370 The Duke of Valentinois cruelty ibid. The exploits of the French in the kingdome of Naples fol. 371 The Valentinois fearefull to the potentates of Italie ibid. The Venetians oppose against him fol. 372 The King discontented with the Pope and his sonne fol. 373 A counterfeit peace with the Spaniard but not ratified fol. 374 The Duke of Atri defeated by the Spaniard fol. 375 A generall ouerthrowe of the French and the Duke of Nemours slaine fol. 376 The kings new armie for Naples fol. 377 The estate of the church and the death of Pope Alexander the 6. fol. 378 The Vrsins and Colonnois reconciled bandy against the Valentinois fol. 379 Iulius the 2. chosen Pope ibid. Borgia the Valentinois a prisoner fol. 380 A truce betweene France and Spaine the wars of Naples reuiued ibid. The Marquis of Mantoua general of the French giues ouer his charge of the army fol. 381 The realme of Naples wholly lost by the French fol. 382 Lewis makes peace with the Spaniard and Emperour against the Venetian fol. 383 The death of Fredericke of Naples fol. 384 Lewis seekes by all meanes to crosse the Emperor and his sonne Philip. fol. 385 Bâ—ntiuoll deliuers Bolonia to the Pope fol. 386 The death of Philip Archduke of Austria ibid. The death of Borgia duke of Valentinois ibid. An enteruiewe of the Kings of France and Arragon fol. 387 The Suisses forsake the Emperour and Maximilian is defeated fol. 388 King Lewis goes into Italie fol. 389 The Venetians excommunicated by the Pope and ouerthrowne at Agnadell by the French fol. 390.391 The Venetians begin to recouer their losses take Padua and surprize the Marquis of Mantoa fol. 392 Padua besieged againe by the Emperour fol. 393 The Venetians make warre against the Duke of Ferrara fol. 394 The Suisses forsake the alliaÌ„ce of the FreÌ„ch and ioyne with the pope fol 395 A French armie enters Italie and the pope seekes to expell them fol. 396 397 The Suisses retire and the Venetians make an attempt against Genoa fol. 398.399 Eight conclusions made by the French Church against the pope fol. 400 The siege of Bolonia fol. 401 The death of Charles of Amboyse Lord of Chaumont fol. 402 A Councel begins at Pisa and is transported to Millan fol. 403 Bolonia beseeged by the Spaniards where there happened a miracle fol. 404. Brâ—â—â—e taken by the Venetians and recouered by the French fol 405. The French Army in Italy getts the battaile of Rauenna where 〈◊〉 of Foâ—x is slaine fol. 406.407 Rauenna taken and sackt fol. 408. The French Army disordered they loose Milan fol. 409. Lodowick Sforze restored to the Duchy of Milan fol. 410. Nauar vsurped by the Arragonois fol. 411. A royall Army in the Duchy of Milan and Genoa taken fol. 413. The memorable valour of Robert de la Marke fol. 414. Terouenne and Tournay taken by the English fol. 415. Charles the Emperor affects to be Pope fol. 416. Queene Annâ— of France dies and Lâ—wis marries Mary of England fol. 417. The death of Lewis the 12. and his vertues fol. 418.419 Francis the fiâ—st of that name the â—8 King of France HEE goes with a Royall Army into the Duchie of Milan and takes Genoa fol. 421. His first passage ouer the Alpes fol. 422. The inconstant treachery of the Suisses with the battell of Marignan â—ol 423. Milan yeelds to the French fol. 424. A League against the King broken by the death of Ferdinand fol. 425. Brescia and Verona taken by the French and deliuered to the Venetians fol 426. Francis Maria chased from Vrbin and Laurence of Medicis inuested in the Duchy fol. 427. Franâ—â— the Daulphin borne fol. 428. A peace concluded with the English and Spaniards fol. 429. Charles the 5. elected Emperor 1520. fâ—l 430. The beginning of Lutâ—ers doctrine fol. 431. Troubles in Spaine fâ—l 432. The Pope capitulates with the Emperour fol. 433. The King and the Emperor at open warre Tournay Meziers beseeged and Mouson taken fol 4â—4 4â—5 Mouson recouered Fontarabâ—e taken fâ—l 4â—6 The Emperor retreating dishonourably Hedin and Turney are recouered by the French fol. 4â—7 The Pope declares himselfe against France fol. 4â—9 An ominous signe to the French at Milan Ibid. Errors of the French Army fol 440. Lautrâ—ch odious to his Army fol. 441. Milan taken and sackt iâ—id Pope Leo his death with the altâ—râ—tions afterwards fol. 442 Adâ—ian the 6 created Pope and the war reuiued fol. 443. Milan and Pauia beseeged by the French and Nouarre taken fol. 444. Lâ—utrech forced to fight by the Suisses and is ouerthrowne fâ—l 445. Laude and Cremona taken from the French fol. 446. The Venâ—tians foâ—sake the French Genoa is taken by the Spaniards fol. 447. Fontarabie beeseeged by the Spaniard and â—eleeued by the French ibid. Wars in Picardy Douilans beseeged Teâ—igny slaine fol. 448. The English land in France take Hedin and returne fâ—l 449. Rhodes taken by the Turke ibid. The Castle of Milan yeelded fol. 450. A League betweene the Emperor and the Venetians fol. 451. The Duke of Bourbon reuolts and flies disguised fol. 452.453 The Milannois fâ—aude with the seege of their Towne fol. 454. The Castle of Cremona releeued Baionne beseeged ibid. Fontarabie taken from the French fol. 455. The valour of 〈◊〉 with the taking of Roy and Mont-didier by the English fol. 456. Pope Aâ—riaâ— diâ—s and Pope Clement the 7. chosen in his place ibid. Iohn de Medicis stratagems with the death of Prosâ—er Colonâ—â— fol. 457. The French charged and ouerthrowne by the Imperialls fol. 458. Briares taken by the Milannois and the Admirall defeated fol. 459. Marseilles beseeged by the Imperials froÌ„ whence they retreate in disorder fol. 460. King â—rancis goes into Italy and takes Milan ibiâ— The Esâ—ate of the Imperialls fol. 461. The Pope makes a League with the King who sends an Army into Naples fol. 462. A notable victory gotten by the Marquis of Salusses ibid. The death and worthy exploytes of Pontdormy fol. 463. The Imperiall and French Army approch ibid. Sadde fore-runners of an ouerthrow fol. 464. Battell of Pauia where the French King is taken prisoner fol. 465. The King of England offers all loue to the French King beeing a prisoner fol. 466. The Emperors vnreasonable demands with the Kings resonable offers fol. 467. King Francis carried prisoner into Castile ibid. King Francis released fol. 468. The Marquis of Pescara dies fol. 469. The miserable estate of Milan and Cremona taken by the Confederates fol. 470. Rome surprized and sackt by the Imperialls where the Duke of Bourbon is slaine fol. 471.472 A newe League against the Emperor fol. 473. Genoa Alexandria and Pauia taken by thâ— King and the Pope deliuered fol. 474. The King of England and France proclaime war against the