The Kings intention was that the Riuers should returne vnto the Sea from whence they came and his reason was grounded vpon the Law of the Realme which giues no part of Reuenues of the Crowne in propriety to the Females and portions giuen to the Princes of France passe not to their daughters when as they leaue no sonnes s In old time the Infants of the House of France had their Portions in Soueraignty This was abbrogated in the third race and so ordered as the yonger sonnes could not pretend any thing to the Succession of the King their Father but a prouision for their entertainement the which hauing no Heires Males returned to the Crowne Heereupon there was a Sentence giuen to the benefite of King PHILIP the third for the Earledome of Poitiers and Lands of Auuergne against CHARLES the first King of Sicile brother to Saint LEVVIS in the Parliament of Tousaints 1283. Finally vpon that Maxime That the reuenues of the Crowne are Inalienable and not subiect to prescription For men cannot prescribe any thing against God nor priuate men against the Estate To apply the square vnto the stone and the Hypothesis vnto the Thesis the Kings Deputies did shew that the Dutchy of Bourgondy the Franch-County with the Earledomes of Flanders Artois and Henaut were peeces of the Crowne If their discourse was not in these tearmes it was so in substance The beginnings of the diminution of Flanders as they of all the great Empires of the world haue beene weake vncertaine and fabulous t Estates as all other things in the world haue three times the beginning the decrease and the declining The Countrey was peopled by a Colony of Saxons whom Charlemaigne brought thither gouerned vnder the authority of the Crowne of France by their Lords Forresters u The Gouernors and Guardiâ—ns of Flanders saith M r. du 〈◊〉 before Baldwin surnamed Iron-Arme were Officers mutable at the will of the Kings of FraÌ„ce although that some sonnes haue succeeded in their fathers Offices for that that they were heires of their vertues were called Forresters not that their charge was onely vpon the land being fall of Forrest for coles but the guard of the sea was also commutted to them The Estate began by Baldwin suruamed Iron-arme and continued in his posterity but as it ended by Maud daughter to Baldwin the fifth Flanders past vnder the commands of the Dukes of Normandy then of Thierry Earle of Alsatia who married Sibilla daughter to Foulques of Anjou King of Ierusalem and had but one daughter who was heire to the Earledome of Flanders and married to Baldwin the fourth of that name Earle of Henaut of this marriage came Baldwin Earle of Flanders the eighth of that name who was Emperour of Constantinople who died at Andrinopile who left but two daughters Ioane who died without children and Margaret Countesse of Flanders x Margaret Countesse of Flanders who raigned thirty yeares had two husbands the first was Bourcher an Englishman by who she had one sonne which dyed yong and William of Dampierre second sonne to Archambauld Lord of Bourbon Father to Guy Earle of Flanders Father to Robert of Bethunes who married William of Bourbon Guy Earle of FlaÌ„ders sonne to Archambâ—uld Lord of Bourboun He was father to three sonnes William who died without children Guy Earle of Flanders and Iohn Lord of Dampierre Guy Earle of Flanders married Maud daughter and heire to Robert others named him Fegard of Bethunes Robert of Bethunes by whom hee had fiue sonnes and three daughters Robert of Bethunes his sonne who hath deserued the surname of Great as well for the greatnesse of his vertue as his fortune succeeded him Charles of Anjou King of Sicile brother to Saint Lewis gaue meanes to acknowledge his valour more gloriously hauing set two Crownes vpon his head by the Victory of the battell of Benevent y Battle of Benevent the 10 of February 1565. where as Manfroy bastard to Conrade whom he had poysoned was slaine whereas the Parricide Manfroy ended his tyranny honour and life Hee had enioyed them longer and more happily if hee had followed the councell of this Prince z Robert of Bethunes Earle of Flanders did not allow of the death of Conradyne The History which detests it reserues him this honour Vtrique nouâ— ac regio nomine indigno crudelitatis in or be Christiano exemple fecuri vitam eripit frustra Flandriae Comite monente generosum victorem decêre moderationem clementiam Sed vicit vox cruenta vita Conradini mors Caroli mors Conradini vita Caroli Hee tooke away both their I was by an example of cruelty which was new in the Christian world and vnworthy the name of a King the Earle of Flanders â—â—lling him in vaine that moderation and clemency did become a generous victor but that cruell voyce preuaâ—â—d The life of Conradine is the death of Charles and the death of Conradine is the life of Charles who found the death of Conradine and Frederick of Austria Prisoners taken in the warre barbarous and inhumane Of this Marriage Charles was borne who dyed yong a Charles of Bethunes son to Robert Earle of Bethunes dyed at a eleuen yeares of age They write that he brought from his mothers wombe the figure of a Crosse betwixt his shoulders and Lewis who was father to Lewis the second Lewis the second of Bethunes Earle of Flandes Hee married Margaret of France daughter to Phillip the Long who treating of the conditions of this Marriage would that Robert of Bethunes his Grand-father should declare the children that were to be borne of this marriage Earles of Flanders This Lewis of Bethunes surnamed of Cresse for that he dyed at the battell of Cresse Lewis the third of Bethunes left one some called also Lewis and surnamed of Mallaine These so diuers names haue but one Spring Mallaine is Bethunes and Bethunes is Flanders The greatest Families of Europe haue forgotten their first names to continue them of their portions and successions So we see Bourbon for France Austria for Habspourg and in this Genealogy of the Earles of Flanders Dampierre for Bourbon Bethunes for Flanders and without any other distance but from father to sonne Neuers and Mallaine for Bâ—thunes Lewis of Bethunes or of Mallaine married Margaret daughter to the Duke of Brabant and had his onely daughter Margaret who was first married to Phillip Duke of Bourgundy and afterwards to Phillip the Hardy sonne to King Iohn From this truth we must conclude that the Crowne of France had the right of homage and of Soueraignety ouer the Earledome of Flanders before this marriage The like is said of the Townes of Lisle Douay Orchies and Bethunes Consequently Artois cannot bee separated from France no more then the Earledome of France from whence it is come County of Artois for the parties follow the nature of their whole King Lewis the ninth performing the will of
Alencon was condemned for that he would have brought the English into France The cleere sighted said that his misfortune grew rather from Iealausie or from the loue which he â—are vnto the Dauphin who gouerned him by his counsels The Dauphin being wel aduertised of al that passed at Court grieued at the misfortunes of his godfather whom he loued The desire to see a change did much disquiet him Claude of Seyssel Bishop of Marceilles vnder the raigne of Lewis the twelfth saith that the Dauphin and they that followed him desired nothing more then his Fathers death some enquired by Astrologie some by Negromancie He had many politique inuentions to augment his Fathers cares and caused his suspition to turne into feares d Great courage should not easily receiue suspitions and Seneca saith that it is the act of a timerous soule to turne suspition into feare He knew that the Earle of Dammartin was as it were the Kings King and he found meanes to bring him into iealousie with the King whose braine beeing weake and very moist did easily receiue such impressions e In matters of state Princes enter easily into icalousies of their most trusty seruants and suspition is a bone which age of it selfe doth willingly gnaw vpon He wrote a letter vnto a Lady whom the King loued and sent it vnto her by a Franciscane Fryer which hee wittingly deliuered to the Earle of Mayne enemie to Dammartin who shewed it to the King f The chiefe points of this letter reported by the Chronicle Martiâ—ienna are I haue receiued letters from the Earle of Dammartin whom I make shew to hate I pray you tell him that hee serue mee still wel as he hath alwaies done I will thinke of those matters whereof hee did write vnto me and hee shall very shortly receiue newes from me It was full of termes of so great trust in the Earle of Dammartin as the King not considering from whom it came nor by whom it was presented commanded the Earle of Dammartin to retire himselfe then being informed by the Dauphins secretaries that this Prince had no greater enemie that he had not written vnto him he did easily beleeue that it was an act of his bad Sonne who had so much troubled him as it was the ordinary argument of his complaints Some few daies before his death hee recalled him apprehension bred no lesse amazement in him then his life gaue him affliction The aduise which a Captaine gaue him that hee could not liue long K. Charles resolues to dye of hunger and that there was a conspiracie plotted against his life did so distemper and torment him as he could not liue without feare and trembling g There is no tormeÌ„t so much to bee feared as feare what auailes it to feare that which is ineuitable to feare death is to call it for the feare of death is a perpetuall death And imagining that they ment to poyson him he depriued himselfe of eating and brought himselfe to so great a weakenes as when they would haue caused him to take any thing to restore him the passages were so shrunke as that which hee would haue done willingly happened vnto him by force and against his will and it may be said that he died of hunger h The Earle of Dammartin who was retired to his house at S t. Forgeau came to see the King the day before his death perswading him to take something who told him that he would take a Cullis from his hand if he saw it made the which hee presented vnto him but he could not swallow any thing the conduits were so stopt the 21. of Iuly 1461. Dying he recommended to the Earle of Dammartin his yonger Sonne whom he called the little Lord to whom hee desired to leaue the Crowne knowing the spirit of Lewis to be terrible an implacable enemie to his best seruants God would not suffer him to trouble the Order of Nature to reuenge his priuate affections nor to runne the fortune of Alphonso i Alphonso beleeuing by the rules of his Astrologie that the youger of his sonnes would be the more capable to raigne named him his successor whercat the elder was soineensed as be caused the Father to dye in prison and slew his Brother King of Castill who hauing preferred the yonger before the elder forced him to bee a parricide and a fratricide Charles the seuenth was the restorer of France France hath giuen him the title of Victorious of a Towne of Bourges he made a whole Realme he expeld the English who of the whole peece which they held kept nothing but Callice He had the honor to haue pacified that great and deadly schisme against the which were held the Counsels of Constance and Basill A time of such strange and terrible confusion as no man could say that Rome was where the Pope remained as they were wont to say that whereas the Emperor was there was Rome k During the Schisme of three Antipopes they might say Imperiumque suis a sedibus errat Claud. But they could not say that the authoritie of the church was whereas the Pope remained for there was a Scisme as they were wont to say that where the Emperor was there was Rome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Herod lib. 1. for there was a Pope in Spaine one in France and two in Italy He ordeined by the aduise of the Prelates of France and caused to bee confirmed and past at the councell of Basill the pragmaticke sanction l The orders which the councell of Basill made for the gouernment discipline of the Church were not generally receiued Germany and Italy would none of them King Charles caused as assembly to be made at Burges by the aduise whereof they were obserued and published in Parliament the seuenth of Iuly 1438 vnder the name of the Pragmatick Sanction With the like zeale as he laboured for the peace of the Church he desired to reuenge the iniurie which it had receiued in Asia and Europe by the armes of Amurath Mahomet Pope Nicholas and Pius the second exhorted this Prince as Elezeus did Ioas to shoote his arrowes against the East but he was so troubled for his iust defence against his neighbours as he had no meanes to think theron m Among the obseruations which they giue for the leuies of Souldiers they haue respect to the ayre and the place hot countries produce men of more vnderstanding then courage and could doe the contrary A good rule for them that haue diuers prouinces to choose but to make it generall they must take them where they finde them They also giue vnto this Prince the honor to haue set an order for his troupes for seeing that the number of his souldiers were so diminished as his could not equall those of his enemies hee made leuies throughout all his villages taking one labouring man out of threescore who were bound to arme and pay him and
his owne conscience and tried that villanies are more easily committed then excused q It is a trouble to colour and disguise a villany An ancient Lawyer being importuned by a Tyrant to excuse a parricide which he had committed in killing his owne Brother answered That it was much more difficult to excuse an offence then to commit it hee imbraced the Dukes knees demaunded pardon of him and promised to marrie this woman to repaire the wrong iniurie which he had done her She craues reuenge for the death of her Husband and not the loue or alliance of him that had slaine him those that were present aduised her to accept of the offer seeing the mischeefe was done and Iustice might well reuenge but not repaire the wrong She being forced to fly to forgetfulnesse the Goddesse of the vnfortunate resolued to giue her selfe vnto him who had depriued her both of honour and husband and to binde him vnto her for his life which he could not saue but by her means The promises were written concluded and sworne whereunto the Duke added this Article that the husband and dying first without Children all his goods should remaine to his Wife This concluded their hearts did sacrifice to the concord of marriage and they promised to liue louingly together It seemed there was nothing else to be done nor that so cleare a heauen as was that day should haue any lightning or thunder The Duke turning towards the woman demaunded if she were content I am my Lord answered she by your bountie and Iustice. I am not replied the Duke who wayed how much the Commonweale was wronged in this crime that a Prince may well declare but he cannot make an offender innocent that he is bound to do Iustice r A Prince doing Iustice equally wins more glory then if he had giuen limits to the Sea vanquished Monsters ruined hell and supported heauen to giue an accompt of innocent blood there being no triumph equall to that which a Prince raiseth to his glorie in doing Iustice. He commanded the woman to retire caused the Gouernor to be carried to prison giuing charge that he should loose his head in the same place wher he put the womans husband to death A woman depriued at one time of two husbands and that he should bee also put into a Coffin s D. Ferdinand of Gonzaga Lieutenant Generall to the Emperor Charles the 5. in Italy made the like reparation to an Italian Lady Hee caused his head to be cut off that had committed the rape hauing first made him to marrie her to giue her all his goods Which done he sent this woman to the prison who being amazed at this spectacle to see her selfe the widow of two husbands in so short a time was so violently opprest with greefe as within a short space she followed the way which these two men had made her But to end the life and discourse of Charles Duke of Bourgoundy he died at the age of three and fortie He came into the world at Dijon on Saint Martins Eue in the yeare 1433. The verie daie that he was christned he receiued the choller of the golden fleece and withall the name of Charles which Charles Duke of Bourbon gaue him the title of Earle of Charolois and Lord of Bethunes The house of Bethunes entred into that of Flanders long before the house of Flanders entred into that of Bourgundie Baldwyn Earle of Flanders who purchased the Empire of Constantinople by the force of his Armes and the happie assistance of Anthonie and Coesne of Bethunes had two Daughters Ione married first to Ferdinand Prince of Portugall and afterwards to Thomas Prince of Sauoie and dyed without Children Margaret her Sister married William of Dampierre and had three Sonnes and one Daughter Guy William Iohn and Marie Guy married the Daughter of Fegard of Bethune Robert of Bethune succeeded him to Robert Lewis of Neuers to Lewis of Neuers Lewis of Malain Father to Margaret his only Daughter who was married to Phillip Duke of Bourgondy great Grand-father to Charles This house of Bethunes hath like vnto others t The house of Bethunes hath brought forth many great Captaines vnder this name of Robert Robert who defeated Manfroy in Sicily marryed the Daughter of Charls of Aniou Robert who beseeged and forced Roche vandais Looke in the Duke of Sullys Panegyre felt the iniuries of Time and Fortune Of Time which changeth and rechangeth all things which maketh the grasse to grow vpon the tops of Towers and giues bounds to Empires and Monarchies Of Fortune which makes of houses and men as an Auditor doth of Counters and a Melter of Medalles the first doth value them as he pleaseth and the last doth cast the same Image in Leade and Gold It hath remained in a manner ouerthrowne vnder the ruines of this house of Bourgondie there remained nothing but the remembrance of her greatnesse and a mournefull conference of that which she was with that which she had beene but Vertue would neuer suffer Fortune to deface out of the courage of her descendants the magnanimity which was hereditarie vnto them Valour and magnanimity were as naturall marks in their hearts u Many at their birthes haue carryed marks of their extraction the ChildreÌ„ of Seleucus caried an Anchor vpon their thigh they of Pithon of Nâ—sibe had vpon their bodies the impression of an Axe and the childreÌ„ of Semes founder of Thebes had a Lance. as the Anchor the Axe and the Lance to the Children of Seleucus of Pithon and of Semes But as that riuer which hauing runne farre vnder ground riseth vp more proudly and violentlie so this house continues about a hundred yeares vnknowne and farre from fauours and great dignities it shall be like vnto an example of vertue without fortune of fidelity without credit of merit without recompence it shall not bee but to appeare more glorious more powerfull and more happy then euer At the same time Galeas Duke of Milan was murthered Death of Galeas duke of Milan his in-iustice and crueltie had made him odious and insupportable He caused a Priest to be buried quicke with a dead mans bodie the which he would not interre without money An extreame cruelty and an extreame auarice Nothing did so much hasten his ruine as a disgrace which he had done vnto his Schoole-maister hauing caused him to haue as many blowes with a stirrop leather giuen him in his own presence as he had receiued stripes with a rod from him being his Scholler x Princes doe willingly remember the seuerity which hath beene vsed towardes them in their Inâ—ancies Nero put Seneca to death Arsenius fled into the desart for that Arcadius his Disciple had resolued to kil him To reuenge this affront hee disposed there of his Disciples whom he knew to haue beene wronged in their honours by Galeas to kill him Cruelties and whoredomes of the Duke of Milan
Gabardan Of this marriage issued D. Mathea married to Gaston Prince of Bearne who succeeding her father and mother brought vnto the principality of Bearne those goodly peeces of Bigorre Marsan and Gabardan In like manner by the daughter of Gaston Prince of Bearne named Margaret married to Roger Bernard Earle of Foix all that is come vnto the house of Foix. Examples which serue to confirme this generall custome obserued within the Realme That in all Dutchies Counties Vicounties Baronies Lands and Signiories the daughters being neerest in degree haue succeded and beene preferred before the Males So as if King Lewis the eleuenth had liued he would haue decided this controuersie in giuing sentence for the Neece against the Vncle His iudgement had beene grounded first vpon the right of the first borne and representation secondly vpon the conuentions of marriage betwixt Gaston of Foix and the Lady Magdalen of France making expresse mention that the children which should bee borne should succeed in all the lands of Foix and Bigorre then held by Gaston of Foix her father Thirdly vpon the ancient customes and obseruances of the Realme Fourthly vpon the testament and last will of the Earle of Foix. Alphonso of Portugall died also at the same time Death of Alphonso K. of Portugall hee had his share in the miseries of Kings hee entred a childe into the Realme t Such as God giues the prince such must the people receiue him but the wisest of all Kings saith Vnhappy is that Realme which is commaunded by a child Metius Falconius Nicomachus approuing the Election which the Senate had made of Tacitus being old and broken vsed these wordes Dij auertant principes pueros pattes patriae dici impuberes quibus ad subscribendum magistri literatij manus teneant quos ad Consulatus dandos dulcia circuli quaecunque puerilis voluptas invitet Quae malum ratio est habere Imperatorem qui samam curare non nouerit qui quid sit Respub nesciat nutritorem time at respiciat ad nutricem manum magistralium ictibus terrorique subiaceat faciat eos Consules Duces Iudices quorum vitas merita aetates familias et gesta non nouerit God forbid the Princes and Fathers of the Countrey should be tearmed children whose hands their maisters must hold when they subscribe and who are drawne to giue Offices with childish delights What a misery is it to haue an Emperour which knowes not how to maintaine his fame nor what a Common-weale is who feares his Tutor and is subiect to stripes and terror and shall make them Consuls Dukes and Iudges whose liues merites ages families and actions hee doth not know which was ill for himselfe and worse for his subiects His mother Elenor sister to Iohn the second King of Arragon was depriued by the Estates of the Regency which her Father had left her Peter Duke of Coimbra caused her to bee poysoned Alphonso tooke Armes to reuenge his mothers death Peter was slaine before Lisbone with a poysoned Arrow They would haue married Alphonso to Ioane the supposed daughter of Henry the fourth King of Castille this Tragedy hath beene formerly plaid He died at Sinta being nine and forty yeares old in the yeare one thousand foure hundred eighty two and the three and fortith of his reigne and was interred in the Royall Monastery of the Battell of the order of preaching Friers After the warres betwixt him and the King of Castille and the vnfortunate voyage which he made into France hee did nothing but languish He saw himself forst to passe into France for succors Fortune could not set him in a more wretched estate for there is nothing so miserable as to see a Prince expeld his Countrey and begging Pitty is presently changed into contempt and the consideration of that which is honest doth not ouer-sway that which is profitable They may well say that kings are brethren that one royall bloud cals another that their interrests are common that Rome is his mother the Senators his fathers their children his brethren yet if the aid which he demands doth not benefit him that giues it he shall returne more discontented then he came u In great deliberations profite goes before honesty Demetrius sonne to Seleucus hauing beene giuen in hostage and bred vp from his infancy at Rome intreated the Romans to restore him to his Realme which was held by the children of Antiochus and to moue them thereunto hee called Rome his Countrey and Nurse the Senators his fathers and their children his brethren But for all this the Senate inclined to that which was most safe and profitable they assisted the children of Antiochus being weake and yong suspecting much the great courage of Demetrius who was in the flower of his age Polib Thus behold three Kings imbarked almost at one instant in the shippe of Death Death of the Dutchesse of Bourbon onely God knowes the port whereunto they are arriued hee did call at the same time the Lady Iane of France Dutchesse of Bourbon to the end that Lewis should not be grieued to leaue the world The Chronicle calles this Princesse Most noble Powerfull Holy and the example of good liuers She died in the Castle of Moulins in May 1482. She had laboured all her life to entertaine loue and friendship betwixt the King her brother and the Duke of Bourbon her Husband knowing that the concord of France and the greatnesse of her houshold depended thereon and we may ascribe vnto her the glory of the peace which was made at Ryon by the which the principall fire-brands of the great fire of the league were quenched Whereupon all they that loued quyet cast their eyes vpon those of this Princesse and held them the Pleiades of France whose sweete Influences made the Oliue-tree of peace to flourish x Princesses by whose meanes peace doth flourish are the Pleiades of Estates wherein they are allied Pliny saith that the Oliue-tree springs vnder the Influence of the Pleiades Conâ—ipiunt oleae virgiliaruÌ„ exortu haec sydus illaruÌ„ est Polybius saith that among the Grecians the Caduce and among the Barbarians the Oliue is a signe of peace friendship At the same time dyed Iohn of Bourbon the second of that name Earle of Vendosme Here amazement stayes me suddenly why in all the History of King Lewis the eleuenth Philip de Commines hath neuer made any mention of that Nursery of Caesars and of Alexanders and of that Royall branch which hath brought forth the greatest King that euer ware Crowne or Scepter He speakes of foure sonnes of Iohn the second Duke of Bourbon of Charles Cardinall of Bourbon of Peter Lord of Beaujeu of the Bishop of Liege and makes no mention of Iohn the second Earle of Vandosme who liued vnder the reigne of Charles 7 and continued vnto the end of Lewis 11. wee must not wonder if the Chronicle hath forgotten it it doth often follow toyes and leaues
most famous actions As there are iniuries which are repaired by the quality only of them that doe them y The basenesse of him that doth a wrong defaceth the fearing of the iniurie Crates hauing receiued a blow on the face by Nicodromus a Man of base condition was contented for revenge to set these words vpon his wound Nicodromus faciebat so we see writings of so poore a fashion as it is indiffrent whether they be inserted or not But how comes it to passe that so diligent so exact and so iuditious a Writer had neuer cast his eyes vpon this house which had held all them of France in admiration and had not spoken of the actions of Iohn the second Earle of Vendosme which were no workes of ambition but of vertue and had not glory for their simple obiect but the contentment of his owne conscience desiring rather they should be grauen in the memory of good men then vpon the front of publicke workes An Historian that doth surpasse honour wrongs the publicke and as a sacriledge doth rauish the recompence of vertue z The sweetest fruit of a great and heroicke action is to haue done it they are deceiued which thinke to giue any other glory vnto vertue then it selfe She cannot finde out of her selfe any recompence worthy of her selfe and doth enuy the fruit that may grow thereby For although that men may be borne generous and full of heate for the loue of vertue yet it is needfull that the precepts and Images be often represented vnto them and that the statues which 〈◊〉 set vp in the Temple of memory grauen with the sciffers of eternity should bee shewed them yet it is not sufficient to shew them adorned with the Palmes and Crownes of their Triumphes they would haue them represented in such sort as they may seeme to breath speake and say vnto them a Mens mindes are excited to the loue of vertue by the examples of glory honor which adornes the memory of men whom she hath made famous werefore Polybius saith that they did represent to the youth of Rome their Images as liuing breathing to encourage them to that desire of honour which doth accompany good men Poly. lib. 6. You shall be as we are if you will liue as we did This labour may haue great defects they are found in the most perfect A History should be free from loue or hatred but they shall rather seeme to come from want of Iudgement then of will the which I finde free in this kinde of writing from hatred and loue furious passions which disguise both truth and false-hood They shall rather reproch me with ignorance then with lying and my writings shall alwayes haue more salt then spleene with what face shall they appeare in this age so much bound vnto the Kings glorious actions if they were dishonored as the rest with so iniurious a forgetfulnesse of his Predecessors Iohn Earle of Vendosme great great Grand-father to Henry the fourth King of France and Nauarre was sonne to Lewis Lord Steward of France and Gouernour of Picardy sonne to Lewis Earle of vendosme sonne to Iohn Earle of Marche sonne to Iames Constable of France the yonger sonne of Lewis of Clermont Duke of Bourbon eldest sonne to Robert of France second sonne to S. Lewis His Grand-mother was Katherine heire to the house of Vendosme his mother Ioane of Lauall daughter to Guy of Lavall surnamed dé Gaure b The Signiory of Laual was erected to an Earldome by K. Charles the seuenth at the instance of Lewis of Burbon Earle of Vandosme was the first act of Soueraignety which he did after his Coronation His father dyed in the yeare of our Lord 1447. and this death happened in a time so full of troubles as hee was forced to gird his sword vnto him more for the necessity of common defence then by reason of his quality or for seemelinesse Hee past his first Apprentiship in Armes vnder the braue Achilles of France Iohn of Orleans Earle of Dunois and was at the siege of Rouen Bourdeaux and Fronsac with Iohn Earle of Clermont sonne of Charles Duke of Bourbon and Carles of Bourgondy Duke of Neuers He serued King Charles the seuenth in all occasions that were offered to restore France and to free it from the oppressions of her enemies and did merit the Title of Most faithfull seruant of his Kings will and an inuincible companion of his dangers These two qualities which should haue purchased him loue with his successor Loialty of the Earle of Vandosme were the cause of his disgrace wherein hee did comfort himselfe by the knowledge he had of this Princes humor who did not loue any of his bloud nor them whom his Father had loued This was not able to withdraw him from his duty for hee still preserued the reputation of the ancient fidelity of them of his house vnto the Crowne c This branch of Vandosme hath that of glorious that it hath neuer left their kings in a maner all the Princes of France were of the league of the Common-weale yet Iohn Earle of Vandosme would not hearken to it When as the Duke of Orleans tooke Armes against the Lady Anne of France he drew vnto his party Charles Earle of Angoulesme the chiefe Noblemen of France onely the house of Vendosme remained with the Kings Gouernesse And although that Iohn the second Duke of Bourbon had declared himselfe of the league of the Common-weale for that the King had dispossest him of the gouernment of Guienne from whence he had expelled the English and had reduced it vnder the obedience of the Crowne yet would he not imbark himselfe in the same ship and for that he would not looke vpon this storme from a safe shore he was present at the battell at Montlehery with Francis and Lewis his children one of which was prisoner to the Earle of Charolois As the example of the head of his house did not make him reuolt so the feeling of his owne interest did not make him discontented His father had carried the Staffe of Lord Steward and his great grand-father the sword of Constable of France King Lewis the eleuenth disposed of the one and the other in fauour of men as farre inferiour in comparison of his merites as in qualities of his birth yet he did not murmure nor seeme discōtented considering that it is no more lawful for the greatest Prince of the bloud then for the least Officer of the Crowne to prescribe a law to the Soueraignes will to make it yeeld vnto his passions and that the elections of Kings in the distributions of honors are not subiect to the rules of distributiue Iustice which obserues a proportion betwixt recompence and merit d The King of France holding his Crowne of God only the ancient Law of the Realme distributes honors as he pleaseth It is a great violence to force a a minde full of courage to hate
disposition suspitious h Suspition and facillistie is to beleeue all things Suspitionum credendi temeritas Taâ— ruins friendships and the most firmest affections and boyling made them of Croüi to feele the indignation which hee durst not euaporate against Lewis who fauoured them It burst forth at such time as they setled the estate of the Earle of Charrolois house The Duke would haue Philip de Croui Sonne to Iohn de Croui set downe for the third Chamberlaine in the absence of the Lord of Auchy the first and of the Lord of Formelles the second Chamberlaine The Earle of Charrolois entred Anthony Raulyn Lord of Eimeries The house was diuided some followed the Fathers will and others the Sonnes i A controuer sie between two priuate Noblemen is able to diujde the opinione of a whole Court That which was betwixt Chimay of Emeries who should haue the first place in the absence of the L. of Auchy first Chamberlaine to the Duke was so affected as the father was for the one the son for the other The Duke seeing the danger which might grow by this adoration of the sunne rising made it knowne that he was both master and father commanding his Sonne to bring him the Rowle and in his presence cast it into the fire and then willed him to goe forth Monstrelet saith that the Duke commanded the Earle of Charolois to cause Croui to martch in his ranke I will not answered the Earle they of Croui shall neuer gouerne as they haue done and that the Father being offended at an answer so bold and of so little respect he would haue fallen vpon his Sonne but not able to get him he commanded him to auoid the country The Sonne departs full of murmuring and despite the Father comming to himselfe and seeing that his Sonne returned not Displeasure of the Duke of Bourgundy to his Sonne goes to horseback all alone sad and pensiue in a raynie night rides through the country to let the Dauphin know the griefe hee had and his Son the choller wherin disobedience had drawen him k Whatsoeuer the Sonne doth yet must the Father alwaies show himselfe a Father matters are very foule strange when as hee is forced to forget the dutie of a Father He lost himselfe in a wood and lay all night in a Collyars cabbin with hunger in his belly and choller in his head He came the next day to Seuenbergh a little towne of Brabant whereas he found one of his huntsmen who conducted him to Guinneppe where as the Dauphin the cause of all this trouble besought him to pardon the Earle of Charrolois The Duke would haue held the refusall of so iust a request cruell being made by and for a person so neere vnto him l As it is vnpleasing to intreat a stranger so is it a very sensible discipleasure to bee refused of his owne for he could not but loue his onely Sonne in despight of his youthfull wayward affections He required no other satisfaction but that hee should dismisse two seruants William Bithe and Guiot of Vsie who retired themselues into France Soone after the Earle of Charrolois bred another subiect of choller in his fathers hart Wandring of the Dauphin being a hunting he was come from hunting without the Dauphin and had suffered him to wander in a wood thinking that hee had been before When the Duke saw him returne alone he blamed him sharpely and commanded him to goe presently to horsebacke to seeke the Dauphin They sought him long by torch-light and found him on the way to Bruzells conducted by a Pesant m The Dauphins wandring was in the night abeue eight leagues from Brussels The Duke caused him to bee sought for with torches the next day hee gaue a crowne to the Pesant which had conducted him The Duke was exceeding glad to see him returne for he knew that he should be alwaies bound to yeeld an account of so precious agage and that he might be assured whilest he held him he might haue what he desired from the King Birth of Mary of Bourgundy the 13. of Feb. 1457 God sent the Earle of Charolois a Daughter for the first fruits of his marriage the Duke intreated the Dauphin to christen her Mary This birth did moderare the grief which the Lady Isabel of Bourbon her Mother had conceiued six monthes before for the death of her Father Charles Duke of Bourbon n Charles the first Duke of Bourbon dyed in the end of the yeere 1455. he was Sonne to Iohn the first Duke of Bourbon and of Boâ—na of Bourgundy daughter to Philip the hardy Hee married Agnes of Bourgundy Daughter to Iohn Duke of Bourgundy and had fiue sonnes and fiue daughter His sonnes were Iohn the second Duke of Bourbon Lewis who died yong Peter Lord of Beauien Charles Cardinall of Bourbon Archbishop of Lyon and Lewis Bishop of Liege The Daughters were 〈◊〉 Princesse of Orange Catherine Dutchesse of Gueldres Margaret Countesse of Bresse and Dutchesse of Sauoy Isabel wife to Charles Duke of Bourgondy and Mary married first to the Duke of Calabria and afterwards to Gaston de Foix. The King was offended for that hee did not yeeld him his Sonne and desired some occasion to let him know his discontent the which hee did not dissemble when as the Duke sought to punish the Gantois for a rebellion commanding him to suffer them to liue in peace as being vnder his protection The Dauphin thought the time of his returne into France long and had sworne that he would not make that voyage vntill his Father were past vnto another world 1459. The first yeare of his abode there Charlotte of Sauoy Daughter to the Duke of Sauoy was brought to Namur to consumate the marriage which had beene concluded fiue yeares before o One of the goodliest parts of ciuill society is marrage the first gate to enter into it is loue there is none to go out of it but that of death And for that in the marriages of Princes they regard more the interest of subiect estates then their own content It happens that their loues are not so pure and free A marriage which being made vnwillingly was continued without loue When the Duke of Bourgundy gaue the Dauphin his pension of 12000. Birth of the Dauphins sonne at Gnenneppe in Iune 1459. Crownes Oliuer de la March writes that it was vpon condition that he should marry her which shewes that he had no great desire She was deliuered of a sonne who was named Ioachim the Duke of Bourgondy was so glad of this newes as he gaue a thousand Lyons of gold to Ioselin du Bois which brought it He was the Godfather and the Countesse of Charrolois the Godmother The Insant dyed presently after and left the father very sorrowfull who being not then in those distrusts which age brings desired to see him great knowing well that the Children which were
declaration of King of Gaule-Belgicke He came thither about S t Michell in the yeare 1473. the Emperor went to meet him D. of Bourgundy goes to the Emperour to 〈◊〉 conducted him into the Towne and offred him his lodging The Duke was contented to returne and lodge in a Monasterie without the Towne To haue that which he pretended he offred vnto the Emperor the marriage of his Daughter with the Arch-duke Maximilian his sonne who succeeded him in the Empire It was an Act of wisedome in the Duke z A Prince should alwaies prouide that his successor be not vncertaine Ne successor inâ—erto â—it This certaintie preuents practises and partialities to prouide for the succession of his Estates seeing that he had but one daughter but it was vanitie to buy the Title of a King so deerely The crowne the Scepter and other royall ornaments were made there was no let but in the Emperor why the Duke did not vse them but hauing demanded vnpleasing conditions their enteruiew brake off and neither Royaltie nor marriage succeeded The Emperor not to delay him and abuse him refused him the Crowne sodainely a Although they hold sodaine refusals to be the best and that he which denies speedily abuseth least yet when he that is refused mightie and may be reuenged they must win time wherewith all things are accommodated departed secretly from Treues and imbarked vpon the Rhin without giuing him any answere The Emperor mockes at the dukes demand not thinking himselfe bound to bid him farewell that was come without his priuitie The Duke was left alone with his mouth open to the ayre of his hopes swearing by S. George that Frederic should repent it and that he would haue by force that which he refused him vpon his intreatie and merit They continued a month together the publike discourses were of the meanes to make warre against the Turke the priuate past about this Royaltie Thus they parted both as much discontented as they seemed pleased at their meeting b Cranzius who writes this enterview hath these wordes Tandem minori alacritate digresti quam congressi sunt visi In the end they parted with lesser ioy then they came to gether The Duke of Bourgondy visited the Lands that were ingaged vnto him The Duke passeth by the County of Ferette where his soldiers intreated the poore Peasants so cruelly as from that time euery man studied how to returne to his first maister c The Duke was no sooner gone out of Brisac but the soldiers spoiled the towne coÌ„mitting a thousand insolencies and buâ—nt the Augustins Monastery Colmar refused to open her gates He past his Christmas at Brisac and there ended the yeare 1473. In the beginning of the next he returned to Montbelliard from thence to Besançon and then to Dijon The ministers of both Princes foreseeing that whilst the Constable liued Peace would be vncertaine 1474. and that one and the selfe same Sunne would see it spring vp and dye they make religious remonstrances and full of Conscience vnto their maisters and dispose them to a good reconciliation for the which by their consents there was a conference appointed at Bouuines Assembly at Bouines d This Conserence of Deputies for the K. and Duke of Bourgondy at Bouines in the yeare 1474. was sought by Imbercourt to reuenge the iniury which the Constable had done him at Roy. neere vnto Namur The King sent the Lord of Curton Gouernour of Limosin and Iohn Heberge Bishop of Eureux For the Duke of Bourgondy came William Hugonet his Chancellour and the Lord of Imbercourt The first proposition was to make away the Constable who was much aflicted for the Duke of Guiennes death it was the swarme which gaue him both hony and waxe e A great authority caÌ„not maintaine it selfe in a season when it is not respected that of the Constable could not continue but in warre warre was his element it entertained his Estats made him to bee respected both of the King and the D. of Bourgondy They held him to be a spirit of discord from whence came all Inuentions to make peace of no continuance and warre euerlasting Resolution taken to do iustice of the Constable and to maintaine his authority in Confusion They said that he was like vnto the bay tree in the hauen of Amicus which they called mad for that one branch of it being put into a ship all that were in it fell to iarres and deuision wherevppon they resolued that who so could first seaze on him should put him to death within eight dayes after his taking or deliuer him to the other party to dispose of him at his pleasure The best resolutions vanish away as soone as they are discouered The Constable had an inkling of this proposition f Great affairs should be managed with secrecy iudgement The resolution taken at 〈◊〉 against the Constable was not secret he was aduertised and by this meanes anoided the storme which threatâ—ed him but this was but to deferre an ineuitable mischefe and assembled all the trickes and deuises of his braine to breake off this assembly he aduertised the King how the Duke had sought him The Conble creepes into the Kings fauor to draw him to his party and of his great attempts to shake his loyalty and with what constancy and generosity hee had reiected his offers hauing no desire to affect any greatnes more assured nor any assurance more happy then the seruice of his King without the which there is not any thing in the world that deserued his loue or remembrance beseeching him Not to beleeue the passions g It is necessary to haue a sound and perfect Iudgment to discerne with what intention aduertisments are giuen which concerne the loyalty of a man of credit for oftentimes they are the practises of Enemies to make them frustrate When a Prince is iealous of his good seruants he remaines at the discretion of others Zenon vsed this policy against Phalaris of the Deputies of Bounines who set his head to sale to make a cruell sacrifice thereof to the Duke of Boâ—rgondies reâ—enge and to satisfie his discontent for that he could not draw him aliue vnto his seruice nor perswade him to so base a treason against his Prince The King beleeued him the more easily for that he knew well that the Deputies of Bouines were the Constables enemies in particular and desired to find their reuenge in his disgrace with the two Princes The priuate h A man that hath power authority and aspirces to more cannot indure to bee â—rost or contradicted Crastus being in an assembly which was held â—or the diuiding of the gouernmeÌ„ts of Prouinces seeing himselfe gainsayed by another bee flrooke him on the face with his first sent him away all bloudy Plut. hatred grew for that the Constable in an assembly held at Roy had giuen the lye vnto the Lord of
Peter Lord of Beaujeu Lewis Bishop of Liege and Iames who dyed at Bruges and to the Lady Ioane of Bourbon married to the Lord of Arlay Prince of Orange and Margaret of Bourbon wife to Phillip Earle of Bresse and from that time resigned his aboade at Court vnto his brethren After the Duke of Bourgundies death hee would not bee an actor in the warre which the King beganne against his daughter and with a discourse free from all flattery a vice vnworthy of a great courage q A great courage speakes frâ—ely but without btterner or slander Fattery is the marke of seruitude and slaunder deth falsely vsâ—rpe that of liberty Adulationiâ—oedum crimen seruitutis malignitati falsa specieâ— libertatis in est Tacit. Hist. Lib. 1. hee did not dissemble his opinion saying that the King should haue giuen it a better and a more reasonable Title then a simple desire to ioyne the Low Countries to his Crowne this so free and true a iudgement did much offend the King who from that time resolued to let the Duke of Bourbon know that this last offence had renewed the feeling of the first He caused secret informations to be made against him yet doubting his courage reputation he would not haue the rigor of his iustice aime directly at him Hee beganne with his Officers and gaue commission to Iohn Auin Councellour in the Court of Parliament and to Iohn Doyac to enforme against him thinking that to free themselues from trouble they should bee forced to engage their Lord r Claude of Seyssiell saith that King Lewis the eleuenth sent vnto â—he Duke of Bourbon some of his ministers men of base condition to doe him some intollerable wrongs vnder colour of Iustice thinking for the great spirit which hee knew to be in him to prouoke him to offer some violence or to make resistance but the Duke knowing to what end all was done endured it with patience and escaped by sufferance dissembling they decreed a personall adiournement against his Chancellour his Atturny the Captaine of his Guard and many others who appeared with more confidence to defend themselues then slander had assurance to accuse them vpon their answere the Commissioners knew not what to say and the Court of Parliamen which knew well that it was a practise to trouble the Duke of Bourbon whose probity and integrity two rare qualities in that age had purchased him the surname of Good and the affections of all the people enlarged them The Chronicle saith that this proceeding was against God and Reason It was a very sencible griefe vnto him to see his loyalty called in question and his seruices contemned But hee considered all these occurrents with an open eye and a resolute brow with the a â—uantages which a good conscience gaue him and did iudge thereof with a setled spirit lamenting the bad counsell which entertained the King in his great rigours in an age which was not fit for it s Seuertty is not good in a Prince whose age is declining It is needefull to purchase loue Galba knew it well Some other would not haue forborne teares for so peircing a griefe he would haue lost his sleepe and his body should haue found no other rest but that which disquietnesse brings by the agition of the mind but afflictions which assaile good men do them no other harme but burne the bonds which hinder them to lift their hands with their hearts vp to heauen They blesse the name of God in the midst of flames Imprisonment doth not depriue him which suffreth for iustice of the sweetnesse of a profound sleepe His rest is so sound as the Angell of the Lord which comes to deliuer him must awake him It is now time that Lewis go the way which these great Kings haue traced vnto him There wants nothing but this peece to the triumphant Charriot of death and hee could not desire better company then of these three Kings his neere kinsmen who were there already t Hauing passed through all the charges of life we must not refuse that of death Seneca said to him that was loath to leaue the charges and offices wich he had exercised in his life time Quid tu nescis vâ—um esse ex vitae officijs mori Dost thou not know that to die is also one of the duties of life Sen. Epist. 77. he had passed by all the offices of life there remained nothing but the last but it is the most difficult and would bee lesse if he had thought on it in time if going by the way of life he had thought of the lodging of death those feares which hold him in worse estate then death it selfe should be dispersed Accidents foreseene a farre off considered without amazement and attended with resolution do not trouble the minde like vnto those which surprise it His thoughts were ingaged in so many mortall and perishable things as he had small care of Immortall and yet these went before him and attended on him and the others followed after him and abandoned him He hath busyed himselfe to gather vp Attlantas Apples and hath so much the more hindred the fruite and prise of his course In the way of health he that staies retires and hee that retires looseth himselfe and goes astray There are three sorts of men whom God loues not they that stay they that turne backe and they that wander Wee must giue courage to the first call on the second and direct the others Lewis found himselfe to be in so difficult a passage as he had need to be encouraged Lewis fals into new apprehensions of death supported and directed u It is a sweete consolation to a Princes minde among the trances and feares which are found in the passage of life and death when hee hath not to doe with any but himselfe that all his enterprises are ended and that he may say I die content hee could not but murmurre against the Law of Nature which did not suffer him to glut himselfe with the pleasures of life But to haue content of the rest at the point of death hee must make prouision thereof throughout the whole course of his life That word I dye content is not alwaies found in the mouth nor proceeds not from the heart of Princes who haue had so much paine to content theÌ„selues in whose liues as in those of other men we finde Vanity weakenesse inconstancy and misery The great oppositions which Lewis makes against the decree of death shew that he is not yet content with the fruits of life He complaines that he hath discouered the Port and desires to thrust himselfe againe into the violent waues of the world He thought that a little more life would haue made him reape the fruites of so many designes which hee had sowne in diuers places and did grieue that death would not suffer him to see that ended which he had begunne Yet it is a very remarkeable thing
gaine preferre their owne priuate Interest before all publicke consideration The soundest Estates haue alwayes some vlcers to change the remedy and to change the Physition is one thing Wounds haue no time to close vp when they doe often change plaisters Hee dismist the Duke of Bourbon from the gouernement of Guienne Changes in diuers Charges and gaue it to the Bastard of Armagnac c IOHN of Andie Lord of Lescun bastard of Armagnac Earle of Comminges head of the house of Riberac Hee tooke from the Lord of Bueil the Office of Admirall of France and gaue it to the same Bastard and afterwardes to the Bastard of Bourbon his Sonne-in-lawe who did him great seruices yet hauing no consideration thereof hee tooke from him the Gouernement of Picardie to giue it to PHILIP of Creuecoeur Lord of Cordes Hee would haue the Lieutenants in the Gouernement of Bourgondy to hold their places as the Wolfe by the eare Hee tooke it from Des Cordes and gaue it to Chaumont who died in the yeare one thousand foure hundred eighty one d King Lewis the eleuenth being discontented that the Lord of Tremouille had not taken Dole hee tooke from him the Gouernment and gaue it to Charles of Ambois who was gouernor of Champagne Hee tooke the Seales from PETER of Moruillier and gaue them to IUVENEL of Vrsins from whom hee had taken them when he came to the Crowne them hee gaue them to Peter of Oriole Hee tooke the Office of Marshall of France from the Lord of Loheac and to restore it to him againe hee tooke it from the Earle of Comminges bastard of Armagnac Charles of Melun was his Lieutenant in the Citty of Paris hee dispossest him of that charge to giue it the Earle of Eu and made him Lord Steward of his house Entring into Paris hee made Iames of Villiers Lord of Lisle-Adam Prouost of Paris After the Warre of the Common-weale hee dismist him from that Charge and gaue it to ROBERT of Estoteuille His whole Chronicle is full of these changes in all sorts of dignities and Offices Magnificence Magnificence of Lewis 11. The Maiesty of a Prince is followed by his Magnificence which is one of the Flowers of his Crowne It is a Foile which giues lustre to this Dyamond e Iamblicus cals Magnificence the crown of the Empire of princes saith that it is chiefly admired among the principall actions of a Prince it shewes it selfe in many places and vpon many occasions but her Theter is in his House and at his Court shee presides in his expences and appeares in the priuate Ornament of his person Lewis the eleuenth did respect it so little Habit of Lewis 11. as to see his Apparrell you would haue said that he desired to liue poore and to dye rich Hee attired himselfe plainly in course Cloath and tooke no delight to see sumptuous Apparrell His Chronicle saith That hee ware Doublets of Fustian Whether hee did it to make his Fashion more popular or by his example to cut off vaine and vn-necessary expences thinking that a King who should carry nothing that doth sauour of a Woman is more adorned by the Ornaments of the minde then by those of the body f A Princes habit should not be too stately ful of pompe Romulus attiring himselfe in scarlet or purple lost the loue of his people nor lasciuicous and dissolute like to Nero Calligula Commodus and Heliogabalus nor of a strange fashion for the which Hieron of Syracusa was odious vnto his subiects It neuer represents him well apparrelled but once This was when to conclude the Treaty of Conflans hee went to the Mercers Grange with a small Traine and little brute Attired in a long Roabe loose furred with Ermines the which was much more seemely then the other garments which hee was accustomed to weare There is to bee seene at this day in the house of a Councellor of State Bed of Lewis 11. the bed wherein hee lay the which wee cannot behold without admiring the excesse of this Age and the simplicitie of that It is of Yellow and Carnation Damaske without any Lace and the Fringe without fashion Bodin saith That in scorne hee ware a greasie Hat and the coursest Cloath In the Chamber of Accounts there was an Article found of his Expences making mention of two shillings for a newe paire of Sleeues to an old Doublet and another Article of three halfe-pence for a Boxe of grease for his Bootes 300000 L sterling and yet hee raised yearely three millions more then his predecessors had done and did alienate a great part of the Crowne lands The expence of his house was much lesse then that of many Noble men of that time All things were very exact there frugality was recommended in such sort and superfluity so odious as they needed not to passe out of Sclauonia g Dissolution hath been great in priuate persons by the examples which Athens doth produce and among others of Aesope a player of Tragedies who being come into Sclauonia to eate Creuices which were much esteemed in that Prouince when as they told that those of Affricke were better he sailed into Affricke into Affrick to eate creuises By the accounts we find that they increased according to the years voyages and affaires It did not exceed three thousand six hundred pounds starling vntil the yeare 1480 when it amounted to foure thousand three hundred threescore and one pounds eight shillings Sterling In the yeare 1481. it came to sixe thousand sixe hundred sixty and eight pounds Sterling h The expence of the Kings house for that which concerned the mouth onely was in the yeare 1471. two thousand 800. and three pounds two shillings Sterling In the yeare 1472 2900. pounds The yere 1473 3280. pounds In the yeare 1474. 2520. pounds Sterling The yeare 1475. 3020. pounds In the yeare 1476. 3040. pounds in the yeare one thousand 4. hundred seuenty and seuen three thousand 600. and foure score pounds In the yeare 1478. 3480. pounds and in the yeare 1479 3700. pounds sterling And yet hee went not from Plessis from the eight of Nouember vntill the seuenth of September the yeare following that he was carried to be buried at our Lady of Clory The number of Seruants for the ordinary seruice of this expence was not great their wages small in comparison of these times They serued the whole yeare and it beganne in October There are none but these set downe in the rowle of his voluntary pensions Two Chaplins and to either of them twenty shillings a month and to a Clarke of the Chappell tenne shillings A Groâ—me of the Kings Chamber nine pound a yeare Fowre Squires of the Kitchin to either twelue pounds a yeare One Hastler one maker of Brothes a Sauce-maker a Head-cooke a Butler and two Groomes of the Carriages to either of them twenty shillings a month Two Vnder-Cookes of the Kitchin at sixeteene shillings a
the Kings Authority to restraine him from this liberty Hee made of men as an Auditor doth of Counters placing some for hundreds others for thousands some for ten and some for vnits He allowed many petty Companions in his Cabinet who could not remember the condition of their fore-fathers without blushing or disavowing them s Honor meeting with an vnworthy subiect hath lesse luster and esteeme When as the people of Athens saw that Yperbolâ—◠〈◊〉 decayed man and who had nothing to loose was intreatreated equally with good men they dissolued the 〈◊〉 an honorable punishment for those whose vertue was suspected In like manner they tooke it ill at Roma when as Flauius being freed by Appius was made Edilis Curulis But for all that he did not leaue to haue about him and to imploy in great charges Noble-men issued from houses which were then illustrious both by their owne vertues and by those of their fore-fathers Of this number was Iohn of Daillon Lord of Lude The Lord of Lude and Imbert of Baterney Lord of Bouchages They came in fauour with this Prince by diuers meanes and maintained it in like maner The Lord of Lude had been bred vp with this Prince and the affection which begins so soone doth not wither easily Philip de Commines addes this reason that he knew well how to please the King Fortune fauoured the merits of Imbert of Baterney Imbert of Baterney Lewis Dauphin of France retiring himselfe into Dauphiné and going from Moras to Romans hee staied in a valley vnder the Castle of Baterney to take the coole aire and demanding some refreshing in the heate of the season and the tediousnesse of the way the Lord of Baterney sent some things vnto him and came himselfe to doe his duty hee brought with him Imbert of Baterney being then but a youg man who carried a Hauke with the which hee kild some Partridges t The pleasure of hunting which had beene the raâ—ing of his fortune was in a manner the cause of his ruine Claude of Seyell saith that going to 〈◊〉 to see the Dauphin hauing had him to field to see his Haukes flye the king was much incâ—sed thinking that he had a designe to make him see the woâ—ld and to know it The Dauphin tooke pleasure in it and commanded him to come vnto him to Romans for that hee had a desire to see that Hauke flye againe He went and did so please this Prince as he demanded him of his father and from that time he neuer abandoned him vntill his death He made him great in riches and honor as he was in merit and vertue Charles of Artois Charles of Artoix Earle of Eu hauing remained three and twenty yeares prisoner in England returned into France and was much beloued of king Lewis the eleuenth for that he held nothing of the sower arrogant humors of his predecessors he continued in the Kings seruice at such time as the Noble-men left him to follow the Princes Armie He reconciled the King and the Duke of Brittanie and soone after died in Iuly in the yeare 1471. without any children Iohn of Bourgondy Earle of Neuers his Nephew was his heire u The accord betwixt the king and the Duke of Brittany was made at Saumur in the yeare 1469. and the difficulties were decided by the deâ—terity of the Earles of Eu and Dunois Iohn of Orleans Bastard of Orleans Earle of Longueville base sonne to Lewis Duke of Orleans was the greatest and most fortunate Captaine of his time he alone of all the Noblemen of the league of the Common-weale pursued the fruits which France expected of such an enterprise He was chiefe and President of the Commissioners appointed for the reformation of the disorders of the Realme and died before he could see the effects of that which hee had so earnestly pursued in the yeare 1470. Andrew of Laual Andrew of Laual Lord of Loheac Lewis 11. tooke from him the dignity of Marshall of France wherewith Charles 7 had honoured him and rewarded his seruice Hee restored it vnto him againe when as necessity made him know that none was more capable then he For his sake he gaue vnto his brother the Lord of Chastillon the Office of great Maister of the Waters and Forrests Alaine of Albret purchased the surname of Great by the same greatnesse of courage which gaue the sword of France to Charles of Albret his grand-father Alaine of Albret x Charles of Albret was not onely entreated but in a manner forced by the King to receiue the sword of Costable The king pâ—t it into his hand the Dukes of Orleans Burgondy Berry Bourbo girt him with it a little before hee had caried Charles the seuenth vnto the font He left the league of the Common-weale as soone as he was entred into it and remained more constant in the assurance of his word then the Duke of Nemours his great corage found nothing impossible He was often wont to say that he which had force in hand needed no other thing He married Francis Vicountesse of Limoges and was father to Iohn of Albret King of Nauarre Iohn of Bueil Iohn of Bueil Earle of Sancerre presently after the coronation of Lewis the eleuenth was dismist from his Office of Admirally y The Earle of Sancerre was Admirall of France by the death of Pregent of Coitiuy Son-in-Law to Giles of Raix Marshall of France for no other reason but for that he had serued Charles the seuenth He returned to Court and fauour but yet he stood alwayes vpon his guard against that Lyon which strooke with his paw when they least thought of him Iohn of Andie Iohn of Andie Bastard of Armagnac Lord of Lescun and Earle of Cominges was Admiral of France after the dismission of the Earle of Sancerre and then Marshall of France he chased the Brittains from Baieux and was Gouernour of Dauphine Ioachim of Rouvault Ioachim of Rouvault z Hee had done great sâ—ruices vnder King Charles the seuenth and had beene present at the battell of Fromigny and at the siege of Bourdeaux The King gaue him the place of Marshall of France and Monstrelet saith that Charles the seuenth made him constable of Bourdeaux and that hee tooke his oath in the hands of the Chancellors of France Lord of Gamasches serued him worthily and couragiously in the warre of the Common-weale and was the cause of the preseruation of Paris He alwayes coasted the Duke of Bourgondy his Army to keepe it from scattering to the hurt of the Kings subiects and that it should not make profit by the surprise of any places in passing Then he cast himselfe into Paris and by his presence fortified the courages which an accident rather feared then foreseene had much deiected The King gaue him the gouernment with a troope of two hundred maisters and made him Marshall of France Tanneguy of Chastel Tanneguy
had suffered vnder the gouernment of the Duke of Berrie his vncle hee commanded the Dukes of Berrie and Burgondy to retire and would not haue any other prince neâ—re vnto his presence but Lewis duke of Bourbon his vncle by the mothers side and Iohn of Burbon Earle of March of V endosme whom hee loued infinitâ—y giuing a reason hereof openly That he loued those Princes for that they had neuer serued any other maister and had neuer had any ambition nor design against the state neither had they euer giuen him any occasion to complaine of them This vertue was neuer found in a great spirit but it did purchase power and affection with others Pride is barren humility fructifieth a vine spreading vpon the earth beares excellent fruit the high and straightest Cypres-trees are vnfruitfull Hee was not so bountifull of his fauours to the Lord of Beaujeu but hee was as sparing to the Duke of Bourbon his brother he had an implacable hatred against Iohn Duke of Bourbon sonne to Charles the Achilles of France This hatred was nourished with a fresh apprehension for that this Prince lamenting the disorders of the State the miseries and oppressions of the people and the bad vsage which Charles Duke of Berrie suffered had laid the first foundations of the league had left it by the Treaty of Ryon and re-entred againe into it vpon despight for that during this Treaty the Duke of Millan by the Kings commandement had ouer-run and ruined his Countrey of Beaujolois and Forrest But for that hee was a Prince of great power great courage and great credit in the heart of all France hee would not euaporate this fire of reuenge and indignation which hee had against them and considered rather what he might doe then what he should do And the Duke who was acquainted with the disposition of this King knewe well that all Princes write offences done them in brasse and the seruice which they receiue vpon sand wherefore he remained long in his Dutchy of Bourbonois and would not come to Court The King whose chiefe care was to weaken his enemies and to diuide them gaue him the gouernement of Languedoc dissembling the remembrance of things past Vpon this assurance the Duke of Bourbon shewed that hee did not breathe any thing but the Kings seruice neither had he any greater content then to yeeld him proofes equall to his affection and therefore hee followed him to Peronne and we must beleeue that without him in this voyage hee had giuen his Enemies more courage to execute those dangerous councels hauing resolued to stay him For besides the respectes of Alliance the Duke of Bourgondy respected this Prince who had the two principall partes necessary in great Captaines Valour and good Fortune l The two qualities necessary in the Generall of an Army are Valour and good fortune Duo sunt quae Claros Duces faciunt summa virtus summa foelicitas Lat. Pac. Paneg. Wee haue formerly seene that the Constable of Saint Pol did what hee could to drawe him to the Duke of Bourgondies partie Fidelity of the Duke of Burbon and to make him ioyne with the King of Englands forces and that this braue Prince made it knowne that nothing was able to shake his loialty no not if he should be reduced to the misery of Iob m An extreme oppression is no lawfull cause to arme against the Prince rebels seeke pretexes and coulors to shadow their discontents but good subiects suffer with patience although that the sincery of his actions could neuer wipe away the blemish which distrust had put in this Princes eyes yet would he not trouble the content which hee had receiued by the testimony which his conscience gaue to fidelity and vertue The King also fore-seeing that if his enemies were fortefied with his fauour and forces hee should be much troubled hee coniured him to come vnto him The Duke excused himselfe vpon a resolution which hee had taken to liue quietly in his house the which no man could enuy him hauing purchased it with incomparable toyles and crosses Hee besought the King to suffer him to rest in the port of this tranquility after so many stormes and to content himselfe with the seruice which the other Princes of his house and his Bastard the Admirall did him The King entreated and coniured him to come and to reape the same fruits in Picardy which he had sometimes receiued in Guienne n The honour of the glorious victory of Fromigny is giuen to Iohn the second Duke of Bourbon who then tooke the title of Earle of Clermont for hee charged the English with such fury as with the losse of tenne men onely hee defeated fiue thousand English and tooke 1400. prisoners to the shame and confusion of the English sending the Bishop of Mande vnto him to deliuer his requests and recommendations more confidently and to assure him that the occasion was not lesse glorious then at Fromigny The Duke being loath to faile France in so great an occasion and remembring that his predecessours had not desired a more glorious graue then to die vpon a field of battell couered with the bloud of their enemies o The Princes of the house of Bourbon who haue dyed for the seruice of the Crowne are Peter of Bourbon slaine the 19. of September 1356. at the battell of Poicters Iames and Peter his sonne at the Battell of Brignay neere vnto Lyon Lewis at the Battell of Agincourt 1415. Francis at the battell of Saint Bridget on holy Crosse day in September 1525. Iohn at the battell of Saint Laurence 1557. and Anthony at the siege of Roan 1562. and to free the King from all conceite that he had a will to giue eare vnto the Constable who did solicite him with all vehemency he deliuered the Constables letters into the Bishops hands protesting that hee would neuer carry Armes against the Kings seruice The effects did not differ from his words for seeing the Duke of Bourgundies troupes approach to enter the Country he went to horse and put them to rout The Earle of Conches was slaine there the Earle of Rousillon Marshall of Bourgundy was taken prisoner there with the Earle of Dammartins sonne and the Signiors of Longy de Lisle Digoin Ruygny Chaligny and the two sonnes of the Signior of Viteaux one of which was Earle of Ioygny Being then assured of the discent of the English and that they had passed the Sea he came vnto the King with sixe hundred horse and commanded part of his Army which was neere vnto Beauuais Matters being reduced to those tearmes that the King desired and the King of England hauing repassed the Sea he retired himselfe to Moulins to performe the last duties to his mother p The Lady Agnes of Bourgundy dyed in December 1476. Shee was wife to Charles Duke of Bourbon and mother to Iohn the second of that name Duke of Bourbon to Charles Cardinall and Arch-bishop of Lyon