as it seemed he would canonize him before his f Flattery giues honors to mortall men which belong not vnto them Tertullian reprocheth the Pagans of lying and flattery which made them declare men Gods and Tacitus saith Deum honor Principi non ante habetur quam agere inter homines desierit Tac. An. lib. 15. The honor of the Gods is not to bee giuen vnto the Prince vntil hee hath left to liue among men death after this followed an accord by the which the Duke of Burgundy should for a reparation aske pardon of the King vpon his knee The Queene the Dauphin the Kinges of Sicile and Nauarre the Duke of Berry making the like request for him in the presence of the Children of the Duke of Orleans melting with teares and weeping with sobs to see the bloud of their Father put to compromise and themselues forced to forget so sencible an Iniurie France was presently deuided into two factions of Orleanois and Burgundians A league of Armagnacs Th' one taking his fauour and authority from the ruines disgrace of the other The Duke of Burgundy hath the soueraigne gouernment of affaires and forceth them of the howse of Orleans to make an offensiue and defensiue league against that of Burgundy g League of Orleanois at Gâ—en the tenth of March 1410. the heads were Charles Duke of Orleance and his brethren Iohn Duke of Berry Lewis Duke of Bourbon Iohn Earle of Alanson Francis Earle of Clermont Bernard Lord of Armagnac and Charles of Albert Constable of France The heads of the Bourgundy faction were Iohn Duke of Bourgundy his brethren Charles King of Nauarre son to Charles the bad the Dukes of Lorraine Brabant Brittaine the Marques of Pont the Earles of Neuers Vaudemont St. Paul Ponthure The name was of Armanacks the marke a white scarfe the cause the Kinges liberty who was in captiuity vnder the law and will of the Duke of Burgundy Challenge sent to the Du. of Burgundy and to the end the quarel might be ended with lesse danger losse of men and time Charles Duke of Orleans sent a challenge to the Duke of Burgundy to fight a combate with him and to be reuenged of his fathers death The Duke of Burgundy who had drawn the Queene vnto his party had noe great dificultie to perswade the King that the designe of the howse of Orleans was nothing but ambition and rebellion in denying him to demaund succors from Henry the fourth king of England The Dolphin being of yeares able to iudge of the intentions of the one and the other The sonne in lawe against the father in lawe found that the interest of the house of Orleans was that of the Crowne and that the ambition of the Duke of Bourgondy his father in law h Queene Isabel being banded against her nephewes of Orleans adhered to the Duke of Burgundy made the marriage of his daughter Catherinâ— with the Dauphin Lewis was the cheefe motiue of those troubles wherefore he vndertooke to crosse his designes and to make a peace this soule was seasond with good thoughts at the siege of Burges for when they told him that in a salley which the besieged had made some of his seruants were slaine and that the souldiers dyed of poisoned waters he said vnto the King his Father and the Duke of Burgundy That this warre lasted too long and that he would make an end of it Iohn of France Duke of Berry and i Enguerand of Monstrelet notes in what manner the Duke of Berry came to this treaty in his armes notwithstanding that hee was 70. yeares old for he llued aboue 80 hauing vpon theÌ„ a Cassocke of purple with a band poudred with marigolds and so he is painted in the gallery of the â—oâ—ure Philebert of Lignac great master of Rhodes employed themselues vertuously to reconcile the nephewes and the vnckle The conditions of this peace were concluded at Burges Peace of Burges sworn in a great assembly at Auxerre the names of that fatall faction of Armagnac and Burgundian were comprehended in the forgetfulnes of things past and Philip Earle of Vertus was married to the Duke of Burgundies daughter But all the parts of France recouer not their former health The warre renues againe and the Dauphin is no more for the Burgundian whose principall force consists in the sedition of Paris and the succours of the English who making their profit of ciuill diuisions win the battell of Azingcourt which was called the vnfortunate day of the 25. of October 1415. The battle of Azing-Court The Duke of Orleans armed to reuenge his fathers death and the libertie of his country was led prisoner into England and if religion had not comforted him he had no lesse reason then Pompey k The Mitcleniens came to salute Pompey after the battel intreating him to land which he refused and aduised them to obey the victor and not to feare any thing for that Caesar was a iust man and of a mild nature and then turning to the Philosopher Cratippus who was also come to see him he complained and disputed a little with him touching the diuine prouidence wherein Cratippus yeilded mildly vnto him putting him still in better hope to be amazed at the prouidence of God which seemeth to fauour the most vniust party tyranny against libertie and couetousnes against freedome Death of the Dolphin and Duke of Turraine This losse was followed by the death of Lewis the Dauphin and of Iohn Duke of Touraine the Kings second sonne By the death of these two Charles Earle of Ponthieu saw himselfe in the first degree of the Princes of the bloud and presently made show that he had been bred vp to apprehend the iniury which the Duke of Burgundy had done vnto his vncle All the Princes and Noble men which had followed the house of Orleans came vnto him and among others the Constable of Armagnac but his greatest affliction was for the vnnaturall hatred which the Queene his mother bare him who declared her selfe against him Regent of the Realme was maintained in that quarrel by the Duke of Burgundy vnder her was that cruell massacre committed the 12. of Iune 1418 whereas the l Amassacre at Paris vpon the Armagnacks from 4 of the clock in the morning the 12 of Iune vntil the next day 10. of the clock To note the Constable by the scarse which he carried they flead a bend of his skin and tyed it crosse his body his office was confirmed to the Duke of Lorraine and the Chancellors to Eustace de Lastre Constable of Armagnac and the Chancellor de Marle were slaine and the Dauphin ranne a daungerous fortune if Tanneguy du Chastel Prouost of Paris and his faithfull seruant had not saued him in the Bastille Paris saw it selfe reduc'd to that miserable estate as it seemed a retrait for Beares and Tigers During this fatall diuision the English
he was freed from taxes Necessitie in whose schoole hee had learned great experience dispenst with him for the obseruations which are made in the choice of souldiers These were called Franke Archers who being well led did great seruices being able to indure all paine as beeing bred vp in discommodities and wants without cunning or malice They beganne their profession at the siege of Vernon The defects which are obserued in the life of this Prince as the griefes of Kings n The raignes of Princes doe not continue and end alwaies as they haue begdnne The first fiue yeares of Neroes raigne were iust Constant was good ten yeares cruell twelue and prodigall ten doe not alwaies incounter ends like vnto their beginnings His loues and his diuersions could not hinder it but that France hath giuen him the well deserued title of Victorious The end of the first Booke THE CONTENTS OF the Second BOOKE 1 KIng Lewis his going into France His entrie and Coronation at Rheims 2 The Duke of Bourgundy doth him homage and followes him at his entrie into Paris magnificence of the Parisians vpon this occasion 3 Estate of the Kings affaires with Pope Pius the second Reuocation of the Pragmatique Sanction 4 Discontent of the Noblemen of the Realme vpon the Kings first actions An obseruation of his Humors 5 His voyage and designes in Brittanny 6 Oppression of the people by new inuentions of Subsedies 7 Strange and furious reuolutions in England betwixt the houses of Lancaster and Yorke 8 Edward the fourth expels Henry the sixt King of England 9 Hee seeks to marry the Queene of France her Sister and takes a widdow in England 10 The King goes to Bourdeaux and there treates a marriage betwixt his Sister and the Earle of Foix. 11 Troubles betweene the Crownes of Castill and Arragon The Earledome of Rousilion engaged to the King 12 The Kings of Castille and Arragon referre their differences to the King 13 Enteruiew of the Kings of France and Castille vpon the Riuer of Vidaazo 14 The King returnes to Paris redeemes the Townes vpon the Riuer of Somme and visits the Frontiers 15 The Duke of Bourgundy comes to the King at Lisle to demaund his aduise touching a voyage which he pretended to make against the Turke 16 Ariuall of Lewis Duke of Sauoy at Paris 17 The King declareth his pretentions vpon the soueraigne rights of Brittany 18 The Earle of Charrolois stayes the Bastard of Rupembrâ— at the Haage 19 Ambassadors from the King to the Duke of Bourgundy vpon diuers complaints 20 The Duke of Bourbon first author of the league of the common weale Death of Charles Duke of Orleans 21 Charles Duke of Berry the Kings brother retires into Brittany 22 His Letters to the Duke of Bourgundy and his declaration vpon the taking of Armes 23 Death of Pope Pius the second to whom succeeded Paul the second a Venetian THE HISTORY of LEVVIS the XI THE SECOND BOOKE A Death which brings Scepters Crownes 1461 doth not alwaies meete with sorrow and teares When there is a question of the succession of the Realme An heyres teares are sone dried vppe a desire to raigne doth presently dry vp the teares which the law of Nature drawes from the eyes a There is no water whose spring is sooner dryed vp then that which flowes from a profitable mourning Lewis longed too much to be at home to be grieued when as they brought him newes that Charles the seuenth had quit him the lodging Hee had already spent two third parts of his age in obeying hee held the rest very short to command and to end at in great enterprises worthy of his qualitie b Life is very short for great entrriprises and inconstancie makes it much shorter Hee entertained the Iuie of his hopes in the ruines of this old building he did not hope for any light but by the ecclipse of this Sunne and his vowes were no let that his Father was not already among the God c The Romans held their Fathers dead in the number of the Gods and their Images were reuerenced as persons deysied Wherfore among the predictions which Antonin had of his adoption and successim to the Empire they note that In somrio saepe monitus suit penatibus suis Adriani simulacrum inserere Capitol Hee was often admonished in his sleepe that hee should place Adrians Image among his boushould Gods And what can a Kings eldest Son desire but to raigne euery obiect lesse theÌ„ a crown is vnworthy of his birth Lewis comes into France but the wishes are vnnaturall monstrous vpon vniust effects To desire for a crownes cause the death of him of whom he holds his life is ingratitude impiety The same day that Charles dyed Lewis was aduertised of his death d They that haue written that these newes were sent by Charles Duke of Aniou Father in lawe to Charles the seuenth are mistaken both in the name and matter for Lewis Duke of Anion liued since the yeare 1417. He went presently to horse to goe into France fearing least Charles his brother should make his profit of his absence The Duke of Bourgundy and the Earle of Chartolis accompany him with foure thousand horse chosen out of the flower of all the forces of their Estates and the Princes their friends He makes his entry into Rheims Hee entred into Rheims the fourteeene of August e The King arriued at Rheims the 14. August and caused himself to be annointed the next day A remarkable diligence They cannot goe too speedily to so great a Feast The Duke of Bourgundy being followed by the Earl of Charolois the Earle of Neuers the Earle of Estampes the Duke of Cleues the Earle of S t. Pol and many other Noblemen went out of Rheimes to the Abbcy of Saint Thierry to meet the King being attired in white and crimsin damask vpon a white courser caparonessed with the armes of France The next day he was anoynted and crowned The peeres of the Church were there in person The Duke of Burgundy Deane of the peeres The Duke of Burbon held the place of the Duke of Normandy The Earle of Angolesme for the Duke of Guienne The Earle of Eu for the Earle of Tholousa The Earle of Neuers for the Earle of Flaunders and the Earle of Vandosme for the Earle of Champagne The King is anoinâ—ed and Crowned The ceremony of his coronation was beautified with an other which they found very new and strange The King is anointed and Crowned The King drawing his sword presented it to the Duke of Bourgundy and intreates him to make him Knight He gaue this honour of Knight-hood to an hundred and seauenteene Gentlemen the first were the Lord of Beauieu Iames of Burbon the Earle of Geneua the Earle of Pontieu the Earle of Witembergh Iohn of Luxembergh and to the Marques of Saluces Sonne From the Coronation they went to the Royall feast whereas
such as are malecontâ—nt of his actions These reasons pierst the harts of the most distracted The Princes fearing to be abandoned Euery one desires grace of the King their partie growing weake and decreasing dayly they sued for grace vnto the King Hee offered it them by the Earle of Eu who did negotiate their accord and did perswade them to goe to Clermont to receiue his commandement wherevnto they yeelded so as they might bee assured The King was so good as he gloried to be vndeseruedly offended by men who reduced to their duties very profitable hee gaue a pasport for the Duke of Bourbon and Alençon but not for Tremouille Chaumont nor Prye whom hee held to bee the Authors of this trouble and of the assembly at Noion u An assembly at Noion of the Duke of Alencon Anthony of Chabanâ—s Earle of Dampmartin Peter of Amâ—oise Lord of Chaumont Iohn de la Roche Seneshall of Poictou and of the Lord of Tremâ—uille They complaine that they are abandoned and inflame the bloud of this yong Prince in such sort as seeing the Dukes of Bourbon and Alençon returne to conduct him to Clermont hee swore that hee would not goe x A Prince must haue care of them that haue followed him Monstrelet vppon this occasion writes those words When the Daupâ—in vnderstood it hee said vnto the Duke of Bourbon My faire Gossip you haue no thankes to tell how the matter was concluded that the King had not pardoned them of my houshold but would seeke to doe worse When the King saw that he came not that the prefixed day was past and that the English who besieged Harfleu called him into Normandie hee would temporise no longer but suffered his Armie to spoile the Duke of Bourbons Countrie His foreward did besiege and take Vichy Cusset and Varennes yeelded The whole countrie of Rouanna obayed Clermont and Mont-Ferrant persisted in their fidelitie from the which no Towne may in any sort separate y He cannot be held faithfull that for any respect wâ—atsosoeueâ— hath ceased to bee so Senec. it selfe but it presently looseth the glorious title of faithfull The wilfulnes of this Prince ruined the countrey euery man found his desseigne vniust and the affection he bare vnto his seruants vniust the consideration of whom should bee of more force then that of the publicke good for the which they might sometimes straine Iustice it selfe z To obserue Iustice in great maâ—teâ—s they must sometimes leau it in lesser Wherefore the Duke of Bourbon and Alençcon perswaded him to submit this affection to the Kings will and the interest of his seruants to his discretion intreating the Earle of Eu to bee a meanes that the king would be pleased that might bee done at Cusset which was not performed at Clermont The King grants it The Daâ—phin restored to fauour They come and present themselues vnto him bending their knees thrice vnto the ground before they approch beseeching him to pardon them This humilitie a Humilitie only pleades for great peâ—sons Monstrelet speakes in this sort of this pardon Being come into the chamber where the King was they kneeled thrice before they came vnto him and at the third they intreated him with great humilitie to pardon them his indignation did wipe out of the kings heart the feeling of such sensible offences Hee imbraced them and said vnto the Dauphin Lewis you are welcome you haue stayed long goe and rest you we will talke to morrow with you But hee protracted no time to reprehend the Duke of Bourbon Reprehâ—nsion of the D. of Bourbon drawing him a part b Great men will be praised in publike and reprehended in secret he put him in minde of his faults hee notes him the place and the number being fiue hee reprocheth vnto him the iniustice and indiscretion of a designe which sought to put the father vnder the sonnes gouernment adding that if that loue and respect of some did not withhold him hee would make him feele his displeasure What could hee answere The very feeling of his fault did presse him The offender must yeeld to the iustice and the Innocent to the force of the stronger He renues all the vowes of his obedience and affection and submits his will vnto the kings hee commends his bountie so apparant by the number of his offences and so necessarie for them that had offended whose preseruation did serue as an increase to his glorie and a trophee to his clemencie c They to whome the Prince giues life liue not but to the glorie of his clemencie The next day the Dauphin presents himselfe vnto the king who did not entreat him as nurses doe children which flatter them when they fall Hee did let him vnderstand that his fall had carried him to the ineuitable ruine of his honour and fortune if the bountie of a father had not as much will to retire him as the iustice of a king had reason to punish him In a word he said he would cease to be a good father vnto him if hee did not begin to be a better sonne d Hee that is good must striue to be betteâ— for when hee doth not begin to gâ—ow betâ—er theâ— he ends to be good and that he desired not to be held good for not punishing the bad The Dauphin assuring himselfe of his fathers bountie and clemencie speakes no more but for his seruants The Dauphin will not leaue his seruants to whom safe conducts had beene refused The king declared that they had made themselues vnworthy of his grace that they had deserued to bee made an example to others as the authors of this rebellion which had made the wicked impudent and brought good men to despaire Yet there must bee a distinction e A Citizen of Sparta 〈◊〉 Châ—rilaus highly coÌ„mended for 〈◊〉 bounty And how sâ—id hee can hee bee good seeing hee is not seuere vnto the wicked It is as great crueltie to pardon all the world as not to pardon any Senec made betwixt the effects of clemencie and bountie that for their punishment he was contented not to see them and that they should retire themselues vnto their houses The Dauphin held firme against these torrents of his fathers choller lets him know that if there be no grace for his seruants he desires not any for himselfe From this opinion f Opinion is the falling sicknes of the minde that is the Caue which coÌ„taines the windâ— fâ—om whence the tempests of the minde come that is to say disordinate passions which is they Caue from whence the windes issue which torment his soule or rather from the impression which his seruants had giuen him that in being resolute he should haue whatsoeuer hee desired Opinion causeth terrible motions in the soule he drew this yong and rash speech I must then my Lord returne for so I haue promised To whom the King answered coldly Lewis goe if you
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
the good or ill do easily concerne and Deane of the Peeres of France e The Duke of Bourgondy is first Peere of France in this quality hee made a protestation to King Charles the sixth saying that hee might not asist at the iudgement of the K. of Nauarre vvhich did onely belong vnto the Peeres a Prince renowned for honor and iustice as it appeareth by your great deedes conduct and gouernment of your great signories knowing that the disorders of the said Realme haue and doe displease you as reason is I would desire with all my heart to haue an assembly with you and other noblemen my kinsmen that by your counsell we might prouide for all matters which for want of order Iustice and policy are at this day in all the estates of the said Realme His designe of arming to reforme disorders and for the ease of the poore people f The opression of the people was not great being only for matters which were not accustomed who can beare no more and to set such an order in all places as it may be pleasing vnto God to the honour felicity and good to the said Realme and to the retribution of honour and perpetuall commendation of all those that shall imploy themselues I do intreat you most deere and louing vncle that in this matter which is great for so good an end it would please you to aid and assist me and to cause my brother in law of Charolois your sonne to imploy himselfe in my ayd as I haue alwayes assured my selfe he will doe And to the end that you and I may meet which is the thing I most desire for that my intention is shortly to enter into the Country and to keepe the fields with the other Princes and noble-men g The Princes and Noblemen of this party were Charles the Kings brother Phillip Duke of Bourgondy Francis Duke of Brittaine Charles Earle of Charolois Iohn Duke of Bourbon Iohn Duke of Calabria Peter of Bourbon Lord of Beauieu Charles Cardinall of Bourbon The Earle of 〈◊〉 the Duke of Nemours The Earle of Armagnac The Earle of Albretâ— The Earle of Dammartin The Earle of St. Paul The Prince of Orange The Earle of Newchastell The Bastard of Bourgondy which haue promised to accompany and ayd me I intreat you that you will be pleased to leuy and draw forces out of your Country towards France and in case you cannot doe it that you would cause my said brother in law of Charolois to come with a good power of men and withall to send vnto me one of your Counsell which is faithfull to assist for you in all matters which other Princes of the bloud shall think fit to be done for the good of the said Realmeâ— And by whom you may be stil informed of my good and iust intentions the which I will gouerne by you and other Princes of the bloud and no otherwise And that which my said brother in law in your absence shall doe or say for the publique good of the Realme h Vnder the Consideration of the publique weaâ—e many which had beene put from their places made vse of their interests Nâ—w Princes doe commonly fâ—ile in these changes If the Prince succeeds a good Prince whose raigne hath beene iust and happy then needs no chaÌ„ge if hee were not so he must not imploy such as wee his Ministers and therfore Galba was blamed to haue imployed the chiefe councellors of Neroes cruelties wickednes and ease of the poore people I will maintaine vnto the death and thereof you may bee assured Most deare louing vncle let me alwaies vnderstand if there be any thing wherein I may pleasure you and I will do it willingly praying God to giue you a good life and that which you desire Written at Nants in Brittany the 15. day of March the subscription was Your Nephew Charles and on the top To mine Vncle the Duke of Bourgondy Such was the language which they that were about this yong Prince made him to hold Death of Pope Piuâ— the second who knew well how to commend the good and to excuse and flatter the euill which he did and who indiscreetly drew him to designes whereas the danger was certaine and the profit doubtfull The Pope had made his profit of this diuision if death i Pius the second died at Ancona Platina saith that bee spake vnto the last gaspe and dispuâ—ed long with Lawrence Rouerella Bishop of Feâ—ara a learned Diuine Licerit ne extremam vnctioneÌ„ iterare qua semel invnctus fuerat Dum Basileae pestilentia grauissime egrotaret Whether hee might reiterate the extreme vnction wherwith hee had being anointed being sore sicke of the Plague at Basill had not disappointed a desseine which he had to reduce Francâ— wholly vnder the obedience of the Sea of Rome and to depriue it of the rights and priuiledges which doth free it in temporall things for in those which concerne the spirituall and orthodoxall Faith she hath alwaies been a dutifull and obedient daughter This Pope was lamented of all Christendome for he had great conceptions for her glorie and libertie in those places where shee was opprest vnder the tyranny of the Ottomans Beeing at Ancona to imbarke himselfe for the voyage of the Croisado after that hee had giuen audience to the Embassadors of France and of the Duke of Bourgundy who excused themselues that they could not serue in person in this voiage a slow continuall Feuer which had long held him depriued him of life He had no cause to grieue that hee had liued for that his life had been honored with so great and worthy actions as he might rightly say he had not been borne in vaine They onely blame him for that being Pope he had contradicted that which he had written being a priuat person His birth and fortune with so great Passion as hee discribed Pope Eugenius to bee the wickedst man in the world k AEneas Siluius in the beginning of the second booke of his Comentaries of the Councell of Basill saith that MeÌ„tita est iniquitas Gabriell Eugenius was called Gabriel Condelmar et perdidit cum Dominus in malitia sua quosynodali sententia ex Apostolica sâ—de precipitato factus est Dominus in refugiuÌ„ Ecclesiae suae And in the end of the first Necessarium fuit illud decretum ad reprimendam Romanorum Pontificum ambitionem vt deâ—â—ceps animam a temporalium rerum sollicitudiâ—e retraherent and his deposing a profitable and fit action for the church He was issued from the Picolhomini of Sienna and seeing that his father had beene expelled the Citie with many others of certaine families reuolted by the mutiny of the people he resolued to seek his fortune at Rome where shee hath alwaies done great miracles He was first of all Secretary to Dominike Grap and followed him to Basill when as he came to complaine that Pope Eugenius refused him a
the good of the publike y In these Estates they did not thinke of the publike good nor of the peoples ease who complained for Lewis leuied much more then King Charles and dismist them giuing order for the intelligences which hee had vpon Amiens Abbeuille and St. Quentin Then representing vnto himselfe how much the discontentments of the great men of this Realme had ruined his affaires hee inuented a meanes to vnite their mindes to his will and to keep them firme by new bonds of honor and fidelitie Institution of the order of S t Michell the which hee found in the order of S t Michael making it not onely a recompence for vertue like to the Consulship of Rome but a marke of the Nobilitie of bloud and extraction z The dignity of Consull at Rome was as Valerius said vnto his soldiers Premium virtutis non sanguinis and went to seek out the vertuous in any house at any age Princes should haue things in their meere disposition which should be out of the commerce of their subiects 1469 and wherevnto they may not aspire but by the degrees of Vertue Honors which may bee recouered for money are no more honors for the sale may make them fall vpon vnworthy heads a The sale of honors makes them to be lesse esteemed vertue to bee contemned sufficiency lesse necessarie euery one thinking that he may attaine vnto it for money It is a great disorder when as such as are aduanced cannot say that they are bound vnto their vertue although they haue glorious shewes and that is not held rare which may be recouered for money b Glory is the desire of great courages Caesar would haue scorned him that should haue giuen him gold but hee dyed with desire to haue a crown of bayes Fortune may impouerish the greatest houses of Christendome but the honour which they hold from their Ancestors remaines for euer and a branch of Laurell which remaines of their fathers Crownes is more deere vnto them then any other thing Wee see not any Prince reduced to that necessitie as hee prefers siluer before honor And that King hath no great power in a Realme wheras they obtaine all for coyne The King making himselfe Generall of this Order The King great master of the order of S t Michel would also haue them that were neerest vnto him honored c By these orders the Prince becomes a companion to the whole Colledge Tiberius made an order of Knights which were caled Augustales and made himselfe grear master to the end it might haue more reputation hee would haue Drusus his sonne with T. Claudius and Germanicus his nephews to be of it Tac. An. Lib. 7. He gaue the first coller of the Order to Monsieur his Brother the second to Charles Duke of Bourbon and Auuergne Hee thought to draw in the Dukes of Bourgundy and Brittany but they would not bee bound to appeare at the Chapter With this Order were also honored the chiefe Noblemen of the Realme First knights of S t Michel d The ancient order of France was of the Knights of the starre institututed by King Iohn surnamed the good in the yeare 1351. the 6. of Ianuary the Knights weare a starre of gold in their hats and vpon their cloakes and the deuice was Monstrant regibus Astra viam A hundred and eight yeares after Lewis the eleuenth made the order of S t Michel the 1. of August 1469. A hundred ten yeares after that Henry the third instituted the Knights of the holy Ghost and in the yeare 1579. After an Age all things grow old Lewis of Luxenbourg Earle of S t Paul and Constable of France Andrew of Laual Lord of Loheac Marshall of France Iohn Earle of Sancerre Lord of Bueil Lewis of Beaumont Lord of Forest and Plessis Lewis of Estouteuille Lord of Torcy Lewis of Laual Lord of Chastillon Lewis Bastard of Bourbon Earle of Roussillon Admirall of France Anthony of Chabannes Earle of Dammartin Lord Stuard of the Kings house Iohn Bastard of Armagnac Earle of Comminges Marshall of France and Gouernor of Dauphiné George of Tremouille Lord of Craon Gilbert of Chabannes Lord of Curton Seneshall of Guienne Charles Lord of Crussol Seneshall of Poitou Taneguy of Chastell Gouernor of the Country of Roussillon and Sardinia The King reserued to make vp the number of six and thirty Knights to his Election at the first chapter The Duke of Bourgundy at the same time receiued the Order of England and the Duke of Brittanie that of Bourgundie the one instituted by Edward the third f Edward the third instituted the Order of the garter of fiue and twenty Knights in the yeare 1348. Philip that of the goldeÌ„fleece in the yeare 1428. of one and thirty Knights Amedee of Sauoy caled the greene Earle that of Anunciado in the yeare 1409. of fourteene Knights the other by Philip Duke of Bourgundy As this Order had one head so had it one certaine and determinate place one habite one marke or Ensigne of Officers one forme of reception one oath and one rule The place was the Church of Mont S t Michel The place for the assembly of the Order transferred since to Bois de Vincennes as well for that the place was then noted to haue neuer yeelded vnto that yoake of the ancient enemies of the Crowne of France as also for the King Charles the seuenth said that beeing vpon the bridge of Orleans when he entred with the Virgin Ioan he saw not by any fantastical visions of Southsayers like to Caesar g Caesar going to the warre against Pópey a South-sayer came vnto him transported said â— Caesar thou shalt ouerecome It was true and Caesar soone after writing vnto his friends sent them this word Veni vidi vici but truely that Arke-angell fighting on his right hand Hee appointed seates for the cheefe of the Order and Knights in the Quier of the Church with their Armes aboue their seates The habit was a long cloake of white Damaske downe to the ground The habit of the order with a border imbrodered with cockle shells of gold interlaced and furred with Ermines all of one length and one fashion with hoodes of Crimson vellet and long tippets the hood of the chiefe of the order was of Murry Skarlet h The Knights aâ—â—ired in this habit are bound on S t Michels Eue to come vnto the Pallace of the chiefe of the Order to conduct him to the Euensong and the next day to Masse whereas euery one offers a peâ—ce of gold for his deuotioÌ„ The marke or enseigne was a coller of Golde Marke of the order i They are alwaies bound to carry the coller but when they trauel remaine in their houses or goe a hunting then they may weare the Image of the Order in a silke ryband in the midest of which vpon a rocke was the Image of Saint Michael
without Armes to iustifie himselfe of those crimes wherewith he was charged according to the offers made by him That the Lord of Beaujeu and the Cardinall of Alby should obtaine all Letters and expeditions necessary for his better assurance That in the meane time he might remaine in his Countrey of Gascoine in what place he should thinke good except the Towne of Lestoré the which should be deliuered into the hands of the Lord of Beaujeu It was also agreed that in case they gaue him not this assurance n A man of quality should desire nothing more then to make his innocency knowne and to see himselfe purged from all accusaâ—ion For the consideration of their honor many haue desired to be araigned or that the thinges promised were not effected the Towne of Lestoré should be restored vnto him The Lord of Beaujeu hauing receiued the Kings commauÌ„dement vpon this accord the assurance demaÌ„ded Lestore recouered by the E. of Armagnac he sent it vnto Barran whereas he then was by the which it was granted him to goe vnto the King with threescore horse But in steed of going thither he executed an enterprise which he had vpon Lestoré by the meanes of Iohn D. Aymier The younger brother of Albert surprised it o In the Earle of Armagnacs defence it is said that seeing that the Lorde of Beauieu commaunded him to void the Country he required him to restore him the Towne of Lâ—store seing that he had not any Town whether to retyre himselfe and that it was deliuered and tooke the Lord of Beaujeu with the Noble-men and Gentle-men that were with him prisoners D' Aymier was quartred at Tours and the younger brother of Albert being Lord of St. Basile lost his head at Poitiers Hereupon new forces ar sent to the Cardinall of Alby and to the Seneshals of Toulouza and Beaucaire to beesiege Lestoré The siege continued three months and the Cardinall seeing that force would not preuale p To make men subiect either force or fraude must be vsed Sparta was forced by Alexander Siracusa deceiued by Denis he added policy for Townes and Common-weales loose their liberties and are made subiect by the one or the other They propounded againe the precedent condition of the accord A second accord made with the Earle of Armagnac The Abbot of Pessans Bishop of Lombes Chancelor to the Earle comes on his part to treat they granted the assuraÌ„ce which he desired to go vnto the King a bolition of all thinges past of the seruices which he had done in the Duchie of Guienne against the King pardon for the Noble-men Gentle-men of his party of al that had bene done in the surprise of the Town of Lestoré q This treaty iustified the E. of Armagnac if it had bene represented but it was not seene They say that the Earles Secretary who had it in his custody was threatned to be â—ast into a well if he deliuered it not to the Cardinall of Alby In consideration of this he deliuered vp Lestoré vnto the King The articles were signed by the Cardinal Ranfort Balsac Gaston of Lyon Iohn Daillon Lord of Lude on Thursday the fourth of March 1472. In execution of the treaty the Earle of Armagnac deliuered vnto the Cardinall the Castell of Lestoré caused his men to disarme and retired his Cannon making all the ports to be sett open to the Kings men r They that trust are easily deceiued The wise prepare themselues for dangers in assurances In ipsa securitate animus ad difficilia se preparat At this entry there was a great disorder the treaty was broken Earle of Armagnac slaine vnder the assurance of a treaty the Earle of Armagnac was slaine in his house and cast naked into the streets the Townespoiled the Countesse of Armagnac carried prisoner into the Castell and within fewe dayes after was deliuered of a Sonne before her time the Castell and walles of the Towne were razed and it was fiered in euery place and in the end all were intreated with that liberty which the rigor of war permits against Townes and people that rebell s Razing burning and sacking are the ordinary punishments of rebellious Townes Alba was razed Carthage burnt the Vâ—iens were râ—oted out So we finde in the Roman History vpon the punishment of reuolts seditions Muri deiecti senatus abductus Charles of Armagnac the Earles Brother was caried prisoner to the Bastille Charles of Armagnac a prisoner and mad This Imprisonment which continued foureteen yeares bred him wonderfull sorrowes and griefe and as the passage is not great from melancolly to madnes his spirit grew weake and made him incapable to rouse the enemies of his howse They gaue him certaine Noble-men of the Countrey to be his gouernors Many haue written the Taking of Lestoré and the death of the Earle of Armagnac after an other manner and such as if they which had vndertaken to iustifie his memory had held it true it had not beene forgotten in their Apology t The Pagans did so much respect others as they held a Periurâ—d maÌ„ to deceiue the Gods In sui ranâ—um perinde estimandum quaÌ„ si Iouem fesellicet Deorum Iniurias Diis curae Tacit. The more promises are colored with straÌ„ge â—aths and misteries the more they are to be suspected The Accord made betwixt the K. of Nauarre Charles Regent of France was sworne vpon the Sacrament They say therefore that the Cardinall of Alby entred into some treaty with the Earle of Armagnac for the assurance whereof he vsed a damnable pollicy Trechery most damnable for seeing that the Earle feared to fall into the Kings hands he sware his promises by the most sollemne misteries of his Religion giuing halfe a consecrated Hoste vnto the Earle and himself taking the other halfe That in the meane time the soldiers slipt into the Towne and that the Earle meaning to charge them fearing a surprise u Vntill the capitulation be made all pollicies all surprises are alowed They laugh at them who suffering themselues to be surprised in those bargaines cry out of disloialty In courses of hostility there is nothing more excellent then deceipte nothing more safe then distrust they cryed out for succors the Kings Armie entred by the breaches which the cannon had made the Towne was spoiled and ruined all were put to the sword and the Earle slaine The Lord of Beaujeu with the other Gentle-men prisoners were deliuered Such was the Tragicall and fatall end of the Earle of Armagnac Fortune who desired to ouerthrow the greatnes of his house blinded his eyes that hee could not apprehend the dangers which did threaten it She had not a more powerfull instrument then the hatred which the King bare him A hatred conceiued long before nourished and augmented by many free hardy actions He was therfore inuironed with so many perplexities and perturbations as hee needed
vpon Earth which is the Realme of FRANCE whereof many Princes and Kings our Predecessors haue beene so Great Vertuous and Valiant as they haue purchased the name of The Most Christian King c The Kings of France cary the Title of Most Christian since Clovis Charles the Bald is called Most Christian in his Coronation Pope Innocent Honorius the 3 d. in their Bulles to King Philip Augustus and to Lewis the eighth called them Most Christian. The Apostolike Legate and three Bishops named in their Letters write that the Realme of France is Most Christian. Du. Tillet as well for reducing many great Countries and diuers Nations inhabited by infidels to the good Catholicke Faith rooting Heresies and Vices out of our said Realme and maintaining the Holy Apostolicke sea and the holy Church of GOD in their Rights Liberties and Freedomes as for doing many other goodly deedes worthy of eternall memory so as some are held for Saints liuing in the glorious company of GOD in his Paradise which our Realme and other our Countreyes and Signiories we haue thankes bee to GOD so well entertained defended and gouerned as wee haue augmented and enlarged it of all sides by our great care and diligence and by the aid also of our good faithfull and Loyall Officers Seruants and Subiects notwithstanding that soone after our comming to the Crowne the Princes and Noble-men of our Bloud and Linage and other great Noble-men d The Princes and Noble-men of the League were Charles of France the Kings Brother Iohn of Anjou Duke of Lorraine and Calabria Iohn Duke of Alencon Charles of Bourgondy Earle of Charolois Iohn Duke of Bourbon Francis Duke of Brittanie Iames of Armaignac Earle of Marche and of Castres Duke of Nemours Iohn Earle of Armaignac his vncle Iohn Earle of Dunois and of Longueville Bastard of Orleans Lewis of Luxembourg Earle of S. Pol. Charles Lord of Albert father to great Alain and Anthony of Chabannes Earle of Dammartin of our said Realme or the greatest part of them had conspired plotted and attempted against vs and the Common-weale of our said Realme many great practises treasons and conspiracies so as by meanes thereof there hath followed so great warres and diuisions as it hath caused a wonderfull effusion of humane bloud ruine of Countries and the desolation of multitudes of people the which hath continued since our said comming vnto this present day and is not yet fully quenched but may after the end of our dayes reviue and continue long if some good order and course be not taken Wherefore hauing regard hereunto and to the age wherein wee are and to the certaine infirmity wherein wee are fallen for the which wee haue beene in great deuotion to visite the glorious body of Saint Claude so as with the helpe of our Creator wee are much amended and haue recouered health Wee therefore resolued concluded and determined after the returne of our said voyage to see our most deere and well-beloued sonne Charles Dauphin of Vienna and to instruct him in many notable things e Happy are those Princes which learn the formes of Gouerning well by the examples and instructions of their fathers Leon receiued them from the Emperour Basillius and Philip Augustus from Saint Lewis For if the highest knowledge of a Prince bee to know his Estate the knowledge cannot bee more faithfull nor certaine then from those which haue the experience The Booke of the Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenete for the Instruction of his sonne associated to the Empire the which is now remaining in the Kings Library is onely vpon this subiect and as Monsteur Casaubon who hath it in keeping writes in an eloquent Epistle vpon Polybius Sciebat vetus regnandi Princeps ad negotia gerenda in quibus Repub. salus continetur illud adprimè defiderari vtingenia hominum probè nota sint quibus cum agitur siue illi sint subditi siue amici siue socij siue hostes The Prince who was old in Gouernement knewe well that in matters which concerned the safety of the Common-weale it was chiefly to bee desired that the Dispositions of men with whom they are to deale bee well knowne bee they Subiects Friends Allies or Enemies for the direction of his life in good manners gouernement entertainement and conduct of the Crowne of France if it please God hee come vnto it after vs. For the accomplishing whereof after our returne from our said voyage into our Towne of Ambois wee went into the Castle of the said place where our said sonne the Dauphin was whom we haue alwayes caused to bee kept and bred vp there where in the presence of a certaine number of Nobleblemen and Ladies of our Bloud and Linage and other great Personages men of our Councell Captaines and Officers both to vs and said sonne wee haue called our said sonne before vs and haue caused those words and Remonstrances which followed to be deliuered vnto him First after a recitall made by vs of the aforesaid things or of the greatest part of them to our said sonne wee haue let him vnderstand how much wee desire that after vs he might with the aid of God come vnto the Cromne of France his true Inheritance and that he might so gouerne and maintaine it as it might bee to his honour and praise and to the profite and vtility of the Subiects of his Realme Dauphiné and other Countries and Signiories and of the Common-weale f This Instruction regards onely the setling of the Princes affaires and doth not extend vnto the duties of Conscience nor to those vertues which edifie Kings Piety and Iustice. But to what end so many Instructions To make a Princes conduct happy wee must wipe these wordes out of his minde If it please it is lawfull If it may bee it shall bee A good Prince should not will any thing but what hee ought Caesar◠cum omnia licent propter hoc minus licet vt foelicitatis est posse quantum velis sic magnitudinis velle quantum possis vel potius quantum debeas For that all things are lawfull to Caesar therefore they are the lesse lawfull As it is a happinesse to doe what thou wilt so it is a greatnesse not to will any thing but what thou mayest or rather what thou oughtest Plin. Paneg. Traja Item That if it pleased God to work his will on vs and that our son should come vnto the Crowne of France wee haue commanded and enioyned him as a father may doe his sonne that he shall gouerne himselfe and the said Realme Dauphiné and Countries by the Councell and aduice of our kinsmen Lords of our Bloud and Linage and other Noblemen Barons Knights Captaines and wise men of our Councell and especially of those whom he shall know and finde to haue beene good and faithfull to the deceased our most honored Lord and Father whom God absolue to vs and to the Crowne of France that haue been vnto vs good and
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
dispose thereof by Testament h When as they say that women are incapable of dignities it is to be vnderstood of charges which consist in Functions and Offices A Woman cannot be a Consull a President or a Chancellour but when the dignity is patrimoniall and annexed to the Fee such a dignity may belong vnto a woman as wel as the iurisdiction The King caused a Consultation to be made of all the learned Lawyers of his Realme to know what his Neeces right was They found that it depended vpon this Maxime That the Nephew or Grand-childe represents his Father and Grand-father in the right of Primogeniture or first borne That this right is transferred to the children of the elder although hee die before the Father and holds the place of lawfull heire They did also consider the custome and common obseruation of this Realme where the eldest sonne dying and leauing a sonne hee succeedes the Grand-father as his Father should haue done The Grand-fathers second-sonne being excluded from all pretention for the Nephew excludes the Vncle and representation hath place in this Realme in Fees which are not diuisible In the time of King Charles the fifth his Maiesty sitting with the Peeres of France in his Court of Parliament Ioane of Brittany married to Charles of Blois i Charles of Blois and the Lady Ioane of Brittaine his wife did enioy this Dutchy fiue twenty years or thereabouts vntil that Iohn of Montford being succoured by the Forces of England slewe Charles of Blois in battle and expelled his wife out of the Dutchy was declared heire to the Dutchy of Brittany as representing her Father against Iohn Earle of Montfort her Vncle. She was daughter to the Duke of Brittanies second brother and the Earle of Montfort was the third brother Allain Lord of Albret as sonne vnto the eldest Vicount of Tartas who was deceased succeeded his Grand-father in the Landes of Albret and excluded from the succession the Lord of Sancte Bazille his vncle and the Lord of Oruall his Grand-fathers yonger brother k In the house of Albret there are many Earledomes The Earledome of Gaure the Earledome of Dreux the Earldome of Peyragore and many Vicounties and Baronies They held that house in the time of King Lewis the eleuenth to haue sixe thousand pound sterling of yearely rent King Philip in the yeare 1314. did iudge the suite betwixt Maud daughter to the Earle of Artois and Robert of Artois her Vncle and by his iudgement it was decreed that the daughter should succeed as the neerest vnto her father Lewis Earle of Flanders had but one daughter the richest heire of Chrstendome the which succeded her father in the Earledome of Flanders excluding the Duke of Brabant her Vncle and was married to Philip of France sonne to King Iohn and first Duke of Bourgondy l The Treaty of Marriage betwixt the Duke of Bourgondy and Margaret Princesse of Flanders was made the twelfth of Aprill one thousand three hundred sixtie nine the Dutchy of Guienne which comprehends all Gasconie as well that which is of the iurisdiction of Tolouse as of Bourdeaux and more was carried to the Crowne of England by the marriage of the daughter of William Duke of Guienne with Henry King of England m Elenor the onely daughter to William Duke of Guienne and Earle of Poitiers was married to Lewis King of France and beeing put away by him shee married againe to HENRY sonne to the King of England and Duke of Normandy Henry King of Nauare Earle of Champagne left one daughter who was married to K. Philip the Faire and succeded her Father in the Earledome of Champagne The last Earle of Poictou n The County of Poictou and the Towne of Poitiers were vnited to the Crowne by King Charles the seuenth in the yeare 1436. had one daughter named Margaret who was married to the eldest sonne of France and succeeded her Father notwithstanding that the Earle of Saint Valier her Vncle was then liuing Raymond the fifteenth and last Earle of Tolousa dying without Issue Male Ioane his onely daughter succeeded him and was married to Alphonso of France brother to the King Saint Lewis o The marriage of Alphonso of France and Ioane Coumtesse of Toâ—ouse was treated in the yeare 1228. Matthew Earle of Foix dying without children in the yeare 1398. his sister surnamed Isabel succeeded him and was married to Archambaut of Grailly Lewis of Luxemburge Earle of S t. Paul had many children but his eldest sonnes daughter who was married to to the Earle of Vandosme was sole heire of all his lands as representing her Father who was the eldest p They hold that the Countesse of Vendosme did not succeede in the Earledome of Saint Paul by right of succession but by a Treaty of peace and that her Vncles were all incapable of this sucession for that the Landes of Lewis of Luxemburg her father had been confiscate The Earle of Lauragais left but one daughter who succeeded in the Earledome whereof she made donation to the French King The Earle of Castres had one daughter who was married to a yonger sonne of the house of Bourbon Earle of Marche who after her fathers decease succeeded in the Earledomes of Castres and Vandosme and excluded them of Montfort who were her Vncles from the succession Of this marriage were borne two sonnes Iames of Bourbon the elder who was Earle of Marche and of Castres and the yonger who was Earle of Vandosme Iames of Bourbon married Beatrix of Nauarre q Iames of Bourbon Earle of Marche married with Beatrix daughter to Charles the second King of Nâ—uarre the fifteenth of August one thousand foure hundred and fiue Elenor their onely daughter was married to Bernard Earle of Armaignac and Perdiac who after her fathers death succeeded as well in the Earledome of Marche as of Castres and excluded the Earle of Vandosme from the succession True it is that these Earledomes haue remained in the house of Bourbon by transaction r The King made Donation of the Earledome of March to Monsieur de Bourbon and his wife The Duke of Nemours children beeing restored to their Landes there was a sute to ouerthrow this Donation and then an Accord was made by the which the Earledome of Marche remained to the house of Vendosme and Bourbon the Duke of Nemours children being otherwise recompensed William Vicount and Lord of Mountpellier although hee had many kinsmen of his name had no other heire but his daughter Mary wife to Peter King of Arragon Peronelle s Du Tillet saith that this Peronella of Bigorre had fiue husbands 1. Gaston of Bearne 2. Ninion Sance Earle of Sardaine 3. Guy of Montford 4. Raoâ—l Tescu 5. Boson of Mathas daughter to the Earle of Bigorre succeeded her father in the Earledome of Bigorre in the yeare one thousand two hundred sixty foure and was married to Boson of Mathas Vicount of Marsan and
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
yeeld to any thing contrary to the dignity of his Crowne which cannot endure to be forced and doth neuer shew himselfe in publicke actions but with what is fit and necessary for his greatnesse and power e The words and actions of Princes are so considered and the people iudge of them as they vnderstand them and therefore should alwayes appeare Maiesticall and if it may bee Diuine And ancient Grecian said That a Prince should not speake before the people but as if hee were vpon a stage in a Tragedy This Maiesty is like vnto Moses Rod Maiesty compared to Moses rod. the which being held in the hand was the Instrument of admirable things but creeping on the earth there was nothing but horror and contempt Lewis the eleuenth was alwayes very carefull to maintaine this Maiesty being wonderfull desirous of reuerence respect and reputation and yet his priuate and familiar actions were very contrary This care was the last garment he put off hee shewed it vpon the tigpe of his lippes when as hee thrust forth the last words of his life He gaue it two supporters Feare and Admiratition f 〈…〉 that greâ— God who the Prince doth represent It is the support and protecâ—sion of an estae and confâ—â—â— bee contemned nor wronged but the whole body will be distempered maiestas Imperij solutis tutela Maiestly is the guardian of the Empires health another would haue maintained it with Loue and Authority but hee mist this first way at his comming to the Crowne and could neuer after recouer it hee found such sauadge humors and so accustomed to liberty that as the intemperance of the Patient iustifies the seuerity of the Physitian he was forced to vse fury to make mad men wise Thus his Maiesty was feared of the greatest Princes of Europe it was not contemned of any man without punishment and it was reuerenced of all his subiects This Maiesty was like vnto those Pictures which seemed fairest farre off It was admired in forraine Prouinces but it was something blemished by his carelesnesse and facility wherewith he did often wrong his greatest actions The Castillians at the voyage of Bayone scoffed at him to see him with so little pompe and maiesty Custome of Lewis 11 at ceremonies Vpon dayes of great shew hee caused some one to bee attired like himselfe g At the enterview of King Lewis the eleuenth and Edward the fourth at Piquigny Philip de Comines was attâ—â—ed like the King And yet a Prince should neuer doe any thing that should cause him to bee sought for among his subiects and seruants the brightnesse of his Maiesty must shine like vnto a Planet ouer the lesser starres Great men which inuiron a Prince giue a lustre to the greatnesse of Maiesty Offices of the crown The Offices of the Crowne are ordained to that end and the great dignities which France doth impart to great merites addes reuerence and doth incite their mindes to merit them It is like vnto the Garden of Phaeaces which abounds with all sorts of fruites It is not vnfitting to set downe heere who tasted of them during this Reigne h When as king Lewis the eleuenth came vnto the Crowne there was no Constable Arthur Duke of Brittanie Earle of Richmond was vnder the Reigne of Charles the seuenth Constable Lewis of Luxembourg Earle of Saint Paul no other carried the Sword during this Reigne Chancellour Peter of Moruilliers Iuvenall of Vrsins Lord of Treynell and Peter of Oriole Lord Steward The Lord of Nantoillet IOHN of Croi CHARLES of Melun ANTHONY of Croi sonne to IOHN of Croi and ANTHONY of Chabannes Earle of Damartin Chiefe Chamberer IOHN the second Duke of Bourbon i The Office of chefe Chamberer or Gentleman of the Chamber continued long in the house of Bourbon The King Saint Lewis gaue it to Robert of France his sonne Lewis the first Duke of Bourbon Charles the first Iohn the second Peter the second Dukes of Bourbon Lord Chamberlaine IOHN of Orleans Earle of Dunois ANTHONY of Chasteauneuf Lord of Lau. Marshals of France ANDREVV of Lauall Lord of Loheac IOHN Bastard of Armagnac Earle of Comminges Ioachim Rouant Lord of Gamasche of Boismenard and Peter of Rohan Lord of Gye There were but two vntill King Francis the first Admirall Iohn Lord of Montauban Lewis Bastard of Bourbon Earle of Rousillon Lewis Lord of Grauille Maister of the Crosse-bowes k The maister of the Ordinance of France or the Coâ—oncll of the Infantery haue succeeded in this charge Iohn of Estouteuille Lord of Torcy Great Butler the Lord of Lau. Wee finde not that hee had any Maister of his Horse or Maister of the Pantry Ioachim of Rouant was Maister of the Horse at his Coronation Yuon of Fau his chiefe Hunts-man Lewis of Lauall Lord of Chastillon was maister of the Waters and Forrests The ancient order of France was that Knights Banneret the Maister of the Pantrie the chiefe Caruer and the chiefe Cuppebearer should serue the King at the foure Annall Feastes and to either of them was giuen foure poundes sterling but when as Lewis the eleuenth neglected this Gratuity they forgot the Dutie It is one of the precepts of Maiesty that the markes of Soueraignty bee not imparted to any l A prince shold not be more sparing of any thing then of honours which depend of his maiesty yet hee suffered the Prince of Orange to stile himselfe Prince by the grace of God Here P. Mathew is deceiued and to René King of Sicile to seale in yellow Waxe in the yeare one thousand foure hundred sixty nine the which doth onely belong to the Kings of France other Princes of Christendome seale in waxe of diuers colours and to Charles Earle of Angoulesme to release prisoners when hee made his first entry into any Towne where he commanded m In this priuiledge but for once to Charles Earle of Angoules me prisoners for high Treason were excepted It was granted in the yeare 1477. Hee was very staied in giuing Titles of Honour and Dignity to great Families a Prince cannot bee too warie therein for it falles out often that the considerations which fauour the priuate merite of any one end with him when hee dies but when the dignitie is tyed vnto the person as the feodall titles of Dukes Marquises Earles and Barons bee the Family for the which the gratification was made is dispossest thereof when as the Landes goe away n Many disallowed that the feodall Titles of Dukes Marquises c. should bee giuen in France to the Land and not vnto the Bloud for it happens that some one loosing the land doth also loose the meanes to maintaine the Title which remaines Hence it comes that in England such dignities are not annexed to the Landes and Fees Policy in England for the titles of Houses but to the Bloud and the Descendants of the Familie The German doth not impart it to the
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
honors and deserued great aduancements in the house of Bourgondy he receiued the Coller of the golden Fleece when as D. Charles did first solemnize the order at Bruges after his fathers death f Charles 〈…〉 should haue stood with these words which are read in a Chronicle M. S. of the Kings library The Earle of Neuers being adiourned by the letters patents of the most high and most excellent Prince my redoubted Lord the Duke sealed with the seale of his order of the Fleece to appeare in person at this present Chapter there to answere vpoÌ„ his honor touching witchcraft and abusing the holy Sacraments of the Church hath not appeared but hath made default And to auoid the sute and depriuation of the order to bee made against him he hath sent back the Coller and therefore hath been and is declared out of the order and not called in the offring when as the Earle of Neuers was degraded more vnworthily then the respect of his house made him to hope from a Prince his neere kinsman The Duke gaue him the gouernment of the County of Boullein afterwards of Artois He came vnto the Kings seruice and deliuered into his hands the Towne of Arras after the Dukes death It seemes that Philip de Comines would not speake all he knew nor call a Fig a Fig. He knits it vp shortly in these words He could not mistake in submitting himselfe vnto the Kings seruice vnlesse he had taken a new oath to the yong Lady of Bourgondy and in yelding vp that vnto her which he held of hers They haue and will speake diuersly hereof wherfore I referre my selfe to the truth Tristan the Hermit whom the rigor of this reigne hath made so famous for the suddennesse of his executions was high Prouost Tristan the Hermit King Charles the 7 th made him knight after the siege of Fronsac g After the siege of Fronsac there were made knights Iohn of Bourbon Earle of Vendosâ—ne Iohn of â—ourbon his base brother the Vicount of Turaine the Lords of Rochefautaut Commery Rochechouart Grignaux de Barres Mommorin Bordeilles Fontenelles and Estauge The name of Tristan was giuen to Princes borne in some great affliction Iohn of France was surnamed Tristan for that he was borne at Damiete during the Imprisonment of S. Lewis his father In like manner the sonne to the King of Sicile was called Tristan for that he was borne in Catelonia when his father was a prisoner Philip de Commines Lords of Argenton Philip de Commines Some haue thought that he freed the king from the danger of Peronne and that it was the cause of the great fauour which he had purchased with the king I haue wondred why the king did not adde the honour of the Order of S. Michael and how it was possible that it should faile a man who wanted not any thing and who was so much fauoured and so familiar with the king as he did often lye in his Bed eate at his Table sit at his Councell and carried his most secret designes to Princes treated q Wee doe often finde the 〈…〉 of the secrets in Lawyers books Procopius sayth that the wâ—ters of 〈◊〉 were called a Secretis Honor qui tunc dabaâ—ur egregijs dum ad Imperiale Secretum tales constet eligi in quibus reprehonsionis vitium nequeat inveniâ—i An honour which was then giuen to worthy men whilst such are chosen to the secrets of the Empire in whoÌ„ no vice of reprehension can bee found happily but by them that know them by the beginning Secretarie of state a necessary Office progresse and effects by whose eyes and hands they see them and then dispatch them Sufficiency Experience and Fidelity serue as a lampe in obscurest deliberations and giues them Ariadâ—es threed which keepes them from meeting the Minotaure of repentance r The Venetians whose state is Aristocraticall change all their Officers yearely and some euery two moneths but the Duke the 〈◊〉 of S t. Marke the Chancellor and the Secretaries of State are for life the which the Florentines ordained in their state whâ—â— as Lewis the twelfth freed them from the tyranny of Count Valentine in the intricate Labyrinth of Enterprises For this reason in some well-gouerned Common-weales where as Offices are annuall that of Secretary is perpetual to the end that one alone may be Register of that which is concluded by many and an inviolable Guardian of Secrecie which is the soule of affaires and returnes neuer when it is once let slip s Secrecie is the soule of affaires and as Valerius calles it Optimum ac 〈…〉 agendâ—rum vinculum The best and safest hand for the managing of Affaires France cannot passe without the Counsell and experience of him who for that hee hath serued foure Kings in that great and painfull charge is held by all Europe for the Oracle of all resolutions and reuolutions There is not any thing vnpenetrable to his Iudgement who entring into the most confused and obscure affaires doth presently draw light But it is time to go to land This name so famous and renowned throughout all the world is the rocke of Adamant which drawes my ship Hee is the Port of this Nauigation which I finish he shall be the North-starre of another which I continue The profit of them shall redound to all in generall the thankes vnto the King and the glory vnto God The end of the History of Lewis the eleuenth MAXIMES IVDGEMENTS AND POLITIKE OBSERVATIONS OF PHILIP DE COMMINES Lord of Argenton VPON THE LIFE REIGNE AND ACTIONS OF LEWIS the eleuenth and of diuers other occurrents PLACES AND TITLES of these Maximes Prouidence of God Princes Realme Salique Law Enter-view of Princes Gouernments Councels and Councellors Court of Parliament Embassadors Treasure of the Prince Assemblies and Treaties People and Subiects Townes and Nations House of Bourgondy Enemies Enterprises Battels Warre Souldiars Sieges Victories Changes Prosperity and Aduersity Diuision Tumults and Sedition Liberalitie Iustice and Iniustice Punishment Iniury and Offence Wisedome Secresie Experience Knowledge Historie Nourishment Nature Hope Age. Fore-sight Carelesnesse and Vigilance Pride and Presumption Treacherie Dutie A good Man POLLITICKE MAXIMES PROVIDENCE OF GOD. ALL well considered our onely hope should be in God In the end of the first booke for in him consists all our assurance and all goodnesse which cannot bee found in any other thing in the world But wee do euery man acknowledge it too late and after that wee haue neede yet it is better late then neuer Grace and good fortune comes from God Lib. 1. chap. 4. In all enterprises wee must haue God of our side Lib. 2. chap. 1. God hath alwaies loued the Realme of France Lib. 4. chap. 1. To see things which God hath done in our time Lib. 4. chap. 13. and doth daily shewes that he will leaue nothing vnpunished And we may see plainely that these strange workes come
THE HISTORY OF LEWIS THE ELEVENTH VVITH THE MOST MEMORABLE accidents which happened in Europe during the two and twenty yeares of his Raigne Enricht with many Obseruations which serue as Commentaries Diuided into eleuen Bookes Written in French by P. MATHIEV Historiographer to the French King And Translated into English by EDVV GRIMESTON Sergeant at Armes †LEWIS ✚ THE ✚ XI ✚ FRENCH ✚ KING ✚ At London printed by GEORGE ELD 1614. SEMPER · EADEM TO THE MOST NOBLE AND WORTHY OF ALL HONORS THOMAS Earle of Suffolke Lord Chamberlain to his Maiestie WHO begins my most Noble Lord and not ends the Race receiues no Crowne I haue begunne to submit to your Patronage my former endeauours And therefore thus continue their grace with prescription of your honorable name Your most Noble disposition neuer giuing ouer free and honest seruices T' were inconstancie respectlesse and rude to relinquish or not euer to celebrate you Or to an encreasing Nobilitie and merit to decrease in obseruance and Tribute I haue chosen now to present your Lordship with the Life of one of those Kings which my former French disfranchisements and makings free in our English haue in other sort toucht at Now selected augmented and more particularly illustrated by the neerer and more labor'd insight of one of their learned'st and most profit-making Obseruers All obiections to his labours he hath answered himselfe in Sequell my paines being onely to render him truely and with as much grace of our English representation as I might Nought rests but your Lordships leasurable perusall and examination of both Together with my zealous desire of your honorable conceit that all Offices performed on my part in this or any other worthy subiect shall euer be particularly confined to your chosen seruice and noble acceptance So euer remaining in all things Your LL. most deuoted EDVV GRIMESTON AN ADVERTISEMENT ALthough that all Bookes which are presented vnto the King proceed not from those excellent pens which haue taken life vnder his raigne to aduance the French eloquence to the height of glory no more then all Statues which were dedicated to Apollo in Creet Rhodes and Cypres were not made by the hands of Zeuxis or of Phidias nor the wine which was offered to Iupiter in his sacrifice did not alwaies come out of the cup nor grew in those Vines which he desired yet this History being but in her Infancy hath merited the fauour of his iudgement and of the greatest of his Court who haue taken delight to see as in an Astroâ—ab the rising and fall of those which are on earth as the Sunne is in Heauen This is the rampier wherein shee fortifies her selfe against so many affronts wherewith she hath been threatned for curious spirits are not pleased with all kinds of writing no more then the Planets feed vpon all sorts of vapours The most difficult to please will obiect against her and mee thinkes I vnderstand these words proceeding out of their mouthes or from their thoughts why the History of Lewis the eleuenth more then of any other can they giue vs a better then that of Philip de Commines to all these exceptions she hath but one answere What though I giue not all humors content A worke that 's great cannot please eu'ry taster But of so many tasts so different Let it suffice me that it likes my Master I haue not affected in this worke the glory of mine owne wit I haue contented my selfe with that of obedience I haue made it such as you see it his commandement carries his reasons and staies the curiositie of such as desires others This great Prince who entertained himselfe and slept sometimes vpon the actions of this King as Alexander did vpon those of Achilles and who made no lesse esteeme of Phil. de Com. then the Emperor Charles the fift had done would haue his History beautified and illustrated in the same manner that I present it vnto you to the end that being compared with his Iudgement might make the difference and that of two they might frame a liuely Image of that which might serue for the conduct of a Prince The brightnes of truth appeares by the opposition of her contrary and shadowes giue grace to liuely coulours examples are of more force then precepts Cowards instruct the Couragious and lyars make Men speake the truth He that turnes from vice encounters vertue Ismenias mingled both good and bad Flute-players together to the end that the diuersitie of their musick might be a lesson to imitate the one and leaue the other and that comparison might make the difference There is nothing so difficult as to paralel Princes if there be any conformitie in their fortunes it is found in their vertues if they haue attained to one end it hath not been by the same course and therefore they say there are a hundreth yeares required to breed a great Prince or a great Captaine Lewis hath carried and Henry doth yet carry the glorious Title of the most renowned and magnanimous Princes of their ages but they haue not purchased it by the selfe same meanes the difference hath beene great in their humours and in their kinde of gouernement Both had one kinde of beginning the one of the house of Valois the other of that of Bourbon two branches of S. Lewis There was some conformitie in their first fortunes being both retired from Court and both instructed in patience in the schoole of necessitie The beginning of their reignes had some resemblance for both had seene a great and mighty faction raised against them vnder two goodly pretexts the one of the Common-weale the other of Religion both haue been in paine to expell forraine enemies to pacifie domestique and to diuide their humors but what the one hath done by policie and force the other hath effected by the iustnes of his armes and the mildnes of his clemencie Both were troubled to moderate those spirits which had yet a feeling of ciuill diuisions they haue tried the infidelitie of their seruants and haue made themselues to bee feared and redoubted but the one hath maintained the respect of his Maiestie by feare and seueritie and the other by wisedome and loue The raigne of the one was a Sea of stoâ—mes and tempest the other a calme milde and cleare hauen Lewis of much did little Henry of nothing did wonders Lewis thrust himselfe into apparant dangers to reap doubtfull fruits Henry was neuer seene in any place but fortunate and victorious Lewis medled with all things and would see and know all Henry is a Prince of all howers and for all affaires Lewis feared the fat of his people Henry beleeues that the felicitie of the subiect is the glory of the Prince Lewis the eleuenth had royall vertues but they were not all pure his wisedome had a touch of ounâ—ing his iustice of seueritie his valour of rashnes his clemencie of feare his liberalitiâ— of profusion and his pietie of dissimulation Henry takes
seuere and difficult so euer The Duke of Bourbon 1411. who would make his profit of this diuision betwixt the father and the sonne Charles Duke of Bourbon and who was discontented to see the King contemne and reiect the Princes to fauour priuate men practised this diuision The Dauphin who was bred vp in the Castle of Loches vnder the charge of Iohn Earle of March y The Earle of March was gouernour to the Dauphin He wrought meanes to get out of his hands and to bee at libertie They said then that King Charles should not haue married him so soone to entreat him like a child saw him carried away by the bastard of Bourbon and was content to goe and to be ridde of his gouernor who suffered him to enioy conuenient libertie thinking it vnfit to treat the first sonne of France seuerely being now great and married Hee was led to Moulins whereas the Duke of Bourbon attended him Thither came the Duke of Alençon and Chabannes Earle of Damartin beeing incensed for that the King had called him Captaine of Bandilieres These were men who after the peace of Arras like vnto some after the treaty of Bretigny z When as treaties of peace are concluded they must prouide for the retreat of forraine troopes elâ—e they wil ouerrun the Prouinces After the treaty of Brâ—tigny in the yeare 1360. the English trooopes did ouerrâ—n and spoile France and defeated them that sought to stop their violencâ—s at â—regnay neere to Lyon did ouercome and spoyle all the whole country leauing the peasant nothing but his shirt There imbarked in the same ship the Earle of Vandome the Earle of Dunois Bastard of Orleans and the Lord of Chaumont Tremouille Boucicaut and Prye There resolution was not to yeelde him vntill that an order were setled in France the Princes in Authoritie and the malecontents in fauour If their intention had appeared in her true and naturall forme her deformitie had displeased all the world for it was nothing but a meere conspiracie of great men who abusing the youth of this Prince ingaged him in an vnnaturall ingratitude and thought to make him greater then eyther nature or God himselfe had yet ordained that vnder his shadow a He that wil enioy the shadow of his Prince must reioyce at his greatnes so as it be not raised vppon a foundation of Iniustice and ingratitude they might liue at their ease and make their profit of the publicke ruines To giue some forme to this illusion they deuise supposed members and giue it for a face the b All deformities and imperfections are so foule being seene bare as like vnto them that haue both their armes and â—egs cut off make other of Ironâ— or wood euen so they that haue had deseignes do couer them with some goodly pretext maske of reformation of disorders protesting that they had no other intention but to settle the Dauphin to the end that all things might bee done by his authoritie with the aduise of the Princes of bloud They had sought to imbarke the Duke of Bourgundy with them Duke of Burgundy refuse to enter into the league but he who would not reuiue a quarrell if not altogether quencht yet at the least smothered And knowing the folly of this designe sent them word that he would liue in peace and that at the end of the course whereinto they were entred there was an ineuitable downefall c of rash designes we may easily foretell theâ— vnfortunate euents and hopes whcih haue vniust foundations cannot long continue That they should doe wisely to returne into the way which they had left for that they more they went into this the more they should wander that of all the miseries that would fall abundantly vpon them they should not be d He that is the cause of his owne misery hath small reason to complaine and few men pitty him lamented of any for that they were knowne to bee the causers That although there were some disorder in the state yet could it not be so great as that which should grow by this diuision and France should be little beholding for her help to those which had made her so sicke to cure her e It is a desperatee cure when as healtâ— must be beholding to siicknes and peace to Ciuil warre for that neither the disordred gouernement of affayres nor the vaiust commandement of the Prince would not cause so many ruines and inconueniences as disobedience and rebellion f Ruines and miseries grow not by them that command but by such as obey Obedience hath made Estates to prosper and florish vnder vniust and tiâ—ranous commâ—n â—ementâ— The common weale of Spaâ—ta was happy not for that their Kings commanded wel but for that this subiects obeyed well Theopompus That for his part he could not seperate himselfe from the King his Lord without forsaking himselfe That his armes and forces were alwaies at the Dauphins commandement so as his designes were not disauowed and that he would more willingly employ himselfe to bring him to his fathers presence then to withdraw him The Princes of this league were very sorrie for this declaration For they considered that if they could haue kindled a hatred betwixt these two houses they would haue beene more violent and yet they made this yong Prince beleeue by reasons fuller of oftentations then truth Letters of Lewis to the good Townes that all would doe well They dissembled the g In enterprises of 〈…〉 â—onsiâ—er the ground and iustice of the cause rather 〈◊〉 the issuâ— and successe The Romans had this glory neuer to enter into it wrongfully They did not so mucâ— glory saith Titus Liuius in the prosperous successe as to hauâ— beguâ— it vppon a reasonabâ—e and lawfull occasion Iniustice of this warre and flatter him with sweet hopes of the euent They write letters in his name to the townes of Auuergne and other prouinces whereas they thought these designes would be well liked of and this Innouation pleasing But they were reeeiued of the wise with more amazement for this defection then desired to adhere vnto them and although there be no cause so bad but it findes some refuge and some one to fauour it and that which is held a crime h All the actions of men are taken by two ends some commend them others blame them Coesar is commended for that he attemptâ—d against the liberty of Rome Brutus iâ— blamed who opposed himself to his deseignes to reuenge his contries libertâ—es Some blame Cateline for that hee would haue done and others commend Caesar for that hee did in some is commended by others as a publique seruice yet all the townes did abhor this rebellion They held it impossible that such a diuision could prosper and that France would bee made a Theatre of a new Tragedie that the reasons whereof they did ground it were like vnto false stones which haue some transparant shining like
they were able to resist the most violent stormes of Enuie Vertue and good fortune had alwaies held the helme and sailes of his nauigation The troupes which he led had been well beaten vpon the fronter of Bourgundy The Dauphin said vnto him by way of iest yet without bitternes for he knew that this spirit would be easily moued g Euery iest that containes truth in it offends although it he spoken by a superiour The more mens cour ages are raised vp the lesse they endure and the longer they remember it 〈…〉 facenis irridete follius quarum apud praepotentes in longâ—â—â— memoria est Tac. An lib. 5. 〈…〉 wont to scoffe at Tiberius 〈…〉 neither did he dwell vpon it for iests should end when as they begin to moue laughter How now Earle of Dammartin by the faith of my bodie the Marshall of Bourgundy hath vnshod you he doth contrarie to other Smithes who shooe horses and he vnshooes them You say well answered the Earle but I haue gotten ten thousand crownes to make new shooes for my horses He was very inward with him and of that credit as meaning to be reuenged of any one that had offended him Reuenge against the Seneshall of Normandy he imparted his deseine vnto him and gaue him mony to execute it h The Chronicle Martinienne speakes plainely of this proceeding A rack which euery Prince should shun if hee will not make shipwrack of his reputation To cause an enemy to be slaine is an act of feare and not of brauery It is a proud abstinency to refuse his prince but a great misery when it is for the recompence of a seruice which subiects the consience vnder the tyranie of repentance and remorse Iames of Chabannes Lord Steward of France blamed his brother for this match making by the which he gaue his friends cause to repent themselues for the esteeme they had made of him i He that doth an act to ruine his reputation forceth many to repent themselues of the admiration esteeme they haue had of him The King was aduertised and not able to dissemble an Act so vnworthy the generosity of the blood of France Excuse of the Dauphin to accuse Chabannes which knoweth not how to shed blood neither for delight nor reuenge but onely for necessity k Tyrants saith Seneca shed blood for pleasure and Kings for necessity reprehended him bitterly The Dauphin to excuse himselfe accused the Earle of Dammartin saying that it was by his counsell The Earle desuring rather to wrong his fortune then his honour did not accord with the Dauphin but tolde the King that therein he had but giuen eare and obayed The Dauphin seeing himselfe discouered and contradicted saide vnto the Earle reseruing my duty to the King my Lord you haue lyed The reproch of a lye is the most sensible offence that may be done by words but it is neither weaknes nor basenes to endure it of his prince it were indiscretion to be moued therewith Yet the Earle of Dammartin sought to reueÌ„ge those words with this speach Reseruing the respect I owe vnto the King if you were not the Kings sonne I would make answer with my person against yours The Dauphin leaues the Court. but if there be any gentleman of your howse that will charge me with this matter I will make him say the contrary The King iudging by their countenances the truth of their intentions commanded the Dauphin to absent himselfe for fower Monthes l A Prince which hath many Children great capable to command should not keepe them about him hee must giue them some obiect to consume their ambition The idlenes of Court giues them vitious inclinations had deseignes Wherefore Tiberius absented himselfe Vrbano â—uxu laseiuientem His spirit began to grow disordered by the excesse of the City and idlenes which make men humerous from Court and to go into Dauphine The Dauphin going out of the Kings Chamber bare headed and his heart full of reuenge and collor spake these words By this head which hath no hood I will be reuenged on those that haue cast me out of my howse And he kept his word for he was too true in his threats and promises of reuenge He did neuer loue that which he had hated and his disposition was far from that generous precept that wee must hate to loue more ardently m We must not 〈◊〉 hate but we wâ—st so dispose of hatred as it may be conuerted into more ardent friendship Whether the Kinges iealousie or the dislike of faire Agnes the wordes of the Earle of Dammartin or spies or flatterers had caused the absence of Lewis the father bare it with much greefe and repented himselfe that he had no more regarded his owne age then the age of his sonne and that he had neuer showed him his face but fraught with waiwardnes not opened his heart but full of wrath and disdaine n The youth of Primers hath their lawes and priuiledges The fathers seuerity should not seeke to breake them quite but to bend them gently He that had nothing refused to his owne youth should not deny all thinges to his sonnes Time which should haue cured this wound The Kings griefe for the Dauphins absence did but augment the griefe He is victorious ouer forraine enemies but he hath in his heart ciuill war which is more cruell He hath giuen peace vnto France and his soule is in trouble It was a great griefe not to see himselfe assisted and serued by a sonne so great and so valiant in those goodly occasions which hee ended so happily to make all France French Battell of Firmigny The siege of Rone and the reduction of all Normandy in one yeare and sixe dayes hauing remained English the space of 30. yeares the battell of Firmigny o The Battell of Firmigni the 15. of Aprill 1450. whereas there were slaine in the place and put into 14. pits 4574. english except 12. or 13. that were prisoners Our Histories report this battel diuersly we must giue credit to that geadly ould peece of tapestry which is at Fountainble au whereas the whole is represented A thousand fighting defeated 6000. English which for the death of 8. or 10. Frenchmen gaue the victory against the English of whom there were 4574. slaine vppon the place The Conquest of all Guienne The siege of Chastillion whereas Talbot p The English called Iohn Talbot their Achilles Hee is interred at VVhitechurch to whom they haue giuen this Epitaph Orate pro anima praenobilis Domini D. Iohannis Talbot quondam Comitis Saloprae D. Talbot D. Furniual D. verden D. Strange de Blaemere at Marescalli Franciae qui â—biit in bello apud Bourdeaur the 7. of Iuly 1453. the Achilles of the English was slaine whose name doth yet terrifie the little children in Guienne The taking of Bourdeaux with other great and goodly occasions which should haue beene as
so many fields of Marathon to Lewis The king seeing that he made no hast to returne Complaints against the Dauphin grew easily into a conceit that he had some desseine he is glad they should flatter his iudgements and allow of his apprehensions Princes haue alwaies about their eares men-pleasers which haue wordes for all incounters and know how to make maskes for all faces and buskins for all feete They make complaints vnto him of the rigorous commands of his sonne oppressing his people with all sorts of charges to haue wherewith to maintaine himselfe They told him that hee sent aduertisements to the Dukes of Bourgundy q The Counrty of Dauphiny did long feele of the discommodities of the Dauphins abode there for the King held him short and would not heare of the complaints he made of his necessities so as for his entertainement he drew rigorous subsideis out of Dauphine Alençon and Bourbon and that he receiued from them that the cloudes were gathered together for some great storme The poore father beleeues all and feares all making proofe that there is nothing more insupportable then the infidelity of his owne blood and as the Lyon is neuer mooued more furiously then at the sight of his owne blood so when this yong Prince sees his bloud r Conspiracies which passe beyond the respects of nature are cruell Of mans blood may be made a most violent poison against man diuerted from the veines and spirits which nourish the hart he enters into extreame passions of greife the which he doth hold cruell for that they do not cause him to dye soone enough He is aduertised that the Dauphin hath sent into Sauoy for men and money The Earle of Dammartin sent into Sauoy He sent the Earle of Damartin to the Duke to let him vnderstand that he would hold the succours which he should giue him for an iniury The Duke answered s The Annulles of Bourgandy report that King Charles being at Feurs in Forest Levvis Duke of Sauoy came to see him where there were two marriages concluded the one of the Dauphin and the Lady 〈◊〉 of Sauoy the other of the Lady 〈◊〉 of France the Kings daughter with Ame Prince of Piemont That he did not carry his affections against his duty and knew how to order his desires to his power and that he had no other but to his maiesties contentment The Dauphin had married his daughter and yet the Kings respect was greater with the Duke then the consideration of this alliance The King sends to the Dauphin to haue him come and the Dauphin promiseth at a certaine time but the terme being come the effects of his promise are excuses and delayes The King sends the Earle of Damartin to seaze on his person and the Lord Chastillon to comand in the Prouince The dilligence in the execution of this comandement put the Dauphin in danger to be taken at Oranges but hauing made shew to go a hunting he deceiued the ambush which the Earle had laid for him t The Dauphin did rely in two noble men who did counsell conduct him Lewis of Chalons and Iohn de Lestore a bastard of the house of Armagnac He was at Oranges when hee was aduertised of the Earle of Dammatius comming and escaping their snares he tooke another way and with sixe or seauen gentlemen recouered St. Claud. If he had fallen into his fathers collor hee would haue vsed him with more rigour then he thought But he went nor without making it knowne that hee would one day make the Earle of Dammartin repent it u The offence which Princes receiue are deeply ingrauen in their memories in brasse gratia onori vltio in quaestu habetur The Dauphin had a feeling of that which the Earle of Dammartia did him in executing his fathers comandements and was reuenged so soone as hee came to the Crowne And that it was not the respect of his father made him flye from his fathers wrath but the very weaknes of the Earle of Dammartin saying that if he had had halfe his forces hee would haue met him Being at S. Claude he 〈◊〉 vnto the King that he desired with his permission The Dauphin retires into Flanders and the meanes that he should giue him to make a voyage against the Turke It was at such time as all Christendome did mourne for the losse of that Citty which had beene sometimes the Metropolitane of the world x After the example of Rome Constantinople was called the head of the world and new Rome and was honored with the like dignities and prerogatiues lib. 1. de priuil Vrb. Sid. App. Salue sceptrerum columen Regins orientis orbis Romatui The Emperor Constans nephew to Heraclius resoluing to restore the seat of the Empire to old Rome said that they must honor the mother more them the daughter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Zonarasin the life of Constans and the common starre of the vniuerse The Queene of all Realmes the faire daughter of that faire mother Rome the new Rome Constantinople which at the the time of her desolation was nothing but a great masse of stone made subiect to the Tirant of the East who hauing filled it with all impieties and cruelties hath made it the vnexpugnable dongeon of his tirranny and cruelty Charles sends word vnto his sonne that if the desire of glory reputation carried him to this enterprise he had lost great and goodly occasions against the enemies of France the Dutchies of Guienne and Normandy hauing beene reduc'd during his absence as for the voyage of Turkey he might not vndertake it vnlesse he were assisted by his Nobility the which hee had cause to employ elsewhere And to speake the truth Lewis lost much time which hee should haue imployed to serue the King and the Realme or to make new Empires tributary to France Hee should not haue beene in any place but in armies and the father should no more meddle but with the Counsell of affaires and to command bonfires to be made for his sonnes victories Nature gaue vnto the one wisdome and experience for his part and to the other force and execution y Age should resolue youth execute The one hath sorce the other wisdome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist. Polit. 6. Lewis auoiding one danger fell into another and as Caesar found himselfe among Pirats thinking to flye from Scilla He trusts his enemy so he saw himselfe at the discretion of the Marshall of Bourgondy after that he had escapedthe ambush of the Earle of Dammartin who loued him not and had charged his troupes when as they aduanced vpon the marches of Bourgundy whereof the Duke was so iealous as hee could not endure that the French should approch them knowing well that a Prince looseth much of his reputation within which doth not stirre when hee is set vppon without z A Prince which suffers himselfe to bee molested vppon
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
to submit himselfe to the mildest yoake seeing that hee could not remaine free o The miseries of ciuill diuision reduced Rome to that estate as hauing no hope euer to recouer her liberty she sought for nothing but for the mildest serâ—itude Hee left vnto Henry the name of King onely for all the authoritie was in his hands he gaue to the Earle of Salisbury the Office of Lord Chancellor of England and to Richard Neuell his Sonne the gouernment of Callis He disposed of publike charges as he pleased still giuing them vnto those of his faction In the end the king discouers the Duke of Yorkes designe Queene Margaret his wife who had been aduertised thereof le ts him vnderstand that he did temporise but vntill the partie were made to ceaze both of the king and Realme and among his partisans the king was held but for a Tyrant As if his Raigne had been by vsurpation or constraint p Among many differences betwixt a King and a Tyrant they put this that a King raigns with the loue anâ— consent of the people and a Tyrant rules by constraint The king imparted this to his principall seruants D. of Yorke retires from the Court of England who were of aduise to restraine this great authoritie which the Duke of Yorke had within the Realme The Duke beeing suddenly aduertised thereof retired secretly to Wigmore in Wales Richard Neuell to his Castle of Midleham in the North Countie and Richard Earle of Warwicke to Callis so as the cruell seditions in England grew more violent then before during the which the French spoiled the coasts of Kent and Iames king of Scotland inuited by the same occasion entred by Roxborge The same cause which made this warre ended it q The shaâ—pest Ciuill wars are pacified when as strangers meddle to gaine by them The two parties agree against the third and although the Prince be offended yet it is better to remit the punishment The king of England let the Duke of Yorke vnderstand that the ciuill discord and the bad intelligence which was betwixt them had opened a gate to the enemies to inuade England that the common danger did binde them to vnite their forces to defend it and that hee was contented to forget all matters past vpon hope of a better conduct hereafter English cease their ciuill discords to war against the French excusing himselfe that matters had not alwaies gone directly being impossible for a Prince to obserue all the kinds of Iustice and equitie r Many things vniust of themselues are made iust when they are countenanced by necessitie or profit wherfore Plutark obserues That if there were question to accomplish al the kindes of iustice Iupiter himself might not in that case bee a Prince The Kings intention was allowed by all men the Duke of Yorke being loth to be the author of the ruines of the Realme declared that all his affections tended to his greatnes and quiet and to take away all occasions of doubt He came vnto the King to London with the chiefe of his faction The feare of a forraine warre quenched the ciuill s There is no such indiscretion as to hazard ones own to get another mans and to draw forth the bloud which is needfull for the life of the bodie It is more glorie for a Prince to maintaine himselfe them to grow great Preseruation safety is the essence of an estate profit it but an accessary Mens mindes altered with things past grew milder and all their wills were vnited in one accord for the defence of the Realme detesting the discord which had drawne them into a warre which was not necessarie nor could bee happie and made them a prey and triumph to their auncient enemie But as the fire of sedition is neuer so well quenched but there remaines some sparks in the ashes Troubles renewed in England which kindle again if they be a little blowne that there be alwaies some which delights in troubles for that it is their rest t Seditions commonly are fed supported by three sorts of men First the heads of factions Secondly they that cannot liue in safety in the time of peace Thirdly they which are out of the presse find themselues free from dangers and in danger for that they come not neere them being like vnto those riuers which enter into the sea and doe not mingle their streames the Duke of Yorke and the Earle of Salisburie being retired to their houses after this accord were presently forced to leaue them to reuenge an affront done to the Earle of Warwick at VVestminster where he had been set vpon by the kings guard and forced to saue himselfe by the Riuer of Thames with the hazard of his life They said that Queene Margret was the author thereof being very desirous to ruine the Nobility of England and to ouerthrow the cheefe howses u A King should maintaine great families neither can hee suffer theÌ„ to be wâ—onged but hee shal weaken the greatnes of his maiesty wherof the Nobility is the cheese piller In all estates the Nobles haue beene respected and distinguished from others euen amongst the Thracians the genlâ—emen went only vppon horseback and at Rome Noblemens wiues went in Littors who were the pillers of the Realme The warre began as soone as it was declared The three Richards are in field King Henry hauing leuied great forces comes to York Andrew Trollop who was come from Calleis with the Earle of Warwick thinking to serue the King when as he saw their armes turned against him left the Earle of Warwick to follow the King who in moment scattered his enemies and forced the Duke of York to passe into Holland there to attend vntill his Partisans had raised the ruines of that party Battaile before London whereas K. Henry was defeated Presently after the three heads of the faction returne into England with an intent to vanquish or to dye they present themselues at the gates of London they giue and winne a great Battell whereas the Victors saw tenne thousand men slaine and as many prisoners King Henry who seemed to haue beene raised vp to show the inconstancy of Fortune and the misery and vanity of man remained at the Victors discretion The English remembring that his grandfather had caused King Richard to dye in prison began to acknowledge the iudgements of Gods iustice who punisheth the Children for the offences of their fathers x Henry Earle of Harford and Duke of Lancastre tooke armes against Richard the 2. seazed on him puts him into the Tower of London and caused himselfe to bee crowned King and after that he had forced him to resigne the Crowne hee sent him to Langleâ— where hee was murthered In this great prosperity the make falls from the Dukes face He speakes plainely Duke of York declared Regent that whatsoeuer he had done was grounded vppon the rightes of the house of Yorke the
them that fled s A Generall of an army should not abandon his campe to follow them that fly Alexander had like to haue miscarried in the last defeate of Darius for hauing followed the chase of his enemies too rashly he was in great danger Cyrus had alwaies men appointed to follow them that fled contemning the aduice of an old Gentleman of Luxembourg called Anthony the Britton who held him lost if hee past any farther The French rallied them-selues againe together to renew the fight and to vanquish or loose all He prest still forward desiring rather to repent him of his Fortune then to haue shame for his victory t Q. Curtius giues vnto Alexander 〈◊〉 se brane and hardy woâ—ds I had rather repent me of my fortune then bee ashamed of my victory The Lord of Contay spake more boldly vnto him and caused him to returne Repassing through the village he went to charge a troupe of footemen who seeing him come fled A soldiar let him know that hee would not giue his life for nothing striking him on the brest with his Pertâ—â—isan whereof hee shewed the marke at night Then passing towards the Castell hee saw the archers of the Kings garde where at he was much amazed thinking that the victory had bin absolutly his and that there was not any more resistance Hee turned on the one side to come vnto the place of Battle but there fell sodenly vpon him u Euery man runnes where the generall is euen ashippe wanting a Pylot and helâ—e dotâ— soone yeeld to the violence of the waues so he that can by pollicy and good aduice finde meanes to beat the chiefe of his enemies the rest will soone faint Polib lib. 3. twelue or fifteene men at armes Earle of Charolois hurt and in danger to be slaine or taken who at the first slew Philip of Org his Guidon and hurt him in the throat Yeeld my Lord cryed Captaine la Hire and Gilbert Grassar wee know you well enough The beuer of his helmet being not made fast in the morning descouered all his face Hee made noe answer but with his sword and this summons to yeeld inflamed his courrage to defend and free him-selfe Iohn Cadeâ— sonne to a Phisition of Paris big heauy and strong three goodly parts which the History giues him being mounted vpon a puissant hors passeth through them Oliuer de la Maâ—ch calls him Robert Cotâ—reaâ— â—â—nne to the Earles Phiâ—â—tion diuides them and saues his maister This Act of valour and fidelity was presently rewarded for the E. of Charolois made him a Knight He came to his campe x There is noâ— retreat in a day of Battle but to the camp for â—ee that leaues it hath lost the field How many armies saith the Consull Paulus â—emilius haue there beeâ—â— which hauing had noe good successe in the battle but bin driuen into their sorts by their enemies yet â— sallying forth aâ—terwards â— they haue put them to rout who held themselues victors Tit. Liu. lib. 44. all bloudy and his men repayred vnto him in small bands and tyred the footmen complayning that the men at armes had in the morning disâ—rdred them and troden them vnder their horses feete y A wounde gotten in a good place is glorious Baies chaines noâ— grownes are not alwaies carried but such markes are neuer left at home Such as beheld Sertoâ—ius who had lost his eye few with his losse a testimony of his valour and the Earle seemed much pleased to haue receyued a hurt on the face for a perpetuall marke of his prowesse The French recouered the dich where they had so valiantly contended and as it were diuided the fortune of the combat But they were amazed to see them-selues without a head Brut of the Kings death and the bruit was that the King was dead This brute was grounded for that the Seneshal of Normandy who ware his apparell and armes to confirme his loyalty z The King grew into some iealousie that the Seneshale of Normandy was of the league and spake of it to whome he answered Siâ— to shew what I am giue me your coate of armes to saue your life for your enemies seeke but after your person had beene slaine in the beginning of the incounter when as the Bourgondians knowing wel that if the king were ouerthrowne the rest could not stand had charged furiously whereas he shewed him-selfe This feare augmented the number of the runne-awaies and made them to fly who should rather want life then courrage The Earle of Maine who was suspected to haue intelligence with the enemies and Montauban a Britton led away the reereward Their courages fell to their feete not any one had the heart to strike stroake in sauing his life to saue his honour a To make a feightlesse dishâ—norable it must bee done like vnto the Parthians or Scithians who shoote in flying and sauing them-selues speedely they alwaies fight and so take away the infamy of their flight Plut. in the life of Crass. The flight was of eight hundred men which depriued the King of the honor of an absolute victory and of the meanes wholy to ruine his enemies The rest wauered betwixt feare and duty The King appeared in this amazement b The Princes presence cheers the soldiers harts It is the Planet of Mars from whence great courages borrow the constancy assâ—rance of warlike Vertue and by his presence gaue courage vnto his men who from that time cared more how to vanquish then to liue how to fight then to saue themselues The enemies had more anoyed them that fled then the rest as Fortune doth sooner suppresse them that yeeld vnto her then them that resist The Earle of St. Pol leaues the forrest whether hee was retired and comes to the place of Battell with an order befitting men and not with violence which is proper to fooles and beasts c To go vnto military actions râ—shly and without iudgement is no valour â—easts fooles goe 〈◊〉 That which nature makes proper to valour turnes to rashaes iâ— reason doth not gouerne both parties were so tired as they stood at the gaze They made some shot with their great Ordnance Disorders common in both armies The Earle had more men in his Army then the King but he alone was worth 10000. his presence assuring that which was much shaken d No good can be expected of an army that is scattered but the Princes presence In this battel of Montâ—berry without the King who animated his meÌ„ with good words all had fled Phil. de Com. the amazement was great on either side a desire to saue themselues from danger did presse the French as well as the Burgundians and many did their e One told Pompey that to come vnto him and to leaue Caesar hee had abandoned horse to whom Cicero said You haue done more hoâ—or to your horse then to your selfe to make him know
could not be giuen to any other Plut. where they dranke to his health as to Iupiter the Deliuerer The Assembly of Noblemen and Ladies was great he related his great dangers his diligence and toyle He drew teares of ioy and pitty from the hearers euery man said all is well z The King reported his aduentures and in so doing spake and declared many goodly words and pittifull where at all wept aboundantly Chro Martin seeing the King is wel a The health of a good Prince is the health of his Estate the people said of Alexander Seuerus Saluâ— Roma quia saluns est Alexander Lamprid. Hee assured all his seruants that he would neuer cease vntill he had chased all his enemies out of his realme Yet his designe was to doe what he could to end it other-wise then by Armes He sent the Bishop of Paris to the Earle of Charolois Bishop of Paris sent to the Earle of Charolois to let him vnderstand that he desired to know to what end he was entred into his Realme with so great a troupe for that hee could remember that when as he went into Flanders in the time of King Charles the seauenth his Father hee was not followed with so great a traine He commanded him to let him know the iniustice of his desseine That he vndertooke a warre vnder collour of the publik-weale to vndermine the whole estate and to set fire of the house to driue them out that clensed it That there was no such Phrensey as to make ones selfe sick to vse remedies b Peace is sweet after warre but much more proffitable before It is better neuer to haue beene an enemy then to bee reconcyled being naturall for a sick man to desire health But for him that was found to make himself sicke vpon hope of cure was folly and madnesse The Bishop of Paris went and hauing represented vnto the Earle of Charolois the Kings intentions and complaints Say vnto the King answered the Earle fretting the bitternesse of his ambition with humanity and myldnesse c Princes desirous to raigne haue made seruitude sweete with courtesie and mildnesse By this poysoned mylâ—nesse Caesar ouer threw the common-wealth of Rome that I am not come to doe any ill but to procure the good of his Realme hauing liued in such sort with mine army as noe man hath occasion to complaine that being as I am able to serue and succor my friends and to anoy myne enemies I am not bound to yeeld any other reason of my desseignes But not to conceale them from him I am heere for two reasons the one not to fayle of my word to the Princes which haue taken armes for the publike good the other to haue two men which the King hath fauored and supported against me d Priuat interâ—st are alwaies mingled with the sublike causes of warre The E. of Charolois was an implacable enemy to the Earle of Neuers and the Lord of Croy be added this hatred to the causes of war If I be come well accompanied it is to defend my selfe in France from that harme which the king would haue done me in Flanders That when he came hee was receiued honorably richly and quietly and then was not that done vnto him which hee had a will to doe vnto mee That in a word France had more need of a warlike and armed liberty then of a quiet and miserable seruitude After the Battell the Earle of Charolois caused the whole army to bee lodged at Estampes and there abouts Armes of the League loged at Estampes The commodity of this lodging saued that which one more discomodious had lost e â—f time and occasion giue leaue to chose a lodging to stay there they must consider two things which the ancient Romans haue alwaies obserued in their lodgings The helthfulnesse of the place for one and water with commodity of victualls for the other They knew what places were not helthfull obseruing their scituation the coÌ„plexion of the inhabitants In this place as the Earle of Charolois spake vnto Mounsieur at a window with great attention and affection a Britton cast a squib which strooke against the barre where they leaned and being amazed at this accident they thought it done of purpose to hurt them The lodging was presently enuironed with souldiers to gard them There was a dilligent search made for him that had done it who beeing only couered with his inocency descouered him-selfe and said that it was but a squib which he had cast to shew them pastime wherevpon this great amazement was turned to a iest All their forces being vnited they tooke councell how they shold imploy them Their opinions were alwaies applyed to their passions and desseines Charles the Kings brother weary of the warre An ordinary mischiefe in enterprises where there are many commanders f The pluralâ—ty of heads is alwaies rumous and vnproffitable euery one seekes to prefeâ—re his owne reasons and counsells They doe and vndoe indespight on of another Tâ—ndendo ad sua quisque consilia cum aliud alii videtur ad inuasioneÌ„ loâ—um hosti apperiunt Tit. Lâ—u lib. 4. That of the duke of Brittain was not answerable to that of the Earle of Charolois Monsieur seemed already weary of the warre he lamented those that were slaine hurt or maymed in the army which shewed that matters were represented to his imagination of another collour in the vndertaking then in the executing g Matters wheÌ„ they are conceiued and proiected haue an other fâ—ce then when they are executed He wisht that they were to begin greeuing that they made him the cause of so many miseries h A generous spirit is not sensible of the ruines and desolations which grow by warre and ciuill broyles The Duke of Berry was heauy seeing so great a number slaine and hurt in the Battell of Mâ—ntlehery The first slaughters of warre sticke terror into them that haue not seene them as of humain miseries the most lamentable is that which proceeds from his fault that complaines He had kindled the fire yet could not endure the flame he had begun the tragedy nay rather a cruell game whereas men made but a sport to force spoyle burne and kill He is not esteemed a soldiar that cannot doe al this in ciuill wars the most wicked of all others whereas by a fatall disorder they saw the fathers bury their children i When Craesus was prisoner to Cyrus by this reason that in the time of peace the children buried the frather and â—n warre the fathers bury their children be preferred peace before warre And of all warres ciuill is the most vniust iâ—humaine furious SummuÌ„ Brute naefas ciuilia bella fatemur Luc. These words were well obserued by the Earle of Charolois King of England sends the garter to the Earle of Charolois who from that time perswaded him-selfe that there would be noe great difficulty to reconcyle the
had troubled They propounded a peace with goodly conditions The Princes make show that they desired not warre but for the publike quiet and to liue without wrong They made many truces to treat that they which lasting but little was not much distinguished from warre d A short truce fauours more of war then peace Ignâ—uum tempus nec pâ—ce laetuÌ„ nec bellis exercitum Cognatae induciis Insidie sunt as the middest doth alwaies leane more to one of the extremes then to the other The treatie was begun by diuers but the King ended it who one morning came by the riuer to Conflans Before he went out of the boat hee said vnto the Earle who attended him on the banke Enteruieâ— of the King Earle of Charolois Brother doe you assure me that to whom the Earle of Charrolois answered I as a brother e The word of an enemie is a dangerous assurance K Lewis the eleuenth had no other to goe into the Princes Army which were iust against him If there coÌ„fidence hath vndone some it hath bin successefull to others and Scipio Africanus went vpon this assurance to Siphax who although he were abaroarian a cruell enemie to the Romane name yet the mildnes and generositie of Scipio made him a friend Ladislaus King of Bohemia went freely to Mathias King of Hungary his capitall enemy to end controuersies which could not be determined at Olmutz they became great friends Dubrau lib. 2â— He receiued the King with much respect and the King spake vnto him with great mildnes which made his heart apt for any impression so great is the force of words and so well hee could handle his tongue the which he vsed as a pensill for all coulours He that will haue effects according to his owne heart must not spare words to his liking that may giue them Mens spirits are gouerned by words as a ship is gouerned by the helme and a horse by the bit and wee cannot say what power the sweetnes of words haue ouer the minde of man f Words are the Instrument by the which the minde of man is animated thrust forward and held backe A Prince that knowes how to vse them hath a great aduantage in all that he treates and when it is acompanied with such sweetnes as grauity is not wronged it workes what it lists in the hearts of men The King framing his speech to this tune said vnto the Earle Brother I know that you are a Gentleman and of the house of France why my Lord answered the Earle For that said the King When the foole Moruillier spake so boldly vnto you you sent me word that I would repent the words hee had spoken before the yeare were past you haue not failed and before the time The King spake these words with a countenance so free and full of affection although his heart were full of indignation and spleene as the Earle tooke delight in it He disauowed Moruillier and tooke the seales from him Princes play with their subiects and disauow them when as their negotiations are not answerable to their hopes He did walke long by the riuers side betwixt the Earle of Charolois and the Earle of S t. Paul and heard their Intentions g The King who thought nothing wel done if he were not an Actor went to the Earle of Charolois preferring the necessity of his affaires before the consideration of his qualiâ—â— for he held that the honor and glory of an action depended on profit Yet they had deputed somâ— of either side to treat For the King were imployed Charles of Aniou Earle of Maine The Signeur of Pressigny President of the Acounts 10. Dauuet President of the Parlament of Toulâ—sâ— For the Princes the D. of Calabria the Earle of Dunois and the E. of S t. Paul The Earle of Charolois demanded the Dutchie of Normandie for the Duke of Berry and the riuer of Somme for himselfe little for the publike and much for priuate men The King told him plainely that he would neuer consent to dismember the Duchie of Normandie but he was content to restore him the Townes of Somme and finding that the Earle of S t. Paul was the Oracle of the Counsels and will of this Prince he offered him the office of Constable By these offers the strict bond of this league began to be dissolued for there is nothing so fast bound but it is vndone when as one string begins to slip The King did and spake all things so cunningly mingly offers with threats and curtesies with braueries as the Earle applied himselfe to his intentions The day after this first conference h This conference of the King and the Earle was the end of the war It was not thought fit the King should seeke vnto the Barle but to do his busines hee past all formalities would not comit that to hope which he might doe by discretioÌ„ What doth it import to ascend to any place to vse staires of wood or ston or whether the key bee of gold or iron so as it open the Earle of Charolois mustred his Armie Muster of the leagues Armie in view of the King whether the King came with thirty or forty horse commending those goodly forces The Earle of Charolois speaking vnto them vsed these words My masters you and I are for the King our Soueraigne Lord to serue him when soeuer hee shall haue need of vs. The Kings offers bred a iealousie betwixt the Princes of the league euery man cared for his owne affaires The Earle of Charolois saw one day vpon his conferences and propositions three Councels and three bands whereat hee was discontented saying that there should not be any thing secret in his presence During these conferences and enteruiewe Isabell of Bourbon Countesâ—e of Charolois died the Earle mourned and the King did comfort him This death gaue some more facilitie to the peace for the marriage of the Earle with the Lady Anne of France the Kings eldest Daughter was propounded with the transport of the Counties of Bry and Champagne i In marriages of the daughters of France Kings haue somtimes giuen money sometimes lands of the Crowne vpon condition they should returne Charles the fift gaue to his two eldest daughters a 100000. franks of gold and to the rest 60000. Charls the sixt gaue eight hundred thousand to Isabell married to Richard the second King of England King Iohn gaue the Contie of Somiers in Languedoc to Isabel his daughter married to the Duke of Milan Lewis the yong gaue to Margaret his daughter married to Henry the third King of England the Contie of Vexin for her dowrie and preferment which the Kings Predecessors had neuer done in marrying their daughters The Earle of Charrolois affected nothing more but vpon the doubt which was made vnto him of the alienation of these two Prouinces he sent William Hugonet and Iohn Carandolet to Paris to know if these two peeces
and restored them to Iuuenall of Vrsins from whom he had taken them The treaty c Treaty of Conflans proclaimed at Paris the 28. of October 1465. signed and sworne was proclaimed and thereby the warre for the publicke weale was ended Contentment of priuat men maks them forget the publike contenting the interests of priuate men The King desired to quench the fire of this deuision rather with siluer then with blood and teares of his subiects To the Duke of Bourbon was assigned the like pension that he receiued of Charles the seauenth Anthony of Chabannes Earle of Dammartin was restored to his landes and soone after made Lord Steward of France in the place of the lord of Crouy d Ther was neuer so great a marriage but some dined ill some did what they listed and others had nothing Phil de Com. lib. 1. Cap. 14. Many others suffered themselues to bee vanquished by the King thinking themselues more happy to fall vnder his power then to escape e Those that were subdued by Alexaâ—der were more happy 〈◊〉 they that escaped his power for these had not any one to free theÌ„ from their misery the others were made happy by the Victor Plut. for they were freed from miseries and such as remained with the Earle of Charolois could not hope for any great felicity knowing his Councells and designes to be vnfortunate and it seemed his head was not made but to aflict ruine his body Earle of S t. Paul made Constable of France And for that the Earle of St. Paul was as it were Arbitrator of all the Earles Councels the King wonne him offring him the sword of France which Valeran or Luxembourg f Valeran of Luxembourg Earle of St. Paul was made Constabâ—e of France Anno 1411. two yeares after be yâ—elded vp the sword to Charles Earl of Albret Suylly from whom Kiâ—g Charles the sixth had taken it had sometimes carried It is the first dignity of all the orders of France First dignity of the State hee carries the sword not in a scabberd behind the King as they do before the Duke of Venice to shew that the vse and authority depends of them that follow it but naked before the King who alone commands to draw it and to put it vp when he pleaseth as hauing the only power of the sword ouer his subiects That of his Iustice remaines in the hands of his soueraigne Courts for the punishment of Crimes wherewith he meddles not Iupiter doth not strike hurt nor condemne any man Not only the Princes eyes but his pictures and his statues g A Prince should abhorre all that is inhumane and cruel The Emperor Claudius caused Augustus Image to bee taken froÌ„ the place wheras slaues were punished which had slandered their Maisters vnder the Empire of Caius or Tiberius to the end it should not be violated nor behold those punishments Dion should be farre from executions The Kings of France haue held this course to reserue vnto themselues pardons benefits and rewards leauing the distribution of punishments to their officers Lewis of Luxembourg was declared Constable at the marble table he tooke his oath and his authoritie was verified by the Court of Parliament As Arthur h Arthur of Brittaine was chosen Constable of France by the suffrages of all the Princes and great Counsell and although the King was then troubled in his iudgement and the seales of France stampt with the Queenes picture yet by letters of prâ—uâ—sion But the keeping of the Kings sword is giuen for the Kings sâ—rvice in fealty and homage and to be the chiefe in warre aboue all next vnto the King of Brittanie Earle of Richmont was the first whose letters of Constable were there published so Lewis of Luxembourg was the first that tooke his oath there We must not iudge of a mans fortune by the glorie of such dignities they bee peeces of Christall which as they glister so they will breake To hold a man happie that enters into great charges is to giue the name of the image to the mettle which is not yet molten Wee must see him come liue and runne to the end of the course to know what the issue will be With this charge Lewis of Luxembourg was wedded to his own ruine and did himselfe adde much vnto it for notwithstanding that he were bound vnto the King both by reason and oath Affection of the Constable S t. Paul yet as it is hard but the tree will retaine something of the soyle where it first tooke roote i Strangers 〈◊〉 not at the first leaue their affection to their party although they quit it Solon would not allow a stranger to be a Bourgesse in Athens if he were not banished from his Country the affections of men beeing like vnto a streame which ouerflowes and waters a field and is nothing the cleerer He still kept a naturall inclination to the seruice of his first Prince grounding his affections vpon one maxime in the which hee found his ruine in stead of greatnes whereunto he aspired k Theramenes an Atheâ—â—an the sonne of Aignon for that he was not firme in his opinions holding sometimes one party somtimes another was called Cothureue which is a kind of buskin vsed in Tragedies fit for either foot Pluâ— in the life of Niceas He thought to play k Theramenes an Atheâ—â—an the sonne of Aignon for that he was not firme in his opinions holding somtimes one party somtimes another was called Cothureue which is a kind of buskin vsed in Tragedies fit for either foot Plut. in the life of Niceas Theramenes in this Tragedie to remaine a neuter betwixt these two great Potentates to make them quarrell when he pleased to iudge of the blowes and to keep himselfe from danger thinking to be alwaies supported by the one when the other should seek to ruine him and to make both of them depend so vpon his will as as hee should prescribe them a lawe of warre and peace when hee pleased nt considering that newtrality which may bee commended in a prince when by reason of wisedome or weaknes he cannot doe otherwise is meere trechery and treason in a subiect who can haue but one maister It was a great miserie for him to be betwixt two Princes which could not agree He that is in this estate is not like vnto the towne of Siria l Pliny saith that the towne of Palmira in Syria remained without touch amidst the powers of the Romane and Parthian Empires which was nothing anoyed being inuironed by the Armies of the Romans and Parthians Hee finds his condition oftentimes like vnto the miserable marriner of Tire whom one waue cast out of the ship and another brought him in againe His humor did fauor his bad fortune wauering alwaies amidst the vncertainty of his resolutions and a spirit of contradiction When he was freed from one businesse he intangled himselfe with another
His bad conduct vnsortunate end well in France ill in Flanders and as the cloudes turne alwayes either into wind or to raine his enterprises ended alwayes in teares or sighes In a word he made a trade of the profession of armes and did not take them to haue peace but to make the warre continue m Whilst that Rome was well gouerned which was vntill the time of the Gracchi there was neuer Captaine nor Souldier which made a trade of war when it was ended euery man returned to his first exercise Aâ—tilliâ—s Regulus being Generall of the Army in the last war against Carthage demanded leaue of the Senate to returne vnto his houses to manure his grounds which his farmors had left wast When as he saw that Councells are not esteemed by Princes but according to the euents He kindles the firebrands of warre hee desired to make his to be allowed by some fauorable occasion He sees the Duke of Bourgondy busie in war against them of Liege he knowes how much the King is offended at the practises and Intelligences which the Dukes of Normandy and Brittaine had with his enemie hee therefore Counsells him to make warre against them to make worke in their owne estates and to kindle a fire in their owne houses to the end they should not haue leisure to cast it against their Neighbours These two Princes in the beginning were great friends n Of great friends are made the greatest ennemies hatred folowes and accompanies friendship Chilon could him that vanted he had no enemies That he should also haue noe friends Plut. but as great hatred growes from great friendship they did so iarre in the diuision of the fruites of the peace as they continued not long together The Duke of Normandies seruants who had serued King Charles the seauenth could not indure the Brittons for companions The Duke of Brittaine would bee respected as the instrument of their good fortune Seeing these two Princes could not remaine Neighbours they would neuer haue beene associated in the Empire o An admirable and sole example of trufriendship Dioclesian and Maxim Emperors entred the Empire together commanded together and lefâ— it with one accord The Duke of Normandy was aduertised that the Duke of Brittanie had a designe not to leaue him and that the Earle of Dammartin vndertooke to lead him into Brittaine Hee was then at Mont St. Catherines attending vntill the preparation which they made for his entry were finished but when hee had sent notice thereof to them of Rouen they would not deferre his entry a minute They set him on horseback without a foot-cloth and led him to the Cathedrall Church in a black veluet gowne where they sware obedience vnto him the Brittons were out of countenance to see their designes made frustrate The King made his profit of this bad intelligence He came into Normandy Normandy yeelded to the King and within few daies forced his brother to depart The Earle of Charrolois was much greeued that this diuision had lost Normandy p Ruines caused by diuision are reparied by coÌ„cord The Dukes of Normandie and Brittanie câ—sidering that they had lost Normandie by their had intâ—lligence reconcile themselues It is impâ—ssible saith Phil. de Com. by this diuisiâ—n that many Noblemen can long liue together if theâ—e be not one head aboue them A Prince hauing command ouer 10000. men and meanes to entertaine thÌ„ is more to bâ—e feared then ten allâ—es confederaâ—s hauing euery one six thousand for that they haue so many things to accord betwixt them as halfe the time iâ— spent before they conclude any thing for hee beleeued that that Prouince being out of the Kings handes hee was weakned a third part Monsieur had no other refuge then Brittaine being poore naked and dispossest which mooued them to pitty that were too weak to releeue him and support him against a Brother who was so great and mighty The Earle of Charrolois was not long in suspence whether the King would hold all that he had promised for hauing sent Imbercourt and Carondolet vnto him to put him in minde of the promise of marriage of his daughter they found that shee was promised to Peter of Bourbon Lord of Beaujeu The King told them that hee would marrie her better cheape then the Earle of Charolois would take her and that Champagne and Brie were too good to bee dismembred from the Crowne If men could iudge as truely as sodainly of all things What should remaine for the prouidence of God to decide Euery man thought that France would neuer escape this Apoplexie which if it did not bring death would at the least end with a Palsey but her destinies were otherwise set downe in the eternall tables of the great God the father of time the true Saturne q The Romans held Sat-rne to bâ—e the God and father of truth and did sacrifice bare-headed vnto him to shew that there is not any thing hidden froÌ„ him which must bee worshipped bare-headed and knowes onely the periods and ends of Estates After the glorie which belongs wholly to his bounty We must commend the Kings wisedome and iudgement who remained so staied in occasions where as the coldest spirits would haue been inflamed to runne vpon their enemies He plaied Sertorius against Metellus r Metellus sought onely to fight Sertorius refusing the Battel cut of his victuals tooke his water froÌ„ him kept him from forrage When he thought to march he staied him when he was lodged he annoyed him in such sort as he forced him to dislodge if he layed siege to any place hee found himselfe besieged through want of victuals France neuer saw so many men assembled to ruine her but she shewed that her foundations were good The forces that were before Paris were so great and so many as they might well be admired both of friends and enemies for it was an apparent demonstration what this Crowne can doe against the conspiracie of all others Yet Paris did feele of this storme long after and was so vnpeopled by this warre and by a plague which happened in August 1467. as the king to repeople it drew strangers thither with great priuiledges as such as had been condemned by iustice Vnpeopling of Paris by the assurance of impunitie and all as the Chronicle saith according to the priuiledge giuen to all banished men remaining in the Townes of S t. Malo and Valenciennes The fidelitie of Paris saued the Estate for if shee had refused entrie vnto the king he was resolued to retire into Suisser-land or to the Duke of Milan It is true that as it happens alwaies in Ciuill warres s In ciuill wars there are but to many occasions offred to be iealous of them of whose loyalty they shâ—ld least doubt Kinsmen grow faithlesse Your seruant may be of that party which you feare M. de M. whereas distrusts and iealousies grow without sowing the religion of secrecie
Aduise my Lord if there bee any thing whereof you repent y A breach in the obseruation of forced promises is not dishonorable and hee wants force that obserues them it is at your choise to doe it or leaue it I desire to adde one Article in fauour of the Lords of Lau Vrfet and Poncet of Riuiere that they may bee restostored to their lands and offices I am content replyed the King so as the Earle of Neuers and the Lord of Croui may bee also restored The Duke who bare a deadly hatred to these two spake no more of the rest and the King declared that he would obserue the Treatie z In Treaties which are made by equals impertinent demands are choked with the like demands Hee had so great a desire to be farre off as to make no stay of his departure he made no show of discontent Hee concealed his griefe so cunningly as it was impossible to iudge that hee felt any The Duke vsed some complements to excuse himselfe for that hee had drawne him to the warre of Liege Excuses of the Duke He had need of very artificiall poulders a Words of excuse and complements in actions which caÌ„not be excused are like spices and sauce of a delicat taste to meate which is tainted to make this sauce pleasing the gilding tooke not away the bitternes of these pilles Hee did accompanie him a mile at their farewell and imbracings the King to shew his affection and trust Words of the K. at his departure said vnto him Sir if my Brother which is in Brittanie were not contented with the portion which I giue him for your sake what would you haue me doe The Duke answered if hee will not accept it I referre my selfe to you two and care not so as he be satisfied These words beeing spoken somewhat roughly were well considered by the King who from that time resolued not to lodge his Brother in Normandie too neere to England nor in Champagne too neere to Bourgundy The Duke continued the rigour of warre vpon the country of Franchemont Warre in Franchimâ—nt leauing the Towne of Liege on fire b The Duke appointed three thousand foote to burne the Town of Liege and to desend the Churches It was fired thrice in three seuerall quarters They reserued three hundred houses for the Priests with whom many inhabitants lodged Phil. de Com. not excepting any thing but Churches and the houses of such as attended the diuine seruice c Impiety respects sacred things after that liberty hath profaned them Fab. Maximus hauing spoyled Tarentum and made it desolate with all kindes of cruelties When his Secretary came to aske him What shall we doe with our enemies Gods he answered let vs leaue the angry Gods vnto the Tarentins Plut. in Fabio They respected the Temples after they had offended him who was worshipped there by all sorts of impieties Whilest that the souldiers warmed themselues at this fire the rest endured incredible cold in the Mountaines of Franchemont whereas the wine being frozen in the hogs-heads Sharpe Winter it was cut in peeces with Axes and carried away in hats and baskets without decrease Oliuer de la March writes that the Dukes tysan was frozen in siluer flagons and that the force was so great as they brake At the same time the death of the King of Albania was spred ouer all Europe Death of the King of Albania Lewis was much grieued for that hee alone stayed the Turkes furie who were cruell scourges to punish the disorders of that depraued Age. He was the yongest Sonne of nine children to Iohn Castriot d Voysane daughter to the King of the Tribâ—leâ— a part of Macedonie Bulgaria hauing conceiued George Castriote drempt that shee was deliuered of a serpent of such greatnes as he spred ouer all Epirus who commanded at Croy the chiefe Towne of Albania who gaue him with his Brethren to Amurath to assure the faith of his promises beeing forced to yeeld vnder the yoke of that command Amurath George Castriot circumcised caled Scanberbeg the Nabuchodonosor e God hath vsed the power of infidels to punish his people and by diuers meanes he hath giuen them power to trouble them He raised Nabuchodonosor to ruine the Israelits therefore leremie calls him his seruants although he were most cruell of the Israelites made them all be circumcised and change their names George was called Scanderbeg that is to say Alexander Lord and as Alexander he began betimes to make such proofes of his valour f Scanderbeg was instructed in all the exercises of war before the force of his body could shew what his courage was He also learned the Turkish Sclamonian ArabiaÌ„ Greeke Italian tongues as euery man thoght that his militarie toyles would make him worthy of that name that he would end more Battels in effect then the Princes of his time had seene painted g When Cicero spake of PoÌ„pey he said that he had brought more battels to a happy end theÌ„ others had read in Histories conquered more Prouinces then any one before him had conceiued in his wishes that hee had triumphed almost as many times as he had followed the warre yeares that he would winne more victories then others had encountred dangers He was Sangiac the first dignitie next vnto a Basha then was he sent into diuers expeditions and knowne to be the sole authour of all the good successe which happened in Greece Asia and Hungarie there being nothing in the Art of warre but in the end came to his knowledge But this great valour had almost vndone him Amurath apprehended it to haue such a Prince neere him and the enemies of his courage but more of his hopes said that he nourisht a domestick enemie to weaken his intentions and disappoint his intelligences He put his Brethren to death beeing resolued to make him runne the like fortune if he had not made it knowne by his cariage that he had no other thought nor passion but that of his seruice and that his Father h After the death of Iohn father to Scanderbeg Amurath seazed vpon the Realme of Epirus and put a garrison into Croy. Scanderbeg dissembled the griefe of his fathers death the taking of his estate the murther of his Brethren so from that time he resolued to pull that Crowne from Amurath and his Brethren did reuiue in the affection which he bare vnto him Amurath puts Scanderbegs brethren to death And when as Amurath to sound him had offered him the crowne of Albania he said that he preferred the honour of his seruice before all the Scepters and Empires of the world and that he felt his hand fitter for a sword then his head for a Crowne This answere pleased Amurath He grovves fearfull of his valour but it freed him not from all his feares which the greatnes of his spirit imprinted in his
facile puellas oculis adiiceret easque deperiret the Earle of Warwick being wounded in so sensible and tender a part began to distaste the seruice which he did him and repenting him of that which he had formerly done hee retired from Court into his Earldome of Warwicke The Earle of Warwick reuolts whereas his hard fortune made him know the difference of his friends b In the disgrace and crosses of fortune friends are knowne Namertes answered him that required a rule to know them by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plut. and where he shews that a great courage had rather die reuenged then liue with the reproch of a wrong or an affront The Duke of Clarence the Kings Brother the Archbishop of Yorke and the Marquis of Montague came vnto him Euery one brought his complaint with him and the vlcer he had in his heart against Edward The Earle of Warwick represented vnto them the miserable estate they ranne into if they did not labour to restore King Henry to his Fathers throne and themselues to libertie To binde the Duke of Clarence to this designe hee giues him his Daughter He makes a league with the Duâ— of Clarence Proximitie of bloud did sufficiently binde the other two being his Brethren whose friendship he might account among the sweet fruits of his felicitie c It is a part of the sweetnes felicitie of life to see Telemachus recounting his miseries amoÌ„g which he reports that he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without a broâ—â—er Plut. The partie was made and the resolution taken vpon the consideration of things present to come was that he should goe to Calice and in his absence they should make some stirres in the Prouince of Yorke to the end hee might haue a subiect to come thither and to arme The pretext of rising was for the deniall of some Corne which they of the Earle of Warwicks faction refused to pay for the entertainment of St Leonards Hospitall in Yorke and there were others which did murmure giuing it out that what should serue the poore was spent by great men d Sedition can haue no iust causes but the most apparant are wheâ— as priuate men make their profit of that which belongs to the publike In a word it is inequalitie and Iniustice This refusall did so incense the people Commotion in Yorkshire as in a short time there were fifteene thousand men in armes which marched directly to Yorke to haue reason of them which refused to pay what they ought vnto the Hospitall But when as they found themselues too weake An Armie at the gaâ—es of London being a multitude of seditious and mutenous fellowes who are naturally cowards and hauing no Canon to force an entrie they past to London to demand Iustice of the King with torches of rebellion in their fists e Seâ—ition is alwaies saint and cowardly and cowards are euer most seditioâ—s QuantuÌ„â—abes ad â—ustinendum laboreÌ„ miles tanto ad discordias proÌ„ptior Tac. Hist. Lib. 2. The Earle of Warwick was no sooner aduertised of these broiles but he parted from Calice with the Duke of Clarence and came and ioined with this multitude who wanted not any thing but a head King Henries presence and the Earles did countenance the faction and increase it with a greater number with the which he resolued to giue Battell to recompence the errors ruines and occasion past f Hee that knowes how to giue a Battell recouers â—is reputation if it were blemished it restores him if he be ruined excuseth all errors which he hath coÌ„mitted in warre for a Battell won defaceth all misfortunes reproch of other precedent actions The Earle of Pembroke whom the King of England had sent not to fight but to punish those rebels was put to route and they had the victory Richard Lord Riuers father to Queene Elizabeth and his sonne Iohn Wooduille with some other Gentlemen lost their heads The King sought to make some accord with the Earle of Warwicke and vpon the assurance which he gaue him neglected to keep good gard in his Campe the which should not bee omitted euen among friends Loue goes naked by day and armed by night g Crates said that loue went al day naked but at night hee caried a Cuirasse that a prince which trusts in the loue of his subiects may by day goe in safety and without feare but by night he should haue his gard The Earle of Warwicke hauing obserued this carelesse guard by his spies he vndertooke to charge him by night â—dward defeated and taken prisoner with so great aduantage as killing all he found in the trenches hee came without any resistance to the place where the King was whom he tooke prisoner and led away But for that they could not make good vse of this fortune they ruined themselues and vndid King Henry for whom they had taken Armes God who hath a speciall care of Kings depriued them of Iudgement for although they knew well that it was impossible to settle King Henry peaceably in the Realme during Edwards life yet could they not keep him so well but hee escaped hauing corrupted his gards with hopes and goodly promises whereof great men are no nigards when they haue need of their inferiors Edward being at libertie recouers Yorke where he was receiued with ioy which was as great as it was vnexpected From thence he went to London to confirme their wils whom his captiuitie had made to wauer and considering that victory doth alwaies fauour them which haue the aduantage both of Councell and force h A prince hath a great aduantage ouer his enemie when he exceeds him in Armes and that hee hath the CouÌ„cels executions sooner readie then he he raised a might Armie and went to seeke out the Earle of Warwicke Earle of Warwick defeated whom he put to rout and returned triumphantly the victorie was made famous by the death of ten thousand men Queene Margaret Prince Edward her Sonne the Duke of Clarence and his wife the Earle of Warwick with their children and friends were forced to flye They came to Calice but the Earle of Warwicks Lieutenant would not receiue them nor scarce suffer them to carrie two bottels of Wine for the Duchesse of Clarence who was deliuered of a Sonne whilest the ship rode at an Anchor This rudenes and indiscretion did so please King Edward and the Duke of Bourgundy as the one sent him authoritie to command as Gouernor of Calais and the other a good pension to increase his entertainement The Earle of Warwicke who was much esteemed in France and in great credit with the King for his worthy deeds which had made his reputation great and not easie to bee shaken i ReputatioÌ„ is a Colosse which is hardly raised by reason of its waight buy wheÌ„ it is vp it staÌ„ds firme and supports it selfe by his owne heauines It is hard to lay the
made his Brother the packhorse of his passions sought to put him out of hope to marry his daughter Marriage sought in Castille and perswaded him to seeke the marriage of the King of Castiles daughter f The K. desired the Marriage of Isabella Infanta of Castile with his brother but she was married to D. Fernando Prince of Arragâ—n King Henry treated for his Daughter D. Ioane Monsieur submitted his will to the Kings and Deputies were sent into Castille to King Henry the fourth The King had for his part the Cardinall of Alby and the Lord of Torcy The Duke of Guienne gaue his procuration to the Earle of Bolloigne and to the Lord of Malicorne to consent vnto this marriage and had neuer beheld the Bride Princes drinke these waters without seeing them This poursute was pleasing to the King of Castile who was offended that his Sister D. Isabella had married to Ferdinand of Arragon without his consent The King sends Ambassadors into Castile and tooke it for a great honor that shee whom the Grandes of Spaine held and who in effect was the supposed Daughter of Castile should bee wife vnto the French Kings brother hauing no meanes to lodge her in a better house Hee commanded the Archbishop of Seuill the Bishop of Siguenç and the master of the order of S. Iames to treat the marriage with the Embassadors of France All being concluded the King would haue the promises made in a great Plaine g The Princesse D. Ioane was brought into the field by the Marques of Santillana who had her in charge and to whom the King gaue in recompence of his seruice three Townes of the Infantasgo Alâ—ocer Valdolinas and Salmeron neere vnto the Monasterie of Paular enual de Locoia in the view of an incredible multitude which came thither The K. hauing renued his declarations against his sister D. Isabella and confirmed to his Daughter D. Ioane the title of Princesse and heire of Castille the Cardinall of Alby addressing himselfe to the Queene her mother besought her to sweare whether D. Ioane were the Kings daughter or not She sweare that she was He made the like adiuration vnto the King who affirmed the same They had not any need to seeke for the Iewes waters of probation h The Iewes to proue adultery had probation waters as they caled them The adulterous woman drinking therof did burst The Geâ—mans tried if their Children were lawfull making them swim vpon the riuer of Rhin nor to make this Virgin swim vpon the Riuer to know the truth of her birth And yet vpon this affirmation all the Grandes at that time kist her hands and she was againe sworne Princesse of Castille In this qualitie the Cardinall of Alby made her sure to the Duke of Guienne the Earle of Boulongue promising and receiuing the promises for him Whilest the King laboured to prouide a wife for his Brother Birth of Charls the 8. God sent the King a Sonne i Charles Dauphin of France was borne at Amboise the 14 of Iuly or as the Annales of Aquitaine report the last of Iune 1470. Charles of Bourbon Archbishop of Lion was Godfather and gaue him his name This birth reuiued the King who began to grow old his Maiestie was more respected factions were weakened Monsieurs hopes recoyled and France wholly preserued by these two great and speciall fauours of heauen valor and prosperitie or vertue and fortune which haue made her reputation to passe through so many ages k Valour without the which a great enterprise cannot bee ended laied the foundation of the Monarchy of France and prosperity withâ—out the which the best setled estates are not assured preserues it The Constable seeing that by Monsieurs marriage with the Daughter of Castille Constables new practises all his designes vanished into smoke labors with all the capacitie of his iudgement to disswade him from this alliance letting him know that it was dishonorable by reason of the vnlawfull birth of Bertraiamina for so they called her and dangerous for the hatred which he should purchase of D. Ferdinand and D. Isabella declared Kings of Castille with the like Art he represented vnto him the greatnes he should expect by the marriage of the Princesse of Bourgundy Death of Pope Paul the second Pope Paul the second died l Paul the second dyed of an Apoplexie the 28. of Iuly 1471. hauing raigned 6. yeers ten moneths during this poursuite and after that he had yeelded vnto it hee was sodainly surprised by death hauing held a Consistorie and eaten two melons at his dinner His election was as vnexpected as his death Cardinall Scarampi who was his enemie m Cardinall Lewis Scarampy Patriarke of Aquilea was enemie to P. Paul the second being yet a Cardinal Lewis reproched to Peter the sumptuousnes of his buildings and Peter said that he had rather exceed in that then in dice playing wherein Lewis tooke great delight did in the beginning of the Conclaue breake off the proposition which was made and yet contrarie to the ordinance of elections the suffrages agreed vpon the same subiect which they had reiected and the contention which had begunne the Conclaue ended This Pope shewed a great generosite for beeing chosen and seeing that the gowt or rather shame and discontentment hindred this Cardinall from comming to the adoration hee went to meete him imbraced him assured him of his loue and to forget all matters past This Pope augmented the pompe of the Court of Rome hee gaue Scarlet foot-clothes to the Cardinals Mules Platina saith that he loued not learned men and called all them hereticks that made profession and therefore he supprest the Colledge of Abreuiators which was full of great excellent spirits The feeling which Platina seemed to haue of this iniury did wholly ruine his fortune in the affliction whereof he wrote a letter vnto the Pope n â—latinas letter had thâ—se words Si tibi lâ—cuit indicta causa spoliare nos â—mptione nostra iusta eâ— legiâ—ima debet nobis licere conqueri illatam inâ—uriam inâ—â—stamque ignominiâ—m eiecti a te ac tam insigni coÌ„â—umelia affâ—cti dilabemur paâ—sim ad reges ac Principes eosque adhortabimur vt tibi consilium indicanâ— in quo potissimuÌ„ rationem reddere cogatis cur nos legitima possessione spoliaueris full of bitternes and without respect This Pope was also taxed to be very greedy of money Paul the secoÌ„d a great builder and not to haue held the iustest meanes to get it and yet his magnificence in the sumptuous building of the Pallace of St. Mark and in the reparation of that of S. Peter freed him from blame with such as know that magnificence is the daughter of liberalitie The promises beeing broken in the Castille the poursuite of the marriage with the Duke of Bourgundies Daughter was followed by the Constable with great vehemencie who could not endure
him for ten thousaÌ„d florins Winter came on the Duke of Calabria retired his troupes to Perpignan hee made a voyage into France to haue new forces and returned with ten thousand men with the which he forced king Iohn to raise the siege from before Peralta the which was wonderfully prest with their Ordinance and hauing made a great breach the assaylants assured themselues to force it at the firt assault The night before it should be giuen the Duke of Calabria entred with such furie into their quarters without discouerie the Sentinels being a sleepe q It is easie to make a surprise when as Sentinels be a sleepe The Romans coÌ„sidering that the safety of the Armie or Camp depending of their vigilancy had cries and trumpets to keep them waking There were some also that went the round with bels to the same end Of all which we finde examples in Tacitus Hist. 5. Polibeus lib. 2. stratagem of Clearchus Thucidid li. 4. as euery man sought how to saue themselues In combats by night the amazement is so great as he that begins first wins The King fled away bare headed towards Figueres France made bonfires for this victorie the which was seconded by the taking of Girona Death of Iohn D. of Calabia but within few daies after they lamented the death of the Duke of Calabria who dyed at Perpignan of a pestilent burning Feuer When as the King of Arragon had ended a Ciuill warre against his subiects he found himselfe ingaged in warre against the French King Lewis the eleuenth being often importuned with the ordinarie complaints which were made of the insolencies of the French r The inhabitants of Perpignan intreated Iohn King of Arragon either to giue the K. other pâ—wnes for the assuraÌ„ce of his money which hee had lent or to suffer them to retire themselues which were at Roussillon and that the inhabitants of Perpignan being reuolted against the garrison had forced them to retire into the Castle he sent the King word that he should pay him his three hundred thousand crownes retire his countrie or that he should make him an absolute sale or giue him caution for the paiment The King of Arragon finding either of these conditions verie harsh answered that he could not yet vngage the country and that it would bee no honour to him to alienate it being a part of the Crowne of Arragon and that it was a matter neuer heard of to presse a King to gaue Caution the pawne being sufficient The King taking this answere for a refusall prepared to warre and made his preparation slowly to haue a more speedy victorie s He that will demand any thing of an enemie must not be disarmed neither must hee prepare hastily to war to vanquish more speedily Diu apparandum est bellum vt vineas celerius quia longa belli preparatio celerem facit victoriam Senec. With the like care as he armed for an offensiue warre against the King of Arragon he gaue order for a defensiue and to furnish the Towne of Perpignan with victuals and necessary commodities to maintaine a siege and gaue the command thereof to the Lord of Lude The Letter which he wrote vnto him vpon that subiect deserues well to be considered of beeing drawne from the originall and full of passages which discouer the humor of this Prince the order and conduct of his affaires and the manner of writing of those times My Lord Gouernor t The Lord of Lude as may be seene by the subscription of this Letter was Gouernor of Dauphiné Chamberlaine to K. Lewis 〈◊〉 the Earle of Cardonna and the Castellan of Emposta are arriued at Paris Kings Letter to the Lord of Lude I haue sent Monsieur Daire and the Sieg r of Bouffille vnto them to know and vnderstand of them if they came to make any good appointment or whether they came to deceiue mee and to dissemble The said Bouffille is returned vnto me and as farre as they can finde they bring not any good newes and their intention is onely to entertaine mee with words vntill they haue gathered in their coine And therefore I must play M r Lewis and you Mr Iohn and whereas they seeke to deceiue vs let vs shew our selues more politick then they In regard of my selfe I will entertaine them heere vntill the first weeke of May and in the meane time you shall part with all the speed you can and shall draw together a hundred Lances in Dauphine to lead with you and cause them to be led by Monsieur de S. Priet or by Pouillalier or by them both together that is to say fourescore Lances by S. Priet and twentie by Pouillalier or all to him alone or to both together as you shal think the matter may be best conducted for my profit for I referre this Article to you I send you a Letter which I write vnto them by Beauuoisin whom I charged to tell them and to doe what you shall thinke fit And for the paiment of the said hundred Lances A hundred pound starling you must speedilie finde a thousand Liuers to giue them at their departure for they shall make but a roade to spoile and burne the corne and then returne which is ten francks a month for euerie Lance And seeing they haue no Archers and continue but eight or ten daies it must suffice them it is fit to finde a meanes to recouer the said thousand Francks either by confiscation of Corne or otherwise And if it should come to the extremitie that you could not finde it before you want take it vppon the accounts of the Treasurer of Dauphinâ— to whom I write expressely but vse such diligence as the said men at Armes may part the 25. day of this month and if you take any money vp in Dauphinâ— I will repay it My Lord Gouernor the greatest seruice you can doe me is to vse such speed as you may burne all their Corne betimes for thereby they shall be forced to speake plainely I haue spoken vnto Captaine Odet Daidre who is well content to goe thither I send him vnto you with his hundred Lances to assist you to make the spoile in my opinion when you are all together you are inough I send Yuon Diliers vnto Monsieur de Charluz to raise an hundred Lances in Lanquedoc I doe also write vnto de Charluz to gather together of his Franc Archers the neerest to those marches to the number of three thousand and that he cause them to march into Roussillon with you and that all be readie to part the 25. of this month of Aprill And for the paiment of the hundred Lances of Lanquedoc and of the said Franc Archers I write vnto the Generall and Treasurer of Lanquedoc that they cause foure thousand Francs to be deliuered vnto them that is to say a thousand Francs to the hundred Lances and to the said Franc Archers 3000. Francs I doe also send Destueille
belong vnto the Earle of Armagnac If he tooke his part as some taxed him he did contrary to the duty of a Generall who should content himselfe with the glory of the command and execution c The glory honor of well executing the coÌ„mandements of his Prince serues for a booty in the distributioÌ„ wherof he that commands must consider that there is not any thing for himselfe Themistocles seeing a great nuÌ„ber of Collers chains in the enemies Camp said vnto him that did accoÌ„pany him Take off theÌ„ for you are not Themistocles and leaue vnto the soldier that which concernes profit The Earle of Armagnac seeing that hee must haue time to cleere these brutes He retires to Fonteraby and that oftentimes Innocency is forced to yeeld vnto a sodaine euent d We must giue time to broyles to make them vanish away when there is no meanes to resist Innocency it selfe is troubled when she is surprized Relinquenda rumoribus tempus quo senescant innocentes recente inuidiae impares Tac. An. Lib. 2. was aduised to goe out of the Realme and to retire to Fonteraby with his wife being loth that his person should be at the Earle of Dammartins discretion who beeing aduertised of his flight past on and seazed vppon the towne of Lestoré The Court Parliament of Paris vppon the informations of the Intelligences which the Earle of Armaignac had with the enemies of the Realme decreed a personall adiournment against him His processe was made by reason of his contumacy e The first default was obtained the 24. of Nouember 1469. the second the 19. of February 1469 the third the 6. of August 1470. and before that the E. of DaÌ„martin had seazed vppon all the County of Armagnac and by a sentence giuen the 7. of September 1470. he was condemned to loose his head But he was in a place of safety whereas the sentence could not be executed hauing an intent to let them know which had condemned him that he was aliue After that he had for two yeares space indured the miseries and discommodities which they suffer which are expelled from their owne houses and liue in a strange country hauing tryed that the wandring starres were as vnfortunate as the fixed f There is no such sweet abode as ones owne house They which bold them happy that runne from Prouince to Prouince are like vnto those saith Plutarch which iudge the wandring flâ—rres more fortunate then the fixed and sought by all meanes to returne into the Kings fauour Returnes into Guienne vnder the Dukes protection when as he saw that by the resolution of the Estates held at Tours the Kings brother left Normandy and tooke Guyenne for his portion and that hee was arriued at Bourdeaux he thought that he could not find a better refuge nor portion then with him he acquaints him with the misery of his life which was such as liuing his life was nothing but a liuing death g It is not life to stand alâ—waies in feare â— fall in to the handes of a mighty enemy which hath long armes Ita viuere vt non sit viuendum miserimuÌ„ est Cic. and the power which his enemies had against his innocency The Duke of Guienne pittied his estate and gaue him prouision to be restored to all his lands This displeased the King who saw that the Duke of Guienne ioyning with them whom hee held enemies to the Crowne aud continuing his poursute of marriage with the Duke of Bourgondies daughter Army of the King in Guienne might reuiue the League which he had smothered This feare h A Prince can make no greater shew that he feares his vassall then when â—hee retires from him Alexander by bis proclamation gaue leaue to all bannished men to returne into their Contries except the Thebanes and therefore Eudamidas said that Alexander feared none but the Thebans Plut. caused him to send 500. Lances with Foot-men and Canon vnto the fronter of Guienne deferring a more priuate reuenge against the Earle of Armagnac vntill another time He felt it cruelly after the death of the Duke of Guienne when as the King sent the Lord of Beaujeu Brother to to the Duke of Bourbon Seege of Lestore the Cardinal of Alby Bishop of Aras the Seneshals of Tholousa and Beaucaire the Lord of Lude with many other Captaines and a great nomber of Soldiers with Artillery who laid siege to Lestoré and contiâ—â—ed it sixe or seauen monthes The Earle of Armagnac sent them his Chancellor being Abbot of Pessant i The Deputies for the Earle of Armaâ—gnac were the Abbot of St. Denis and Bishop of Lombes with the Lords of Barbasan Raulsac and Palmarieux to tell them that it was not needfull to imploy such great forces against him The Earle desires a safe Conduct to iustifie himselfe that the Kings commandements should find no resistance in his contry that all was vnder his obedience and disposition yea his person so as it would please the King to giue him good security that he might go vnto him to iustifie his life and loyalty The offers were not accepted k It hath beene alwaies found strange that a subiect whose will should be conuerted into obedience and his reasons to humility should capitulate with his Prince The Duke of Nemours the Earle of St. Paul the Duke of Brittaine and the Earle of Armagnac repented it to late the Capitulations of an Inferiour beeing then more odious then they haue been since with Kings Al the Contry was ouerrunne spoiled and ruined and yet the Earle would not suffer his people to defend themselues declaring alwaies that he was the Kings seruant desiring nothing more then to iustifie himselfe offering to deliuer vp the Towne of Lestoré and for a greater declaration of his will hee caused the white Crosse and the Armes of France to be set vpon the Towers and Walles The Lord of Beaujeu and the Cardinall of Alby seing that without hazarding the Kinges forces they might enter the place Accord made with the E. of â—rmagnac by an accord which the King was not bound to keepe l This Maxime That a Prince being forced to make a peace or treaty to his disaduantage may fall from it at his pleasure had already taken footing in the councells of Princes they entred into treaty with the Earle of Armagnac and it was agreed That the said Lord of Beaujeu as Lieutenant to the King hauing speciall power soe to doe did pardon all crimes and delicts which he might haue committed against the King as wel in adhering vnto the Duke of Guienne m The Earle of Armagnac had followed the D. of Guienne in the warre of the Common weale and since had termed him selfe his Lieutenant Generall as otherwise That noe trouble nor hinderance should be giuen to himnor his seruaÌ„ts going nor comming That he might goe safely vnto the King with a hundred or sixe-score Horses
de See and brought words and offers of affection and seruice on the Dukes behalfe who feared that the King would make some sodaine inuasion The D. of Brittaine demands a peace hauing an armie of fifty thousand men ready to fall vpon his country The King with all his forces p A Prince should neuer doe all that be may against his enemies would not doe what he might doe against these gyant-like enterprises reseruing his thunder-bolts to an other season The more slowly Princes take Armes the more difficult it is to draw them out of armies hee resolued to vanquish without fighting and considering that the Lord of Lescun was the first linke of the chaine of the Duke of Brittanies Councell that all the iudgement conduct and experience in Brittanie did lye in the person of this Nobleman q Phil. de Com. speaking of the Lord of Lescun saith that there was neither iudgement nor vertue in Brittanie but what proceeded from him who after the death of the Duke of Guienne his master had retired himselfe to the Duke of Brittanie a good and a loyall French man who neuer would consent that the places of Normandie should bee giuen vnto the English hee thought that if he could draw him to his seruice the accord which he should make with the Duke of Brittanie would be more firme and withdrawing him from the Duke of Bourgundies alliance hee should make him so weake as all his forces would not suffice for his defence The King drawes the D. of Brittanie from the Duke of Bourgundies alliance There r When as the Prince hath won him that is in most credit and authoritie with him with whom he treats hee doth worke his affaires safely and with aduantage is nothing so easie as to bring one whether necessitie driues him The Lord of Lescun being won giues the Duke his master to vnderstand that there is no other safety for his affaires but the Kings protection The accord was made so as the Duke might haue eight thousand pounds starling The Lord of Lescun had a pension of six hundred pounds starling foure thousand crownes in readie money the Order of S. Michel the Earledome of Cominges halfe the gouernement of Guienne the Seneshallships of Vennes and Bourdelois The Captainship of one of the Castells of Bourdeaux s K. Charles the seuenth hauing taken Bourdeaux againe he caused two Castles to be built Castell Trumpet towards the Sea and that of Du Han towards the firme land which King Charles the seuenth had caused to be built and those of Bayonne and St. Seuert Essars and Souppleinuille instruments of this negotiation were also rewarded t Phil. des Essars a GentlemaÌ„ of the house of Brittany had 4000. Crownes giuen and six score pounds starâ—ing for yearely pension with the Baillewike of Meaux and was made Master of the Riuers Forrests of France Souppleinuille who did belong to the Lord of Lescun had six thousand crownes in gift a pension and offices fit for his qualitie the Kings bounty could not suffer any seruice to passe without recompence Truce annuall betwixt the King and the Duke of Bourgundy The affaires of Brittany being compounded the King went into Picardie It was his and the Duke of Bourgundies custome euery yeare to make a truce for six monthes in the beginning of Winter during the which there were many voiages and conferences to quench the causes of warre which they held to be shut in the Constables thoughts who began to stand in feare of the Duke and to keep aloofe from the King Philip de Commines saith that the Chancellor of Bourgundy came to make it but as it was the first yeare of his comming to Court he was not very curious to vnderstand the truth the which is drawne out of the Articles that were published and signed by the Earle of S. Paul Constable of France and by Philip of Croy deputed for the King and Guy of Brunen Lord of Imbercourt and Anthony Rollin Lord of Emery for the Duke of Bourgundy The Deputies promised to cause this Truce to be ratified by the first of December it ended the first of Aprill following betwixt which they should meete at Amiens u This assembly was appointed in Amiens the first of December 1472. to treat a peace and the restitution of S t Valery which the D. of Bourgundy demanded to treat a Peace The Constable following the intention of the King his Master and that which had been treated with the Lord of Lescun would not haue the Duke of Brittany comprehended in the Truce among the Allies of Bourgundy The Deputies shewed that the Duke of Brittany their Ally did relye vpon them x To forget Allies in Treatiâ—s and Accords is an iniury against the lawe of friendship Vnde maiores cum qui socium feâ—ellisles in virorum bonorum numero non putaâ—â—erunt haberi oportere Cic. our Elders did not hold him worthy to bee put in the number of good men that deceiued his companion that they could not forget them in the number of their frends that he had not disclaimed their friendship that they held him yet for their Allie and that he had often abandoned them by Letters and words and yet had beene firme to them in effect That youth did inflame his bloud but reason did still reclaime him That the Duke did then name him among his Allies leauing it to his choise by the first of February whether he would be comprehended among the Kings Allies or the Dukes There was no remedy The King would haue fifteene daies to name his Allies and eight dayes after to adde such as he should forget The Duke of Bourgundy Ambitions designes of the Duke of Bourgundy who would spend the time of Truce in great imaginations which filled his head with fumes and his heart with perpetuall flames propounded to allye himselfe vnto the Emperor He desired to extend the bounds of his Empire from one Sea vnto the other his spirit went still on and neuer lookt backe y It is an error in Princes that they seldome or neuer look behind theÌ„ They consult vpon the passage but neuer vpon the returne Leopold Archduke of Austria talking how hee should passe an Army of twentie thousand men into the Canâ—on of Suâ—its Kune of Stocke his iâ—ster said vnto him I will not follow thee thou talkest how thou shalt enter but thou neuer dreamest how thou shalt come forth Leopold was defeated aâ— Morgarten Munster The like was said vnto K. Francis the first by Amaril vppon his proposition to passe thâ— Alpes He held himself King alreadie of one part of Gaule hee deuoured all Germany in Imagination God had giuen him great Prouinces which he thought deserued a more stately Title then of Duke of Earle for the obtaining whereof hee made a voyage to Treues to the Emperor Frederiâ— hauing made a very sumptuous preparation for the solemnitie of that publike
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
whole posterity but onely to them which descend from the Males There are two houses which bee so great and famous of themselues as they honour the titles which are giuen them King Charles the seuenth his Father hauing made the Earledome of Foix a Pairie for Gaston of Foix hee confirmed this erection but hee made not any new This house of Foix was in those times one of the most famous in Christendome and compare with Soueraigne Princes o We find that in great ceremonies the Earles of Foix are named before the Princes and had precedence of the Earles of Vendosme There is no other reason but that the eldest of Princes houses precede the yonger of other houses and therfore at the Estates held at Tours the Earles of Neuers Eu and Foix had precedence of the Earle of Vendosme Gaston of Foix who liued in the time of King Charles the fifth went equall with Kings when as King Charles the sixth was at Tholousa he sent the Earle of Sancerre Marshall of France and the Signior of Riuiere one of the chiefe of his Councell to the Earle of Foix who was then at Mazere to intreate him to come vnto him or else he would goe to see him He did not excuse himselfe vpon the Indispositions of his great Age and being sorry that hee had not preuented this summons he parted from Mazere with six hundred horse and came to the King to Tholousa Traine of the Earle of Foix. The History saith that presenting himselfe vnto the king hee was followed by two hundred Gentlemen all cloathed in silkes among them there was noted the Vicount of Bruniquet and his brethren Roger of Spaine Lord of Montespan issued from the bloud of Arragon and head of the house of Montespan p Espagno let of Spaine sonne to Roger of Spaine sonne to Leon of Spaine and the Lord of Corras who first raised the honour of the Earles of Caramain a great and rich family Beginning of the houses of MoÌ„tespan Caramain allied to that of Foix and who seeing that Houses and Families haue their periods like to all other worldly things could not desire a more glorious fall then into the house of Monluc where it begins to reuiue King Charles the sixth requited this visite at New-yeares tide in the yeare 1390. q At this voyage the Earle did institute King Charles the sixth his heire the which hee would not accept for that he would not defraud the Vicount of Chastellan his lawfull Heire He fauoured the house of Lauall with the like declarations of honour House of Lauall the which was long before held for one of the worthiest of France hauing neuer wanted children nor the first dignities and alliances of France hauing for their stemme the House of Montmorency r They drawe the beginning of the first house of Montmorency to the time of Saint Denis by whom the first that was conuerted among the French Knights was a Lord of Montmorency and therefore the ancient Deuice of this house is God helpe the first Christians the first Christian of France and there is no difference in their Armes but fiue Cockle-shels Argent to the Crosse. Wherefore he would that Francis of Lauall Lord of Gaure sonne of a daughter of king Charles the seuenths sister should go in rank with the Earles of Vendosme as well in Councell as in Parliament and in all other publike actions and caused his letters to be dispatcht at Mans the nine and twentith day of Nouember 1467. to serue for a speciall and perpetuall priuiledge to his posteritie He had much contemned the glorious and honourable markes of Maiesty s Princes had alwayes men appointed to serue in time of peace and warre for the ornament of their maiesty and royall greatnesse Heralds were instituted in France for that respect in time of peace they carried mayles vpon their breasts and in times of warre their Coat of Armes powdred with Flowers de Luce. I haue obserued in the Church and Cloister of Saint Catherine du Val of the Schollers twenty of their Tombes which shew the forme of their Maces and Scutchions Bodin writes that hauing chased away almost all the Gentlemen of his house hee imployed his Taylor for a Herald at Armes and his Barber for an Embassador and his Physitian for a Chancellor as an ancient king of Syria did Apolophanes his Physitian whom he made the president of his Councell Philip de Commines obserues it when hee shewes how much hee was troubled to furnish out a Herald which he sent to the King of England Heralds were necessary for the Maiesty of a Prince in actions of war and in the most solemne dayes of peace They had diuers names and diuers charges and they either carried the Titles of the Soueraignes Prouinces or of some other famous occasion as in France the Heralds are diuersly named and wee finde often in the History of France these names giuen to Heralds Bosios error in the History of Malta Monjoy e Saint Denis Mont Saint Michel t This word of Monjoy Saint Denis was sometimes the warlicke cry of the French They say it grew vpon that which Clouis said in the battell neere to Colleyn when as fearing to loose it hee promised to beleeue in Iesus Christ worshipped by Clotilde his wife and to hold him for his Ioue Since that time they cryed in their battels Monjoye Saint Denis as if they would say Christ whom Saint Denis hath preached in Gaule is my Ioue that is to say my Iupiter The word of Ioue beeing turned into that of Ioye The Antiquities of Gaule wriâ—ten by the President Fauchet wherein a great man of Italy hath erred and moues them that obserue it to laugh for hauing found in our Histories that King Lewis the eleuenth had sent two Heralds to Bajazeth to complaine that hee had broken the peace with the Venetians hee sets downe their names after this manner Monsieur Gaudio de Saint Denis Monsieur de Saint Michel whereas hee should haue saide The Herald Monjoy Saint Denis and Mont Saint Michel They were created at great and solemne Feasts and when they presented Wine vnto the Prince hauing drunke he gaue the cup to him whom he made Herald wherwith he should make his Scutchion Oliuer of la Marche saith that Philip Duke of Bourgondy did somtimes giue them the name of that Country whereas the Wine which hee then dranke did grow which done the other Heralds gaue him the Coate of Armes charged with the Princes Armes There were more Ceremonies at the Creation of a King at Armes for his sufficiency was to bee testified by all the Kings at Armes Creation of Heralds and Heralds that might bee found and they were distinguished from others by a Crowne croslet which they carried on their heads Their chiefe charge was to make a distinction of the Armes of Families to preserue the ancient and preuent the vsurpation of new
innocency for it appeared not nor to the Kings Clemency which was tyred with releeuing him hee appealed to Faith which is the first vertue of a Prince saying That hee had not yeelded but vpon assurance of a pardon which was promised him The King protested that he had not promised him any thing and that he would rather haue forced him in the Castle of Carlat then receiue him to saue his life hauing so often deserued death Hee therefore would haue the chiefe points whereof he was conuicted drawne out of his processe and sent to other Parliaments throughout the Prouinces to the end they might know what had incensed the seuerity of his Iustice. Hee neuer pardoned any that had beene ingaged in the league of the Common-wealth nor those which had banded themselues against him to follow his brothers dessignes His hatred against the Bishop of Paris appeared most after the death of this Prelate for being aduertised that hee was lamented by all the Orders of Paris hee commanded the Prouost and Aldermen of Paris to make him an Epitaph which shewed the bad seruices hee had done his Maiesty by his intelligences with the Princes of the League As they that were neerest vnto his bloud haue felt the effects of his wrath so they which thought themselues to be neerest vnto his heart haue not beene freed s Princes fauors are not immortall Fato potentiae saith Tacitus speaking of Maecenas raro sempiternae an satias cupit aut illos cum omnia tribuerunt aut his cum iaÌ„ nihil reliquum est quod cupiant and haue not growne old before they haue tryed the truth of this old Maxime Fauours of Princes last not That Princes fauours soone grow old For a Prince is weary of giuing or hee that is fauoured being full of fauours doth not care to husband the continuance They make mention of the feare hee put the Lord of Ludé and the Earle of Sancerre in Antony of Chasteauneuf Lord of Lau may well be produced for an example both of his fauours and of the miseries which doe accompany fauorites The Chronicle saith that hee was chiefe Butler of France Seneschall of Guienne Lord Chamberlaine to the King and more beloued of him then euer any one had beene hauing had in lesse then fiue yeares three or foure hundred thousand Crownes in reward from the King But we must attend the end and not iudge of the building before it bee finisht t Aluaro de Luna whoÌ„ Iohn King of Castile aduanced and loued aboue all men of his Realme said to them that admired his fortune Iudge not of the building before it be funâ—shâ— He dyed by the hands of Iustice. behold the backeside of the Medal At his returne from the voyage of Peronne he caused him to bee put in prison in the Castle of Suilly vpon Loire He commanded Tristan to draw him from thence and to leade him to Vsson in Auuergne but he escaped Many were punished for this euasion Charles of Melun a man at Armes of the Admirals company and Captaine of Vsson lost his head at Loches his wiues sonne called Remonet and the Kings Atturney at Vsson This Charles of Melun must not bee taken for Charles of Melun who commanded in the Bastille when as Paris was besieged by the Army of the league and who could not auoyd it but his fidelitie was otherwise censured by his King then it appeared in the proofes of his seruice He felt the stormes of fortune in the disgrace which hee receiued when as the king tooke from him the Office of Lord Steward of France to giue it to the Lord of Craon The ordinary examples of new punishments for old faults made repentance vaine his searches being feared of Innocents did forbid them that were guilty to trust vnto the assurances of his clemency All were in feare and stood vpon their guard not so much for him as against him They knew well that he had his eyes blindfold to strike of euery side according to his choler and the suddennesse of Tristan Seuerity of Tristan the Hermit who had reduced the markes of Maiesty to the Sword and Halter If hee had sworne by as many Gods as the Aegyptians Assyrians Persians and Grecians did worship u The Egiptians did worship as many Gods as the Earth brought them forth fruits the Assyriars as many as they had Town the Persians as many as they saw stars or fires the Gretians as many as they had fountaines no man would haue trusted him wherefore they that followed his brother considering that hee knew not how to forget iniuries and that hee made a iest of that royall precept A Prince that will saâ—e much must pardon much they went to serue them whom they held to bee least reconcileable with him Claude de la Chastre who had left him vpon some discontentment to serue the Duke of Guienne who honoured him with many charges and among others with the guard of his person had retired himselfe vnto his house at Nancy after the death of this Prince x If a Prince hath any subiect of choller it should bee open and soone gone it is not generous to conuert it into hatred and the King who had both his choler sudden and his hatred long against offences of this kinde and who neuer held the smallest that were committed against him to be light sent to take him prisoner by his Gossip Tristan and held him about a moneth in suspence what he should doe with him for hee had committed no fault but in seruing the Duke of Guienne loyally preseruing his faith vnstained amidst great temptations and seeing himselfe a prisoner hee did more glory to bee an Innocent in prison then guilty at liberty y Admirable is â— at faith which amidst great accidents and vehement pursutes remains vntainted hee caused him to come before him and demanded of him if he had a will to serue him as faithfully as he had done his brother He answered that he could neuer do so great seruice vnto his Maiesty but his affection would be greater and that the seruice which he had done vnto the Duke of Guienne was a proofe of the fidelity which he would alwayes shew to him that should be his Maister The King told him that hee would vse his seruice and hauing an intent to make his guard as well of his owne subiects as of strangers z The Infidelity of subiects forceth Princes to imploy strangers for their guards Alex. Seuerus was the first which tooke souldiers of a rough aspect terrible fearfull and therefore Dyon saith that his entry into Rome was odious The Emperours did ordinarily imploy Gaules Italiaâ— Spaniards Germans or Macedonians The Emperour of Constantinople was guarded by Englishmen Tiberius by Germans Nero had Hollanders or Frisons Herod of Iudea Germans hee sent him with a Commission to raise a Company of an hundred Gentlemen for the guard of his person then remembring
of Chastel a He was one of the Commissioners whom the King appointed for the accusation and Imprisonment of the Cardinall of Balue one of the Architects of the league found in the end that there was no better lodging then at the kings armes His fortune was ruined in Brittany and raised in France Hee did negotiate the enter-view of the King and Duke of Bourgondy at Peronne he was imployed in the Truce of nine yeares 1475. and was aduanced to the gouernment of Rousillon The Lord of Nantoillet had for a time the authority ouer all the Armies of France Lord of Nantoillet he wanted nothing but the name of Constable for he did exercise the Functions the King hauing made him his Lieutenant Generall throughout his whole Realme and afterwards Lord Steward of France He was so fauoured as the King gaue him often the moity of his bed This fauour lasted not long The Chronicle of the Kings library saith That the King could not pardon any one of whom he had suspition Death of the Lord of Nantoillet He caused his head to be cut off in the yeare 1468. and that the Hangman hauing cut off but a peece at the first blow hee lest him force and courage enough to stand vp and to protest before heauen and the people that hee died an Innocent After that Philip de Commines had said that he had serued the king well in Paris in the warre of the Common-weale he addes In the end he was ill rewarded more by the pursuite of his enemies then by the Kings fault but neither the one nor the other can well excuse themselues Anthony of Chabannes Anthony of Chabannes Earle of Dammartin brother to Iames of Chabannes Lord Steward of France saw the ship of his fortune cast vpon the shelfe in the beginning of this Princes Reigne His good fotune drew him out of the Bastille to go to the warre of the Common-weale in the end whereof hee was made Lord Steward of France hee had the chiefe charge of the Kings Army in Guyenne and was then much fauoured by this Prince with whom hee was so inward as when hee meant to marry his second Daughter to the Duke of Orleans hee discouered his secret affections vnto him by a letter which hee did write vnto him vpon that subiect wher of the Chronicle in written hand of King Lewis the twelfth makes mention hee sent him word that whatsoeuer they said hee was resolued to giue his daughter to the yong Duke of Orleans but no man should bee troubled to nourish the Children that should bee borne of that marriage Peter of Termouille Peter of Tremouille Lord of Croan saw not his life to end with the fauours and honors hee had had of this Prince His Predecessors Guy of Tremouille and Iohn of Tremouille Lord of Ionuelle were made great in following the Duke of Bourgondies party The eldest of this house married Ioane Countesse of Boulleyn and Comminges Widow to Iohn of France Duke of Berry b K. Charles 〈…〉 yeare 1430. King Charles 7 supported George of Tremouille Lord of Craon in the quarrell which he had with the Earle of Richmont for the Lands of Thouars and Benon Peter of Tremouille defeated the troopes of the Prince of Orange before Gy in the Franch-County but hauing beene repulst from the siege of Dole hee was disgraced by Lewis the eleuenth who loued the seruices better then the seruants Hee was saith Philip de Commines a very fat man who being reasonably well content and rich retired himselfe to his house Charles of Ambois did long feele the disgrace of Peter of Chaumont his father Charles of Ambois who retired himselfe in the begining of the reigne of Lewis with the Duke of Berry c The House of 〈…〉 by the Kings Commandement in the 〈◊〉 1465. He was afterwards imployed in great affaires and continued vnto the end His brother was Bishop of Alby and then Cardinall and the greatest fauourite of Lewis the twelfth who called him M r. George Philip de Commines calleth Charles of Ambois a most Valiant Wife and Diligent Man Peter of Rohan Peter of Rohan Lord of Gy did gouerne his fortune happily amidst the waues and stormes of this Princes reigne who made him Marshall of France He was one of the foure which vndertooke the gouernment of affaires during the Kings infirmity and disability d 〈…〉 the Bishop of 〈◊〉 the Lord of Châ—umont the Marshall of Gye and the Lord of Lude gouerned the Estate for 10 or 12 dayes Hee continued this great Authority vnder the reigne of Charles the eighth for the respect whereof the Lady Anne of France Regent to the King and Wife to Peter of Bourbon offended that the Duke of Orleans attempted vpon her Authority would haue taken him prisoner by the Marshall of Gye The Duke of Orleans retired himselfe and hee that was chosen to stay him was the Instrument of his returne and made his peace with the Regent Iohn of Chalons Prince of Orange Iohn of Chalons left the Duke of Bourgondy to serue Lewis the eleuenth then hee left Lewis to serue Mary daugther to the Duke of Bourgondy This first discontentment against his first maister grew for that disputing the succession of Iohn of Chalons Prince of Orange his Grand-father e Iohn of Chalons sonne to Lewis Margaret of Vienne was married to Mary of Baussac heire of the principalitie of Orange by whom hee had Lewis surnamed the Good Lewis first maried Ioane of Montbelâ—art by whom hee had William and then hee maâ—â—ied Elenor of Armagnaâ— by whom hee had Lewis and Hugh Williaâ— was married to Katherine of 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Iohn of Chalons was borne of whom wee now make mention against Lewis and Hughe his vncles the Duke of Bourgondy being President in his Councell when as the cause was pleaded made a Decree against him This despight drew him to the Kings seruice who promised to restore him to his lands and to giue him the gouernment of Bourgondy but when as he saw that he had but the name and that the Lord of Tremouille had the command of all the forces he returned to the seruice of the Princesse of Bourgondy and caused the whole Countrey to reuolt from the King He troubled him much and let him see that a great Prince hath no small enemies that a Hornet is able to put a Bull into fury Iohn of Esteteuille Iohn of Eâ—â—teuille Lord of Torcy gouerned his fortune amidst so many rockes and shelues vnto a safe port The King made him maister of the Cross-bowes and committed vnto him the guard of the Cardinal of Balue in the Castell of Montbason It was he that came and aduertised the King of the danger in suffering such numbers of English to enter into Amiens during the Treaty of Piquigny Philip of Creuecoeur Philip of Creuecoeur Lord of Esquerdes or Cordes Marshall of France He had great