his life Hee liued six yeares eleuen monthes Philip Earle of Bresse sonne to Lewis and great Grandfather to Charles Emanuel who had been prisoner at Loches succeeded him a great Prince as all they haue been whose fortunes haue been tost and crost z They whom a variable vnconstaÌ„t fortune hath exercised and tryed gouerne theÌ„selues better then others Tacitus speaks it of Caractatus QueÌ„ multa ambigua multa prospeta extâ—lerant vt câ—teros Britannorum Imperato resprâ—mineret Whom many crosses and many good fortunes had raised vp that he might exceed the rest of the Brittish commanders After that Iustus Lipsius to confirme this truth hath spoken of Charles the fiâ—t and Lewis the eleuenth he addes Emanuel Philibert Duke of Sauoy and concludes that the Greeke word is true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I haue learned of them that haue hurt me Miseria brudentiae bona mater Misery iâ— a good mother of wisedome At the Kings returne from Lyon Alfonso K. of Portugal comes to demand succors in France Alfonso King of Portugall came to salute him being at Tours hee came vnto him as to his last refuge being no longer able to resist the power of King Ferdinand and Isabelta The cause of their contention is well worthy the knowing and to vnderstand it wee must remember that it was formerly said that by the peace made betwixt Iohn King of Castille and Iohn of Nauarre Blanche the eldest Daughter of Nauarre was married to Henry of Castille Prince of the Asturies and that the marriage was not consummated by reason of the disabilitie and coldnes of the husband a Pope Eugenius the third gaue a dispensation for the degree of proximitie that was betwixt the married couple and the marriage was celebrated at Madrid in the yeare 1440. The bashfulnes and modestie of this Princesse made her dissemble her misfortune Disabilitie of Henry K. of Castillâ— whereof no man might inconsiderately grow in doubt for the Prince was of a manlike and braue aspect but his actions were faint and languishing They were but fiue and twentie yeares old when they were married At one and thirty he succeeded to his father who died in the yeare 1454 of a quartaine Ague after that he had put Aluaro de Luna b Dom Aluato de Luna abusing the greatnes of his charge and the great loue the King bare him was hated of the Princes Noblemen of Castille they forced the King to banish him six yeares from the Court His faction won the Prince D. Henry who armed against his father wroght so as he was restored to fauor and made Master of the Order of S. Iames but seeking to be reuenged of his enemies and making many enterprises against them Queene Isabel fauoring them made the King resclue to put him in prison to haue him exâ—cuted at Vaile dosâ—t The King did forfeit al his goods they did set a siluer Basin whereas his head was to receiu that which passers by would giue for his entertainment A remarkable example of the inconstancy of Kings and fortunes fauours Al sin 〈…〉 vita a la tarde loa el dia. The life is commended by the end and the day by the Euening his Constable to death and had raigned nine and forty yeares and six monethes Henry succeeded him and Alfonso his second sonne was great Master of the Order of St. Iames hee would willingly haue giuen him his Crowne for the griefe he had conceiued for Henries disobedience His Daughter Isabella was but three yeares old to whom he gaue the Towne of Cuellar and a great summe of money for her mariage All things succeeded otherwise then he had proiected The eternall prouidence which hath written in his tables of Diamond the aduentures of things which are haue been and shall be had disposed after another manner But as the most constant patience is tired at length this Princesse The Pope dissolues the mariage for sterilitie hauing for a long time endured her husbands disabilitie began to murmure and he preuented her complaints presenting a request vnto the Pope to bee seperated from her and shewed that she was barren and could not be a mother and that the affaires of Castille required an heire The Pope dissolued the first marriage and suffered him to marry againe with Ione Infanta of Portugall Sister to King Alfonso and Daughter to King Edward a Princesse exceeding faire who more desirous to bee a Queene then a wife consented to this marriage notwithstanding that shee was fully aduertised of the disabilitie of the husband which she tooke who although he were a great Prince could not haue found a woman where as euery one may haue for his money But shee made it knowne that a politick woman neuer dyes without an heyre On the other side the King held the blemish of disabilitie to be so dishonourable as to make the contrarie knowne and to haue children to succeed vnto his Crowne he consented that Bernard de la Cueua one of his fauourites c Some write that D. Ioane consented therevnto by force but when she had once made this leape she had more need of a bridle then a spurre A wonderfull incontinency and impudency Being at it were confined to the Castell of Alacaes vnder the custody of the Archbishop of Seuelle she had by D. Pedro the Archbishops Nephew two children D. Ferdinand and D. Apostol should lye with the Queene who presently conceiued with child and to the end it should not bee thought to be done by supposition he would haue her deliuered in the presence of Henry Earle of Alba de Lista the Archbishop of Toledo and the Marquis of Vellena It was a Daughter which had for her Godfather the Earle of Armagnaâ— who was at that time Embassador in Castille to King Lewis the eleuenth Wisedome and discretion might haue made this deceit more fortunate then it was Henry the king of Castille degraded for all Spaine made demonstration of incredible Ioy for the birth of this Daughter but there was follie and indiscretion of all sides The King who would confirme this opinion that he was a gallant man sought the loue of other women who soone discouered the deceit The Queene made shew to be iealous entertained her loue securely with D. Bernard so as the great familiaritie he had with her made the world doubt of her chastitie and when as they saw that the King honored him with the chiefe charges of the Realme making him master of the order of St Iames and then Duke of Albuquergue they did imagine that he made him play his part in this Comedie which ended with cruel tragicall effects for the Great men of the realme made a league to seaze vpon D. Alfonso and D. Isabella brother Sister to the end that this Bastard should not depriue them of their rights Alfonso being about twelue yeeres old was proclaimed K. of Castille by them and then did D. Henry shew
France Parricides and cruelties with his wife Daughter to the Earle of Bullen being forced to make that his contrie where he found his fortune thinking to see the same sunne euery where which he saw in Scotland He besought K. Lewis the eleuenth to assist him with sufficient forces to make war in Scotland t Euery soile is the Countrie of a great courage Quo modo lucem noctem que omnibus hominibus ita omnes terras fortibus viris natura aperuit As nature hath opened the day and night for all men so hath she al contries for men of courage Tac. lib. 4. The bad vsage he had receiued froÌ„ his brother caried him to these motions to ouerthrow all that hee could not remoue The K. thought it not fit to ground a war against his allies vpon an other mans passions so as the Duke of Albany seeing that he could not obtain that he expected froÌ„ the king he past ouer into England and perswaded K. Edward to make war against the K. of Scotland u It is alwaies dangerous to make warre vpon the Councels of men that are banished from their countries and reduced to those extremities to ruine it for reuenge Passion doth easily transport them they promise that which they cannot hold and their wils are subiect to change The Noblemen of the Realme apprehending this storme assembled together by night in a Church where they resolued to cast all that into the Sea which was the cause of this tempest and which made the King to play at tenis with his subiects heads x Nothing is of so little respect to a cruell Prince as the bloud of his subiects Stratocles seeing them buy the heads and nâ—ckes of beasts for his supper said it was that wherwith they that gouerned the commonweale played at tosse-ball Plut. in Demet. being necessary to rid himselfe of domesticke enemies before he did incounter strangers The King who had spies in all places was aduertised of this assembly and sent Cocheran one of his fauorites to discouer it he was met by Archembald Douglas Earle of Anguse Conspiracie of the Nobilitie executed who took him by the neck and made him fast with the same chaine of gold which he himselfe ware and then he gaue him in gard to certaine soldiors vntill it was day at the breake of which hee was carried vnto a gibbet lamenting his hard fortune which had raised him vp to ruine him Some cried out to haue him dispacht others were moued to pittie y In these changes of fortune some sing others weâ—p wâ—â—n Radamystus caused Mithridates to bee taken vnchained the people remembering the rigour of his coÌ„mandemenâ—s added blows to his misfortune others lamâ—nted the change of his fortune Vulgus duto Imperio habitum probra ac verbera intentabat Et erant contra qui tantuÌ„ fortunae commutationem miseretentur The common people required his hard command with reproches and blows And there were others which Pittied the change of his fortune Tac. lib. 4. To be wise we must fly the conuersation of fooles Magna pars sanitatis est hortatores Insaniae reliquisse Sen. Epist. 94. It is a great part of health to haue left the perswades to madnes All reioiced to see the Court purged from this contagious plague He goes directly to the Kings Chamber and seazeth vpon all these Empericks of state vnder whose gouernment impietie had so raigned and iniustice been in such credit in Scotland and causeth them all to be hanged The King of England made his profit of these broiles King of England sends an armie into Scotland for hauing sent Richard Duke of Glocester his brother into Scotland with a mighty Armie he forced the King to restore him Barwick which the Scottishmen had kept one and twenty yeares by meanes wherof a Peace was treated and sworne The Nobilitie of Scotland thought that the King would grow wise hauing no more these instruments of folly about him z but hee made them to change their opinions for hauing setled his affaires abroad he began to call them to an account at home and to be reuenged of them which had prescribed him a law This caused anew reuolt to pacifie the which the King fled to the Pope who sent a Legate to draw the Rebels to their duties and hee intreated the King of France and England by his Embassadors to assist him to quench a mischiefe the contagion whereof might creep in among their subiects Not holding himselfe safe in Edinbourg hee would haue retired to Sterling but the Gouernour would not giue him entry He was then forced to keep the field hauing no retreat his enemies incounter him he accepts the Battel which they presented King of Scotland â—â—airne and fought valiantly but finding his horse wounded he retires vnto a Mill whether hee was pursued and slaine in the yeare 1488. the 31. of his age and the eight and twentith of his raigne FINIS THE CONTENTS OF of the eighth BOOKE 1 THe King is aduised to make his profit of the diuisions of Italy but he will not heare of it 2 Troubles at Florence and conspiracies against the house of Medicis 3 The Pope excommunicates the Florentines and for their sakes the Venetians arming the King of Naples against them 4 The King declares himselfe for the Florentines and forbids to send money to Rome The Venetians ioine in league with the Florentines 5 He sends his Embassadors to Rome and is arbitrator of the controuersie Ouerture for a Peace The lets of the Venetians side 6 The Popes complaint against them 7 Intelligences of the Duke of Brittany discouered and Letters surprized by the King 8 Punishment of Peter Landais 9 Townes of the Riuer of Somme recouered by the King 10 Negotiation of Oliuer le Dain at Gand. Taking of the Towne of Tournay 11 Princesse of Bourgundy sends Embassadors vnto the King to haue his Peace and protection 12 The King wins the Embassadors Restoring of the Townes of Hesdin Therouenne and Monstreuil Siege of Bullen two and twenty Deputies of Arras hanged 13 Arras yeelds vpon a composition which is not obserued 14 The Gantois rise against their Princesse and will haue part in the gouernment of affaires Their Embassadors sent vnto the King bring back a letter which the Princesse had written contrarie to their Embassage 15 The Princesse Chancellor and the Lord of Himbercourt Gouernor of Liege put to death 16 Ingratitude and impietie of Adolpe of Gueldres against his father 17 The King entertaines friendship with the King of England and keepes him from inclining to the Princesse of Bourgundy 18 Marriage of Maximilian Archduke of Austria with the Princesse of Bourgundy 19 The Kings armie in the Franch Countie 20 The fiâ—st alliance of France with the Suisses 21 Estate of the affaires of Castille vnder the new raigne of Ferdinand and Isabella 22 Death of Iohn the second King of Nauarre and Arragon 23 Peace and alliances renued
wont to say Che non potea la Republica crescere molto di potenze se non hauesse nell imprese di Terra impiegate le sue forze la quale cosa perche noÌ„ haue a prima fatts pero era stata molto ritardata et impedita quella grandezza alla quale se tale consiglio hauesse preso piu per tempo po teua caminare felicemente haue thought that this Common-weale had begun too late to inlarge it selfe vpon the maine land to make profit of her neighbours ruynes The two principall intentions which shee hath had for the greatnes of her estate to maintaine her selfe free and to become ritch haue succeeded for the one she hath alwayes maintained her selfe strong at Sea there beeing no other meanes to anoy her and she hath continued her traffick without the which she could not continue this goodly flower of liberty had been withered by the idlenes of her subiects The industry of marchandize should bee no lesse honorable vnto them then tillages to the old Senators of Rome both the one and the other in their labours and trafficke haue produced famous examples of publike vertues We must giue vnto Venice the glory of the best gouernment of all the Estates of the world the forme and order of her politick gonernment is in all parts so well disposed and obserued as this Common weale amidst so many diuers accidents of good fortune and bad was neuer troubled with any discord or domestick diuision which haue aflicted Aristocraticall Estates and driuen gouernours of Common-weales into such feares and distrusts as the Pallace where they haue assembled to resolue of publique affaires hath beene often dishonored with the losse of their liues or liberties h After that they of Miletum had expelled their tyrants they setled an Aristocraticall Estate but the people did still mutiâ—e against this kind of Gouernment and the great men did still liue in such feare as they could not hold a Councell in safety but in shippes The Lords of Samos were murthered by the people when they were in counsell Inevitable stormes in estates which depend not of the power of one alone whereas the lesser are alwaies kept vnder by the greater and the poore cannot long indure the felicity of the ritch who so will keepe the poore people in such obedience must after the example of Rome allow them a share in the estate i The gouernment of Rome was diuided betwixt the Consulls Senate and people with such a conformity of their duties and common Offices as neuer common weale was better instituted The power of the one was bridled and restrayned by that of the other Nulla efferre se pars supra caeteras valet nequie impotenter superbire omnia quippe in 〈◊〉 statu manent cum aliorum cehibiatur impetus aliine in se quoque insurgatur perpeuo metuunt The Venetians haue made them subiect by meanes very pleasing vnto them they haue in a manner the best part of the liberty and their pleasures are not limited but by excesse they do their affaires quietly and the Senate hath all the care to maintaine them in liberty and rest The greatest disdaine not them that are meaner they contract Allyances together and do not restraine them from certaine publique charges There is a great temper betwixt Aristocratia and Democratia For the Gouerment retayning little of the one and much of the other is freed from disorders and corruptions which haue alwaies troubled ciuill tranquillity FINIS THE CONTENTS OF of the fifth BOOKE 1 THE King considers of the Preiudice which hee receiues by the obseruation of the Treatie of Peronne 2 Assembly of the Estates of the Realme at Tours by whose aduice the Duchie of Guienne is giuen to the Duke of Normandie Thé Duke of Bourgundy adiourned to the Parliament at Paris 3 The Court of Parliament complaines of the reuocation of the Pragmatick Sanction 4 Institution of the Order of S. Michel the first Princes and Noblemen were honored and the Knights bonds 5 Warre resolued by the Estates and begunne against the Duke of Bourgundy 6 A strange change in England The Duke of Clarence Brother to King Edward and the Earle of Warwicke take Armes against the King 7 Margaret wife to Henry the sixt the Duke of Clarence and the Earle of Warwick come into France for succors 8 Henry the sixt at libertie and Edward expelled the Realme 9 Exploits in Picardie and warre proclaimed against the Duke of Bourgundie 10 The Constable perswades him to giue his Daughter to the Duke of Guienne 11 Armie of the Duke of Bourgundy before Amiens 12 A marriage sought betwixt the heire of Castille and the Duke of Guienne 13 Birth of Charles Dauphin of France 14 Practises of the Constable to breake the promises of marriage made in Castille 15 Death of Pope Paul the second 16 New designes to draw the Duke of Bourgundy into the Townes of Picardie 17 Promise made by the King to restore Amiens and S. Quentin 18 Death of the Duke of Guienne changeth the affaires 19 Obseruation of the Duke of Guiennes life and the seueritie of the King his Brother Strange death of Gilles Sonne to Iohn the sixt Duke of Brittany 20 Troubles in Nauarre the King sends forces thither 21 Letters written by the King to the Earle of Lude Siege of Parpignan Peace betwixt the King and the King of Arragon 22 Iohn Earle of Armagnac expelled his Country and the pittifull discourse of his fortune and death THE HISTORY of LEVVIS the XI THE FIFTH BOOKE THE Duke of Normandy was no sooner aduertised that the King had promised by the Treaty of Peronne to giue him the Contries of Champaigne and Brie for his portion but hee presently besought him to giue him leaue to goe thither and not to suffer him to languish any longer for the enioying of his rest and quiet the cheefe part whereof consisted in not beeing troubled to seeke it a It is a part of rest not to be in paine to seek it The King who had promised nothing freely thought to discharge himselfe of his promises at a better rate Hee wonne the Sig r. of Lescun b He that wil winne a Princes heart let him first win the cheefe ministers which possesse him who are as it were the eyes by the which hee seees and the eares by the which he hears and vndrstands who was his Brothers whole Councell The King winnes his Brother by the practise of Odet of Rye to perswade him to be conformable to his intentions and to rest satisfied not with that which he desired but with what should be offered him Yet this practise was not so secret but the Duke of Bourgondy was aduertised by the Cardinall Balâ—e a double heart and a turbulent spirit full of passion who wrate vnto him that the King treated with his Brother that they made no mention of him and that hee should looke to his busines This
to Monsieur Dalby who carries a commission directed to him to Monsieur Charluz and to the said Destueille and to euery of them to cause great store of victuals to be carried to Narbona and other places of the fronter to the end the men at Armes may haue no want but you must haue a care that vnder coâ—llor thereof none be carried to Perpignan I haue giuen charge to the said Beauuoisien to be gouerned by you and in case that Mousieur de S. Priet lead the hundred Lances of Dauphinâ— the said Beauuoisien shall bring vnto me Hardouin de la Iaille whom I haue written to S. Priet to send me I haue sent vnto you Raoulet of Balparque and Claux the Canonier to assist you imploy them well and spare nothing The Seig r of Bouffille shall part within two or three daies and in my opinion with those hundred Lances with yours those of Dauphinè Lanquedoc and of Captaine Odet with the three thousand Franc of Archers you shall haue forces sufficient to spoile and burne their whole Country and to take and beate downe their paltry places or ruine and burne such as you cannot beat downe I doe also write vnto the Generall Treasurer and Officers of Languedoc that they doe whatsoeuer Monsi r Dalby and you shall commaund them Beauuoisien shall tell you the rest Farewell my Lord Gouernor I pray you let mee vnderstand of your newes Written at Senlis the 9. of Aprill V. Lewis and vnderneath N. Tilhart The Kings armie besieged Parpignan Siege of Parpignan D. Iohn King of Arragon maintained the siege the Prince D. Ferdinand came to succor him and forced the French to retire Lewis hearing of this shamefull retreat commanded his Captaines to returne speedilyâ— and to take the place or to die there The siege continued eight monthes the besieged were wonderfully prest with famine for when as they had eaten horses dogs Cats and Rats they deuoured their flesh that were slaine at assaults chosing rather to dye after this manner then to returne vnder the command of the French Famine and yeelding of Parpignan Yet their obstinacy was no hinderance from letting the K. suffer them to feele the effects of his Clemencie receiuing them vpon composition euen when as they could no more u The obstinacy and fury of a Town besieged should not hinder the bounty and clemencie of a Prince Laurence Palatin of Hungarie being amazed that the Emperor Sygismond left them their liues goods and held them for good subiects whom hee had vanquished answered in this manner I kill my enemies in pardoning and in doing them good I binde them Aeneas Sit. lib. 3. Com. So the Contâ—e of Roussillon remained to France all the raigne of King Lewis King Charles his Sonne restored it to King Ferdinand x Charles the eight yeelded the Countie of Rossiâ—lon to Ferdinand King of Arragon did acquit him of the same for the which hee was engaged this was in the yeare 1494. It had cost the King his Father many men and much money His Chronicle relates that it was said in those times that the Contrie of Arragon was a Church-yard vnto the French Philip de Commines saith that in the Contie of Roussillon there died many good men for this warre continued long A Peace was mas made betwixt Lewis and D. Iohn King of Arragon and Nauarre Embassadors from the King of Arragon sent into France whose Embassadors being come into France were well receiued and graciously vsed by the King who gaue them two cups of gold waying fortie markes y As a weake Prince should not make any show of his forces so hee that is mighty glories to shew what hee can The King out of one Citie of his realme musters a huÌ„dred thousand men in Armes the 20. of Aprill 1470. and esteemed worth three thousand two hundred crownes of gold and to the end they might iudge of the whole peece by a patterne he caused them to see the Inhabitants of Paris in Armes they did muster a hundred foure thousand men the Originall saith they were all in one liuerie in red Casacks and white Crosses The fortune of the house of Armagnac was intangled in that of Arragon Iohn Earle of Armagnac expelled his Country Iohn Earle of Armagnac had married Ioane of Foix Daughter to Gaston Earle of Foix and D. Leonora of Arragon This alliance could not defend him from the indignation of King Lewis the eleuenth in the furie whereof he found first the losse of his libertie then of his goods and lastly of his life The King could not forget with what vehemency he had followed the Bourguignon party in the war of the Common weale after that he had promised to retire himselfe from all Leagues and associations contrary to the Kings intentions nor with what affection he had followed the youthfull follies of the Duke of Guienne his brother who had restored him to his lands contrary to his commandement In the yeare 1469. one called Iohn Bon of Wales in England brought letters vnto the King which King Edward had writen to the Earle of Armagnac Accused by a welchmaÌ„ and the answer which the Earle made him The King reading them with the passion where-with he was possest and easily beleeuing one man alone a To draw many heades in question vppon the report of one tongue is an act of extreame odious Iustice. Graue militibus visuÌ„ quod in causa falconis multos milites ad vnius serui testimonium occidi preceperat Pertinax Iul. Capitol to ruine one who was worth many and who would cost him much thought that Infidellity was noe new thing in a spirit who had already shewed the proofes and without further inquisition sends the Earle of Dammarting with twelue or thirteene hundreth Lances and with ten or twelue thousand Franc Archers to seaze vpon the Earles person lands and estate Being come into the Towne of Rhodets he put the whole Country into the Kings hands His lands put into the Kings haÌ„ds changed the officers and caused a Proclamation to be made by the sound of a Trumpet that noe man of what estate or condition whatsoeuer should advowe himselfe seruant nor officer to the Earle of Armagnac nor make any poursute for him vpon paine of confiscation of body and goods b There is nothing so powerfull nor fearefull as a publik declaration of the Princes hatred against any one especially among a people which esteem not their Gouernors but by the authority and credit they haue with their Superior In these extremities there is not any man that will willingly loose himselfe for another Good men are loth to drawe their friends into danger As it is an office of frendshippe to runne into danger for ones friends and rashnes to goe into perils without occasion so it is cruelty to bring others into danger The Earle of Dammartin made booty of all the places and Siegneuries which did
the imbecillitie and weaknes of his Nature for whereas hee should haue opposed himselfe against those mutinies he suffred them to get such credit and authoritie as the Archbishop of Toledo being sent for to come vnto him to the end hee might pacifie those troubles he said vnto him that brought him this charge Tell your King that I am weary of him his affaires and that he shall shortly see who is the true King of Castille The Grandos of the Realme assembled in a great plaine neere vnto Auila to degrade the King from the royall dignity That which they could not doe vnto his person Alfonso proclained K. of Castille they did vnto his statue d When as King Henry vnderstood of this degradation which was in Iune 1â—65 he said I haue bred vp children and they haue contemned me I came naked from my mothers wombe and the earth atâ—ends me naked No man can liue so poorely as hee is borne and it God expels mee now for my fins he wil comfort and preserue mee afterwards for his infinite power is that which kils and restores to life which wouÌ„ds and cures that which giues Siegneuries takes them away which raiseth vp Kings puls them downe when he pleaseth which they presented vpon a scaffold when as the Herad said that D. Henry was degraded from the royall dignity the Archbishop of Toledo tooke the Crowne from his image the Earle of Plaisance the sword and the Earle of Beneuent the Scepter this done Diego Lopes cast it out of the royall seat Alfonsos standard was aduanced and poore Henry shouted at and contemned They would end the quarrell by a battell before Olivedo e The Battell of Oluiedo was in the yeare 1467. They doe not agree who had the victory D. Alfonso was seen armed aâ— all peeces incouraging his men D. Henry appeared not in the fight but entered triumphing towards night into Medina del Campo The two Armies fought by order one squadron against another The Archbishop of Toledo led his army hauing a white stole vpon his armes The combat continewed three houres and ended with so great disorder of either side as both parties made bonfiers for the victory The Pope sent his Legat f Anthony de Veneris Bishop of Lyon the Popes Legate being in Spain coÌ„manded them to lay downe Armes vpon paine of excommunication the great men of Spaine opposed themselues said that they appealed to a Councill The Licentiat Iohn D. Alcacer and Doctor Alphonso of Madrigall were committed for this appeale to pacefie these troubles during the which King D. Alfonso hauing raigned three yeares died of the plague at Cardegnosa Death of Alfonso King of Castille The League would haue declared Isabella heire of the Realme the which she would not accept the King her brother lyuing wherevpon a peace was made by which she was declared Princesse of Castille the nineteenth of September 1468. vpon condition that she should not marry without the consent of the King hir brother They would haue married her to Alfonso of Portugall who was a widower and D. Ioane to Iohn the eldest Sonne of Portugall vpon condition that if there came no children of the marriage of the Pincesse Isabell g D. Isabella was sought for in marriage by the brother of King Lewis by the King of Englands brother She made choise of D. Ferdinand Prince of Arragon He came to see her vnknown D. Guttiere of Cardona who coÌ„ducted him shewed him her saiing in Spanish Esse es It is he To whome the Princesse answerered sodenly and S. Shal be thine armes vpon this cause the family of this knight doth at this day carry an S in tâ—eir armes and deuice those which issued from the marriage of D. Ioane should succeed to the realme Castille But D. Isabella had other thoughts she loued Ferdinand sonne to Iohn King of Navarre and Arragon whome shee caused to come to Vaillidolet in a disguized habit and marryed him the eighteenth of October 1469. Isabella of Castille marries Ferdinand of Arragon King Henry was so incensed at this marriage as hee declared his Sister fallen from all the rights which shee might pretend to the crowne of Castille and caused Ioane his daughter to be proclaymed his true heire who was married to Charles Duke of Guienne as hath beene formerly said This treaty of marriage was broken by the death of the Dukd of Guienne King Henry died also h The death of Henry the 4. King of Castille was in the yere 1474. the one and forty yeare of his age and the on twenteth of his raign Hee was interred in the great Chappell of the Monastery of Guadalupe He appointed 52. lampes of siluer to burne day night vpon his tombe And notwithstanding that the Crowne were assured to Ferdinand and Isabel yet Ioane continued the title of Queene of Castille Troupes sent out of France into Castille and in this quality she married with Alfonso King of Portugall which was an occasion of great warres The French King being discontented with the house of Arragon and the warre of Pergignan sent troupes to the King of Portugal vnder the command of Aman of Albret i Ambassadors haue oste ingaged their Maisters in very ruin ous voiages Philip de CoÌ„mines who had treated with them of the K. of Portugall saith that if they had beene well aduised they would haue informed themselues better of matters here before they had councelled their Maister to this voiage wâ—ich was very preiudiciall vnto him But the King of Portugal hauing lost his enterprises and his Partisans was forced to retyer himselfe into Portugall carring away no other triumph of the warre of Castille but the Princesse D. Ioane his wife whome notwithstanding hee would not mary before hee were assured of the Realme of Castille and therefore he went into France to implore ayde from King Lewis with whome he had treated an alliance by his Ambassadors who vnder the good chere which was made them and the good words which were giuen them during the treaty without any other intent perswaded their Maister to come into France assuring him that he should doe more by his presence for the succors which he demanded then by the mediation of his servants and that there might bee a marriage made betwixt the Dauphin and D. Ioane his Neece He landed at Marseille Alfonsâ— K of Portugall comes to Tours came to Lyons and so went downe the riuer of Loire to Tours where he acquainted the King with the cause of his voyage k Necessity â—orceth Princes euen to things vnworthy of their quality They write that this Prince besought the King to succor him with such vehemency and humanity as hee fell on his knees at his heete It had not beene secret though he had beene silent Kings come neuer to the gates of other Kings to offer or to giue but to demand and entreat He carried a Lampe in
the ancient alliances u The Allâ—ances betwixt France Castille were confirmed by the Dâ—puties of both Kings betwixt Baâ—onne Fontaraby of France with Castile Alphonso retires into Portugall would cause him to be taken he thought to retire himselfe with an intent to shut himselfe into a Monastery or to make a voyage to Ierusalem hoping for no succours but from God hauing in vaine attended them from men The King being loth to abandon him in this preplexity caused certaine ships to bee armed in Normandy to conduct him into Portugall where his sonne dispairing of his returne had already taken the title of King D. Beatrice widdow to D. Ferdinand of Portugall Aunt to the Qâ—eene of Castile Accord betwixt the Kings of Castile and Portugall vndertooke to reconcile them intreating her Neece to come to Alcantara to conferre together Their Conference did produce a peace for a hundred yeares x It was said by this accord that the peace should bee kept betwixt the Kings of â—astile Porâ—ugal for a huÌ„dred years one to come to the content of both Realmes and to the glory of both Kings who then carried their armes and their designes to the conquest of new contries y In the yeare 1475. the first voyage was made to Guinee by the marriners of Castile after they had conquered the canaries in the yeare 1417. Of this enterprise Iohn of Batencourt a french was Generall and carried the title of King Of that of Guinee Pedro de Colied s. By this peace it was said that the King of Portugall should not marry D. Ioane that shee should depart out of Portugall or if shee would remaine there she should haue her choise either to marry with D. Iohn Prince of Castile newly borne when he should come to age or enter into a monastery This Princesse did rather choose a monastery then marriage and tooke vpon her the habit of S ta Clara in the royall Monastery of Coimbra who for the greatnes of her courage and contempt of the world deserued of posterity the surname of excellent The flight of Granson and the losse of Morat two fatall accidents to a spirit insupportable both in prosperity and aduersity z There are spirits like vnto sick bodyes which are distempered with heat and cold they cannot iud ure prosperity nor aduersity brought comfortles aflictions vnto the Duke Afliction of the Duke of Bourgondy after the Battell of Morat and made him continue sixe weekes solitary at Riuiere suffring his beard to grow carelesly feeling his vnderstanding to grow weake and his naturall heat so cold as they made him to drinke wine alone in stead of Ptysan which before was his ordinary drinke And to recouer his spirits and to cheere his heart they applyed therevnto diuers sorts of remedies and if by fits he came to his good sence it was but to make him haue a more liuely apprehension of his vnfortunate Estate a A great courage is very seÌ„sible of puâ—lâ—â—e disgraces Mahomet seeing himselfâ— forced to raise the siege from Belgâ—ade with losse and shâ—me called for poison to Râ—l himselfe He neuer remembred this ahhâ—oâ—t but 〈…〉 his is head against the wall and â—are his mustastachos The solitarines which hee vsed to passe away his greefe did but augment it and let him know that there is no worse estate then that of a discontented mind in an vnsound body Hee woould not endure any one to talke vnto him and was mad when they spake If hee would haue suffred himselfe to be seene it would haue giuen him ease and by the cheerfulnesse of his countenance his soldiers would haue recouered their spirits which this accident had danted b Princes in the change of their fortunes entâ—r into fury against them 〈◊〉 at seek to adâ—â—se them Perseus hauing been defeated by Paulus AEmilius slue 2. of his greatest fâ—iendes wâ—o sâ—ept foreward to tell him some truth Euery thing disâ—leaseth an aflicted mind Great sorrows must be euaporated for the more they are restrained the more they swell and grow more violent but beeing past they must shew a countenance free from all perplexity or basenes He is contemned of his friends Time did but increase the wound in the Soule of this Prince his friends and allies contemned him Galâ—as Duke of Milan seeing that by this losse all his Intelligences were crost in Italy turned his back to him Frederie Prince of Tarentum abused with a hope to marry his daughter allies himselfe to the house of France whilst that this triumphant Chariot went well euery one would be on the top of it but now it is ouerthrowne they abandon it c Prosperity fiâ—ds many friends kinsmen misfortune and misery hath noâ—any 〈◊〉 shiâ— doth most commonly fellow fâ—rtune who hath hauour good successe at her sides The Duke of Lorraine seeking to make his profit of the Duke of Bourgundies misfortune recouers his places lost in Lorraine with the horsemen he had of France Duke of Lorraine recouers his own CoÌ„try and beâ—leegeth Nancy and some footemen from the Suisses and the Townes of Germanie He besieged Nancy forced the Lord of Bures of the house of Croy to yeeld after that hee had in vaine sollicited succors from his Master d Râ—ne Duk of Lorraine recouered many places which the Bourgâ—ndians held Eâ—pinal wouâ—d not yeeld without seeing him for that they were made beleeue that he was dead Nancy hauing indured ten weekes seege it yeelded the 7. of Nouember 1476. The English which were within it hauing lost Cohin their leader began to murmure more at the length of the succors then the languishing of the siege for they had no other torment then the impatiencie of that which they attended They told de Bures that if hee did not compound they would make their owne appointment De Bures in steed of opposing himselfe to so vniust dishonourable a demand yeelded vnto them The Pilot beleeued the Galley slaues and the Phisition yeelded to the pleasure of his sicke patient e Pompey resolued to makewarre at the appetite of his soldiers the which the Captaine of a shâ—p should not doe much lesse the Generall of an army and against his owne mind for he was wont to commend those Phisitions which did not please the disordred Appetiâ—e of their Patienâ—s Plut. The composition was made and three daies after succors came The Duke of Bourgundy Army of the Duke of Bourgon dies before Nancy not to giue the Duke of Lorraine leisure to fortifie Nancy nor to furnish it with men and victuals blockt it in on euery side hauing Pont a Mousson for his retreat This was not done with the aduice of his best Captaines f Notâ—ing doth more aduance the ruine of a Prince then not to beleeue Counsâ—ll and to presume to know more then any They hold him saith Paulus AEmilius that would manage all thinges after his owne braine for an arrogâ—nt
was buried in the Monastery of Poblete He was a great Prince like vnto others had past the pikes of fortune It hath beene said before that his son Charles and after his death his subiects of Barcelona and after all that the king of Castille and then the kings of France made warre against him he saw his realme in horrible combustions by the factions of Beaumont and Grandmont which he had seene spring vp neglected to quench them in their breeding About the end of his dayes when as he had more need of a Tombe then a wife and that the law Papia z Augustus in his latter dayes caused the Senate to make the Law Papia it had many heads amongst others a man of 60 yeares old a woman of 50 might not mary This word Buckle was vsed by Seneca and after him by Lactantius Quid ergo est quare apud Poetas salacissimus Iupiter desierit liberos tollere sexagenarius factus est illi â—ex papia fibulam imposuit had buckled him vp being aboue fourescore years old he fell in loue with a yong maid named Francina Rosa which was no helpe for him to recouer his sight which extreme age for the interest of so long an abode in the world had taken from him The yeare before his death he went to see his son D. Ferdinand at Victoria to conferre with him vpon the affaires of the realme which he should leaue vnto him In this incounter the father had not any with him but ancient men aboue threescore years old and the sonne was attended on by the flower of all the Nobility of Castille It was noted that the father in all things gaue place to the king D. Ferdinand his son as the head of the house of Castille from whence he was desended a Alphonso the fifth King of Arragon brother to Iohn the second king of Nauarre would haue his Embassadors giue place to them of Henry the fourth K. of Castillâ— in signing the Articles of a Treatie made at Naples The dispute of this precedence had bin begun in the Councell of Constance and decided in that of Basil in fauour of Castille Alphonso the fift king of Arragon would not yeeld it to his father Iohn the second King of Castille b It is a difficult thing sometimes for the prerogatiue of nature to giue place to that of fortune dignity witnesse the Senator of Venice who would not giue place to his sonne although he were Duke who to binde his Father did alwayes carry a great Crucifix to the which the father said hee did his duty The law of Maiesty was of more force then that of respect and naturall obedience wherof the son how great soeuer many not dispence himself towards his father The Crowne of Castille had alwaies pretended that Arragon depended of it in soueraignty and that if it were free it was by grace The King D. Iohn the second at his returne from this voyage dyed at Barcelona It was by his aduice that a peace was at that time treated Peace and Alliances renewed with Spain of betwixt king Lewis the eleuenth and the kings of Castille to confirme the ancient Alliances that were betwixt the two Crownes d Philip de Comines saith that the Alliances of France and Castille are betwixt King and King Realme Realme Man Man of their subiects The Embassadors of France were the Lord of Lescut and the Bishop of Lombais Abbot of S. Denis they of Castille were Iohn de Gamboa Gouernour of Fontarabie and Iohn de Medina one of the kings Councell This peace being concluded the Embassadors of Castille came into France they were receiued at Paris with great honour on Saturday the third of Iuly 1479. they did the like to the Embassadors of France who went to Guadalupa whereas D. Ferdinand and D. Isabella were busied in punishing the disobedience of the Marques of Villena who had hindered D. George Manriquez from chastizing them of Cinchilla who had reuolted At that time when as the Court was at Guadalupa the Marques of Villâ—na head of the faction being incensed that his enemies had caused six of his Souldiers to be hanged wold do the like to as many of theirs being his prisoners the chance fell vpon a Souldier of Villeneufue of Laxara neere to Allarcon in whose place the yonger brother presented himselfe and intreated that hee might dye for him for that his brother had wife and children who was set at liberty and his offer accepted Hist. of Spa. Lib. 22. The Articles are sworne by the king and moreouer it was agreed that the Towne of Parpignan should be put into the possession of the Cardinall of Spaine that the two kings should name an Arbitrator to decide within fiue yeares what K. Lewis did pretend to be due vnto him After the death of D. Iohn the 2 d king of Nauarre and Arragon D. Ferdinand succeeded in his fathers Estate of Arragon and Sicile and D. Leonora to the Mothers as daughter to Blanche Queene of Nauarre but this succession which shee would haue aduanced contrary to the Lawes of Nature and Humanity beeing blamed by the Histories of Spaine to haue caused her elder Sister to be poysoned f D. Blanch being put away by D. Henry the vnable was carried as it were a prisoner to Lescut in Bearne by Gaston Earle of Foix her Brother-in-law to the end she should not marry againe The Spaniards write that her sister Elenor caused her to bee poysoned did not passe the fifteenth day after her Coronation Shee had by Gaston Earle of Foix many worthy Children Gaston Blanche Countesse of Foix mother of many children Earle of Foix Iohn Vicount of Narbona Peter Cardinall of Foix Iames who serued King Lewis the twelfth in the warres of Lombardy and fiue daughters g Out of this house of Foix were issued four Queenes cousin germans at one time Catherin Q. of Nauarre German Q. of Castille and Arragon Anne Queene of France and Dutchesse of Brittaine Anne Queene of Bohemia Hungary Mary wife to William Marquis of Montferrat Ioane married to the Earle of Armagnac Margaret to Francis Duke of Brittanie Catherine to the Earle of Candalâ— and Elenor promised to the Duke of Medina Celi The peace of Castille did not hinder the warre which the King had against Maximilian of Austria 1479. who to diuert the Kings forces and frustrate his designes besieged Therouenne h Maximilian camped before Therouenne with 20000. Flemings some Troopes of Germans and 300. English It was reâ—ieued by de Cordes with 8000. Franke Archers and eleuen hundred men at Armes the Lord of Cordes came to succour it Maximilian went to meet him and both Armies encountred at Guinegaste The i The Gaules Horsemen were alwaies estemed and feared Plutarch Polibius and Appian coÌ„mend theÌ„ Caesar saith that in the war of Affricke 30 horsemen Gaules put to rout 2000. horsemen Numidians
paine his basenesse was the cause of it and that death might giue him a free passage he changed his patience into dispaire so as on the Thursday after Saint Martins day in yeare one thousand foure hundred foure score and foure hee was found strangled with the cord of his bed This execrable kind of death was kept secret vntill that they vnderstood the Popes minde after which the executioner of Iustice entred into the prison put the body into a pipe and cast it into the Riuer of Rhine c To kill himselfe hath beene held an act of courageâ— Plato forbids it in his Lawes The Thebians detested it and the Athenians did cut off his hand that had slaine himselfe did cast it on the common dunghill The Popes Deputies returned to Basill and the Excommunication hauing beene obserued three daies was taken away and the Towne deliuered from the Popes censures Yet for all this they did not cease to wish that the Pope would earnestly embrace the reformation of the disorders of the Church Desires of this kind are iust but wee may not presse them with heate of passion and indiscretion of zeale An example shewing that it is not reasonable in such sufferings and perplexities of the Church that the pride of any priuate person should presume to reforme it Wee must leaue those thoughts to Princes and Magistrates The simple multitude must attend with patience at the foote of the Mountaine vntil that Moses descend to let them vnderstand the will of God The Ship wherein that holy Family is included which hath neither sight nor day but towards heauen shall in the end appeare most glorious ouer the waues of the deluge and shall come vnto the Mountaine of a happy tranquillity * ⎠* ⸪ The end of the ninth Booke THE CONTENTS OF the tenth Booke 1 VVEakning and alteration of the Kings health in the beginning of the yeare 1480. 2 An Apoplexy seazeth on him His actions to maintaine his authority and to keepe himselfe from contempt 3 Liberty of Cardinall Balue and his pollicy to obtaine it 4 Generosity of the Cardinall of Estouteville to maintaine his dignity and that of the Clergy His death 5 Oppressions of the people 6 Desire of the King to reforme Iustice and tedious Sutes 7 Relapse of his sickenesse at Tours he goes to Saint Claude in his returne passeth by Salins and there setteth a Parliament for the Franche County 8 Death of Mary Dutchesse of Bourgundy wife to Maximilian the Emperour 9 Admonition made by the King to the Dauphin at Amboise 10 Estate of the Low Countries at the discretion of the Gantoies 11 Treatie of peace and marriage betwixt the Dauphin and Margaret Princesse of Austria 12 Death of the King of England and troubles for his succession 13 Earle of Richmond prisoner to the Duke of Brittaine comes to the Crowne of England by the Kings assistance 14 Death of Francis Phoebus King of Nauarre suite for the succession 15 Death of Alphonso King of Portugall 16 Lewis fals into new apprehensions of death and shuts himselfe into his Pallace at Plessis 17 Zizimi son to Mahomet reuolts against Bajazeth flyes to Rhodes and is conducted into France 18 Commendation of Mathias Coruinus King of Hungary 19 Impairing of the Kings health 20 Hee sends for Francis Paulo a Calabrois strange distemperatures of his sickenesse 21 His aistrust of Iohn Duke of Bourbon 22 Publication of the peace betwixt the King and Maximilian of Austria Marriage of Charles the Dauphin with the Princesse Margaret Magnificence at their entrance into Paris 23 The third and last relapse of the Kings Infirmity his last actions His perfect sence euen vnto the last gaspe His death ⧠THE HISTORY Of LEWIS the eleuenth THE TENTH BOOKE IN the beginning of the yeare 1480. 1480. Lewis beganne to dye and to feare death the which comes neuer so fitly but it brings with it terrour and amazement a Life must bee considered by the end If it bee good and glorious all the rest is proportionable Quomodo fabula sic vita non quandiu sed quam bene acta sit refert Nil ad rem pertinet quo loâ—o desinas quocunque voles desine tantum bonam clausulam imponas Life is like vnto a fable It imports not how long but how well it be acted It skils not where thou leauest leaue where thou wilt so thy conclusion be good Sen. His forces grew weake but his courage was fortefied strong vpon an apprehensioÌ„ which he had that they would make designes vpon his graue and that they would not stay vntill hee came to the end of his Carriere Hee desired to end it with the Authority Maiesty and Reputation that he had begonne and would not that they should know him dying nor that they should hold him mortall Hee workes so as in the West of his life the shadow of his reputation and respect is as great as at the Noone-day of his raigne Yet he finds that his iudgement hath not the force and vigour which it formerly had that the remainder of his life is become sower Age is alwaies accompanied that age comes not alone b When as wine and life grow low they become sowre Antiphanes hauing brought him diuers discommodities an incorrigible melancholy agitations of the minde a slow Feuer and the paines of the Emerauds He hath more prouision then he hath way to go he gathers and laies vp when hee should abandon and let go c Age becomes couetous when it hath not any need of goods it feares the earth should faile it One demanded of Symonides why he was so sparing in the extremity of his age for that said he I had rather leaue my goods after my death to my enemies then in my life time to haue neede of my friends His designes are great and spacious and his desires grow yong hee cannot free himselfe from new hopes his soule is as it were hung betwixt the feare of death and the hope of life his vnderstanding is a Milstone which the continuall course of affaires doth turne day and night And although his life passeth away in languishing and griefe yet had he rather endure the paine then not to be desiring rather to be freed from it then from life the which how painefull soeuer it be hath some houre of ease d There iâ— no life so languishing and full of paine but it is supported by some hope freed from the feares of death When aâ— Antisthenes the Philosopher was in extreame paine hee cryed out Who shall deliuer me froÌ„ these miseries Diogenes presenting a knife vnto him said This if thou wilt and that soone I do not say of my life replyed the Philosopher but of my paine For if paines be violent they are short and if they be short they giue no leasure to complaine Going to heare Masse at a little Parish neere to the Forges of Saint Chinon The King suddenly and
Angiers with an army of 50000. men came vnto him to demand a peace The King of Sicily was disposâ—est of his country of Anjou beeing forced to retire into Prouence with griefe to suruiue his Son Iohn D. of Calabria Lorraine Nicholas Marques of Ponte his grand-child Hee doth represent the estate of his age house in the deuice which he carried of an old stock which had no greene sprout to make it liue it was Rene D. of Lorraine Son to Yoland of Anjou his daughter The Constable who would diuide his heart in two to nourish entertaine the warre thrust the duke of Burgundy into fury the King into distrust of him hauing left the path of moderation wisedome he came vnto the king by that of pride distrust refusing to represent himselfe vnto his maiesty but armed nor to speake vnto him but by a barre vpon a causey well garded with soldiers The D. of Burgondy not able to liue idly during this Truce seekes for worke in Germany passeth to Treues propounds to change his dukes Crowne for a Kings is offended with the Emperor for refusing it He besiegeth Nuze and seeing that the crosses which he had in his affaires proceeded onely from the King he perswades the K. of England to passe the seas to renew the pretensions of his predecessors and to make a fatall combustion of all France But Lewis diuerts this storme and makes a bridge of gold for this King to repasse the sea sending him home as wel content with peace as he was come resolute to war The King reapt both honor profit and by his foresight disappointed the great designes which were laid vnder fauor of this army and although it had diuers pretexts as diuers branches of the same stock of sedition and ambition they were all dangerous all the kinds of this poison were mortall The Duke of Bourgundy was forced to accept a peace of the king against whom he had proclaimed warre The coale which entertained the fire of discord was quenched and this head that made the windes to blow which caused the quiet of France to tremble was cut off at the Greue The Duke of Bourgundy to reuenge a light iniury done vnto the Earle of Romond vndertakes a great warre against the Suiâ—les which by the vnfortunate euent of three battels made him to loose his baggage at Granson his reputation his forces and his hopes at Morat and at Nancy his life with a part of his estate The King reapt the fruit of this warre hauing fauoured and supported the Duke of Lorraine against the great designes of this Conqueror Hee seased vpon both Burgundies and vpon a part of Artois and had forced the Archduke Maximilian to leaue the low countries and to leade the Princesse his wife into Germany with repentance of his mariage if the battell of Guinegaste had not troubled the face of his affaires and changed the designes of warre into resolutions of peace which was confirmed by the marriage of Charles Dauphin of France with Margaret of Austria Age which neuer comes alone suffers not the King to vndertake any long and difficult conqueâ—s and binds him to thinke vpon the meanes to leaue his crowne peaceably vnto his Sonne as it was rich mighty and more assured then hee had receiued it from his father hauing beautified it with many goodly flowers as Burgundy Anjou Barre Prouence and the recouerie of the Townes in Picardy and of some in Artois Being prest with troubles of mind as much as with the languishing of the body and reduced to an estate more lamentable then lamented in the which he could not liue would not dye he straue foure whole yeares against the force of an incurable disease and repulst by strange meanes the approches of death to retaine life which was but too long for his miseries and infirmities as it had beene too short for his designes and hopes He was forced to yeeld himselfe to discretion the 30 th day of August 1483. the 22 th yeare of his raigne and of his age the sixtith He carried nothing from the place which hee left but the proud title to haue freed the Kings of France from subiection or wardship capable to command not a Realme only but the whole world He was interred at our Lady of Clery hauing obtained from Pope Sixtus the fourth an excommunication against all such as would lay his body in any other tombe then in that which hee had built for himselfe and Charlotte of Sauoy his wife He did often visit this last abode and did lye in it soÌ„metimes that by the meditation of death he might descend liuing into the graue The triumphant Chariot of the prosperities of his life was drawn by Wisdome Iustice Liberality and Reputation wisdome made him victorious ouer his enemies Iudge of the controuersie betwixt the Crownes of Castile and Nauarre Protector of the liberty of the Common-weales of Italy Arbitrator of the peace betwixt Rome and Florence and then betwixt Rome and Venice He added the county of Prouence to the Crowne Hee vndertooke strange impossible designes Iustice alwayes in heat by his extreame seuerity did more often put the sword of execution into his hand then the ballance of due consideration hee caused many great men to feele his rigour whose processe he began by the execution Liberality opened him the hearts and gates of townes which hee battered with his money caused many which were distracted from him to come like Bees at the sound of a bason hee vsed it to bind the English to his friendship the Suisses to his succors and the Brittaines to his seruice Reputation hath held all the powers of Europe in admiration of him and hath made him to bee redoubted of strangers and feared of his Subiects Yet the differences betwixt the priuate and publike fortunes of this Prince were great his fortunes were of long Time in fauour amidst his prosperities In his raigne he was a wise happy King a good and a bountifull maister a distrustfull friend a cruell enemy and a terrible neighbour in his house a bad son a bad father a bad husband he had no children by Margret Steward his first wife and by Charlotte of Sauoy his second hee had Ioachim Charles Francis Anne and Ioane The Contents of the first Booke of the History of Lewis the XI 1 Charles the 7. disinherited by King Charles the sixth his father by the perswasion of Isabel of Bauaria his wife A Table of the miseries of France by the diuisions of the houses or Orleans and Bourgondy 2. The birth of Lewis Dauphin of France sonne to Charles the seauenth His breeding and marriage with the Princesse of Scotland 3 Treaty of Arras betwixt King Charles the 7. and Phillip of BourgoÌ„dy 4 Reduction of the Citty of Paris 5 First Armes of Lewis the xi 6. He is carried from Loches Trouble of the Praguerie 7. The Duke of Bourgondy approues not this mutiny 8 King
with the Spaniards 24 Blanch Countesse of Foix Queene of Nauarre the mother of many children 25 Battell of Guinegast 26 Siege of Rhodes by Mahomet the second and the valiant resistance of the great Master ⧠THE HISTORIE Of LEWIS the eleuenth THE EIGHTH BOOKE TWO great occasions presented themselues vnto the King to augment his Empire 1477. after the death of the Duke of Bourgondy In the first it seemed that Italy was not diuided but to vnite it againe vnder the gouernment of one alone and that not any one but the French King might vndertake it or hope for it They councelled him to make his profit of these diuisions K. Lewis councel'd to make his profite of the diuision of Italy and to renue the right which the Crowne of France had to the Realme of Naples since Charles Earle of Aniou a Pope Vrban the third called Charles of Aniou against Māfroy and promised him the Inuestiture of both Siciles Charles came to Rome in the yeare 1264. in May and receiued it frō Clement 4. and from the same hand the Crown at S. Iohn de Latran the 28. of Iune Prouence brother to the great King who renowned by the power of Armes and much more by the holinesse of his life deserued to be declared a Saint Robert of Saint Seuerin came vnto the King b Robert of S. Seuerin came to the King to make him resolue to come into Italy Paulus Aemilius saith that the King answered him that he had learned frō his Predecessors that the Frēch could neuer keepe any thing in Italy and made him diuers ouertures to moue him thereunto but he who was a Prince which made more account of the essence then of the appearance of things would not hearken to it The Geneuois intreated him to take them vnder his command hauing liued happily vnder King Charles the 7. He was contented that Iohn Galeas Duke of Millan c Iohn Galeas Duke of Millan did homage for his mother for the Dutchy of Genoa to the Lord of Argenton returning from his Embassage to Florence in the yeare 1476. should do him homage and whē they said that they gaue themselues vnto him he gaue them vnto the Diuell refusing a command so ill grounded as vpon the quicke-sand of the will of a multitude He was also resolued not to meddle with the affaires of Italy hauing learned from his fore-fathers that to send Armies beyond the Alpes was nothing but to purchase repentance with much charge and great difficulties d The Geneuois haue often sought a Maister Guichardin saith that desiring with great instance to giue themselues to Lewis the eleuenth he did not accept the donation and had often refused Dimescolarsi in Italia come cosa piena dispese difficulta all vltimo perniciosa al regno di Francia to meddle with the affaires of of Italy as a thing full of charge and difficulties and in the end dangerous for the realme of France Guic. l. 1. He sent the Signior of Argenton to Florence Troubles at Florēce being full of troubles for a conspiracy made against the house of Medicis Laurence de Medicis liued in that Common-weale as a Cittizen and commanded as a Prince for alwaies in states which depend of the authority of many heads there are some which excell the rest e In popular Estates there hath alwayes beene some priuate man more eminent then the rest Pericles at Athens Epaminondas and Pelopidas at Thebes His Grand-father the great Cosmo Cosmo de Medicis surnamed the Great had laid the foundation of a great authority which did threaten the Common-weale with a new forme of gouernement vnder the power of one alone He was in such reputation through fauour of his wisedome as he began to terrifie the liberty of the Citty and as Machiuel saith the other Citizens held it dangerous to offend him and most dangerous to suffer him The contrary faction attempted to stoppe the growing of this designe the which they thought they could not effect but in killing Laurence and Iulian de Medicis brethren who were not odious vnto great men but for that they had too great credite and their vertue too much reputation and applause f In a free Cittye the great vertue and reputation of one alone is alwaies suspected Cato said against Scipio that a Citty could not termed free in the which the Magistrate did respect feare a priuate man Heauen which reserues vnto it selfe the disposition of States and which aduanceth or staies the Destinies as it pleaseth had resolued to raise the house of Medicis by the same meanes that their enemies sought to ruine it g Conspiracies do many times succeed happily for them against whom they are made Brutus in his History of Florence the 6. Booke saith Consilia quae à coniuratis ad Medicum potentiam euertendam inita fuerant ad eorū principatum stabiliendum mirifice contulerunt The councels which the Cōspirators had taken to ouerthrow the house of Medicis did wonderfully serue to settle their power and authority It was already growne to that splendor and raised so high as the fight of the vulgar sort was dulled and could not discerne it The Lords which carried this Name being hardy and couragious knew their owne merit and knowing themselues capable to reigne worthily past all difficulties to reigne assuredly The Conspiracie was executed vpon Iulian being at Masse in Saint Reparees Church but Laurence saued himselfe in the Vestry The Conspirators were hanged at the Palace-windowes and the Conspiracie held so execrable throughout all the world as Mahomet h All Princes are interessed in the punishment of traytors When as Mahomet vnderstood that one of the Conspirators was in Constantinople he caused him to be apprehended and sent bound to Florence would not suffer one of the Conspirators to liue safely in Constantinople Pope excommunicates the Florentines The Archbishop of Pisa was among them that were hanged Nicholas Cardinall of Saint Georges was put in prison Pope Sixtus the fourth was offended and fauoured all those that had beene dealers in this Conspiracie he did excommunicate the Florentines Army against the Florentines and caused Ferdinand of Arragon King of Naples to Arme against them the Duke of Vrbin was Generall of the Popes Army and of the King of Naples and with him the Kings two sonnes they did ouer-runne the Territories of Florence yet they spared that which did belong to Laurence de Medicis to bring him into suspition and to make the people beleeue that he had intelligence with them i So Hanibal spoiling and burning the houses which were about Rome forbad the Souldiers to touch any thing that did being to Fabius Maximus This Common-weale was in deadly conuulsions of her liberty Changes of gouernment at Florence scarce knowing what should become of her Her Physitions had rather see her rot with languishing then to cure her or bury her