those Benefices whereof Asses are possessed Being asked to marry his Daughter the Lady Claudia to a strange Prince he said I will make no alliance but with the Kats and Mice of my owne Kingdome Francis 1. the 58. K. of France An. 1515. FRancis of Valois Duke of Angolesme as next the Collaterall Line Masculine succeeded Lewis the 12 who dyed without heires Males He was consecrated at Rheims the 25. of January 1515 at which time Charles of Bourbon was made Constable of France The King having taken Prosper Collonne and obtained two battailes against the Swisses tooke Milan After by the perswasion of Pope Leo the tenth the Milaners revolted and immediately after Charles of Bourbon tooke part with Charles the fifth Emperour The King accompanied with the Marshall of Chabanes having recovered the Dutchy of Milan into his power he went to besiege Pavia where he was taken and by the industrious treaty of Madric Anno Dom. 1525 hee was sent backe into France Afterwards Charles of Bourbou was slaine skaling the Walls of Rome which was taken by the Spaniards with the Pope Anno Dom. 1529. a Treaty of Cambray was concluded and the children of France were sent backe into France with Madame Elianor The King and the Pope by Embassies came to an agreement at Marsilles where the Marriage of Henry Duke of Orleance with the Countesse of Bologne the Popes Niece was solemnized After this the King sent the Lord of Montmorency against the Emperour who intended to come against Marsilles who enforced him to retire into Spaine and afterwards invaded France upon the Coast of Picardy and sent another Army to Piedmount against whom the King sent his forces which tooke Suse Villane and Montcalier which caused the truce of Nice for ten yeares during which the Emperour passed through France into Flanders In the meane time Caesar Fregose and Anthony Rincon the Kings Embassadours to the Turke were slaine by the Imperialists Whereupon the King according with the Duke of Cleve against the Emperour tooke Luxembourg Landrecy and other places Of which the Emperour being certified besieged Landrecy but in vaine On the other side the Lord of Anguyen the Kings Lievtenant in Piedmont having gained the battaile of Cerisolles tooke Carignan whereof the Emperour being advertised made a preparation against Paris but perceiving the French too powerfull in forces demanded a Peace which was published at Paris This being done the King intends a Warre against the English at Boulen with whom having made Peace hee went to pay his debt to Nature at Rambouillet the last of March 1547 and lyes interred at St. Denis To one that desired pardon for another that had used ill speeches of his Majesty this King said Let him for whom thou art a suiter learne to speake little and I will learne to pardon much At Paris in an Oration against Hereticks hee said If my arme were infected with that contagion I would cut it off from my body and cast it into the fire Hee said that hee was sorry that the Gentlemen of his Realme being most serviceable and ingenious were not qualified with Learning to be capable of Civill offices as well as Military since Vertue is the formall cause of Gentility which should exceed base low dispositions by an eminent exaltation of goodnesse deriving their pettigree from Heaven for Vera est Nobilitas quaedam cognatio Dijs True Nobility is a certaine affinity to the Gods A Treaty of peace being propounded and ready to bee concluded betweene the Emperour Charles the fift and this King Francis hee said Peace and amity betweene us cannot long endure for the Emperour cannot abide an Equall or Companion and I cannot endure a Master Henry the 2. and 59. King of France Anno 1547. HEnry the second succeeding to the Crowne on his birth day was consecreted at Rheimes in August 1547. Hee sent the Lord of Esse into Scotland for a defence ofthat Countrey and built a Fort over against that of Boullen immediately after the Commons of Guienne mutined upon taxations whilst the King was in Piedmont from whence being upon his returne into France he caused them to be punished by the Constable and made his enterance into Paris proclaimed open warres against England and renewed his allyance with the Swisses Pope Iulius the third being incensed against the King for the City of Parma solicited the Emperour to take up Armes against him and to beleaguer Parma and Mirandula whereupon the King made a prohibition of sending to the Court of Rome for matters of Benefices and in the meane time he tooke Quiers S. Damian and other places of Piedmont on the other side the Burgundions and Hannuyers over-runne the Countrey of Santois above Peronne but to requite them the King making an expedition into Almany by the policy of the Constable seezd of the Metz and the Countrey of Messin and tooke the Duke Dutchy of Loraine into his protection Afterwards hee joyned forces with Duke Maurice who falsifying his faith in his returne invaded the Dutchy of Luxembourg taking the Townes of Tvoy Montmedy Lumes and Civay In the meane time the Emperor marched to the siege of Metz whence he was forced to dis-encampe with the losse of 30000 men and threw himselfe upon Therouenne which he tooke with the Castle of Hedin The King on the other side tooke Mariembourg and other Townes in Piedmont After that the Emperour quitting the Empire retired himselfe into Spaine to live a solitary life and a peace for five yeares was concluded between the Emperour the Kings of England and France which continued not long For warres being renewed betweene the said Kings the day of St. Laurence to the losse of the French in revenge whereof the King tooke Cales Gnines Hames and the County of Oye Peace after being made by the marriage betweene King Philip and the Lady Elizabeth of France and of the Duke of Savoy with Madam Margarite sister to the King and in the continuance of the solemnity the King running at Tilt was hit in the eye of which hurt he dyed at Tournells the twentieth day of Iuly Anno Domini 1559. and lyes interred at St. Denis in France This King having the good inclination of his Nature confirmed by being well brought up under his Father ordained many good Lawes for the reforming apparrell providing for the poore maintenance of Justice and releeving his oppressed Subjects but especially hee made a Law against swearing and blaspheming and herein he did singularly well but he disgraced these good actions by permitting a bloody and fatall Combate betwixt Iarnac and Chastaignery Gentlemen upon the giving the lye performed at St. German in Lay on the sixeteenth of July before the King and divers Princes and Noblemen wherein Jarnac held the weaker got the better and gave the other many deadly wounds whereof he dyed whereupon the King did forbid all Combats Thus hee beganne his reigne with this Tragedy and ended it with his owne For at the marriage of
provide a thousand woodden Torches without waxe and a thousand Lances tipt with steele to fire those Torches meaning by the Torches Houses Townes and Villages by the Lances Souldiers to set them on fire The dissention betwixt England began in this Kings reigne and upon this occasion VVilliam the Conquerors sonnes Robert and Henry came to the King at Conflans upon Oise and playing there at Chesse with Lewis King Philips sonne the young Princes fell out and words drew on blows for Lewis called Henry the sonne of a Bastard and Henry strooke at him with the Chesse-boord and had slaine him if Robert had not stayd his fury Afterward Robert and Henry fled into Normandy where they complained of wrong and incensed many to take their part Afterward naturall affection made the Fathers embrace their Childrens quarrell invading one anothers Territories and maintaining hot warres But to conclude the memorable Warre undertaken to recover the Holy-land from the Saracens was now begun under the conduct of Godfrey of Bologne who being chosen King of Jerusalem refused the Diadem saying It is not fit for any Christian Prince to weare a Crowne of Gold since Jesus Christ the King of Kings did weare one made of Thornes Lewis the 6. the 40. King of France Anno 1109. THis Lewis the Grosse succeeded to the Crowne after Henry his Father and was solemnly Crowned at Orleans by Gislebert Arch-Bishop of Sens Anno Domini 1109. He first beganne to quell the pride and power of the great Lords of France who countenanced by the King of England arose up against him but in the end he accomplished his designes In those times the Englishmen moved their first warres upon the French in the behalfe of Count Thibault of Campagne and Bloys But the King in revenge commanded William the sonne of Robert Duke of Normandy and sent him accompanyed with Baldwin Count of Flanders and Foulques Count of Aniou with an army to surprise them whereupon there was a peace made betweene them and the English to quit Gisors to William the sonne of Henry Baldwin Count of Flanders being wounded in the Conquest of Normandy went to end his life in Flanders who for want of issue instituted Charles son of Canutus King of Denmark to bee his heire In the meane time the King being advertised that the Emperour came in aide of the English prevented his designe and forced him to retreate He forced also the Count of Auvergne and the Vicount of Polignac to give satisfaction to the Bishop of Clermon and at his returne he notified to William Duke of Aquitaine that onely Avergne but also Aquitaine were in tenure of the Crowne of France The County of Flanders was in question betweene Arnulph the Dane Baldwin Count of Haynaut and William of Ipres by the death of Charles who was slaine in S. Donatus in Bruges and by the King it was adjudged to Robert Duke of Normandy by right of consanguinity whereupon warres ensued After that the King caused his sonne Philip to be Crowned at Rheimes the fourteenth day of April 1129. the King of England being in presence but two yeares after hee dyed by meanes of a Hogge that came under his Horse feete and frighted the Horse that hee threw him on the ground Lewis his brother was Crowned in his place by Pope Jnnocent the five and twentieth of October 1131. Lewis the Grosse deceased at Paris Anno Dom. 1137. leaving sixe Children Baldwin Earle of Mons in Henault complaining unto Lewis the Grosse that he had wrongfully given the Earledom of Flanders which was his right unto Duke William of Normandy and desiring to have leave granted to maintaine his Title by Combate The King said You must combat then against me for the Seignory which you claime is my right and inheritance This King also in a Battaile being severed from his Souldiers was likely to be taken Prisoner by an English Knight who laying hold on the raines of his Horse cryed aloud The King is taken whereupon the King valiantly kild the Knight and as he fell downe said One man alone cannot in Chesse play give the King the Mate At a certaine siege being forsaken of his Souldiers in regard of the unseasonablenesse of the weather and constrained to retire hee said with a brave kind of anger That an honest and honourable death was better than a shamefull and dishonourable life The last action of his reigne was the marrying of his sonne unto the daughter and heire of William Duke of Normandy by this allyance to settle a more firme peace and make his sonne strong in friends while his younger sons were compelled to depend on the meere favour of their elder brother on whom the estate being setled they might therby hee instructed to shew unto him a willing obedience for equality breeds discord and grumbling but an acknowledged dependance on another procures respect for necessity makes brave minds glad to be oblieged Lewis the 7. the 41. King of France Surnamed Augustus Anno 1137. THis Lewis undertooke the government the same Moneth wherein his Father dyed and marryed Elianor the onely daughter of William Duke of Guienne and Poictou Afterwards hee made warre upon the Count of Vermendois because following the censures of the Pope hee repudiated Peronelle sister to Queene Elianor that he might re-entertaine his former wife whom before he had divorced And taking the Towne of Vitry in Parthois hee put to the sword and fire more than 3500 persons for the expiation of which fact St. Bernard advised him to make a voyage with his Army into the Holy Land for the succour of Palestine Whither hee arriving with his army he had but an ill trick put upon him by the Emperour of Greece Moreover perceiving his Army much affoibled by the assaults of the Turkes he saved himselfe in the towne of Attalia and came to Antioch where the King conceived a great distaste against his Wife who had accompanyed him all that voiage Afterwards he joyned forces with Conradus the Emperor for the beleaguering of Damietta But that siege tooke no effect through the envy of the old Christians there conceived against the new-commers which was a cause that the Emperour and the King retreated each to his owne home where the King was in danger to have bin surprised by the Emperour of Greece but he was rescued by George Lievtenant of the King of Sicily The King upon his returne divorced his Wife who married with Henry Count of Aniou and Normandy who should succeede to the Crowne of England bearing with him the Counties Poictou and Aquitaine Afterwards the King took to wife Constance the daughter of Alphonsus King of Castile who being deceased he tooke Adele or Ale alias Alice daughter of the Count of Champagne by whom An. Dom. 1165. he had a sonne named Philip and surnamed Deodoctus to whom the King growne aged resigned his Crowne notwithstanding hee was but 14. yeares of age and was Crowned at Rheimes An. Dom. 1179. King Lewis
first or second of that Name succeeded to the Crown and was consecrated at Rheims the 26. of Septem An Dom. 1350. In the beginning of his reigne hee caused the Lord Ralph of Nesle Cōstable of France to be beheaded for Treason and in his place hee jnstituted Charles of Spaine Count of Angolesme The Truce being broken betweene him and England he betooke him to S. John d' Angely and in his returne he instituted the Order of the Starre in the Noble and Royall House or S. Owen Afterwards Charles King of Navarre caused the Constable to be massacred upon a jealousie which hee had conceived against him on the sixt of Ianuary 1353 and the Lord Iames de Bourbon was substituted in his place In the meane time the King of Navarre whom the King of Prance had pardoned instead of acknowledging his fault complotted against the State of the said King which being discovered he entred into an Amity with the King of England By meanes whereof King Iohn having surprised him sent him prisoner to Paris Hereupon Philip of Navarre his brother in an indignation caused the English to come into Normandy against whom the King intending an opposition was enforced to turne it upon the Prince of Wales in Poicton where having lost the field through his temerity hee was taken Prisoner In the meane time the Parisians at the perswasion of Stephen Martel mutinyed against the Dauphin who tooke upon him the Regency of the Realme and appeased the tumult having first restored the places of Normandy to the King of Navarre who had escaped out of prison Afterwards upon a treaty made at Bretigny the eight of May 1360 a peace was concluded with the English and ratified at Calais the 24. of October In the meane time Philip Duke of Burgundy deceased at Roucere neere Dijon without issue by reason whereof Iohn the King declared himselfe to be his Heire After that he making a preparation for a beyond-sea voyage first came to London intending to make a strong peace with England and dyed there the eighth or ninth of April 1364 leaving Charles the Dauphin Lewis Duke of Aniou John Duke of Berry and Philip Hardy Duke of Burgundy This King shewed magnanimity in his most adverse fortune for Apparet virtus arguiturque malis Vertue will apparent be In the depth of adversity which was verified in this King John who sitting in the English Campe at a Supper prepared for him by the Prince of Wales who had taken him prisoner in the Battell of Poitiers said I purposed to have bestowed a Supper on you this night but the fortune of the War hath made me your Guest The Englishmen for a summe of money having got by composition the Castle and Towne of Gwines King Iohn complaining to the King of England that the Truce was broken contrary to their compact and agreement King Edward answered That Trafficke or Merchandise the surrender of the Castle being by money procured did not breake the former Truce This King when King Edward required homage for the Realme of France as held of England answered that hee could not justly alienate a right inalienable received from his Ancestors and therefore he resolved to leave it entire to his children for affliction might engage his person but not the Crowne of France while hee was King who would sacrifice his life for the preservation of France Hee dyed in England Anno 1364 being a good Prince but infortunate wise in ordinary matters but not in great affaires just but too confident in trusting others temperate in his private life but violent in the publicke government For great vertues meeting with Wisdome doe on the Theater of this life give unto Kings a Crowne of applause and commendation Charles 5. surnamed the Wise the 52. King of France An. 1364. AFter the decease of Iohn the first this Charles 5. surnamed the Wise was crowned the 19. of March Anno Dom. 1364. At the comming to the Crowne hee gained against those of Navarre a very memorable victory under the Conduct of the Lord Bertrand du Guesclin in favour whereof he gave him the Dukedome of Longueville From thence the said Guesclin went to aide Charles of Blois against whom Iohn of Monfort relying upon the English had begun warres for the Dutchy of Bretagne where he was taken fighting valiantly before the Castle of Aulroy against Iohn Lord Chandos High Marshall of England but a peace being made betweene the Duke of Monfort and the Countesse of Blois the King likewise made a peace with those of Navarre and after sent Guesclin to ayde Peter King of Arragon against Peter King of Castile in favour of Henry Sancho and Telco his naturall brothers and also in revenge of the death of his Wife Blanche the daughter of the Duke of Bourbon whom hee had caused to be slaine Peter of Castile being deposed of his kingdome and Henry substituted hee retired to the Prince of Wales who restored him to his former estate After returning into Guienne he imposed upon his Subjects unaccustomed taxations and imposts which caused the Lords of Armaignac and of Albert to appeale to the King of France as to their Soveraigne Lord which was a cause that moved Charles to give an eare to Henry who offered to hold his kingdome of Castile from him so that hee would ayde him in the re-conquest thereof Whereupon the King sent him Guesclin who gained fixe battells against his Enemy and in the fixt Peter of Castile was taken by the Lord de Villaines a French Knight of whom Henry ransomed him and put him to death enjoying by that meanes the kingdome of Castile In the meane time because the King embraced the appeale of the Lords of Gascogne the Prince of Wales denounced warre against him which the King managed so well by the assistance of his brothers that repairing the losses of his Father and Grandfather received by the English hee reconquered Guienne Poictou and Bretagne and deceased in September Anno Dom. 1380 leaving Charles and Lewis under the tuition of their Unkles This King had many vertues shining in all estates both in happinesse and adversity and when the Realme was in the heate of troubles he saved it from ruine so that his fame was spred abroad leaving an honourable remembrance to his posterity Hee favoured Learning and the learned preferring the Schoolemaster Nicholas Oresme He caused the Bible to be translated imitating therein St. Lewis and tooke great delight to read the Scripture and Philosophy and he made Aristotles Ethicks and Politicks and many places of Tully to be translated into French and his favour shewed to learned men cherished their fancies and made them seeke unto the forsaken Muses for witty inventions Hee would heare Suits in open Court and redresse the wrongs of the oppressed and tooke pleasure to advance his houshold servants and gave them meanes for bringing up their sons and marrying their daughters And as he was a favourer of Learning so Bartholl Baldus Petrarch
Bociac Plorindes Bonaventure and John Wickliffe of Oxford in England lived in his Reigne But Vertues are not hereditary for Charles sonne to this King degenerated from his Father and the Kingdome of France was afterward punished in the weaknesse of the succeeding Kings so that the confused government brought forth sad effects such as are to bee expected where the rabble multitude have a power unrestrained by Authority and doe swarme and rove about like unruly Bees Charles 6. the 53. King of France Anno 1380. THis Charles 6. about the age of 14. yeares was crowned the first of November Anno. Dom. 1380. In the beginning of his Reigne hee received homage for the Dutchy of Bretagne and enforced the Gaulois to their obedience to their Duke as also he chastised the Parisians who had mutinyed about imposts having Mallets as a token of their faction whereupon they were called Maillotins In the meane time Peter de Craon wounded Clifson Constable of France whereof the King intending a revenge fell into a frensie by reason whereof the kingdome was put into the hands of the Dukes of Berry and Burgundy who laying hands upon Clisson by an Act of Parlement caused him to be deprived of his estate and banished the kingdome The King of England marryed the Lady Isabell the eldest Daughter to Charles whereupon a Truce was concluded betweene the English and French for Thirty yeares But King Richard being afterward slaine shee was sent backe into France without a Dowry by reason whereof the Duke of Orleans presented a combate of seven French against seven English within the lists which combate the French gained Then also upon some rancors and dissentions betweene the houses of Burgundy and Orleans for the government of the Kingdome John the eldest sonne of the late Count of Burgundy caused the Duke of Orleans brother to the King to be slaine the 22. of November 1407 whereupon ensued all the subsequent disorders in France by meanes whereof the King of England gained the famous and memorable battaile of Agincourt and continued his warres for the space of 29. or 30. yeares during which he tooke Rouen and in a manner all Normandy In those times also the Duke of Burgundy was slaine at a Parlement upon the Bridge of Montereau Faux-yonne by those that accompanied the Dauphine who for that fact was by his Father Charles not yet in sense dis-inherited and in his place he instituted Henry King of England to whom upon a peace hee had given in marriage Katherine of France together with the government of France and Paris making warres against the Dauphin untill death which was followed with that of the King who had before given consent to the Duke of Bedford to be Regent in France for young King Henry who was yet in his Cradle This Charles the 6. was of a magnanimous and Heroick soule full of the fire of true valour which upon any brave occasion broke forth in glorious actions which vertue was declared in his younger yeares by this answer to his Father Charles the fifth by whom a Crowne of Gold enchased with precious Stones and a Helmet of Steele fairely guilt being propounded to his choise hee answered hee would rather chuse the Helmet than the Crowne Afterward being crowned King of France this Sonne of valour rising in the spheare of Majesty shined forth with early beames of valour for being shewed by his Officers his deceased Fathers rich Treasury and precious moveables and also his Armory full of warlicke Furniture and all sorts of Armes hee said He had rather have those Armes than his Fathers Riches As this King and his Noblemen marched against the Duke of Britaine being entred the Forrest of Mans a man bare-headed and bare-legged attired in a Coate of white Rugge steps suddainly forth betwixt two Trees taking hold of the Raines of the Kings Horse and staying him said unto him King ride no farther but returne backe for thou art betrayed The King was amazed at this voice and the man being forced with blowes to leave the Raines of his Horse vanished Afterward it chanced that his Page being very sleepy let fall his Lance upon him which carryed the Helmet making a great noise like the rustling of Armes the King starts with amazement at this noise and seeing the Crimson Bandroll of the Lance having his spirits weakened with the former distemperatures transported with the imagination of this sound sleepy with labour and heate he imagins himselfe to be compassed in with many armed men which pursu'd him to the death Charles thus transported with this phrenzy layes hold on his Sword drawes it runnes violently after his Pages and calls them Traytors The Pages conceiving at first that hee had beene displeased for the disorder of the Lance flye from him The King follows after The Duke of Orleance runnes towards him to let him know the cause of his anger The King very violently layes at him not knowing him the Duke flyes and the King follows Thereupon all drawing neare unto him they take his Sword from him and his thick Velvet Jerkin and scarlet Cap and lay him on the ground Pope Urban his Enemy triumphing and rejoycing at his misery said it was a just judgment of God for supporting and assisting his Competitor But the holy Scripture sayes O how happy is he that judgeth wisely of the afflicted representing an admirable example in Job who was accused by his friends that hee was an hypocrite good in shew but not in integrity of life Such is the judgment of the World accounting adversity a vice and prosperity a vertue measuring matters according to their passions and not with reason for GODS Judgments are just and righteous but the causes thereof are unknowne though GOD doth all well whatsoever he doth Henry the fifth King of England Anno 1412. THough it be more easie to succeed in victoryes than atchieve them yet this Henry maintained by the sword that Title of King of France which his Predecessor Edward the third had gained and as King Edward cut down the Flower of France in the Battaile of Cressey so Henry the fift exasperated by the Dolpins of France sending him a Tunne of Tennis Balls sent him backe such Iron Balls or Bullets that the French were neare brought to a great hazzard in this Tennis Court or field of Mars For hereby Henry wonne France teaching Princes that contempt addes a double courage when right is by contumelies sought with greater violence Afterward King Henry tooke Harflew and fought the memorable battaile of Agincourt wherein hee got a wonderfull and unexpected victory by a stratagem of erecting sharpe Stakes before the foote troopes whereupon the Horse issuing violently they were disranked and routed so that the earth blush't with blood to see the French so overtaken and also the Archers upon the nicke of this opportunity sent many showres of Arrowes whereby the whole Army on the French side was discomfited and the English Archers giving backe the French
Horsemen ran themselves upon the sharpe poynted stakes At last the French maine Battaile was put to flight and then King Henry gave thankes unto God the giver of all victoryes This Battaile was famous triumphant and fortunate the successe whereof was celebrated with great joy at the Kings returne into England Princes being then most amiable as well as private men in the sight of their subjects when Fortune smiles on their attempts and Victories such as this was at Poictiers makes their vertues more apparant Afterward Truce being made with the French and by them broken hee invades France againe and takes the Towne of Harflew in Normandy and Cane Then proceeding in his Conquest of Normandy takes Fallais after a long siege and Articles of agreement confirmed by the King he besieges also Roane and the Lady Katharines Picture was sent to King Henry to move him to pitty Roane Hee grants them peace and receives of the Burgesses of Roane 356000. Crownes of gold upon the sixteenth of June Anno Domini 1418. Afterward many Townes were surrendered to Henry At last a peace was concluded betweene King Henry and King Charles and the Duke of Burgogne Afterward Henry goes in person to Trois where he was met by Iohn King of France the Queene and the Lady Katharine to whom hee was contracted and by their marriage peace was established in France and the Crowne of France was entailed to England and the Subjects of France were sworne to duty of allegeance unto King Henry as also the two Crownes of England and France were united and confirmed to King Henry by his marrying the Lady Katherine for marryages have alwayes beene the happy conclusions of Tragicall Warres as may appeare by happy marriage Afterward the French growing rebellious King Henry besieges Paris and takes it Bicardy afterward sweares fealty and obedience to King Hen. Matters being setled all the Warres was concluded with joyfull Solemnities at the marriage of King Henry and the Lady Katharine with whom he returned afterward into England where every Subject exprest his love and loyalty to him each one contending who should be the forwardest for the entertaining of so Noble and victorious a Prince and his most Royall Consort Afterward King Henry being at the siege of Meaux his wife was delivered of Henry of Munmouth his last joy on earth for not long after sickning at at Melum and his malady encreasing at Bois De vincennois hee cheerefully rendred his Soule to GOD who received him to immortall joy where he remaines Crowned with Caelestiall glory while his body being conveyed into England was with all pompous Celebrity interred in the Church at Westminster where on his Tombe are ingraven these Verses Dux Normanorum verus Conquestor eorum Haeres Francorum decesset Hector eorum Here Normans Duke so stil'd by Conquest just True heire of France great Hector lyes in Dust. Charles 7. the 54. King of France Anno 1422. AFter the decease of Charles the 6 Charles 7. his sonne began to style himselfe King of France notwithstanding that his Father had dis-inherited him and given it to Henry King of England In the beginning of his Reigne having made Count Arthur brother to the Duke of Bretagne High Constable of France sent him against the English who in a manner were Masters of all France and had now beleaguered Orleans contrary to their promise made to their Duke who at that time was prisoner in England whereupon the King sent the Count of Dunois the Bastard of Orleans Pothon Hire all valiant Commanders to relieve it At that time the French lost the Battaile of Harens whereupon the King being enraged and not knowing which way best to betake himselfe was encouraged by Joane the Maid who miraculously drove the English from before Orleance and having recovered many lost Townes and gained the battaile neare Patay and conveyed the King to be crowned at Rheims but upon a Sally which she made out of Champagne upon the English she was taken and put to death at Rouen In the end a peace being made betweene the Duke of Burgundy and the King of France they first drove the English out of Paris nineteene yeares after their enjoying it into which the King made his entry the twelfth of November Anno Domini 1437 to equall which there presently ensued the Praguery Faction The quarrells also of the Houses of Orleance and Burgundy were extinguished by the Marriage of Charles Duke of Orleance with Mary of Cleue neare to the Duke of Burgundy The English also lived promiscuously with the French but the Truce being broken by an English Captaine who took in the Castle of Fougeres the King imployed his uttermost to quit France of all the English and thereupon hee to this designe appointed his Franc-archers or Boemen and began with Normandy which he reduced wholly to his obedience after that Guienne and the Citty of Bourdeaux insomuch that the English could retaine nothing on that side the Seas but Cales and the County of Guiennes The King enjoying this repose of peace was much troubled with the absence of the Dauphin who for sixe yeares had betaken himselfe to the Duke of Burgundy and thence into Brabant where hee remained till his Fathers decease which was the 22. of July Anno Dom. 1461. This King being unfortunate in his Warres grew so behind hand both in fame and estate that amongst other afflictions hee was burthened with reproach and poverty so that he dined in his Chamber attended on by his houshold servants where Pothon and la Hire comming to Chusteandun to require succours found him at Table with a Rumpe of Mutton and two Chickens He was reproached for the love of faire Agnes but the History of St. Dennis reports that hee loved her onely for her pleasing behaviour eloquent speech and beauty and that he never used any lascivious action unto her nor never touched her beneath the chinne Joane a Virgin or rather Witch professing that she had a Revelation how to succour the King and chase the English from Orleance was brought by the Lord of Baudie Court Provost of Vancoleurs to Chinon attired like a man The King takes upon him the habite of a Countryman yet shee goes directly to the King although they told her shee was mistaken Shee had Armes and Horse given her with a Troope to enter the City accompanied by the Admirall and Martiall of France Shee comes to Orleance they rejoyce to behold the Maiden Warriour whereupon Joane sends threats to the English by Letter subscribed Vnderstand these Newes from God and from the Virgin Orleance was assaulted by her counsell The Virgin entred the Fort first crying Montjoy St. Dennis the Fort is wonne The English grew amazed at the Virgins exploits In memory whereof a Monument was erected King Charles the seventh armed and Joane the Virgin armed kneeling on their knees before a Crucifixe of Brasse which is still to bee seene upon the Bridge at Orleance Lewis the 11. and 55.
King of France Anno 1461. LEwis the 11. departing out of Brabant being accompanyed with the Duke Philip of Burgundy and the Count of Charolois his sonne caused himselfe to be crowned King of France the fifteenth of August 1461. The Princes seeing themselves in contempt especially Mounsier Charles his brother who rose up in Armes against him under a pretensive colour for the common good giving him the famous battaile of Montlehery the fifteenth of Iuly Anno Domini 1463. The King for the dissipating of their forces following the advise of the Duke of Milan gave Normandy to his brother which afterwards by subtilties he withdrew from him againe But in the end hee was enforced by the Duke of Burgundy to give unto his brother Mounsier Charles the Counties of Champagne and Brie which hee afterward exchanged for the Dutchy of Guienne by this meanes to weane him from the Duke of Burgundy recalling all the Townes upon this side the River Somme and afterwards against his brother Charles for the withdrawing of the Dutchy of Guienne who immediately dyed not without suspition of poyson Afterwards he made a treaty of peace at Bouvines with the Dukes of Bretagne and Burgundy for the ensnaring of the High Constable S. Paul who had beene the prime sparke of all the dissentions after the battaile of Montlehery In the meane time the King works the Duke of Burgundy quite out with the Emperour Fredericke and with the Duke of Loraine working his ruine at the siege of Mus. Then he takes in many Townes of the Burgundion who had appealed to the English for aide with whom the King had already made a treaty of Piquigny by which Charles the Kings sonne was to marry with the daughter of England when they came to be of age which constrained the Burgundion to make his peace with the King and to deliver the High Constable into his power The Duke of Burgundy was slaine before Nancy leaving one sole Daughter Mary who was marryed to Maximilian the onely son of the Emperour Fredericke by reason whereof the King recovered all the Countrey upon the Somme together with the Dutchy and County of Burgundy But afterwards the Prince of Orange caused the Franch-Conite to revolt After this the King allyed himselfe to the Swisses and recovered the County of Provence from Renatus Duke of Aniou by way of Donation The K. afterwards having marryed his son Charles to the Lady Marguerite of Flanders hee surrendered his life the 30 of Aug. 1483. Hee said that Charles the sage might be a wise man in his Tiring-Chamber or Closet but in giving his youngest brother the Dutchy of Burgundy hee played the fooles part Being told after a battaile that his enemy Count Charolois did lodge in the field He replyed That he having neither Towne nor Castle must needes lodge in a field-bed It was his usuall saying That when pride walketh or rideth afore shame and dishonour like servingmen attend behind Being told that one of the Canons of the Church where hee had heard Masse was dead he gave the Prebendship to a Priest which lay sleeping in an adjoyning Chappell that hee should say afterward that his good fortune came unto him sleeping To a Gentleman that was ready to handle a rich Chaine of gold which a Captaine wore about his neck and was suspected to be made of the reliques of a Church he said Take heede how you touch that Chaine for it is a holy thing He said also that in regard of his troubles at the beginning of his reigne if by the expression of courage and experience he had not procured feare and reverence he might have beene ranked amongst the unfortunate Princes in the last Chapter of Boccace A rich Nobleman having builded a faire Hospitall he said That having made many poore for the Hospitall hee might justly make an Hospitall for the poore and so convert his sinnes into Almes-houses Hee would often say to his Noblemen that his sonne should learne no more Latine than Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare and that the government of the Kingdome and Common-wealth was his best study for other studies would too much soften his minde and Historicall examples unfortunate in their event and successe would discourage him from attempting brave Actions He said also that the Genowayes should not long remaine under his protection for he would bequeath them to the Divell Being advised to send an Embassadour that had many Dignities and Titles he said he is like a peece of Brachigraphy that hath many a Title but Learning very little Being told that the Gout haunted rich men that fared deliciously and wore fine cloathing he said hee would alwaies afterward weare cloathcloathes because the Gout should not take him for a rich man He could finde all things he said in his Kingdome and his Court except truth which was sicke in his fathers time and was now starke dead having before her death made no Confession to a Priest The Realme of France he said was a meddow which he did cut every yeere and as often as he listed He asking a meane fellow which knew not the King when he saw him what he gained by following the Court The fellow answered I get as much as the King that is maintenance while I live and a sheete when I dye He said that a curious ignorant man having a Library of faire Bookes was like a crooke-backt man having a Bunch on his backe whereby the deformity of the one the ignorance of the other was more discerned He made gold the engine of his actions saying that an Army of silver Launces doth usually winne the victory Great services he said through the arrogancy of the parties performing them or the neglect of Princes regarding them were often recompenced with hatred or ingratitude and therefore the bounty of Princes exceeding desert was more fortunate and happy than desert exceeding the bounty of Princes not enduring to be indebted or obliged Having felt the smart of the English warres he said the King of England was his Brother in his owne Countrey but hee did not like his company in France Having caused a faire goodly Tombe to bee made for the faire Lady Agnes the love of his late Father the Cannons of the Church desiring that the Monument might bee removed out of the heart of the Church into a side I le or Chappell he answered that their request was neither just nor reasonable neither would he suffer her Tombe whom his father loved to be violated After Monsieur Bussi was beheaded and buryed he caused the head to be digged up againe and placed on a wooden pole in the Market place and so being covered with a scarlet Cappe furred with Minivere in regard he had beene a Counsellour of the Parliament A suiter to the King for an Office bein denyed humbly thanked his Majestie who wondring at his moderate yet man-like spirit asked if he conceived a right of his answer yes said the Suiter and I thanke
all Authours 17. or 18. yeares except Ado who alloweth him but 13. Neverthelesse it seemeth that it was in his time that Pepin made warre upon Ratbod Duke of Frizeland who was as yet a Pagan and an Idolater so that he being overthrowne Pepin would not grant him any conditions of peace unlesse he would permit a Monke called Wilebros aliâs Clement a learned and vertuous man might freely give instructions to the Frizons in the Christian Religion which for the most part was generally approved and liked by the people but the Nobles and chiefe men remained and continued in their ancient errour together with their Prince Moreover that Pepin was a man accomplished and of singular parts yet contrary to the Lawes of Marriage he was so much taken with the fond love of a Gentlewoman called Alpaide that hee utterly loathed his wife Plectrude By reason whereof Lambert Bishop of Utrecht or as some report Liege a man of a holy life boldly undertooke to lay open his sinne unto him although he had restored him to his See Episcopall whereof Ebroin had deprived him Whereupon Alpaide was so much enraged that shee instigated her brother Dodon to kill him but he and his associates received a reward due for such a demerite and murther Pepin on the other part hearing that Norbert his Lieutenant of Maireship of France was deceased substituted his second sonne Grimoald in the place and caused him to marry Theudesinde Daughter of Ratbod Duke of Frizeland About five yeares after Drogon the sonne of Pepin Duke of Champagne dyed as Ado noteth Anno Dom. 708 but according to Sigebert 699 whose estates were by Pepin given to his sonne Thibault after that seeing the Swedes to rebell against Childebert under the conduct of Villarius he sent Anepos Bishop against them with a powerfull Army which overthrew them saith Ado. Childebert deceased An. Dom. 710 having reigned 17. yeares leaving issue Dagobert Clowis and Daniel That which is chiefly observable in this King was his dotage on Alpaide a faire beautifull Gentlewoman whom he loved beyond all respect of himselfe letting his Fame bleed to death wounded with a bad report for his incontinent life For that King that is addicted to the love of a woman hath all his senses so charmed that he understands nothing but his pleasure and is quite given over to follow his owne wicked desires For Est infoelicius quà m meretrice nihil A Whore may well compared be Unto a Garden of misery He that doth both touch and taste Her fruite doth unto death make haste And hee that endeavours to make a King see his owne vice does alwaies perish in the attempt resembles Virgils poore Gnat which the shepheard killed with clapping his hand against his face while he strove to wake him So Bishop Lambert that would have wak'd the King was by Alpaides plot and the Kings consent murdered Dagobert 2. the 18. King of France Anno 710. DAgobert the eldest sonne of Childebert began his Reigne Anno Dom. 710 according to Trithemius Ado and Aventine not as Sigebert would have it 716. There is not any memorable thing by Pepin done in his time found or read recommendable to posterity but onely the death of Grimoald Maire of the Palace of France which was Anno Dom. 714. in April who was miserably slaine by a Souldier a Frizelander in the Church of St. Lambert belonging to the See of Liege whither he went to visite his father Pepin then lying sicke in his bed whereof he dyed the same yeare about the midst of December having executed both the Maireships with great honour for the space of 27. yeares and a halfe after he had surrogated Thibault to his sonne Grimoald to be Maire He resigned the Mayery of Austrasie to a naturall sonne of his called Charles whom he had by his Concubine Alpaide already perceiving in him the signes of a great Generosity which enabled him for such a charge although hee were but yet very young Which gave an occasion to Plectrude the lawfull wife of Pepin cunningly to surprize him and to imprison him in the City of Cologne as well for the Novercall jealousie shee had of him as for having meanes also to ruine the estate of Austrasie as also of France being in the hands of her younger sonne Thibault assuring herselfe that the managing of businesses would passe well enough under his name But the Frenchmen not willing to be governed by a Woman being grieved also that the office of the Maire should be hereditary which formerly had beene by Election made an insurrection against Thibault whom they forced to flye into the Forrest Cocie After that they chose Ranfroy for Mayre The same yeare 714. Dagobert dyed having reigned 5. yeares This King was disswaded from the love of Alpaide by Lambert Bishop of Vtrect whom this cruell Dame in revenge caused to be slaine by her brother Dodon strucke after the acting this Murder with a disease of wormes the stench whereof he being not able to endure threw himselfe headlong into the River of Menze See here a punishment to affright the sinfull soule a King that had before lived in a most voluptuous manner that made a Whore the Center of all his thoughts thinking all happinesse to be contained within that circumference having lost his reason and being wholly governed by a petty-coat what a sad and fatall end did he meete withall For pleasure comes with a faire alluring face tempting to taste of her Circes Cup but when shee turnes her backe she hath a ragged ugly shape which offends the sight and brings the mind to sad repentance This King had highly sinned and now wormes began to be bold with him and eate his living flesh so that corruption did not follow after death but contrary to nature hee rotted and corrupted while he lived untill the worme of conscience tormented his soule a miserable death attending a bad life Clotharius the 4 19 King of France Anno 719. CLotharius the fourth sonne of Theodoric who was the fifteenth King of France was brother to the Kings Clovis the third and Childebert the second and Uncle to Dagobert the second and by the plots of Charles Martel upon the decease of Dagobert was made King For hee perceiving that the greatest part of the French had constituted King a certaine Daniel a man of the Royall blood whom they had drawne out of the Monastery and nominated him Chilperic the second he by force of Armes having valiantly fought it out in the field and victoriously overthrowne them as hereafter shall be mentioned made himselfe Master of all France and from thenceforth Charles Martel against his will was made King But he knowing that the French that could not containe themselves without a King and would not admit any to the Title but those of the Royall blood knowing also himselfe not so descended he caused this Clotharius to be Crowned King as the next of blood not that hee thought him worth such
his Crowne to Raoul his God-sonne the first Prince of the blood by his Mother Hermingrade Daughter to Lewis and wife of Boson King of Burgundy dyed with griefe and of a languishing Melancholy to see that his treacherous vassage should so affront and oppose him and use him in such a disgracefull manner For there is no greater misery or vexation than when the Master through want and poverty is abused by the man it doth even astonish the minde and pierce the Heart unto death for Asperius nihil est humili cum surgit in altum Rodulph or Raoul of Burgundy the 32. King of France Anno 923. ROdulph having beene crowned King at Soissons the 13. of June Anno Dom. 923 reigned 13. yeares hee went afterwards to warre with Hugh le Blanc against the Normans others against those of the Faction of Rollon and also those that inhabited upon the River Loire from whence he was recalled to receive the oath of the Lorainers excepting that of Duke Gislebert and Rotharius Arch-bishop of Treues Afterwards having espoused Berthe the Daughter of the Duke of Swede and because having a hope to attaine the Empire he passed into Italy where hee overthrew Berengarius and drove him out of Italy and at his returne having made peace with the Normans hee went against William Duke of Aquitaine whom hee enforced to acknowledge his estate to have dependance from the Crowne And upon the parting of Estates of the Kingdome which was held at Attigny hee had gone into Loraine had hee not beene hindered by a fit of sicknesse which retained him at Rheimes After that he went against the Normans but through the rebellion of the Lorainers who had surrendred the upper Loraine into the power of the Emperour Henry he was enforced to make peace with the Normans which continued not long because having recommenced their wonted courses he was constrained to purchase his peace with a great summe of monies that hee might goe against the Duke of Aquitaine who was now in rebellion from whom hee tooke Nevers The bruite of the Hungariáns comming into France gave him to understand of the revolt of Count Heribert who accompanying himselfe with Hugh le Blanc went to take an Alliance with Henry the Emperour in Loraine and in his returne released King Charles out of prison who went to meete William Duke of Normandy to enter a League against Rodulph This beginning of Warres being pacified betweene them Heribert caused Charles againe to be imprisoned who dyed shortly after at Peronne In those times there were great contentions amongst the Paires of France concerning the Provinces which proceeded from the politick slights of the Emperour who sought to hold the partialities of France in an equality for feare lest the tranquillity of France might not produce a trouble to his estate in Loraine Rodulph deceased the twelfth or fifteenth day of January Anno Domini 939. This Roul was an usurper and his reigne was troublesome and unfortunate and for hee and others that had beene servants to the Crowne being now Kings and Dukes thought to make their Dominions proper to themselves and not depending on the Crowne which bred much confusion in France Italy and Germany The Church did now strive to advance the Authority of the Pope of Rome gaining a great opinion among Christians in the Empires declining estate and growing so great a Monarch that he assumed primacy above Kings and Emperours which they and their subjects refused to acknowledge In these times a young Maide attired like a Boy went with a learned man to Athens and returned from thence so good a Scholler being well read in many Authors of exquisite learning and profound knowledge and so expert likewise in the holy Scriptures that after the death of Pope Leo shee was created Pope John the eight but afterward being with childe by one of her Groomes she was as shee went in solemne procession according to the custome and order observ'd amongst them delivered of a childe in the open streete Thus the Empire the Realme and the Church were in those times much distemper'd and disgraced pride and ignorance breeding many miseries and reproachfull accidents Lewis 4. the 33. King of France Anno 939. LEwis son of Charles the Simple was recalled out of England by the Princes of France and at the instance of Hugh le Blanc was crowned at Laon by the Arch-bishop of Rheims the 19. of July An. Dom. 939. From thence hee went to recover the City of Langres from Hugh le Noire brother to King Rodulph and having entertained the Lords of Burgundy before he came to Paris hee discarded Hugh le Blanc and for his owne Mother that he might make use of her counsell which caused Hugh to allye himselfe to the Emperour Otho by taking his sister in marriage and to reconcile Heribert Afterwards they went to follow the King even into Burgundy who in revenge fell upon Loraine which caused the Emperour to depart out of Almaine to oppose him but they made a peace betweene themselves This notwithstanding the King could not obtaine peace of his adversaries untill the Dukes of Normandy Aquitaine and Bretagne being encouraged by Pope Stephen embraced him and they wrought so that the Emperour accorded with the Princes Hugh Heribert who awhile after that was taken by the King and hanged because he had imprisoned his Father which so much disturbed the repose of France together with the death of William Dukes of Normandy who was murthered by the Count of Flanders that Warres being enkindled over all France the King was taken prisoner by the Normans from being recovered by Hugh le Blanc who delivered him to Count Thibaut who detained him longer for the space of a yeare The Emperour Othe seeing this debated the cause of Hugh le Blanc and began to maintaine the Kings so long untill carrying himselfe indifferent hee came to reape the fruite of both their ruines without any danger at all In conclusion this last Warre which had continued seven or eight yeares being ended by an agreement betweene the King and Duke Hughes in the City of Soyssons the King dyed of a strange malady in the Moneth of September or according to others the 12. of November Anno Domini 954 after he had reigned about 19. yeares leaving by his wife Gerberge Lotharius and Charles This King as it is formerly briefly mentioned to revenge the death of his Father whom Hebert Earle of Vermandois had kept a prisoner in the Castle of Peronne untill hee there dyed caused one in the habite of an Englishman to come in haste to his Court at Landun with Letters which himselfe had written though fained to be sent from the King of England The messenger being entred and the Letters read softly to the King by his Secretary the King smiled and said The Englishmen are not so wise as I estreem'd them to be for our Cosin Harmant King of England hath signified unto me by these Letters that in his
made he being gone in his Kingdome of Poland was certified of his brother the Kings death on the 30. of May at the Bois de Vincennes 1574. having one daughter who dyed an Infant He lyes at St. Denis Hee was a Prince that had excellent naturall gifts but blended and mingled with vices wherewith his Governours and Schoolemasters had corrupted his young minde which at the first was more vertuously inclined delighting in Musick and Poetry But as he was a great Hunter that lov'd to shed the blood of wilde beasts so hee suffered also during his reigne the Protestants blood to be shed and in revenge thereof in his sicknesse before his death great store of blood issued out by vomiting and by other passages of his body in the two last weekes of his sicknesse wherein he endured as much paine and torment as the strength of youth could suffer in the last pangs of death And this judgement shewed that God loves not the Prince that thirsts after his subjects blood which is the very blood of the Prince Some few houres before his death he said It was a great comfort unto him that he left no heire Male lawfully begotten for leaving him young he must endure many crosses and France had neede of a man Henry 3. the 62. King of France Anno 1575. THis Henry the third was at the instant of his brothers death in his Kingdome of Poland whereof he having notice hee in privacy went out of Poland and arrived at Lyons the sixt of September Anno 1574 and was consecrated at Rheims February the 13. Anno Dom. 1575 and the 15. of the same Moneth he marryed Madam Loyse of Loraine Daughter of the Count of Vaudemont After in the yeare 1576 he convocated his Statesmen to Blois where singular good Statutes were enacted Anno Domini 1577. there was an Edict of Pacification published for the quiet of his Kingdome He began the foundation of the Augustines Bridge Anno Dom. 1578. The Order of the Knights of the Holy Ghost was by him instituted Anno Dom. 1579. After his Edict of Pacification untill the decease of his onely brother Monsieur the Duke of Aniou his Kingdome was in peace but soone after Anno Domini 1585 there grew up a faction pernicious to him and his Estate which was called the Ligue or the holy Union the Author whereof was the King of Spaine purposely to hinder Henry King of Navarre from his accesse to the Crowne of France to whom after the decease of this King it of right did belong This Faction was violated under a colour of Religion which was of such a force that the Principality thereof made sure of the primest Cities in the whole Kingdome their owne and amongst the rest Paris it selfe the Inhabitants whereof having barricadoed themselves against their King on the twelfth of May Anno Domini 1588 he was constrained to retire himselfe to Chartres and thence to Rouen In the end the second time he assembled his men of State at Blois at the end whereof hee caused the Duke and Cardinall of Guise to bee executed Upon which execution Paris revolted together with the prime Cities of the Realme and the Rebells made the Duke of Mayenne to bee their Chiefe which was a cause that the King removed his Parlement to Tours in March in the yeare 1589 and being reconciled to the King of Navarre he went to beleaguer Paris and being at St. Claud on the first day of August hee was most trayterously stabbed with a knife in the bottome of his belly by a Jacobin of which wound hee dyed the day following in that siege in the midst of his Army having reigned 15. yeares and two Moneths His Corps was conducted to Compaigne where it remaineth to this day entombed This King plotting before his receiving the Crowne how to ruine the Hugenots the Emperour told him that there was no greater sinne than to force mens consciences for such as thinke to command them supposing to winne Heaven doe often lose that which they possesse on Earth He was at last murdered as was said by a Jacobin Fryar who as the King bended downe to heare in private that which he expected drew a knife out of his sleeve made a purpose and thrust his Majesty into the bottome of the belly and there leaves the knife in the wound The murderer was by those which ranne to helpe the King presently killed But the King lived awhile and at his death hee advised them to unite themselves in revenging his murder but yet he forgave his enemies and charged them to seeke the preservation of the Realme by purging out Faction And lastly hee wished them to referre the difference of Religion to the Convocation of the Estates of the Realme saying that Piety is a duty of man to God over which worldly force hath no power The Picture of his minde was faire and lovely being drawne with the lines of wit eloquence gravity devotion affection to learning bountifull to desert reforming abuses peaceable and willing to heare counsell but this comely beauty was disgraced by a pale weaknesse in adversity a smiling wantonnesse and too liberall a prodigality which somewhat blemished this Prince who had otherwise beene an exact peece of perfection worthy to be placed among the chiefest Monarchs Henry the 4 the 63. King of France Anno 1589. THis Henry the fourth surnamed the Great King of Navarre as first of the Bourbon line being descended from Robert the last sonne of St. Lewis succeeded to the Crowne of France by consent and assistance of the Nobility and Army of the late Henry by whose deplored death it was dispersed retired himselfe to Dieppe where he was besieged by the Duke of Mayenne with a potent Army which by this King was routed with a small number of Arques the 21. of September Anno Domini 1589. And from thence pursued his victory even to Paris taking the Suburbs thereof upon All-Hallows Eve Afterwards hee recovered Vendosm le Mans and Falaise The fourteenth of March 1590 hee obtained the famous victory of Yury after which hee blocked up Paris and St. Denis and reduced them to such an extremity of famine that in July following St. Denis yeelded it selfe to his power and Paris also was upon the point of surrender April 1591. the City of Chartres after a long siege was yeelded up also to him Ianuary 1593. began the Estates of the Ligue at Paris and the Truce of Suresne followed which being in dispute the King tooke the City of Dreux and shortly after he was instructed in the Roman Faith whereof hee made a publique and solemne profession at St. Denis the 25. of July August following the generall Truce began and continued untill the first day of the yeare 1594 which being expired the King caused himselfe to be crowned at Chartres by the Bishop of that See the 27. of February Hereupon ensued the submission of Meaux Lyons Orleance Bourges Rouen and Paris where the King was most