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
write though justly disgracefully of deceased Princes Lewis 3. Emperour and 27. King of France Anno 877. AFter the decease of Charles the Bald Lewis surnamed the Stut was heire and successor of his Father declared himselfe not onely King of France Anno Dom. 877 causing himselfe to be crowned in a full assembly of Princes and Prelates at Rheimes but also Emperour of Rome Aymoynus testifieth that hee was in some difference before his Coronation with the Primates of his Kingdome because he had distributed the estates and dignities of France without their advice Insomuch that he was enforced to give them content In the meane time Pope John the 8. conceiving a better hope of the French than of the Almaines laboured what he could to reduce Italy into the good liking of Lewis the Stut by the reason whereof he became an enemy of those that tooke part with Caroloman Nephew to the said Lewis and eldest sonne of Lewis King of Eavaria who tooke the Pope prisoner whence hee made an escape by the meanes of his adherents and retired himselfe into France with the Treasures of the Church after that he had excommunicated his adversaries who neverthelesse desisted not to detaine the City of Rome for the party of Caroloman In the meane time the Pope was conducted from Arles by Duke Boson to Lions from whence he went to visite the King at Troyes and there the King caused himselfe by him to be crowned with the Imperiall Diadem After that the Pope was reconducted by Boson into Italy whiles the Emperour Lewis went to visite Lewis King of Germany in Loraine where they concluded a treaty of peace for the which the controversie touching the Empire was deferred till another time and it was agreed that the possession should rest as it did of that which each of them had in Italy untill such time that it was otherwise agreed upon Afterwards as the Emperour was in his journey with his forces to goe visite Bernard Marques of Gothland or of Languedock which had given an occasion to the Emperour to distrust his fidelity hee was surprised at Troyes with a malady which moved him upon hope of recovery to returne to Compaigne where he deceased the tenth of April An. Dom. 879 leaving his Wife great with child who shortly after was delivered of a son who was called Charles afterwards surnamed the Simple whose life is set downe as the occasion falls convenient wherein you shall read Notes worthy your observation In whose minority three things are observable the efficacy of the Law of State preserving the unborne lawfull Heires right The minority of a King subject to many miseries And the liberty of great men in the weaknesse of a young Prince For Lewis and Caroloman being first chosen Regents after procured themselves under colour of the pupiles interest to be crowned Kings Lew is and Caroloman or Carlon the 28. King of France An. 879. THis Lewis and Carlon or Caroloman sonnes of Lewis the Stut and of Ausgarde whom hee had taken to wife without the knowledge of his father and after by his command divorced her according to the Almaine Chronicles were crowned Kings of France An. Dom. 879. according to the appointment of Lewis the Stut at his death to the Peeres of his Realme Upon which occasion some Abbots and great Lords partializing against them appealed Lewis King of Almany to take charge of the affaires of France into his hands To which purpose being arrived at Verdun he was pacified with the part of the Kingdome of Loraine which was given him upon which he and his late Father had quarrelled with the Kings of France This fire being thus quenched another controversie grew concerning the County of Authun betweene the Counts Theodoric to whom it was given by the late deceased Emperour and Boson who layd a claime thereunto to whom it was adjudged by Hugh the Abbot upon condition that he should leave the Abbies with their revenues which were in those parts to Theodoric The State of France being thus troubled Boson grew more turbulent causing himselfe to be crowned King of Burgundy as also did the Normans whom the Kings overthrew upon Saint Andrews day Anno Dom. 879 slaying 5000. of them in the field After in the yeare 880 they made a partage of the Kingdome of France by which all the Neustrick France befell to Lewis and Aquitan with Burgundy with the Marches to Caroloman This being done they went to surprise the Normans whom they cut in peeces in the Carbonary Forrest to the number of 9000 the yeare after he deceased The Normans not desisting from wasting and sacking the Countrey of France came up as farre as Paris Carloman was enforced to buy a peace of them for 12. yeares which he enjoyed not long for in the yeare 884. he was slaine by a wild Boare a hunting having reigned five or sixe yeares or running after a Gentlewoman his horse carried him away and crush'd him under a gate or at the Chace hee fell downe and broke his necke for report differing in the manner of his death agrees that it was violent and accidentall Lewis the Lubber and Charles the Grosse the 29. K. of France An. 885. THis Lewis surnamed the Lubber or Doe-little sonne of Carloman succeeded in the Kingdome An. Dom. 885 at the pursuite of Hugh the Abbot who was so named because as it is thought he was the first of the Lay-Princes that usurped the revenues of the Abbies so that all that part on this side Seine and that which was called Neustry remained in the obedience of Lewis the Doe little and the parts beyond the Seine with Burgundy were under Charles the grosse Emperour who came to take the protection of France against the Normans according as Fulco Arch-Bishop of Rheimes testifieth Therefore it is that they are placed in the Ranke and Catalogue of the Kings In those times the Normans ranged about Neustry sacking and spoyling the greatest part of Cities in those parts namely Rouen Eureux and Bayeux but they were so soundly curryed by the valour of Hugh the Abbot that in a long time after they durst not set a foote there which was a cause that the same yeare 887. they returned to thunder upon the other parts of France not sparing the Emperours Countrey where they surprised the Castle of Lovanne From thence they came before Paris under the conduct of their King Sigesroy hoping there also to make a prey as they had done elsewhere but it was so bravely defended by Count Eudes the Abbot Goslin that they were quite frustrate of their expectation and pretence This Lewis dyed immediately after having borne the name of a King to his dying day for the space of two yeares according to the Chronicle of St. Benigne Moreover Charles became so stupefied in his senses and understanding that when the Princes of the Empire knew that there was no hope of his recovery and that the affaires of the Empire might fall into
Church of God Keepe the good customes of thy Kingdome carefully abolishing those which are evill Impose no Taxes on thy Subjects but upon great occasion Favour those that feare GOD love Justice and hate Covetousnesse Let not thy Judges be impartiall against thy Subjects Keepe the Cities and Townes gotten by thy Predecessors preferre good and sufficient men to Benefices and Offices Be an Example to thy Subjects moderate the expences of thy Court and so God blesse thee These were the good instructions which this godly Monarch gave unto his Sonne for the leading of an upright life and to abandon all worldly delights and pleasures so as hee might both please God and be a patterne to his inferiours Philip 3. the 45. King of France Anno 1271. AFter the decease of S. Lewis Philip the third surnamed the Hardy his eldest sonne having beene proclaimed King in the Campe before Tunis in Africk tooke his journey in his returne through Italy directly to Viterbe to make an agreement betweene the Cardinals who in two years space were in a dissention upon the Election of a Pope Hee was Crowned at Rheimes by the Bishop of Soissons the thirtieth of August Anno Dom. 1271. He after incorporated the County of Tholouse to the Crowne upon the decease of the Count Alphonse his uncle He went to aide Gerard of Cassebonne his Subjects against the Counts of Armigna and Foix by reason whereof the Count of Foix submitted himselfe to his mercy He restored the Countrey of Navarre to the obedience of Ioane daughter of the late Henry King of Navarre deceased The King marryed Mary the daughter of Henry Duke of Brabant who was suspected to have poysoned Lewis the eldest sonne of the King by his first wife Isabelle of Aragon She was found innocent by the report of two Bishops who were sent to a Nunne or rather a Sorceresse to know the truth The yeare after Peter De la Bresche great Chamberlaine of France and superintendant of the Finances and affaires of the King was hanged being accused and convicted for having discovered the secrets of France to the King of Spaine together with the death of the Kings sonne Anno Domini 1282. the Sicilian Evensong were executed upon the Frenchmen upon an Easter day or as others report on the thirtieth of March or thirteenth of April whereupon Charles Uncle to the King offered battaile to Peter of Aragon the author thereof but he refused it Afterwards the King having caused Ioane the onely daughter of the late Henry King of Navarre to be marryed to his eldest sonne Phillip he marched with his Army for the Conquest of Aragon which by the Pope had been given to Charles de valois the second sonne of Philip who conquered the County of Russillon after that the City of Gennes And after that having in an Embuscado slaine the King of Aragon he forced the Towne of Gironne to be yeelded up He went to conclude his Fate at the Towne of Perpignan of a Malady which surprised him in his Campe Anno Domini 1285. the 6. of October This King as it appeares in the whole course of his life would engage himselfe in all businesses and was therefore called the Hardy but his desperate Father would not undertake his Neighbours quarrells nor seek to make betwene them any agreement unlesse it might be done by safe and quiet means The reigne of this King was much disturbed by the warres maintained by Peter and Roger for the Isle of Sicily and after much effusion of blood Charles dyed and also Peter though politicke could not deceive death but having received a great overthrow concluded his Act of life with griefe and sorrow At last this King was by Roger Admirall of Arragon friend unto Peter set upon him lying sicke a bed at Pepignan yet in extreamity he exprest a noble courage and with his sicke weake voyce so encouraged his Souldiers that Roger was droven out of Pepignan the City held by Philip so distempered with this alarum that he grew sicke and dyed the fifteenth of October two moneths after Peter Pope Martin the fourth dying the same yeare 1286. to shew great Princes that their chiefe designes are crost by death It was now decreed in a Counsell at Lions that the Cardinals meeting after the Popes death should not come out of that Conolme untill they had chosen the Pope which begun upon occasion of the tedious Election of the former Pope and the Decree is still observed Thomas Aquinas now dyed being a subtile disputer But Bonaventure John Duns called Scot and Gabriel Biel succeeded and were famous schollers And to conclude hee was a Prince borne for a testimony to that obscure age and for corrupted times to bee a patterne to all Kings and Princes of religion equity clemency wisedome valour magnanimity patience and constancy to love piety justice order and peace to joyne the love of sanctity and modesty of manners with Armes and State Having shewed that it is very fitting for a King to be a good Christian a good warriour a good husband a good father a good governour a good Iustier and to know how to make war and peace That it is very necessary to joyne unto the Majesty Royall piety clemency and authority to gaine the low respect and obedience And lastly that the best guard and most assured revenew of a Prince is the love of his Subjects Thus he was worthy of that venerable name wherewith posterity hath justly honourd him being the Honour of vertue Philip 4. the 46. King of France Anno 1286. PHilip 4. surnaming himselfe The Faire King of Navarre succeeded his Father An. Dom. 1286. After that he had withdrawne his Army from Parpignan hee was crowned at Rheims the sixt of January He caused the Palace to be built at Paris at that time Edward King of England pretending to lead his Army to the aide of the Towne of Acre which the Saracens had now beleaguered made some incursions upon the Sea-townes of Normandy thinking to have surprised Rochell whereupon ensued the second Warre which the French had against the English Heere the French Writers shew themselves most shamefully partiall and false yet I am bound to follow my Authors they being of that Nation who notwithstanding their alliance with the Emperour Adolphus were valiantly repulsed as well by Charles of Valois where the Lord of St. John was taken as by Robert of Artois who gained the victory upon the fresh Army which Edmund brother to the King of England had led to Bayonne yea and the Count of Flanders who declared himselfe on the English party lost the battaile at Furnes against the Count of Artois who went to joyne forces with the French who besieged Lisle and the Lords of Mont Morency and Harcourt tooke the Towne of Dover The English perceiving that demanded a Truce which was converted to a peace by the Marriage of Madam Marguerite of France Daughter of King Philip with the King of England Afterwards the
Emperour Albert and this King made an accord betweene them for the conservation of their kingdomes against all men A while after the Pope being much moved against the King sent a Bull into France by the Arch-bishop of Narbona interdicting the King which Bull was burnt in the Court of the Palace At that time the Flemings slew all the French Garrisons whereupon the King being enraged sent his Army to Courtrac which was by them defeated Whilest the King sent the Lords Tarra a Colonian and Nogareth with 2000. Horse into Italy they put the Pope in such a terrour that he dyed The King also tooke such a revenge upon the Flemings neare to the Mount of Poville that hee overthrew 36000. of them After that the King having suppressed the Knights Templars and causing James de Moulay or Beavieu Generall of that Order deceased at Fontainebleau An. Dom. 1314 and lyes inhumed at St. Denis This King being perswaded to take revenge on a Bishop who had underhand strooke fire to kindle the tindar of contention betweene him and the Pope he said That it was more noble in a Prince to save than kill to pardon than to persecute and to forgive and remit rather than to revenge for saith he It must be of necessity that all things which angry men doe must needs be full of blindnesse and necessity because it is no easie matter for a man troubled with envy to have the use of Reason and whatsoever is without Reason is without Art It behooveth us therefore to take reason as our guide in all our actions and to remove these passions of envy and revenge for they ought not to rest in a wise mans breast Yet he was much affronted by Pope Boniface cōmanding him by his Bull to succour the Tartar which the King engaged in many affaires refusing to doe the Bishop sent by the Pope told him That if the King would not obey the Pope he would deprive him of his Realme But afterward two Gentlemen imployed by the King seized on the Pope in his Palace-Hall at Anagma and carryed him to Rome where he grew mad and dyed Thirty five dayes after hee was taken and had this Epitaph made by common Fame in his disgrace Hee entred his Topedome like a Foxe hee reigned like a Lyon and dyed like a Dogge Lewis the 10. the 47. King of France surnamed Hutin Anno. 1315. THis Lewis the tenth already by his Mother King of Navarre Count of Brye and Champagne succeeded his Father Anno Domini 1315. His Kingdome from the beginning was marvellously troubled with mutinies and popular seditions and for that cause he was surnamed Hutin which in old language imports mutiny and quarrells Enguran De Marigny Count of Longue Ville was accused before the King by Charles of Valois the Kings Vncle for having ill governed the Finances charged the people with many impositions and taxes and infinite confusions also for having taken money of the Flemings to grant them a peace to the disadvantage of the King wherefore he was hanged upon the Gallowes of Paris which himselfe had caused to be built Afterwards the King caused himselfe to bee annoynted and Crowned at Rheimes upon the Feast of the Assumption of the B. Virgin then he led his Army against the Flemings whom he forced to raise and forsake the siege of L'Isle And at his returne he seated the Court of Parliament at Paris to the end that the pleaders should not be anymore incommodated by so often removing it The yeare following the Count of Flanders came to visite the King at Pontoise to treat of a peace with him In the interim Lewis Count of Navers his sonne would sieze upon Flanders if the Flemings would have beene content therewith which was a cause that his Father returned after that hee had promised the King to ratifie to the Flemings that which he had treated with him Vpon this the King was surprised with a Malady at Bois De Vincennes whereof he died the fifteenth of Iune in the eighteenth moneth of his reigne leaving his second wife Clemence great with Childe who was delivered of a sonne the foureteenth of November who was baptised Iohn who lived above eight dayes there remaining none of his Line but Ioane whom he had by his first wife the daughter of Robert Duke of Burgundy by whom Eudes Duke of Burgundy her Vncle would lay claime to the Crowne but Philip the Tall brother to the late King Lewis opposing the Lawes and Customes of France in right of his Neece caused the Crowne to be adjudged unto him Lewis the tenth surnamed Hutin had two Wives Marguerite daughter of Robert Duke of Burgundy by whom he had a daughter named Ioane who was married after to Philip Count of Evreux sonne to Lewis of France brother to the late Philip the Faire and by this meanes the Kingdome of Navarre entered into the families of the Counts of Evreux and Clemence sister to Carlobert King of Hungary whom at his decease he left with Child of a sonne who was called Iohn and although he dyed an infant without having beene crowned hee hath not beene heretofore ranked in the Catalogue of the Kings of France Neverthelesse seeing that he was truely legitimate and sole heire to King Lewis Hutin he deserved the title Royall and to bee inserted to the number of Kings seeing that dying hee was with solemnity and Regall pompe carryed to St. Denis the Princes his Vncles and kinred being present at his Funeralls where hee was proclaimed although dead King of France and Navarre In the meane time that Clemence was with Child immediately upon the decease of Lewis Hutin it was ordered by the Court of Parliament that Mounsieur Philip of France Count of Poitiers should be Regent of the Kingdome untill the fruit of the Queene if it were Male should attaine to the maturity of eighteene yeares and therefore hee he bore in his Armes the Title of Philip Sonne of the King of France and Navarre Regent of the Kingdomes of France and Navarre And so the Regency was given to the next Prince of Blood so that hee were the nearest to succeed the Crowne After the death of the said Iohn who lived but eight daies or at the most but 20 daies as some do write there was some dispute amongst the Princes of the kingdome some maintaining the right to bee ill grounded upon Ioane daughter to the late Lewis Hutin and others resting upon the Iustice of the Salique Law which yet was never violated in France and ordayneth that there being never an heire Male of a King the next of Blood of the Male side shall come to the Crowne and excludes the daughters and the descendents from them although they be Males But in the end the Parliament of the Paires and Counsell of France adjudged that Philip the Tall Vncle to the late Iohn was the true and lawfull heire to the Crowne which was the first debate and difference of the Salique Law The King
reigned but an yeare and an halfe thereby to make good the position of Philosophy Nullum violentum est aeternum for his government was violent and therefore could not long continue Enguerand accused by Charles Earle of Valois and made odious to the people by his oppression of them whereof they are onely sensible was made a Sacrifice and Hanged but after his execution the Earle of Valois fell into a languishing Consumption King Lewis Hutin dyed suddainly so that the people began to imagine that Enguerands unjust death was thus revenged on these Princes which change of their opinion shewes that it was rightly spoken what the people saies a foole speakes Therefore it is observeable that good Subjects may be unjustly afflicted that the people blinded by passion and discerning not the truth will undeservedly speake well and ill of the same Action and the same man And lastly that great men loving not to come to accompt may abuse their authority Philip 5. the 48. King of France Anno 1317. THis Philip the 5 surnamed The Tall the controversie of the right to the Crowne being not yet determined betweene him and his Neece Daughter to Lewis Hutin whom Eudes her Unkle upheld and maintained her right marched with 〈◊〉 Army every where compleate to Rheimes where hee made himselfe to be annointed King by the Arch-bishop of that See on the Feast of the Epiphany Anno Dom. 1317 and after returned to Paris Whither hee summoned Robert Count of Artois whom he forced to renounce the right which he pretended to that County whereof hee had Vi Armis by force and Armes taken possession to the prejudice of Mahaut his Wives Mother In the meane time Lewis Count of Neuers Sonne of Robert Count of Flanders entertained the Flemings to his utmost endeavours in a revolt against the King who because hee came not to render homage for the Counties which hee held in France was cited to answer for himselfe before the King and fayling in his appearance all his possessions were seized for the King In the end the said Lewis Count of Nevers came and submitted himselfe to the King and recovered his Countries After upon perswasion of the Popes Legate there was a peace concluded betweene the King and the Count of Flanders the 15. of May Anno Dom. 1320 insomuch that the said Count did homage for his Lands to the King of France and accorded that Lewis the sonne of Lewis of Nevers should marry Madam Marguerite the second Daughter of France upon condition that he should succeede to the County of Flanders after his Grandfather and Father About the same time the Marriage of Isabelle the third Daughter to the King with Guy the Dolphin of Vienna was treated who not long after succeeded his Father John in Dauphine The Eldest Daughter was before marryed to Odo Duke of Burgundy After that the King quitted all the actions against his Subjects which some of his Councell in abuse of his good nature had put upon and against them And as he was deliberating to have but one sort of weights and measures in one and the same species and also a certaine rate and value of monies a malady intercepted his designes by which hee ended his dayes the third of January An. Dom. 1322. He was a Prince of a tractable disposition and therefore easily corrupted inclined more to ill than good The chiefest thing worthy remembrance in his Reigne was that his bad servants presuming on his gentle Nature layd heavy taxations on the people who thereupon maintained and thus hee suffering his Authority to be abus'd by them shew'd that although hee were great and tall of stature yet hee had but little wit and understanding A Benedicting Priest and Monke pretentending a voyage to the East committed many outrages in the East with a multitude of people by them assembled and called themselves Shepheards untill they were defeated in Languedoc This Philip would have made one weight and measure throughout his Realme but it proved but an Eutopian conceite not to be maintained by Authority or Reason The Jewes which were formerly expelled and driven out of the Kingdome were now againe admitted but after they endeavoured to bring in an Artificiall Plague into the Kingdome by using the helpe of Lepers some were grievously punished and the rest banished out of France Lastly this Kings five yeares Reigne was Rasa Tabula a blanke Table wherein Fame hath written no Royall action Charles 4. surnamed the Faire the 49. King of France Anno 1322. CHarles the 4 Count of Marche brother to Philip the Tall and to Lewis Hutin came by the same Law to the Crowne as his brother Philip had done who left no issue Male to inherit He was crowned the twelfth of February Anno Dom. 1322. He was severe in Justice giving every man his right desirous that all should be guided and governed by the Lawes and Authority of Magistrates Following that Norme he caused Jordan of L'Isle a great Lord to be attached who upon accusations of infinite enormities was attainted and convicted wherefore hee was hanged although hee had marryed the Neece of Pope John 22 and as others are of opinion his Step-mother About that time deceased Lewis Duke of Nevers the eldest son of Robert Count of Flanders who dyed immediately after By which occasion Robert the younger sonne of the said Robert Count of Flanders entred into a difference with his Nephew Lewis sonne of the Count of Nevers Hereupon the cause was pleaded in the Court of Parliament which proved of no validity to the good of the Nephew Then began the Warres betweene the English and French Anno Dom. 1324 upon the occasion that the Lord of Montpesac would to the Kings prejudice fortifie a Castle in Gascogne upon the borders of France Whereupon the King sent Charles of Valois his Unkle who so happily acquitted himselfe of his charge that hee recovered into the Kings powers all the Townes and strong holds in Burgundy which are beyond the River Garonne except Bourdeaux Bayonne and S. Senes Afterwards having obtained a Truce of the English he dyed in December An. Dom. 1325 as also the King deceased at Bois de Vincennes the first of March leaving Madame Joane de Eureux his wife great with Child who afterwards in the Moneth of April 1328. was delivered of a Daughter called Blanche Hee was the first King that ever permitted to the Pope the Decimations of the Churches of France This King reigned sixe yeares being wise temperate and just three chiefe vertues in a Prince but unhappy in his progeny Assoone as he was annointed he held a great Sessions in Paris to heare complaints and caused many Gentlemen to be punished in which number was one Jourdain of Lisle a Gascon who being Nephew to Pope John the 22 had beene pardoned for eighteene capitall crimes and yet still grew more impious former mercy making him presume more of pardon untill at last he was taken and brought to Paris
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
sirnamed Quasi mortalis or Martialis because he was mortal in his expeditions full of martiall valour he was the first founder of the second Race of the French Kings and therefore must needes be a man of great vertue since the raisers of private families are either Saints or Divells that get honour by vertue or goe to hell for it to leave it to their Posterity Childeric 3. the 22. King of France Anno 740. CHilderic succeeded his brother Theodorick Anno Domini 740. He was the last King of the race of the Merovees Charles Martel deceased at Paris October the 22. An. Dom. 741 leaving Carloman and Pepin surnamed The short Giles Arch-bishop of Rouen and Griffon who was by another Mother Carloman and Pepin tooke upon all their Fathers possessions and entituled themselves Dukes and Princes of the French They called Hunaud to accompt who had made himselfe a proprietary Lord of Aquitaine In the meane time Griffon fastened upon Laon claiming it as his right from whence he was fetcht out and imprisoned at Ardennes After Carboman having compelled the Almans who had revolted to his obedience An. Dom. 743 went with his brother to combate Odilon or Vtilon Duke of Bavaria who was now in Rebellion and had stolen and married their sister whom they having compelled to alter his Title of King to Duke they were contented he should peaceably enjoy their Sister as his wife At their departure out of Bavaria An. Dom. 744. they went against the Saxons whom they enforced to undergoe their accustomed yoake giving their Duke Theodoric as an Hostage who upon his owne word was sent backe but the yeare following hee was againe taken in a relapse of a new revolt against the French An. Dom. 746. Carloman became a Monke of Mount Soracte in Tuscany and afterward at Mount Cassin Whereupon Pepin reduced the whole Monarchy into his sole power Afterwards hee pursued his brother Griffon who had retired himselfe into Saxony and from thence into Bavaria from whence Pepin having fisht him hee brought him into France and gave him the Dukedome of Angely in Normandy After this Pepin affecting to joyne to himselfe both the name and the Royall Authority wrought with Pope Zachary by Bouchard Bishop of Witsbourg and by Volrade his Domesticke Chaplaine so farre that the States of France assembling at Soyssons following the declaration of Pope Zachary degraded Childeric and his wife Gisale and sent them to live a Monasticke life in the Countrey of Bavaria Anno Dom. 752. Thus was the Merovaean race deprived of its honour 293. yeares after the death of Merovaeus This King and his Queene were enforced to be religious and being depos'd were sent to a Monastery for it was a usuall custome sometime to confine the right Heire to such houses or when they would be tid of their Kings they did shave their heads and made Monks of them wherein it may bee they did their soules good but compelled Religion can never be sound Jerome living in a wildernesse beheld Rome and a King in a Cave will thinke on a Crowne and therefore it may be said When a King weares the Fryers hood He is either very bad or good Charles Martell Duke and Prince of the French ONE Charles Martel is placed here amongst the Kings of France not because in his life time hee tooke upon him the Name and Title of a King but because indeed hee commanded all France after that hee had made an escape out of the imprisonment of Plectrude his Mother in law untill his death having made himselfe to bee created in an Assembly of three Estates of the Kingdome Prince and Duke of the Frenchmen more haughty and illustrious than that of Mayre of the Palace wherewith his Predecessours were contented and the Kings that reigned in his time had onely the bare Name and Title without any power at all as it hath beene already mentioned yea and after his decease his successors qualified him as a King as it appeares by his Tombe in the Church of Denis in France where his Statue is crowned and acoutred with Robes of Regality and is written about it in Latine words Charolus Martellus Rex And justly hee may be so styled because there was no King in his time but who he pleased Pepin Heristel was his Father Ansigise his Grandfather S. Arnulph his great Grandfather who being a Widower was made Bishop of Mets which S. Arnulph was directly descended in the Masculine Line of Clodion the sonne of Pharamond the first King of France This Charles was so valiant and generous that he obtained the Surname of Martel for the exceeding great strength of his arme and the memorable Victory which he obtained against the Saracens neare unto the City of Tours of whom he slew in the place to the number of 375. Thousand He reduced the whole Countrey of Languedoc otherwise called Septimany to the Monarchy of France which untill that time was not warranted Hee was very zealous in the defence of the Christian Religion yea and Rome it selfe being distressed by the siege of Luitprand King of the Lombards and brought into great extremities Pope Gregory sent by a Bishop Anastasius and Sergius a Priest the Keyes of the Sepulchre of St. Peter to Prince Martell whereby he intimated unto him that he put himselfe the Church and the City of Rome into his protection and safeguard Wherefore he sent Embassadors to the Lombards to intreate them for his sake to desist and to permit a peace to the City of Rome which tooke such effect that from that time afterward the Popes in all distresses sought to France for reliefe upon all occasions whereof they never were destitute In the end the Goths being vanquished the Saxons and Frizons subdued Languedoc conquered and Provence recovered and France enjoying the tranquillity of a happy peace Charles made a distribution of his estate to his Children and shortly after dyed the 22. of October Anno Domini 741 who was the first that was ever styled Prince of France and lyes at St. Denis in France This Charles Martell being King of France in power though not in Title did make Childeric called Daniel Clotarius the fourth Theodoric the second and Childerick the third successively Kings of France The Realme and Crowne of France being by Childerick the third offered to Charles Martell who refused the Diademe saying That it was more glorious to reigne over kings than to be a King as appeareth by this Epitaph on his Monument Ille Brabantinus Dux primus in orbe triumphat Malleus in mundo specialis Christicolarum Dux Dominusque Ducum Regum quoque Rex fore spernit Non vult regnare sed Regibus imperat ipse The Duke of Braban whom Fame doth renowne For the chiefe Champion of all Christendome Ruled both Dukes and Kings and did disdaine To be a King but over Kings did reigne He had foure sonnes Caroloman and Giles of modest milde spirit Pepin and Griffon rough and ambitious he left
raised noble Trophies to Fame was Religion to which he give due honour and from thence deriving Morall perfections he grew an admired Prince naturally favouring the Muses learned in the Greeke and Latin languages Philosophy the Mathematicks and other Sciences hee cal'd his pastimes and companions of his sword Something he wrot in Poetry for recreation but he especially delighted in History the Register of noble Actions The Acts of Charlemaine in the Life of his Brother Caroloman were many and most renowned and also when he was King alone but when he was enstalled Emperour he crowned all those actions by his care of the Church and his godly preparing for Death for hee was much enclined to to the reading of such Bookes as were for the bettering of his understanding and which tended to the leading of a vertuous and godly life as may appeare by his spending three yeares in reading the Bible and St. Augustines Bookes before he dyed And the Character of his Life was That his vertue was the paterne of Princes and his good fortune the subject of their wishes Lewis the Debonaire Emperor of Rome and 25. King of France Anno 814. LEwis who was left the sole son of Charlemagne was consecrated at Rheimes by Pope Stephen Anno Domini 814. In the beginning of his Empire he reduced the Sclavonians Sorabes and Gascoignes under his obedience who had revolted upon the death of Charlemaine He held a Parliament at Aix where he caused his eldest sonne Prince Lotharius to bee crowned Emperour with him and caused his other sonnes to bee Crowned Kings giving unto Pepin the Kingdome of Aquitaine and to Lewis the Dutchy of Bavaria By reason whereof his Nephew Bernard rebelled against him who by a sentence of the Emperours Counsaile had his eyes pulled out whereupon he dyed with griefe From thence Lewis went against the Bretons who had made an insurrection and chaced Lindeute Governour of Austria out of Pannonia And having Anno Domini 824 renewed his alliance with Michael the Emperour of Constantinople and his wife Hermingarde being dead he marryed with Judith daughter of the Count Artolf which Iudith because she advanced hers to the disadvantage of the Emperours Children was a cause that they raised an army against their Father who having confined her into a Monastery of Italy she was put into a Coffer at St. Medards of Soissons from whence she was conveyed out by the French Princes Lotharius seeing this fled into Italy The troubles of France being appeased the Danes and Normans ransacked the Countrey of Zeland and Frizland and also the Bretons rebelled Also the Saracens much perplexed the Emperor in the chasing them out of Italy and Provence who finding himselfe neare his end bequeathed unto his son Charles the Occidentall part of France and by the death of Pepin A. D. 838. Aquitaine was added to Lotharius he left the Empire with the rest of the Kingdome of France to Lewis the kingdom of Bavaria Lewis being discontented at this partage would needes take Almaine into his power but having beene hindered two severall times by the Emperours Army in the end the Emperour dyed in an Isle of the Rhine the sixtieth yeare of his age and the 27. of his Empire and reigne Anno Domini 840. This Lewis was of a milde and gentle disposition fitter to be a Church-man than a King wherby he grew contemptible to his Subjects yet milde natures much provoked are violent in revenge for having taken Bernard he imprisoned him then put out his eyes and all the Bishops noblemen his adherents Hee indiscreetly gave his sonnes their portions and thereby procured his own affliction arming them with strength to rebell against their Father and for affection to Church-men he was by them censured for his cruelty to the Bishops to be confined to a Monastery while the Clergy adhered to the rebellious Children against the father whose late attempt was to chastise the insolency of of his sonne Lewis but age and griefe concluded his happinesse and the good old King having felt enough vexation in the unnaturall rebellion of his Children forsooke the world and so found rest and happines Charles the Bald Emperor and the 26. King of France Anno 840. THis Charles the Bald having attained to the Kingdome Anno Dom. 840 made great Warres against Lotharius untill hee gave him battaile at Fontenay During these debates the Bretons revolted and the Normans came even unto Paris to sacke the Abby of St. German insomuch that Charles was enforced by money to hire them to a retreate After this Charles went against Neomenius King of Bretagne whom he routed and defeated twice afterwards Anno Dom. 851. after Aquitaine fell into the hands of Charles who encloystered his Nephews Pepin and Charles Hee againe overthrew the Bretons the Normans on the other side tooke the City of Nantes confounding all with blood and fire not sparing the Bishop who was then at Masse Fifteene yeares after the battaile at Fontnay Charles the Bald made himselfe to be annointed King in the City of Limoges Lotharius became a Monke leaving the government to his son Lewis but that part of Gaule beyond the mountaines was divided betweene Charles and Lotharius his other sonnes Baldwin having espoused the daughter of Charles the Bald without his consent in the end was acknowledged as Sonne in law to whom Charles gave the County of Flanders and lost Aquitaine whereupon Lewis caused himselfe to be Crowned King of Germany in the City of Sens while Charles was entertained in Warres against the Normans which he recovered Anno Domini 859 forcing his brother to retreate into Germany Anno Dom. 863. they entered into a League In the meane time there grew great troubles amongst the Nobility of France by the meanes whereof the Bretons came as farre as Poitiers whence they were chaced by Charles and An. Dom. 863. they were constrained to take their Kingdome and Dutchy by faith of homage to him And Anno Dom. 869. hee was elected King of Loraine by the death of his Nephew Lotharius He was also crowned Emperor Anno Dom. 875. by the death of his Nephew Lewis which hee enjoyed not above two yeares in the end whereof being desirous to returne out of Italy into France he was poisoned by his Physitian the sixth of October Anno Dom. 877. The Reigne of this Prince was confused and unhappy and of small fame being a King of no merit for from the confusion in his reigne the fall of this Race did spring But as Timanthes when he drew Iphigenia ready to be sacrific'd painted Calchas with a sad countenance Ulysses sadder and having spent all his Art in expressing Menelaus griefe and not knowing how to make the Fathers countenance more sorrowfull cover'd his head with a vaile leaving his passion to be conceived by imagination so this Kings Picture deserves to bee hidden and obscured with the vaile of silence for it is better not to write at all than to
some disasters they gave him into the charge of his Nephew Arnulph naturall sonne of the late Caroloman in whose custody he dyed soone after on the 12. of January Anno Dom. 888. This King was approved in the beginning of his Reigne and reverenced by his Subjects but afterwards having made a dishonourable peace with the Normans yeelding them Neustria now called Normandy hee lost his Subjects affection and then through griefe and jealousie conceived against his Queene Richarda fell sicke and through the distemper of his body and minde being unfit to governe was deposed rejected both from the Realme and Empire banished from the Court and having neither house nor meanes was starved and dyed for want of reliefe in a poore Village of Suevia Thus one of the great Monarchs of the world dyed without house without bread without honour without mourning without memory but that his end was prodigiously memorable The reasons were his imperious pride in prosperity and his despairing dejectednesse in adversity foolish extreames becomming not a magnanimous mind therefore his affliction was hated of his subjects not considering the true cause of his affliction But the chiefe cause was his distrust in God in his extremities for he should have acknowledgd that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as David said O Lord although I am throwne downe I have held my peace thou hast it done Eudes or Odo the 20. King of France Anno 891. EVdes or Odo sonne of Robert Count of Paris and of France Tutor to the young Charles tooke the government of the affaires under the Title of King and by the consent of Arnulph and the Lords of France Hee was consecrated and annointed King and crowned by Walter Arch-bishop of Sens who was a cause that Baldwin Count of Flanders and Fulco Arch-bishop of Rheimes sent Guy Duke of Spoleto into Italy to take the affaires of France into his hands Odo being established gave the County of Paris and of France to Count Robert his brother and instituted Richard Count of Authun governour of the lower Burgundy for the defence thereof against the Normans who having beene Anno Domini 888. repulsed from before Paris by Count Robert came before Sens from whence they were beaten by the said Richard Duke of Burgundy who was the first that left that dignity hereditary and patrimoniall to his successors Walter Nephew to Eudes making an insurrection against him betooke himselfe into Lygus whence fetcht out he was put to death At the same time Ebulo Abbot of St. Germans and Count Ranulph together with his brother Gotsbert arose against Eudes in Aquitaine whom he made to goe against them In the meane time the greatest part of the Lords of Neustria were in pursuite of Fulco Arch-bishop of Rheimes and of the Counts Heribert and Pepin the young Charles the Simple whom they caused to be crowned King in the City of Rheimes Whereupon Eudes and he grew to great Warres so that Charles the Simple would have entered into a confederacy of a Fleete of Normans under the conduct of Hastings for the recovery of his Kingdome but he was prevented by Fulco the Archbishop of Rheimes because they were as yet Pagans Fulco made peace betweene Eudes and Charles the Simple Anno Domini 897 and by this reconciliation a part of the Kingdome was given to Charles and the other permitted to Eudes who enjoyed it not long after because he deceased without issue the 13. of January Anno 898 and at his death hee declared that of right the Crowne after him ought to returne to Charles the Simple to whom it of equity and right appertained From the Race of this Eudes sprung Hugh Capet for Widechind of Saxony favour'd by Charle magne sent his son Robert or Rupert into France who had two sonnes Eudes and Robert Father to Hugh the great Father to Hugh Capet afterward King of France Fame drew this Character of Eudes that hee was a good wise man yet he could not please the French by his Regency for the excesse of his vertue curbing the desire of such as sought to raise their fortunes by usurping power over the State and the Kings weaknesse supported by Eudes drew envy on his actions seeking the good of the Common-wealth which hee neglected but with approved resolution not abated l y private malice went forward with the government of the Realme and at last resignes all his Authority to the King who like Phaethon unfit to rule the Chariot of the Sunne by his bad government met those misfortunes which Eudes kept off while hee lived for Wisdome and Discretion is Scutum invincibile an invincible Buckler folly envy policy treachery slander adversity necessity power and injustice and all the Devills invisible Artillery cannot pierce nor wound him that is therewith arm'd Charles the Simple the 31. King of France Anno 898. CHarles surnamed the Simple was estated in his Fathers Throne Anno Dom. 898 and by the reason of his imbecillity every one encroched upon him by making whatsoever passessions they held as hereditary to their posterity what belonged of right to the Crowne in so much that great dignities Dutchies Earledomes and government of Provinces which formerly were held but for terme of life in a titulary way were now made hereditary Anno Domini 912. he made a peace with Rollon upon condition that the Countrey of Neustry bounded by the River Epte on the one side and by the Ocean on the other should remaine to Rollon in Title of a Dutchy to hold it in homage of the Crowne of France conditionally also that he and his whole Countrey should bee baptized in the Christian Faith By reason whereof he was baptized Robert after the name of his Kinsman Court Robert from thence Normandy had its denomination In those times also there were great troubles in France which were raised by Robert brother to the former Odo who had caused himselfe to bee crowned King by Herivee Arch-bishop of Rheimes whilst Charles was in Loraine for the recovery whereof Charles led an Army of Lorainers against Robert whom he tooke at unawares neare to Soyssons Notwithstanding this Robert resisted him valiantly but with the losse of his life The battaile neverthelesse was lost by Charles who fled into Loraine Whereupon the Allies of Robert called in Duke Rodulph of Burgundy whom they caused to be crowned King at Soyssons for want of Hugh le Blanc sonne of the late Robert who by reason of his youth durst not pretend the Crowne After this Charles staid not long to be entrapped in the snares of Hebert the Count who sent by his Cousin Bernard Count of Senlis to take him so that he was detained prisoner in the City of St. Quintin and afterwards was sent to the Castle of Thyerry upon the Marne and from thence to Peronne where he ended his life five yeares after his imprisonment leaving Lewis in the power of his Mother Theargine who for his safety conveyed him into England This King having resign'd
where King Charles caused him justly to be hang'd as a memorable example that Respect is an enemy to Justice which must be executed without sparing the guilty To conclude this Prince was worthy of the French Monarchy and deserved to be reckon'd amongst the chiefest men of State And as the Kingdome was happy in having so worthy and sufficient a King so his short Reigne deprived the Realme of that good which it should receive by his government But the best and most perfect men are in the blind world either despised for excesse of good or some tooke away by death to envy greater happinesse equall to their desert Philip of Valois the 6. and 50. King of France Anno 1327. THis Philip Count of Valois the Sonne of the late Count Charles and Cousen german to the three precedent Kings succeeded to the Crowne by title of his favour excluding Lewis of Evreux his Vncle who at that time as it is thought was already dead and was confirmed by the States notwithstanding that Edward King of England pretended the Crowne by his Mothers right who was the onely daughter of Philip the Faire He recovered a faire battaile against the Flemings who had revolted against their Duke and enforced the King of England to doe homage for the Dutchy of Guienne and other lands which he held of the Crowne who in revenge thereof entertained Robert of Artois Count of Beaumont who was banished out of France through a false accusation by whose perswasion the King of England beeing allyed to all the Princes of the Empire whereof hee had already obtained the Vicariate beganne to warre against Philip in Nantonge Anno Domini 1336. Afterwards he caused the Flemings to revolt against their Duke by the means of one James Artivel an Artisan The French that were in the Towne of L'Isle and first discomfited the English and Flemings but afterwards they were shamefully overthrowne at the Sluce Port when they laboured to hinder the English from joyning with the Flemings And after this victory he encamped before Tournay where he continued during fifty dayes during which time the Mother of the Count of Hainault wrought a Truce between the Kings of England and France which continued not long because the warres were renued shortly after betweene them because the King of France caused Oliver de Clisson to bee executed for Treason In which warre the French lost the memorable battaile of Crecy neare Abeville wherein the greatest part of the Nobility and flower of all France was slaine and the Towne of Calais taken After this the King having marryed in a second wedlocke the Lady Blanche daughter of the late Philip King of Navarre and received the Danphinate of Humbert together with the City and Countrey of Montpelier for a purchase of the King of Maillorque he retired to Nogent there to conclude his daies the 23. or 28. of August 1350. leaving Iohn Duke of Normandy and Philip Duke of Orleans He was an ingenious wity Prince as appeareth by his justification of the Salique Law by these words of Scripture Consider the Lillies of the field how they doe grow and doe neither labour nor spiune intimating whose Armes are Lillies or Flower de Lyces should not fall to the Distaffe Also he taxed the unfaithfulnesse of King Edward of England in these two Verses by himselfe composed Anglicus Angelus est cui nunquam credere fas est Dum tibi dicit Ave tanquam ab hoste cave The Englishman an Angell is which trusted will deceive thee Beware of him as of a Foe when he doth say God save thee After his marriage with Blanch daughter of Philip of Evreux he lived not long after he had tyed this knot this new wife being an unnecessary trouble in his old age so that sickning at Nogent advising his two sonnes to live in peace and bee carefull of the Realme which he resigned to the eldest he concluded his reigne and dyed He was a King in whom vertues and vices were equally mingled for he was valiant in danger and couragious in affliction just and loving to his subjects But his rash valour whereon hee presumed often engaged him and his subjects in many miseries Edward the third King of England Anno 1351. THis King comes here to be inserted amongst the Kings of France being the first that left the Title Hereditary to the Kings of England and first quartered the Armes of France with the English Armes giving thereby occasion and provocation of his succeeding Warres he obtained a gentle victory at Sluce upon Midsommer day in a sea fight Afterward he challenged Philip of Valois then King to a single combate by him not accepted afterwards makes a Truce with France their battailes being ready to joyne in Britagne in France then he declares the Truce with France broken He arrives afterward in France with bloody Colours with his hopefull son the Prince of Wales then about sixteen yeares old Afterward he got the Lawrell wreath of Conquest in the battaile of Cressey and his sonne was as victorious as his Father both sharing equally in honour purchased by valour But his sonne afterward whose veines were full of his Fathers Spirit and fortitude shewing that Nasci a Principibus est magnum obtained another triumphant victory against the French at Poictiers and by it confirmed his Fathers atchievements Then againe Henry invaded France besieges Paris concludes a peace King Iohn of France being taken prisoner and afterward ransomed hostages were also given and so the Clouds of warre were a while drawne away but suddainly againe France felt a new storme from England for the Earle of Blois slaine in Battaile by the English loseth the Dukedome of Britagne Then againe King Edward sends Iohn Duke of Lancaster to invade Prance and Sir Robert Knoles to the parts about Britagne and thus as he was famous for his many other Royall vertues expressed done at home and in the circumference of his owne Dominions so likewise he appeared in France like a flaming Comet which boded the effusion of much French blood But age sicknesse comming on hee was forc't to leave the world as the same did him before his breath left him but Nature could not hold out any longer and he was forced to resigne his life into the hands of his Creator at Shene now Richmond the one and twentieth day of Iune Anno Domini 1377. in the 64. yeare of his Age having reigned fifty yeares foure moneths and odde dayes in which time France felt the desolation which warre had made he carrying away the never dying Fame of a valiant Conquerour he lyeth buried at Westminster for as much of him as was Mortall but Multum sui vitabit Libitinam his sonle and Fame are immortall in Heaven and on earth and was especially famous for Conquering France and writing himselfe Roy de Angle terre France King of England and France John 1. or the second of that name the 51. King of France Anno 1350. JOHN the
moneths or thereabout and in France Twenty yeares nine moneths and thirteene dayes Lewis the 13. and 64. King of France Anno 1610. LEwis the 13. at his age of eight yeares seven Moneths and seventeene dayes succeeded his Father Henry the Great and the fifteenth of May Anno Domini 1610. he sate personally in the Court of Parliament then sitting at the Augustines where in the presence of the Queene his mother who sate by him of the one side foure Cardinalls foure Ecclesiasticall Peeres of France some Princes of the Blood and other Princes who met in that assembly also of the Constable with many Dukes and secular Peeres of the Marshalls of France and Officers of the Crowne of Governours of Provinces of Presidents and Counsellors of the Parliament he by the Mouth of the Lord Sillery his Chancellour declared his Mother to be Regent in France that shee might have the tuition of his person and the administration of the affaires of his Kingdome during his minority with all authority and power according to the charge of that Court given the day before The same Moneth the criminall indictment was preferred against the most inhumane Parricide Francis Ravaillac and on the 23. of May he was declared guilty and justly attainted and convicted of the crime of Laesae Majestatis in the highest degree in the great Court and Chamber of Turnella in Paris before all the Assemblies Presidents Counsellours and Commissioners at the request of Du Viquit Atturney Generall to the King whose place and authority was there then to inquire against this Francis Ravaillac for the murther of his late Soveraigne Henry the fourth King of France and Navarre Whereupon this Ravaillac with a sad and death-like countenance holding up his guilty hand before this great assembly presently confessed guilty and that he became this his Countries shame onely by the instigation of the Divell and not any other accomplices and confederates would he reveale but in a Satanicall manner vowed himselfe to secresie and being found guilty he was with a strong guard of armed men conveyed to prison which otherwise by the violence and rage of the common people had beene torne in peeces such was their love they owed to their late King for which Fact he was condemned to pay his forfeit before the great gate of our Lady Church in Paris and thence to be conveyed to the place of execution and in the meane time to make him confesse he was to be pinched with hot Pincers upon his breasts armes buttocks thighes and the Calves of his legges his right hand to be burnt off with fire of brimstone with an order that in those places where hee was so pinced melted Lead should be powred boyling Oyle Pitch Rozen Waxe and Brimstone melted altogether This being done that his body should be torne in pieces and dismembred by foure horses and that his Limbes should be burnt and consumed to ashes and cast into the winde all his goods to be confiscate to the King that the house wherein he was borne should be demolished and never any Edefice upon that ground to be built that within fifteene dayes after the publication of this sentence in the towne of Angolesme his Father and Mother should depart the Realme and never returne againe upon paine of being hanged without any other proceedings It was also forbidden in the aforesaid High Court that his brothers sisters uncles and all others that beare the name of Ravaillac to whom it was enjoyned to change it into another name upon the same penalty All which was published and put in execution the same day by the order of the whole assembly in the aforesaid Court in Paris but before I conclude I will speake againe of the manner of his death because in that place I will not omit some things more worthy of note Afterwards it was provided for the Funeralls and obsequies of the dead King and then the body of the late Henry the third was removed from the Towne of Compeigne to be interred at St. Denis which was performed and the heart of this Henry the Great at the same time was carryed to the Jesuites at la Flech The Sorbone renewed the Decree of the Councell of Constance against Paracides of Kings and by the Court of Parliament upon the Iuine it condemned a Book of Iohn Mariana one of the Society a Spaniard intituled De Rege Regis institutione and caused it to be burnt by the Executioner before our Ladies Church The Martiall de la Chastra being sent with an Army of twelve thousand foot and two thousand Horse to Tulliers which he took the second of September Divers Embassadors came to Paris to the King to bemoane and condole with him the death of his father and King Iames of England sent unto him the Order of the Garter which he received the foureteenth of September The 17. of October the King was consecrated at Rheimes and the next day he received the Order of the Holy Ghost and he gave the Order to the Prince of Conde and returned to Paris where he was magnificently entertained The sixe and twentieth of November it was proceeded and decreed in the Court of Parliament against a Booke of Cardinall Bellarmine touching the Popes authority In Temporalibus which was forbidden to be printed to be sold or kept upon paine of High Treason The seventeenth day of November Anno Domini 1611. the Duke of Orleans brother to the King deceased at St. Germane en Lay and his body was conveyd to St. Denis in France The Lord of Vatan made a kinde of a Rebellion in Berry whereupon his Castle was taken and he carryed to Paris where he was beheaded the second of January Anno Domini 1612. This yeare were solemnized the marriages of the King with the Lady Anne Infanta of Spaine and of the Kings Sister with the Prince of Spaine The yeare 1614 the Prince of Conde retired himselfe to Paris and the Marquesse D'Ancre was made Marshall of France The Statue of Brasse of Henry the Great was by the great Duke of Tuscany sent to Paris and placed with the Horse of Brasse upon the midst of the New Bridge And about that time the Prince of Conty dyed The Prince distasted with the Kings espousalls with the Queene at Burgos made a hurly burly in the Countrey but the Espousalls being ended the Duke of Guise with a strong Army conducted her to Fontarable where shee was received by the Spaniards and an exchange being made the Queene was by the said Duke conveyed to Bourdeaux where shee was most magnificently entertained by the King where hee expected her and the Nuptials were celebrated on St. Katharines day The yeare 1616. such was the rigour of cold weather in January that the Rivers were frozen and the yce was the cause of the fall of St. Michaels at Paris The 16. of August the taking of Peronne was a cause of new commotions and the first of September was apprehended at the Louure and
Elizabeth of France the King having published a solemne running at the Tilt as is before mentioned the King would needes be one of the Challengers and the second day of the Tourny being perswaded by the Queene and the Duke of Savoy to retire out of the Lists he desired to runne once more against the Earle of Montgomery who first refused but afterward runne and upon the Kings Helmet broke his Lance and with a splinter thereof his Beaver being somewhat open strikes him so deepe in the eye so that he dyed in his house at Tournells in the 44. yeare of his age The day before his death he would have the Duke of Savoy and the Lady Margaret his sister marryed in his Chamber His heart was interred in the Celestines Church in the Duke of Orleans his Chappell His Character was good but hee was formerly voluptuous and permitted himselfe to be abused by his Officers selling Lawes and his authority For such Kings are but pictures of Princes without life all power remaining in the subject to the oppression and wrong of the Land Francis the 2. and 60. King of France Anno 1559. THis Francis King of Scotland by Mary Stuart his wife at the age of fifteene yeares and five Moneths succeeded his father Henry and was Crowned at Rheimes September 1559. by the Cardinall of Loraine Arch-Bishop of that See after his Coronation he went to conduct his Brother in law the Duke of Loraine and the Dutchesse Claudia his sister as farre as Barle Duke from whence hee returned into France and sojourned for a while in the City of Blois where he reformed some abuses of those that followed his Court. In the meane time this President Minard was slaine in his owne House returning from Court This murther was a cause that it was forbidden to carry trucheons and weapons The Counsellor of Bourg was burnt for his Religion The King having made preparations sent the Lord of Martigues into Scotland for the suppression of some Scots who upon pretext of Religion were in Armes during which time Mary of Loraine Dowager of Scotland deceased At the same time also certaine Gentlemen of France being assembled in Armes neare the City of Amboise where the King was attended by the Cardinall of Loraine and his brother the Duke of Guise were discovered in a certaine enterprise which they pretended to be for the publicke good and for the dispossessing of some strangers usurpers of the Kings authority and Kingdome contrary to the ancient authority of the three Estates of France and also for making some remonstrances to the King concerning Religion for which many were executed to death amongst whom the Baron of Castelnau was one At that time the Chancellour Oliver deceased in whose place and dignity was instituted Monsieur de'l Hospital Shortly after the King went to Orleans there to settle himselfe where he fell sicke of an Apostume in his left eare whereof he dyed the foureteenth of September Anno Domini 1560. having reigned about eighteen months and twenty dayes and lyes interred at S. Denis The Protestants were very much persecuted in this Kings reigne and there were foure prisoners of especiall note Castelnau Villemongis Campagnac and le Picard who cryed out against the Chancellor that had signed the sentence of their deaths who thereupon fell suddenly sicke and when the Cardinall of Loraine came to visit him cryed out O Cardinall thou hast damned us all While the King lay dangerously sicke the Queene mother intending to support the Guisans called the King of Navarre into her closet to whom as he was going a Lady of the Court said My Lord deny the Queen mother nothing that she shall demand else you are dead whereupon he signed what shee desired and thereby obtained her favour Afterward the King dyed of Catarch and a Feaver the 14. of December whose seeds of vertue lay hid in his nature and were not discerned onely some shewes of courtesie modesty and continency were in his younger yeares apparent and rherefore his death was not much lamented but of such as in his nonage possessed usurped estates After his decease the Prince of Conde turned the streame of affaires To give a briefe Character of this King and his reigne he was a picture of Majesty drawne in raw colours being young in yeares and judgement governed by his Mother and his wives Uncles The Princes of Blood were in his reigne not regarded power and might prevailed in Court and the Clergy sought protection from the disturbers of France The Nobility were ingaged in warres and the people divided in matters of Religion and in the Court factions were maintained this was the face and complexion of those times miseries incident to the minority of Princes Charles the 9. and 61. King of France Anno 1560. THis Charles the ninth at the Age of thirteene succeeded his Brother Francis Hee pursu'd the enterprises of his Predecessor for his State affaires which were begunne the eighth of December ' Anno Domini 1560. at Orleans and and afterward finished at Pontoise Angust and September following Anno Domini 1561. At that time hee assembled the Prelates of France at Possi to a Nationall Counsell The January following it was permitted to the Hugnenots to make their exercises and Sermons out of the Cities Whereupon ensued great troubles warres and slaughters of great Lords and personages as of the King of Navarre who was slaine before Rouen and in the battaile of Dreux which was given the 19. of March Anno Domini 1562. the Martiall of St. Andrew and the Duke of Guise were slaine before Orleans A while after the Towne of Haure de Grace was recovered which had beene before yeelded to the English The King at the Parliament at Rouen being declared Mayor after an Edict of Pacification made went to visit his Kingdome Anno domini 1564. and went to meet his sister the Queene of Spaine at Bayonne where great magnificences were parformfd After having visited the Gascogne Guienne and Poitou he came to Moulins where he made many excellent Ordinances The second civill warre sprung up wherein after that the King had made an escape out of Meaux the battaile of St. Denis was fought wherein the Constable was wounded which was a cause of another Pacification by reason of the siege of Chartres which was broken by the third intestine warre which continutwo yeares space during which the ed battaile of Iarnac was fought wherein the Prince of Conde was slaine and another battaile at Montcontour After which another Edict of Pacification was made Anno Domini 1570. Afterwards the King marryed the Lady Elizabeth of Austria daughter to the Emperour Maximilian Also the marriage of the King of Navarre was celebrated Anno Domini 1573. and the 24. of August the same yeare the Admirall was slaine in Paris with a great number of the Hugoueotes and Rochelle was besieged Then a fourth pacification by the election in Poland of the Duke of Aniou brother to the King was