many in their obedience and dutie who suffering themselues to be carried away with this torrent of the league Sedition must be bee smothered in the beginning had become fooles for company and by infection For the people is a sea which moues with the winde yet neuer followes if some one goes not before b This beast the people have so many beads that although it hath great terrible forces yet it is base cowardly if it bee not stirred vp and led vultus sine rectore praeceps pauidum socors Tacit. but the number seemed but too great and it had multiplied speedily if the Kings wisedome had not foreseene it Conspiracie in the beginning is like vnto raine which enters into a small cranny on the top of the house and beeing neglected in the end expels the master thereof The King did consider hereof for being aduertised of his brothers retreat he knew well that the partie was made against him if hee did not oppose himselfe That what appeared not might be greater then what was in show and that besides the Princes of his bloud many Catylines had drunke in the same cup the wine and bloud of this conspiracie c Euery conspiracie hath crueltie and bloud hath been taken for the seale oath that bind the conspirators Salust saith that Catylâ—n mingled wine with bloud in a cup and presented it to his associates Iâ—de 〈◊〉 post execrationem omnes degustauissent sieuti in solemnibus sacris fieri consueuit aperuit consiliuâ—â—â—â— His first resolution was to diuide that which hee could not breake Hee sent to the Duke of Bourbon to come vnto him Who for that hee would vse no dissembling a great and powerfull vertue in these corrupted ages would not disguise his intentions nor represent them otherwise in words then they were in his heart He was the first mouer of all these spheares he had first giuen his voice and vowes to this generall reuolt of France he had offered to hang a bell at the Cats necke d In great resolutions there is danger to giue the first voice and hazard to execute that wâ—ich is resolued It is more safe to follow then to leade Insiita mortalibus natura propere sequi quae piget inchoare Tacit. And if they bee reduced to the conduct of an other it must be wâ—th the restraint of his owne wisdome Ne consilâ—is alterius regi recuses Est illius atque esto tuus tuumque serua In poste tuo velle modum in velle alieno when as euery man expected who should dare to doe it and had more desire to end then to begin If hee had made any show of repentance or feare in this beginning the rest which had martcht in his steps would soone haue turned their backes He answered that he had the same designe with the other Princes for the good and profit of the publike weale intreating the King to excuse him if hee came not to Court and for a greater declaration of his will he ceazed vppon the reuenues of Bourbonois and stayed Iuuenall des Vrsines Lord of Traynill Peter of Oriola and the Lord of Crussoll prisoners making it knowne that Ambition hath no other Law then the fancie of the Ambitious and takes away the maske from all respect When the King saw that there was no meanes to reclaime these Princes and that the Duke of Bourgundy was in armes he aduertised all the chiefe noble men of his Realme and wrote vnto the Clergie to the gouernours of Prouinces Letters froÌ„ the K. to the gouernors of the Prouinces and townes to the Magistrates and townes who faint and lose their courage for a little e As a little feare makes the people to faint so a weake hope makes them returne by nature they are fearefull and do not think what they shall doe to indure but to flye the danger that they should not suffer themselues to bee carried away with the false showes of the enemies of the estate who had suborned his brother to ingage France in those desolations from the which it was but newly freed That if they which had suffered themselues to bee abused in this reuolt did not bethinke themselues there wilfulnes would make them vnworthy the clemencie which he offered them That with the grace of God and the fidelitie of his good subiects hee assured himselfe to abate and disperse these bad designes Then considering that this league did consist of those who had sometimes called the English into France f He that hath two enemies must agree with the one the better to preuaile ouer the other The RomaÌ„ns did neuer fight against two Hercules could not do it After the Parthian warre they began that of the Marcomanians They would not breake with Antlochus who had wronged them before they had ended â—ith Philip. to haue a share of the shipwracke The King seeks to the King of England that the old enemies fauouring the new he might fall betwixt the Anuile and the hammer hee sent to the King of England dissembling cunningly the wrong which hee had done him when as in demanding Bonnâ— of Sauoy k Richard Earle of Warwick was sent into France in the yeere 1464. to demand Bonna of Sauoy in mariage of King Lewis the eleuenth for K. Edward The King granted it but during this negotiatiâ—n the King of England fell in loue with a meane gentlewoman widdow to one Grey a Knight Daughter to Richard Riuers and â—aqueline eldest Daughter to Peter of Luxemburgh Earle of S t. Paul the Queenes sister for his wife he had married an other He intreates and coniures him not to assist this new rebellion the which like to a puffe of smoke would vanish as soone as it should begin to rise Edward beeing already engaged to the Duke of Bourgundy let the King vnderstand that he was a sharer with him Edward the fourth declares himselfe for the Burgundian Hee sent the same letters which the King had written vnto him to the Duke of Bourgundy promising to assist him as constantly as his forefathers l Edward the third King of England wâ—nne the battell of Cressy the 26. of August 1346. France lost 1500. Gentlemen all were not slaine but all were defeated The Prince of Wales his Sonne wonne the battell at Pâ—icters ten yeeres after the 9. of September 1356. had done This young Prince felt a boyling desire in his heart to performe that in France which other Kings of his name had done He was glad to finde without the Iland an exercise for turbulent spirits to entertaine and quench that furious heate of fighting m He that commands a warlike Nation must finde exeâ—cise for his soldiers abroad if hee will not suffer them to take it at home There is not saith Tit. Liu. in â—is thirteenth booke anâ— great and mighty Potentate that caâ— leâ—g continue in peace for if â—ee hath not sâ—me enemie abroad hee shall finde
month a Porter a Pastry man a Baker two Carters to either of them sixe pounds a yeare To a Groome of the Stable and two to assist him eight and forty shillings a month A Farrier twelue pounds The Maister of the Chamber of the Kings Treasor had sixe score pounds and the Comptrouler fifty i King Lewis the 11. gaue thirty pounds of increase to Martin Barthelot Maister of the Chamber of his Treasure but the chamber of Accompts would not allow of it without a speciall command the which was dispatched at Paray le Moinat the sixt of Aprill 1481. They gaue but fiue shillings for the Groomes Liuery and foure and twenty shillings for Cloakes for the Clarkes Notaries and Secretaries of the house and Crowne of France His expence was not all in one place many did profite by it and did draw their commodities out of the liuely Springs of the Princes Magnificence Lewis remained little at Paris but most at Plessis I haue obserued in the Accomps of the Chamber of the Treasure k By the Accompts of the Kings house which were made monthly we find that in twelue yeares they were made but twice at Paris the one in the Kings house and the other in that of Maister Iohn of Popin court that there past not any yeare but hee made many voiages and that Paris saw him but seldome In the meane time he kept not his Chamber to liue at his ease neither did hee imitate the first Kings who did not shew themselues vnto their subiects but like the Images of the Gods which they drew once a yeare out of their gilded boxes He did visite his Prouinces hee spent not the twelue monthes in one sole lodging of the Zodiake Neither did hee send his affaires to the Maior of the Pallace l Clouis the 2. the 12. King of France beganne to giue to his successours vntill Charlemaigne the name of idle They were seene but once a yeare Magnificence doth not alwaies consist in the priuate expences of a Princes house Magnificence how farre it extends in numbers of Horses and Dogs nor in the shew of Lyons Tygers Leopards or Elephants it should appeare in Receiuing Lodging Feasting and defraying forraine Princes and their Embassadours This Prince in such occasions made it knowne that Magnificence doth not dwell but in Kings houses and that Frances was the Theater Hee receiued in this manner the King of Portugall the Queene of England and the Prince of Wales her sonne René of Aniou King of Sicile the Duke of Sauoy and the Princesses of Sauoy Anne Louyse and Mary m The expence of these three Princesses came to forty two pounds eleuen shillings and a peny from the 28 of October to the 24 of Nouember By the same respects of Magnificence which will that a Prince labour to content the eyes and minds of others as himselfe n A Prince doth many things wherewith hee might dispence if hee had none to content but his owne s◠lf Magnum est personam in Repubtueri principis qui non animis solum sed occulis ciuiū seruire debet It is a great matter to maintaine the person of Prince in a state who is not onely bound to serue the Cittizens minds but also their eyes Cic. hee made many other expences which were esteemed and commended both by his Subiects and Strangers He did often and for many daies feast and defray the Embassadours of England Hungary Arragon and Naples In the yeare 1477. in March the king of England sent the Lord Howard to visite him being followed by three score and tenne persons whom he defrayed all the time of his abode in France The good cheere hee made vnto the English at Amiens after the Treaty of Pyquigny and the twelue pipes of wine of the growth of Fay Monjan which hee caused to be conueyed to Deipe to giue to Edward King of England bound the English to those cries of ioy which were heard in their Army and at their departure A largesse for the Noble King of France But as there is one kind of Magnificence which is all in shew and doth purchase great applause among the people so there is another which is not so glorious and hath much fruite It is that which giues pensions to strangers and doth bind them to serue the Prince o He doth gratefie his memory in binding learned men vnto him who haue credit with posterity Senec. which doth nourish aduance and recompence good wits entertaines excellent Artists fauours good inuentions and all those that haue any credite with posterity There is also an other which is Religious Religious Magnificence and which hath not beene knowne but by the most Christian Kings who without wronging the greatnesse of their Maiesty made their houses a refuge for the miserable Robert sonne to Hugh Capet had commonly a thousand poore men in his traine hee gaue them horses to follow him and to pray for him p Lewis the 9. was founder of 28. Colledges in France who dying commanded his sonne to bee deuout to God and charitable to the poore Lewis the eleuenth had ordinarily sixe score and in Lent two hundred and forty whom he fed with meate from his Table And yet this is not the whole extent of Magnificence it goes farther and will be seene in Plaies Shewes and Iousts and in things which are rare and not common q In publicke calamities the Greeks and the Romans did vow Hecatombs they did sacrifice a hundred beastes vpon so many piles of wood Si verò Imperatorum votum esset centū Leones centumque Aquilae vnà mactabantur If it were the Emperours vow then were there a hundred Lyons and a hundred Eagles slaine together when as the people did vow Hecatombes of hundred Oxen and a hundred Sheepe the Emperours did offer a hundred Eagles and a hundred Lions But the expence which is wholy employed for sight entertaines the people but till they thinke of the belly A remembrance which dispenceth with all other things and hath no share in publicke cares but that which doth prouide meanes to content it r The multitude cares not for the conduct and good successe of affaires so they find corne at Market Vulgo vna ex republica Annonae curae The common people haue no care of the Common-weale but for Corne. when it endures any want all Sights all Plaies all Sports are tedious and makes them say that the Feast is made at their charge The Princes Magnificence must therefore shew her effects in things whereas the pleasure incounters with profite and which passe not with the contentment which the spirit takes in admiring them like vnto the daughter of Maruell which inamels her halfe circle vnprofitably in the Aire The Prince must not imitate the pride of the Pharaohs of Egypt who employed the sweate of their Subiects and the treasure of their Cofers in workes of Ostentation s They say that
preuailed in Normandy and Guyenne Peace treated at Pouilly and then a peace was treated betweene the Dauphin and the Duke of Burgundy vnder the assurance whereof the Duke came vnto the Dauphin being at Montereau Faut Yonne m The Dauphin sent Charles of Poitiers Bishoppe of Valence to the Duke of Burgundy to draw him to Monsteâ—cau in Gasteacis for that he had refused to come by Tanneguy du Chastel saying that it were better for the Dauphin to com to Troye The 10. of Nouember 1419. he came was slaine vpon the bridge which was fortified with 3. barres The Duke hauing past the first entred into some apprehension of his fortune and meeting Tanreguy du Chastel he laid his hand vpon his shoulder saying Behold hâ—m in whom I trust and presenting himselfe vpon his knee Robert de Loire taking him by the arme sayd vnto him rise you are but too honourable who rising laid his hand vpon his sword to drawe it forward for that it hung too much back then said de Loire vnto him Doe you lay your hand vpon your sword before my Lord the Dauphin whereupon Tanneguy du Chastell stroke him so forceably vpon the face with a battell-axe as he made him to fall vpon his knee and cut off his chin another thrust his sword into his belly The body being stript was drawne into a mill and buryed the next day This death reuenged the house of Orleans but it gaue so great a share of the Realme to strangers as there remained very little for Charles who presently after the death of the Duke of Burgundy was declared by the king his father at the perswasion of his mother vnworthy to succeede vnto the crowne of France Hee might iustly haue appealed from these declarations to the Kings good sence but seeing him decay daily and that hee was still vnder the gouernment of this Medea he chose rather to appeale to God n Priuate persons haue many Iudges kings haue none but God saies M. Anthony Dion Niceâ—s the Iudge of Kings and to his sword lamenting with teares drawne from the bottome of his heart his owne miserie and that of France This disorder Death of K. Henry the fifth Charles the sixth contrary to the reason of nature the lawes of the realme was followed with strange changes Henry the fifth dies and 50. daies after Charles the sixth king of France Henry the sixth king of England is crowned at Paris Charles the seauenth at Poictiers there were two kings in one Realm two parties two armies but the English holde Paris and the first o In all factions the authority of the Senate is of great force Otho to shew the difference of his partie that of Vitellius said Nationes aliquas occupauit Vitellius imaginem quandam exercitus habet Senatus nobis cum est Sic fit vt hâ—c Resp. inde hostes Reip. constiterint Tacitus Hist. lib. 1. Senate who thought that all authoritie and soueraigne command was in effect on their side that the king had but the image some calling him for pitty sake Dauphin of Viennois and others in mocking King of Bourges or Earle of Ponthieu there remaining nothing to make him knowne to be the fourth sonne of Charles p Charles the 6. had 5. sonnes Charles who died of a â—â—â—sumption at 9. yeeres Lewis D. of Guyenne who died at 19. Iohn Duke of Touraine married to Iacquet of Bauaria in the yeaâ—e 1404. Charles the seuenth borne in the yeer 1402. the fiâ—th was he of whom the Queene was brought to bed when the Duke of Orleans was slaine the sixth but a peece of the crowne He goes to field weake of all things of armes friends men and mony but strong in right and courage to maintaine the quality of his birth which the enuy of fortune and the conspiracie of his enemies could not take from him for his mother had brought him into the world vnder purple q The Emperors of Constantinople ordained that their wiues should bee brought in bed vnder purple 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nicetas lib. 5. and the flower deluce There is nothing so powerfull as a good cause maintained with a good sword nothing doth so much comfort the soule in aduersity nor moderate it in prosperitie as the iudgement of conscience when as she feares not to haue her intentions knowne to God and men But seeing himselfe forced to vanquish before he raigne that victories depend of the force of Armes and that the triumphant Chariot of Mars is not moued but by the force of gold and iron r Fower things do perpetually follow warre men iron siluer and bread but of these 4. the two first are the most necessary for that mâ—n and iron cannot furnish siluer bread but bread and siluer may find men and Ironâ— that the springs of his treasure are drawne dry and the royall reuenues held by his enemies he procures his subiects to assist him with taxes Taxes ordained The French who haue alwaies excelled other nations in fidelitie and deuotion towards their Kings not knowing what it is to haue good when they want did contribute freely cheerefully to the necessities of Charles who like a good Shepheard was content to fleece his 〈◊〉 and not to flea them France which had beene besieged 70. yeares Miseries of France last 70. yeares with the miserie and calamitie of warre might well haue beene without this cruell diuision which was no other thing then a conspiracie of the Children s Ciuill warre is a mortall seuer in an estate This ardent desire in the Graecians to make warre in Greece is called by Plutarch a conspiracy against themselues by the which they staid with their own armes the fortune which led them to the height of felicity and turned their weapons against their owne bowels to turne the points of their swords against their owne bowels to inuite their Ancient enemies to the funerals of her liberty and to bring back those cruell and bloudy dayes for the which England hath giuen to the two Edwards the proud titles of Lightening Edward the third and the Prince of Wales and Eagle There was nothing in generall but miseries confusions amasements and desolation The pesant being stript both of flesh and fat had nothing left but bones and they were bruised The Historie admires that euen the cattell hearing the bell a signe of the enemies approch fledde of themselues to recouer their retreates She had so lost her first excellence as she seemed a building of whose beauty no man could iudge but by the peeces that remained of her ruines Vertue and Fortune t For the greatnes and continuance of an Empire fortune or to speak better prouidence and destiny must agree with vertue Roma vt ageretur sublimibus incrementis faedere pacis aeternae virtus conuenit atque forâ—una quarum si altera defuisset ad perfectam non venerat summitatem Ammianus which in the beginning
had agreed to settle and maitaine her Empire held no more accompt of her and conspired with her enemies to ruine her And as too much greefe makes men to loose all feeling the excesse of her miseries which had no ease but custome u Custome is the onely case of ineuitable miseries and those calamities which are growen into a custome giue some contents vnto miserable men made the French so accustomed to the darknes of seruitude as they grew ignorant of the light of libertie and they which were borne vnder the yoke did lay a foundation of this forraine domination by the length of their sufferance In this terrible ebbing and flowing of calamities capable to make the strongest men faint and effeminate x Great courages grow resolwe against misfortunes take aduersiâ—â—â—s for exercises of their vertue others are presently deiected Tacit. Ann. l. 4 Charles continued still constant in his resolution and God did comfort him by the birth of the Dauphin at Bourges the sixt of Iuly 1423. the twentieth yeare of his age the first of his raigne the nineteenth of his marriage with Mary Daughter to Lewis Duke of Anjou and King of Sicile The ioy was great the Historie sayes they generally cryed Christmas an ordinarie cry at publicke ioyes in those daies It is a great proofe of the peoples loue when as they reioice at their Princes issue and hold the want of it a misfortune y It is a great testimonie of the bounty of a Prince wâ—en as they reioyce at the birth of his children or when as the want of them is accounted amongst the miseries of the coÌ„mon wealth They went not to seeke godfathers in the soueraigne houses of Europe Iohn of Alancon godfather to Lewis the eleuenth the ioy past with lesse brute Iohn Duke of Alençon first Prince of the bloud carried the new Prince to be baptised and gaue him the name of Lewis If they made some scruple to giue him his fathers or his godfathers name as it was an old pagan error that there was some fatallity in names z The ancients had great respect to names They had certaine dares for the impesition and profession of names feasts which they called Nominales holding for a good signe the encounter and choise of a goodly name as Valerius Saluius Statorius and in the leuie of men of warre the Consul had a care vt primus miles esset bono nomine That the for most souldiour should haue a good name and was then in credit it may bee they remembred the captiuitie of King Iohn in England and the stormes wherewith his descendants called Charles had beene shaken Ignorance was so bould and generall in those dayes as all they that haue dealt in the historie beeing neither curious nor diligent haue not left any mention of the education of the Princes of France whereon notwithstanding is grounded the hopes of the rest of their liues For such as they haue shewed themselues in their first inclinations such are they knowne to bee afterwards Seldome do they hate that in the end of their daies which they haue loued in the beginning The care of such deere and Important persons hath alwaies beene very great in the house of France they suffer nothing that is pestilent or infectious to approche a The Egyptians did not suffer any about the Kings children but such as were well bred and of a generous disposition they were alwaies serued and followed by their Priests Children attired in habites fit for their profession of great modestie and aboue twentie yeares ould to the end that beeing alwayes guiled by the Ministers of their gods they might bee retained within the bounds of maiestie and vertue HERODOT This spring must water the whole State and it is hard for them to erre and faile among so many examples of vertue valor and courage which are like whetstones to giue an edge to generous natures He gaue such timely proofes as he made it knowne that Iudgement reason appeared sooner in Kings children b Great natures discouer themselues soone So Plutarch said that Pompey did in the flower of his youth show a venerable greatnes of reall maiestie in his actions and manners then in others that lyllies put forth sooner then common flowers at the breake of his morning they saw that which they should expect of him all the rest of the day Marriage of Lewis the eleuenth His Father married him at thirteene yeares to the Lady Margaret Steward daughter to Iames the first King of Scotland as King Charles the sixt had married him at eleuen yeares The Ambassadors being sent into Scotland to bring this Princesse were crossed by the English being iealous and offended at this alliance which renewed and confirmed those which since Charlemaine c Charles the great Emperor and King of France hauing bene assisted by Achaius king of Scotland in Spaine against the Sâ—rasâ—ns and in Germanie against the Saxons made an offensiue defensiue league with him and gaue him his daughter to wife in the yeare 777. had been betwixt these two Crownes and put them into a great apprehension that whilest they should be busie in France wheras their affayres began to decline the Scots might trouble them in England They offered to yeeld him Barwick and Rosbourg with all other places which were in question if he would dissolue the promise of this marriage The estates of Scotland assembled vpon this proposition Parlement in Scotland The Clergie was diuided most part saying that it was iust and profitable that the refusal would be pernicious and that to attaine vnto a good peace with their neighbours they must not so much regard things past as the future and the incertainty of euents The Nobilitie did couragiously resist the designe of the English crying out that their enemies counsell was poison presented in a cup of gold a goodly pretext to ruine them a practise to diuide Scotland from their ancient friends and then subiect them more easily to their enemies d We must not onely consider matter which are past but those which are also to come And in truth they to whom fortune hath neuer turned her backedâ—e not without cause feare the doubtfulnes of variable euens so as a certaine peace were alwaies to be preferred before a doubtfull victory for that the first is in our will and disposition and the last in the hand power of the immortall god The words of Hannibal to Scipio Tit. Liâ— The English being refused of their request they fall to threates and declare that they had shipps at sea to stop the Princesse passage Mary Steward sent into France This made the King resolue to send her soner then he had intended the estates beseching him not to deferre to trust his Daughter to his Sonne who trusted them with the guard e St. Lewis being at the holy land escapt a conspiracy made against his person by the King
will the gates are open for you and if they were not wide enough I would cause sixteene or twenty fadome of the wall to be beaten downe to make you a greater passage I am your father your will depends vppon mine g The fathers will iâ— soueraigne ouer that of the Sonne The power of the Father was in old time absosolute among the Romans Persians and Gaules ouer the liues deaths goods libertie actions and honor of their children I finde it very strange that you haue ingaged your word without knowing mine But it imports not The house of France by the grace of God is not so vnfurnished of Princes as it hath not some that will shew more affection then you haue done to maintaine her greatnes and honor This yong Prince desired rather to bee held a bad Sonne then a bad master Wilfulnes of the Dauphin Wee must beleeue that these clouds did not breake without some raine and that this fire of choller and loue was not quencht without teares The Duke of Bourbon who knew how to distinguish h Kings are offended when the subiects wil haue their children march equally with them The high Priests in the beginning of the yeare made publike prayers for the health and prospâ—ritie of the Emperor Tiberius blamed theÌ„ sharply for that they had added the names of Nero and Drusus his successors hearing it impatiently to see youâ—h march equall with his age Aequam adolescentes Senectae suae impatienter indoluit Tacit. betwixt the authoritie of the one and the age of the other and would not that there should remaine any conceit in the Kings minde that this wilfulnes was supported by his Councell at the same time tooke the oath of Allegeance promising to leaue the Dauphin and all intelligences and leagues contrarie to his Maiesties seruice The Dauphin could doe no lesse then apply himselfe to the obedience and humilitie which God and Nature had ordained him He humbles himselfe The King kept him neere him changed all his officers except his Confessor and his Cooke set good gards about him that no bad thing might enter into his eares i Hearing is the entrie vnto the Soule good or bad Counsells haue no other passage When the gardes of these gates are wonne they triumph ouer the sort Ad summam sapiens eris fi clauseris â—ures quibus ceram parum oft obdere Firmiori spissamento opus est quam vsum in sociis Vlissem ferunt Senec. and hee caused them to be obserued that came neere him to the end hee might call them to an account for the bad Impressions they gaue him He gaue him men The King reformes the Dauphins house better knowne and recommended for their wisedome and Integritie then for their cunning and subtiltie k Good men are alwaies necessarie about Princes they must chase away factious spirits who are more fit to disorder then to settle affaires It is also good to haue them that are cunning and politicke to imploy them against deceiuers commanding them to haue a care of this yong Prince who was of a good disposition but very tractable and might easily bee diuerted Many vitious inclinations creepe into mens mindes whereof wee must no more blame Nature then the Vine when as the Wine growes sower or Iron when it rusts How good soeuer the disposition be it corrupts and is spoiled if it be not entertained and education doth alwaies frame men after her owne fashion notwithstanding any lets of Nature They that are about this Prince Hee is watcht least he fall by the Kings commandement keepe him so short as notwithstanding that Will be a prerogatiue of humane libertie l The will which is in her libertie and depends onely on the power of reason aâ—mes at things which are desirable and to be affected The name of vertue among the Grecians came from that of desire for that it is properly and chiefly to be desired hee durst not will any thing contrarie to his dutie And for that the Dukes of Alençon and Bourbon had promised by the treatie to yeelde vp vnto the King the places which they held they hauing no other securitie but the Kings word and clemencie the Armie was not dismist before that all was executed Which beeing done a Peace was proclaimed and this reuolt which they called the Praguerie supprest in lesse then nine monthes The Dauphin remained still neere the King he serued him and followed him in diuers occasions It was an incomparable happines m It is a great contentment for a King to come to that age to fashion his successor and to make him partaker of his experience and authoritie for him to see his way made vnto the Crowne and to learne how to liue vnder so good a father Parts which frame a Prince The practise of warre vnder the conduct and instruction of so valiant a Captaine and so wise a King the essentiall parts which frame a Prince counsell force reputation n The same things which support the frame of an Estate as Councell force and reputation are the essentiall parts which fashion a Prince Councell teacheth him the true formes how to raigne well force consists in the 〈◊〉 of six conditions which make him mighty the which are to to haue his estate louing great armed rich and setled Reputation is the glorious brute of that efficacie as opinion giues it credit and respect amoÌ„g other Potentates and the instruments to raigne which be first knowledge to looke into the nature of subiects secondly wisedome to giue them fit lawes thirdly order of armes fourthly the art to make warre fiftly industrie to maintaine peace sixtly diligence to foresee accidents seuenthly meanes to amplisie his Empire eighthly iudgement to know the iealousies and interests of States ninthly dexteritie to temporise inconuenients tenthly quicknes to resolue eleuenthly celeritie to execute twelfthly constancie in matters resolued thirteenthly force in aduersitie foureenthly moderation in prosperitie fifteenthly and so firme a knowledge of diuine things that superstition make him not fearefull nor libertie rash He led him to the siege of Pontoise the Accademie of the most memorable exploits which had bin seen in those times Siege of Pontoise The English hauing indiscreetly o Eueâ—y man commits errors the FreÌ„ch haue and the English also in the deciding of their affaires King Iohn refused the offer which the Prince of Wales made him to yeeld vp all which he had conquered and the spoile Hee would beside al this haue the Prince and foure of the chiefe Noblemen of his Armie yeeld at his discretion This refusall was followed with the losse of a battell and the taking of the King King Charles offered the English in the confâ—rence at Calais to leaue them all that they held in doing him hâ—mage they refused it and had neither the one nor the other refused the kings offers who left them the quiet possession of that which
of all the other members The complaints of the Rigor d When as the people are opprest they dare not accuse the Princes rigor but cast their complaints vpoÌ„ that of the time of the time became murmurings against the seueritie of the Prince Euery one lamented the Raigne of Charles and desired rather the end then the continuance of that of Lewis Great men beganne to make it knowne that they could not liue long in that seruitude shewing themselues more sencible of the contempt e The nature of man is more sensible of contempt then of losse The Senators of Rome were more discontented for that Caesar entred into the Senate without saluting them then for the enterprise which hee made vpon their libertie which was done them then of the miseries which the meaner sort suffered yet they found no better pretext of their priuate interest then that of the publike The King did not attend the consent of the Realme to haue money hee tooke it without asking They were not tributes of Loue f Princes finde pleasing names for things which are bittâ—r and hard Edward the fourth in posed vpoÌ„ the Realme of England a tribute which hee called a Bâ—â—euolenâ—â— Euerie one did contribute as hee pleased and according to his gifts they did iudge of his Loue to the King He that gaue much loued much Edward made vse of this tribute against the French found great succors Polid. lib. 24. 26. but of Rigour and constraint thinking that France was a meadow which he might mowe at all seasons A great sedition troubled the citie of Rheimes against those which had raised customes The Commissaries were slaine and their Commissions cast into the fire The King sent Souldiers disguised like Marchants and labourers who entring by diuers ports ioined with the Lord of Mouy their commander who caused a hundreth of the most seditious to bee hanged suppressed the sedition g The most frequent and knowne causes of sedition and mutenâ— grâ—w from new charges and excessiue impositions reuenged the Kings seruice and setled his authoritie there the which had not beene impugned but for the naturall impatiencie of the people to endure that whereunto they were not accustomed All France was quiet Combustions in England and beheld as from the shore the tempests which were in England and Arragon The King was glad to entertaine the warre farre from him and to assist the house of Lancaster in England and the house of Arragon in Spaine whiles that the clouds and windes prepared to draw the storme vpon his owne head England for the diuision of the houses of Yorke Lancaster saw at that time such terrible changes and accidents as it is a wonder the Realme did not passe vnder some forraine command and that they did not cry quittance with him seeing there is no surer meanes to ruine an estate then ciuill discord h Ciuill Diuisions transport and change estates Spaine vnder the raigne of fourescore and twelue Kings hath beene torne in as many peeces as it hath had Realmes France hath changed thrice England hath been commanded by the English Danes Saxons and in the end by the Normans The Empire hath been past from the East vnto the West Naples hath been vnder the power of the French Germans Arragâ—nois and since of Castitians But France had yet so many bad humors in her body as her disposition was more dying then liuing When as the English ceast to afflict her they began to quarrell and to ruine one another The end of forraine warres was the spring and renewing of ciuil Henry of Lancaster sonne to Henry the fift found himselfe without a crowne notwithstanding that in his infancie he had been crowned with that of France and England Richard Duke of Yorke an Ambitious Prince and who had both credit courage i Good things and which are commendable of themselues applied to il are perâ—itions Sepius industria acvigilancia noxiae quoties parando Regno fingatur Tac. lib. An. lib. â— industrie and vigilancie qualities to bee suspected in an Ambitious spirit became head of a great faction the intentions whereof he couloured with the onely zeale of the publicke good to change the bad gouernement of the Realme to deliuer England from the insolencie of the Duke of Somerset who alone gouerned the helme of the affaires whilest that the King suffered his spirits to be transported not to delights and voluptuousnes but to carelesnes k An idle Prince is a waies contemned Three things saith Zeâ—ophon make him excell ouer his subiects 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His carelesse life incensed his subiects hearts and his idlenes distasted all men of his raigne The estate was like vnto a sicke body which is so prest with his infirmitie as he is forced to trust him that comes to let him bloud and cannot attend the Phisitions which are farre off l In violent diseases wee may not attend far fetcht remedies although they answere him that they will come and cure him Such as were discontented with the present Conspiracy against King Henry the sixt and desired to see some change applyed them-selues to the Duke of Yorks desseigns and intentions and among others Richard Neuell Earle of Salisbury and Richard Neuill Earle of Warwick his brother who had wisdome and courrage rare parties for a great desseigne and therewith such great credit among the people as it was thought that not any one in England durst doe that which these would vndertake The Duke of Yorke hauing cast his bell made the sound thereof to be generally heard hee strake such a terror into the Court and made the wicked so audacious as the King who had neuer tasted of Domesticke troubles his spirit beeing like vnto a ship m Courages tried in dangers are to bee commended A ship is neuer esteemed which hath neuer felt of a storme which had neuer sailed but in a calme was amazed and confounded and not holding himselfe safe in the Citie of London by reason of the inconstancie of the people and the great credit which this faction had gotten resolued to leaue it The Duke of Yorke besieged S t. Albons n The battell of S t. Albons began early in the morning and continued vntil 9. of the clock in the yere 1556 Edmund D. of Sommerset and Henry Earle of NorthumberlaÌ„d were slaine the two armies meet Henry the sixt defeated and the Kings is put to rout with the losse of their chiefe commanders Hee lamented greatly for the Death of the Duke of Sommerset After this victorie the Duke of Yorke who had made declaration thâ—t hee had no other intention then the publicke good of the Realme and that his armes were not to offend the Prince accompanies King Henry to London as a Conqueror and freed from the Rule of the Duke of Sommerset which shewes that he had not taken armes but to free the King and the Realme who was ready
to submit himselfe to the mildest yoake seeing that hee could not remaine free o The miseries of ciuill diuision reduced Rome to that estate as hauing no hope euer to recouer her liberty she sought for nothing but for the mildest serâ—itude Hee left vnto Henry the name of King onely for all the authoritie was in his hands he gaue to the Earle of Salisbury the Office of Lord Chancellor of England and to Richard Neuell his Sonne the gouernment of Callis He disposed of publike charges as he pleased still giuing them vnto those of his faction In the end the king discouers the Duke of Yorkes designe Queene Margaret his wife who had been aduertised thereof le ts him vnderstand that he did temporise but vntill the partie were made to ceaze both of the king and Realme and among his partisans the king was held but for a Tyrant As if his Raigne had been by vsurpation or constraint p Among many differences betwixt a King and a Tyrant they put this that a King raigns with the loue anâ— consent of the people and a Tyrant rules by constraint The king imparted this to his principall seruants D. of Yorke retires from the Court of England who were of aduise to restraine this great authoritie which the Duke of Yorke had within the Realme The Duke beeing suddenly aduertised thereof retired secretly to Wigmore in Wales Richard Neuell to his Castle of Midleham in the North Countie and Richard Earle of Warwicke to Callis so as the cruell seditions in England grew more violent then before during the which the French spoiled the coasts of Kent and Iames king of Scotland inuited by the same occasion entred by Roxborge The same cause which made this warre ended it q The shaâ—pest Ciuill wars are pacified when as strangers meddle to gaine by them The two parties agree against the third and although the Prince be offended yet it is better to remit the punishment The king of England let the Duke of Yorke vnderstand that the ciuill discord and the bad intelligence which was betwixt them had opened a gate to the enemies to inuade England that the common danger did binde them to vnite their forces to defend it and that hee was contented to forget all matters past vpon hope of a better conduct hereafter English cease their ciuill discords to war against the French excusing himselfe that matters had not alwaies gone directly being impossible for a Prince to obserue all the kinds of Iustice and equitie r Many things vniust of themselues are made iust when they are countenanced by necessitie or profit wherfore Plutark obserues That if there were question to accomplish al the kindes of iustice Iupiter himself might not in that case bee a Prince The Kings intention was allowed by all men the Duke of Yorke being loth to be the author of the ruines of the Realme declared that all his affections tended to his greatnes and quiet and to take away all occasions of doubt He came vnto the King to London with the chiefe of his faction The feare of a forraine warre quenched the ciuill s There is no such indiscretion as to hazard ones own to get another mans and to draw forth the bloud which is needfull for the life of the bodie It is more glorie for a Prince to maintaine himselfe them to grow great Preseruation safety is the essence of an estate profit it but an accessary Mens mindes altered with things past grew milder and all their wills were vnited in one accord for the defence of the Realme detesting the discord which had drawne them into a warre which was not necessarie nor could bee happie and made them a prey and triumph to their auncient enemie But as the fire of sedition is neuer so well quenched but there remaines some sparks in the ashes Troubles renewed in England which kindle again if they be a little blowne that there be alwaies some which delights in troubles for that it is their rest t Seditions commonly are fed supported by three sorts of men First the heads of factions Secondly they that cannot liue in safety in the time of peace Thirdly they which are out of the presse find themselues free from dangers and in danger for that they come not neere them being like vnto those riuers which enter into the sea and doe not mingle their streames the Duke of Yorke and the Earle of Salisburie being retired to their houses after this accord were presently forced to leaue them to reuenge an affront done to the Earle of Warwick at VVestminster where he had been set vpon by the kings guard and forced to saue himselfe by the Riuer of Thames with the hazard of his life They said that Queene Margret was the author thereof being very desirous to ruine the Nobility of England and to ouerthrow the cheefe howses u A King should maintaine great families neither can hee suffer theÌ„ to be wâ—onged but hee shal weaken the greatnes of his maiesty wherof the Nobility is the cheese piller In all estates the Nobles haue beene respected and distinguished from others euen amongst the Thracians the genlâ—emen went only vppon horseback and at Rome Noblemens wiues went in Littors who were the pillers of the Realme The warre began as soone as it was declared The three Richards are in field King Henry hauing leuied great forces comes to York Andrew Trollop who was come from Calleis with the Earle of Warwick thinking to serue the King when as he saw their armes turned against him left the Earle of Warwick to follow the King who in moment scattered his enemies and forced the Duke of York to passe into Holland there to attend vntill his Partisans had raised the ruines of that party Battaile before London whereas K. Henry was defeated Presently after the three heads of the faction returne into England with an intent to vanquish or to dye they present themselues at the gates of London they giue and winne a great Battell whereas the Victors saw tenne thousand men slaine and as many prisoners King Henry who seemed to haue beene raised vp to show the inconstancy of Fortune and the misery and vanity of man remained at the Victors discretion The English remembring that his grandfather had caused King Richard to dye in prison began to acknowledge the iudgements of Gods iustice who punisheth the Children for the offences of their fathers x Henry Earle of Harford and Duke of Lancastre tooke armes against Richard the 2. seazed on him puts him into the Tower of London and caused himselfe to bee crowned King and after that he had forced him to resigne the Crowne hee sent him to Langleâ— where hee was murthered In this great prosperity the make falls from the Dukes face He speakes plainely Duke of York declared Regent that whatsoeuer he had done was grounded vppon the rightes of the house of Yorke the
to his head with foure nayles f The Emperor Henry the sixt beeing in Sicile discouerâ—d some conspiracie against him and his estate He caused the chief of them to bee apprehended to punish his ambition he set a crowne of copper vpon his head caused it to be fastened with foure nayles Nic. li. 2. Queene Margaret to effect her designe had drawne some succours from Rene King of Cicile her Father The King lent her sonne two thousand pound sterling at Chinon vpon condition that as soone as King Henry should recouer Callice hee should deliuer the gouernment thereof to Iasper Earle of Pembroke or to Iohn of Foys Earle of Candalles paying him moreouer fortie thousand crownes But all this preuailed nothing the King remained a prisoner and the Queene had much adoe to saue her selfe with the Prince of Wales her Sonne g Monstrellet saith that Queene Margaret her Son La Varenne were met by theeues that she said vnto a theefe that met her bold my friend saue the son of thy King that shee went to Scluce and from thence to Bourges and that the Duke of Bourgundy caused her to be coÌ„ducted to her Father The Princes of the house of Lancaster retired themselues whether their feete and dispaire carried them Some were seene in the Duke of Burgundies Court in miserie Misery of the house of Lancaster begging their bread Fortune how cruell soeuer can doe no worse vnto a Prince then to reduce him to the apprehensions of hunger h Ph. de Commines saith hee had seene a Prince of this house of Lancaster follow the D. of Bourgundyes traine and without hose begging his bread from house to house and that being knowne they gaue him a small pention to liue on The beasts are freed from it The fishes pay no tribute to passe from Riuers into the sea Swallowes flying through so many regions dyed not of Hunger It is a pittifull thing that men and the chiefe among men haue difficultie to liue and to finde what to eate and drinke and wherewith to cloth themselues i Nature comprehends all the necessities of the world in these three words Non esurire Non sitire Non algere not to be hungry thirstie and cold all the rest is superfluous Edward in this great prosperitie of affayres troubles not his iudgement but considers that the house of Lancaster was ruined without hope of recouerie and the Red Rose withered That it was impossible euer to rise againe if it were not assisted with the forces of France Wherefore he desired to make his alliance with the king and sent the Earle of Warwicke to demand Bonna of Sauoye the Queenes sister in marriage Edward fals in loue with a Widdow But during this negotiation Loue which may be held a kinde of furie k Loue is put in the ranke of Melancholly diseases and kindes of fury it peruerts the iudgement and confounds the good with the euill for that it troubles the iudgement carried the affections of this Prince to the seruice of a Ladie who would haue held her selfe much honoured to haue serued the Queene of England and yet she had the ambition to be so Fortune agreed with her beauty Being widdow to Sir Iohn Grey her age bound her to follow rather the life of the Doue then of the Turtle l The Empresse Barba wife to Sigismond the Emperor being told after the death of her husband that she should imitate the Turtle If I must said shee initate beasts why rather the Turtle then the Doue or the sparrow Aeneas Sil. de dict Sigismondi et Frederici Imper. for her first marriage had scarce touched the flowers of her beauty nor of her youth Edward did not liue but for her his heart receiued no law but from her eyes to whom he did submit the full disposition of his fortunes She being powerfull in the charmes of loue let him presently vnderstand that she did not accept of the sacrifice of the hearts of Kings but of the Altar of honour that he might not hope to haue her for a Mistris if he would not assure her to make her his Queene They that loue ardently are easie and tractable m Hee that loues refuseth not any thing In loue there is force and pleasure force constraines the will and pleasure deceiues the iudgement they spare neither wordes nor oathes Edward transported with this fury forgets the sute which he made in France and changeth all his wills into the obedience of this Lady who seeing her selfe to command ouer the Kinges heart assures her selfe to raigne soone in his Realme He is not capable to refuse her any thing The wind of her disdaines and the couldnes of so faire a mistris may well quence the fire in the beginning but being once kindled it giues it nourishment and increase In the end Edward promised to make her Queene and his promise was presently followed with the consumation of the marriage to the great amazement of the Nobility of England who thought the King was bewitcht n Beauty and grace are the mighty charmes of loue said Olimpias the mother of Alexander Loue which growes from amorous drinckes continues not Plutarch gueth these Epithites 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 short toublesome changeable And he saith it doth easily change into hatred and disdaine and wisht him a more honorable alliance Lewis tooke it ill and the Earle of Warwick was so greeued as from that time he was wholly the French Kings who by his counsell plotted a reuenge which shall shew it selfe in the yeare one thousand foure hundred seauenty one Marriages and alliances vnworthy of the greatnes of Princes cause murmurings and discontentments in the people o The people which loue their Princes reioyce at their victories and prosperities They are aflicted at their losses especially if they do any thing which may impaire their honor as when they treat of alliances vnworthy the greatnes of their houses Tot luctibus funesta ciuitate pâ—rs maeroâ—is fuâ—t quod Iulia Drusi filia quondam Neronis vxor dempsit in domum Rubelliâ— Blandi cuius Auum Tiburtem equitem Romanum plerique meminerant Rome did mourne generally when as Iulia daughter to Drusus the sonne of Tiberius and widdow to Nero son of Germanicus married with Rubellius Blandus whose Grandfather had carried no other title then of a Knight The great Calme which was in France King Lewis goes into Guienne did notwithstanding presage a great storme and gaue the King meanes to visit some of the prouinces of his realme he went to Burdeaux whereas he treated of a marriage betweene the Lady Margret his sister and Gaston of Foix who was sonne to Elenor of Aragon daughter to Iohn King of Aragon and Blanch Queene of Nauarre He accepted this Alliance for that this yong Prince was valiant and coragious and that the successions of the Crowne of Nauarre Foyx Berne Bygorre and other Lands lying in
France did belong vnto him The Earle of Foyx sent his Ambassadors and Deputies to the King being at Bordeaux to conclude the treaty p The cheife condition of the Marriage was that the children which should be borne without distinction of malâ— or female should succeed in the counties of Foix and Bygorre He past to Bayonne to end a controuersie betweene the 2. Kinges of Nauarre and Aragon 1462. and Henry King of Castile his Nephew A controuersie begun with great spleene and was continued with the like and had not ended without excesse if he had not dealt in it for the parties flattered themselues in their pretentions were blind in their interests and found that the obscurenes proceeded rather from the thing then their owne blindnes But behold the causes and the effects After the death of Charles the third q Charles the third King of Nauarre taking delight to build at Olîta died suddenly in September 1425. the threescore and foure yeare of his age and the thirty nine of his raigne he was buryed at Pampeluna King of Nauarre the Crowne past from the house of France and Eureaux into that of Castile and Aragon not without trouble and discord Iohn second sonne to Ferdinand of Aragon married Blanch Infanta of Nauarre presumptiue heire of the Realme of Nauarre and widdow to Martin King of Sicilie and it was agreed by a treaty of marriage that in case she should die before her husband hee should raigne the rest of his life in Nauarre after king Charles the third his father in law Of this marriage was borne at Pegna Charles Prince of Viana born Charles Prince of Vianna a title belonging to the eldest Sonne of the King of Nauarre r Charles the the third King of Nauarre ereected Viana into a principalitie and did affect it to the eldest son of Nauarre in the yeere 1421. as Dauphin to that of France The Asturiez in Castille and Wales in England Charles the third his grandfather made him to bee sworne heyre of the Realme by the Estates after the death of Iohn his Father Charles being dead Iohn was declared King of Nauarre by some and Blanch his wife was acknowledged Queene by others yet both were crowned at Pampeluna Iohn had great warres with his brother the King of Castille Marriage betwiâ—t the Prince of the Asturies and Blanch of Nauarre who did confiscate the lands which he held in Castille Iohn Earle of Foyx reconciled them by a marriage betwixt Henry Prince of the Asturies sonne to Iohn King of Castille and Blanch Daughter to Iohn king of Nauarre s By the constitution of the marriage of this Princesse which was of 42112. Florens of gold wee may iudge in what estate K. Charles the third had left the Realme of Nauarre The marriage was celebrated with great pompe and solemnitie but the Prince was vnable to consummate it The which the Princesse did long dissemble Shee had great cause to complaine of this want and to wish her selfe to be a widdow or her husband vnmarried t The dissembling of couiuâ—all imperfections is very seemly especially in a woman Tullia a great Romane Lady is blamed for her ordinarie complaints murmùring at her husbands disabilitie De viro ad fratrem de sorore ad viruÌ„ se rectius viduam illuÌ„ caelibem futurum Tit. Liu. but like an other Eusebia shee did long suffer for the disabilitie of Constans desiring rather to wrong her youth and beautie then her modestie A while after Blanch Queene of Nauarre died and king Iohn married againe with Ione Henriques Charles Prince of Viana fearing that his alliance would keep him back from the hope of raigning and from the inheritance of the Queene his Mother did not dissemble his discontent u A desire to raigne makes the father iealous of the sonne Plutarc saith in the life of Demetrius that the greatest and most ancient of all Alexanders successors did glorie that he feared not his sonne but suffered him to approch neere his person holding a Iauelin in his band pretending that by the lawes of the Realme his Father by marrying againe had lost the fruit of the Crowne Behold all naturall affection is altered betwixt the Father and the Sonne The desire of rule makes them enemies the Father growes iealous and would not suffer his Sonne to come neere him armed On the other side this second wife seeing her selfe mother to Ferdinand did what she could to show that she was mother in law to Charles x What will not an ambitious mother doe and vndoe for her children D. Ioane lying in the bed of death by reason of a Cankar which did consume her remembring what she had done to assure the Realme vnto her Sonne spake often these words with sighes which are reported in the 21. booke of the history of Spaine O my Son thou hast cost me deare For him she had caused Don Charles to bee poysoned and neuer ceast vntill this young plant were quâ—â—â—ht by the nipping cold of her bad intentions seeking to haue a share in the regencie of the Realme in the absence of the king who had reuiued the warre in Castille Hence sprung those two great factions Factions of Beaumont and Grandmont that of Beaumont which followed the intent of of the Prince against the King and that of Grandmont which was for the father against the sonne so as presently the Realme was diuided into two kings two constables Lewis of Beaumont Earle of Lerin was Constable to the Prince and Peter of Perault was Constable to the king The kings cause as the better and more iust remained victorious the Prince beeing twice ouerthrowne is forced to flye to Alfonso king of Arragon Valencia Sardinia Maiorca Minorca and Sicile hee had recourse vnto his clemencie and besought him to pardon him The king who could not forget the loue of a Father vnto him who shewed the dutie of a Sonne receiues him but hee had new aduertisments that hee made secret practises to trouble him wherefore he sent him prisoner vnto the Alferie of Saragossa from whence hee was drawne by the Cattallans who tooke armes for his libertie Charles of Nâ—uarre poisoned by his mother in law but he went out of the prison to enter into a graue y Charles Prince of Viana died being forty yeares old a valiant Prince a great Historian a subtill Philosopher and a good Poet hee translated Aristotles Ethicks into the Castilain tongue and hee wrote the History of Nauarre vnto the time of King Charles his Grandfather For the very day of his deliuerie he was poisoned and dyed with much repentance for that hee had rebelled against the king his father The Infant Don Ferdinand was acknowledged heyre of the crowne of Arragon They of Cattellonia tooke armes to reuenge the death of Prince Charles The seditious who blow the cole of this desection said that his soule walked in the
called an assembly of the Princes and chiefe noblemen and propounded this question which he seemed to receiue from the K. of England to haue his aduice What punishment that farmer descrued who hauing inuited his maister to come vnto his house had put him to death All concluded that the crime was punishable and Hubert said that hee ought to be hanged You shall bee said the King you haue condemned your selfe And hee had noe sooner spokeÌ„ the word but hee was hanged the simple being lodged at the foot of the Tower where he had beene imprisoned He made some offer to pacifie the Duke and to giue hostage to procure such satisfaction from the Liegeois as was fit He had friends in the Dukes Councell i The aduice of that which was done in the D. counsell came as it was said from Phil. de Commines and casting twelue or fifteene thousand Crownes among them And he himselfe writes after this manner The King had some friend which aduertised him that he should haue no harme if he did yeeld vnto those two points but if he did otherwise hee thrust himselfe into very great danger he was by that meanes aduertised of the Resolutions which were taken wherof the mildest and most moderate were not pleasing vnto him The first opinion was that they should keep promise with him so as he would declare himselfe an enemy to them of Liege The second that being offended as he was it was dangerous to giue him liberty to reuenge himselfe The third that they should send for the Duke his brother and the other Princes to consult what was to be done In the end they past by this straight that he was constrained and it is the greatest violence that may be done vnto a King to consent vnto a a warre against them of Liege who had relyed vppon his protection The Duke continued three dayes in great alterations and past the third night in such disquietnes as he did not vncloath himselfe but lay downe vppon his bed then rising sodainly he would walke and talke to Phillip de Commines his Chamberlaine whose integrity and moderation did serue to calme those violent stormes that troubled his soule He was wholly French k Philip de Commines became a Partisan to the King who drew him into France gaue him the signory of Argenton in Poictou and the Seneshalship of the same Country and from that time some thought he resolued to retire himselfe into France But it is not credible that there was any trechery in him The vptightnes and sincerity of his writings frees him from suspition If he had been blemished with infidelity ingratitude vices which dissolue al humane society l All the greatest reproches are comprehended in these two wordes Ingrate and trecherous Nihil aeque Concordiam humani generis dissociat et distrahit quam hoc ingratitudinis vitium Sen. the King had not trusted him with so many great and important affaires The Duke went early in the morning vnto the Castell to the King who was already aduertised of what he would say vnto him and had time to thinke of his answer and to fit it not so much vnto reason as to necessity m Amazement should neuer bee seene on a Princes forehead He should be maister of his wordes but much more of his countenance for his lookes do often contradict them and betray the secrets of the heart and aboue all to carry so euen a countenance as the Duke should not discouer that he had any ill game or that he had any apprehension to loose for if he had thought that hee had made him affraid he would haue done him a mischeefe n Many times a bad designe begun is not ended when as he that doth it thinkes that he is not discouered And it is a maxime grounded more vpon experience then Conscience in such occasions not to do so much or to do more all together The Duke was accompanied by the Lordes of Crequy Charny and la Roche He could not by the humility of his wordes so well dissemble his proud and threatning gesture The Duke coniures the King to go to Liege but the trembling of his voice discouered the motion and storme which choller caused in his heart â— And then there is no great reason in humble wordes and respectiue countenances when as the effects are contrary and that the inferior braues the superior o To what end sâ—rues respect and humility of wordes if the action be proud The day when K. Iohn wâ—â— taken at the battell of Poictâ—ers the prince of Wales serued his maiesty at supper bareheaded The King intreated him to sit downe It belongs not to the subiect answered the Prince and yet hee held him prisoner He demanded of him if he would hold the treaty and come to Liege to help to reuenge him and the Bishop of Liege his kinsman of the Liegeois who by reason of his comming were reuolted The King granted it the Peace was sworne vppon Charlemaignes crosse and the whole towne was full of ioy for this accord the 12. of October 1468. 1468. Oliuer de la March reports this otherwise then Phillip de Commines The King saith he was not well assured but as soone as he saw the Duke enter into his Chamber he could not conceale his feare but said vnto the Duke Brother I am not safe in your house and in your Country and the Duke answered yes sir and so safe as if I should set an arrow come towards you I would put my self â— before you to preserue you And the King said vnto him I thank you for your good will and will goe where I haue promised you but I pray you let the peace be presently sworne betwixt vs. Then they brought the Arme of St. Leu and the King of France sware the peace betwixt him and the Duke of Bourgondy and the Duke of Bourgondy sware the said peace and promised to keepe and entertaine it with and against all men The next day they parted and came to Cambray p Notwithstanding their speeches vnto the Duke of BourgoÌ„dy that hee should be blamed to break the assurance which he had promised the King hee still answered Hee hath promised me and hee shall hold it I will make no Conscience to force him Peter of Goux his ChaÌ„cellor was one of those which counselled him not to offâ—nd the King Oli. de la March. and entred into the Contry of Liege in the beginning of winter The King had no forces but his scottish garde and 300. men at armes The Duke held a Counsell in the sight of Liege what he should do Some were of opinion that he should send back part of his Army for his forces were too great against a demantled towne which could not be releeued seing the King was with him He gaue no credit to this Counsell and it succeeded well for he could not be too strong hauing a mighty
bad frâ—tâ— and yeâ— wee see that from â—ood fathers come bad children The Iewes prouerb is Homets ben iin vâ—neger is the son of wine Natum crebro tanquam ex industria malis ebonis agrestes â— doctioribus ceteris â—u vic torin Caliguls Impressions were very easie in this lightnesse The rigor which King Lewis the eleuenth shewed vnto him made him giue eare to such as sought to finde their owne contentments in his discontents It is Iniustice in a Soueraigne brother not to prouide for the entertainment of his yonger whom he should put in the number of his forces and felicities They are of the same bloud and grounded vppon part and portion of the successiue rights but they haue neuer prospered which haue troubled the house for this and conspired with the members against the head Twenty yeares before this death France had seene a notable example in Brittaine Tragicall end of Giles of Brittaine There is no danger to lay the History a little aside Giles g Iohn the fift Duke of Brittaine left three Sonnes Francis Peter and Giles sonne to Iohn the fifth Duke of Brittaine and Brother to Francis the first being not well pleased with his portion retired himselfe to Guildo a Castle neere vnto the sea by Matignon The Duke his Brother makes King Charles the seuenth beleeue that he was there to fauour the English with aduice and intelligence h Vpon the first suspition of any ones fidelity they presently ad the communicatiâ—n of friends They doe exactly reuise actions past which deface or confirme the doubt of the present A beliefe which might easily bee setled in the soule of a iealous King for that this Prince had beene bred vp in England and the king had giuen him the Order of the Garter and the office of Constable Proces made to the Prince of Brittany Vppon this first impression the king sends to take him and deliuers him into the Dukes hands who sends him prisoner to Chasteau Briant commanding his Attourney Generall i The Duke demanded of the Atturney Generall what should be done in this processe The good man answered that he did not see what might be done that by the custome the elder had no criminall iustice ouer his yonger brother and that the Duke could not call him to his Iustice. An answer which was more simple theÌ„ true Hâ—st of Brit. lib. 11. to make his processe for treason but there was no crime nor any accuser The hand which had hurt him sought to cure him The king beeing informed of his innocencie laboured for his deliuerance The Duke durst not refuse him but being ready to be set a libertie his enemies suppose letters from the king of England wherevpon the king changeth his aduice and causeth him to bee kept more straightly in the Castle of Touffort There he is made to languish and endure greater extremities then those of the Quarries of Siracusa k The vsage of such as were shut vp in the Iayle of the Quarries of Siracusa was very straâ—ght for they had but two dishfuls of barley and one of water allowed them by dayâ— lut in the life 〈◊〉 for they refused him water and if he had bread they were the scraps of a poore woman who hearing him cry for hunger put them in at a window which was vpon the ditch side His gardes who had vndertaken to starue him seeing it continue to long Gilles of Brittany adiournes his Brother before God strangled him They gaue him leysure to thinke of his conscience hee charged a Friar to adiourne his Brother to heauen seeing there was no Iustice on earth for his innocencie l Gilles of 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 speech charged a Friar to goe vnto D. Francis the first and to tell him in what estate hee had left him the miseries he endured by iniustice that he could haue no right but referred all to the iudgement of God before 〈◊〉 he called him The Duke appeared Death pulling this thorne out of the kings heart gaue him meanes of more rest if his spirit had been capable of rest It carried him into many places m A spirit which is not restrained to certaine designes liues in continuall disquietnes Phil. de Commines speaking of this Prince saies these words The time that he rested his vnderstanding laboreâ— for â—e had to doe in many â—aces and did as willingly busie himselfe with his neighbours affaires as with his owne and thrust him into sundry designes medling with his neighbours affaires as with his owne True it is he had great crosses by them that were neerest vnto him Imprisonmenâ— of the Duke of Alencon Iohn the second Duke of Alençon the first Prince of the bloud was sent prisoner to the Louure for conspiring with the Kings enemies and at the same time they saw other Princes afflicted with the like Domesticke diseases Lewis was nothing sorrie to disquiet them he did what he could to fill vp the measure of their cares hauing no respect to make enemies so as they came to his Mill. Iohn the second King of Nauarre and Arragon had prosperities and aduersities Troubles in Nauarre both publike and priuate so variable and diuers as it could not be said whether he had more of the one then the other his youth was tost and his age was not quiet but still his courage remained inuincible in the greatest fury of the storme n They that make profession of wisedome faint in aduersitie are like vnto Pilots which grow sick during a storme Charles the onely Sonne and presumptiue heyre of the Crowne of Nauarre tooke Armes against him to bee King Charles Prince of Nauarre makes war against his Father Henry the fourth King of Castille who had married his eldest Daughter fauored his rebels of Barcelona and Gaston Earle of Foix husband to Elenor his second daughter seeing him busied against the Castillans sought to dispossesse him of the Crowne of Nauarre D. Pedro of Portugall was chosen King dyed at the siege of Tortosa o After that the Aâ—ragonis had declared K. Iohn vnwortâ—y the crown as the murtherer of his own son they did choose D. Pedro the third CoÌ„stable of Portugal son to D. Pedro D. of â—imbra Rene of Anjou Duke of Lorraine and Earle of Prouence being desirous to recouer the Title of a king which he had lost at Naples accepted the same election by the aduice of King Lewis the eleuenth and sent the Duke of Calabria his Sonne into Spaine with French troupes which ioyning with them of the countie of Roussillon besieged Girone The French besiege Giâ—onne The Arragonois were beaten and defeated and the Prince D. Ferdinand sonne to the King of Nauarre in danger to be taken prisoner p At the Battell of Denia the Prince D. Ferdinand was prisoneâ— Roderic of Rebâ—ledo caused himselfe to â—ee taken in his place to giue him meanes to escape and the King redeemeâ—
done any great exploits by sea although that their coast be greater then that of their neighbors and that it is hard for a Prince that is not strong at Sea r To bee strong at sea is much more auaileable the â—t land for the getting and keeping of a great estate The realme of Portugall is growne mighty by Nauigation The Common-weale of Genouâ— had extended her limits farre is ciuill dissâ—ntions had not stayed their designes by Sea euer to ecrease or maintaine his Empire If France had tooke delight at sea she had made the Flower-de-Luce to flourish farre off The French haue contemned Nauigation but this contempt of nauall expeditions hath clipt her wings with the which she should haue flowne so high as all the world had been amazed They did beleeue in those daies that who so was valiant at Land could not be so at Sea A verie preiudiciall errour for a Captaine that hath been accustomed to fight with the windes sea and men will sooner become a Captaine at Land where they fight onely with men then a land souldior will become a good Sea-man When as the King of England was landed at Calice The D. of Bourgundy is prest by the English and found not the Duke of Bourgundy he held it for a scorne and euen then he discouered his weaknes and sent him word that if he did not aduance he would force him to thinke of that which hee did not desire Behold this Prince reduced betwixt two extremes all the wisedome of man could not shew him a meane He found it dishonorable to dislodge from before Nuz and hee found it dangerous not to ioyne with the English God had stroken him with an amazement for the good of France for if hee had attended the English at their passage and not vndertaken the voyage of Germanie those two Armies ioyned together had been able to doe that which diuided was impossible When as the King of England prest him to come with speede the Emperor offered him battell to make him raise his seege from before Nuz At the same time when as both Armies were in view and that Albert Duke of Saxonie who carried the Standard of the Empire and Albert Marquis of Brandebourg prest the Emperor to command a chargr the Trumpets whom they attended to giue the signe sounded the publication of a peace He is forced to raise the siege of Nuz the last day of May. The secret Article carried this condition that the Duke should giue his Daughter to Maximilian and declare her heyre of al his Estates if he dyed without any sonne Munster saith that the Emperor for the desire he had of this mariage did not all the harme he could unto the Duke and that hee gaue him ten thousand florins The Duke said that he did not retire but to obay the admonition which the Pope gaue him by his Legate to whom the place was deliuered to coulour his dislodging with some shew the which was the more troublesome vnto the Duke s It is a disgrace to dislodg after a long coÌ„tinuance which alone should force Townes But he gaue the Duke this contentment that his enemies were not comprehended in this Treatie A conditionibus Pacis exclusi sunt Lud. Franc. Rex Sigismundus Exarch Austriae Out of the conditions of peace were excluded Lewis the French King Sigismond Archduke of Austria Rene Duke of Lorraine and the Suisses for that he knew the towne was reduced to extremities hauing neither patience not bread for aboue ten dayes hauing endured a whole yeare all the attempts of the assailant and all necessities which doe afflict and make desperate Townes which are sharply besieged He came posting with a small traine to Calice He comes to Calice to the King of England being loth to let the King of England see into what estate his wilfulnes at this siege had brought his Armie t The Duke of Burgundies armie had beene weakned at the siege of Nuz with the losse of foure thousand men the remainders did ouerrunne the countries of Lorraine and Bar whilest with a small traine he went to K. Edward to Calice The Constable who had presented a planke to passe the English into France now drawes it back He had promised that as soone as the Armies were ioyned hee would open the gates of S. Quentin and hee shootes at them that approch by the Dukes commandement And yet to giue a goodly name to a deformed thing u It is a great pittie said Cato 〈◊〉 his opinion against Catelyue that wee are come vnto those times where they doe attribute the name of wicked things to good Salust in Catel he seekes to make him beleeue by Lewis of Creuille whom he sent vnto him expressely that he had shewed reason and discretion in the fayling of his word that if he had receiued his men without some kinde of resistance he should make himselfe vnprofitable for his seruice loose the credit which he had with the French and the opinion esteeme which the King made of his fidelitie The Constable assures the Duke of his seruice That nothing could change his affection whereof he would giue him such infallible proofes against all men and without any exception beseeching the Duke that the Letter which he sent him might serue for an assurance of the same intention to the King of England These words vowed and sworne with vehemencie held the spirits of these two Princes in ballance notwithstanding that they doubted the contrarie x There is nothing difficult to beleeue when it is affirmed constantly and boldly sworne by any one although he were held a deceiuer The efficacy of an oath if it do not beget credit in the mind at the least it breedes a suspension and doubt of the contrary Guiceiardin saies in his first booke â—o non credo puâ— quasi â—ssere quâ—llo che multo eâ—â—icacimentes afferma non faccia 〈…〉 negli animi de terminati a credere ill contrarie I do scarce beleeue it can be but that which is 〈◊〉 with great efficacy will breed some doubt and ambiguity even in those mindes that were resolued to beleâ—ue the contrary Charles assured Edward that if they did aduance S t. Quentin was theirs They that presented themselues first with an opinion to enter The Constable failes of his promise to the K. of England and Duke of Bourgundy were forced to returne their backs with speed and retire to the Armie which followed The King of England cryed out of treason and euen then resolued to be mindfull of reuenge y A failing in 〈◊〉 and faith is 〈◊〉 forgotten and the remembrance hath alwaies for assessors Choller and Reuenge Darius for that he would not forget the wrong which the 〈…〉 done him had alwaies a Page 〈◊〉 â—â—uld him in his care when he sale downe to meat Sir remember the Athenians The Duke of Bourgundy gaue excuses and said that the Constable had a good
curiosity the King had of the markes of the greatnesse of the Maiesty of Kings when he saith that there was not a coate of armes to be found in all his campe and that they were forced to make one of the banner of a trompet to attyer this Herald Souueraigne powers were neuer without them f Princes haue alwaies had marks of greatnes maiesty The Senate ordained foure twenty Sargents to march before Augustus Before that the Roman Emperors had fire and a diademe for marks of maiesty they had maces and rods enuironed with boyes Excubiae arms cetera Anlae saith Tacit watching Armes and the rest of the Court. Being come into the army he was conducted to the king of Englands tent they demanded of him what he was whence he came and what he would His coate of armes made answer to the first demand and for the rest he said that he had commandement to speake vnto the King and to addresse himselfe to Haward and Stanley The King of England was then at diner in the meane time they made the Herald good cheere and then presented him vnto the King to deliuer his charge Instructed by the Signeur of Argenton Wee must stand to that which hee hath written that did instruct him and who hath reported it after this manner That the K. had long desired to be in friendship with him and that the two realmes might liue in peace and that neuer since hee was King of France The Heralds speech to the King of England he had not made warre nor attempted any thing against the King nor the Realme of England excusing him-selfe g These Prepositions seeme nothing generous they argue feare and ere vnworthy of a great Prince who should let his enemies know that he did not demand nor accord any thing by force But Phil. de Com. excuseth the K. and saith that If God had not disposed the King to choose so wise a party the Realme had been in great danger Then he addes Wee had then many secret matters among vs vvhence had sprung great inconueniences vnto the Realme and that sodainly if the accord had not been soon made as wel from Brittaine as other places And I verily beleeue by matters which I haue seene in my time that God had and hath a speciall care of this Realme for that he had formerly entertayned the Earle of Warwicke and said that it was onely against the Duke of Bourgundy and not against him Hee also let him vnderstand that the said Duke of Bourgundy had not called him but to make a better accord with the King vppon the occasion of his comming and if there were any other that had a hand in it it was but to repaire their errors tending to their priuate ends and touching the King of Englands interest they cared not what became thereof so as they might make their owne good Hee also layed before him the time and winter which approached and that he knew well he was at great charge and that there were many in England both of the Nobility and Marchants which desired to haue warre in France And if the King of England should doe his endeauour to harken to a treaty that the said king would doe the like so as he and his realme should remaine content And to the end he might be better informed of these things Hee demands a pasport for a Conference if he would giue a pasport for an hundred horse that the king would send Ambassadors vnto him well informed of his will or if the king of England desired it should rather be in some Village midway betwixt both Armies and that the Deputies of either side should meet there he would be well content and would send a safe conduct Many thought that King Edward would haue said vnto the Herald We will talke in Paris h Arsaces K. of the Parthians sent to tell Crassus that if he were sent by the Romans to make warre against him hee would haue no peace but if he came of his owne free will to possesse his Contry that then hee would suffer them to depart with their liues and goods wherevnto Crassus said brauely I will make you an ansvver in the Towne of Seleucia the Parthian Ambassador began to smile and shewing him the palme of his hand hee said Crassus thou shalt sooner see haire grow in this hollow of mine hand then the Citty of Seleucia in thine but this first ouerture was so pleasing Ouerture of a peace betwixt the two Kings as he granted pasports for the Deputies of the conference England had rather forced then perswaded him to the Chimeras of this war He had leuied great summes of money for his passage the warre drew them out of his cofers peace kept them there and added more Ciuill warre had so weakened and impouerished England as at need they could neither hope for men nor money Hee had caused some of the Deputies of the Commons of England to passe with him Reasons which perswaded the English to peace they were already weary of the warre and to lodge after the manner of Soldiers These men did allow of this proposition of Peace and said that it was iust and reasonable i It is a weakenes in a Prince to make it apparantly knowne that hee desires a peace It is indiscretion to refuse it when it is iust If a Peace bee iust and honest saith Polibius 4. it is in truth good and goodly yet must they not doe any thing that is vniust and vnreasonable nor suffer any shamefull thing to bee done to enioy it that it were indiscretion to refuse it and that they should be contented to haue reduced the French King to seeke a peace with the King of England for that a great King cannot humble himselfe more nor descend lower then to seeke his enemy for a peace Pasports were dispatcht of either part and the Deputies entred into conference in a Village neere vnto Amiens in view of both armies which were but fower leagues asunder The Bastard of Bourbon Admirall St. Pierre and Heberge Bishop of Ereux for Lewis Haward one Challenger and Morton who was afterwards Chancelor of England for Edward The Ouerture of the assembly was by a demand of the Realme of France which the English said did belong vnto them grounding their pretensions vppon those of Edward the third k Edward the third King of England sonne to Edward the second and to Marguerite or Elizabeth of France disputed the Regency and Royalty in the yeare 1328. who as sonne to Elizabeth daughter to Phillip the faire had first disputed the Regency and then the succession of the Crowne against Philip of Valois thinking to ouerthrow the ancient order of the Salike Law l The Salike law excludes woemen from the succession of the Crowne it carries these wordes Nulla portio hereditatis mulieri veniat sed ad virilem sexuâ—â— tota terrae hereditas perueniat Let
to moue humours not to purge the bodie It was told Pompey that there were amoÌ„g Stertorius papers many Senators Letters who exhorted him to come into Italy and to attempt against Rome but Pompey did an Act not of a yong man but of a graue setled inâ—gement causing all his Letters to be burnt and not suffring one to be read Plut. but the King who contemned not any thing thought that it was an Arrow shot against the Constable therefore he desired to be satisfied from Edward who dissembling not his great discontentment against the Constable related vnto him the whole History of his preuatications and for proofe thereof deliuered two Letters into his hands After a long discourse accompanied with infinite shews of loue honor and respect the two Kings parted Edward past by the Sea leauing Hostages in the delights and feasts of Paris and the chiefe Noble men of his Court talked of nothing but the Kings bountie The Heralds and trumpets of England at their parting cryed out A largesse a largesse h Liberalitie is like the Sunne amoÌ„g the other lights of a royaltie It is the myâ—rhe which preserues the reputation of Kings incorruptible for the most noble and mightie King of France A largesse a largesse The King went to lie at Amiens by the way he entertained himselfe with that which he had obserued in this Action speaking these words to Phil. de Commines confidently A wise obseruation of the king I found the King of England so willing to come to Paris as it did not please me Hee is a goodly King and loues women much hee might finde some Mignion at Paris who would tell him so many goodly tales as he might haue a desire to returne His Predecessors haue beene too much in Paris and Normandie His company auailes me nothing on this side the Sea but on the other side he is my good brother and friend Being come to Amiens and ready to set downe to meate Haward one of the Hostages thinking to doe him a great pleasure came and told him in his eare that if he pleased he would draw the King of England vno Amiens and it might bee to Patis to make good cheere there with his Maiestie The King who hauing saued the Capitoll i It is good to see an enemies back The Gauls demanded boats to passe the Riuer of Tyber and the Senate commanded to giue them some beeing put to rout they assured them the way to saue them Poliâ—nus Lib. 2. had no care but to make a large way for the Gaules to passe receiued this speech with a good countenance although it did not please him and as if he had thought of other matters he began to wash and to speake of other things Haward remembred him after supper hauing not obserued the Kings intention by the first euasion The King being prest by his importunity said that he was then ready to goe to horse to see what the Duke of Bourgundy would doe and to make him runne the hazard of Armes seeing he had contemned the opportunitie of an accord They that past the Sea vnwillingly would haue beene glad to haue found some occasion to haue stayed longer in France they had some reason for the good of their estate and that Paris might be to London as Carthage had been to Rome k Estates maintaine theÌ„selues by the common feares and iealousies they haue one of an other And therfore Scipâ—o Nasiâ—a did aduise theÌ„ to preserue Carthage notwithstanding that she had put the 〈◊〉 of Rome to comprimise Ne metu ablato aemula vrbis luxuriarâ— felicitas vrbis inciperâ—t Least being freed froÌ„ the feare of a Citie that was enemy the Citie in her prosperitie should fall to â—yot Flor. Lib 2. de Bello Punice They had such hot spirits among them as if they had not some imploiment without the Iland they were capable to beginne the Earle of Warwicks game During the Kings abode at Amiens he was visited by the English especially by those that would not returne without some present The King giues preâ—â—mâ—s to the English The Duke of Glocester who seemed much discontented with this Truce found it good after that the King had giuen him plate and horses This Prince did sow euen in barren groundes the feare of ingratitude did not stay his handes from giuing vnto them who being gone neuer gaue him thankes l They doe not forbeare to sow after an â—â—n fertill haruest hee must not leaue to binde one after ingratitude although the benâ—fit perish with the other he must not suffer it to perish with himselfe He was very well pleased with that day but he was greeued that the King of England had shewed so much passion for the Duke of Brittaine for his desire was not to suffer him in peace Edward declares the Duke of Brittanâ— to be his friend Hee caused him to bee sounded againe by the Lords of Bouchage and St. Pierre but they brought nothing back but rough wordes sweating that he would repasse the sea againe if they quarreled with the Britton m Besides the bond which K. Edward had to the D. of Brittany for that hee had assisted him in his greatest necessiâ—y he feared to discoÌ„tent him least he should set Henry whom he held prisoner at libertie The King seeing that he could not diuide them thought to make him a good friend whom he could not declare a iust enemy Peace betwixt the King and the Du of Brittany seing that he was comprehended in the Truce Wherefore there was a Treaty of peace betwixt them signed and concluded in the Abbey of Senlis the 16. of October 1475. published in the Parliament of Paris and at the estates of Brittaine The King of England was not more content to see his realme againe then the King seemed ioyfull to haue sent him out of his Princes somtimes let slip free speeches in their Cabinets which are obserued and reported againe The King being some dayes after King Edwards departure with his seruants reioyced at the happy successe of his affaires saying that there was nothing to be compared to vanquish without fighting n The victorie which costs least bloud is mâ—st glorious said Alphonso K. of 〈◊〉 Panorm in his life and that they which returned from the place whether they came to make warre without doing any thing were vanquished Words escaped the K. vpon the Treatie of Peace He iested that with wine and money he had sent away the English This flowing of words with more truth then wisedome came to the hearing of a Gascon Marchant remaining in England who was come into the Cabinet to craue leaue to transport a certaine number of pipes of wine Impost free Heard by a Gascon Marchant The King would haue been glad that this man hauing seene the Palace of his Councels bare and vncouered had been blind deafe but he made no shew of it acknowledging
shall seldome see a great spirit without some medley of fâ—lly wherof the purest comâ—s froÌ„ the finest wisdom and therefore Thucidides will not haue the choose high aspiring spiriits into the Counceller of Princes nor to the maâ—naging of affâ—ires but those that are meane who are lesse obstinate Hee thought to make a perpetuall warre betwixt the King of France the King of England and the duke of Bourgundy behold he is amazed to see them reconcyled and against him He hath made him-selfe vnworthy of grace with the first of succors and defence with the second and of all hope with the third and in opinion with all three that hee would play the companion b As it is dangerous to contend with ones equall so is it madaâ—sto quarrell with his superior and to seeke to go hand in hand with him with them raise his reputation and merits vpon the ruine of their affaires mingle his ashes with those of their Estates and eternize his memory not in burning one Temple alone Ill with the King but the Estates of them all three The King had done him good not in respect of his person but of the seruices which he might doe him and when as he saw his affections altered his will also grew could making it knowne that great hatred proceeded from great friendship c The fauors benefits of Princes are not for the respect of the persons but in consideration of seruices and merits which they find in their seruants when these qualities change it is not strange if in like manner their fauors and affections alter Hee could not forget the practises which hee had made to keepe France in trouble and combustion nor the arrogant and insolent shew of armes vpon the Causey of Compiegneâ— nor the letters written to the King at the sight whereof he sware his great oath which hee did neuer violate that he should die Nor so many acts of a spirit which made it selfe miserable for that he could not beare his felicity The Duke had neuer pardoned him the taking againe of Amiens and Abbeuille Ill with the Duke the desire of his reuenge was a riuer d Reuenge runnes on still although it appeares not Plutarque compares it to riuers which runne vnder the earth and afterwards hurst forth with more violence which had his course through the rockes of the difficulties of his affaires He could not forget his cunning practise to marry his daughter to the Duke of Guienne nor his refusall to receiue his men into Saint Quentin after that he had caused them to come Moreouer he was incensed e Offences often renewed end with immortall paynes for that he had first made warre in his country by fire the rest being contented to vse the sword for whilest he lay incamped before Amiens the Constable had made a roade into the country of Haynault and burnt the Castell of Seurre belonging vnto Baldwin of Lannoy whome the Duke loued Ill with the King of England The King of EnglaÌ„d was offended with him for that hauing councelled and perswaded him to come into France to tryumph there hee had returned without tryumph All three would rather haue made an other hell then haue suffered such trecheries vnpunished All things seemed to bandie and conspire his ruine hee could not keepe himselfe vp firme seeing so many persons about him ouerthrowne The Constables perplexity after the peace f It is no wonder not to bee mooued in traÌ„quillity but we may be amazed to see a man rise when as all others shrinke and to stand firme amongst them that stuÌ„ble Sen. Epist. 73. The disgraces which fortune hath done him in the publike ruines are augmented by many other priuate crosses His wife the only support of his greatnes is dead Iames of S. Paul his brother prisoner la Scala his nephewe returning out of England was taken by the Kings men and found seazed of daungerous Instructions the Earle of Roucey his Sonne in the duke of Burbons hands The Earle of Dammartin his enemy with the Kings forces neere vnto S. Quentin And the Prince of Orange at liberty carrying the title of Prince by the grace of God g Ielousie and enuy worke strange diâ—â—emperatures in their mindes which martch hand in hand The Constable of S â— Paul could not indure the prosperity of some greate men in court He is grieued that the prince of Orange is set at liberty for thirty thousand Crownes and that the king hath suffered him to carry the title of Prince by the grace of God to coyne money and to pardon all offences except heresie and treason All these things were so many thornes in his bed to keepe him from sleepe he doth not dreame wake nor thinke but how to stand firme against all these violent stormes of fortunes but he seekes to cure his harmes h A pernitious remedy to cure one mischiefe with another and to think to be cured by disorders which caused diseases the intemperance of the Patienâ— causeth the cruelty of the Phisition by other mischefes He is like vnto an earthen vessell which must needes breake if it fall vppon a stone or a stone fall vppon it The nedle of his Compas turnes toward the Kings Clemencie as to his north He sends Rapin his secretary vnto him with silken words humble and milde beseeching him to beleeue that the King of England and the Duke of Bourgundy desired nothing more then to draw him to the extremitie of dispayre The Constable seeks the Kings fauor and to seeke his safty of them beeing that he could not finde it with the King That a desire to bee reuenged of him who had not offended theÌ„ but in that he had not offended his maiestie had giuen way vnto the slanders which had bin published against him and fauoured by the il will of his enemies which were about his maiestie namely by the Lord of Dammartin and Lude who did not loue him and that his heart could not bend vnto that diuine rule to loue his enemies i To loue ones enemies is a diuine Action to loue his friendes humane but to hate his friendes is bruitish But men are of that disposition especially great men they cannot indure the prosperity of their enemies Good workemasters know one anothers worke one line makes them iudge by whome the picture was made The King his craftsmaster in dissembling did iudg that whatsoeuer the Constable pretended to doe was but couÌ„terfeit Aristotle speakes of a rock which burnes hauing oyle cast vppon it that an ambitious spirit dissembles as he list k It is dangerous to giue credit to the wordes and actions of those that haue any designe 〈◊〉 a desire to attaine vnto it makes them to faigne any thing that a wicked man is neuer worse then when hee will counterfeit to be good wherfore all the oyle of his goodly l words doe not allwayes serue to open but to couer the
the imbecillitie and weaknes of his Nature for whereas hee should haue opposed himselfe against those mutinies he suffred them to get such credit and authoritie as the Archbishop of Toledo being sent for to come vnto him to the end hee might pacifie those troubles he said vnto him that brought him this charge Tell your King that I am weary of him his affaires and that he shall shortly see who is the true King of Castille The Grandos of the Realme assembled in a great plaine neere vnto Auila to degrade the King from the royall dignity That which they could not doe vnto his person Alfonso proclained K. of Castille they did vnto his statue d When as King Henry vnderstood of this degradation which was in Iune 1â—65 he said I haue bred vp children and they haue contemned me I came naked from my mothers wombe and the earth atâ—ends me naked No man can liue so poorely as hee is borne and it God expels mee now for my fins he wil comfort and preserue mee afterwards for his infinite power is that which kils and restores to life which wouÌ„ds and cures that which giues Siegneuries takes them away which raiseth vp Kings puls them downe when he pleaseth which they presented vpon a scaffold when as the Herad said that D. Henry was degraded from the royall dignity the Archbishop of Toledo tooke the Crowne from his image the Earle of Plaisance the sword and the Earle of Beneuent the Scepter this done Diego Lopes cast it out of the royall seat Alfonsos standard was aduanced and poore Henry shouted at and contemned They would end the quarrell by a battell before Olivedo e The Battell of Oluiedo was in the yeare 1467. They doe not agree who had the victory D. Alfonso was seen armed aâ— all peeces incouraging his men D. Henry appeared not in the fight but entered triumphing towards night into Medina del Campo The two Armies fought by order one squadron against another The Archbishop of Toledo led his army hauing a white stole vpon his armes The combat continewed three houres and ended with so great disorder of either side as both parties made bonfiers for the victory The Pope sent his Legat f Anthony de Veneris Bishop of Lyon the Popes Legate being in Spain coÌ„manded them to lay downe Armes vpon paine of excommunication the great men of Spaine opposed themselues said that they appealed to a Councill The Licentiat Iohn D. Alcacer and Doctor Alphonso of Madrigall were committed for this appeale to pacefie these troubles during the which King D. Alfonso hauing raigned three yeares died of the plague at Cardegnosa Death of Alfonso King of Castille The League would haue declared Isabella heire of the Realme the which she would not accept the King her brother lyuing wherevpon a peace was made by which she was declared Princesse of Castille the nineteenth of September 1468. vpon condition that she should not marry without the consent of the King hir brother They would haue married her to Alfonso of Portugall who was a widower and D. Ioane to Iohn the eldest Sonne of Portugall vpon condition that if there came no children of the marriage of the Pincesse Isabell g D. Isabella was sought for in marriage by the brother of King Lewis by the King of Englands brother She made choise of D. Ferdinand Prince of Arragon He came to see her vnknown D. Guttiere of Cardona who coÌ„ducted him shewed him her saiing in Spanish Esse es It is he To whome the Princesse answerered sodenly and S. Shal be thine armes vpon this cause the family of this knight doth at this day carry an S in tâ—eir armes and deuice those which issued from the marriage of D. Ioane should succeed to the realme Castille But D. Isabella had other thoughts she loued Ferdinand sonne to Iohn King of Navarre and Arragon whome shee caused to come to Vaillidolet in a disguized habit and marryed him the eighteenth of October 1469. Isabella of Castille marries Ferdinand of Arragon King Henry was so incensed at this marriage as hee declared his Sister fallen from all the rights which shee might pretend to the crowne of Castille and caused Ioane his daughter to be proclaymed his true heire who was married to Charles Duke of Guienne as hath beene formerly said This treaty of marriage was broken by the death of the Dukd of Guienne King Henry died also h The death of Henry the 4. King of Castille was in the yere 1474. the one and forty yeare of his age and the on twenteth of his raign Hee was interred in the great Chappell of the Monastery of Guadalupe He appointed 52. lampes of siluer to burne day night vpon his tombe And notwithstanding that the Crowne were assured to Ferdinand and Isabel yet Ioane continued the title of Queene of Castille Troupes sent out of France into Castille and in this quality she married with Alfonso King of Portugall which was an occasion of great warres The French King being discontented with the house of Arragon and the warre of Pergignan sent troupes to the King of Portugal vnder the command of Aman of Albret i Ambassadors haue oste ingaged their Maisters in very ruin ous voiages Philip de CoÌ„mines who had treated with them of the K. of Portugall saith that if they had beene well aduised they would haue informed themselues better of matters here before they had councelled their Maister to this voiage wâ—ich was very preiudiciall vnto him But the King of Portugal hauing lost his enterprises and his Partisans was forced to retyer himselfe into Portugall carring away no other triumph of the warre of Castille but the Princesse D. Ioane his wife whome notwithstanding hee would not mary before hee were assured of the Realme of Castille and therefore he went into France to implore ayde from King Lewis with whome he had treated an alliance by his Ambassadors who vnder the good chere which was made them and the good words which were giuen them during the treaty without any other intent perswaded their Maister to come into France assuring him that he should doe more by his presence for the succors which he demanded then by the mediation of his servants and that there might bee a marriage made betwixt the Dauphin and D. Ioane his Neece He landed at Marseille Alfonsâ— K of Portugall comes to Tours came to Lyons and so went downe the riuer of Loire to Tours where he acquainted the King with the cause of his voyage k Necessity â—orceth Princes euen to things vnworthy of their quality They write that this Prince besought the King to succor him with such vehemency and humanity as hee fell on his knees at his heete It had not beene secret though he had beene silent Kings come neuer to the gates of other Kings to offer or to giue but to demand and entreat He carried a Lampe in
inuenias Quorsum enim eâ—rei nomen imposuissent cuius ipsi nullum penitus vsum habuissent nec imposterum vilum fore sperabant Quas enim Reginas alii suo quisque sermone nos Regum vxores appellamus Our Elders were so farre from giuing the gouernment of publike affaires to women as if you will examine all words there is not any one to be found with them of a womans gouernment why should they giue that a name whereof they had no vse neither did they hope there should be Those whom other Nations in their language tearme Queenes we call Kings wiues That for these reasons he could not councell the Estate of the Realme to preferre the gouernment of a woman before that of a man not to the Queene to attempt it beseeching her to thinke that they which councelled her did it more for their owne fortunes then for her honour That although her vertues were not vnknown to Scotland and that they must hope well of the vigour of her spirits and the greatnesse of her courage yet they had but two many examples of the ruines which verie sufficient women had brought to States when as striuing to excell their sexe they would exceed the bounds ordained by nature g Zenobia Palâ—â—yrenâ— hauing vanquished the Parthians and valiantly defended the Romaine Empire in the end she saw her selfe vanquished and a prisoner In a moment she lost the realme which her husband had inlarged and inricht This seemes to shew that the enterprises of women beyond their reach are alwaies dangerous His aduice was that they should chuse one or more capable to gouerne the Realme vntill the King had force of minde and body to discharge them This opinion was followed by the greatest part and they that would willinglie haue crost it Councell appointed for the Regency of Scotland seeing themselues ouerswaied by the multitude consented But to the end one faction should haue no aduantage ouer the other they tooke two of either giuing them power to keepe the Prince and to gouerne the Realme They left vnto the Queene the care to bring vp his two Brethren Alexander Duke of Albany and Iohn Earle of Marre and his two Sisters but she died the yeare following The affaires being thus setled in Scotland the King of England made a truce with the Scottish men for fifteene yeares About the sixt yeare of his raigne Robert Bothwell fauoured by the King Robert Bothwell a bold spirit being desirous to haue a share in the affaires found meanes to approach neere vnto this young Prince and told him that hee had beene long enough vnder the gouernment of these old men that it was time to make himselfe knowne and what God had ordained him to be Perswasions to raigne and commaund are alwaies sweet especiallie to Princes who thinke they cannot begin their raignes too soone nor end theÌ„ too late Vpon this discourse the King suffered himselfe to be led to Edingbrough to begin his raigne The Regents of the Realme were incensed at this presumption make Bothwells processe But the King declaring that hee had done nothing but for his seruice and by his commaundement makes him Lieutenant Generall of the Realme and a Companion both in his authoritie and affaires h Tiberius called Seianus Socium laborum a Companion of his labouâ—s he caused his statue to be honored in Pallaces and Theaters Tacit. lib. 4. He commits vnto his charge his owne person his Brethren and Sisters his Forts and Townes vntill hee should come to the age of one and twenty yeares he bindes all the Noblemen that were about him to acknowledge him in this qualitie and he giues his eldest Sister in marriage to Thomas Bothwell the sonne of Robert i The points reserued to Soueraigne Maiesty should neuer be imparted to any Subiect no not by Commission least they open a way to the Subiect to enter into the Princes place That which the King thought to do to assure this breeding greatnesse was that which ouerthrew it Nobility of Scotland conspire against Bothwell for the Nobles of the Realme did so enuy it and did pretend so many dangers in this great Communication of the Royall Authoritie to a priuate person as they coniured the ruine of this house The King had demaunded Margaret the King of Denmarkes Daughter in marriage whereunto they did the more willinglie accord for that by the treatie the controuersie was ended betwixt those two Crownes for the Ilands of Orcades The question was to send one to conduct the Queene This charge was giuen to Thomas Bothwell by the aduice of his enemies to the end that this absence might coole the great heare of the Kings loue as commonly Princes affections fauour that onelie which they see and weaken his faction giuing more courage to his enemies to make their party against him They that had neuer spoken word during his great prosperitie cry now against those Horseleeches of State against those Rauens and Harpies k For a time they suffer and dissemble the publike iniuries and oppressions of priuate men but when as any one begins to cry all pursue them All the complaints which had beene made against the Father for the bad gouernment of affaires were reuiued with such vehemencie as the King saw himselfe in a manner forced to heare them and to prouide for it A Parlament being called at Edinbourg they make a great instance vnto him he cannot bandie himselfe against such wholesome resolutions and they let him vnderstand that the force of his Estate consists in the Accord of his Will with those of his Senate l A Prince cannot shâ—w to much fauour loue and protection to the generall Councell of his Estate from whence goe all the resolutions for the good of the CoÌ„mon-weale Otho speaking of the Senate of Rome said vnto his Armie Quid vos pulcherimaÌ„ hanc vrbem domibus tectis congestu lapidum stare creditis Muta ista et inanima intercidere reparari promiscue possuÌ„t aeternitas rerum par gentium mea cum vestra salus in columitate Senatus firmatur What doe you thinke that this goodly Citty consists in houses buildings and heapes of stâ—nes these dumb sencelesse things may fall and bee repaired againe the eternitie of things the peace of Nations and my health with yours is setled by the safety of the Senate Robert Bothwell is sent for to appeare in person and to giue an account of his actions Bothwell coÌ„demned by the Parliament His flight into England did conuict him His Sonne being ficke and not able to flie away was staied a prisoner and condemned to loose his head in the Spring following Thomas Bothwel being come to Edingbourg with the Queen much amazed after so many dangers which hee had runne for his seruice to see his house thus ruined and vpon the aduice which his Wife gaue him of the small hope there was to returne into fauour he
haue relinquished our owne right and thought good to surcease The Embassadours of Venice and Florence fall to an examination of the Articles They finde not any pleasing vnto them they make new demands wil haue all restored which had ben taken during the war they passe ouer the Popes interests respects highly and say plainely that the affaires are changed being no more in the estate they were in before they had made a peace with the Turke the which they declared they would maintain constantly and fully ConditioÌ„s of Peace refused As for demanding absolution after the forme of the Church there was no such meaning d Pia insuper sanctaque impiè nefandissimè occisorum Christianorum Domini suffragià Cardinalis legati detensioneÌ„ ambagibus quibusdam praetereunt Qui vero monumentuÌ„ declinandum existiment si nostram eam infamiam putant aequo animo per Deum superflui officij curam deponant Nam conscientia pluris est nobis quam omniuÌ„ sermo benefactis quorum testis est Deus maloruÌ„ calumnias veras nobis laudes adscribimus Discrimen iniustae criminationis malumus subire quam tot defunctorum animas refrigerio iusto carere Qui si ad seipsos eam infamiam referunt imièque factoruÌ„ delere de ciuitaâ—e memoriaÌ„ cupiunt sunt haud dubiè in seipsos mortuos duri Ad iterandam enim contritionem proximisque praebendum exemplum subleu andumque imprimis extinctorum animas stare ante oculos peccatum volunt durae nimirum recusationis suae culpa haec est non misericordis postulati nostri They thinke it would be no honour for them to entertaine an odious remembrance of things past causing Anniuersaries to be said for the soules of the dead to giue new assurance of their affection toward the Church there was no mention When as the Pope saw this Popes coÌ„plaint against the League he assembled the Consistory with the Embassadors e Vertimur ad vos Itali CoÌ„federati Oratores quoruÌ„ causa haec agimus lamentamur primo 〈◊〉 Deo fratribus nostris ceterisque Legatis in hoc loco presentibê° vocem patris plena salutis coÌ„silia ad hunc diem non audita esse Clementia nostra vestâ—os Principes pie non vsos plus apud eos armorum belli fiduciam quam Matris vestrae Apostolici Sedis charitateÌ„ obseruantiam valuisse Angimur quoque tam longinquam missionem amicissi Regis curamque eius vigilias pro viribus susceptas sanctumque pro fide proposituÌ„ successum per vos non habuisse of the Emperour Frederick of Lewis the French King of Edward King of England of Ferdinand King of Arragon of Maximilian Arch-Duke of Austria and of the Confederates He complained of the contempt of his authority and told the Embassadors of the league that he lamented the obstinacy of their Princes who would not hearken to the voyce and wholesome counsell of their father whose bounty they did abuse and had more confidence in their owne Armes then affection to the Church their mother That he was exceeding sorry that the Kings Embassage and the good Offices which he had done to the holy Sea should remaine without effect that for his part his conscience should neuer accuse him to haue contemned any thing for the good of the Church that his armes were alwayes open to receiue them that would repent And for that the Embassadors of Venice Florence and Millan demanded leaue to depart he declared that they were free that he would not force the necessity of their returne but if they would stay they might with all safety that it might be time and their presence might make those things easie which seemed difficult IntelligeÌ„ces of the Duke of Brittaine discouered and that sometimes Treaties were broken off to be vnited againe more firmely But it is more time to repasse the mountaines and see how the King makes his profite of these last accidents Estates are like vnto ships all things are not so well but there is still some disorder It seemed that the Duke of Bourgundies death had brought France to that estate as she could not desire any thing else to make her felicity perfect But there is yet another Duke which hinders this perfection It is he of Brittany who since the Treaty made at Victoire neere vnto Senlis hath not discontinued his practises in England forgetting that the English had alwayes reserued this Prouince for the exercise of their Armes when they should be weary of peace f Edward the third King of England would not haue the Duke of Brittaine compreheÌ„ded in the Treaty of Bretigny to the end he might haue meanes to vent in this prouince the boiling humours of his Realme haue where to discharge himselfe of his Souldiers and that they haue taken delight to see him in bad tearmes with the King The Duke was more earnest and carefull hereof when he saw that he had lost the Duke of Bourgundy assuring himselfe that the King would fall vpon him and that it would be verified of him what the Fable sayes of the Larke in the Hawkes tallants g The weake receiues from one that is more strong what Law he pleaseth The Larke saith Hesiodus demanded of the Spar-hawke why he offered him violence Miserable answered the Spar-hawke why dost thou complaine a stronger hath thee in his power Wherefore he sent often to visit the King to entertain him in a good opinion of his pains and the fidelity of his promises and yet he continued his practises with the King of England The secret of this practise depended of Peter Landays Disposition of Peter Landais Superintendant of the Dukes affaires and Treasure an able and sufficient man to manage such Monopolies He had Flattery for great men arrogancy and brauery for Inferiors and he was difficult and seuere to them that were his equals h These three qualities attributed to Landays haue been giuen to Cutius Râ—fus a man whom Tiberius to â—â—de the bâ—sâ—nesse of his extraction said to be borne of himselfe Curtius Rufus videtur mihi ex se nâ—tus Curtius Ruâ—us seemes to me to be borne of himselfe Tacitus addes that hee was Aduâ—rsus superiores tristi adulati ne arroâ—aâ—â—s minoribus inter pares difficilis To his superiours a sowre flatterer arrogant to his inferiors and difficult to his equals Tacit. Animal Lib. 11. He imployed and called Maurice Bromell who carried and recarried the Packets The King who had spies euery where discouers the messenger and wins Bromell who by meanes of a Norman that could counterfeit the King of Englands hand the Duke of Brittaines and their Secretaries sent the originall letters vnto the King and carried the counterfeit Copies into England The Duke of Brittaine who thought he had no other witnesse in this action then the Sunne and that the king could haue no knowledge therof i In Actions which
Frontier I finde that Guerin le Groin Baliffe of Saint Peter le Moustier and Robinet of Quesnoy Either of them Captaine of a hundred Lances tooke a great Conuoy of Money which came to Doway and with a small Troupe defeated a great number of Horse which did gard it If the King of England had declared himselfe for the Princesse of Bourgundy there had beene a great alteration and she had lesse apprehended the power and hatred of the French King who had wisely preuented it Lewis entertaines friendship with the English He knowing that King Edward loued his ease and that he would not shew himselfe too passionate in his Neighbours quarrels caused his Embassadours to obserue him and entertained him often with Visits and Presents d To send wise and polliticke Embassadours to Princes whoÌ„ they feare vpon diuers pretexes is the true meanes to preuent their designes but especially with the hope of a Marriage betwixt his sonne and his daughter Whom in England they called the Dauphine He caused the fifty thousand Crownes due by the Treaty of Piquigny to be paied at the day in the Citty of London which the English called the Tribute of France He gaue great Pensions to the Chancellor Chamberlaine Admirall and Maister of the Horse in England This made some to speake and others to hold their peace touching the affaires of France e To cast Gold into a Princes Councell is a great charme for greedy minds Gold is a medecine which at one instant workes two contrary effects To speake and to be silent There neuer came any Embassadours but commended his bounty at their returne and held themselues in a manner bound to fauour his intentions by which proceedings hee held himselfe in a manner assured on that side This made the Princesse of Burgundy resolue to marry to follow the counsell of the Lady of Haluin Princesse of Bourgundy wil haue a maÌ„ to her husband her first Lady of Honour which was to take a man and not a child for she was capable to beare them f There was a great disparitie of age betwixt the Dauphin and thus Princesse who was mother of three children before the Prince was a eleuen yeares old Shee refused the king of Englands brother It was thought that if they had propounded the Earle of Angolesme father to King Francis the 1. she would haue hearkened vnto it g The Annales of Aquitane speake thus vpon this occasion King Lewis wanted indgment in this action for if he had not hee wold haue married her to Charles Duke ef Angolâ—sme father to King Francis that now is her affections inclining to haue a Prince of France although she were much discontented for that the King had beene the cause of the death of her two good seruants Hugonet and Imbercourt The Emperour Frederick sent his Embassadours vnto her to put her in minde of the letter which she had written by the commandement of Duke Charles her father carrying a promise of marriage to the Arch-duke Maxamilian his son The Duke of Cleues who had another designe instructed her to referre her selfe to her Councell h In a Councell held vpon the reception of the Embassadours the Duke of Cleues said that after they had deliuered their message the Princesse of Burgundy should say vnto them that they were very welcome and that shee would referre it to her Councell and no more Phil. de Com. and not to say any thing to the Embassadours but at the sight of this Letter and a Diamond which did accompany it she declared that she had written the Letter and giuen the Diamond Princesse of Bourgundy marries Maxmilian by her fathers commandement The marriage was treated and Maximilian came into Flanders to consomate it and before the yeare was expired Philip father to Charles the 5. was the first fruits of this marriage Maximilian was then but twenty yeares old i When as Maximilian came into Flanders he was but twenty yeares old Hee was borne in the yeare 1458. Elenor daughter to Edward king of Portugal was his mother desiring to shew that the loue of the Princesse of Burgundy was not blind in choosing him among so many Corriuals he sought to recouer that which she had lost The King sent Craon into Bourgundy Kings Army in the French County k Peter or George of Tremouile Lord of Craon Liuetenant of the Kings Army in Bourgundy who hauing a power and being assisted by Iohn of Chalons Prince of Orange reduced the Towne of Dijon vnder the Kings obedience The Prince of Orange seeing himselfe deluded by him and that he did not deliuer vp the places vnto him which he had taken according to the Kings commandement grew discontented reuolted and recouered in a manner all that Craon had wonne in the County and then cast himselfe into Gy. From thence Craon besieged Dole Dole besieged contemning them that were within it as men whom he held to be without courage or defence This contempt accompanied with carelessenesse made him to loose his honour the Kings fauour and the Towne which he might haue taken for the besieged made a sally in a night that was windy darke and rainy with such aduantage as they surprized him and forced him to ritire with the losse of some of his Ordinance and of three thousand men l The fault of a Generall of an Army is sufficiently punished by the losse of his honour and his Princes loue and fauour The Romanes had no punishment for such errours to the end their Commanders should not haue their minds troubled with the dangers and ordinary Inconueniences in such charges and with the examples of such whose faults had bene punished with death For it is impossible to resolue iudiciously betwixt feare and suspition Charles of Amboise Lord of Chaumont was substituted in his place who aduised the King to renew his aliance with the Suisses and thereby to weaken the house of Bourgondy The perswasion of this counsell was not difficult the King thought nothing more fit for the safety of his estate then to make his enemies weake of Intelligence and Friends He sent some to practise this league and pursued it with great vehemency He had receiued so great content in the ruine of the most obstinate of his enemies as after the Battels of Granson and Morat hee did nothing but speake of the Suisses valor m Lewis the â—1 greatly aduaÌ„ced the reputation of the Suisses After victories which they had wonne against Charles Duke of Bourgondy he caused them to bee much esteemed Hee sent Embassadours with rich presents hee gaue them after the battell of Granson vntill his death aboue a million of Florins of the Rhin and esteeme their Friendship He put them in greater reputation then euer they had beene although they had much honoured the establishment of their liberty with a triumph of nine or ten Battels and that we may say of them as Titus
his owne bloud z Churches are Sanctuaries but they giue no safety but to Innocents and to them that are wrongfully 〈◊〉 The Temples of the Ancient were a Sanctuary to three sorts of men to Offendours to Slaues and to Debtors God did raise vp the Earle of Richmond Earle of Richmond prisoner to the Duke of Brittany who was prisoner to the Duke of Brittaine all good men desired it to reuenge the innocent bloud and this Tyrant fore-seeing that there was nothing to bee feared but from that part sent Thomas Hutton to the Duke of Brittany to deale with him that hee might not bee set at liberty a Ambition of raigne is not restrained neither by the respect of piety nor the motions of Nature Cupido regni fratre fillia potior The desire of raigne is deerer then brother or daughter Tacit. Annal. lib. 12. seeking the friendship of King Lewis who would not make any answeres vnto his Letters nor heare his Embassadours calling him most inhumane cruell and wicked for the most horrible and execrable murther of his Nephewes The King assisted the Earle of Richmond who being set at liberty by the Duke of Brittany past into England with three thousand Normanes the scumme as Phillip de Commines saith of the whole Prouince and was presently fortified by all them that were offended for the death of their lawfull Prince Earle of Richmond King of England giuing him battell within few daies after his arriuall in the which this Tyrant was slaine and the Earle of Richmond acknowledged for King In all these great reuolutions wee must confesse a Diuine Iustice which doth earely or late reuenge iniquities pursuing them euen in the generations of children who are punished for their fore-fathers offences Henry the fourth caused Richard the second to dye in prison Henry the sixth his Grand-child dyed a prisoner to King Edward the fourth Richard Duke of Glocester murthers Edwards children and Richard is slaine by Henry Earle of Richmond the seuenth of that name Who can deny but there is an Eternall Iustice in all this b When 〈◊〉 ◠wicked man commits any villany hee is presently a prisoner to GODS Iustice and like a fish hee is taken with the baite of pleasure and delight which hee hath taken in doing it which doth punish the wicked by themselues and makes vse of them to scourge others and it deferres publicke punishment for a time the secret doth neuer abandon the crime and is a perpetuall thorne in the offenders soule Francis Phoebus sonne to Gaston Earle of Foix dyed also hauing succeeded to Elenor of Arragon his grand-mother Death of Francis Phoebus King of Nauarre hee being but twelue yeares old and raigned vnder the gouernement of his mother c The Ladie Magdaline of France during her sonnes minority carried this Title Magdaline Daughter and Sister to the Kings of France Princesse of Viana Gouernesse to our most deere and wel-beloued sonne Francis Phoebus by the Grac◠of GOD King of Nauarre The Realme of Nauarre was so diuided as it had neede of a Prince of more greate respect and farre better experience and yet for that hee was neere allied to the Kings of France and Castile the most factious were quiet and tooke the oath of Alleageance when as hee entred with incredible applause into the Towne of Pampelone the tenth of December in the yeare one thousand foure hundred foure score and two Presently after his Coronation Ferdinand King of Castile offered him Ioane his second daughter in marriage The Queene his mother did still protest that her will did wholly depend vpon King Lewis the eleuenth her brother The History of Spaine saith that he had a desire to marry her to D. Ioane a Nun at Coimbra to the end hee might renue the pretensions which shee had to the Realme of Castile as daughter to Henry the fourth and by this meanes hee did alwaies assure himselfe of the County of Rousillon But when as his mother had brought him backe into Bearne hee was poisoned at Pau playing on a Flute Hee dyed with this griefe that his life nor death did not profite any man d As no man should desire to liue to himselfe alone so that death is honourable which is imployed for the publicke Turpe est sibi soli vivere mori Plut. there being nothing that doth more trouble a great spirit then when he liues and dyes not for himselfe Dying hee spake these holy words which the mouth of the Sonne of God pronounced a little before his death My Kingdome is not of this world If hee had liued he was borne to be a great Prince but the world to speake truely is so small a matter as the Phylosopher had reason to mocke at Alexander who had carried the Title of Great e Alexander would be instructed in Geometry to learne the greatnesse of the earth Hee found that the Title of Great which he carried was false cōsidering Quā pusilla terra esset ex qua minimum occupauerat Quis enim esse magnus in pusillo potest How little the earth was wherof hee held the least part who can be great in a small thing Sen. The Lady Catherine his sister succeded him Katherine of Foix Queene of Nauarre and was married to Iohn of Albret Iohn of Foix Vicount of Narbona her Vncle did quarrell with her for the Earledomes of Foix and Bearn saying that these lands lying within the Realme of France whereas women did not succeede Queene Katherine could not pretend any thing and did by force seaze vpon Maseres and Monthaut and besieged Pamiers but could not take it Queene Katherine aduertised King Lewis the eleuenth with this inuasion f France doth furnish many examples against the Vicount of Foix to shew that the daughters being neerest of bloud did exclude the Males that were farther off who sent Commissioners into the Country to forbid the Vicount of Narbona to proceed by way of fact vpon paine of loosing his right This controuersy was of such importance as he himselfe would be iudge thereof Controuersy for the lands of Foix Bern and Bigorre and after him Charles the eighth was Arbitrator In the end they must passe by the censure of the Court Parliament of Paris Iohn of Foix Vicount of Narbona and after his decease the Kings Atturney Generall as Tutor and Gardien to Gaston of Foix his sonne said against Katherine of Foix that daughters being vncapable of dignites by reason of their sexe might not succeed in the Realme g King Charles the eighth sought to make an agreement betwixt the parties and therefore committed it to the Cardinall of Foix and Monsieur D'Alby but seeing they could not agree hee sent them to the Court Parliament All which proceedings in writing were imparted vnto me by Maister Galland one of the most famous Aduocates of the Parliament Dutchies or Counties but onely the Males and that they might not
had suffered vnder the gouernment of the Duke of Berrie his vncle hee commanded the Dukes of Berrie and Burgondy to retire and would not haue any other prince neâ—re vnto his presence but Lewis duke of Bourbon his vncle by the mothers side and Iohn of Burbon Earle of March of V endosme whom hee loued infinitâ—y giuing a reason hereof openly That he loued those Princes for that they had neuer serued any other maister and had neuer had any ambition nor design against the state neither had they euer giuen him any occasion to complaine of them This vertue was neuer found in a great spirit but it did purchase power and affection with others Pride is barren humility fructifieth a vine spreading vpon the earth beares excellent fruit the high and straightest Cypres-trees are vnfruitfull Hee was not so bountifull of his fauours to the Lord of Beaujeu but hee was as sparing to the Duke of Bourbon his brother he had an implacable hatred against Iohn Duke of Bourbon sonne to Charles the Achilles of France This hatred was nourished with a fresh apprehension for that this Prince lamenting the disorders of the State the miseries and oppressions of the people and the bad vsage which Charles Duke of Berrie suffered had laid the first foundations of the league had left it by the Treaty of Ryon and re-entred againe into it vpon despight for that during this Treaty the Duke of Millan by the Kings commandement had ouer-run and ruined his Countrey of Beaujolois and Forrest But for that hee was a Prince of great power great courage and great credit in the heart of all France hee would not euaporate this fire of reuenge and indignation which hee had against them and considered rather what he might doe then what he should do And the Duke who was acquainted with the disposition of this King knewe well that all Princes write offences done them in brasse and the seruice which they receiue vpon sand wherefore he remained long in his Dutchy of Bourbonois and would not come to Court The King whose chiefe care was to weaken his enemies and to diuide them gaue him the gouernement of Languedoc dissembling the remembrance of things past Vpon this assurance the Duke of Bourbon shewed that hee did not breathe any thing but the Kings seruice neither had he any greater content then to yeeld him proofes equall to his affection and therefore hee followed him to Peronne and we must beleeue that without him in this voyage hee had giuen his Enemies more courage to execute those dangerous councels hauing resolued to stay him For besides the respectes of Alliance the Duke of Bourgondy respected this Prince who had the two principall partes necessary in great Captaines Valour and good Fortune l The two qualities necessary in the Generall of an Army are Valour and good fortune Duo sunt quae Claros Duces faciunt summa virtus summa foelicitas Lat. Pac. Paneg. Wee haue formerly seene that the Constable of Saint Pol did what hee could to drawe him to the Duke of Bourgondies partie Fidelity of the Duke of Burbon and to make him ioyne with the King of Englands forces and that this braue Prince made it knowne that nothing was able to shake his loialty no not if he should be reduced to the misery of Iob m An extreme oppression is no lawfull cause to arme against the Prince rebels seeke pretexes and coulors to shadow their discontents but good subiects suffer with patience although that the sincery of his actions could neuer wipe away the blemish which distrust had put in this Princes eyes yet would he not trouble the content which hee had receiued by the testimony which his conscience gaue to fidelity and vertue The King also fore-seeing that if his enemies were fortefied with his fauour and forces hee should be much troubled hee coniured him to come vnto him The Duke excused himselfe vpon a resolution which hee had taken to liue quietly in his house the which no man could enuy him hauing purchased it with incomparable toyles and crosses Hee besought the King to suffer him to rest in the port of this tranquility after so many stormes and to content himselfe with the seruice which the other Princes of his house and his Bastard the Admirall did him The King entreated and coniured him to come and to reape the same fruits in Picardy which he had sometimes receiued in Guienne n The honour of the glorious victory of Fromigny is giuen to Iohn the second Duke of Bourbon who then tooke the title of Earle of Clermont for hee charged the English with such fury as with the losse of tenne men onely hee defeated fiue thousand English and tooke 1400. prisoners to the shame and confusion of the English sending the Bishop of Mande vnto him to deliuer his requests and recommendations more confidently and to assure him that the occasion was not lesse glorious then at Fromigny The Duke being loath to faile France in so great an occasion and remembring that his predecessours had not desired a more glorious graue then to die vpon a field of battell couered with the bloud of their enemies o The Princes of the house of Bourbon who haue dyed for the seruice of the Crowne are Peter of Bourbon slaine the 19. of September 1356. at the battell of Poicters Iames and Peter his sonne at the Battell of Brignay neere vnto Lyon Lewis at the Battell of Agincourt 1415. Francis at the battell of Saint Bridget on holy Crosse day in September 1525. Iohn at the battell of Saint Laurence 1557. and Anthony at the siege of Roan 1562. and to free the King from all conceite that he had a will to giue eare vnto the Constable who did solicite him with all vehemency he deliuered the Constables letters into the Bishops hands protesting that hee would neuer carry Armes against the Kings seruice The effects did not differ from his words for seeing the Duke of Bourgundies troupes approach to enter the Country he went to horse and put them to rout The Earle of Conches was slaine there the Earle of Rousillon Marshall of Bourgundy was taken prisoner there with the Earle of Dammartins sonne and the Signiors of Longy de Lisle Digoin Ruygny Chaligny and the two sonnes of the Signior of Viteaux one of which was Earle of Ioygny Being then assured of the discent of the English and that they had passed the Sea he came vnto the King with sixe hundred horse and commanded part of his Army which was neere vnto Beauuais Matters being reduced to those tearmes that the King desired and the King of England hauing repassed the Sea he retired himselfe to Moulins to performe the last duties to his mother p The Lady Agnes of Bourgundy dyed in December 1476. Shee was wife to Charles Duke of Bourbon and mother to Iohn the second of that name Duke of Bourbon to Charles Cardinall and Arch-bishop of Lyon
vnfold the whole part of the Table Behold by the grace of God wee are come to the banke It is sufficient to haue written the Fathers History leauing the Sonnes to some other But before wee end wee must repasse vnto the Iudgements of the actions of this Prince That done wee will enter into the great Carriere of the toyles and glory the Combates and victories the Vertue and Fortune of the greatest Prince that euer was before or after Lewis the 11 th The end of the tenth Booke THE CONTENTS OF the eleuenth Booke 1 LIberty of Iudgements vpon the life of Lewis the eleuenth 2 A particular examination of his actions his piety his deuotions pilgrimages his good deeds to Churches his behauiour toward the Pope 3 What he was towards King Charles the seuenth his father towards his sonne his wife and the Princes of his bloud 4 Maiesty The care hee had to preserue the respect hee did not affect pompe who were the chiefe officers of his Crowne hee is very wary to confer titles of honor and dignity he contemnes the mark of maiesty 5. Magnificence The order and expences of his house he receiues the Embassadors of forraigne Princes with great state His buldings 6 Clemency He leaues no offence vnpunished his Prisons and Cages of Iron a rigorous vsage of the Dukes of Alençon and Nemours Hee reuengeth old offences which he had receiued before he was King and forgets not them of the league Seuerity in the end makes him fearefull and distrustfull 7 Iustice He institutes the Parliaments of Bourdeaux and Dijon hee loues not the Parliament of Paris a free and couragious admonition made by the President La Vacquerie how chiefe Ministers should carry themselues to Princes Of the Kings Audiences 8 Wisedome He was alwayes accompanied with feare he let slip the occasion to do his businesse in England and Flanders he can choose men and draw forraigne Princes to his deuotion as the Archduke of Austria Cosmo di Medicis and others he drew vnto his seruice the Lord of Lescun and Creuecoeur and Philip de Commines His tongue offends his wisedome 9 Liberality He is neither couetous nor liberall he hath formes to giue which bind much hee entertaines many Pentioners his liberality passeth to excesse empties his Coffers driues him to necessity and to lay rigorous Impositions vpon the people 10 Valour Proofe of the greatnesse of his courage in diuers encounters what care he had of warre His policie and military discipline 11 Knowledge He had more knowledge of learning the sâ—yences then other kings his predecessors The pittifull estate of the profession of learning vnder his reigne his Apothegmes and Answeres 12 Temperance Hee had two base daughters his priuate kind of life his domesticke pleasures his exercises and his confident seruants Diuers other obseruations vpon his life and Historie ¶ THE HISTORY Of LEWIS the eleuenth THE ELEVENTH BOOKE MEN iudge freely of the liues of Princes after their deaths IudgmeÌ„ts are free after death the glistering of their Purple-Robes doth no more dazle their eyes a Themistâ—us 〈◊〉 that the court of the Emperour Iovinian was full of flatterers said that then adored the pâ—rple more then the person and that the Court was an Euripus whose waues did fâ—ow and eâ—be in an instaÌ„t Nicep Cal. l. 10. c. 42. and the Iudgements which are made are purged from flattery which doth alwayes augment the good and diminish the ill which they do That King doth greatly binde him which speakes of his life when he giues him no occasion to lye in commending him For Princes are neuer so perfect but Truth may finde great exceptions in the goodliest qualities of their praises and before that the Statue be made perfect there must much Marble bee taken away and the forme exactly sought in the substance Philip de Commines saying that hee had seene the greatest Princes of his time and in them all there was both good and euill for that they were men he addes for truth freed from all flattery That God had created Lewis the eleuenth more wise more liberall and more vertuous then all they and that in him there were more things belonging to the office of a King and Prince then in any of the other I haue in a manner saith he seene them all and knowne what they could doe wherefore I deuine not This great authority which hee preserued vnto the last gaspe Liberty of iudgment vpon the life of Lewis 11. and carried into death was supported by three mighty pillars which his owne wisedome had raised Seuerity Constancy and Reputation b Maiesty is the inuincible fâ—â—t of a Prince it is better preserued by sâ—uerity then by too great 〈…〉 But for that these good soules are like vnto the Mill-dew of the starres which looseth much of her purenesse passing by the Regions of the aire and by the entrailes of Bees which forme it and that the gold of Princes vertues cannot bee drawne absolutely pure from their liues being alwayes mixt with diuers strange matters we must consider if the piety which was in him hath retained nothing of superstition or hypocrisie his elemency of feare Iustice of cruelty wisedome of subtilty liberality of prodigality and his other goodly qualities of Art and dissimulation Euery man may now speake his opinion without feare of displeasing or blame of flattery c Praises which are not necessary are best Neminem magis laudare Imperatoâ—em decet quam queÌ„ minus necesse est praise may passe on freely and boldly without any other necessity or bond then the respect which euery man should haue to preserue the memory of Princes against the outrages of slander Posterity which vnderstands not things but by the voice of such whom benefites or offences haue bound to remember them doth alwayes receiue flatteries and lies for truth d Flattery or hatred do most coÌ„monly turne an History out of the right way of truth therefore Tacitus protests that they of whom he speakes are not known vnto him neither by offences done nor by benefits receiued Mihi Galba Otho Vitellius nec beneficio nec iniuria cogniti It is fitting in painting to represent Hanniball and Antigonus halfe-faced to hide the eye which they wanted but a History must shew the whole face to the end that Princes may find their owne vices in the portrait of others This hath noted them to shew that there is nothing perfect in this world and if the Tapestry of this Princes life bee faire and pleasing viewing it on the right side you shall finde the backe very much disfigured with knots and seames We must not seeke his Elogies in the Histories of strangers e Buchanan saith that Lewis 11. Tyrannidem exercebat practised tyranny and that there was nothing more common Quam ex vsu suis coÌ„modis sine discrimine â—idem fall re quibuscunque sed precipue agnatis Principibus then of custome and for his owne
whole posterity but onely to them which descend from the Males There are two houses which bee so great and famous of themselues as they honour the titles which are giuen them King Charles the seuenth his Father hauing made the Earledome of Foix a Pairie for Gaston of Foix hee confirmed this erection but hee made not any new This house of Foix was in those times one of the most famous in Christendome and compare with Soueraigne Princes o We find that in great ceremonies the Earles of Foix are named before the Princes and had precedence of the Earles of Vendosme There is no other reason but that the eldest of Princes houses precede the yonger of other houses and therfore at the Estates held at Tours the Earles of Neuers Eu and Foix had precedence of the Earle of Vendosme Gaston of Foix who liued in the time of King Charles the fifth went equall with Kings when as King Charles the sixth was at Tholousa he sent the Earle of Sancerre Marshall of France and the Signior of Riuiere one of the chiefe of his Councell to the Earle of Foix who was then at Mazere to intreate him to come vnto him or else he would goe to see him He did not excuse himselfe vpon the Indispositions of his great Age and being sorry that hee had not preuented this summons he parted from Mazere with six hundred horse and came to the King to Tholousa Traine of the Earle of Foix. The History saith that presenting himselfe vnto the king hee was followed by two hundred Gentlemen all cloathed in silkes among them there was noted the Vicount of Bruniquet and his brethren Roger of Spaine Lord of Montespan issued from the bloud of Arragon and head of the house of Montespan p Espagno let of Spaine sonne to Roger of Spaine sonne to Leon of Spaine and the Lord of Corras who first raised the honour of the Earles of Caramain a great and rich family Beginning of the houses of MoÌ„tespan Caramain allied to that of Foix and who seeing that Houses and Families haue their periods like to all other worldly things could not desire a more glorious fall then into the house of Monluc where it begins to reuiue King Charles the sixth requited this visite at New-yeares tide in the yeare 1390. q At this voyage the Earle did institute King Charles the sixth his heire the which hee would not accept for that he would not defraud the Vicount of Chastellan his lawfull Heire He fauoured the house of Lauall with the like declarations of honour House of Lauall the which was long before held for one of the worthiest of France hauing neuer wanted children nor the first dignities and alliances of France hauing for their stemme the House of Montmorency r They drawe the beginning of the first house of Montmorency to the time of Saint Denis by whom the first that was conuerted among the French Knights was a Lord of Montmorency and therefore the ancient Deuice of this house is God helpe the first Christians the first Christian of France and there is no difference in their Armes but fiue Cockle-shels Argent to the Crosse. Wherefore he would that Francis of Lauall Lord of Gaure sonne of a daughter of king Charles the seuenths sister should go in rank with the Earles of Vendosme as well in Councell as in Parliament and in all other publike actions and caused his letters to be dispatcht at Mans the nine and twentith day of Nouember 1467. to serue for a speciall and perpetuall priuiledge to his posteritie He had much contemned the glorious and honourable markes of Maiesty s Princes had alwayes men appointed to serue in time of peace and warre for the ornament of their maiesty and royall greatnesse Heralds were instituted in France for that respect in time of peace they carried mayles vpon their breasts and in times of warre their Coat of Armes powdred with Flowers de Luce. I haue obserued in the Church and Cloister of Saint Catherine du Val of the Schollers twenty of their Tombes which shew the forme of their Maces and Scutchions Bodin writes that hauing chased away almost all the Gentlemen of his house hee imployed his Taylor for a Herald at Armes and his Barber for an Embassador and his Physitian for a Chancellor as an ancient king of Syria did Apolophanes his Physitian whom he made the president of his Councell Philip de Commines obserues it when hee shewes how much hee was troubled to furnish out a Herald which he sent to the King of England Heralds were necessary for the Maiesty of a Prince in actions of war and in the most solemne dayes of peace They had diuers names and diuers charges and they either carried the Titles of the Soueraignes Prouinces or of some other famous occasion as in France the Heralds are diuersly named and wee finde often in the History of France these names giuen to Heralds Bosios error in the History of Malta Monjoy e Saint Denis Mont Saint Michel t This word of Monjoy Saint Denis was sometimes the warlicke cry of the French They say it grew vpon that which Clouis said in the battell neere to Colleyn when as fearing to loose it hee promised to beleeue in Iesus Christ worshipped by Clotilde his wife and to hold him for his Ioue Since that time they cryed in their battels Monjoye Saint Denis as if they would say Christ whom Saint Denis hath preached in Gaule is my Ioue that is to say my Iupiter The word of Ioue beeing turned into that of Ioye The Antiquities of Gaule wriâ—ten by the President Fauchet wherein a great man of Italy hath erred and moues them that obserue it to laugh for hauing found in our Histories that King Lewis the eleuenth had sent two Heralds to Bajazeth to complaine that hee had broken the peace with the Venetians hee sets downe their names after this manner Monsieur Gaudio de Saint Denis Monsieur de Saint Michel whereas hee should haue saide The Herald Monjoy Saint Denis and Mont Saint Michel They were created at great and solemne Feasts and when they presented Wine vnto the Prince hauing drunke he gaue the cup to him whom he made Herald wherwith he should make his Scutchion Oliuer of la Marche saith that Philip Duke of Bourgondy did somtimes giue them the name of that Country whereas the Wine which hee then dranke did grow which done the other Heralds gaue him the Coate of Armes charged with the Princes Armes There were more Ceremonies at the Creation of a King at Armes for his sufficiency was to bee testified by all the Kings at Armes Creation of Heralds and Heralds that might bee found and they were distinguished from others by a Crowne croslet which they carried on their heads Their chiefe charge was to make a distinction of the Armes of Families to preserue the ancient and preuent the vsurpation of new
They might forbid them that were no Gentlemen to carry Armes which were not fit for their profession or for Gentlemen to carry any other Crests then their Fathers had done or to open the Helmet or to crowne them without permission It was also their duty to keepe the Blason of Armes of Houses u There were great considerations in the forme of Scutchions and in the Crests of Armes A Knights Scutchion might bee cut square or voided at his pleasure wherevnto a Crest was added taken out of part of the Armes and the Helmet shut and standâ—ng straight A Squires Scutchion was round like vnto a Rondache and had had no Crest but his Helmet onely shut turned on the one side to haue recourse vnto them vpon any dispute that might growe vpon differences and conformities Office of Heralds at Armes They kept a Register of the Deuices and Colours of Soueraigne Houses as White for France Blacke for England Red for Bourgondy Blewe for Savoy Yellow for Lorraine and Greene for Anjou The King at Armes in the house of Bourgondy had a care that such as were made noble should not carry a field gueles for that it was the colour reserued for the Prince This house did greatly obserue the Respects and Ceremonies of a Soueraigne pompe Magnificence of the house of Bourgondy When the Duke did eate at any solemne Feast besides all the ordinary state of Kings he had behinde him the Kings at Armes and Heralds with their Coates and Crownes and before him were set at a low Table two Vshers and two Sergeants with their Maces who had alwayes their eyes vpon his to execute his commandements vpon the least signe he should make yea to take the greatest prisoners which could not be taken else-where These Charges haue beene contemned by the contempt of persons which haue not desired them but to couer the indignity of their birth In former times they were not held but by Gentlemen whose honour carried them vnto dangers with the same courage that they which are lesse generous flye from them They had the guard of the Kings Chamber and had that charge which since the Archers of the Guard haue x The Sâ—rgeanâ—s at Armes by day carried a Mace before the King and guarded his Chamber by night and therfore du Tillet thinkes that they held the place of the Archers of the guard They shewed good proofe of their valour at the battell of Bouuines vnder Philip Augustus by reason whereof Saint Lewis did build the Church of Saint Katherine du Val des Escoliers and King Charles the fifth appointed the brotherhood there whereas at this day many Tombes are to bee seene which haue preserued the ancient forme of their habit and Armes That which Philip de Commines obserues of a Gascon which came into the place where as the King was at the stoole with three or foure confirmes this opinion of the small care hee had of the formes befitting Maiesty for although there were no Vshers at the doores Duty of Chamberlaines yet this facility to enter euen into the Cabinet was dangerous His Predecessors had prouided for it and the Chamberlaines were bound y The first care of the kings person belongs to the Lord Chamberlaine he was bound to lye at the Kings feete wheÌ„ the Queen was not present and so Peter Lord Chamberlaine to the king S. Lewis was buried at Saint Denis at his maisters feet as hee serued him liuing And at this day in the Assembly of the Estates when as the King sits in Iustice the Lord Chamberlaine sits at his feet by the duty of this charge not to suffer it but hee contemned it all the time of his reigne vntill the end when hee was more carefull of it then was needfull passing from a great facility and confidence to a rigorous seuerity and distrust to keepe his gates shut wee finde these words very remarkeable in the Ordonance of King Philip the long After the care of the soule they must not bee so negligent of the body as through negligence or bad guard any perils arriue especially when for one person many troubles may happen Wee therefore ordaine and doe therewith especially charge our Chamberlaine that no vnknowne person nor boy of poore estate enter into our Wardrope nor lay their hand nor bee at our bed making and that they suffer not any strange sheetes to bee layd on And wee command the Steward of our house that our Pantrie or Kitchin and all other Offices of our house bee so well and carefully kept as no danger may arriue and these things wee will haue obserued in the houses of our Company and of our Children The other precept of Maiesty Great Offices shold not be hereditary is not to continue great Offices in one Family z The perpetuity of great charges is dangerous They that haue commanded long are loath to obey Antiquitas voluit Prouinciarum dignitatem amica successione reparaâ—i ne diutina potestate vnus insolesceret Antiquity would that the Gouernments of Prouinces should be supplyed yearely least that any one by a continuall command should grow insolent and to make them hereditary The Order and iustice of the state will that a distribution be made of those who by the quality of their birth or the greatnesse of their merite are capable The perpetuall Dictatorship did ouerthrow the state of Rome the great authority giuen to the Mayors of the Palace did ruine the first Family of our Kings To those that are ambitious of the same Offices their Predecessors enioyed wee should wish the like moderation and integretie that Quintus Fabius Maximus had who hauing beene fiue times Consull and vndergone many great charges intreated the Senate not to conferre that Honour vnto his sonne not that hee thought him vnworthie but that hee knewe well that the Common-weale should receiue preiudice by the perpetuity of great Offices in one Family a In an other occasion Quintus Fabius Maximus did shewe that in the election of great Charges there should be no respect had but of the publicke good hee would not consent that T. Octacilius who had married his wiues daughter should bee Consull for that hee held him not capable of that charge nor of courage to make head against Hanniball T. Liu. lib. 24. This was to loue the State more then himselfe Lewis the eleuenth tooke more delight then hee receiued content or profite to change his Officers often When as a place is executed worthily and profitably by any one his dismission is vniust and the Princes seruice is wronged Offices are to bee maintained if they be good for if the place bee not supplyed by a man of the like experience and sufficiencie the Common-weale is damnified b As the ruine of Families comes commonly from new seruants so the fall of Estates proceedes from new magistrates which enter into Offices without experience those that are new come beeing greedy of
the Kings Authority to restraine him from this liberty Hee made of men as an Auditor doth of Counters placing some for hundreds others for thousands some for ten and some for vnits He allowed many petty Companions in his Cabinet who could not remember the condition of their fore-fathers without blushing or disavowing them s Honor meeting with an vnworthy subiect hath lesse luster and esteeme When as the people of Athens saw that Yperbolâ—◠〈◊〉 decayed man and who had nothing to loose was intreatreated equally with good men they dissolued the 〈◊〉 an honorable punishment for those whose vertue was suspected In like manner they tooke it ill at Roma when as Flauius being freed by Appius was made Edilis Curulis But for all that he did not leaue to haue about him and to imploy in great charges Noble-men issued from houses which were then illustrious both by their owne vertues and by those of their fore-fathers Of this number was Iohn of Daillon Lord of Lude The Lord of Lude and Imbert of Baterney Lord of Bouchages They came in fauour with this Prince by diuers meanes and maintained it in like maner The Lord of Lude had been bred vp with this Prince and the affection which begins so soone doth not wither easily Philip de Commines addes this reason that he knew well how to please the King Fortune fauoured the merits of Imbert of Baterney Imbert of Baterney Lewis Dauphin of France retiring himselfe into Dauphiné and going from Moras to Romans hee staied in a valley vnder the Castle of Baterney to take the coole aire and demanding some refreshing in the heate of the season and the tediousnesse of the way the Lord of Baterney sent some things vnto him and came himselfe to doe his duty hee brought with him Imbert of Baterney being then but a youg man who carried a Hauke with the which hee kild some Partridges t The pleasure of hunting which had beene the raâ—ing of his fortune was in a manner the cause of his ruine Claude of Seyell saith that going to 〈◊〉 to see the Dauphin hauing had him to field to see his Haukes flye the king was much incâ—sed thinking that he had a designe to make him see the woâ—ld and to know it The Dauphin tooke pleasure in it and commanded him to come vnto him to Romans for that hee had a desire to see that Hauke flye againe He went and did so please this Prince as he demanded him of his father and from that time he neuer abandoned him vntill his death He made him great in riches and honor as he was in merit and vertue Charles of Artois Charles of Artoix Earle of Eu hauing remained three and twenty yeares prisoner in England returned into France and was much beloued of king Lewis the eleuenth for that he held nothing of the sower arrogant humors of his predecessors he continued in the Kings seruice at such time as the Noble-men left him to follow the Princes Armie He reconciled the King and the Duke of Brittanie and soone after died in Iuly in the yeare 1471. without any children Iohn of Bourgondy Earle of Neuers his Nephew was his heire u The accord betwixt the king and the Duke of Brittany was made at Saumur in the yeare 1469. and the difficulties were decided by the deâ—terity of the Earles of Eu and Dunois Iohn of Orleans Bastard of Orleans Earle of Longueville base sonne to Lewis Duke of Orleans was the greatest and most fortunate Captaine of his time he alone of all the Noblemen of the league of the Common-weale pursued the fruits which France expected of such an enterprise He was chiefe and President of the Commissioners appointed for the reformation of the disorders of the Realme and died before he could see the effects of that which hee had so earnestly pursued in the yeare 1470. Andrew of Laual Andrew of Laual Lord of Loheac Lewis 11. tooke from him the dignity of Marshall of France wherewith Charles 7 had honoured him and rewarded his seruice Hee restored it vnto him againe when as necessity made him know that none was more capable then he For his sake he gaue vnto his brother the Lord of Chastillon the Office of great Maister of the Waters and Forrests Alaine of Albret purchased the surname of Great by the same greatnesse of courage which gaue the sword of France to Charles of Albret his grand-father Alaine of Albret x Charles of Albret was not onely entreated but in a manner forced by the King to receiue the sword of Costable The king pâ—t it into his hand the Dukes of Orleans Burgondy Berry Bourbo girt him with it a little before hee had caried Charles the seuenth vnto the font He left the league of the Common-weale as soone as he was entred into it and remained more constant in the assurance of his word then the Duke of Nemours his great corage found nothing impossible He was often wont to say that he which had force in hand needed no other thing He married Francis Vicountesse of Limoges and was father to Iohn of Albret King of Nauarre Iohn of Bueil Iohn of Bueil Earle of Sancerre presently after the coronation of Lewis the eleuenth was dismist from his Office of Admirally y The Earle of Sancerre was Admirall of France by the death of Pregent of Coitiuy Son-in-Law to Giles of Raix Marshall of France for no other reason but for that he had serued Charles the seuenth He returned to Court and fauour but yet he stood alwayes vpon his guard against that Lyon which strooke with his paw when they least thought of him Iohn of Andie Iohn of Andie Bastard of Armagnac Lord of Lescun and Earle of Cominges was Admiral of France after the dismission of the Earle of Sancerre and then Marshall of France he chased the Brittains from Baieux and was Gouernour of Dauphine Ioachim of Rouvault Ioachim of Rouvault z Hee had done great sâ—ruices vnder King Charles the seuenth and had beene present at the battell of Fromigny and at the siege of Bourdeaux The King gaue him the place of Marshall of France and Monstrelet saith that Charles the seuenth made him constable of Bourdeaux and that hee tooke his oath in the hands of the Chancellors of France Lord of Gamasches serued him worthily and couragiously in the warre of the Common-weale and was the cause of the preseruation of Paris He alwayes coasted the Duke of Bourgondy his Army to keepe it from scattering to the hurt of the Kings subiects and that it should not make profit by the surprise of any places in passing Then he cast himselfe into Paris and by his presence fortified the courages which an accident rather feared then foreseene had much deiected The King gaue him the gouernment with a troope of two hundred maisters and made him Marshall of France Tanneguy of Chastel Tanneguy
to winne new Example of the conference which was made at the Mercers grange which was since called the Market for that both parties did debauch one anothers men Treaties of peace should be managed by the most faithfull Seruants of Princes Lib. 1 Chap. 9. and men of middle age least their weaknesse cause them to make some dishonest bargain or to amaze their Maister at their return more then is needfull they should be rather imployed that haue receiued most fauours from him But especially wise men for no man euer made his profit of a foole and these treaties should be rather handled a farre of then neere There was neuer so good a marriage but some dined ill Lib. 1. Chap. 4. Example in the Treatie of Conflans where as some did what they would others got not any thing There are some good people which haue this glorie to think that they will end matters whereas they vnderstand not any thing Lib. 1. Chap. 16. for sometimes their Maisters discouer not vnto them their most secret intents In the company of such who most commonly goe but for shew and many times at their owne charge there goes alwaies some meane man which doth negotiate apart Princes should haue a wise care to whom they commit their affaires Lib. 1. Chap. 16. and so should they also haue that are imploied for them and deale in such businesse He that could excuse himselfe and not meddle vnlesse he saw that they themselues vnderstood it well and had an affection vnto the matter should be very wise It is an honor for a Prince to feare that which is to be feared and to foresee it A Prince if he hath age should be verie warie not to make this excuse I did not thinke such a thing would haue happened for it is not allowable Princes feare not to thrust their Seruants into danger when they haue neede In Treaties Princes must imploy men that are pleasing and such as will passe ouer all things and all wordes to attaine vnto the end of their Maisters desseignes Allyances BEtwixt the Kinges of France and the Emperors there are great oathes and confederacies not to attempt one against another The first Suisses that were seene in this Realme Lib. 1. Chap. 6. and who haue giuen credit to them that haue come after them were at the Siege of Paris in the war of the common-weale whereas they behaued themselues most valiantly and in all other places where they were imploied The English are in a manner vnprofitable in the wars of France If the Duke of Bourgundy would haue made vse of them Lib. 4. Chap. 5. it had bin needfull that for a season hee should haue accompanied them to help to direct and gouerne their Armie according to the manner of our warres For there are none more ignorant nor more vntoward when they first passe But in a short space they become good Souldiers wise and valiant There is but one high Chamberlaine in England Lib. 6. Chap. 2. and for that there is but one it is a great office The English are the best Archers in the world Lib. 1. Chap. 3. The English are suspicious Lib. 6. Cha. 11. The English haue a common saying Lib. 3. Chap. 8. whereof they haue sometime told me treating with them That in battails which they haue had with the French they haue alwaies or most commonly won But in all treaties with them they haue euer lost And in my opinion I haue knowne men in this Realme as worthy to manage a great Treatie as any other in the World and especially of the breeding of our King The Florentines did euery three months change their Lords who had al the gouernment of the Cittie Lib. 6. Chap 5. The English are not so subtile in Treaties and Accordes Lib. 4. Chap. 9. as the French and whatsoeuer is saied they goe grossely to worke but they must haue patience and not debate matters cholerickly The Italians take not Townes besieged so speedily as the French Lib. 6. Chap. 5. They know not so well how to force places and to defend them but to hold the fielde and to settle a good order for their victuals and all other thinges necessary to hold the field they vnderstand it better then we do I doe not thinke that I lie Lib. â— Chap. 2. to say that I beleeue that since the first battaile of Granson vnto the death of the King our Maister the said Townes and priuate men of the Suisses haue gotten of our King a Million of Florins of the Rhin of the Townes I meane but foure Berne Lucerne Friburge Zurich and their Cantons which haue their Mountaines Suisses is one yet it is but a Village I haue seene one of this village being an Ambassadour with others in a very meane habit who notwithstanding gaue his aduice with the rest Soleuure and Ondreual are called the other Cantons The English Lib. 6. Chap. 2. as well Nobility Commons as Clergie are inclined to warre against this Realme as well vnder colour of their quarrels which they pretend as for the hope of gaine for that God hath suffered their Predecessours to win many great battels within this Realme and to haue a long possession both in Normandy and in Guyenne which they had held three hundred and fiftie yeares when as King Charles the seuenth won it first as I haue said elsewhere at what time they carried great spoiles and riches into England as well of Princes and Noblemen of France which had been their Prisoners and in great numbers as of Townes and places which they had taken in the said Realme and hope still to doe the like But hardly should such an aduenture haue happened in the time of the King our Maister for he would neuer haue hazarded his Realme by putting himselfe and all his Nobilitie on foot to fight with them as they did at Agincourt but would haue proceeded more wisely if it had come to that point The Earledome of Flanders is a smal matter Lib. 6. Chap. 7. without the Country of Artois which lies betwixt France and them and is as it were a curbe vnto them Offices and Estates are more desired in Paris then in any other place of the World Lib. 1. Chap. 6. for they that haue them make of them what they can and not what they ought There are Offices without fees which are sold for aboue eight hundred Crowns and others which haue very small entertainment are sold for more then their wages amount vnto in fifteene yeares Wherefore seldome doe any disappoint themselues And the Court of Parliament maintaines this Article It is reason for it concernes them all Among Counsellors there are also some good and worthy men and in like manner there are some ill conditioned So is it in all Estates House of Bourgundie her greatnesse and fall AFter along felicitie and great riches Lib. 2. Chap. 9. and three
pride or folly for any one to hold himselfe too strong Lib. 2. Cha. 10 and yet Captaines doe it sometimes to be held valiant or for that they doe not well vnderstand the busines which they haue in hand Among other things that are fit to make conquest if there bee not a great iudgement all the rest is of no force and I thinke that it must come from the grace of God He that hath the profit of the Warre hath the honor There must bee no hast nor precipitation when they vndertake Lib. 5. Chap. 28 and begin a warre And I tell you that Kings and Princes are much the stronger when they vndertake it with the consents of the subiects and are more feared of their enemies When it is a defensiue warre this cloud is seene comming a farre off especially if it be from strangers and therein good subiects should not complaine nor refuse any thing and the accident cannot be so sudden but they may call some men such as shall bee named It is not done without cause and therein they vse no fixion nor entertaine a pettie warre at pleasure and without cause to haue occasion to leuy money The greatest miseries come commonly from the stronger For the weaker seeke nothing but patience Souldiours I Hold that men at Armes entertained are well imployed vnder the authoritie of a wise King or Prince Lib. 3. Chap. 3. but when he is otherwise or that he leaues Infants the vse wherevnto their Gouernours imploy them is not alwaies profitable neither for the King nor for his subiects Men at Armes lie continually vpon the Country without paying any thing committing infinite insolencies and excesse as all others know For which they are not content with an ordinarie life and with that which they finde in a labourers house from whom they are payed But contrariwise they beat the poore men and force them to fetch bread wine and victuals from abroad And if he hath a faire Wife or a Daughter hee shall doe well to keepe her safely Yet seeing there is pay it were easie to reforme it so as the men at Armes were payed euery two monethes at the farthest and so they should haue no excuse to commit those insolencies which they doe vnder coulour of want of pay For the money is leuied and comes at the end of the yeare I speake this for our Realme which is more opprest in this case then any other that I know and no man can help it but a wise King Other neighbour countries haue other punishments Sieges ALthough that sometimes sallies bee very necessarie yet are they dangerous for them that are in a place for the losse of Ten men is greater to them then a hundred to the enemie without their numbers not being equal neither can they recouer more when they will and they may loose a Commander or a Leader which oftentimes is the cause that the rest of the souldiors demand nothing more then to abandon the place In sieges of places the losse of one man alone is the cause to preserue his Master from a great inconuenience Lib. 5. Chap. 3. although he be not of his house nor of any great extraction but onely hath iudgment and vertue Example in Cohin an Englishman who being slaine with a Canon shot within Nancy the Englishmen whom he commanded mutined and caused the Towne to be yeelded After that a Prince hath laid siege against a place Lib. 5. Chap. 6. and planted his Artilerie if any come to enter and to relieue it against him they are worthy of death by the law of Armes Yet it is not practised in our Warres which are more cruell then the wars of Italy or Spaine whereas they vse this custome Despaire of succors make men besieged to put all things in hazard Example by the furious sallie of them of Liege who had like to haue taken or slaine the King or the Duke of Bourgundy Victorie THey doe alwaies augment the number of the vanquished Lib. 2 Chap. 2. I haue seene in many places whereas for one man they said they had slaine a hundred to please them and with such lies they doe sometimes abuse their masters Hee that gaines in warre growes in greater reputation with his Souldiors then before Lib. 2. Chap. 2. His obedience encreaseth They grant him what hee demands and his men are more hardie and couragious Changes THe changes are great after the death of great and mighty Princes In the Prologue where some loose and others gaine Great changes proceed not from fortune Lib. 1. Chap. 12. which is nothing but a Poeticall fiction The Author speakes this vppon the Constables ruine and concludes in these tearmes He should be very ignorant that should beleeue that fortune or any such like thing should cause so wise a man to be hated of these two Princes at one instant who in their liues did neuer agree in any thing but in this and most of all of the King of England who had married his Neece and did wonderfully loue all his wiues kindred and especially those of this house of S t Pol. It is likely and very certaine that hee was depriued of the grace of GOD to haue made himselfe an enemie to these three Princes and not to haue any one friend that durst lodge him one night and there was no other fortune that had any hand in it but God and so it hath happened and will happen to many others who after great and long prosperities fall into great aduersities When as a great man hath lost all his owne he soone wearies them that support him Example of Rene Duke of Lorraine who retired into France after the Duke of Bourgundie had taken his Country God giues extraordinarie willes vnto Princes when it pleaseth him to change their fortunes Lib. 5. Chap. 5. Example of Charles Duke of Bourgundie who grew obstinate at the second siege of Nancy against the aduice of his Councell Prosperitie Aduersitie A Misfortune neuer comes alone Lib. 3. Chap. 5. Prosperitie makes people proud Lib. 4. Chap. 3. Example of them of Arras Princes are proud and seeke not the true remedies in their misfortunes Lib. 5. Chap. 5. whereof the first is to returne vnto God and to consider if they haue offended him in any thing and to humble themselues before him and acknowledge their errors For it is he that iudges of such suites whereas no error can bee propounded After this it will doe him great good to conferre with some priuate friend and boldly to discouer his griefes vnto him for it doth ease and comfort the heart and the spirits recouer their vertue conferring thus with some one in priuate or else he must seeke another remedy by exercise and labour for of necessitie seeing we be men such griefes must passe with great passion either in publike or in priuate In time of aduersitie euerie one murmures and contemnes all the actions of the
Disposition of Charles the 8 th 117 Dispute of the Authority of the Pope and Councell 61 Dissimulation of the Duke of Brittanie 9 E Edict to reforme Souldiers 185 Edward the fourth his death 81 Embassadours of France make Ouerture for a peace 5 Embassages ambitiously affected neuer succed happily 185. Error of learned men not to communicate 194 Estate of Lorraine 49 Estate of the Low-countries at the discretion of the Gantois 75 Estates that are popular haue alwayes some one priuat man more eminent then all the rest 2 Estates vnhappy which are forced to seeke strange Maisters 30 Example is a cleare light in doubtfull things 154 Examples of diuers disorders 114 Excesse esteems nothing but what is rare and chargeable 158 Expences ruled by occasions 176 F Fauours of Princes last not 148 Ferdinando base son to Alphonso of Arragon crowned King of Naples by Pope Pius the 2 d. 52. is ouerthrowne by Iohn Duke of Calabria Ibid. and restored by Scanderbeg 53 Flatterers pleasing to Princes 106 Florence in one hundred yeares changed estate seuen times 3 Formes of warre changed 43 France cannot bee disarmed of foot-men 40. it sends Spaine to the Indies 177 Francisco de Paulo an Hermit of admirable holinesse 105 G Garniers Oke 178 Generosity of a yong Boy of Sparta 47 God the Iudge of hearts 122 Grauity ridiculous 133 Griefe of Pope Sixtus for the peace betweene the Venetians and Ferrarois 57 H Henry the fourth the last French King his worthy commendations 143 Heralds creation 137 History should be free from loue or hatred 89 Hugonet and Imbercourt condemned to dye 15 I Iames of Luxemburg his generous answer to the King 172 Ignorance and Weaknesse feare any encounter 67 Impiety ouertaken by Iustice. 10 Ingratitude and Impiety of Adolph of Guelders 16 Inhumanity of Mahomet 45 Intelligences of the Duke of Brittanie discouered 8 Inuentions are not perfect in the beginning 44 Iudgement transported with choler is like a shippe without a Pilot. 67 Iudgements are free after death 120 Iudgement vpon the recompence of seruices 187 Iustice is the felicity of Empires 154 K Katherine of Foix Queene of Nauarre 84 Kings haue long hands and many snares to entrap their enemies 51 L Lewis counselled to make his profit of the diuision in Italy 1. He declares himselfe for the Florentines 3. Hee seeketh a peace of Maximilian 38. His designes vpon Lorraine and Prouence 48 Hetakes possession of Prouēce 54 He neglects the calling of a councell 57. His waywardnesse and melancholy 69. his visitation of his son at Ambois 70. he fals into new apprehēsions of death 95. his distrust 104. his deuotion 107. his curiosity 108. his last actions 109. he could not indure to heare of death 111. his superstition Ibid. his death 112. his children 115. his pilgrimages 122. the Latine which he would haue his sonne to learne 130. his custome at Ceremonies 134. his contempt of the markes of Maiesty 136. hee knew not how to pardon 144. his rigorus prisons 145. his feare of the reuenge of women 150. he was neither liberall nor couetous 171. his meane borrowings 175. his proper Science 185. his letters pattents wherby he gaue Armes to his base daughter 193. his great popularity 196. his delight in hunting 197. his fauorites and Contemporaries Ibid. c. Lightnesse Choler and Facility do not well become a Prince 37 Loyalty of the Earle of Vandosme 89 Loue of God and contempt of the world 106 M Magistrates should not quit their charge for any respect 153 Magnificence of the house of Burgondy 137 Magnificence of Lewis 11 th 140 Magnificence how far it extends 141. Religious Magnificence 142 Mahomet dies for griefe after the losse at Belgrade 48 Maiesty compared to Moses rod. 133 Mariages of France Sauoy 164 Mathias Coruinus his resolute answere to the Turkes Embassadors 28. his commendation 98. is chosen king of Hungary 100. his valor and conduct with other worthy acts 101. his war against the Emperour 103. his death Ib. Maxime of Machiuel 122 Miscounting in the History 74 Misery of the Duke of Brittanie 11 N Necessity of Horse-men 41 Neighbour-estates haue alwayes some disputes 38 New discipline for Souldiers Ib. Nobility of Hungary discontented 102 O Oath of the gouernment of Florence 3. an Oath should haue three conditions Truth Iudgement and Iustice. 32 Obedience is the Science of Princes 130 Obseruations of the aduantages of foot-men ouer horse-men 39 Offers of Bajazet to the King 95 Office of Heralds at Armes 137 Offices that are great should not be hereditary 138 Offices are to bee maintained if they be good 139 Oppression of the people 68 P Philip Earle of Bresse his marriages and children 165 Policie to bring an enemy into suspition of his owne people 2 Policie in England for the Titles of families 135 Popes bound to the Crowne of France 125 Pouerty of France in the time of King Iohn 176 Practise against the life of an enemy by any other meanes then by Armes is vnworthy of of a Prince 35 Predictions vpon the Life of Lewis the eleuenth 189 Presumption of Oliuer le Daine 12 Pride troden vnder foot 47 Princes rely vpon their Ministers 157 Priuiledges of the Parisians 170 R Relapse of the Kings sicknesse at Tours 69 René of Anjou his commmendation 53 Reputation grounded vpon great and eminent vertues 155 Reuenge taken by a woman 46 Rhodes besieged by Mahomet 25 S Sacke and desolation of Dole 166 Science of Treasure 179 Sentence against the Duke of Alençon 146 Sentence very rigorous 150 Sermons of sedition 126 Silence the soule of great actions 163 Simplicity of the eloquence in old time 129 Sleping for a Benefice 173 Stablishment of Posts 169 Sterrility of Suisserland 180 Suspension of Armes not alwayes necessary to make a peace 7 T Temperance wherein it consists 193. the fruits thereof 195 Treaty of peace and marriage between France Bourgondy 75 Tributes by which the meanes to make war are maintained may not be touched 42 Tristan his barbarous behauiour 145 V Valour is naturall to the French Kings 183 Vanity of iuditiary Astrology 189 Venetians contempt of the Popes fulminations 4. their Accord with the great Turke 6. They proclaime warre against the Duke of Ferrara and soone after conclude a peace with him 56 Vertue enuied for the lustre thereof 10 Vision miraculous 27 W Wisedome of the Lord Hastings 167 Witnesses of our faults and imperfections wee seldome desire to see 65. Workes of vanity and ostentation Z Zizimi reuolts against Bajazet 95. his letter to Bajazet 96. he repaireth to Rhodes and is conducted into France 97 FINIS
corpus super humeros recipit et 〈◊〉 hostibus 〈◊〉 ad suos AEneas Sil. Munsterus It is not certaine how many were in the Suisses Army Haluuil the Suisse saith that they were 4000 the Chronicles of France speake of 5000. But whatsoeuer it were neither France nor England had any great cause to triumph for this Battell For they lost as many men as they must kill of the enemies to merit a triumph a A Triumph was not giuen for any victory except they had slaine 5000. enemies Valâ—â—ius saith Neither did they giue it vnto the Victors when as the victorie had nad cost much bloud therfore Titus Liuâ—uâ— ia his 16. saith that it was refused to Artillius The Army that was before Farnsperg hearing of this defeat raised the 〈◊〉 and retired The Dauphin continued three daies vpon the place of Battell and to couer the nomber of men which they had lost caused them to be buried in diuers places as at Arlesheim Reinach and Esch Two Earles were interred at Montbelliard two at Isenheim The grand Pryor of France was slaine at this Battell with many other Noblemen They of Basill demand leaue to take a view of the dead men and to bury b Among the Grecians hee that demanded a dead body to bury it lost the fruit of the victory end renouned the triumph Plut. de Niceas Ageâ—lâ—us them he would not refuse peace vnto the dead seeing he was willing to grant it vnto the liuing c Aeneas said vnto the Laâ—ius who came to intreat him to haue their dead bodies to bury them Pacem me exaâ—â—mis Martis sorte perempti oratis equidem 〈◊〉 concedere velim you pray to men slaine in the warres I peace should giue yea willingly I would grant it them that liue and that there was no likelihood that he would grow obstinate at the siege of Basil nor against the Suisses The begging Fryars were appointed for this act of pietie They made three pits to bury them in There were some that did breath three dayes after the battell They found some halfe burnt in the ruines of the Hospitall many in the hedges and a great number in the Riuer of Birs The Dauphin went to refresh himselfe in Alsacea His Court was at Ensisheim and the Armie lodged so at large in the country as it held from Montbelliard to Haguenaud Counâ—â—l of Basil seekes an accord with the Dauphin The Emperor assembled the Princes of the Empire at Ments to consult of the meanes to expell the strangers out of Germany The Councill of Basill sent d The Counciâ—l of Basill sent the Cardinall of Arles and Bishop of Basill vnto the Dauphin who did mediate a truce for twenty daiâ—s Embassassours vnto him to perswade him not to trouble the assembly to the which France was bound for the peace it had with the house of Bourgundy His Deputies were at Basil to vnderstand the will of the Fathers vpon this accord They of Berne and Soleure came thither yet there was nothing concluded but a truce of some few daies The Emperor Frederick gaue the Dauphin to vnderstand that if he did not retire himselfe the Empire would proclaime warre against him The Nobilitie of Germanie who had drawne the French and English into the country began to bee weary of their guests who dranke their wine without paying and made vergys of their Vines Mulhouse e Mulhouse was sometimes an imperiall â—own the Bishâ—p of Strausburge was gouernor and it was called 〈◊〉 It allied it selfe with the Suisses in the yeare 1464. and then in the yere 1506. it was made fellowburgis with all the Cantons Stump lib. â— of the Suisses commonweale freed it selfe from this storme refusing to receiue the Dauphins troupes When as hee saw that all the Empire began to rise against him The Dauphin retires into Lorraine and that the Suisses were like to haue their reuenge for the battell of S. Iames of Basill he went into Lorraine to see King Charles his Father who was before Mets being resolued to reuenge the King of Sicile who was much incensed against this Towne for that they had fauoured the Earle of Vaudemont against him The English who had refused a peace 1445 Truce betwixt FraÌ„ce and England prolonged tooke such taste in a truce f A truce is the baitâ— and charme of peace It is in the libertie of Princes to make it but when as the people 〈…〉 therof it is hard to 〈…〉 as it was prolonged for fiue yeares Such as tooke delight in the publike miseries for that they were profitable vnto them were not content they would haue the tempest cease but they still desired some winde to raise the storme Wee doe not alwaies finde spirits of that integritie but they preferre their priuate profit before the publike good Men of this excellencie haue been euer ingaged in great tempests the number of them which haue come to a safe port to make others haue been very small They grow like the Phenix at the end of fiue hundred yeares g A wise man such as the Stoicks discribe him neuer was nor neuer will be Quis sapipiens sit aut fuerit nec ipsi Stoici solent dicere Cic. And as great things happen rarely Seneca saith that fortasse tanquam Phaenix semel 500. annis nascitur Sen. Whiles that Rome was well gouerned the profession of Armes was in time of peace for an exercise and in the time of warre for necessitie and glorie euery man returned to his affayres hauing yeelded an account of his Armes witnessing still that hee carried them not for his owne priuate good but for the seruice of his country The ciuill warres troubled this order and therefore they said that Caesar and Pompey were held better Captaines then good Citizens and greater in valour then in integritie France was neuer fruitfull of such spirits as haue willingly made warre to haue peace and haue not troubled the peace to make warre h Marshall disciplin should be wel obserued if it did alwaies consist of men who after the war made no difficultie to return to their trades and labour but the libertie and disorder in warre is so great as it is hard to draw them to the rules of Duty and therefore warre makes theeues and peace hangs them During this Truce a marriage was made betwixt Henry the sixt King of England Marriage of Henry the sixth and Margaret of Aniou and Margaret of Aniow Daughter to Rene King of Sicile The Earle of Suffolk came to fetch her at Nancy the King was there present and the ioy was great but as any great ioy hath still some great sorrow attending it and pleasures strangle when as they imbrace most straightly i Ioy is commonly the beginning of sorow at riuers of fresh water die in the salt sea the sweetnes of life ends with sorrowes that are bitter King Charles receiued so great an affliction for the death
of the Dauphins wife Death of Margaret Stuard and his heauines was so apparent as the whole Court did participate thereof But there was more then teares to witnesse that hee loued this Princesse and that the remembrance of her should not end with weeping k Affection is not tryed by teares onely To ceace to weepe is not to forget the remembrance is too short which lasteth no longer them teares for he receiued the Princesses of Scotland her Sisters with all kindes of honor whom she had greatly desired to see They came at the time of her Funerals and finding themselues as it were vnknowne in a country whereas that which should make them to be knowne and respected was wanting they dyed for griefe All consolations made their greefes comfortles l We must giue time and ayre to sorrow to euaporate it In those which are extremâ— it is a part of the griefe to heare of consolations and made them desire that the Queene their sister being in the bosome of the earth had them vpon hers But the King to witnes that the affection which he bare vnto their Sister was not dead made them to feele the effects He married the one to Francis Duke of Brittaine and the other to Sigismond Archduke of Austria m Iohn Duke of Brittanie sent Ambassadors into Scotland to treat the marriage of his Sonne with Isabel daughter to the King of Scotland at whose returne he enquired what the Princesse was Who made report That shee had beautie sufficient a bodie well disposed to beare children but shee had no ready speech To whom he answered That she was as he demanded and that he held a woman learned enough if she could make a difference betwixt her husbands doublet and shirt Annal. of Aquitaine It is impossible to finde truth in an enemies tongue The iudgement of two Historians of England Hony how sweet soeuer it be is sharpe and offensiue to a mouth vlcered with passion and slander Edward Hall and Grafton two writers of England seeing that their imposture would take no hold vpon the manners and actions of this Princesse haue indiscreetly written that she was vnpleasing to her husband n Buchanan in the tenth booke of the Historie of Scotland saith that two Historians of England hauing as little sufficiencie as modestie haue beene so Impudent as not finding any thing wherewith to slander this Princes haue said Ob oris graueolentiam marito fuisse ingratam But there are records yet to be seene both in France and Scotland of the griefe which Charles the seuenth and the Dauphin his Sonne had for her death and Monstrelet speakes as of a Princesse who excelled in beautie both of minde and bodie She fauoured the good wits of her age Alain Charretier was held at that time one of the first of the Court and this Princes did esteeme him so rare as shee honoured him with a singular fauour for passing by a Chamber whereas he slept vpon a forme she kist him and to satisfie the amazement of the Ladyes of her traine she added I kisse not the man I kisse the mouth from whence haue come so many goodly Discourses Yet it was one of those mouthes which haue learned to talke and not to bee silent o There is no such itching of the spirit as a desire to write It is not cured but by silence Eusenius demanded of Apolonius Thianeus why hee did not settle himselfe to write for that said hee I haue not yet learned to hold my peace This warlike and Marshall season was debarred both of learning and learned men For whereas warre speakes learning is silent The Prouinces troubled by armes neither teach nor are taught and the money which should serue for the stipend of publicke Readers is imployed for the musters of souldiers p The Emperor Leon made an answere to one that counselled him to imploy his treasure in the entertainement of souldiers vtinaÌ„ meis temporibus eueniat stipendia militum in doctores artium absumi I would it might happen in my time that the stipends of souldiers might bee imployed vpon Doctors of Arts. The yeares of Truce being expired The warre renues the warre was renued with all violence against the English The Historie speakes nothing of the actions of Lewis vntill his retreat into Dauphine neither are the causes thereof well exprest Shee hath well obserued his discontents His Father held him somewhat short and his actions were not so temperate The wretched life of a great King but they gaue him some cause of suspition that he had a desire to be master q The opinions of children should be limitted in that sort as it is not lawfull for them once to thinke to aduance the time they must suffer heauen the order of nature to work The King being come to an end of his affayres would recompence the troublesome nights which hee had past r A troubled youth requires a quiet age he that hath liued in the waues desires to dye in the Port. when as melancholly had dryed vp his bones that all his demeanes were engaged the chiefe forts of the Realme in the power of the English that his table often fayled and that hee liued in such frugalitie as hee had no need of excellent Cookes such as those of the Romans were 1446 for they found him not with three or foure Dishes like vnto Charlemaine but with a messe of Pottage made with a rumpe of Mutton and a couple of Chickens rosted for his whole seruice s The sobrietie of Charlemaine hath beene commended he had but foure dishes hee dranke but thrice and neuer betwixt meales he did eate some fruits after dinner Eghinard The great toyles which hee had past deserued some good daies but he sought them not in his family nor in his children t Rest after their trauels is iust and lawfull but it is most sweet in his owne house And therefore Hercules was represented playing with a little Child The familie hath consâ—iations Bella planè accinctis obeunda sed reuertentibus post laborem quid honestius quam vxorium leuamentum TAC. His spirit plunged it selfe in delights He giues himselfe to delights and to Ladies for the which like vnto another Iupiter he transformed himselfe into diuers shapes vnworthy of his Maiestie and although he was impatient of seruitude as all Kings be yet he vowed himselfe to the seruice of Ladies which followed the Queeene Aboue all their appeared the fayre Agnes beautifull in the flower of her age and as louely as worthily to bee beloued u The Obiect of Loue is Beauty and Beautie is the marke of many desires It is for blind men to demaund why Kings loue fayre things She stole the Kings heart who made her Mistris of the Castle of beautie as she was Queene of all the beauties but beauty was in her a bad Hostes in a goodly lodging The Historie which
letter being surprised lodged him in a Cage of Iron c Cardinall Balue was coÌ„mitted to prison in Aprill 1468. The Commission to examine him was giuen to Tanequy of Chastel gouernour of Roussillon William Cousinot the maister of Torsy and Peter of Oriolo Generall of the finances for a prison from the which hee was not freed but by the Popes intercession and towards the end of this raigne These Cages were of his inuention d Wicked and bad inuentions fall vppon the inuentors the forger is fettered is fettered in his owne 〈◊〉 Arantius Paterculus is rosted in his brazen horse part wood part iron and couered with plates of Iron so Perillus was rosted in the bull which he had inuented The King being returned into France whereas they talked of his indiscretion and great credulity in trusting his enemie set a good countenance of it and made shew that what had beene done at Peronne had been as beneficiall vnto him as if it had beene resolued in Paris e To make shew to doe that willingly which was extorted by force is an act of wisedome not to loose the credit and opinion which is bad of him to be aduised aâ—d alwayes equall but to put other fancies into the heads of the Parisiens and other discourses into their mouthes hee caused a proclamation to be made by the trumpet that all birds which are kept in Cages as Pyes Iayes and such like should bee brought vnto him to Amboise They that had the Charge of this commission should informe themselues what euery Bird could say and where it had been taken and taught f It is good to diuert brues the peoples discouâ—ses but oftentimes if they be not allowed to speake that which is true they inuent fables which are more preiudiciall Fractis apud CremonaÌ„ rebus prohibuit per ciuitatem sermones eoque plutes ac si liceret vera narraturi quia vetabantur atrociora vulgaueraâ—â— Tacâ—t Hist. l. 3. An act of iudgement which did preuent many inconfiderate speeches A ridiculous Edict 19. Nouemb. which would haue been vsed against this Prince for that he had thrust himselfe so rashly into his enemies power and brought himselfe to that estate as he was like vnto the Elephant who paies his ransome with the Iuory of his teeth To repaire this error and to preuent his Brother and the Duke of Bourgundy of their pretensions he labours to breake the Treatie but he will doe all with solemnitie and if hee must cast forth the Thunderbolts of warre it shall not be done without the Councell of the Gods h A Prince should not alone resloue to make war Iupiter did not cast forth his lightning without the Councel of twelue Gods The Kings of France did not vndertake any war but with the aduice of the twelue Peeres imitating the wisedome of his Predecessors who did not vndertake any warre without the aduice of a Parliament So Pepin past the Alpes to succour the Pope so he armed against the Saxons so hee expelled Gaifre out of Aquitaine so Charlemaine went against the King of the Lombards and the Duke of Bauaria hauing first acquainted the Parliament with these designes 1468 Conuocation of the Estates at Tours To this end he assembled the Estates of the Realme at Tours i The Estates assemble for one of these three reasons for the regencie of the Realme in the Kings minoritie for the reformatioÌ„ of the realme and to prouide meanes to succour the necessities of the Crowne It is a bodie of three Orders hath been alwaies obserued among the Gaules the pretext was to preuent the ruines of the Realme but the essentiall cause was to resolue two things a portion for Monsieur and the restitution of the Townes vpon the riuer of Some both depending vpon this Lawe which is one of the pillars of the Estate That the Lands of the Crowne are inalienable and portions are not giuen but with condition to returne againe for want of heires masle k A Monarchy suffers no diuision nor estimation for the yongers portions of the house of France are not diuided but for want of Masles returne to the Crowne The tongue hath done great seruices to this Prince in diuers actions Eloquence naturall to K. Lewis the eleuenth in this yet without any Art or affection l It is necessarie for the Prince to speake well but without affectation his eloquence should more appeare in the facillitie of his owne nature then in any curious Art for there are more parts required to make a man eloquent then to make a Cuptaine to know and discourse of particular things we must vnderstand the generall he strikes fire to inflame the coldest spirits to what he will and speakes to all the Deputies and lets euery man know the importance of the Duchie of Normandie and the preiudice which other Prouinces receiued when it was in the power of the English with the incredible to ile which King Charles his Father had past to wrest it out of their hands That although he did not hold his brother to be of so bad a disposition as to haue intelligence with them Importance of the Duchy of Normandie yet he knew well that they of his intelligence bad great practises in England that he might haue children which should not bee of his humor beeing most certaine that the Princes of the same bloud extend their thoughts farther then they should m Ambition neuer takes root but in hearts that are vigorous hardy and desirous of innovations When as it incounters with any preheminence of bloud or fauour of the people it is 〈◊〉 to retaine it or may goe aspire to great matters and are not content with their condition That for these reasons he could not leaue the Duchie of Normandie That his promises in that regard should be soundly vnderstood and that affaires of State were not managed with such scrupulous considerations That hee offered notwithstanding to giue him such a portion as the Estates should aduise making them Iudges and Arbitrators therein but aboue all he commanded that the lawes of the Realme should not be infringed n The Realme of France is seated vpon a triangular basis the Salique 〈◊〉 the holding of the Estates and the reuenewes inalâ—enable Hauing thus prepared their minds he opens the Estates came thither with greater Maiesty then he did euer shew in any action during his raigne A Prince cannot adde too much in such great occasions for besides that this light doth please it dazels and transports mens mindes he must allwayes hold himselfe in admiration it is a toile which is neuer set but some one is taken His throne was vpon a stage three foot high railed in containing all the bredth of the vpper end of the hall his chaire was of blew veluet pouldred with flowers-de-luce vnder a cloth of estate of the same and vpon three steps He was attired in a long robe of
circumstances and dependances not doing or suffering any thing to bee done to the contrary either now or hereafter vpon any cause or occasion what soeuer forcing all them that shall oppose themselues to the contrary by the taking away of their letters granted to the contrary 〈◊〉 thereof seizure and detention of their goods in our hands imprisonment of their persons euen as is accustomed to be done for our own affaires notwithstanding any opposition appeale or complaint or any Ordonance made or to be made by Vs or our said sonne restraint or commandement defences or letters to the contrary for the which wee will not haue the contents effect and execution of these presents in any sort deferred stayed or hindered And for that many men haue need of these Presents in diuers places We will that full credit shall be giuen vnto the Copy therof made vnder the seale Royall or signed by the said Parrent or any other of our Notaries or ordinary Secretaries as to this present Originall In witnesse whereof we haue caused our Seale to be set to these Presents Giuen at our Castle of Ambois the 22 of September in the yeare of grace 1482. and of our reigne 22. By the King my Lord the Dauphin the Earle of Beaujeu the Earle of Marle Marshall of France the Archbishop of Narbona the Signiors of Bouchage Percigny Plessis of Solhes Iohn Doyac Gouernor of Auuergne Oliuer Guerin Steward of his houshold and many others being present Miscounting in the History Signed Parrent The date of this Edict discouers the mis-counting of Philip de Commines n Philip de Comines was sent into Sauoy to set at liberty the Signior of Illins a Dauphinois whom the King had giuen for Gouernour to Duke Philebert his Nephew When as the Earle of Bresse sawe the Kings Armie at Maston hee did what they desired who saith that in the yeare 1483. the King would see the Dauphin his sonne whom he had not seene in many yeares before and that soone after he had spoken vnto him he fell into the extremity of his sicknesse whereof he died for this Remonstrance was made in the Castle of Ambois in September 1482. and the King died not before August the yeare following But to resolue the doubt of times it may be that the King some few dayes before his death had a will to see the Dauphin when as they conducted him to Paris to make his entry and to celebrate his marriage and that Philip de Commines not beeing at Ambois when this first Remonstrance was made beeing stayed in Dauphin or Sauoy whether the King had sent him with Troopes against the Earle of Bresse hee had no knowledge thereof and therefore hath written That the King had not seene the Dauphin in many yeares before If a History bee the Image of Truth o A History is the proofe of time the light of truth the life of memory the mystery of life and the Trumpet of Antiquity It is the Image of truth and as the image is perfect that doth rightly represent the Originall so a History should represent all things in their simple truth and if Truth can haue but one vniuersall face in all things how can it accord the Chronicle with this Edict It writes that the King going to Saint Claude and before his departure out of Tourraine sawe the Dauphin at Ambois and gaue him his blessing That in the moneth of October the same yeare beeing fallen into a Relapse of his sickenesse hee caused himselfe to bee carried to Ambois to exhort him to that which hee should doe which makes mee to wonder if in matters that bee secrete and important Writers doe not alwayes giue full perpetuall and immutable Assurances seeing that in these they dispense so freely with the Certainety The Instructions which the King gaue vnto the Dauphin were found Good and Holy but they could yeeld no good fruits but with a peace All the rest without it had beene of small vse there being nothing whereof a Father who leaues a yong heire should bee more carefull then to leaue him his inheritance quiet and assured Being therefore resolued to giue a peace to France who attended it as a gift from heauen p There can bee nothing giuen more pleasing noâ— more healthfull to the people then a peace Vt circumspiciamus omnia quae populo grata â—â—nt atque iocunda nihil tam populare quam pacem quam concordiam quaÌ„ otium reperimus Let vs looke vnto all things that are pleasing and acceptable vnto the people wee shall not find any thing more popular then peace concord and ease Cicerâ— pro Le Agr. he thought to giue his sonne a wife but not the Princesse of England who was promised him by the Treaty of Piquigny After the death of the Dutchesse of Bourgondy the Gantois had seized vpon Prince Philip Estate of the Low-countries at the discretion of the Gantois and the Princesse Margaret her Children telling the Arch-duke Maximilian that the Guard and Tutele belonged vnto them The King who desired to haue the Princesse Margaret married vnto the Dauphin and knewe well that by the Gantois meanes the Propositions of the Treaty would bee to his aduantage commaunded Des Cordes to make some Ouerture thereof with two or three petty Companions of the Towne of Gand who had purchased some credite in the Seditions and Mutinies of the people These Men sitting their duety to the time and fortune A proposition of a peace and marriage transported with priuate passion a deadly poyson q All passion priuate affection is a poyson in the conduct and managing of affaires Peffimum veri affectus Iuditij venenum sua euique vtilitas Euery mans private interest is a deadly poyson to true iudgement Tacit. in Affaires of importance and distasted with the soft and effeminate commande of Maximilian consent speedily to the Propositions of Des Cordes and promise to make them succeed to the Kings good liking There was little paine in the effecting of this businesse for the Gantois to preuent all difficulties which the Father might propound in the marriage of his Daughter told him plainely that they would haue no more warres with France They insulted ouer him doing and vndoing many thing contrary to his Intentions On the other side Pope Sixtus both by the reason of his Office P. Sixtus mediates a peace as a common Father and by the Law of Religion which doth nothing more Christian r There is nothing more proper for a Christian then to make peace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 BASIL then to make peace solicited the King and the Archduke thereunto to ioyne their forces against the common enemy of Christendome and had sent the Cardinall of Saint Peter ad Vincula to exhort them The Deputies of either side met at Arras A Treatie of peace and marriage they layd open all the Pretences of the Crowne of France to the House of Bourgondy
sometimes in sachirresolution as not daring to make warre heâ— doth things preiudiciall to peace Phillip de Commines saith His Exercises and pleasures that hee had no thought but of Ladies and more then was fit of Hunting and to entreate his owne person well When hee went a Hunting hee caused many Pauillions to be carried for Ladies and in this sort made great feasts for hee had a body as fit for it as any that euer I saw being yong and as beautifull as any man that liued in his time q Edward was held in his youth to excell all the Princes of his age in beauty and stature but when as hee came into France in the yeare one thousand foure hundred three score and fifteene He was growne grosse Fâ—w men become so but by their owne meanes Entring into the Realme hee saw himselfe surprized with a storme and expelled by him who had assisted him to conquer it Hee retired into Holland with two Hulkes a little Ship and many men without mony seeing himselfe to giue a gowne furred with â—ables to satisfie the Marriner who had transported him At the end of sixe monthes he re-entred into London when as his enemies had held him to be lost In eleuen daies the Earle of Warwicke had wonne the whole Realme for Henry the sixth Edward recouers it in twenty daies with the hazard of two great battles The strongest carried it r They are sometimes bound to fortune and sometimes to pollicy for the happy euents of great enterprises but most coÌ„monly the stronger is the Maister 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Occurrat forti qui mage fortis erat and remained peaceable King yet with some remorse to haue beene bound for the quiet possession of his Realme to the cruelties and inhumanities which he committed against his owne bloud For he put to death King Henry the sixth and Edward Prince of Wales his sonne with the Duke of Clarence his brother The cause of this brothers death is not very certaine The most common opinion is that hee would haue armed to succour the Princesse of Bourgundy contrary to his brothers liking Polydore Virgil saith that enforming himselfe he learned of them that liued in those times that King Edward being aduertised by a Coniurer s All the answeres of Sorcerers are doubtfull and deceiue them that trust in them They spake truely meaning the Duke of Glocester and the King deceiued himselfe vnderstanding it of his brother of Clarence that his name that should succeed him beganne with a G. had a conceit that George Duke of Clarence his brother should take the Crowne from his children Death of the Duke of Clarence the Kings brother and vpon this apprehension hee put him to death in a But of Malmesey Others haue written that hee sought the Alliance of the Princesse of Bourgundy and that the Dutchesse Margaret sister to Edward fauoured his Designes which the King not wishing so great a fortune to his brother hindred That at the same time one of the Dukes seruants hauing beene condemned to dye for poyson the Duke of Clarence was offended and spake in such sort as the King taking his words for threates of some great trouble caused him to die in pryson t George Duke of Clarence brother to the King of England made choice to dye in a But of Malmeâ—cy to die with some content which an 〈◊〉 disolution of the soule is wont to cause as Seneca saith or to make himselfe drunke and to free himselfe from the horrour end feeling of death Drusus meaning to dye of hunger would not cate any thing in nine daies but the flockes of his bed Tacit. l. 6. Annal. An act notwithstanding which did afflict him with such griefe and repentance as remembring the great precipitation of his iudgement procured by his brothers enemies when as any came to sue for a pardon for any one that was condemned to dye u Repentance doth vndoubtedly follow cruell and rash actions Caracalla hauing put his brother Getâ— to death hee did neuer thinke of him or looke vpon his stature but hee wept Hee caused Loetus who had perswaded him to this paracide to be imprisoned and did all kindes of honour vnto his Funerall Funus Gerae accuratius fuisse dicitur quam eius qui à fratre videretur occisus Getas Funerall was performed with more then his that seemed to bee murthered by his brother AELIVS SPARTIANVS he alwaies said My poore brother had not any to sue for him He left two children Margaret who was married to Richard Poole and Edward whom the King made Earle of Warwicke All the crosses which Edward had suffred did not so much afflict him as he receiued contentment at his returne from the warres of France for the peace which he had brought backe and the Treatie of marriage which he had made of his daughter with the Dauphin of France and the pension of fifty thousand Crownes So when he saw the Dauphin married vnto the Lady Margaret of Austria he was so grieued as hee resolued to returne into France to reuenge this iniury Choller and griefe were so violent in his soule as he dyed the tenth of Aprill at Westminster whereas the Parliament was assembled to resolue vpon the warre of France His body was carried to the Castle of Windsor and interred in S. Georges Chappell He had tenne children by Elizabeth his wife and left Edward Prince of Wales and Richard Duke of Yorke liuing All his life hee had beene liberall and dyed coueâ—ous Hee recommended his wife His brother murthers his children children and Realme to Richard Duke of Glocester who to haue the Crowne put Edward who had raigned but two monthes and Richard his Nephewes to death x Edward had a base sonne called Arthur his daughters were married to diuers Princes Brigit the last was a religious woman The daughters were declared Bastards by the Parliament for that a Bishop affirmed that hee had married Edward vnto a Lady of England before that hee was married to the Lady Elizabeth Riuers Hee caused himselfe to bee Crowned King in Iuly following The parricide of his two Nephewes caused so great scandall and horrour in all the orders of the Realme and the mother who had fledde into the Sanctuary at Westminster y This trust and recommendation of such precious Iewels bound the Duke of Glocester to haue a care of them IS DIGERDES King of Persia seeing that ARCADIVS the Emperour his enemy had recommended his some THEODOSIVS vnto him found himselfe bound to preserue his Estates and laying aside all passions of precedent hatred hee proclaimed warre against any one that should molest his pupill hauing fore-seene the rage of this Tiger filled the Citty of London with very pittifull and strange complaints as euery man found this greedy and vnsatiate desire to raigne inhumane and tyrannous hauing forced him brutishly to teare in peecees the Lawes of Nature and to pollute his hands with
old make the good wine In all that he vndertooke hee shewed the force of his spirit speaking of Armes hee seemed neuer to haue done any other thing but fight with men and besiege places and discoursing of affaires of Estate he seemed to haue past his whole life in Councell b Great Spirits are alwaies entire in any thing they deale in When as Cato had Armes in hand bee seemed neuer to haue practised any other thing When as hee spake of Sciences a man would haue said hee had neuer gone out of the Vniuersity Hee informed himselfe curiously and exactly of all things and of all persons whom he knew not to be capable to shew any arte or disguising A Prince addes much esteeme and respect vnto his reputation when as he beleeues that he knowes all Phillip de Commines obserues an effect of his wisedome to sow discord and diuision among those that would agree against his seruice King Lewis our Maister vnderstood that Art better to diuide men then any other Prince that I euer knew and hee spared neither his Siluer Goods nor Paines not onely towards the Maisters but also to the seruants c The must heare all things to draw profiâ—e from them Valetius Publicola is praysed by Plutarch for the liberty hee gaue euery man to enformeâ— him of that which concerned him And Isocrates doth therefore commend Euagoras King of Cypres But there must bee great discretion in that which is spoken with and against priuate men Another act of his wisedome to haue kindled and entertained the fire which did consume the forces and burnt to ashes the ambition of his enemie In causing the instruments of the warre of Germany Swisserland and Lorraine to moue he remained at peace Hee had meanes to discharge his Realme of the vnprofitable burthen of men which cannot liue but in trouble As the flowing and ebbing is necessary for the Sea to discharge it of the great scumme and filth which a calme gathers together so a great Empire must purge it selfe and cast forth the bad humours which a dead and idle life drawes together Although his promptnesse in speaking hath oftentimes hurt him Silence a soule of great actions yet would hee haue it knowne that his very Hat had no part of his secrets Silence is the Pole and Axletree of enterprises the which must not onely be in words but also in gesture and countenance for the eyes and the face are the dumbe interpreters of the mind d He that doth manage a great designe must know how to gouern his tongue but much more his minde for Polybius saith that many haue discouered by their faces the designes which they haue kept in their hearts They cannot be executed but at certaine times vpon certaine places with certaine men and by certaine meanes if the one or the other be neglected or discouerd all must go to smoake The concurrence of many things is necessary for the execution of a designe the failing of one is able to ruine it but there is neuer enough when they talke too much Wisedome hath also cause to complaine of his tongue Hee hath often paid for the liberty of his speech But who can impose silence to Princes The liberty of Speech is a marke of their authority it is the point and seasoning of discourse but the diuersity of occasion makes it perilous It sometimes offends the most mild and patient spirits and as euery wound hath his griefe so there is not any wound that seemes light to him that feeles it and oftentimes they fall into incurable vlcers e Nothing can happen more troublesome to free men then to bee debarred of the liberty of free speech The liberty of free Discourse saith Democrates is a signe of courage and generosity There are houres when wee may not speake anything A rule how to speake others when we may speake some thing but none when wee may speake all Besides the exact intelligence of his affaires he had a great iudgement in the choice of men and an admirable wisedome to entertaine them and keepe them He esteemed them bound them vnto him and did not suffer them to languish in any discontent nor to attend the fruits of their seruice He knew how to lay the stone-worke to enrich the Iewell and to beautefie it with Amaile gold and ornament Hee not onely knew them of his Realme that were most capable to be imployed in diuers functions for his seruice but also who were the most worthy Ministers with Neighbour Princes Hee knew in what heads did reside the sufficiency of England Spaine and Portugall and did not cease This great and profitable skill to diuide their minds that might hurt him did not onely stetch to the seruants and ministers of the same Prince but he knew how to diuide Princes of one bloud and family He did gouerne the affections of Sigismond at his pleasure n The Archduke Sigismond of Austria was wonne by the King whose party hee followed both against the Duke of Bourgondy and the Archduke Maximilian He reuoked the adoption which hee had made in his fauour beleeuing them that sayd that to shorten his hopes hee would shorten his life and turned him sometimes against the Archduke Maximilian his perswasion being of such force with this Prince who was good and tractable as he made him beleeue that Maximilian had designes against his life the sooner to get possession of his Estates which were assured him after his death Sigismond in the end discouered this fraud and found that the ruine of the Archduke his Nephew toucht him so neere as the Franch-County could not bee lost but the County of Feret would be also exposed to great danger and had great subiect to apprehend the increase of greatnesse of so mighty a neighbour and therefore hee yeelded to a leuie of some troopes in his Estates of Elsasse and Ferret which were imployed to relieue and defend Dole the chiefe Town of the Franch County which was besieged by the Lord of Chaumont of Ambois The King found meanes in loosing Sigismond to winne the Captaines that led the Troopes so as they suffered a great number of Franke Archers of the Kings Campe to slippe into the Towne with their Troopes who seizing vpon the Gates gaue entry to the rest of the Armie The Towne was exposed to sacke and pillage Sacke and desolation of Doâ—e both of the enemies and of strangers and fire made an end to ruine that which the Souldiers could not spoyle or carry away neither was there any house exempt but whereas the Generall was lodged o A lamentable example of the misery of those Townes which are relieued by forraigne forces whose fidelity being gotten maintained by money depends alwayes of him that offers most From that time Dole was called the Dolorous By the same skill of winning men and knowing how to vnknit knots without cutting the Corde hee had at his deuotion the most confident
afflicted Lib. 5. Chap 7. Example in the Duke of Bourgundy after the losse of the battels of Granson and Morat Wee must hold for certaine that the great prosperities of Princes Lib. 5. Chap. 6. or their great aduersities proceed from the Diuine prouidence If men were alwaies wise Lib. 1. Cha. 15. they should bee so temperate in their speeches in time of prosperitie as they should haue no cause to change in time of aduersitie The Flemings during the life and prosperitie of their Duke spake not to the King nor of the King with such reuerence as they haue done since Affliction troubles the minde and alters the complexion This was knowne in the Duke of Bourgundy after the Battell of Granson He was neuer so wise as he had been his choller and naturall heat was so great before as he dranke no wine and after this they caused him to drinke it pure Diuision ALl good things in this world are ouerthrowne by diuision Lib. 2. Cha. 16. and it is almost impossible that many great Noblemen of like estate can long entertaine themselues together if there bee not a head aboue them and if it were necessarie he should be wise and well esteemed to draw obedience from them all A wise Prince hauing the command of ten thousand men Lib. 1. Chap. 16. and meanes to entertaine them is more to bee feared then ten hauing either of them six thousand all allyed and confederate together for that they haue so many things to decide among them as halfe the time is spent before any thing can bee conceiued The true signe of the ruine of a Countrey is when as they that should hold together are deuided and abandon it Lib. 2. Chap. 1. Example in the Towne of Dinand which left the alliance of them of Liege Factions are much to be feared in a Realme when as they happen Lib. 3. Chap. 7. and cause great ruines Example of the diuisions of England betwixt the houses of Lancaster and Yorke When as a faction begins Lib. 3 Chap. 8. although there be but two or three Princes or meaner men that deale in it yet before the feast hath continued two yeares all the neighbours are inuited There was neuer any faction begun in the countrie but the end was preiudiciall and hard to be quencht Lib. 4. Chap. 9. Diuisions are the springs of Warre from whence grow mortalitie and famine Lib. 5. Cha. 18 and all these miseries proceed for want of faith Wee must confesse considering the wickednes of men and especially of great men who know not neither doe beleeue that there is a God that it is necessarie that euery Nobleman and Prince should haue his contrarie to keep him in feare and humilitie else no man should bee able to liue vnder them or neere them Commotions and Seditions IN tumults and Seditions the most wicked are most bold and hardie In the Prologue Liberality RIches and Honors are not giuen at their pleasures that demand them In the Apology King Lewis the eleuenth gaue much to Churches Lib. 5. Cha. 18. In some things lesse had done better â—or he tooke from the poore to giue to them which had no neede To conclude there is no perfect measure in this world Iustice and Iniustice THere are Princes which punish vnder a colour of Iustice and haue Instruments fit for their humours who of a venialll sinne make it mortall If they haue no matter they finde meanes to delay the hearing of the parties and witnesses to ruine them in expences expecting still if any one will complaine of him which is in durance and whom they hate If this course will not serue to compasse their intention they haue others more suddaine saying that it were necessary to make him an example making his case as they thinke good To others that hold of them and are somewhat stronger they proceede by way of fact and say Thou disobaiest or doest contrary to the homage which thou owest me and so by force they take from him that which he hath if they can at the least they doe their best and make him to liue miserably He that is but their Neighbour if he be strong and resolute they suffer him not to liue but if he be weake he knowes not what course to take They will say vnto him he hath supported their enemies or they will send their men at Armes to liue in his Country or will buy quarâ—els or finde occasions to ruine him or will maintaine his Neighbour against him and will lend them men Of their Subiects they will disgrace such as haue serued their Predecessors well to raise new men Punishment TO see the things which God hath done in the World Lib. 4. Chap. 13. and doth daily it seemes that he will leaue nothing vnpunished and we may see plainly that these strange workes come from him for they are beyond the workes of nature and his punishments are so suddaine especially against them that vse violence and cruelty who commonly are no meane persons but great either in Signeurie or the Princes Authority Iniuries Offences and Outrages PRinces and they that are in great Authority should feare to doe or speake outragiously and haue a care to whom they speake them For the greater they are the more sencible and distastfull are the outrages they doe for it seemes that outrages will bee morâ— noted for the greatnesse and authoritie of the person that commits them and if he be their Maister or Lord they will dispaire euer to receiue honour or fauour from him and more men serue for the hope of future good then for that which they haue receiued Example of the lye which the Constable gaue to the Lord of Imbercourt at the conference of Roy. Prudence Experience and Occasion I Haue seene few men that could flye time Lib. â— Chap. 3 and auoyd their misfortunes neither heere nor in any place else For the one hath no experience hauing not seene their neighbour Countries which is a great error in all men of worth for it giues a great iudgement resolution to haue seene thinges by experience Others haue to great a loue to their Goods Wiues and Children And these reasons haue beene the causes of the ruine of many good men Men which haue no experience Lib. 1. Chap. 3. maintaine many ill grounded arguments and with smâ—ll reason Wherefore it is good to follow the opinion of him which saith That no man repents himselfe of speaking little but oftentimes for speaking to much Secrecy AS soone as Princes depart one from another Lib. 11. Cha. 8. they secretly whisper whatsoeuer hath beene obserued in them and then through indiscretion speake of it openly at dinner and supper and then it is reported of both sides for few thinges are kept secret in this world especially of those which are spoken Knowledge A Prince Lib. 5. Cha. 18. or man of any Estate whatsoeuer if