His bad conduct vnsortunate end well in France ill in Flanders and as the cloudes turne alwayes either into wind or to raine his enterprises ended alwayes in teares or sighes In a word he made a trade of the profession of armes and did not take them to haue peace but to make the warre continue m Whilst that Rome was well gouerned which was vntill the time of the Gracchi there was neuer Captaine nor Souldier which made a trade of war when it was ended euery man returned to his first exercise Aâ—tilliâ—s Regulus being Generall of the Army in the last war against Carthage demanded leaue of the Senate to returne vnto his houses to manure his grounds which his farmors had left wast When as he saw that Councells are not esteemed by Princes but according to the euents He kindles the firebrands of warre hee desired to make his to be allowed by some fauorable occasion He sees the Duke of Bourgondy busie in war against them of Liege he knowes how much the King is offended at the practises and Intelligences which the Dukes of Normandy and Brittaine had with his enemie hee therefore Counsells him to make warre against them to make worke in their owne estates and to kindle a fire in their owne houses to the end they should not haue leisure to cast it against their Neighbours These two Princes in the beginning were great friends n Of great friends are made the greatest ennemies hatred folowes and accompanies friendship Chilon could him that vanted he had no enemies That he should also haue noe friends Plut. but as great hatred growes from great friendship they did so iarre in the diuision of the fruites of the peace as they continued not long together The Duke of Normandies seruants who had serued King Charles the seauenth could not indure the Brittons for companions The Duke of Brittaine would bee respected as the instrument of their good fortune Seeing these two Princes could not remaine Neighbours they would neuer haue beene associated in the Empire o An admirable and sole example of trufriendship Dioclesian and Maxim Emperors entred the Empire together commanded together and lefâ— it with one accord The Duke of Normandy was aduertised that the Duke of Brittanie had a designe not to leaue him and that the Earle of Dammartin vndertooke to lead him into Brittaine Hee was then at Mont St. Catherines attending vntill the preparation which they made for his entry were finished but when hee had sent notice thereof to them of Rouen they would not deferre his entry a minute They set him on horseback without a foot-cloth and led him to the Cathedrall Church in a black veluet gowne where they sware obedience vnto him the Brittons were out of countenance to see their designes made frustrate The King made his profit of this bad intelligence He came into Normandy Normandy yeelded to the King and within few daies forced his brother to depart The Earle of Charrolois was much greeued that this diuision had lost Normandy p Ruines caused by diuision are reparied by coÌ„cord The Dukes of Normandie and Brittanie câ—sidering that they had lost Normandie by their had intâ—lligence reconcile themselues It is impâ—ssible saith Phil. de Com. by this diuisiâ—n that many Noblemen can long liue together if theâ—e be not one head aboue them A Prince hauing command ouer 10000. men and meanes to entertaine thÌ„ is more to bâ—e feared then ten allâ—es confederaâ—s hauing euery one six thousand for that they haue so many things to accord betwixt them as halfe the time iâ— spent before they conclude any thing for hee beleeued that that Prouince being out of the Kings handes hee was weakned a third part Monsieur had no other refuge then Brittaine being poore naked and dispossest which mooued them to pitty that were too weak to releeue him and support him against a Brother who was so great and mighty The Earle of Charrolois was not long in suspence whether the King would hold all that he had promised for hauing sent Imbercourt and Carondolet vnto him to put him in minde of the promise of marriage of his daughter they found that shee was promised to Peter of Bourbon Lord of Beaujeu The King told them that hee would marrie her better cheape then the Earle of Charolois would take her and that Champagne and Brie were too good to bee dismembred from the Crowne If men could iudge as truely as sodainly of all things What should remaine for the prouidence of God to decide Euery man thought that France would neuer escape this Apoplexie which if it did not bring death would at the least end with a Palsey but her destinies were otherwise set downe in the eternall tables of the great God the father of time the true Saturne q The Romans held Sat-rne to bâ—e the God and father of truth and did sacrifice bare-headed vnto him to shew that there is not any thing hidden froÌ„ him which must bee worshipped bare-headed and knowes onely the periods and ends of Estates After the glorie which belongs wholly to his bounty We must commend the Kings wisedome and iudgement who remained so staied in occasions where as the coldest spirits would haue been inflamed to runne vpon their enemies He plaied Sertorius against Metellus r Metellus sought onely to fight Sertorius refusing the Battel cut of his victuals tooke his water froÌ„ him kept him from forrage When he thought to march he staied him when he was lodged he annoyed him in such sort as he forced him to dislodge if he layed siege to any place hee found himselfe besieged through want of victuals France neuer saw so many men assembled to ruine her but she shewed that her foundations were good The forces that were before Paris were so great and so many as they might well be admired both of friends and enemies for it was an apparent demonstration what this Crowne can doe against the conspiracie of all others Yet Paris did feele of this storme long after and was so vnpeopled by this warre and by a plague which happened in August 1467. as the king to repeople it drew strangers thither with great priuiledges as such as had been condemned by iustice Vnpeopling of Paris by the assurance of impunitie and all as the Chronicle saith according to the priuiledge giuen to all banished men remaining in the Townes of S t. Malo and Valenciennes The fidelitie of Paris saued the Estate for if shee had refused entrie vnto the king he was resolued to retire into Suisser-land or to the Duke of Milan It is true that as it happens alwaies in Ciuill warres s In ciuill wars there are but to many occasions offred to be iealous of them of whose loyalty they shâ—ld least doubt Kinsmen grow faithlesse Your seruant may be of that party which you feare M. de M. whereas distrusts and iealousies grow without sowing the religion of secrecie
good in Court it is greater happinesse for a Man when as the Prince whom hee serues doth him a great fauour for a small merite wherefore he remaines bound vnto him which should not bee if hee had done so great seruices as the Prince had beene much bound vnto him Wherfore hee doth by nature loue them more that are bound vnto him then those to whom hee is beholding When as pride goes before shame and confusion followes at the heeles c Pride is alwayes followed by Ruine and Shame Dominare tumidus spiritus altos gere Sequitur superbos vltor à tergo Deus SEN. When hee changed his seruants he excused this change saying That Nature was pleased with variety Hee said That if hee had entred his Reigne otherwise then with Feare and Seuerity hee had serued for an example in the last Chapter of BOCACE his Booke of vnfortunate Noblemen And considering that secresie was the soule and spirit of all designes he said sometimes I would burne my Hat if it knew what were in my head d Metellus said the like that if hee knewe his shirt vnderstood his secerets hee would burne it Hee remembred to haue heard King Charles his father say that Truth was sicke and hee added I beleeue that since shee is dead and hath not found any Confessor Mocking at one that had many bookes and little learning hee said that he was like vnto a crooke-backt man who carries a great bunch at his backe and neuer sees it Seeing a Gentleman which carried a goodly Chaine of Gold hee said vnto him that did accompany him You must not touch it for it is holy shewing that it came from the spoyle of Churches It is long since that this sacrilegious liberty hath beene in custome and that Princes that would please GOD and Men haue detested it but custome to euill hath more power ouer the willes of men to entertaine them in it then it giues horror and shame to flye from it e Caesar did bite Pompey to the quicke for that hee had taken away the ornaments of Hercules Temple Pecuniam omnem ex fano Herculis in opidum Gades intulit and giuing himselfe the honour to haue caused it to bee restored Referri in Templum iubet He took delight in quick answers which were made without study for if there be premeditation they loose their grace On a time seing the Bishop of Chartres mounted on a Mule with a golden bridle hee said vnto him that in times past Bishops were contented with an Asse and a plaine Halter The Bishop of Charters answered him That it was at such times when as Kings were Sheepheards and kept Sheepe The Annals of Aquitane which report this adde that that the King began to laugh for hee loued a speech which proceeded from a sudden wit Hee loued Astrologians and this loue proceeded as it were from a naturall and hereditary curiosity hauing much troubled the mindes of his fore-fathers Charles the fifth was gouerned by them Credite of Astrologians and gaue them meanes to teach Astrologie publickely in the Vniuersity of Paris Hee had for his Physition one called Monsieur Garuis Cretin a great Astrologian f CHARLES thâ— fifth caused many Bookes of Astrology to bee Translated into French he built a Colledge for Astrologie and Physicke and gaue them the Tithes of the Village of Caugie and caused the foundation to bee confirmed by Pope VRBAN the fifth He caused the Natiuity of King Charles the sixtth to bâ—e cast by Monsieur Andrew of Suilly The like curiosity made Charles the 5 th to loue and cherish familiarly Michael Tourne-Roue a Carthusian who was very skilfull in the practise of Elections Hee made that of the day when as the King went a hunting where as hee found the great Stagge which had a Coller of Copper about the necke wherein these words were written Hoc Caesar me donauit Caesar gaue me this The figure of it was set vp in the palace of Paris Hee was also much bound to the aduice which Iames of Angiers gaue him of the bad Intention which two Augustine Monks had to open his skull who were beheaded at Paris g In the booke of SIMON of Phares which is in the Kings Library wee reade this IAMES of Angiers was in that time who discouered the false intent which the two Augustines had which did open King CHARLES his head saying They would cure him beeing ignorant both in Physicke and Chyrurgery They were suborned by PHILIP Duke of Bourgondy as was said to worke this effect The matter beeing discouered the said Augustines were degraded and lost their heads as was reason Hee also made great account of Charles of Orgemont who foretold him that the Duke of Aniou his brother should bring nothing backe from his voyage at Naples but shame want and misery the which happened for all the Knights which had followed him returned with white stickes in their hands h Vpon this Prediction SIMON of Phares speakes thus The French were forced to flye and the Duke of Millan forgetting his Faith and Oath did kill them that were taken and suffered the Dogges to eate them and therefore let this be an aduertisment to the Kings of France and to the French neuer to trust in a Lombards tongue or dyed in Hospitals He was also aduertised of the issue of the voyage which Boucicant made to Genoa and of the treason of the Marques of Montferrat and of Count Francisque CHARLES the seuenth had Astrologians all his life Hee entertained in his Court IOHN of Bregy a Knight who cast the Natiuity of AME Duke of Sauoy and of the Lady YOLAND of France his wife and Germaine of Tibonuille who fore-told the death of King Henry the fifth and of Charles the sixth He receiued into Pension and into his house IOHN of Buillion whom the English had kept prisoner at Chartres for that hee had fore-told that which hahpened vnto them at the siege of Orleans Hee gaue entertainement also to SIMON of Phares borne borne at Orleance whose booke of excellent Astrologians is to be seene in the Kings Library i This Symon of Phareswrites of himselfe that hee did foretell The great famine at Paris and the great plague which followed vnder the raigne of Charles the â— that the Lands were vntilled and the woods so â—full of wolues as they deuoured women and children and that it was proclaimed that for euery Woolfe they could take they should haue two shillings besides that which the Commons might giue Maister Lewis of Langre a Spaniard a Physition and Astrologian at Lyon told King Charles of the victory he should get at Fromigny in the yeare 1450. of the great plague which was at Lyon a yeare after for the which hee gaue him forty pounds a yeare pension In all the chiefe actions of the life of Lewis the eleuenth wee finde that Iohn Merende of Bourg in Bresse did cast his Natiuity and speaking of his
seuere and difficult so euer The Duke of Bourbon 1411. who would make his profit of this diuision betwixt the father and the sonne Charles Duke of Bourbon and who was discontented to see the King contemne and reiect the Princes to fauour priuate men practised this diuision The Dauphin who was bred vp in the Castle of Loches vnder the charge of Iohn Earle of March y The Earle of March was gouernour to the Dauphin He wrought meanes to get out of his hands and to bee at libertie They said then that King Charles should not haue married him so soone to entreat him like a child saw him carried away by the bastard of Bourbon and was content to goe and to be ridde of his gouernor who suffered him to enioy conuenient libertie thinking it vnfit to treat the first sonne of France seuerely being now great and married Hee was led to Moulins whereas the Duke of Bourbon attended him Thither came the Duke of Alençon and Chabannes Earle of Damartin beeing incensed for that the King had called him Captaine of Bandilieres These were men who after the peace of Arras like vnto some after the treaty of Bretigny z When as treaties of peace are concluded they must prouide for the retreat of forraine troopes elâ—e they wil ouerrun the Prouinces After the treaty of Brâ—tigny in the yeare 1360. the English trooopes did ouerrâ—n and spoile France and defeated them that sought to stop their violencâ—s at â—regnay neere to Lyon did ouercome and spoyle all the whole country leauing the peasant nothing but his shirt There imbarked in the same ship the Earle of Vandome the Earle of Dunois Bastard of Orleans and the Lord of Chaumont Tremouille Boucicaut and Prye There resolution was not to yeelde him vntill that an order were setled in France the Princes in Authoritie and the malecontents in fauour If their intention had appeared in her true and naturall forme her deformitie had displeased all the world for it was nothing but a meere conspiracie of great men who abusing the youth of this Prince ingaged him in an vnnaturall ingratitude and thought to make him greater then eyther nature or God himselfe had yet ordained that vnder his shadow a He that wil enioy the shadow of his Prince must reioyce at his greatnes so as it be not raised vppon a foundation of Iniustice and ingratitude they might liue at their ease and make their profit of the publicke ruines To giue some forme to this illusion they deuise supposed members and giue it for a face the b All deformities and imperfections are so foule being seene bare as like vnto them that haue both their armes and â—egs cut off make other of Ironâ— or wood euen so they that haue had deseignes do couer them with some goodly pretext maske of reformation of disorders protesting that they had no other intention but to settle the Dauphin to the end that all things might bee done by his authoritie with the aduise of the Princes of bloud They had sought to imbarke the Duke of Bourgundy with them Duke of Burgundy refuse to enter into the league but he who would not reuiue a quarrell if not altogether quencht yet at the least smothered And knowing the folly of this designe sent them word that he would liue in peace and that at the end of the course whereinto they were entred there was an ineuitable downefall c of rash designes we may easily foretell theâ— vnfortunate euents and hopes whcih haue vniust foundations cannot long continue That they should doe wisely to returne into the way which they had left for that they more they went into this the more they should wander that of all the miseries that would fall abundantly vpon them they should not be d He that is the cause of his owne misery hath small reason to complaine and few men pitty him lamented of any for that they were knowne to bee the causers That although there were some disorder in the state yet could it not be so great as that which should grow by this diuision and France should be little beholding for her help to those which had made her so sicke to cure her e It is a desperatee cure when as healtâ— must be beholding to siicknes and peace to Ciuil warre for that neither the disordred gouernement of affayres nor the vaiust commandement of the Prince would not cause so many ruines and inconueniences as disobedience and rebellion f Ruines and miseries grow not by them that command but by such as obey Obedience hath made Estates to prosper and florish vnder vniust and tiâ—ranous commâ—n â—ementâ— The common weale of Spaâ—ta was happy not for that their Kings commanded wel but for that this subiects obeyed well Theopompus That for his part he could not seperate himselfe from the King his Lord without forsaking himselfe That his armes and forces were alwaies at the Dauphins commandement so as his designes were not disauowed and that he would more willingly employ himselfe to bring him to his fathers presence then to withdraw him The Princes of this league were very sorrie for this declaration For they considered that if they could haue kindled a hatred betwixt these two houses they would haue beene more violent and yet they made this yong Prince beleeue by reasons fuller of oftentations then truth Letters of Lewis to the good Townes that all would doe well They dissembled the g In enterprises of 〈…〉 â—onsiâ—er the ground and iustice of the cause rather 〈◊〉 the issuâ— and successe The Romans had this glory neuer to enter into it wrongfully They did not so mucâ— glory saith Titus Liuius in the prosperous successe as to hauâ— beguâ— it vppon a reasonabâ—e and lawfull occasion Iniustice of this warre and flatter him with sweet hopes of the euent They write letters in his name to the townes of Auuergne and other prouinces whereas they thought these designes would be well liked of and this Innouation pleasing But they were reeeiued of the wise with more amazement for this defection then desired to adhere vnto them and although there be no cause so bad but it findes some refuge and some one to fauour it and that which is held a crime h All the actions of men are taken by two ends some commend them others blame them Coesar is commended for that he attemptâ—d against the liberty of Rome Brutus iâ— blamed who opposed himself to his deseignes to reuenge his contries libertâ—es Some blame Cateline for that hee would haue done and others commend Caesar for that hee did in some is commended by others as a publique seruice yet all the townes did abhor this rebellion They held it impossible that such a diuision could prosper and that France would bee made a Theatre of a new Tragedie that the reasons whereof they did ground it were like vnto false stones which haue some transparant shining like
D coÌ„plaines of the Kings breach of his word seeing you haue alwaies shewed such affection and goodwill vnto the King let him not now beleeue the contrarie in refusing so small a thing as hee demands It is true said the Duke I haue neuer failed in my affection and loue vnto the King but I may well say that he hath neuer granted me any thing that I haue demanded and hath kept nothing of that which hee hath promised me o WheÌ„ a Prince hath an opinion not to hold any thing that hee promiseth hee may say that â—e hath put himselfe out of the commerce and negotiation of all sorâ—s of aâ—â—aires for no man can treat with him that hath nothing valuable but words There is nothing but distrust and iealousie of his actions detracta opinione probitatis witnes the townes engaged which he should haue suffered mee to enioy during my life And for that Moruillier did still infist to haue Rubempre the which was a matter of consequence against the Dukes soueraigne command Peter of Goux a knight and master of the lawes said that although the Duke was vassell vnto the King for some lands yet he had others that did not acknowledge any other Soueraigne but himselfe holding of the simple grace of God who had honored him as well as the King with the Image of his eternall gouernment p A royalty is the figure of eternall gâ—uernment and the Image of the Diuine monarchy And therfore Kings haue been held as the fathers of the people Aristotle in the third booke of his Polâ—â—â—ckes saith that a realme is the power of one that doth gouerne the coÌ„monwealâ— not seeking his own pâ—iuatâ— profit but that of his subiects That the Duchies of Brabant Luxemburgh and Lotrech the Earledomes of Bourgundy Henalt Holland Zeland and Namure were soueraigne countries Yet he is no King said the Kings Embassadors to whom the Duke answered I would haue the world know that it was mine owne fault if I be not yet will I not tel how or by what meanes The next day the Earle of Charolois presented himselfe vnto his Father in the presence of the French Embassadors kneeling vpon a Cushion of Veluet an exemplary act of Reuerence and Humilitie of a Prince of thirtie yeares old vnto his Father and which assures this truth That who so will be honored of those which be vnder him should not faile to respect and honor those that bee aboue him The scope of his discourse was to iustifie himselfe for the taking of the Bastard of Rubempre and the confederacie betwixt the Duke of Brittaine and him wherein hee protested hee had no other designe then the Kings seruice and shewing that his condition had wherwith to content himselfe with his owne contempt of an other mans there beeing no lesse glorie in the contempt then in the possession q It is for great courages to contemne Riches The shortest way to riches is to contemne Riches It is easier to disdaine then to possesse all hee added that it was not for any discontent he had for the taking of his pension from him for that with the fauour of his father he could liue without the Kings bounty Whereupon Departurâ— of the FreÌ„ch Embassadors the Duke intreated the Embassadors to tell the king that hee besought him not to beleeue any thing lightly against him and his sonne and to hold them alwaies in his fauour r An Embassador must neuer supprâ—sse words of brauery nor threates which be heares spokâ— by the Prince vnto whom he is sent They presented a banket vnto the Embassadors the History saith wine and spices When they tooke their leaues the Earle of Charolois spake these words vnto the Archbishop of Narbonna Phil. de Com. lib. 1. one of the three Embassadors recommend me most humbly vnto the Kings good grace and tell him that hee hath sought to disgrace me by his Chancellor but before the yeere bee past he will repent it From these little sparkles grew that great fire of the warre of the commonweale The Duke of Burbonne s The visits of great persons are suspitious Iohn Duke of Bourbon making shew to go see the Ladie Agnes his mother at Bruxells treated the league of the publike weale with the Duke Periculosae suÌ„t secretae coitiones who was the intellectuall agent The D. of Bourgundy comes to see his mother at Bruxells faining to goe see his Mother at Bruxells conferred with the Duke but did not discouer the secret saying onely that the Princes had no other intent but to present a petition vn-the king to reforme the disorders of the state and to haue forces readie to the end hee might know how many were interressed in this reformation Such as entered into this league knew one another by a silken point which they carried at their girdles Although the king had spies in all places yet knew he nothing of these coniunctions and assemblies Princes are within and not aboue the world to see all that was done They must bee aboue the heauens to know the ecclipses by themselues and not descend low to see the effects t The effects of great designes doe often break forth before the causes are discouered A vigilant Prince doth alwaies vse peruensions and diuersions The league was borne before he knew the conception hee did not apprehend that it should show it selfe on the Burgundians side for he considered that although the sonne were violent and ill affected towards him yet the father wanted no iudgement to restraine him and iudging that the ayre could not be troubled but towards Brittanie he assembled both the Princes of his bloud and the chiefe of his Noblemen at Tours about Christmas 1464. and propounded vnto them the great occasions he had to preuent the designes of the Duke of Brittany u The King as Montstrelet saith made this assembly to coÌ„plaine that the D. of Brittaine had said that he had a designe to make warre against the Princes and to dispossesse them of their lands It was at this assembly that Charles Duke of Orleans could not forbeare to speake for the Princes of the bloud See Claud. Saysell in the life of Lewis the twelfth beseeching the king not to doubt of their loyalties and affections The king was offended at this remonstrance and reiected it with words full of spleene bitternes and contempt The Duke of Orleans being thus roughly handled and grieued that in an age of threescore and ten yeares he was not heard by him whose grandfather had vouchsafed to heare him in his youth could not endure them not considering that they came from the mouth of his king who was not bound to fit them to his humor and that he must swallow them sweetly without murmuring for the demonstration of the offence doth but augment it He died for sorrow two daies after the fourth of Ianuary 1465. Hee was interred at Bloys his bones were carried
The Kings intention was that the Riuers should returne vnto the Sea from whence they came and his reason was grounded vpon the Law of the Realme which giues no part of Reuenues of the Crowne in propriety to the Females and portions giuen to the Princes of France passe not to their daughters when as they leaue no sonnes s In old time the Infants of the House of France had their Portions in Soueraignty This was abbrogated in the third race and so ordered as the yonger sonnes could not pretend any thing to the Succession of the King their Father but a prouision for their entertainement the which hauing no Heires Males returned to the Crowne Heereupon there was a Sentence giuen to the benefite of King PHILIP the third for the Earledome of Poitiers and Lands of Auuergne against CHARLES the first King of Sicile brother to Saint LEVVIS in the Parliament of Tousaints 1283. Finally vpon that Maxime That the reuenues of the Crowne are Inalienable and not subiect to prescription For men cannot prescribe any thing against God nor priuate men against the Estate To apply the square vnto the stone and the Hypothesis vnto the Thesis the Kings Deputies did shew that the Dutchy of Bourgondy the Franch-County with the Earledomes of Flanders Artois and Henaut were peeces of the Crowne If their discourse was not in these tearmes it was so in substance The beginnings of the diminution of Flanders as they of all the great Empires of the world haue beene weake vncertaine and fabulous t Estates as all other things in the world haue three times the beginning the decrease and the declining The Countrey was peopled by a Colony of Saxons whom Charlemaigne brought thither gouerned vnder the authority of the Crowne of France by their Lords Forresters u The Gouernors and Guardiâ—ns of Flanders saith M r. du 〈◊〉 before Baldwin surnamed Iron-Arme were Officers mutable at the will of the Kings of FraÌ„ce although that some sonnes haue succeeded in their fathers Offices for that that they were heires of their vertues were called Forresters not that their charge was onely vpon the land being fall of Forrest for coles but the guard of the sea was also commutted to them The Estate began by Baldwin suruamed Iron-arme and continued in his posterity but as it ended by Maud daughter to Baldwin the fifth Flanders past vnder the commands of the Dukes of Normandy then of Thierry Earle of Alsatia who married Sibilla daughter to Foulques of Anjou King of Ierusalem and had but one daughter who was heire to the Earledome of Flanders and married to Baldwin the fourth of that name Earle of Henaut of this marriage came Baldwin Earle of Flanders the eighth of that name who was Emperour of Constantinople who died at Andrinopile who left but two daughters Ioane who died without children and Margaret Countesse of Flanders x Margaret Countesse of Flanders who raigned thirty yeares had two husbands the first was Bourcher an Englishman by who she had one sonne which dyed yong and William of Dampierre second sonne to Archambauld Lord of Bourbon Father to Guy Earle of Flanders Father to Robert of Bethunes who married William of Bourbon Guy Earle of FlaÌ„ders sonne to Archambâ—uld Lord of Bourboun He was father to three sonnes William who died without children Guy Earle of Flanders and Iohn Lord of Dampierre Guy Earle of Flanders married Maud daughter and heire to Robert others named him Fegard of Bethunes Robert of Bethunes by whom hee had fiue sonnes and three daughters Robert of Bethunes his sonne who hath deserued the surname of Great as well for the greatnesse of his vertue as his fortune succeeded him Charles of Anjou King of Sicile brother to Saint Lewis gaue meanes to acknowledge his valour more gloriously hauing set two Crownes vpon his head by the Victory of the battell of Benevent y Battle of Benevent the 10 of February 1565. where as Manfroy bastard to Conrade whom he had poysoned was slaine whereas the Parricide Manfroy ended his tyranny honour and life Hee had enioyed them longer and more happily if hee had followed the councell of this Prince z Robert of Bethunes Earle of Flanders did not allow of the death of Conradyne The History which detests it reserues him this honour Vtrique nouâ— ac regio nomine indigno crudelitatis in or be Christiano exemple fecuri vitam eripit frustra Flandriae Comite monente generosum victorem decêre moderationem clementiam Sed vicit vox cruenta vita Conradini mors Caroli mors Conradini vita Caroli Hee tooke away both their I was by an example of cruelty which was new in the Christian world and vnworthy the name of a King the Earle of Flanders â—â—lling him in vaine that moderation and clemency did become a generous victor but that cruell voyce preuaâ—â—d The life of Conradine is the death of Charles and the death of Conradine is the life of Charles who found the death of Conradine and Frederick of Austria Prisoners taken in the warre barbarous and inhumane Of this Marriage Charles was borne who dyed yong a Charles of Bethunes son to Robert Earle of Bethunes dyed at a eleuen yeares of age They write that he brought from his mothers wombe the figure of a Crosse betwixt his shoulders and Lewis who was father to Lewis the second Lewis the second of Bethunes Earle of Flandes Hee married Margaret of France daughter to Phillip the Long who treating of the conditions of this Marriage would that Robert of Bethunes his Grand-father should declare the children that were to be borne of this marriage Earles of Flanders This Lewis of Bethunes surnamed of Cresse for that he dyed at the battell of Cresse Lewis the third of Bethunes left one some called also Lewis and surnamed of Mallaine These so diuers names haue but one Spring Mallaine is Bethunes and Bethunes is Flanders The greatest Families of Europe haue forgotten their first names to continue them of their portions and successions So we see Bourbon for France Austria for Habspourg and in this Genealogy of the Earles of Flanders Dampierre for Bourbon Bethunes for Flanders and without any other distance but from father to sonne Neuers and Mallaine for Bâ—thunes Lewis of Bethunes or of Mallaine married Margaret daughter to the Duke of Brabant and had his onely daughter Margaret who was first married to Phillip Duke of Bourgundy and afterwards to Phillip the Hardy sonne to King Iohn From this truth we must conclude that the Crowne of France had the right of homage and of Soueraignety ouer the Earledome of Flanders before this marriage The like is said of the Townes of Lisle Douay Orchies and Bethunes Consequently Artois cannot bee separated from France no more then the Earledome of France from whence it is come County of Artois for the parties follow the nature of their whole King Lewis the ninth performing the will of
profit to deceiue any without distinction especially the Princes of the bloud who speake as if God had suffred him to liue for the miserie of the Common-weale and the ruine desolation of the people whose fatnesse and good estate he held dangerous for the health of the whole body holding for a Maxime that they should not do ill vnto the people nor attend any good of them In the end the Chronicle speakes after this manner This King in his life time by reason of some men that were about his person as Oliuer the Diuell called Dain his Barber Iohn Doyac and many others to whom hee gaue more credit then to any men of his Realme did during his Reigne many Iniustices wrongs and violences and had brought his people so low as at the time of his death they were almost in despaire All this is nothing but a rough draught of his humours Plety and Religion of Lewis the 11 th To view the whole Table wee must consider what his Religion and Piety was towardes God and his obedience towardes the Pope then wee will passe to his affection toward his Wife his Sonne Father and his neerest Kinsmen the Princes of his Bloud and his Seruants Of all these things the Iudgement shall bee reserued to truth and discretion which will haue the memory of Princes to be alwayes reuerenced and that they speake of their defects not as of vices but as of imperfect vertues f The vertues of Princes shold be spoken without flattery their vices by discretion they must not set downe their defectes plainly but passe them ouer as vertues which are not perfect It is the aduice which Plutarke giue writing the life of Simon For the first the good is alwayes good and the euill is alwayes euill Opinion cannot change the essence of things they are very hardy which will haue actions to bee other then they appeare Slander hauing no strong sight to behold the brightnesse of vertue vseth false spectacles and calleth that Feare which is Wisedome Hypocrisie that which is Deuotion â—arde iudgment of Claudius Seissel and Inhumanity that which is Iustice I finde that Claudius Seissell hath iudged very boldly of the Deuotion and Piety of this Prince thinking that he hath pierced into the very inward parts by the obseruation which he hath made of the outward man He hath represented him very melancholicke and superstitious alwayes trembling and terrified with the horrour of eternall paine His deuotion g True pâ—ety supports it selfe she will haue the soule cheerefull obedient and that a good man bee so although that nothing should bee euer knowne said he seemed to bee more Superstitions then Religious For to what Image or Church of GOD and Saints and namely of our Lady that he vnderstood the people had any deuotion or where there were any miracles done he went thither to make his Offering or sent some expresly thither Hee had moreouer his Hat full of Images the most part of Lead and Tinne the which whensoeuer any good or bad newes came vnto him or that the humour tooke him hee kist falling sometimes suddenly downe vpon his knees in what place soeuer hee were so as hee seemed rather a man distracted then wise Such censures belong to him who doth keepe and iudge the hearts of Kings God the Iudge of Hearts but it is true this Princes Religion was wholy outward retaining nothing in his heart It was popular and ceremonious as if he had had for the obiect of his worship a visible dignity and that it were sufficient to appeare holy and not to bee so h Religion will haue an exterior and publicke exercise with her Ceremonies The Prince is bound vnto it and it is Impiety for any other to contradict it and to trouble the order But the seruice which is done by the Spirit is answerable to the essence of God who is all Spirit and that which is done outwardly is more for vs them for him His Chronicle saith that on a Sunday the eighth of September going from the Tournelles to our Ladies Church hee past by the Church of Mary Magdalen to subscribe himselfe a brother and companion of the great brotherhood of the Bourgeses of Paris The God of the people is the God of Kings but the exterior seruice of Religion allowes many things to the simplicity of the people which are not fitting for the maiesty of Kings If wee shall iudge of causes by the euents wee may say that the Pilgrimages on Foote and Horse-backe Pilgrimages of Lewis 11 and the most zealous deuotions of this Prince haue often couered designes which were repugnant to Piety and Iustice Hee did therein alwayes circumvent some one and vpon this opinion that the shew of religion workes wonders in the beleefe of men i The people opinion of their Princes holinesse workes great effects Sertorius with his Hinde had graâ—en such a superstition in his Souldiers mindes as they did not thinke that they were gouerned by a man who had more iudgement theÌ„ they but they did firmly beleeue that it was some God which guided them keeping them from iudging rashly of his life and actions whom they saw so familiar with God They say that he did fit his religion to his designes and not his designes to his religion They did not in those times speake of that most impious Maxime Maxim of Machiuel That it is sufficient for a Prince to seeme outwardly religious and deuout although he be not so A Maxime of Atheisme which mockes at God to deceiue men at God who in the end confounds hypocrites wil be serued with an vnfaigned heart whereof hee sees and sounds the deepest bottome k They make Machiuel Author of this Maxime that a new Princce cannot obserue all things for the which men are esteemed good being often constrained for the maintaining of his estate to doe things contrary to faith and religion to leaue the good when he may and to do the euill when he is forced We may well say that the world lookes but to the exterior and that which is in shew It is not possible in matters of religion whose actions must be so often reiterated that hypocrisie should still ioyne them so well together but some one will dis-band and discouer the deceite The Signior of Haillan Historiographer of France who hath promised to publish the whole History of this King and hath giuen vs an abridgement in his booke which is excellent and iuditious touching the affaires of France speakes of his Religion after this manner Neuer Man was more superstitious then hee hee did things which were good in shew but to a bad intent thinking by his superstition to deceiue both GOD and the world The superstitious feare not to doe euill for the opinion they haue to obtaine absolution by the acts of their superstition l Hipocrisie cannot continue long lying cannot deceiued long The night lasts not but wheÌ„