to Monsieur Dalby who carries a commission directed to him to Monsieur Charluz and to the said Destueille and to euery of them to cause great store of victuals to be carried to Narbona and other places of the fronter to the end the men at Armes may haue no want but you must haue a care that vnder coâ—llor thereof none be carried to Perpignan I haue giuen charge to the said Beauuoisien to be gouerned by you and in case that Mousieur de S. Priet lead the hundred Lances of Dauphinâ— the said Beauuoisien shall bring vnto me Hardouin de la Iaille whom I haue written to S. Priet to send me I haue sent vnto you Raoulet of Balparque and Claux the Canonier to assist you imploy them well and spare nothing The Seig r of Bouffille shall part within two or three daies and in my opinion with those hundred Lances with yours those of Dauphinè Lanquedoc and of Captaine Odet with the three thousand Franc of Archers you shall haue forces sufficient to spoile and burne their whole Country and to take and beate downe their paltry places or ruine and burne such as you cannot beat downe I doe also write vnto the Generall Treasurer and Officers of Languedoc that they doe whatsoeuer Monsi r Dalby and you shall commaund them Beauuoisien shall tell you the rest Farewell my Lord Gouernor I pray you let mee vnderstand of your newes Written at Senlis the 9. of Aprill V. Lewis and vnderneath N. Tilhart The Kings armie besieged Parpignan Siege of Parpignan D. Iohn King of Arragon maintained the siege the Prince D. Ferdinand came to succor him and forced the French to retire Lewis hearing of this shamefull retreat commanded his Captaines to returne speedilyâ— and to take the place or to die there The siege continued eight monthes the besieged were wonderfully prest with famine for when as they had eaten horses dogs Cats and Rats they deuoured their flesh that were slaine at assaults chosing rather to dye after this manner then to returne vnder the command of the French Famine and yeelding of Parpignan Yet their obstinacy was no hinderance from letting the K. suffer them to feele the effects of his Clemencie receiuing them vpon composition euen when as they could no more u The obstinacy and fury of a Town besieged should not hinder the bounty and clemencie of a Prince Laurence Palatin of Hungarie being amazed that the Emperor Sygismond left them their liues goods and held them for good subiects whom hee had vanquished answered in this manner I kill my enemies in pardoning and in doing them good I binde them Aeneas Sit. lib. 3. Com. So the Contâ—e of Roussillon remained to France all the raigne of King Lewis King Charles his Sonne restored it to King Ferdinand x Charles the eight yeelded the Countie of Rossiâ—lon to Ferdinand King of Arragon did acquit him of the same for the which hee was engaged this was in the yeare 1494. It had cost the King his Father many men and much money His Chronicle relates that it was said in those times that the Contrie of Arragon was a Church-yard vnto the French Philip de Commines saith that in the Contie of Roussillon there died many good men for this warre continued long A Peace was mas made betwixt Lewis and D. Iohn King of Arragon and Nauarre Embassadors from the King of Arragon sent into France whose Embassadors being come into France were well receiued and graciously vsed by the King who gaue them two cups of gold waying fortie markes y As a weake Prince should not make any show of his forces so hee that is mighty glories to shew what hee can The King out of one Citie of his realme musters a huÌ„dred thousand men in Armes the 20. of Aprill 1470. and esteemed worth three thousand two hundred crownes of gold and to the end they might iudge of the whole peece by a patterne he caused them to see the Inhabitants of Paris in Armes they did muster a hundred foure thousand men the Originall saith they were all in one liuerie in red Casacks and white Crosses The fortune of the house of Armagnac was intangled in that of Arragon Iohn Earle of Armagnac expelled his Country Iohn Earle of Armagnac had married Ioane of Foix Daughter to Gaston Earle of Foix and D. Leonora of Arragon This alliance could not defend him from the indignation of King Lewis the eleuenth in the furie whereof he found first the losse of his libertie then of his goods and lastly of his life The King could not forget with what vehemency he had followed the Bourguignon party in the war of the Common weale after that he had promised to retire himselfe from all Leagues and associations contrary to the Kings intentions nor with what affection he had followed the youthfull follies of the Duke of Guienne his brother who had restored him to his lands contrary to his commandement In the yeare 1469. one called Iohn Bon of Wales in England brought letters vnto the King which King Edward had writen to the Earle of Armagnac Accused by a welchmaÌ„ and the answer which the Earle made him The King reading them with the passion where-with he was possest and easily beleeuing one man alone a To draw many heades in question vppon the report of one tongue is an act of extreame odious Iustice. Graue militibus visuÌ„ quod in causa falconis multos milites ad vnius serui testimonium occidi preceperat Pertinax Iul. Capitol to ruine one who was worth many and who would cost him much thought that Infidellity was noe new thing in a spirit who had already shewed the proofes and without further inquisition sends the Earle of Dammarting with twelue or thirteene hundreth Lances and with ten or twelue thousand Franc Archers to seaze vpon the Earles person lands and estate Being come into the Towne of Rhodets he put the whole Country into the Kings hands His lands put into the Kings haÌ„ds changed the officers and caused a Proclamation to be made by the sound of a Trumpet that noe man of what estate or condition whatsoeuer should advowe himselfe seruant nor officer to the Earle of Armagnac nor make any poursute for him vpon paine of confiscation of body and goods b There is nothing so powerfull nor fearefull as a publik declaration of the Princes hatred against any one especially among a people which esteem not their Gouernors but by the authority and credit they haue with their Superior In these extremities there is not any man that will willingly loose himselfe for another Good men are loth to drawe their friends into danger As it is an office of frendshippe to runne into danger for ones friends and rashnes to goe into perils without occasion so it is cruelty to bring others into danger The Earle of Dammartin made booty of all the places and Siegneuries which did
owne head and that he had no other Law then his will desired her a longer life for her presence had been a causey to stop these torrents m The great name of mother well bred and of vnderstanding is a great restraint vnto a Prince Tacitus saith that after that Nero had lost his mother he fell to all dissolutions and excesse Quaâ— malâ— coâ—rcit as qualiscunque matris reuerentia tardauerat Seâ—anus did aâ—so keep Tiberius in awe and the same author saith that hee gaue himselfe to wicked and vnseemely things postquam remoto pudore et metu suo tantum ingenio vtebatur when as hauing banished shame and feare hee followed his own wit It falls out ill with a Prince who sees nothing betwixt God and himselfe whereof the respect should restraine him and be a bridle vnto him She had endured much before her death The Chronicle of Lewis the eleuenth commends her patience vnder her husbands raigne and humors but she could not dissemble the discontent which she receiued at the pleasure of her Augustus n They demanded of Liuia Augustus wife how shee had done to win and enioy Augustus To whom she answered in doing willingly whatsoeuer pleased him dissembling the plesures which he tooke in secret Dion As a good constitution of the body doth easily endure both heat and cold so the force and vigour of the mind doth without any great paine resist these crosses and discontents which are thornes amidst the roses of marriage This passion seazing vppon a weake spirit and without defence transports it to dislikes and extreame hatred About the end of the yeare he went to Tours the Earle of Charolois after his returne from pilgrimage came thither to him where after they had spent some daies in the pleasure of hunting he had the Commission of Lieftenant Generall in Normandy with 36000. Crownes for his entertainement This guift was without asking The benefits of Princes are sweeter offred then granted He had but one third part paid which defect made him to faile in his affection and transported him to other thoughts o Men are more discontented to see themselues frustrated of thinges promised then of those which are but hoped for In the one there is but misâ—ap and they complaine only of fortune In the other contempt and they challenge him that hath broken his promise Hee went to Rouen to take possession of his gouernment It was at Tours that he began to frame his intelligences with the Duke of Brittanny These two Princes were yong both discontented and they which know one another salute a farre off The Earle of Charolois did conferre secretly with Romille Vicechancellor and Ambassador of Brittany to whom he gaue the seale of alliance wherewith hee shall be soone reprocht Lewis entered into France a friend to all his neighbours There was not any but Pope Pius 2 p Pius 2. called a Councile at Mantoâ—a in the yeare 1459. to consult of the meanes to resist Mohomet 2. who had made great ruines in Hungary Albania Constantinople who let him know that he could not be so Pius 2. presseth the abolition of the Pragmatike Sanction if the pragmatike Sanction were obserued To vnderstand how France hath lost that which she had preserued so deerely we must take the discourse somwhat higher The Pope had called an q Eugenius the 4. in the yeare 1443. gaue the Inuestitiure of the Realme of Naples to Alphonso King of Aragon with the two Sicities Bartho Flaccius in the life of Alphonse the 5. Pins 2. gaue the inuestiture of the Crowne of Naples to Ferdinand bastard to Alphonso King of Arragon Alexander 6. confirmed it to Alphonso 2. who left it to Ferdinand of Aragon and he held it when as Charles the eight conquered the Realme an assembly of Princes at Mantoua to consult of the meanes to make warre against the Turke land to preuent the great deseignes which hee had against Christendome King Charles the seauenth sent his Ambassadors thither Prelates Knightes and Doctors to let them vnderstand his intentions for the generall good of the Church They made a priuate request vnto the Pope that if hee would be pleased to giue the inuestiture of the Realmes of Naples and Sicile to King Rene who had beene wrongfully dispossest against the hereditary rightes of the house of Aniou the which the King desired the more earnestly for that besides the affection of blood which bound him to loue his kinsman and brother in Law he saw that the generall cause of Christendome would bee much fortefied against the common enemy for the Duke of Calabria the sonne of Renne entring into the inheritance of his predecessors propounded to aduance his armes and to expell the Ottomans out of the Empire of Constantinople when as they thought that the Christian Religion was at her period and could go no farther r Albunasat said that the Christian Relligion should last vnto the yeare 1460. Abraham the Iewe said that in the yeare 1464. the Iewish religion should bee in her glory liberity when as it was most afflicted An enterprise whereof they had great hope as well for the generosity of this Princes courage as for that he was in an age fit and capable of such actions whereby the holy Sea might reape great profit the possessions depending of his patrimony being by this meanesrestored vnto him The Pope vpon this proposition s This Act was imparted vnto mee by Gaspar Dauvet Siegneur of Marets Stuard of the kings house The chiefe clauses are reported here in the margent Post quaÌ„ plurimade laudibus Francorum S. D. N. praeclare dixerat adiecit etiam loqui in fanorem partis aduersae antedicti D. Regis Rentai de graÌ„di exaltatione ille gitime natorum aliqua in ijs interserendo quae potius tacenda fuisse videntur hauing made a long discourse in commendation of the French The Popes affection to the house of Arragon hee added many things touching bastards fauoring couertly those which vsurped the rights of the house of Aniou and then falling vpon the decrees of the councile of Basill and of the Pragimatike sanction he said that it was a spot which did blemish the beauty of the face of France and vnder pretext whereof the Authority of the Apostolik Sea was disgrac'd the forces of Christian Relligion were weakened the vnity and liberty of the Church violated and troden downe and therefore hee was forced to speake Popes threat against France least his silence should bee reputed a conniuence or carelesnesse and that the wound which might bee cured grew not incurable and hee should be forced to abstaine from all intelligence and communication with the French alledging this passage of Scripture t Alledging that it is written in the old law Surper omnem animaÌ„ quae mortua est non ingredietur Pontifex The high Priest shall not see a dead soule and shall not bee whereas there
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
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
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—
him for ten thousaÌ„d florins Winter came on the Duke of Calabria retired his troupes to Perpignan hee made a voyage into France to haue new forces and returned with ten thousand men with the which he forced king Iohn to raise the siege from before Peralta the which was wonderfully prest with their Ordinance and hauing made a great breach the assaylants assured themselues to force it at the firt assault The night before it should be giuen the Duke of Calabria entred with such furie into their quarters without discouerie the Sentinels being a sleepe q It is easie to make a surprise when as Sentinels be a sleepe The Romans coÌ„sidering that the safety of the Armie or Camp depending of their vigilancy had cries and trumpets to keep them waking There were some also that went the round with bels to the same end Of all which we finde examples in Tacitus Hist. 5. Polibeus lib. 2. stratagem of Clearchus Thucidid li. 4. as euery man sought how to saue themselues In combats by night the amazement is so great as he that begins first wins The King fled away bare headed towards Figueres France made bonfires for this victorie the which was seconded by the taking of Girona Death of Iohn D. of Calabia but within few daies after they lamented the death of the Duke of Calabria who dyed at Perpignan of a pestilent burning Feuer When as the King of Arragon had ended a Ciuill warre against his subiects he found himselfe ingaged in warre against the French King Lewis the eleuenth being often importuned with the ordinarie complaints which were made of the insolencies of the French r The inhabitants of Perpignan intreated Iohn King of Arragon either to giue the K. other pâ—wnes for the assuraÌ„ce of his money which hee had lent or to suffer them to retire themselues which were at Roussillon and that the inhabitants of Perpignan being reuolted against the garrison had forced them to retire into the Castle he sent the King word that he should pay him his three hundred thousand crownes retire his countrie or that he should make him an absolute sale or giue him caution for the paiment The King of Arragon finding either of these conditions verie harsh answered that he could not yet vngage the country and that it would bee no honour to him to alienate it being a part of the Crowne of Arragon and that it was a matter neuer heard of to presse a King to gaue Caution the pawne being sufficient The King taking this answere for a refusall prepared to warre and made his preparation slowly to haue a more speedy victorie s He that will demand any thing of an enemie must not be disarmed neither must hee prepare hastily to war to vanquish more speedily Diu apparandum est bellum vt vineas celerius quia longa belli preparatio celerem facit victoriam Senec. With the like care as he armed for an offensiue warre against the King of Arragon he gaue order for a defensiue and to furnish the Towne of Perpignan with victuals and necessary commodities to maintaine a siege and gaue the command thereof to the Lord of Lude The Letter which he wrote vnto him vpon that subiect deserues well to be considered of beeing drawne from the originall and full of passages which discouer the humor of this Prince the order and conduct of his affaires and the manner of writing of those times My Lord Gouernor t The Lord of Lude as may be seene by the subscription of this Letter was Gouernor of Dauphiné Chamberlaine to K. Lewis 〈◊〉 the Earle of Cardonna and the Castellan of Emposta are arriued at Paris Kings Letter to the Lord of Lude I haue sent Monsieur Daire and the Sieg r of Bouffille vnto them to know and vnderstand of them if they came to make any good appointment or whether they came to deceiue mee and to dissemble The said Bouffille is returned vnto me and as farre as they can finde they bring not any good newes and their intention is onely to entertaine mee with words vntill they haue gathered in their coine And therefore I must play M r Lewis and you Mr Iohn and whereas they seeke to deceiue vs let vs shew our selues more politick then they In regard of my selfe I will entertaine them heere vntill the first weeke of May and in the meane time you shall part with all the speed you can and shall draw together a hundred Lances in Dauphine to lead with you and cause them to be led by Monsieur de S. Priet or by Pouillalier or by them both together that is to say fourescore Lances by S. Priet and twentie by Pouillalier or all to him alone or to both together as you shal think the matter may be best conducted for my profit for I referre this Article to you I send you a Letter which I write vnto them by Beauuoisin whom I charged to tell them and to doe what you shall thinke fit And for the paiment of the said hundred Lances A hundred pound starling you must speedilie finde a thousand Liuers to giue them at their departure for they shall make but a roade to spoile and burne the corne and then returne which is ten francks a month for euerie Lance And seeing they haue no Archers and continue but eight or ten daies it must suffice them it is fit to finde a meanes to recouer the said thousand Francks either by confiscation of Corne or otherwise And if it should come to the extremitie that you could not finde it before you want take it vppon the accounts of the Treasurer of Dauphinâ— to whom I write expressely but vse such diligence as the said men at Armes may part the 25. day of this month and if you take any money vp in Dauphinâ— I will repay it My Lord Gouernor the greatest seruice you can doe me is to vse such speed as you may burne all their Corne betimes for thereby they shall be forced to speake plainely I haue spoken vnto Captaine Odet Daidre who is well content to goe thither I send him vnto you with his hundred Lances to assist you to make the spoile in my opinion when you are all together you are inough I send Yuon Diliers vnto Monsieur de Charluz to raise an hundred Lances in Lanquedoc I doe also write vnto de Charluz to gather together of his Franc Archers the neerest to those marches to the number of three thousand and that he cause them to march into Roussillon with you and that all be readie to part the 25. of this month of Aprill And for the paiment of the hundred Lances of Lanquedoc and of the said Franc Archers I write vnto the Generall and Treasurer of Lanquedoc that they cause foure thousand Francs to be deliuered vnto them that is to say a thousand Francs to the hundred Lances and to the said Franc Archers 3000. Francs I doe also send Destueille
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
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
to the toombe of his Father at the Celestins at Paris the 21. of February 1504. by the commandement of king Lewis the twelfth his sonne After the battell of Azincourt he remained fiue and twenty yeares prisoner in England The English would not deliuer this Flower-deluce without ransome and to redeeme him the D. of Bourgundy payed three hundred thouthousand crownes What a change Iohn Duke of Bourgundy depriues Lewis of Orleans of his life Philip Duke of Bourgundy his sonne giues libertie to Charles of Orleans and to make the bond perfect he giues him the golden fleece and marries him to his Neece Mary of Cleues shee was the third wife hauing before his imprisonment married Isâ—bel of France widdow to Richard King of England and Bonna of Armagnac x The afronts which are receiued from great persons must not onely be disgested patienâ—ly but also after a constant manner murmuring auailes nothing Many haue made of scratchings incurable wounds oftentimes the iniury is doubled and renewes when as they make it knowne that it is receiued according to the designe of him that doth it x By Mary of Cleues hee had Lewis the twelfth his onely sonne and two Daughters Mary was promised to Peter of Bourbon and afterwards married to Iohn of Foix Vicount of Narbonne father to that Achilles of France GastoÌ„ of Foix Duke of Nemours of Germaine Queene of Arragon Anne of Orleans was Abbess of Fonteueâ—aud The Duke of Bourbon hauing opened the passage to this designe of the warre of the common-weale The Duke of Berry retires into Brittany they attended no more but to see the head Charles of France the Kings brother beeing at Poictiers and making show to goe a hunting whiles the king was in his deuotions steales away and goes vnto the Embassadors of Brittaine Iohn of Rommille vice chancellor of Brittaine and Tanequy of Chastell who were come to haue a Prolongation for other three monthes to make answere to the kings demands carried him away speedily by the meanes of the Lord of Lescon a Gascoine and led him into Brittanie y The King being gone in deuotion to our Lady of Pont in Limosin the Duke of Berry retires into Brittaine He was but eighteene yeares old hee held life so short and that of Princes which liue in subiection so troublesome as if he did not speedily know what it was to bee a master the knowledge would euer come to late He was welcome for this was the firebrand which they must cast to set France on fire The Duke of Brittanie promised him the seruice of his person and all the succors of his forces Hee declared the cause of his departure by letters which hee wrote to the Duke of Bourgundy and to the other Princes of their intelligence The most apparent was drawne from the bad gouernment of the affaires whereof the Princes of the bloud z It concernes the Princes of the bloud to look into the disorders of the estate and to assist the King faithfully to rearesse theÌ„ whiles there is heat in tâ—is bloud wee may hope for the life and continuance of the body which haue the chiefe interest and care of the whole bodie should apprehend the dangerous euents and had subiect to complaine to see vnworthy men without honor or merit to deale in that which should passe by their hands and to leap ouer their heads to great offices That his armes and his desires had no other obiect but to restore order vnto the Realme and there withall to ease the people of their oppressions the which he could not otherwise hope for but in making the King know in the beginning of his raigne a At the Câ—mming of new Pâ—aces they make demands and pursuits for that which they dâ—sire the rest of the Raigne for when they are well settled they will no more beare speake That 〈◊〉 Petcennius hauing prepared his companions to mutine hee said Quando ausuros exposcere remedia nisi noâ—â—m et nutantem adhuc Principem vel armis adirent Tacitus lib. 1. Annal. the extreame necessity whereinto it was brought His will was manifested more amply by his letters to the Duke of Bourgundy which Monstrellet setts downe in these termes Most deere and welbeloued Vncle I recommend me vnto you I let you vnderstand that of late I haue often heard the clamors of the Princes of the blood my kinsmen and other Noblemen of this Realme in all estates of the disorder and pittifull gouernment which now doth raigne by the councell of men being about my Lord full of all lewdnes and iniquity who for their owne profit and priuate disordered affections haue drawne my Lord into iealousie and hatred against you me and all the Noblemen of the said Realme yea against the Kinges of Castile and Scotland so long allyed vnto the Crowne b The most ancient alliances of the French haue beene with the Scots and then with the Castilians The Crowne of France hath had pretentions vpon Castille at the inheritance of the Lady Blanch of Castile mother to St. Lewis as euery man knowes In regard how the authority of the Church hath beene kept Iustice done and administred the Noblemen maintained in their rights and priuiledges and the poore people supported and freed from oppression I write no more vnto you for I know you are sufficiently informed and I am greeued at the said thinges as I ought to be as he whom it doth so neere concerne as euery man doth know c The Children of one family are interessed in the 〈…〉 and the Princes of the bloud in the gouernment of the estate and desire to prouide for it by the Counsell of you of the said Princes and kinsmen and other Noblemen who haue all promised to aid and serue me not sparing body or goods for the quiet of the Realme and the publick weale thereof and also to saue my person which I found to be in danger For incessantly and openly my said Lord and they about him spake such wordes of me d The words of such as are neerest vnto a Prince make men iudge of his intentions The Duke of Berry hearing that the seruants of the K. his brother spake freely against him thought that their discourses were framed vpoÌ„ his Good words entertaine friendship and bad dissolues theÌ„ as I might with Reason haue cause to doubt I therefore left my said Lord and am come vnto my good Cosin of Brittaine who hath giuen me so good and commendable reception as I cannot sufficiently commend it and is resolued to serue me with body goods and all his power to the good of the said Realme and publicke weale And therefore my most deere and welbeloued vncle my intention and desire is to imploy my selfe with you and the said noblemen my kinsmen whose counsell I will vse and not otherwise to restore and redresse the said desolate Realme knowing that you are one of the greatest of the Realme whom
Liuius did of the Romans n Nulla vnquam Respublica nec maior nec sanctior nec bonis exemplis ditior fuit nec in quam tam serae auaritia luxuriaque immigrauerint nec vbi tantus ac tamdiu paupertati ac parfimoniae honos fuerit There was neuer Common-weale greater nor more holy nor richer in good examples nor into which auarice luxury crept later nor whereas pouerty and parsimony were so long honoured That neuer Common-weale was better maintained in her ancient discipline nor wheras Auarice had lesse credit and Simplicity more honour then in that of the Suisses For these reasons the king made a defensiue leaue with them Alliance of France with the Suisses by the Treaty gaue himselfe the Name of the first Ally of their Common-weale and tearmed himselfe their Bourgesse o The Duke of Sauoy said that the Title of the first Ally of the Suisses belonged to him before all others They promised to furnish him with eight thousand men at all times for foure German Florins and a halfe of monthly pay 2000 pouÌ„d sterling Moreouer he gaue them a pension of twenty thousand Franckes to be distributed among them By the meanes of this Alliance his forces increased greatly in Bourgondy Dole was taken by assault spoiled ruined and made miserable But this pillage did impouerish the King beeing certaine that what is taken from Townes vanquished is lost for the Victor p Craesus King of Lydia seeing Cyrus Souldiers running vp and downe the Towne of Sardes he demanded whither they did run They go to the spoyle of the Towne answered Cyrus They take nothing from me replied Craesus all they carry away is thine and not mine Aussonne held out but fiue dayes Besançon an Imperiall Towne continued in her liberties and was not forced to more duety then shee had beene accustomed to yeeld vnto the Earles of Bourgondy Verdun would not yeeld but by force and suffered for her wilfulnesse Beaune auoyded it submitting herselfe to a fine of forty thousand Crownes The King labouring to ruine the house of Bourgondy Estate of the affairs of Castille apprehended the rising of that of Castille seeing that by the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabel the Realmes of Castille and Arragon which had beene diuided 405 yeares were vnited q Castille Arragon in the beginning were but Earldomes they were made Realmes after the death of D. Sancho the great king of Nauarre who was the last Earle of Arragon Castille He would haue beene nothing sorry if the contention which was betwixt them who should haue the gouernment of Castille had continued longer Queene Isabel said that as daughter to King Iohn of Castille shee was sole heire of the Realme and that her marriage should not depriue her of her quality King Ferdinand obiected that he was sonne to Iohn the second King of Nauarre and Arragon descended in the direct line from Iohn the first King of Castille and that it was not fit a woman should carry the Scepter of so great a Realme r Lipsius speaking of this Prince and Princesse giues this censure Maritus caetera vir egregius restrictor aut timidior erat retinere sua melior quam augere Haec dilatabat The husband a worthy man a holder fast or more fearefull hee was better to hold his owne then to augment it She enlarged it It was concluded by the aduise of the Grands that all Letters and Expeditions should bee made in the name of both and vnder the Seale of both Realmes of Castille and Arragon and the money coined with the Armes quartered This iudgment wherwith Ferdinand was not well pleased was grounded vpon the great and eminent vertue of Isabel Vertues of Isabel of Castille another Zenobia of Spaine and who did neuer breath any thing but what was great and generous A great Iusticer if euer any were and inexorable to rebellions s The Citty of Seâ—ile being reuolted through the factions betwixt the house of Gusman and Ponti the queen Isabella went thither forst them all to their duties she caused all that were in the Castle to bee hanged hauing refused her the entry she made the Court of Spaine a true Academy of honour and vertue out of which came Gonsalue the great Captaine her counsels were followed as Oracles and often times her husband and the Grands of the realme hauing found that no great matter was effected if it were not approued by her aduice neuer disputed against that which she had resolued It is she that began and ended the war of Portugall expelled the Moores out of Grenado added the realme of Nauarre to that of Castill and gaue meanes to Christopher Columbus t In the yeare 1492. the third of August the Queene D. Isabella sent Christopher ColuÌ„bus from Palos de Moguet in Andalusia to discouer the westerne Indies hauing sailed 2. moneths and 8. dayes hee first landed in the Iland of Guanahamo betwixt Florida Cuba to discouer new countries they also commend her for her great constant piety and for her admirable sobriety hauing neuer drunk wine she loued learned men and tooke delight in the knowledge of the Latine tongue she was full of courage resolution in aduersity for being vpon the treaty of her daughters marriage with Emanuel King of Portugall newes being brought her of the death of her only sonne u The Prince D Iohn of Castille being married to Margaret of Austria died at SalamaÌ„ca The History of Spaine saith that the King D. Ferdinand to acquaint his wife D. Isabella with this death caused a brute to be raised that hee was dead and then presently shewed himselfe vnto her so one sudden consolation betwixt two great afflictions did moderate both the one and the other she did not cease to proceed suppressing her griefe vntill that Emanuel was aduertised therof by others She was very constant in al distemperatures and dolours of the body for she was deliuered of her children without any groane or cry x In partus acutissimis doloribus gemitum vocem supprimebat rem incredibilem nisi à fidissimis matronis quae à cubiculi cura erant id certo se cognouisse Marinaeus Siculus adfirmaret In the bitterest pangs of childbearing she did neither groane nor cry an incredible thing if Marinaeus the Sicilian did not affirm that he had receiued it from the faithfullest matrons of her chamber King Lewis beeing very iealous of the county of Rousillon Death of D. Iohn King of Nauarre which was a thorne in the foot of Castille held the kings in iealousie and expences and desired to haue the realme of Nauarre continue in the possession of the successors of King Iohn who died in the end of the yeare 1479. y D. Iohn king of Arragon died at Barcelona being 81 yeares old hauing raigned in Nauarre 53. yeares and 4. moneths and 21 yeares six moneths in Arragon He
was buried in the Monastery of Poblete He was a great Prince like vnto others had past the pikes of fortune It hath beene said before that his son Charles and after his death his subiects of Barcelona and after all that the king of Castille and then the kings of France made warre against him he saw his realme in horrible combustions by the factions of Beaumont and Grandmont which he had seene spring vp neglected to quench them in their breeding About the end of his dayes when as he had more need of a Tombe then a wife and that the law Papia z Augustus in his latter dayes caused the Senate to make the Law Papia it had many heads amongst others a man of 60 yeares old a woman of 50 might not mary This word Buckle was vsed by Seneca and after him by Lactantius Quid ergo est quare apud Poetas salacissimus Iupiter desierit liberos tollere sexagenarius factus est illi â—ex papia fibulam imposuit had buckled him vp being aboue fourescore years old he fell in loue with a yong maid named Francina Rosa which was no helpe for him to recouer his sight which extreme age for the interest of so long an abode in the world had taken from him The yeare before his death he went to see his son D. Ferdinand at Victoria to conferre with him vpon the affaires of the realme which he should leaue vnto him In this incounter the father had not any with him but ancient men aboue threescore years old and the sonne was attended on by the flower of all the Nobility of Castille It was noted that the father in all things gaue place to the king D. Ferdinand his son as the head of the house of Castille from whence he was desended a Alphonso the fifth King of Arragon brother to Iohn the second king of Nauarre would haue his Embassadors giue place to them of Henry the fourth K. of Castillâ— in signing the Articles of a Treatie made at Naples The dispute of this precedence had bin begun in the Councell of Constance and decided in that of Basil in fauour of Castille Alphonso the fift king of Arragon would not yeeld it to his father Iohn the second King of Castille b It is a difficult thing sometimes for the prerogatiue of nature to giue place to that of fortune dignity witnesse the Senator of Venice who would not giue place to his sonne although he were Duke who to binde his Father did alwayes carry a great Crucifix to the which the father said hee did his duty The law of Maiesty was of more force then that of respect and naturall obedience wherof the son how great soeuer many not dispence himself towards his father The Crowne of Castille had alwaies pretended that Arragon depended of it in soueraignty and that if it were free it was by grace The King D. Iohn the second at his returne from this voyage dyed at Barcelona It was by his aduice that a peace was at that time treated Peace and Alliances renewed with Spain of betwixt king Lewis the eleuenth and the kings of Castille to confirme the ancient Alliances that were betwixt the two Crownes d Philip de Comines saith that the Alliances of France and Castille are betwixt King and King Realme Realme Man Man of their subiects The Embassadors of France were the Lord of Lescut and the Bishop of Lombais Abbot of S. Denis they of Castille were Iohn de Gamboa Gouernour of Fontarabie and Iohn de Medina one of the kings Councell This peace being concluded the Embassadors of Castille came into France they were receiued at Paris with great honour on Saturday the third of Iuly 1479. they did the like to the Embassadors of France who went to Guadalupa whereas D. Ferdinand and D. Isabella were busied in punishing the disobedience of the Marques of Villena who had hindered D. George Manriquez from chastizing them of Cinchilla who had reuolted At that time when as the Court was at Guadalupa the Marques of Villâ—na head of the faction being incensed that his enemies had caused six of his Souldiers to be hanged wold do the like to as many of theirs being his prisoners the chance fell vpon a Souldier of Villeneufue of Laxara neere to Allarcon in whose place the yonger brother presented himselfe and intreated that hee might dye for him for that his brother had wife and children who was set at liberty and his offer accepted Hist. of Spa. Lib. 22. The Articles are sworne by the king and moreouer it was agreed that the Towne of Parpignan should be put into the possession of the Cardinall of Spaine that the two kings should name an Arbitrator to decide within fiue yeares what K. Lewis did pretend to be due vnto him After the death of D. Iohn the 2 d king of Nauarre and Arragon D. Ferdinand succeeded in his fathers Estate of Arragon and Sicile and D. Leonora to the Mothers as daughter to Blanche Queene of Nauarre but this succession which shee would haue aduanced contrary to the Lawes of Nature and Humanity beeing blamed by the Histories of Spaine to haue caused her elder Sister to be poysoned f D. Blanch being put away by D. Henry the vnable was carried as it were a prisoner to Lescut in Bearne by Gaston Earle of Foix her Brother-in-law to the end she should not marry againe The Spaniards write that her sister Elenor caused her to bee poysoned did not passe the fifteenth day after her Coronation Shee had by Gaston Earle of Foix many worthy Children Gaston Blanche Countesse of Foix mother of many children Earle of Foix Iohn Vicount of Narbona Peter Cardinall of Foix Iames who serued King Lewis the twelfth in the warres of Lombardy and fiue daughters g Out of this house of Foix were issued four Queenes cousin germans at one time Catherin Q. of Nauarre German Q. of Castille and Arragon Anne Queene of France and Dutchesse of Brittaine Anne Queene of Bohemia Hungary Mary wife to William Marquis of Montferrat Ioane married to the Earle of Armagnac Margaret to Francis Duke of Brittanie Catherine to the Earle of Candalâ— and Elenor promised to the Duke of Medina Celi The peace of Castille did not hinder the warre which the King had against Maximilian of Austria 1479. who to diuert the Kings forces and frustrate his designes besieged Therouenne h Maximilian camped before Therouenne with 20000. Flemings some Troopes of Germans and 300. English It was reâ—ieued by de Cordes with 8000. Franke Archers and eleuen hundred men at Armes the Lord of Cordes came to succour it Maximilian went to meet him and both Armies encountred at Guinegaste The i The Gaules Horsemen were alwaies estemed and feared Plutarch Polibius and Appian coÌ„mend theÌ„ Caesar saith that in the war of Affricke 30 horsemen Gaules put to rout 2000. horsemen Numidians
she hath forsaken He was shot with an arrow at this siege by reason whereof he was carried secretly to Varna to the end it should not daunt the courage of the Turkes and fortefie the Christians Being drest he demanded what they did in the Campe Losse at the siege of Belgrade to whom it was answered That all was in disorder the Bassa of Asia slaine the chiefe Captaines put to rout forty thousand men dead vpon the field the Ordinance lost and that they lost time to thinke to take the Towne which the onely presence of Iohn Coruin made impregnable These words put Mahomet into such a rage and rage into such despaire as cursing both heauen and earth Mahomet seekes to poison himselfe and blaspheming God he called for poyson to kill himselfe which being refused him he set fire of his Campe and retired As the vnfortunate euent of the Seige of Belgrade made him to desire death so that of Rhodes and an extreme sorrow to see himselfe vanquished Mahomet dyes for griefe hauing done nothing but vanquish made him to dye x Mahomet coÌ„tinued sixe and forty daies before Belgrade the siege bganne the 13. of Iune and was raysed the sixt of August 1456. Dispairing then to subdue the Rhodians and hauing continued all his fury and violence of warre against that strong rampart of Christendome foure score daies he retired to Damiet in Nicomedia y It is hard for a Prince to bee vanquished hauing alwaies bin victor Boleslas the third King of Polonia hauing won 47. battles and being forced at last against the Russians to flye dyed for griefe Crâ—m lib. 6. where he was surprised with so violent a Cholick as he died Phil. de Comines saith That euery yeare in the beginning of Summer one of his legs did swell as big as his body and did fall againe after some time yet no man could giue a reason of this griefe He imputes it to his Gourmandize and to the punishment of God It may be it was that legge into the which Bladius brother to the Prince of Valachia stabd his knife to saue his honour from that Goat who would haue forced him to the infamous and vnnaturall lust of a barren Venus z Amurath his father would haue done the like to twelue yong Gentlemen of Polonia whoÌ„ he reserued for that abhomination they resolued to kill him but being dâ—scouered they slew one another to auoid a more miserable life or a more ignominious and cruell punishment His cruelties inhumanities made some Souldiours of his Gard resolue to kill him in his bed Excesse of Mahomet The Conspiracy being discouered by a Christian he caused the Conspirators to be strangled and from that time he suffered not any one aboue twelue yeares old to enter into his chamber For these reasons Mahomet is the second of those great Princes whom Phil. de Commines preferres before all others to haue raigned at one time King Lewis the eleuenth is the first and Mathias Huniades the third The King did not extend his thoughts so farre Designes of the King vpon Lorraine and Prouence for seeing himselfe approach neere vnto the West of his daies he carried them not into the East His thoughts were conuerted vpon his neerest neighbours as vpon Loraine and Prouence he held the Councels to plant the bounds of his Empire vnworthy the courage of a great Prince He would haue France like vnto a great Tree which with the spredding of his branches and shadow hindreth the growth of all that is about it a Augustus was authour of this Counsell to Tibeâ—â—us CoerceÌ„di intra terminos impeâ—ij To â—â—straine the Empire within certaine bounds A hard lesson for a Prince that hath courage Vna ea vetus causa bellandi est profunda cupido Impeâ—ij diuitiaâ—um A great desire of Empire and riches hath beene the old and onely cause of war Sal. The Estates of Nauarre Flanders Brittaine and Prouence were not more in the power of their Princes then in his and trembled vnder his authority as the Pigion or Partrige do vnder the flight of the Hauke The designes which hee had vpon Lorraine and Prouence were executed in adding wisedome to occasion and force to reason To vnderstand this proceeding we must know that Iohn Duke of Lorraine Estate of Loraine did first marry Sophia daughter to Eberhard Earle of Wirtemberg and had two sonnes Charles and Fredericke b The children of Charles Duke of Lorraine were Ralph Lewis Charles Robert Frederick Maâ—y married to Enguerand Earle of Coucy Margaret to the Earle of Baden and Isabell to René of Aniou Charles succeeding him in the Dutchy of Lorraine married Margaret daughter to Robert of Bauaria Count Pallatine by whom he had many children which dyed before him leauing no heire but Isabell. Fredericke Earle of Guise married Margaret daughter to Henry Earle of Vaudemont and had Anthony Earle of Vaudemont Charles married his daughter Isabel to René Duke of Aniou Calabria and Bar Earle of Prouence King of Sicily Naples and Ierusalem Of their marriage came Iohn Lewis René Charles Elizabeth Margaret Yoland and Anne After the death of Duke Charles René would haue entred the Dutchy as his wiues Inheritance Anthony Earle of Vaudemont opposed himselfe by this reason that the Males exclude the Females c At the Councell of Constance Anthony Earle of Vaudemont demanded of the Emperor Sigismond the inuestiture of the Dutchy of Lorraine against René of Aniou for that it was a see of the Empire wherof women were not capable The controuersy was first ended by Armes René lost the battell of Blanuille and was taken prisoner by Anthony Earle of Vaudemont who gaue him to Phillip Duke of Bourgundy for that hee had succoured him afterwards by the marriage of Yoland daughter to Renè and Isabel with Ferry sonne to Anthony of Vaudemont the Dutchy of Lorraine remained in effect to René the Husband of Isabell Renè of Aniou D. of Lorraine and in hope to Ferry husband to Yoland Iohn succeeded in the Dutchy of Lorraine Hee had married Mary d Iohn and Mary had foure children Isabel who was married to Iames King of Scotland Rene Iohn Nicholas daughter to Charles Duke of Bourgundy who dyed in her deliuery of Nicholas Marques of Pont her third sonne who succeeded in the Dutchy of Lorraine after the death of his father and brethren Hee left the affection which his Predecessours had borne to France and fell to the Duke of Bourgundies party vpon hope that he would giue him his daughter in Marriage Death surprised him in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred seuenty three in the thoughts of his Marriage and to renew a second enterprise vpon the Towne of Mets e Nicholas Duke of Lorraine would haue seized vpon Mets by this Stratâ—geme Hee caused certaine pipes to bee put into Wagons as if they had beene full of wine wherein there
of Naples by the Pope and instituted Heire by Iohn the second who had succeeded Ladislas her brother This Princesse so famous in the history for her vnchastnesse was first married to the duke of Guelders and afterwards to Iames of Bourbon Earle of March whom she expelled both from her bed and Realme and this poore Prince made choice of the Conuent of Franciscane Friers Ioane Queene of Naples died at Cossence at Besançon for his last retreat where hee caused him selfe to bee carried vpon a Siue in despight of the greatnesse and vanities of the world Shee dyed at Cossence without Issue in the yeare one thousand foure hundred thirty and foure and remaining sole of the house of Duras shee left her heire by Testament René Duke of Bar brother to Lewis Alphonso King of Arragon who had beene adopted by Ioane and afterwards dishinherited by her Alphonso of Arragon adopted sonne to Ioane of Naples besieged Gaetta René beeing freed from prison m René after the Battell of Blâ—niuille in the yeare 1431. against the Earle of Vaudemont and the Marshal of Bourgundy was deâ—â—yned prisoner whereas the Duke of Bourgundy had held him armed to go to Naples whither hee had sent Isabell and his children Hee was receiued at Naples like a victorious Prince The Pope sent him the Inuestiture of the Realme vpon condition that hee should pay him a Tribute This was an occasion of great and extraordinary ioy at Naples being followed with so great honours as there was reason to hold them for signes of the peoples inconstancy n The peoples great ioy the honours which tâ—ey doe vnto their new Princes are aâ—vaies followed with some act of their inconstancy Thus excesse of honor is a bad signe of their loue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plut. in Demet. Hee went through the Streetes on Horse-backe in a Royall Habite a Crowne vpon his head and a Scepter in his hand he made seuen and twenty Knights choosing them from among the chiefest and most valiant of the Noblemen and of his most faithfull serseruants Hee raigned foure yeares with some happinesse Seige of Naples but hee had Alphonso of Arragon alwaies opposite vnto him who besieged Naples with foure thousand horse and a great number of foote He entred by an old Conduite of water which a Mason had discouerd vnto him being the same by the which Bellisarius that great Captaine had entred it nine hundred and fifty yeares before and had expelled the Gothes This Citty in one night became wholly of the Arragon faction René left it and returned into France with much griefe for his losse but with more resolution to liue in peace detesting warre and ambition which entertained it Alphonso dyed Ferdinando base sonne to Alphonso being much troubled in minde to haue broke his word with Lewis of Aniou o Alphonso had promised by expresse capitulations not to trouble Lewis his cozen in the Realme of Naples But a Crowne is too sweete a morsell not to breake with a friend and to seeme too full of conscience Hee perswaded Queene Ioane to adopt him and shee for assurance of this Adoption deliuered into his hands the two Castles of Naples Ferdinando his sonne was crowned by Pope Pius the second Iohn Duke of Calabria sonne to René sought to recouer the Realme which his father had lost The Geneuoâ—s did furnish him with three Shippes of burthen and tenne Gallies and lent him three score thousand Crownes He went out of the Port of Marsellis with twelue Gallies and a promise from King Charles the seuenth of greater succour at neede With this Fleete hee arriued at Gaette for the greatest of the Realme came posting to kisse his hand Battell of Sarmy wonne by Iohn Duke of Calabria and to declare themselues for him Hee wonne the Battell of Sarmy and Saint Fabian and was wonderfully well serued by Count Iames Picenin so named for his small stature who in a little body had an inuincible courage and the forces of a Giant p Wee must not so much regard the greatâ—esse and stature of the body as the force and vigor of the minde Homer saith that Tideus father to Dyomedes was little but warlike and valiant He was Generall of his Army and held for one the of most valiant Captaines of his time The power of the Arragonois had beene quite ruined if the q 〈◊〉 the secod decleres himself for Ferdinand King of Naples gaue him the Crowne vpon condition that he should restore vnto the Church the lands of Benâ—vent and Teâ—acina held by Aâ—phonso of Arragon his father At the councell which hee called at Mantoua in the yeare 1459. hee exhorted Christian Princes to succour Ferdinand against Iohn Duke of Calabria Pope who fearing least the prosperity of the French affaires would preiudice the liberty of Italy had not made a league with the other Princes to succour the Arragonois beeing besieged in Barry a Towne ill fortified and worse furnished against the necessities of a Siege But all their league had preuailed little if it had not beene fortified by Scanderbeg that other Mars of Albania whom Ferdinand called to his succours and whom Pope Pius the 2 d coniured to assist him Hee came in regard of the strict amity hee had had with Alphonso and was exhorted to this voyage by Paul Angé Archbishop of Duras Scanderbeg ioyned at Duras with twelue Italian Gallies and from thence came to Ragusa r Ragusa in old time was called Epidaurum vpoÌ„ the Adriaticke sea It hath a Castle which in those times was held impregnable the gouernment is Aristocraticall attending his Troopes and preparing victuals to send into Apulia Hee forced Iohn Battell of Vrsare wonne by Scanderbeg Duke of Calabria to raise the siege of Barry and wonne the battell of Vrsare The Duke escaped the danger by the switnesse of his horse he recouered Troy where he was receiued and drawne ouer the wall with a cord from thence he caused himselfe to bee conducted to Genoua where hee found a Gally which carried him into France despairing euer to doe any more good at Naples nor in Sicile from whence he carried nothing but the bare name of Duke of Calabria He was followed by some Captaines who for that they had run the same fortune durst not remaine vnder the command of the Arragonois s Count Picenin hauing escaped this danger remained for a time hidden in Italy Francis Sforce Duke of Millan hauing drawne him vnto him by a false promise to make him his sonne in law deliuered him to K. Ferdinand who put him to death so as René grewe old in the complaints of this vsurpation fauoured by the Popes All his hopes were dead for the recouery of his fore-fathers Inheritance t The inuestiture of the Realme of Naples hauing beene once granted by the Popes to the house of Aniou could not bee giuen away against their liking to