by Vidomare who had so dexterously carried himselfe that Gilles himselfe wrought his owne ruine hatred which the French conceived against him Chilperic hereupon endeavouring the recovery of his Kingdome gained a great battaile against his Enemy Agrippina which the French surnamed Coloyne But in his returne hee sought an ill requitall to so good a friend and Host the King Basin of Thuringia because hee tooke away with him Basins Wife and Queene carrying her with him into France and of her begat Clovis Trithemius the Abbot saith that the Dutchies and Counties were erected and instituted by Chilperic in France who distributed them to those of his blood But it is more apparent that the French comming into Gaule retained onely the generalâ— policy which the Romans had there planted with the nominations of the Dutchies and Counties which denominate no more than Provinces generalâ— or subalterne The Bretons of Gaulâ— Armorick under him tooke their beginning Anno Domini 460. as also the Roman Empire ceased in the West Anno Dom. 477. Chilperie breathed his lasâ— in the 24. yeare of his Reigne about the yeare 484. The first part of Chilphericks Life and Reigne was much disgraced by his vicious government and his owne actions oppressing his Subjects and for his lusts satisfaction abusing their Wives and Daughters but afterward being awak'd by affliction and touch'd with the sense of his former wrongs he changed his course of Life and tooke pleasure onely in goodnesse by his conversion gaining the affection of the French Thus Affliction doth instruct not destroy a minde capable of Reason for as Winter stormes kill not the Tree but keepe downe the wanton sappe which ascending in the Spring makes it more fruitfull so by adversity and misfortune the minde is somewhat opprest but by vertue it is reviv'd and brings forth fruite of new conversion and being dead unto former vices lives onely to goodnesse as this King who in the last part of his life conquer'd his desires and tryumph'd in that noble Victory Clovis 5. King of France and the first Christian King of that Nation Anno 485. THis Lovis or Lewis came to the Crowne Anno Dom. 485. at the age of 15. He surmounted through his magnanimity the glory of his predecessors and wee must ascribe the true entry of the French into Gaule to him according to the affirmation of Gregory of Tours Aymoynus Adâ— and the Modernes For by the overthrow by him given to Siagrius Count of Soissons sonne of Gilles the Roman he reduced the County to the subjection and Lawes of the French and so abolished that small power and command which the Romans at that time had formerly in those parts of Gaule 537. yeares after it had beene subjected to the Roman Empire by Iulius Caesar After that he espoused Clotilda daughter of Chilperie one of the Kings of Burgundy and being in the tenth yeare of his reigne he compelled the Thuringians to receive and acknowledge his Lawes Hee obtained the day at Tolbiac against the Almaines reducing their Kingdome into a Province and Dukedome at his returne he became a Christian in the 15. yeare of his reigne and altered his Coate of Armes Neare unto Dijon hee overthrew Gondenbault his wives uncle and in the 25 yeare of his reigne hee slew with his owne hands in a battaile Alaric King of the Visigoths who was an Arian and drove them out of Gaule and by that meanes hee submitted to his Kingdome the Countrey of Angolesme Bourdelois Perigort Quercy Rovergue Albi Auvergne and Tholouze nothing remaining unconquered of Gaule but Provence and a part of Languedoc Afterwards being honoured with a Patriciall dignity by the Emperour Anastasius he removed himselfe to Paris where he established the Regall seat of his Kingdome Others affirme that in defiance and despite of all his greatest friends and kinsemen who at that time commanded a great part of France siezing their Estates and Lordships prevented a disturbation of his estate like to ensue He reigned 30. yeares and lyes inhumed and St. Peter and St. Paul now called St. Genovesue yeelding his last breath Anno Dominâ— 513. leaving foure Children Childebert King of Paris Clodomire of Orleance Clotharius of Soyssons Theodoricke a bastard sonne of his K. of Metts and two daughters besides that sonne which was slaine in the wars The Kingdome that was in its infancy of growth was twice mangled and dismembred In the time of this warre there came a messenger that brought the King tydings how that one of his sonnes was dead upon the receipt of which newes he presently tooke the Crowne from off his head and fell into a heavy and melancholly passion insomuch that for the time he was quite bereaved of his naturall sence which the messenger seeing added this to his former tale that his sonne dyed victoriously hearing of which words he revived and tooke up the Crowne and set it againe upon his Head and so rested satisfied When Richar Duke of Cambray a man of bad conditions and lewd life was by the King taken prisoner and put to death being betraied by the treachery of his Barons they imagining as Seneca saith that Prosperum ac faelix sotelus virtus vocatur That fortunate Treachery should be esteemed vertuous piety and being not content with certaine richly guilt Corcelers of Copper which the King had formerly sent them to procure the effecting of the aforesaid Treason they complained unto him that they were but badly recompenced He answered The gift of your lives is a sufficient reward for Traytors who deserve torments rather than preferments for betraying their Lord Master Your lives which I suffer you to enjoy is no small benefit and favour For Kings though they seeme to allow Treason cannot love the Traytor The Traitors thus upbraided with their wickednesse and condemned by their conscience slunke away from his presence Childebert the sixt King of France Anno 514. CHildebert the eldest sonne of Clovis succeeded in the Kingdome of Paris which was the Regall Seate of the Monarchy of France Anno Domini 514. Upon his undertaking the government he was by his Brothers instigated and his Mother Clotilda to the revenge of the death of his Father and Mother who were by Gondebault murthered whereupon making Warres upon the Burgundians their King Sigismund was taken in a Battaile and together with his Queene and Progeny was throwne into a Well at Orleans After that they retreated against Gondemar brother to Sigismund where Clodomire was slaine in the pursuite By the meanes whereof and the Warres following upon the whole Countrey of France Gondemar tooke possession of Burgundy Whilst Theodorick afterwards was against Hermonfroy for the estating himselfe in the Kingdome of Thuringia by the ayde and assistance of his brother Clotharius Childebert seized upon the County of Auvergne but having intelligence of the returne of his Brother Theodorick whom he supposed to have beene dead he went into Spaine against Almerick King of the Visigoths on a
hope of Glory maketh vertuous Kings Henry 1. the 38. King of France Anno 1031. THis Henry succeeded his father Robert Anno Domini 1031. notwithstanding that his Mother Constance would have advanced her yonger sonne Robert to the Crowne by the favour of Baldwin Count of Flanders and Eude Count of Champagne But being come upon them by the ayde of the Duke of Normandy he constrained his brother to content himselfe with the Dutchy of Burgundy A while after Robert Duke of Normandy visiting the City of Jerusalem dyed at Nice in Bithynia by reason whereof Maugier Arch-bishop of Rouen and William Lord of Arques his brothers maintaining themselves to be true Heires raised great Warres against William the bastard-sonne of the said Duke by him instituted to bee his Heire which was a cause that the King sent the said William of Arques accompanied with a great number of the Nobility of Normandy and France to the Warres of Italy from whence they were recalled by George Maniaces Lievtenant for the Emperour of Greece to Poville and Calabria to employ them for the recovery of Sicily which the Saracens had now possessed upon promise of giving them a part About the yeare 1042 Thibault Count of Chartres and Stephen Count of Troyes fell into a quarrell with the King Henry whereupon hee first fell upon Stephen whom hee in a Battaile overthrew Afterwards hee deprived Galleran Count of Meulan who tooke their part of all his lands and annexed them to the Crowne and encouraged Godfrey surnamed Martel to make Warre upon Thibault whom hee tooke prisoner and enforced him to surrender up the Towne of Tours for his ransom After this the King went to visite the Emperour Henry at Mets where they confirmed the Alliance made betweene them which hee broke by supporting Thibault against the King who following the example of his Father resigned his Crowne to his eldest sonne Philip Anno Dom. 1059 being aged 7. yeares and caused him to bee crowned at Rheimes the 29. of May the same yeare the yeare following King Henry deceased leaving the young King and another sonne named Hugues under the tuition of Baldwin Count of Flanders He lyes at St. Denis This Kings reigne was somewhat troubled at the beginning to maintaine his Title to the Crowne given him by his Father but belonging of right to his eldest brother which bred swelling thoughts betweene the brethren the Mother maintaining the elders right An Army was prepared to end the difference whether the Fathers gift or right of inheritance were a better Title but the cause was tryed by the Sword for Robert whose right was then in question content with tame patience to loose it and so prevent the effusion of blood by his milde disposition doing himselfe injustice Whereupon agreement being made betweene Henry and Robert the Armies returned and peace was betweene the brothers concluded Afterward when hee following therein his Fathers example had seene his son firmely seated in the Throne Death discovered the love of his Subjects exprest in their mourning for his decease and was most honourably interred with the rest of his Predecessors having all the funerall Rites and Ceremonies which belonged to so high a Monarch to set forth the excellency of his Person His Reigne begun with some blustering troubles being opposed on every side which soone ended and his subjects felt the beames of favour shining most gently on them when this Sunne of Majesty was ready to descend and set which gave them great cause of lamentation and sorrow for his departure out of this world Philip 1. the 39. King of France Anno 1060. PHilip succeeded his Father Henry Anno Domini 1060 of whom Baldwin Count of Flanders tooke charge in regard of his tender infancy untill he came to riper yeares He perceiving that the Gascognes would mutinie led his forces against them under pretence of going against the Saracens and by this meanes hee dissipated the beginning of the seditions which were pullulating A whiâ—â— after Edward King of England dyed without issue having by will instituted William Duke of Normandy heire and successor to his Crowne which in vaine was opposed by Harald sonne of Godwin because he was slaine in a battaile which William gave him Baldwin Regent of France deceased about the yeare 1067 leaving the County of Flanders to Baldwin of Monts his eldest sonne at which times King Philip might be at the age of 15. or 16. yeares He marryed Berthe Daughter of the said Baldwin by whom having two children he divorced her and betooke himselfe to the Wife of Foulques Count of Anion whom in the end he dismissed and returned to Berthe Anno Domini 1095. Pope Vrban convocated a Councell in November at Clermont en Anvergne wherein the Pope upon the complaint of the Patriarch of Jerusalem and Peter the Hermite excited the greatest part of the Princes of France of whom were principall Hugh the Great brother to King Philip Robert Duke of Normandy brother to the King of England Godfrey of Bovillon who in the yeare 1089 had the Dutchy of Loraine given him with his two brothers Baldwin and Eustachius together with the Counts of Flanders and Tholouze of Bourges and Bloys to goe to Jerusalem which was taken in the yeare of our lord 1099 the 15. of July and was given to Godfrey of Loraine to defend and keepe it as Governour under the Title of a King After that hee tooke in Palestine after having slaine above five thousand Aegyptians in a battaile and seized upon the Port of Jaffe making hereby an end of the Warre Philip at the age of 57 deceased at Melun the 25. of July Anno Dom. 1109 and lyeth interred at St. Benets upon the Loire William the bastard Duke of Normandy having beene long sick of a great swelling in his belly this King Philip intending to make Warre against him sent him word that hee had laine long in Child-bed and that if he might know of his uprising hee would provide lights against his Churching To which scoffe the Duke return'd this answer That hee would come in person into France and have a solemne Masse sung at his Churching and that for Lights he would provide a thousand woodden Torches without waxe and a thousand Lances tipt with steele to fire those Torches meaning by the Torches Houses Townes and Villages by the Lances Souldiers to set them on fire The dissention betwixt England began in this Kings reigne and upon this occasion VVilliam the Conquerors sonnes Robert and Henry came to the King at Conflans upon Oise and playing there at Chesse with Lewis King Philips sonne the young Princes fell out and words drew on blows for Lewis called Henry the sonne of a Bastard and Henry strooke at him with the Chesse-boord and had slaine him if Robert had not stayd his fury Afterward Robert and Henry fled into Normandy where they complained of wrong and incensed many to take their part Afterward naturall affection made the Fathers embrace their
three precedent Kings succeeded to the Crowne by title of his favour excluding Lewis of Evreux his Vncle who at that time as it is thought was already dead and was confirmed by the States notwithstanding that Edward King of England pretended the Crowne by his Mothers right who was the onely daughter of Philip the Faire He recovered a faire battaile against the Flemings who had revolted against their Duke and enforced the King of England to doe homage for the Dutchy of Guienne and other lands which he held of the Crowne who in revenge thereof entertained Robert of Artois Count of Beaumont who was banished out of France through a false accusation by whose perswasion the King of England beeing allyed to all the Princes of the Empire whereof hee had already obtained the Vicariate beganne to warre against Philip in Nantonge Anno Domini 1336. Afterwards he caused the Flemings to revolt against their Duke by the means of one James Artivel an Artisan The French that were in the Towne of L'Isle and first discomfited the English and Flemings but afterwards they were shamefully overthrowne at the Sluce Port when they laboured to hinder the English from joyning with the Flemings And after this victory he encamped before Tournay where he continued during fifty dayes during which time the Mother of the Count of Hainault wrought a Truce between the Kings of England and France which continued not long because the warres were renued shortly after betweene them because the King of France caused Oliver de Clisson to bee executed for Treason In which warre the French lost the memorable battaile of Crecy neare Abeville wherein the greatest part of the Nobility and flower of all France was slaine and the Towne of Calais taken After this the King having marryed in a second wedlocke the Lady Blanche daughter of the late Philip King of Navarre and received the Danphinate of Humbert together with the City and Countrey of Montpelier for a purchase of the King of Maillorque he retired to Nogent there to conclude his daies the 23. or 28. of August 1350. leaving Iohn Duke of Normandy and Philip Duke of Orleans He was an ingenious wity Prince as appeareth by his justification of the Salique Law by these words of Scripture Consider the Lillies of the field how they doe grow and doe neither labour nor spinne intimating whose Armes are Lillies or Flower de Lyces should not fall to the Distaffe Also he taxed the unfaithfulnesse of King Edward of England in these two Verses by himselfe composed Anglicus Angelus est cui nunquam eredere fas est Dum tibi dicit Ave tanquam ab hoste cave The Englishman an Angell is which trusted will deceive thee Beware of him as of a Foe when he doth say God save thee After his marriage with Blanch daughter of Philip of Evreux he lived not long after he had tyed this knot this new wife being an unnecessary trouble in his old age so that sickning at Nogent advising his two sonnes to live in peace and bee carefull of the Realme which he resigned to the eldest he concluded his reigne and dyed He was a King in whom vertues and vices were equally mingled for he was valiant in danger and couragious in affliction just and loving to his subjects But his rash valour whereon hee presumed often engaged him and his subjects in many miseries Edward the third King of England Anno 1351. THis King comes here to be inserted amongst the Kings of France being the first that left the Title Hereditary to the Kings of England and first quartered the Armes of France with the English Armes giving thereby occasion and provocation of his succeeding Warres he obtained a gentle victory at Sluce upon Midsommer day in a sea sight Afterward he challenged Philip of Valois then King to a single combate by him not accepted afterwards makes a Truce with France their battailes being ready to joyne in Britagne in France then he declares the Truce with France broken He arrives afterward in France with bloody Colours with his hopefull son the Prince of Wales then about sixteen yeares old Afterward he got the Lawrell wreath of Conquest in the battaile of Cressey and his sonne was as victorious as his Father both sharing equally in honour purchased by valour But his sonne afterward whose veines were full of his Fathers Spirit and fortitude shewing that Nasci a Principibus est magnum obtained another triumphant victory against the French at Poictiers and by it confirmed his Fathers atchievements Then againe Henry invaded France besieges Paris concludes a peace King Iohn of France being taken prisoner and afterward ransomed hostages were also given and so the Clouds of warre were a while drawne away but suddainly againe France felt a new storme from England for the Earle of Blois slaine in Battaile by the English loseth the Dukedome of Britagne Then againe King Edward sends Iohn Duke of Lancaster to invade Prance and Sir Robert Knoles to the parts about Britagne and thus as he was famous for his many other Royall vertues expressed done at home and in the circumference of his owne Dominions so likewise he appeared in France like a flaming Comet which boded the effusion of much French blood But age sicknesse comming on hee was forc't to leave the world as the same did him before his breath left him but Nature could not hold out any longer and he was forced to resigne his life into the hands of his Creator at Shene now Richmond the one and twentieth day of Iune Anno Domini 1377. in the 64. yeare of his Age having reigned fifty yeares foure moneths and odde dayes in which time France felt the desolation which warre had made he carrying away the never dying Fame of a valiant Conquerour he lyeth buried at Westminster for as much of him as was Mortall but Multum sui vitabit Libitinam his soule and Fame are immortall in Heaven and on earth and was especially famous for Conquering France and writing himselfe Roy de Angle tèrre France King of England and France John 1. or the second of that name the 51. King of France Anno 1350. JOHN the first or second of that Name succeeded to the Crown and was consecrated at Rheims the 26. of Septem An Dom. 1350. In the beginning of his reigne hee caused the Lord Ralph of Nesle Cōstable of France to be beheaded for Treason and in his place hee justituted Charles of Spaine Count of Angolesme The Truce being broken betweene him and England he betooke him to S. John d' Angely and in his returne he instituted the Order of the Starre in the Noble and Royall House or S. Owen Afterwards Charles King of Navarre caused the Constable to be massacred upon a jealousie which hee had conceived against him on the sixt of Ianuary 1353 and the Lord Iames de Bourbon was substituted in his place In the meane time the King of Navarre whom the King of France had
pardoned instead of acknowledging his fault complotted against the State of the said King which being discovered he entred into an Amity with the King of England By meanes whereof King Iohn having surprised him sent him prisoner to Paris Hereupon Philip of Navarre his brother in an indignation caused the English to come into Normandy against whom the King intending an opposition was enforced to turne it upon the Prince of Wales in Poicton where having lost the field through his temerity hee was taken Prisoner In the meane time the Parisians at the perswasion of Stephen Martel mutinyed against the Dauphin who tooke upon him the Regency of the Realme and appeased the tumult having first restored the places of Normandy to the King of Navarre who had escaped out of prison Afterwards upon a treaty made at Bretigny the eight of May 1360 a peace was concluded with the English and ratified at Calais the 24. of October In the meane time Philip Duke of Burgundy deceased at Roucere neere Dijon without issue by reason whereof Iohn the King declared himselfe to be his Heire After that he making a preparation for a beyond-sea voyage first came to London intending to make a strong peace with England and dyed there the eighth or ninth of April 1364 leaving Charles the Dauphin Lewis Duke of Aniou John Duke of Berry and Philip Hardy Duke of Burgundy This King shewed magnanimity in his most adverse fortune for Apparet virtus arguiturque malis Vertue will apparent be In the depth of adversity which was verified in this King John who sitting in the English Campe at a Supper prepared for him by the Prince of Wales who had taken him prisoner in the Battell of Poitiers said I purposed to have bestowed a Supper on you this night but the fortune of the War hath made me your Guest The Englishmen for a summe of money having got by composition the Castle and Towne of Gwines King Iohn complaining to the King of England that the Truce was broken contrary to their compact and agreement King Edward answered That Trafficke or Merchandise the surrender of the Castle being by money procured did not breake the former Truce This King when King Edward required homage for the Realme of France as held of England answered that hee could not justly alienate a right inalienable received from his Ancestors and therefore he resolved to leave it entire to his children for affliction might engage his person but not the Crowne of France while hee was King who would sacrifice his life for the preservation of France Hee dyed in England Anno 1364 being a good Prince but infortunate wise in ordinary matters but not in great affaires just but too confident in trusting others temperate in his private life but violent in the publicke government For great vertues meeting with Wisdome doe on the Theater of this life give unto Kings a Crowne of applause and commendation Charles 5. surnamed the Wise the 52. King of France An. 1364. AFter the decease of Iohn the first this Charles 5. surnamed the Wise was crowned the 19. of March Anno Dom. 1364. At the comming to the Crowne hee gained against those of Navarre a very memorable victory under the Conduct of the Lord Bertrand du Gueselin in favour whereof he gave him the Dukedome of Longueville From thence the said Guesclin went to aide Charles of Blois against whom Iohn of Monfort relying upon the English had begun warres for the Dutchy of Bretagne where he was taken fighting valiantly before the Castle of Aulroy against Iohn Lord Chandos High Marshall of England but a peace being made betweene the Duke of Monfort and the Countesse of Blois the King likewise made a peace with those of Navarre and after sent Guesclin to ayde Peter King of Arragon against Peter King of Castile in favour of Henry Sancho and Telco his naturall brothers and also in revenge of the death of his Wife Blanche the daughter of the Duke of Bourbon whom hee had caused to be slaine Peter of Castile being deposed of his kingdome and Henry substituted hee retired to the Prince of Wales who restored him to his former estate After returning into Guienne he imposed upon his Subjects unaccustomed taxations and imposts which caused the Lords of Armaignac and of Albert to appeale to the King of France as to their Soveraigne Lord which was a cause that moved Charles to give an eare to Henry who offered to hold his kingdome of Castile from him so that hee would ayde him in the re-conquest thereof Whereupon the King sent him Guesclin who gained sixe battells against his Enemy and in the sixt Peter of Castile was taken by the Lord de Villaines a French Knight of whom Henry ransomed him and put him to death enjoying by that meanes the kingdome of Castile In the meane time because the King embraced the appeale of the Lords of Gascogne the Prince of Wales denounced warre against him which the King managed so well by the assistance of his brothers that repairing the losses of his Father and Grandfather received by the English hee reconquered Guienne Poictou and Bretagne and deceased in September Anno Dom. 1380 leaving Charles and Lewis under the tuition of their Unkles This King had many vertues shining in all estates both in happinesse and adversity and when the Realme was in the heate of troubles he saved it from ruine so that his fame was spred abroad leaving an honourable remembrance to his posterity Hee favoured Learning and the learned preferring the Schoolemaster Nicholas Oresme He caused the Bible to be translated imitating therein St. Lewis and tooke great delight to read the Scripture and Philosophy and he made Aristotles Ethicks and Politicks and many places of Tully to be translated into French and his favour shewed to learned men cherished their fancies and made them seeke unto the forsaken Muses for witty inventions Hee would heare Suits in open Court and redresse the wrongs of the oppressed and tooke pleasure to advance his houshold servants and gave them meanes for bringing up their sons and marrying their daughters And as he was a favourer of Learning so Bartholl Baldus Petrarch Bociac Plorindes Bonaventure and John Wickliffe of Oxford in England lived in his Reigne But Vertues are not hereditary for Charles sonne to this King degenerated from his Father and the Kingdome of France was afterward punished in the weaknesse of the succeeding Kings so that the confused government brought forth sad effects such as are to bee expected where the rabble multitude have a power unrestrained by Authority and doe swarme and rove about like unruly Bees Charles 6. the 53. King of France Anno 1380. THis Charles 6. about the age of 14. yeares was crowned the first of November Anno. Dom. 1380. In the beginning of his Reigne hee received homage for the Dutchy of Bretagne and enforced the Gaulois to their obedience to their Duke as also he chastised the Parisians who had mutinyed
about imposts having Malleâ—s as a token of their faction whereupon they were called Maillotins In the meane time Peter de Craon wounded Clisson Constable of France whereof the King intending a revenge fell into a frensie by reason whereof the kingdome was put into the hands of the Dukes of Berry and Burgundy who laying hands upon Clisson by an Act of Parlement caused him to be deprived of his estate and banished the kingdome The King of England marryed the Lady Isabell the eldest Daughter to Charles whereupon a Truce was concluded betweene the English and French for Thirty yeares But King Richard being afterward slaine shee was sent backe into France without a Dowry by reason whereof the Duke of Orleans presented a combate of seven French against seven English within the lists which combate the French gained Then also upon some rancors and dissentions â—etweene the houses of Burgundy and â—rleans for the government of the â—ingdome John the eldest sonne of â—e late Count of Burgundy caused the Duke of Orleans brother to the King to be slaine the 22. of November 1407 whereupon ensued all the subsequent disorders in France by meanes whereof the King of England gained the famous and memorable battaile of Agincourt and continued his warres for the space of 29. or 30. yeares during which he tooke Rouen and in a manner all Normandy In those times also the Duke of Burgundy was slaine at a Parlement upon the Bridge of Monteâ—â—au Faux-yonne by those that accompanied the Dauphine who for that fact was by his Father Charles not yet in sense dis-inherited and in his place he instituted Henry King of England to whom upon a peace hee had given in marriage Katherine of France together with the government of France and Paris making warres against the Daâ—phin untill death which was followeâ— with that of the King who had beforâ— given consent to the Duke of Bedford to be Regent in France for young King Henry who was yet in his Cradle This Charles the 6. was of a magnanimous and Heroick soule full of the fire of true valour which upon any brave occasion broke forth in glorious actions which vertue was declared in his younger yeares by this answer to his Father Charles the fifth by whom 〈◊〉 Crowne of Gold enchased with precious Stones and a Helmet of Steele fairely guilt being propounded to his choise hee answered hee would rather chuse the Helmet than the Crowne Afterward being crowned King of France this Sonne of valour rising in the spheare of Majesty shined forth with early beames of valour for being shewed by his Officers his deceased Fathers rich Treasury and precious moveables and also his Armory full of warlicke Furniture and all sorts of Armes hee said â—e had rather have those Armes than 〈◊〉 Fathers Riches As this King and â—s Noblemen marched against the Duke of Britaine being entred the Forrest of Mans a man bare-headed and bare-legged attired in a Coate of white â—â—ngge steps suddainly forth betwixt two Trees taking hold of the Raines of the Kings Horse and staying him â—nd unto him King ride no farther but â—eturne backe for thou art betrayed â—he King was amazed at this voice and the man being forced with blowes to leave the Raines of his Horse vanished Afterward it chanced that his Page being very sleepy let fall his Lance upon him which carryed the Helmet making a great noise like the rustling of Armes the King starts with amazement at this noise and seeing the Crimson Bandâ—oll of the Lance having his spirits weakened with the former distemperatures transported with the imagination of this sound sleepy with labour and heate he imagins himselfe to be compassed in with many armed men which pursu'd him to the death Charles thus transported with this phrenzy layes hold on his Sword drawes it runnes violently after his Pages and calls them Traytors The Pages conceiving at first that hee had beene displeased for the disorder of the Lance flye from him The King follows after The Duke of Orleance runnes towards him to let him know the cause of his anger The King very violently layes at him not knowing him the Duke flyes and the King follows Thereupon all drawing neare unto him they take his Sword from him and his thick Velvet Jerkin and scarlet Cap and lay him on the ground Pope Vrban his Enemy triumphing and rejoycing at his misery said it was a just judgment of God for supporting and assisting his Competitor But the holy Scripture sayes O how happy is he that judgeth wisely of the afflicted representing an admirable example in Job who was accused by his friends that hee was an hypocrite good in shew but not in integrity of life Such is the judgment of the World accounting adversity a vice and prosperity a vertue measuring matters according to their passions and not with reason for GODS Judgments are just and righteous but the causes thereof are unknowne though GOD doth all well whatsoever he doth Henry the fifth King of England Anno 1412. THough it be more easie to succeed in victoryes than atchieve them yet this Henry maintained by the sword that Title of King of France which his Predecessor Edward the third had gained and as King Edward cut down the Flower of France in the Battaile of Cressey so Henry the fift exasperated by the Dolpins of France sending him a Tunne of Tennis Balls sent him backe such Iron Balls or Bullets that the French were neare brought to a great hazzard in this Tennis Court or field of Mars For hereby Henry wonne France teaching Princes that contempt addes a double courage when right is by contumelies fought with greater violence Afterward King Henry tooke Harflew and fought the memorable battaile of Agincourt wherein hee got a wonderfull and unexpected victory by a stratagem of erecting sharpe Stakes before the foote troopes whereupon the Horse issuing violently they were disranked and routed so that the earth blush't with blood to see the French so overtaken and also the Archers upon the nicke of this opportunity sent many showres of Arrowes whereby the whole Army on the French side was discomfited and the English Archers giving backe the French Horsemen ran themselves upon the sharpe poynted stakes At last the French maine Battaile was put to flight and then King Henry gave thankes unto God the giver of all victoryes This Battaile was famous triumphant and fortunate the successe whereof was celebrated with great joy at the Kings returne into England Princes being then most amiable as well as private men in the sight of their subjects when Fortune smiles on their attempts and Victories such as this was at Poictiers makes their vertues more apparant Afterward Truce being made with the French and by them broken hee invades France againe and takes the Towne of Harflew in Normandy and Cane Then proceeding in his Conquest of Normandy takes Fallais after a long siege and Articles of agreement confirmed by the King he besieges also Roane and
the Dutchy of Milan into his power he went to besiege Pavia where he was taken and by the industrious treaty of Madric Anno Dom. 1525 hee was sent backe into France Afterwards Charles of Bourbon was slaine skaling the Walls of Rome which was taken by the Spaniards with the Pope Anno Dom. 1529. a Treaty of Cambray was concluded and the children of France were sent backe into France with Madame Elianor The King and the Pope by Embassies came to an agreement at Marsilles where the Marriage of Henry Duke of Orleance with the Countesse of Bologne the Popes Niece was solemnized After this the King sent the Lord of Montmorency against the Emperour who intended to come against Marsilles who enforced him to retire into Spaine and afterwards invaded France upon the Coast of Picardy and sent another Army to Piedmount against whom the King sent his forces which tooke Suse Villane and Montcalier which caused the truce of Nice for ten yeares during which the Emperour passed through France into Flanders In the meane time Caesar Fregose and Anthony Rineon the Kings Embassadours to the Turke were slaine by the Imperialists Whereupon the King according with the Duke of Cleve against the Emperour tooke Luxembourg Landrecy and other places Of which the Emperour being certified besieged Landrecy but in vaine On the other side the Lord of Anguyen the Kings Lievtenant in Piedmont having gained the battaile of Cerisolles tooke Carignan whereof the Emperour being advertised made a preparation against Paris but perceiving the French too powerfull in forces demanded a Peace which was published at Paris This being done the King intends a Warre against the English at Boulen with whom having made Peace hee went to pay his debt to Nature at Rambouillet the last of March 1547 and lyes interred at St. Denis To one that desired pardon for another that had used ill speeches of his Majesty this King said Let him for whom thou art a suiter learne to speake little and I will learne to pardon much At Paris in an Oration against Hereticks hee said If my arme were infected with that contagion I would cut it off from my body and cast it into the fire Hee said that hee was sorry that the Gentlemen of his Realme being most serviceable and ingenious were not qualified with Learning to be capable of Civill offices as well as Military since Vertue is the formall cause of Gentility which should exceed base low dispositions by an eminent exaltation of goodnesse deriving their pettigree from Heaven for Vera est Nobilitas quaedam cognatio Dijs True Nobility is a certaine affinity to the Gods A Treaty of peace being propounded and ready to bee concluded betweene the Emperour Charles the fift and this King Francis hee said Peace and amity betweene us cannot long endure for the Emperour cannot abide an Equall or Companion and I cannot endure a Master Henry the 2. and 59. King of France Anno 1547. HEnry the second succeeding to the Crowne on his birth day was consecreted at Rheimes in August 1547. Hee sent the Lord of Esse into Scotland for a defence of that Countrey and built a Fort over against that of Boullen immediately after the Commons of Guienne mutined upon taxations whilst the King was in Piedmont from whence being upon his returne into France he caused them to be punished by the Constable and made his enterance into Paris proclaimed open warres against England and renewed his allyance with the Swisses Pope Iulius the third being incensed against the King for the City of Parma solicited the Emperour to take up Armes against him and to beleaguer Parma and Mirandula whereupon the King made a prohibition of sending to the Court of Rome for matters of Benefices and in the meane time he tooke Quiers S. Damian and other places of Piedmont on the other side the Burgundions and Hannuyers over-runne the Countrey of Santois above Peronne but to requite them the King making an expedition into Almany by the policy of the Constable seezd of the Metz and the Countrey of Messin and tooke the Duke Dutchy of Loraine into his protection Afterwards hee joyned forces with Duke Maurice who falsifying his faith in his returne invaded the Dutchy of Luxembourg taking the Townes of Yvoy Montmedy Lumes and Civay In the meane time the Emperor marched to the siege of Metz whence he was forced to dis-encampe with the losse of 30000 men and threw himselfe upon Therouenne which he tooke with the Castle of Hedin The King on the other side tooke Mariembourg and other Townes in Piedmont After that the Emperour quitting the Empire retired himselfe into Spaine to live a solitary life and a peace for five yeares was concluded between the Emperour the Kings of England and France which continued not long For warres being renewed betweene the said Kings the day of St. Laurence to the losse of the French in revenge whereof the King tooke Cales Gnines Hames and the County of Oye Peace after being made by the marriage betweene King Philip and the Lady Elizabeth of France and of the Duke of Savoy with Madam Margarite sister to the King and in the continuance of the solemnity the King running at Tilt was hit in the eye of which hurt he dyed at Tournells the twentieth day of Iuly Anno Domini 1559. and lyes interred at St. Denis in France This King having the good inclination of his Nature confirmed by being well brought up under his Father ordained many good Lawes for the reforming apparrell providing for the poore maintenance of Justice and releeving his oppressed Subjects but especially hee made a Law against swearing and blaspheming and herein he did singularly well but he disgraced these good actions by permitting a bloody and fatall Combate betwixt Iarnac and Chastaignery Gentlemen upon the giving the lye performed at St. German in Lay on the sixeteenth of July before the King and divers Princes and Noblemen wherein Jarnac held the weaker got the better and gave the other many deadly wounds whereof he dyed whereupon the King did forbid all Combats Thus hee beganne his reigne with this Tragedy and ended it with his owne For at the marriage of Elizabeth of France the King having published a solemne running at the Tilt as is before mentioned the King would needes be one of the Challengers and the second day of the Tourny being perswaded by the Queene and the Duke of Savoy to retire out of the Lists he desired to runne once more against the Earle of Montgomery who first refused but afterward runne and upon the Kings Helmet broke his Lance and with a splinter thereof his Beaver being somewhat open strikes him so deepe in the eye so that he dyed in his house at Tournells in the 44. yeare of his age The day before his death he would have the Duke of Savoy and the Lady Margaret his sister marryed in his Chamber His heart was interred in the Celestines Church in the Duke of Orleans
his Chappell His Character was good but hee was formerly voluptuous and permitted himselfe to be abused by his Officers selling Lawes and his authority For such Kings are but pictures of Princes without life all power remaining in the subject to the oppression and wrong of the Land Francis the 2. and 60. King of France Anno 1559. THis Francis King of Scotland by Mary Stuart his wife at the age of fifteene yeares and five Moneths succeeded his father Henry and was Crowned at Rheimes September 1559. by the Cardinall of Loraine Arch-Bishop of that See after his Coronation he went to conduct his Brother in law the Duke of Loraine and the Dutchesse Claudia his sister as farre as Barle Duke from whence hee returned into France and sojourned for a while in the City of Blois where he reformed some abuses of those that followed his Court. In the meane time this President Minard was slaine in his owne House returning from Court This murther was a cause that it was forbidden to carry trucheons and weapons The Counsellor of Bourg was burnt for his Religion The King having made preparations sent the Lord of Martigues into Scotland for the suppression of some Scots who upon pretext of Religion were in Armes during which time Mary of Loraine Dowager of Scotland deceased At the same time also certaine Gentlemen of France being assembled in Armes neare the City of Amboise where the King was attended by the Cardinall of Loraine and his brother the Duke of Guise were discovered in a certaine enterprise which they pretended to be for the publicke good and for the dispossessing of some strangers usurpers of the Kings authority and Kingdome contrary to the ancient authority of the three Estates of France and also for making some remonstrances to the King concerning Religion for which many were executed to death amongst whom the Baron of Castelnau was one At that time the Chancellour Oliver deceased in whose place and dignity was instituted Monsieur de'l Hospital Shortly after the King went to Orleans there to settle himselfe where he fell sicke of an Apostume in his left eare whereof he dyed the foureteenth of September Anno Domini 1560. having reigned about eighteen months and twenty dayes and lyes interred at S. Denis The Protestants were very much persecuted in this Kings reigne and there were foure prisoners of especiall note Castelnau Villemongis Campagnac and le Picard who cryed out against the Chancellor that had signed the sentence of their deaths who thereupon fell suddenly sicke and when the Cardinall of Loraine came to visit him cryed out O Cardinall thou hast damned us all While the King lay dangerously sicke the Queene mother intending to support the Guisans called the King of Navarre into her closet to whom as he was going a Lady of the Court said My Lord deny the Queen mother nothing that she shall demand else you are dead whereupon he signed what shee desired and thereby obtained her favour Afterward the King dyed of Catarch and a Feaver the 14. of December whose seeds of vertue lay hid in his nature and were not discerned onely some shewes of courtesie modesty and continency were in his younger yeares apparent and therefore his death was not much lamented but of such as in his nonage possessed usurped estates After his decease the Prince of Conde turned the streame of affaires To give a briefe Character of this King and his reigne he was a picture of Majesty drawne in raw colours being young in yeares and judgement governed by his Mother and his wives Uncles The Princes of Blood were in his reigne not regarded power and might prevailed in Court and the Clergy sought protection from the disturbers of France The Nobility were ingaged in warres and the people divided in matters of Religion and in the Court factions were maintained this was the face and complexion of those times miseries incident to the minority of Princes Charles the 9. and 61. King of France Anno 1560. THis Charles the ninth at the Age of thirteene succeeded his Brother Francis Hee pursu'd the enterprises of his Predecessor for his State affaires which were begunne the eighth of December ' Anno Domini 1560. at Orleans and and afterward finished at Pontoise August and September following Anno Domini 1561. At that time hee assembled the Prelates of France at Possi to a Nationall Counsell The January following it was permitted to the Huguenots to make their exercises and Sermons out of the Cities Whereupon ensued great troubles warres and slaughters of great Lords and personages as of the King of Navarre who was slaine before Rouen and in the battaile of Dreux which was given the 19. of March Anno Domini 1562. the Martiall of St. Andrew and the Duke of Guise were slaine before Orleans A while after the Towne of Haure de Grace was recovered which had beene before yeelded to the English The King at the Parliament at Rouen being declared Mayor after an Edict of Pacification made went to visit his Kingdome Anno domini 1564. and went to meet his sister the Queene of Spaine at Bayonne where great magnificences were performed After having visited the Gascogne Guienne and Poitou he came to Moulins where he made many excellent Ordinances The second civill warre sprung up wherein after that the King had made an escape out of Meaux the battaile of St. Denis was fought wherein the Constable was wounded which was a cause of another Pacification by reason of the siege of Chartres which was broken by the third intestine warre which continued two yeares space during which the battaile of Iarnac was fought wherein the Prince of Conde was slaine and another battaile at Montcontour After which another Edict of Pacification was made Anno Domini 1570. Afterwards the King marryed the Lady Elizabeth of Austria daughter to the Emperour Maximilian Also the marriage of the King of Navarre was celebrated Anno Domini 1573. and the 24. of August the same yeare the Admirall was slaine in Paris with a great number of the Hugonots and Rochelle was besieged Then a fourth pacification by the election in Poland of the Duke of Aniou brother to the King was made he being gone in his Kingdome of Poland was certified of his brother the Kings death on the 30. of May at the Bois de Vincennes 1574. having one daughter who dyed an Infant He lyes at St. Denis Hee was a Prince that had excellent naturall gifts but blended and mingled with vices wherewith his Governours and Schoolemasters had corrupted his young minde which at the first was more vertuously inclined delighting in Musick and Poetry But as he was a great Hunter that lov'd to shed the blood of wilde beasts so hee suffered also during his reigne the Protestants blood to be shed and in revenge thereof in his sicknesse before his death great store of blood issued out by vomiting and by other passages of his body in the two last weekes of his sicknesse
against those of the Faction of Rollon and also those that inhabited upon the River Loire from whence he was recalled to receive the oath of the Lorainers excepting that of Duke Gislebert and Rotharius Arch-bishop of Treues Afterwards having espoused Berthe the Daughter of the Duke of Swede and because having a hope to attaine the Empire he passed into Italy where hee overthrew Berengarius and drove him out of Italy and at his returne having made peace with the Normans hee went against William Duke of Aquitaine whom hee enforced to acknowledge his estate to have dependance from the Crowne And upon the parting of Estates of the Kingdome which was held at Attigny hee had gone into Loraine had hee not beene hindered by a fit of sicknesse which retained him at Rheimes After that he went against the Normans but through the rebellion of the Lorainers who had surrendred the upper Loraine into the power of the Emperour Henry he was enforced to make peace with the Normans which continued not long because having recommenced their wonted courses he was constrained to purchase his peace with a great summe of monies that hee might goe against the Duke of Aquitaine who was now in rebellion from whom hee tooke Nevers The bruite of the Hungarians comming into France gave him to understand of the revolt of Count Heribert who accompanying himselfe with Hugh le Blanc went to take an Alliance with Henry the Emperour in Loraine and in his returne released King Charles out of prison who went to meete William Duke of Normandy to enter a League against Rodulph This beginning of Warres being pacified betweene them Heribert caused Charles againe to be imprisoned who dyed shortly after at Peronne In those times there were great contentions amongst the Paires of France concerning the Provinces which proceeded from the politick slights of the Emperour who sought to hold the partialities of France in an equality for feare lest the tranquillity of France might not produce a trouble to his estate in Loraine Rodulph deceased the twelfth or fifteenth day of January Anno Domini 939. This Roul was an usurper and his reigne was troublesome and unfortunate and for hee and others that had beene servants to the Crowne being now Kings and Dukes thought to make their Dominions proper to themselves and not depending on the Crowne which bred much confusion in France Italy and Germany The Church did now strive to advance the Authority of the Pope of Rome gaining a great opinion among Christians in the Empires declining estate and growing so great a Monarch that he assumed primacy above Kings and Emperours which they and their subjects refused to acknowledge In these times a young Maide attired like a Boy went with a learned man to Athens and returned from thence so good a Scholler being well read in many Authors of exquisite learning and profound knowledge and so expert likewise in the holy Scriptures that after the death of Pope Leo shee was created Pope John the eight but afterward being with childe by one of her Groomes she was as shee went in solemne procession according to the custome and order observ'd amongst theâ— delivered of a childe in the open streete Thus the Empire the Realme and the Church were in those times much distemper'd and disgraced price and ignorance breeding many miseries and reproachfull accidents Lewis 4. the 33. King of France Anno 939. LEwis son of Charles the Simple was recalled out of England by the Princes of France and at the instance of Hugh le Blanc was crowned at Laon by the Arch-bishop of Rheims the 19. of July An. Dom. 939. From thence hee went to recover the City of Langres from Hugh le Noire brother to King Rodulph and having entertained the Lords of Burgundy before he came to Paris hee discarded Hugh le Blanc and for his owne Mother that he might make use of her counsell which caused Hugh to allye himselfe to the Emperour Otho by taking his sister in marriage and to reconcile Heribert Afterwards they went to follow the King even into Burgundy who in revenge fell upon Loraine which caused the Emperour to depart out of Almaine to oppose him but they made a peace betweene themselves This notwithstanding the King could not obtaine peace of his adversaries untill the Dukes of Normandy Aquitaine and Bretagne being encouraged by Pope Stephen embraced him and they wrought so that the Emperour accorded with the Princes Hugh Heribert who awhile after that was taken by the King and hanged because he had imprisoned his Father which so much disturbed the repose of France together with the death of William Dukes of Normandy who was murthered by the Count of Flanders that Warres being enkindled over all France the King was taken prisoner by the Normans from being recovered by Hugh le Blanc who delivered him to Count Thibaut who detained him longer for the space of a yeare The Emperour Otho seeing this debated the cause of Hugh le Blanc and began to maintaine the Kings so long untill carrying himselfe indifferent hee came to reape the fruite of both their ruines without any danger at all In conclusion this last Warre which had continued seven or eight yeares being ended by an agreement betweene the King and Duke Hughes in the City of Soyssons the King dyed of a strange malady in the Moneth of September or according to others the 12. of November Anno Domini 954 after he had reigned about 19. yeares leaving by his wife Gerberge Lotharius and Charles This King as it is formerly briefly mentioned to revenge the death of his Father whom Hebert Earle of Vermandois had kept a prisoner in the Castle of Peronne untill hee there dyed caused one in the habite of an Englishman to come in haste to his Court at Landun with Letters which himselfe had written though fained to be sent from the King of England The messenger being entred and the Letters read softly to the King by his Secretary the King smiled and said The Englishmen are not so wise as I esteem'd them to be for our Cosin Harmant King of England hath signified unto me by these Letters that in his Countrey a labouring man inviting his Master to dine at his house caused him to be slaine and now hee desires your counsell my Lords what punishment this fellow hath deserved Whereupon Thibaut Earle of Bloys said that hee was worthy to be tortur'd and then hang'd on a Gibbet which sentence all the Lords there present and also Hebert Earle of Vermandois did confirme and allow Whereupon the Kings Officers there provided in a readinesse apprehended the said Hebert Earle of Vermandois unto whom the King said Hebert this wicked Labourer is thy selfe who didst put to death thy Lord and Master King Charles my Father for which thou hast condemned thy selfe to dye by thy owne judgment Whereupon Hebert was hanged on a Gibbet on the top of a Mountaine neare Lodun which since his Execution is
way for conquest as opinion of victory and learning is a great Engine in policy to bring about matters This King lost some reputation by his unchast Wife Elenor who following him to the Holy Land blotted her Fame with a sensuall imputation loving Saladin a Iester better than the King her Husband thereby shewing that lust is base and doth not regard either birth or honour Yet Lewis shewing the vertuousnesse of his minde and Noblenesse of disposition brought her backe in his owne Ship because he would not bee derided by any forraigne Prince but beeing safely landed he was much opprest with griefe in stead of casting her in the River which she had deserv'd he covered her shame and his owne by a divorce granted by a general counsell punishing her by shewing too much mercy while hee sought onely to be freed from the disgrace Philip 2. surnamed Augustus the 42. King of France Anno 1180. AFter the decease of Lewis 7 Philip 2. succeeded to the Kingdome Anno Domini 1180 out of which he chased the Jewes then there and by his prowesse and conquests acquired the name of Augustus and Conquerour He married Isabelle or Alice Daughter of Baldwin 4 Count of Flanders in favour of which Marriage hee resigned the County of Artois but afterwards taking upon him the cause of Lionor the Inheritrix of Elizabeth or Mabel Countesse of Flanders in the Counties of Vermandois and Valois against the Count Flamend who layd claime to the said Counties as being of the ancient stocke of Flanders hee tooke onely that of Vermandois leaving that of Valois to the said Flamend whereupon he being in an indignation went and performed homage to the King of Germany the eldest sonne of the Emperour for the County of Flanders Richard also Duke of Aquitaine second sonne of the King of England began to dis-acknowledge the King whereupon the King made warre against him and tooke some Townes from him but they were immediately accorded by the Popes Legate by whose perswasion they entred a League upon an expedition for the Holy-land But this agreement was incontinently broken upon new differences which happened betweene the Kings of England and France during which the King tooke into his possession the Counties of Mans and Tours whereupon King Henry of England tooke a conceite and dyed in the Castle of Chinon whereupon Richard his sonne undertaking the Kingdome marryed Adele Sister to King Philip and they both went to the Holy Land where arriving they tooke the Towne of Acre the twelfth of July 1191. After upon some jealousies conceived betweene them Philip returned into France leaving the charge of his Army to the Duke of Burgundy And because Philip Count of Flanders was deceased the King retained to himselfe the County of Artois which hee gave to Prince Lewis Whereupon England made warres against him which were ended by the death of Richard to whom John being substituted and losing the battaile at Bonnivel the King caused his sonne Lewis to be proclaimed King of England which hee afterwards left to Henry the sonne of John After that King Philip sent his sonne Lewis against the Albigeois and as the said Philip held a Parliament at Nantes he deceased of a Feaver in the 43. yeare of his Reigne in the Moneth of July Anno Domini 1223. This King being to joyne battaile with the Emperour Otho having caused a gilt Bowle to be filled with Wine and sopps of bread hee said Princes and Lords of France heere with me assembled let every one that is resolv'd to live and dye with me this day shew his resolution by taking a sop out of the Bowle of Wine and eating it as I have done which words being spoken the Cup was presently emptied and afterward the battell being joyned the King got the victory Being informed by his Courtiers that some Royall Jurisdictions belonging to the Crowne were usurped by the Clergy his answer was I had rather connive at some petty injuries than commence Suits against the Semitears of God and his Church This King having put away his Queen Gelberge the King of Denmarke complained to the Pope of this wrong done to his Sister and a day of hearing was appointed before the Popes Legate in the Bishops Hall at Paris Philips Case was well defended by his Advocates but when none appeared to plead for the Queene a young man unknownâ— steps forth of the presse and demands audience and having deliver'd the truth and pleaded against the King for the Queene and when his Speech was ended hee returned into the presse againe and was never seene more neither was it ever knowne from whence he came The amazed Judges remitted the Cause to the Councell and King Philip did ride presently to Bois de Vinennes where Gelberge was confined and having embrac'd her receiv'd her into favour and lived with her afterward in nuptiall love And heereby it may bee discerned that no man can bring Nature to any perfection for this worthy Prince was much troubled in minde and divided in his thoughts by loving this Gelberge whom he could not forsake for she had got such strong possession in his affection that he could not turne her remembrance out of his heart pass'd away to her by deed of gift Thus hee that could overcome his Enemies could not conquer his passions He reigned 44. yeares and by his vertue governed the State with such wisedome that all his troubles had a happy faire end from whence this conclusion may be drawne That a vertuous King is in the end happy howsoever hee bee compassed in with difficulties Lewis the 8. and 43. King of France Anno 1223. LEwis the eldest sonne of Philip succeeded to the Crowne Anno Domini 1223. Hee together with his wife Blanch sister to the King of Castile was Crowned at Rheimes the 6. of August to whom afterwards the Surname of Montpensier was given because he dyed there In the beginning of his reigne he renewed the ancient consideration and allyance which was betweene France and Almany and upon his returne he led his Army into Guienne where in a set battaile he overthrew the English whereof Savary of Maleon had the command by meanes whereof the French tooke the townes of Niot S. John D' Angely and Rochelle leaving nothing of the Countrey of Guienne on this side the River Garonne unreduced to the obedience of the King Insomuch that all the Lords as well of Pojctou as Lymosin and Perigort came to sweare him fealty and obedience Amanry also sonne to the Count of Montfort came to resigne into the hands of the King of France the right which his Father had left him in the Countries of Alby Languedoc Agenois Querâ—y and the County of Tholouze whom in recompence he made his Constable knowing him to be a man capable of such a charge The yeare following Richard Brother to the King of England besieged Rochelle but hearing of the comming of the French Army he passed over Dardonne with his forces and so
will undeservedly speake well and ill of the same Action and the same man And lastly that great men loving not to come to accompt may abuse their authority Philip 5. the 48. King of France Anno 1317. THis Philip the 5 surnamed The Tall the controversie of the right to the Crowne being not yet determined betweene him and his Neece Daughter to Lewis Hutin whom Eudes her Unkle upheld and maintained her right marched with an Army every where compleate to Rheimes where hee made himselfe to be annointed King by the Arch-bishop of that See on the Feast of the Epiphany Anno Dom. 1317 and after returned to Paris Whither hee summoned Robert Count of Artois whom he forced to renounce the right which he pretended to that County whereof hee had Vi Armis by force and Armes taken possession to the prejudice of Mahant his Wives Mother In the meane time Lewis Count of Neuers Sonne of Robert Count of Flanders entertained the Flemings to his utmost endeavours in a revolt against the King who because hee came not to render homage for the Counties which hee held in France was cited to answer for himselfe before the King and fayling in his appearance all his possessions were seized for the King In the end the said Lewis Count of Nevers came and submitted himselfe to the King and recovered his Countries After upon perswasion of the Popes Legate there was a peace concluded betweene the King and the Count of Flanders the 15. of May Anno Dom. 1320 insomuch that the said Count did homage for his Lands to the King of France and accorded that Lewis the sonne of Lewis of Nevers should marry Madam Marguerite the second Daughter of France upon condition that he should succeede to the County of Flanders after his Grandfather and Father About the same time the Marriage of Isabelle the third Daughter to the King with Guy the Dolphin of Vienna was treated who not long after succeeded his Father John in Dauphine The Eldest Daughter was before marryed to Odo Duke of Burgundy After that the King quitted all the actions against his Subjects which some of his Councell in abuse of his good nature had put upon and against them And as he was deliberating to have but one sort of weights and measures in one and the same species and also a certaine rate and value of monies a malady intercepted his designes by which hee ended his dayes the third of January An. Dom. 1322. He was a Prince of a tractable disposition and therefore easily corrupted inclined more to ill than good The chiefest thing worthy remembrance in his Reigne was that his bad servants presuming on his gentle Nature layd heavy taxations on the people who thereupon maintained and thus hee suffering his Authority to be abus'd by them shew'd that although hee were great and tall of stature yet hee had but little wit and understanding A Benedicting Priest and Monke pretentending a voyage to the East committed many outrages in the East with a multitude of people by them assembled and called themselves Shepheards untill they were defeated in Languedoe This Philip would have made one weight and measure throughout his Realme but it proved but an Eutopian conceite not to be maintained by Authority or Reason The Jewes which were formerly expelled and driven out of the Kingdome were now againe admitted but after they endeavoured to bring in an Artificiall Plague into the Kingdome by using the helpe of Lepers some were grievously punished and the rest banished out of France Lastly this Kings five yeares Reigne was Rasa Tabula a blanke Table wherein Fame hath written no Royall action Charles 4. surnamed the Faire the 49. King of France Anno 1322. CHarles the 4 Count of Marche brother to Philip the Tall and to Lewis Hutin came by the same Law to the Crowne as his brother Philip had done who left no issue Male to inherit He was crowned the twelfth of February Anno Dom. 1322. He was severe in Justice giving every man his right desirous that all should be guided and governed by the Lawes and Authority of Magistrates Following that Norme he caused Jordan of L'Isle a great Lord to be attached who upon accusations of infinite enormities was attainted and convicted wherefore hee was hanged although hee had marryed the Neece of Pope John 22 and as others are of opinion his Step-mother About that time deceased Lewis Duke of Nevers the eldest son of Robert Count of Flanders who dyed immediately after By which occasion Robert the younger sonne of the said Robert Count of Flanders entred into a difference with his Nephew Lewis sonne of the Count of Nevers Hereupon the cause was pleaded in the Court of Parliament which proved of no validity to the good of the Nephew Then began the Warres betweene the English and French Anno Dom. 1324 upon the occasion that the Lord of Montpesac would to the Kings prejudice fortifie a Castle in Gascogne upon the borders of France Whereupon the King sent Charles of Valois his Unkle who so happily acquitted himselfe of his charge that hee recovered into the Kings powers all the Townes and strong holds in Burgundy which are beyond the River Garonne except Bourdeaux Bayonne and S. Senes Afterwards having obtained a Truce of the English he dyed in December An. Dom. 1325 as also the King deceased at Bois de Vincennes the first of March leaving Madame Joane de Eureux his wife great with Child who afterwards in the Moneth of April 1328. was delivered of a Daughter called Blanche Hee was the first King that ever permitted to the Pope the Decimations of the Churches of France This King reigned sixe yeares being wise temperate and just three chiefe vertues in a Prince but unhappy in his progeny Assoone as he was annointed he held a great Sessions in Paris to heare complaints and caused many Gentlemen to be punished in which number was one Jourdain of Lisle a Gafcon who being Nephew to Pope John the 22 had beene pardoned for eighteene capitall crimes and yet still grew more impious former mercy making him presume more of pardon untill at last he was taken and brought to Paris where King Charles caused him justly to be hang'd as a memorable example that Respect is an enemy to Justice which must be executed without sparing the guilty To conclude this Prince was worthy of the French Monarchy and deserved to be reckon'd amongst the chiefest men of State And as the Kingdome was happy in having so worthy and sufficient a King so his short Reigne deprived the Realme of that good which it should receive by his government But the best and most perfect men are in the blind world either despised for excesse of good or some tooke away by death to envy greater happinesse equall to their desert Philip of Valois the 6. and 50. King of France Anno 133. THis Philip Count of Valois the Sonne of the late Count Charles and Cousen german to the
afterward exchanged for the Dutchy of Guienne by this meanes to weane him from the Duke of Burgundy recalling all the Townes upon this side the River Somme and afterwards against his brother Charles for the withdrawing of the Dutchy of Guienne who immediately dyed not without suspition of poyson Afterwards he made a treaty of peace at Bouvines with the Dukes of Bretagne and Burgundy for the ensnaâ—ing of the High Constable S. Paul who had beene the prime sparke of all the dissentions after the battaile of Montlebery In the meane time the King works the Duke of Burgundy quite out with the Emperour Fredericke and with the Duke of Loraine working his ruine at the siege of Mus. Then he takes in many Townes of the Burgundion who had appealed to the English for aide with whom the King had already made a treaty of Piquigny by which Charles the Kings sonne was to marry with the daughter of England when they came to be of age which constrained the Burgundion to make his peace with the King and to deliver the High Constable into his power The Duke of Burgundy was slaine before Nancy leaving one sole Daughter Mary who was marryed to Maximilian the onely son of the Emperour Fredericke by reason whereof the King recovered all the Countrey upon the Somme together with the Dutchy and County of Burgundy But afterwards the Prince of Orange caused the Franch-Conite to revolt After this the King allyed himselfe to the Swisses and recovered the County of Provence from Renatus Duke of Aniou by way of Donation The K. afterwards having marryed his son Charles to the Lady Marguerite of Flanders hee surrendered his life the 30 of Aug. 1483. Hee said that Charles the sage might be a wise man in his Tiring-Chamber or Closet but in giving his youngest brother the Dutchy of Burgundy hee played the fooles part Being told after a battaile that his enemy Count Charolois did lodge in the field He replyed That he having neither Towne nor Castle must needes lodge in a field-bed It was his usuall saying That when pride walketh or rideth afore shame and dishonour like serving men attend behind Being told that one of the Canons of the Church where hee had heard Masse was dead he gave the Prebendship to a Priest which lay sleeping in an adjoyning Chappell that hee should say afterward that his good fortune came unto him sleeping To a Gentleman that was ready to handle a rich Chaine of gold which a Captaine wore about his neck and was suspected to be made of the reliques of a Church he said Take heede how you touch that Chaine for it is a holy thing He said also that in regard of his troubles at the beginning of his reigne if by the expression of courage and experience he had not procured feare and reverence he might have beene ranked amongst the unfortunate Princes in the last Chapter of Boccace A rich Nobleman having builded a faire Hospitall he said That having made many poore for the Hospitall hee might justly make an Hospitall for the poore and so convert his sinnes into Almes-houses Hee would often say to his Noblemen that his sonne should learne no more Latine than Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare and that the government of the Kingdome and Common-wealth was his best study for other studies would too much soften his minde and Historicall examples unfortunate in their event and successe would discourage him from attempting brave Actions He said also that the Genowayes should nâ— long remaine under his protection 〈◊〉 he would bequeath them to the Diveâ—â— Being advised to send an Embassadoâ—â— that had many Dignities and Titles 〈◊〉 said he is like a peece of Brachigraphâ— that hath many a Title but Learning very little Being told that the Goâ— haunted rich men that fared deliciouâ—ly and wore fine cloathing he said hee would alwaies afterward weare cloath cloathes because the Gout should not take him for a rich man He could finde all things he said in his Kingdome and his Court except truth which was sicke in his fathers time and was now starke dead having before her death made no Confession to a Priest The Realme of France he said was a meddow which he did cut every yeere and as often as he listed He asking a meane fellow which â—new not the King when he saw him what he gained by following the Court The fellow answered I get as much as the King that is maintenance while I â—e and a sheete when I dye He said that a curious ignorant man having a Library of faire Bookes was like a crooke-backt man having a â—unch on his backe whereby the deformity of the one the ignorance of the â—ther was more discerned He made gold â—e engine of his actions saying that an Army of silver Launces doth usually winne the victory Great services he said through the arrogancy of the parties performing them or the neglect of Princes regarding them were often recompenced with hatred or ingratitude and therefore â—he bounty of Princes exceeding desert was more fortunate and happy than desert exceeding the bounty of Princes not enduring to be indebted or obliged Having felt the smart of the English warres he said the King of England was his Brother in his owne Countrey but hee did not like his company in France Having caused a faire goodly Tombe to bee made for the faire Lady Agnes the love of his late Father the Cannons of the Church desiring that the Monument might bee removed out of the heart of the Church into a side I le or Chappell he answered that their request was neither just nor reasonable neither would he suffer her Tombe whom his father loved to be violated After Monsieur Bussi was beheaded and buryed he caused the head to be digged up againe and placed on a wooden pole in the Market place and so being covered with a scarlet Cappe furred with Minivere in regard he had beene a Counsellour of the Parliament A suiter to the King for an Office be-in denyed humbly thanked his Majestie who wondring at his moderate yet man-like spirit asked if he conceived a right of his answer yes said the Suiter and I thanke your Majesty for giving me a dispatching denyall rather than feeding delayes with which Answer the King was so contented that he had his Office immediatly granted A Noble-man seeing this King ride a Hunting on a very little Horse said he had gotten a goodly stout Horse for though he seemed but weake and little yet he must needes be very strong because he carryed him with all his Counsell Thereby taxing the King preferring the wisedome of his owne conceite before all other Counsell Hee demanding what present he might bestow on the English Embassadors that might not cost him much was answered That he might present them with his Musitians that so they might not cost him much as formerly they had done Before the joyning of a Battaile this King said hastily unto a Noble-man that
he had no affiance in his service who for proofe thereof having desired to exchange Armes and Ensignes with the King charged bravely on the enemy and being supposed to be the King was slaine wherein the King with weeping teares sayd he had lost his life to expresse his love and loyalty Being informed that the Saracens were misreckned 10000 Francks in the payment of 200000 thousand pounds for a ransome he would not embarke or set saile untill the aforesaid Francks were paid such was his fidelity to those Infidells This King having appoynted a Bishop to goe take a Muster of the Souldiers in Paris a great Noble-man desired a Commission to reforme the Bishops Church saying that employment was as fit for him as the other was for the Bishop When this King was Daulphin of France he taking great pleasure in hunting often resorted to a poore Forresters Cottage where he did use to eate Radishes he comming to be King the Forrester perswaded by his Wife in hope of reward presented to the King a faire Radish which his Majesty accepted and rewarded the Forrester with a thousand Crownes Afterward a Courtier presented the King with a faire goodly Horse expecting a greater reward because he had beene so bountifull to the Forrester But the King contrary to his expectation gave the Courtier his Radish wrapped up in white paper the Courtier returning to his lodging opening the packet found nothing but a Radish whereupon he informed the King of the mistake as he supposed The King said I have paide thee well for thy horse for the present which I gave thee cost mee a thousand Crownes thus the poore mans good affection was wel rewarded and the Courtiers audaciousnesse slightly regarded This Lewis sends an Embassadour to the Emperour to excuse him for not sending an army promised by treaty entreating him not to make a greement with the Duke of Burgogne but that he should confiscate all the Dukes Signonories that held of the Emperour as hee would doe those that held of the Crowne of France The Emperour answered that they must not divide the Beares skinne before the Beast be dead This King commming to an interview of the King of Castile unto whom hee was formerly strickly allyed conceived a contempt and disdaine each of other The French of the Castilians sumptuousnesse and pride in their words countenance and apparrell The Castilians of the plainnesse of the French attire So as from that day these Kings did never love and the French did ever since hate the Spaniard Charles 8. the 56. King of France Anno 1483. CHARLES the 8. at the age of 13. yeares came to the Crowne under the Regency of Madam de Beavien his owne Sister and of the Duke of Bourbon her Husband whereupon the Duke of Orleance the nearest to the Crowne and had married his other Sister as in an indignity conceived convocated and summoned all the Statesmen to Tours In the meane time the Duke of Orleance seeing that Madam of Beavieu managed all the affaires of the kingdome retired himselfe into Bretagne whereupon the King made Warre against him and recovered a Battaile against him at St. Albins the Duke of Orleance and the Prince of Orange being taken Prisoners After this the Duke of Bretagne deceased leaving his sole Daughter Anne Inheretrix who notwithstanding that she had made a promise to Maximilian King of the Romans was after marryed to the King for which cause the King of England made a preparation for Warre against him in the behalfe of Maximilian but it was concluded that the King should send backe the Princesse Marguerite with her Dowry of the Countries of Artois and Burgundy After having surrendred the County of Roussillon to the Spaniard by the perswasion of his Confessour he went upon the recovery of the succession which Renatus the late King of Sicily and Charles the Count of Maine his brother had left unto him by Will for the rights which they pretended to the kingdome of Naples In his journey hee was Regally entertained by Ludovicus Sforza surnamed the Moore in the Towne of Ast and after having proceeded into Tuscany by Peter de Medicis who delivered into his command the Fortresses of Florence and the City of Pisa From thence hee went to Rome where nolens volens he entered Alexander 6. being then Pope who working his peace with him gave him the Title of Emperour of Constantinople and invested him to the kingdome of Naples whither the King having made his entrance the 12. of May Anno Dom. 1495 hee was crowned King of Sicily Whereupon the Monarchs and Potentates of Italy being amazed intended him an Ambuscade in his returne at Fournoue but the King passing another way escaped the plot and came safe into France where having intelligence of the losse of Naples and intending a second voyage thither for the recovery of his losses dyed of an Apoplexy as hee was seeing a Game at Tennis in the Castle of Amboise the seventh of April Anno Domini 1498. This King among other facetious sayings gave the Florentine Embassadours this merry Answer denoting their unfaithfulnesse in these two Italian Verses Concortesia e fede poca Va a Florence vender loca To Florence he went of his Goose to make sale Without any faith or courtesie at all which Verses were formerly made on this occasion A Countrey Pesant sold a fat Goose to a faire Dame of Florence for the fond satisfaction of Venery but afterward on colder thoughts growing wiser this piece of leatherne ignorance contrary to his former agreement without either fidelity or courtesie demanded the price of his Goose in the presence of her Husband and made her for the former sawce of the Goose pay him againe And with this Italian Proverb which had this wanton Originall the King answered the unfaithfull Embassadours of Florence His Queene Anne having received tidings of his Death said Gods will be done I doubt not but I shall be as great as I was before intimating thereby her hopes to be Queene of France afterwards verified by her Marriage with King Lewis the twelfth Friar Jerosine Savonarola living at Florence foretold in his Sermons that this King should come into Italy and obtaine great victories which fell out accordingly and in those Warres nothing was gained but a stinking contagious disease afterwards spred over all France and since then called the French Poxe After this King had ended his warres he builded a Castle at Ambois not knowing that instead of a stately Palace hee should end his life in a base and filthy Gallery He intending to reforme his life it chanced the seventh of April going after with the Queene into the Castle-ditches hee strooke his forehead against the doore of a Gallery whereas he meant to see a set at Tennis This blow driving him to the premeditation of his approaching end hee said to his Confessour that hee would never commit any mortall or veniall sin if he could avoide it which was a good
reservation upon this protestation hee fell backward into an Apoplexy wherewith he had beene troubled and dyed about 11. a clocke at night in a Chamber neare to a Gallery stinking with the urine which every one made as he passed through it being laid on a Matresse such as they could finde by chance In him the direct Line failed and the Crowne came to the Collaterall Line the nearest whereof was Lewis Duke of Orleance and Valois his Successor Lewis 12. the 57. King of France Anno 1499. THis Lewis the 12. succeeded according to the Custome of France to Charles the 8 who dyed without issue and was crowned the 27. of May. Hee repudiated the Lady Joane of France for her indisposition of conception and marryed the Lady Anne of Bretagne Widow to the late King Afterwards having made sure of Milan Genes and Lombardy by the taking of Ludovicus Sforza hee made an accord with the King of Spaine with whom hee conquered the Kingdome of Naples which was after lost by the French through the infidelity and perfidious treachery of the Spaniard Whereupon the King having yeelded his claime and part that he pretended to it unto Ferdinand King of Aragon in favour of the Marriage of Madame Germaine de Foix his owne Sisters Daughter and makes an agreement with the Pope against the Venetians against whom hee gained a battaile the 15. of May Anno Dom. 1509 without any assistance of the Truce Hee withstood the Pope who declared himselfe an Enemy to the French and he tooke many places in the Dutchy of Ferrara which gave an occasion to the Duke to recover what he had lost as also Gaston de Foix raised the Popes Army from before Bologna and relieved the City of Brescia which the Venetians had now beleaguered and having defeated their Army from thence he went to hazard his life before Ravenna having first wonne the field The Lord of Palisse was substituted in his place as Commanmander who sacked it Whereupon the Emperour and the Pope joyning with the English recovered many Townes upon the French and the Spaniard re-entered into the kingdome of Naples VVhereupon King Lewis being moved sent the Duke of Longueville with an Army to re-estate the King of Navarre into his Kingdome but hee was constrained to returne without any effect which was a cause that the King being desirous to re-enter his Dutchy of Milan accorded with the Spaniard and the Venetian and after sent the Lord of Tremoville with his Army into Italy whence he was beaten out by the Swisses In the meane time the King of England besieged Therouenne where was fought the battaile of Esperons after which King Lewis being a widower married with the Daughter of the King of England with whom hee having peace as he was in a preparation for an Army into Italy hee was prevented by death the first day of the yeare 1515. Hee was surnamed The Father of the people This King being instigated and perswaded by some of his familiars to take revenge on the Citizens of Orleance because when hee was Duke of Orleance and when Charles the 8. maintaining warres against him had compelled him to flye into Brittaine they had shut the gates of their City against him But he forgetting their former injury answered That being now King of France hee would not revenge injuries done to the Duke of Orleance Hee being told making warre then in Italy for the recovery of the Dutchy of Millaine that Agnadell was taken by his Enemies who had there taken up their lodging answered Then will I lodge upon their bellies or else they shall lodge upon mine Being advised to preserve his person from the shot of the great Ordnance he answered A rightfull King of France was never slaine with the shot of a Cannon Therefore let him that is affraid come behinde me Hee lying in Campe and a Souldier standing neare him being slaine with a Cannon shot and shewed unto the King hee smild and said He is but a little cold in his hands This King having commanded that a company of Foot-men should be levied of strong active men and at the day appointed a company of old Souldiers as appeared by scarres being presented unto him said These men as it seemes by their wounds were more willing to take than to give blowes Whereupon the Souldier replyed They were not valianter than we for they wounded us but we slew them To a Gentleman that boasted of his scarres and wounds in his face and desired the King to reward his service hee said Take heed hereafter of turning backe thy face when thou art flying from thy Enemy He being disswaded from making Warres on the Venetians being a wise and prudent people said Wee will set so many fooles upon them that shall beard them to the teeth that they shall not know which way to turne To certaine Embassadours of Greece that demanded succours against the Turke he objected this old Verse Barbara Graeca genus retinent quod habere solebant The Lords of the Parliament refusing to admit a Councellour for his ignorance and insufficiency though preferred by the King he asked them how many Councellours there were They replyed an Hundred Then said the King cannot you many wise men make one become wise A Courtier being wonder'd at for his great stature and accounted a Gyant the King said it is no wonder for his Mother tooke paines to make him and perhaps hee had many Fathers He told the Ladies of the Court that Hinds had at first Hornes as well as Harts but for their pride and rebellion against the Harts Nature offended therewith deprived them of their Hornes to shew that Wives should be obedient to their Husbands Hee told the Duke of Angolesme his sonne in law that a certaine Father and his son travelling towards a Towne the sonne said that now they were almost at the Towne but yet they afterward travelled untill it was night before they could get to the Towne whither being come the Father said to the Sonne Henceforth Sonne never say I am at the Towne till thou art past the Gates He said also that Asses were happier than Horses for Horses runne post to Rome to get those Benefices whereof Asses are possessed Being asked to marry his Daughter the Lady Claudia to a strange Prince he said I will make no alliance but with the Kats and Mice of my owne Kingdome Francis 1. the 58. K. of France An. 1515. FRancis of Valois Duke of Angolesme as next the Collaterall Line Masculine succeeded Lewis the 12 who dyed without heires Males He was consecrated at Rheims the 25. of January 1515 at which time Charles of Bourbon was made Constable of France The King having taken Prosper Collonne and obtained two battailes against the Swisses tooke Milan After by the perswasion of Pope Leo the tenth the Milaners revolted and immediately after Charles of Bourbon tooke part with Charles the fifth Emperour The King accompanied with the Marshall of Chabanes having recovered
all that Countrey which lyes betweene the Rivers of Escaut and the Somme where to this day are the Cities of Monts Valenciennes Cambray and the Forrest heretofore nominated * â—aleâ—â—st in â—nge Carbonaire Afterwards having made a great discomfiture of the Romans who made head against him hee came as farre as the Bourough of St. Helens which is in the Land of Artois He also subjugated those of Thuringia the Saxons and other populations of Almaine as Funecius is of opinion Others also adde that the City of Mayence was by him taken in The Hunnibalt of Trithemius holds that he divided his Kingdome into two parts nominating that upon the Coast of the Rhine Austrasie and the part upon the West Neustria or Westria The Chronicles of Flanders say that he led his Army against those of Therovenne otherwise called Morinians whom he made subjects they perceiving their Auxiliars the Cinabres and Ruthenians and their Captaine Generall Gondmar overthrowne who had a Daughter whom this Clodion caused to be married to a Nephew of his who was called Flandebert from whom they will have the Countrey of Flanders to derive its first Nomination although it is more evident that it was not so called before the time of Charlemaigne He deceased in the 20. yeare of his Reigne Anno Domini 450 according to Ado and Aymoinus leaving as Jaques Meier and Richard of Wassebourgh doe relate Ranchaine or Ranachaire and Alberic alias Auberon his sonnes Wearing of long haire as was said was ordained by this King to bee the Ornament of Princes whereby Clodamire slaine in Battaile was knowne from the vulgar Souldiers and shaving off the Haire was a Ceremony used at degrading of Kings and Queene Clotilde suffered her Sonnes Heads to be cut off rather than their Haire preferring honour to life and accounting the disgrace which her Children should receive by shaving making them incapable of the Royall dignity worse than death for Life after the decease of honour is but a continuall lingring death Hippone was now besieged by Genserick King of the Vandals Saint Augustine being 76. yeeres old having seene and suffered in the miseries of the Church then generally afflicted by the Barbarians wearied with being a Spectator of those Tragedies withdrew to Heaven and dyed leaving the Christian World a mourner for his departure Merovaeus the third King of France Anno Domini 450. MErovaeus Maire of the Palace of Clodion according to Jaques Meier and Richard of Wassebourgh the Authors afore-said which Merovaeus neverthelesse the Abbot of Vrsperg thinkes and other French Historians are of opinion to have beene a Bastard-sonne or a neare Kinsman of Clodion was by the reason of his valour and experience in Warre chosen King of the French Anno Domini 450. secluding the Sonnes of Clodion from the inheritance of the Kingdome Many are of opinion that he was the first that tooke upon him to March boldly all over the Countries of the Gaules because by force of Armes hee opened the way into those parts where none of his predecessors had had any peaceable habitation or abode And for this cause hee being acknowledged by the Ancient French to be the first King to have passed so farre the Gauls or Frenchmen were called Merovinians Others are of opinion that it was for that he was the first of the Line that reigned over the French untill Pepin it being that the sonnes of Clodion were supplanted who betooke themselves for assistance to their Mother in the Kingdome of Thuringia where being growne to age by the ayde of other Nations recovered Almany Cambresis Tournay Henault and Couloine of which parts they tearmed themselves Kings and maintained it against the Merovinians untill the time of Glovis In the meane time Attilla King of the Hunnes having spoiled a great part of Europe laboured to joyne with the Visigoths and French to ruine the Romans which was a cause that Aetius a Roman Gentleman who had the command of all the Roman forces of the West had this Warre in charge who gave unto Merovaeus the right wing of the Battaile against Attila who lost the field This Battaile was fought in the Catalaunicke Plaine which some esteeme to have beene that at Chaalons in Champaigne others at Solongne by Orleans who seeme better of opinion than those who would have it neare Tholouse because it is certaine that Attilae never penetrated so farre into the Countrey of the Visigoths where the Shock was so bloody and cruell that there remained one hundred and fourescore thousand men slaine in the place Merovaeus yeelded to Fate in the tenth yeare of his Reigne according to Sigebert and other Historians Anno Domini 459. This King was fortunate in his Warres for after the Death of Aetia executed by the Emperour Valentinians command being so faithfull a servant that it was said that the Emperour had cut off his right hand with his left by valour potency and opportunity hee advanced the Monarchy of France growing more exact and compleate in strength hee being the third Stone in that Royall building called Gaule which new-begun Estate was raised to a greater perfection by many other Royall Builders descended from his Race and called Merovingieres in memory of this Merovee who as Titus Vespasian said Non perdidi diem so hee accounted that Day lost wherein hee did no good This worthy King was much lamented of all men they gave him the solemne rites at his funerall which appertained to a King in those dayes which was teares and sorrow for forty dayes after The Church was now much troubled by the Nestorian and Eutichean Heresies which weeds were by two Councells assembled at Ephesus and Chalcedon plucked up out of the Garden of Christendome and the true Christian Religion was now defended by Cyrillus and Theoderet two stout Champions for the Church who imployed their whole strength and power for the maintenance thereof so that the remembrance of their pious and noble actions will continue in all ages to their eternall praise and commendation Chilperic or Hilperic the fourth King of France Anno 459. CHilperic succeeded in the Kingdome by the favour of the memory of his Father Anno Domini 459. notwithstanding that he seemed borne fitter to lead an Army than governe a Kingdome in Justice and peace by reason of his insolence and lubricity for which the great and powerfull men of his Kingdome enforced him having already reigned three yeeres to flye into the Kingdome of Thuringia there to expect the issue of his fortune But before his departure his friend Vidomare or as others report Guiemans gave him his word and promise breaking a peece of Gold betweene them the King keeping the one halfe and he the other advising the King that hee should boldly returne when he should receive the other halfe from him Hereupon the French chose in his place Gilles or Gillon Governour of Soâ—issons under the Romans who reigned as King 8. yeares in the end whereof Chilperic was re-appealed
quarrell for the ill usage of his Sister Clotilda which Alarick hee slew neare to Toledo and tooke that City and upon his returne he reduced Gascogny to his obedience chasing the Visigoths backe againe into Spaine by this meanes making the Frenchmen sole possessors of both the Gaules excepting one part of Provence which for a time remained in the hands and power of the Ostrogoths of Italy Childebert upon his returne from Spaine went with Clotharius to beate Gondemar out of his Kingdome which was divided betweene them as also that of Orleans was after the slaughter of the children of their brother Clodamire except Claudius that made an escape About that time Theodobald King of the Ostrogoths of Italy yeelded up all the possessions they had in Provence into the power of the French to the end that they should joyne forces with him against Belisarius Captaine Generall of the Army of the Emperour Justinian in Italy in the interim that Childebert and Theodobert through ambition were in an ill course against Clotharius but these being reconciled by the Nobility of the Countrey Childebert and Clotharius went into Spaine and surprised Saragoca Afterwards upon a plot of Cranne a Nephew of his hee made Warre upon Clotharius who being too eager and earnest to scoure the Field and cleare him of hiâ— Enemies hee dyed in the 45. yeare oâ— his Reigne Anno Domini 558 and according to Sigebert Aymoynus 49. Hee lyeth inhumed at St. Germans dâ—â— prez This King was much troubled by his Brethren with whom he had a divided power and ruled as the chiefe King But Soveraignty admits no Partners for Royall power like an entire streame fed by the Spring whence it descended will not mingle with other Titles buâ— doth maintaine an absolute and undenyed Prerogative His troublesomâ— Reigne concluded with his fatall death for he was slaine by a wilde Bull which he hunted the manner of his death being an Embleme of his life for in his life hee persu'd wilde imaginations and vaine desires untill this sad mischance layd him to rest in a Grave to shew the vanity of humane designes which are so soone strooke dead such is the glory of this World There is no vertue in this life except it be to love the thing that is to be beloved and to love that â—s Prudence and not to be moved or troubled for any matter of molestation that is Fortitude nor for any matter of Flattery and delight that is Temperance nor for pride that is Justice Clotharius 1. the seventh King of France Anno 559. CLotharius the third legitimate Sonne of King Clovis having reigned 45. yeares at Soissons which is now called the Belgick Gaule upon the decease of his Brother Childebert who dyed without issue Males was proclaimed the 7. King of Franceâ— which his Sonne Cranne perceiving as being now destitute of the support of his Uncle Childebert by whose assistance he managed strong Warres against this his owne Father came and cryed him mercy But hee made so mall use of his fathers Grace and goodnesse that hee committed againe a new Fellony and Rebellion against him And when his latter proceedings began to bee worse and worse in successe than before hee fled to Conobre or as others say Canabo Prince and Count of the Bretons who entertained him and undertooke to secure him ftom his Father Whereupon his Father Clotharius with his Army invaded that Countrey where they joyned Battaile wherein the Bretons lost the Field their Prince being slaine in the place and Cranne taken Prisoner whom his Father caused to be shut up in a house and together with his Wife and children to bee all burnt to death But Clotharius being the last of the Sonnes of King Clovis dyed that same day twelve-month that he justly had caused his sonne Cranne and his to be burnt in the 51 yeares of his being a King Anno Dom. 563. leaving behind him foure sonnes who againe divided the French Monarchy into the former Tetrarchyes insomuch that that of Paris befell to the eldest named Cherebert or Charibert Soissons to Chilperic Orleans with the Kingdome of Burgundy to Gontran and Austrasy to Sigebert with the Provinces on this side the Rhyne but before the partage or division aforesaid they fell all upon Chilperic in open Armes for the surrender of their Father Treasures which hee had already taken possession of and by them the City of Paris Whereupon it seemes that hee tooke it to heart and ever after maliced his brothers especially Sigisbert who had beene the motive as Paulus Diaconus saith that the Hunns made warre against him This King at the time of his death said Vnach Anach How great is the King of Heaven that hath made subject unto death the greatest Kings and Princes of the world which speech discovered that his too much affection to the world made the approach of death comming to take off his upper garment of mortality more terrible whereas Mors aequo pulsat pede pauperum tabernas regumque turres sceptra ligonibus aequat Death impartially knocks at Poore Cottages and the Court gate And equally he bringeth downe Vnto the grave the King and Clowne To satisfie Pope Eugenius and for feare of Excommunication for killing Gawler of Quetot his servant hearing divine Service in his Chappell hee exempted the Lords of Quetot from homage and service due to the King thereby to expiate his bloody offence But although his life was very bad and vicious and blotted with many impieties yet in sicknes his soule recover'd some health by a free acknowledging his sinne saying That his onely hope and confidence waâ— in Gods mercy Cherebert 8. King of France Anno 564. AFter the decease of Clotharius Cherebert his sonne was King of Paris Anno Dom. 564. Hee betooke himselfe to all the kindes and sorts of dishonest pleasures that his fancy suggested him Gregory of Tours takes no notice of his reigne because he governed not long neverthelesse this mention he makes of him that he was excommunicated by S. German Bishop of Paris for that hee had repudiated his lawfull wife Iugoberge that he might take another his brothers Chilperic and Gontran being no waies different in conditions But Sigisbert was an honourable and a vertuous Prince Cherebert dyed according to the report of Sigebert and the Chronicles of France in the ninth yeare of his reigne without issue or any notable memory worthy a King which was a cause of great controversie betweene his brothers concerning the succession which in the end proved a warre which according to Paulus Aemilius was of a long continuance neverthelesse although Gregory of Tours and Aimoynus have very confusedly spoken of that warre without designing or remarking the time that it begunne nor what time Cherebert dyed yet Gregory allowes that there was a sharing of the Kingdome According to whose Relations Tours Poitiers and Aniou fell to Sigisbert but what parts befell to the others is not mentioned expressely but onely this that
Chilperic obtained a part of Normandy with Rouen Gontran Berry Perigueux and Gascony But each of them kept his part in the City of Paris and promised each to other that after their departure thence no one of them after that would enter into it againe without the consent of the other two This Cherebert dyed at Blaye neare Burdeaux An. Dom. 573. and was buried at St. Romanus of Blaye Gontran Sigisbert and Chilperic were during their lives in contention untill such time as their brother Sigisbert was slaine by two Souldiers who were put upon that action by Fredegunde the wife of Chilperic who was besieged in Tournay by Sigisbert who not long before was acknowledged as King at Paris This King was enchanted with the cuppe of pleasure whereof hee dranke deep thereby committed many violent acts for nulla capitalior pestis quà m corporis voluptas hominibus à natura data est unlawfull sinfull pleasure is the cause of all plagues And therefore Diogenes told Alexander that hee had alwaies pleasure enough while Alexander had never enough pleasure and therefore he did not desire the insatiate pleasures of a King and a King could not enjoy his pleasures But this pleasure doth bewitch all the World especially the sensible and rationall man onely the spirituall mind can flye a higher pitch account all the delights of this world but like the golden trappings of the Asse that is made brave to carry greater burthens Chilperic the ninth King of France Anno 577. CHilperick having reigned Nin◠yeares at Soissons and seein◠himselfe raised from a meane t◠a higher degree of his fortune by th◠death of his Brother Sigisbert departed from Tournay to Paris where having beene received as lawfull King Anno Domini 577. dispatched his sonne Merovaeus with an Army for the reducing of the Countries and Cities scituated upon the River Loire but he instead of that service went directly to Rouen where by the advice of the Arch-bishop Praetextatus he married Brunehault the Widow of the foresaid Sigisbert Whereupon his father was enraged and after having dispersed the forces of the said slaine Sigisbert which came and assaulted him neare Soissons he shut up Merovaeus in a Monastery at Mans and afterwards sent his other sonne into Guienne for the recovery of whatsoever had beene in Sigisberts possession from whence he was repelled by Patrice Mumole King Gontrans Lieutenant In the meane time Merovaeus who was somewhat nettled and had betaken himselfe to Brunehault is constrained to flye into Austrasie from whence being also expelled was put to death and Praetextatus confined to perpetuall Exile After this Chilperick enforced Waroch Count of lower Bretagne to acknowledge vassallage unto him An. Dom. 584. On the other side Childebert who laboured to recover Marsiles which his brother Gontran detained from him made peace with his Uncle Chilperic who on his behalfe with all his forces fell upon Guienne tooke Lymosin Perigueux and Agenois and as he was very desirous to follow his fortune upon Bourges he was stayed by the Army of Gontran with whom he made peace Not long after Chilperic perceiving too amorous passages of his Wife Fredegund with Landry Mayre of his Palace to take away the occasion of his resentment they caused him that night to bee murthered as hee returned from Hunting in the Moneth of September in the 23. yeare of his Reigne leaving one sonne named Clotharius foure Moneths old Whilst the Daughter of Chilperic was in her journey to be marryed to the second sonne of the Visigoths she was stripped ransacked and robbed of her treasure and jewells and sent backe againe An. Dom. 586. He lyeth interred at St. German de prez The occasion of his murther was the discovering of Fredegunds affection to Landry for thinking to give his Wife a morning-salutation hee came booted into her Chamber before hee went to Hunting and finding her kembing her haire which lay spread over her face drew neare without speaking and with his riding-wand in jest touch'd the hinder part of herhead she taking the King for Landry who had free accesse for secret visits said In my judgment Landry a good Knight should alwayes strike before and not behind whereupon perceiving that it was the King who by those words had discovered her minde while the King was gone a Hunting plotting the death of Fredegund and Landry they contrived his death and by murtherers by them hired the King accompanied onely with his Page was killed as he return'd from the Chace Clotharius 2. the tenth King of France Anno 586. THis Clotharius the second of that Name at the age of foure Moneths An. Dom. 586 succeeded his Father under the tuition of his Uncle Gontran who confirmed Landry Mayre of the Palace and constituted him his Lieutenant Generall of the Kingdome and retained Paris to himselfe with all the dependances of the Kingdome of Cherebert the late King Gontran dyed in the 33. yeare of his Reigne Anno Dom. 595 having before instituted for his Heire by will Childebert King of Austrasia his Nephew who lost the Battaile at Soissons against Fredegund for the Guardianship of his Cousin Clotharius As also foure yeares after or thereabout Childebert being deceased Brunechilde who had the tuition of Theodobert and Theodoric her yong sonnes lost the battaile against her neare Muret. Fredegund in the end dying the two Kings of Austrasia and Orleans being vexed at the Ambushments of Clotharius gave him battaile neare unto Sens and Estampes and left him no more than twelve Counties of his whole Kingdome Theodoric as victorious and tryumphant enters Paris After that Theodoric having his hands full of his other brother and before that he would undertake any Warre against him accorded with this his brother Clotharius that hee would give him the Dukedome of Denthelin and other parts which hee had taken from him on condition that he would be a Neuter betweene them But hee having intelligence of the death of Theodobert who was slaine neare Cologne in the 17. yeare of his Reigne enters immediately upon those promised Countries Theodoric being very desirous that he should let goe his hold was impoisoned by Brunehault Clotharius remaining now sole peaceable possessor of the whole Monarchy of France put all the children of Theodoric to death except Merovaeus who was his youngest sonne Afterwards he punished Brunehault according to her deserts and demerits and he instituted his sonne Dagobert King of Austrasia against whom this man was much incensed for the death of his brother Rodoald but hee was reconciled into favour by the Marriage of Cometrude Sister of his last Wife Clotharius having largely revenged himselfe upon the Saxons who had revolted and wounded Dagobert daring that that were without the reach of his Sword deceased the 45. yeare of his age and of his reigne 37. An. D. 632. leaving Dagobert by his first Wife and Aribert by the second Brunehault before mention'd having caused many murders and mischiefes was by her
him had their wrongs redressed for the whole government which belonged unto the Kings was now ordered by Mayres yet this King was happy in his Consort and Queene Bandour of whose Piety and devotion to Religion the Abby of Shelces called St. Bandour and other religious buildings were lasting Monuments Clotharius 3. the 13. King of France Anno 666. THis Clotharius the third the eldest sonne of Clovis succeeded in the Regall power Anno Dom. 666 his brother Childeric or Childebert and Theodoric being very young Clotharius permitted the sway of government to his Mother Bathilde and his Mayre of Palace Ercembault or Ereich whom some are of opinion to have beene entituled Duke of France and after the death of this hee entertained one Ebroin in his place or as the Almaine Chronicles say Eberwin a German borne a man cruell malicious and wicked who was preferred unto him by the French He was the first that abusing the imbecillity and Infancy of his Master raised the power and authority of his owne dignity to such a heighth it never had before slighting and misprizing the Majesty and greatnesse of Kings insomuch that afterwards nothing of what importance soever must passe without the approbation of those Mayres all the Principality as it were being solely in their breasts and power swaying yea and limiting the expences of their Kings as they list themselves making Warres Peace Alliances Ordinances and Customes of the Kingdome at their pleasure Some Chronicles say that the Kings living at their ease and pleasures shewed themselves but once a yeare in publicke upon the first day of May in a generall assembly which was held every yeare for the publick affaires of the Kingdome in a place called The Field of Mars where they rode in a Chariot drawne by foure Oxen accompanied with the chiefe of the Baronry as well hearing the complaints of their Subjects as giving audience to Embassadors of forraigne Princes all which they received at the second hand from their Mayres This Clotharius was surprized by a Feaver whereof he dyed having reigned foure yeares without leaving any issue Anno Dom. 670. Theodoric undertakes the government of the Kingdome but through the turmoyles betweene him and Ebroin Mayre of the Palace the subjects enforced him to a Monasticke life at St. Denis and Ebroin at Leuxeul in the Franche Contè Clotharius lyes at St. Denis in France The composition of his minde was cruell which the subjects felt in heavy taxations by him imposed saying that plenty and peace made them forgetfull of their duty And of him and his successors it may be said that they left nothing memorable but that they left no memory Hee may be reckoned among those Kings that were living Pictures of Soveraignty shewed every yeare to the people and so put up againe into his Chamber but if Vertue be active and consists in doing good how could Kings thinke that they might rule by their Deputies You never knew that Flock of sheepe did thrive when the Shepheard committed them to the care of an Hireling or a Boy and a Dogge for then the poore sheepe are torne by Bryars so are the poore subjects by oppressions when Rex dormit securus when the King sleepes and suffers his Mayres to governe him and his Realme Therefore it is said that no man is good in regard of the nobility of his Birth but for the excellency of his Vertue For true Nobility dependeth of Vertue and all other things are of Fortune But this was the defect of these times that made soveraigne power have aweake aspect and not to looke so fine and cleare as it would have done for this King and many others were then but like Pictures in Arras yet for all his cruelty they bestowed upon him those funerall Rites which appertained to Soveraignty and inhumed him amongst the former Kings Childeric 2. the 14. King of France Anno 670. THis Childeric King of Austrasy and brother to Clotharius being called to the Crowne by the Frenchmen tooke Vlfoalde for his Mayre but they found themselves as much troubled with him as they had beene with Theodoric and Ebroin whom they had made Monkes and confined into Monasteries This Childeric who was a man of no great wit and dissolute confined saith Sigebert Leger Bishop of Authun a man of a holy life to the Monastery of Luxeul Neverthelesse the Supplement of Idatius affirmes that he was so gracious with him that he was in a manner as Mayre of the Palace He caused a Gentleman to be ignominiously whipped who was of Franconia called Bodille by which fact he excited such a scandall against himselfe and a generall hatred of most part of the Nobility of his Realme that they all rebelled against him after the example of Ingolbert aliâs Wigobert and Amalbert giving such an occasion to Bodille that he sought all occasions of revenge for the notorious disgrace hee had received from him who on a day espying him comming from Hunting caused him to be murthered by the assistance of his Compliees who also shewed no more mercy to his Queene and Wife Blitilde although shee were greaâ— with child which was a cause that Vâ—foalde fled into Austrasie and that thâ— Lords of France by the advice of Legeâ— Bishop of Authun tooke Leudesil thâ— sonne of the late Ercembault for Mayrâ— of the Palace who as it seemes to Aymoynus and Ado taking Theodoriâ— out of the Monastery estated him in the Regall Throne Childeric and his Wife were funebrially interred in the Church of St. German des prez lez Paris Anno Dominâ— 676 and seven yeares after that by the generall consent of the Frenchmen hee was called out of Austrasie to governe the Kingdome of France Hee left no issue Sigebert and Paulus Aemilius seeme to confound the History being of opinion that Childeric reigned after Clotharius 12. yeares and Theodoric 17. yeares after him but others hold that the reigne of Theodoric continued 19 in the which they number the yeares of his being a Monke Childerick being substituted in his place This King was another of the same stampe with the former by nature enclined to tyranny and cruelty disgracing his well-begun reigne with a bad conclusion for Kings mounted on the top of Honour and beholding their subjects with contempt thrust forward by flattery or ambition doe easily become Tyrants And as this Kings life did not shew handsome so his death plotted and effected by Bodille did instruct Kings not to dishonour or contemne their Nobility being their right Arme. And also it shewed that a disgracefull punishment inflicted on a Gentleman doth touch the quicke of the soule with a deepe apprehension for being of a freer tender nature they scorne as much to receive an injury as doe any and therefore they account it Justice to revenge though they dye in the confirmation of the act This appeares by Bodille who concealed her anger untill like Lightning it struck the King before it was seene for he must be
silent full of darke thoughts and carry his light inward that will vindicate an injury and write Mihi vindictae litavi this is a sacrifice to Revenge Theodoric 2.15 King of France Anno 680. THeodoric alias Thierry the second of that name having beene called out of the Monastery by Ebroin who in the time that things were in a combustion and confusion through the death of Childeric went and assaulted Leudesie from whom hee recovered the Royall Finances Afterwards pursuing him he contrary to his promise caused him to be put to death and causing himselfe to bee re-estated in that dignity of which formerly hee had beene deprived persecuted all those that had any way opposed him filling all France with murtherous cruelties insomuch that he put to death Leger Bishop of Authun and his brother Guerin Whilst the Austrasians substituted Pepin Heristed Maire of the Palace of Austrasie in the place of Vlfoald and appoynted for his Coadjutor Martin his Cousen German sonne of Clodulphe second Sonne of S. Arnulph Whereof Ebroin being advertised went to give them battaile at a place called Locofic where Pepin was enforced to betake himselfe into Austrasie for safety and Martin to Laon From whence Ebroin upon his word given him in way of promise fetcht him out and caused him to be put to death Immediately hereupon Hermonfroy slew Ebroin and for refuge betooke himselfe to Pepin By the reason whereof Theodoric took to bee Maire of the Palace one named Waraton a man well advised who having beene supplanted and undermined by his sonne Gislemare who dyed shortly after entered into the State although hee kept it not long but dying left it in the hands and power of Bertaire who in such a high nature disgusted the Lords and Nobility of France that they withdrew their affection from him and there went namely Andramne and Reole to consult with Pepin for a Warre upon Theodoric the King and Bertaire who was neare Taxieres in Vermandois defeated and the said Bertaire slaine by some that pursued him Whereupon Theodoric made a peace with Pepin and gave him the office of Maire of his Palace as he already had that of Austrasie Pepin being desirous to compose the matters of Austracy in order instituted Norbert as his Lievtenant in France in his absence Afterwards he made his eldest sonne Drogon Duke of Campagne Pepin began to governe in France Anno Domini 687. Theodoric deceased 688. having reigned nineteene yeares beeing a wonderfull patient King and one that would not be moved with any small disaster that should have happened unto him either through the Divine Power or Humane Resistance Hee left behinde him three Sonnes Clovis Clotharius and Childebert This King being onely a picture of Soveraignty without any active motion Ne vixisse inutilis olim videatur left issue to shew that he had lived He sate like a patient man and beheld the Tragedies playd by the Mayres as they had beene a game of Tables untill Pepin wonne the set and Soveraignty of France This King was of a slow disposition not contemning but neglecting the World for if he had onely slighted earthly glory he would have violated Curius who when the Samniter brought him great store of Treasure as he was sitting by the fire side hee said Non aurum haberi praeclarum sibi videri dixit sed eis qui haberent aurum imperare He accounted it no glory to have store of Gold but to governe those that had store of gold This was a magnanimity of minde but a dejected minde in a Prince suffering a Subject to over-toppe him did not expresse the Courage of a Caesar or an Alexander that desir'd to bee Monarch◠of the whole world Clovis 3. the 16. King of France Anno 689. AFter the decease of Theodorick Clovis his eldest sonne began his Reigne in his minority Anno Domini 689 having Pepin for Mayre of his Palace who was surnamed Heristel sonne of Ansigise under whom France that heretofore seemed to bee divided and as it were dismembred seemed now to be as an entire body as formerly it had beene and began to recover its pristine lustre and honour which it had in a manner lost by the precedent divisions and intestine dissentions which also had given an occasion to the Aquitans and Gascognes to range apart under the government of one proper and peculiar Prince whom they styled Duke an occasion that Roderic of Toledo tooke to make mention of one called Loup who was about that time Clovis reigned according to the Contivator of Gregory of Tours Ado and Sigebert onely foure yeares although Aimoynus through the default of Writers acknowledgeth but two yeares And it seemes that in his time the Saxons and Swedes who upon the occasion of the precedent Warres by the succession of times had withdrawne themselves out of the obedience to the French were by Pepin summoned to their duty And because they made him know that they would not performe any such thing but upon compulsion hee passed over the Rhine with an Army against them wherewith hee gave them such downe-right knocks that he beate them into a subjection according to his desire By the meanes whereof France for some space of time continued in peace recovering by little and little its authority and renowne amongst other Nations and strangers Wherefore Clovis had no leasure to enjoy a long content because hee dyed although young as it is said leaving the succession to his brother Childebert An. Dom. 692. The place of his death or interrment is not mentioned in any Authors This King reigned but foure yeares and therefore his Character may bee drawne by the Embleme of the Sunne rising with a faire and cleare aspect but presently over-cast with thick clouds having this Motto Orior morior As the Sunne which fairely rose Is hid with clouds that doe enclose The cleare beames while that it doth shew A sorrow weeping teares of dew So this King rose to a Crowne And setting soone in death went down Leaving the Spheare of Majesty His Motto this I rose to dye Childebert 2. the 17. King of France Anno 692. After the death of Clovis his brother Childebert succeeded him and reigned according to all Authours 17. or 18. yeares except Ado who alloweth him but 13. Neverthelesse it seemeth that it was in his time that Pepin made warre upon Rathod Duke of Frizeland who was as yet a Pagan and an Idolater so that he being overthrowne Pepin would not grant him any conditions of peace unlesse he would permit a Monke called Wilebrot aliâs Clement a learned and vertuous man might freely give instructions to the Frizons in the Christian Religion which for the most part was generally approved and liked by the people but the Nobles and chiefe men remained and continued in their ancient errour together with their Prince Moreover that Pepin was a man accomplished and of singular parts yet contrary to the Lawes of Marriage he was so much taken with the fond love
entire government of the whole Kingdome and command of all insomuch that he was called Prince of the French-men great Master and Governour of France And Clotharius had but the bare title of King which is a cause that Paulus Aemilius and other Historians have not inserted him into the Catalogue of the Kings of France The aforesaid Clotharius deceased about the yeare 719 and lyeth inhumed at Nancy This King having not the power of a King was like a Picture of Majesty for some years exposed to the publick view but afterwards death drew a Curtaine between him and the world and then he was soone forgotten whereas vertue doth give a second life to Princes while their name is preserved fresh in memory For Sola virtus expers Sepulchri Vertue alone can never dye But liveth still in memory And therfore that excellent monument better than any Marble stone cut into forme by Carvers Art is the statue of the mind not that of the body for Statue huiusmodi relinquendae quae virtutis sint monumenta magis quà m staturae corporis That King doth need no Tombe cut out by Art Whose Fame doth live in every Subjects heart Daniel alias Chilperic 20. King of France Anno 719. DAniel whom some affirme to have beene the Sonne of Childebert and brother to Dagobert and others that he was onely of the blood Royall was taken out of the Monastery to bee made King and his former name was changed into Chilperic Anno Domini 715. In the beginning of his Reigne he entered into a confederacy with Ratbode Duke of Frizeland In the meane time Charles Martel escaped the imprisonment of his Step-mother Plectrude and as hee made all possible meanes and waies for the recovery of his right before that hee could effect any thing he was by Ratbode defeated neare the Meuse before that Rainfroy and Chilperic could come to charge him Neverthelesse Anno Domini 716. after as the Frenchmen went with a Convoy of an infinite treasure of monyes from the parts neare Cologne which Plectrude had given them Charles Martel set upon them with such a fury that he enforced them to forsake it neare unto Albis By the meanes whereof taking heart for this his first fortunate enterprize he overthrew Rainfroy an◠Chilperic Anno Domini 717. th◠21 of March neare unto Vinciate who came with an intent of an ample revenge Charles by this victory assuring himselfe of the French desirous to reduce the rest of the Kingdome of Austracy entered by force into Cologne and forced Plectrude to surrender unto him all his Fathers Treasures And for the greater validity of his cause puts one forward whom some esteeme to have beene the Uncle of the last King Dagobert called Clotharius or Lotharius forcing him to take upon him the title and name of King with him afterwards hee went to encounter Chilperic and Rainfroy who by the meanes of Eude Duke of Aquitan or Gascogne were destitute of their Forces being by him defeated and overthrowne in Champagne insomuch that for safety Chilperic retired to the said Duke with all his Treasures Anno Domini 719. Clotharius the titulary King departed this life whereupon Charles Martel sent to demand King Chilperie of Eude that he might bee sent unto him by whom he was afterwards acknowledged as a King and entertained Eude into his amity and love Chilperic also a yeare after deceased Anno Dom. 720. having reigned five yeares and a halfe in a troublesome and turbulent State which was scarce settled in all the time of his Reigne Charles Martel with Clotharius or Lotharius who had tooke the name and title of King raising many perturbations in his Kingdome But Death at length drew his dayes to a period after his great and manifold troubles and lyeth interred at Noyon Theodoric 21. King of France Anno 720. THeodoric was by Charles Martel substituted to Chilperic Anno Domini 720. and reigned onely titulary as others had done before him for the space of eighteene yeares Charles Martel left Anion to Rainfroy upon condition that hee should resigne the office of Mayre and after that went to terrifie and chastise the Saxons who had rebelled at which time Ratbod Duke of Frizeland dyed A.D. 727. He brought the Almaines into such a servitude to the French that before that time they never performed Afterwards having enforced Plectrude to come to an agreement he marched into Aquitan against Eude where in the way hee by a generall Parliament made himselfe to bee stiled Prince of the French Whereupon Eude more enraged than vanquished incited the Saracens of Spaine by the meanes of Muguoce Lord of Lerdane his sonne in Law their servant whom Charles encountred before Tours and gave them an overthrow by the assistance of the said Eude who was enforced to take his part by reason of the insolencyes committed by the Saracens who had now come downe into his Countrey In this expedition hee gained the sirname name of Martel for the Mortality he made of his enemies After the ending of this warre he went against the Burgundians to punish them for their rebellion and also those of Provence After that knowing the death of Eude he reduced Guienne and Aquitaine into his obedience dis-inheriting Gaifer and Walde the sonnes of Eude who retiring themselves into Gothland and Septimany alias Languedoc recovered by the assistance of the Visigoths a part of Guienne in the meane time that Martel was in warres against Pepin the sonne of Ratbod whom he overthrew and forced the Frizons to become Christians After having sent backe his Vncle Childebrand against the Visigoths and Saracens who had possessed Avignon himselfe went to quell Burgundy now upon a revolt and by the aide of Luitprand King of the Lombards he went to drive Athin out of Narbon and out of all Languedoc and Provence all which he submitted to the Crowne of France and hee tooke away the Earledome of Marsiles from Count Morice who had delivered Avignon to the Saracens Theodoric dyed about the yeare 740. It was a usuall custome for great Warriers and Souldiers in those times to get some titular addition to their name as Alexander was called Ille magnus so Martel was so sirnamed Quasi mortalis or Martialis because he was mortal in his expeditions full of martiall valour he was the first founder of the second Race of the French Kings and therefore must needes be a man of great vertue since the raisers of private families are either Saints or Divells that get honour by vertue or goe to hell for it to leave it to their Posterity Childeric 3. the 22. King of France Anno 740. CHilderic succeeded his brother Theodorick Anno Domini 740. He was the last King of the race of the Merovees Charles Martel deceased at Paris October the 22. An. Dom. 741 leaving Carloman and Pepin surnamed The short Giles Arch-bishop of Rouen and Griffon who was by another Mother Carloman and Pepin tooke upon all their Fathers possessions and
to the leading of a vertuous and godly life as may appeare by his spending three yeares in reading the Bible and St. Augustines Bookes before he dyed And the Character of his Life was That his vertue was the paterne of Princes and his good fortune the subject of their wishes Lewis the Debonaire Emperor of Rome and 25. King of France Anno 814. LEwis who was left the sole son of Charlemagne was consecrated at Rheimes by Pope Stephen Anno Domini 814. In the beginning of his Empire he reduced the Sclavonians Sorabes and Gascoignes under his obedience who had revolted upon the death of Charlemaine He held a Parliament at Aix where he caused his eldest sonne Prince Lotharius to bee crowned Emperour with him and caused his other sonnes to bee Crowned Kings giving unto Pepin the Kingdome of Aquitaine and to Lewis the Dutchy of Bavaria By reason whereof his Nephew Bernard rebelled against him who by a sentence of the Emperours Counsaile had his eyes pulled out whereupon he dyed with griefe From thence Lewis went against the Bretons who had made an insurrection and chaced Lindeute Governour of Austria out of Pannonia And having Anno Domini 824 renewed his alliance with Michael the Emperour of Constantinople and his wife Hermingarde being dead he marryed with Judith daughter of the Count Artolf which Iudith because she advanced hers to the disadvantage of the Emperours Children was a cause that they raised an army against their Father who having confined her into a Monastery of Italy she was put into a Coffer at St. Medards of Soissons from whence she was conveyed out by the French Princes Lotharius seeing this fled into Italy The troubles of France being appeased the Danes and Normans ransacked the Countrey of Zeland and Frizland and also the Bretons rebelled Also the Saracens much perplexed the Emperor in the chasing them out of Italy and Provence who finding himselfe neare his end bequeathed unto his son Charles the Occidentall part of France and by the death of Pepin A.D. 838. Aquitaine was added to Lotharius he left the Empire with the rest of the Kingdome of France to Lewis the kingdom of Bavaria Lewis being discontented at this partage would needes take Almaine into his power but having beene hindered two severall times by the Emperours Army in the end the Emperour dyed in an Isle of the Rhine the sixtieth yeare of his age and the 27. of his Empire and reignâ— Anno Domini 840. This Lewis was of a milde and gentle disposition fitter to be a Church-man than a King wherby he grew contemptible to his Subjects yet milde natures much provoked are violent in revenge for having taken Bernard he imprisoned him then put out his eyes and all the Bishops noblemen his adherents Hee indiscreetly gave his sonnes their portions and thereby procured his own affliction arming them with strength to rebell against their Father and for affection to Church-men he was by them censured for his cruelty to the Bishops to be confined to a Monastery while the Clergy adhered to the rebellious Children against the father whose late attempt was to chastise the insolency of of his sonne Lewis but age and griefe concluded his happinesse and the good old King having felt enough vexation in the unnaturall rebellion of his Children forsooke the world and so found rest and happines Charles the Bald Emperor and the 26. King of France Anno 840. THis Charles the Bald having attained to the Kingdome Anno Dom. 840 made great Warres against Lotharius untill hee gave him battaile at Fontenay During these debates the Bretons revolted and the Normans came even unto Paris to sacke the Abby of St. German insomuch that Charles was enforced by money to hire them to a retreate After this Charles went against Neomenius King of Bretagne whom he routed and defeated twice afterwards Anno Dom. 851. after Aquitaine fell into the hands of Charles who encloystered his Nephews Pepin and Charles Hee againe overthrew the Bretons the Normans on the other side tooke the City of Nantes confounding all with blood and fire not sparing the Bishop who was then at Masse Fifteene yeares after the battaile at Fontnay Charles the Bald made himselfe to be annointed King in the City of Limoges Lotharius became a Monke leaving the government to his son Lewis but that part of Gaule beyond the mountaines was divided betweenâ— Charles and Lotharius his other sonnes Baldwin having espoused the daughteâ— of Charles the Bald without his consent in the end was acknowledged as Sonâ— in law to whom Charles gave the County of Flanders and lost Aquitaine whereupon Lewis caused himselfe to be Crowned King of Germany in the City of Sens while Charles was entertained in Warres against the Normans which he recovered Anno Domini 859 forcing his brother to retreate into Germany Anno Dom. 863. they entered into a League In the meane time there grew great troubles amongst the Nobility of France by the meanes whereof the Bretons came as farre as Poitiers whence they were chaced by Charles and An. Dom. 863. they were constrained to take their Kingdome and Dutchy by faith of homage to him And Anno Dom. 869. hee was elected King of Loraine by the death of his Nephew Lotharius He was also crowned Emperor Anno Dom. 875. by the death of his Nephew Lewis which hee enjoyed not above two yeares in the end whereof being desirous to returne out of Italy into France he was poisoned by his Physitian the sixth of October Anno Dom. 877. The Reigne of this Prince was confused and unhappy and of small fame being a King of no merit for from the confusion in his reigne the fall of this Race did spring But as Timanthes when he drew Iphigenia ready to be sacrific'd painted Calchus with a sad countenance Vlysses sadder and having spent all his Art in expressing Menelaus griefe and not knowing how to make the Fathers countenance more sorrowfull cover'd his head with a vaile leaving his passion to be conceived by imagination so this Kings Picture deserves to bee hidden and obscured with the vaile of silence for it is better not to write at all than to write though justly disgracefully of deceased Princes Lewis 3. Emperour and 27. King of France Anno 877. AFter the decease of Charles the Bald Lewis surnamed the Stut was heire and successor of his Father declared himselfe not onely King of France Anno Dom. 877 causing himselfe to be crowned in a full assembly of Princes and Prelates at Rheimes but also Emperour of Rome Aymoynus testifieth that hee was in some difference before his Coronation with the Primates of his Kingdome because he had distributed the estates and dignities of France without their advice Insomuch that he was enforced to give them content In the meane time Pope John the 8. conceiving a better hope of the French than of the Almaines laboured what he could to reduce Italy into the good liking of Lewis the
Childrens quarrell invading one anothers Territories and maintaining hot warres But to conclude the memorable Warre undertaken to recover the Holy-land from the Saracens was now begun under the conduct of Godfrey of Bologne who being chosen King of Jerusalem refused the Diadem saying It is not fit for any Christian Prince to weare a Crowne of Gold since Jesus Christ the King of Kings did weare one made of Thornes Lewis the 6. the 40. King of France Anno 1109. THis Lewis the Grosse succeeded to the Crowne after Henry his Father and was solemnly Crowned at Orleans by Gislebert Arch-Bishop of Sens Anno Domini 1109 He first beganne to quell the pride anâ— power of the great Lords of France who countenanced by the King of England arose up against him but in the end he accomplished his designes In those times the Englishmen moved their first warres upon the French in the behalfe of Count Thibault of Campagne and Bloys But the King in revenge commanded William the sonne of Robert Duke of Normandy and sent him accompanyed with Baldwin Count of Flanders and Foulques Count of Aniou with an army to surprise them whereupon there was a peace made betweene them and the English to quit Cisors to William the sonne of Henry Baldwin Count of Flanders being wounded in the Conquest of Normandy went to end his life in Flanders who for want of issue instituted Charles son of Conutus King of Denmark to bee his heire In the meane time the King being advertised that the Emperour came in aide of the English prevented â—is designe and forced him to retreate Iâ— forced also the Count of Aâ—vergne and the Vicount of Polignac to give satisfaction to the Bishop of Clermon and at his returne he notified to William Duke of Aquitaine that onely Avergne but also Aquitaine were in tenure of the Crowne of France The County of Flanders was in question betweene Arnulph the Dane Baldwin Count of Haynaut and William of Ipres by the death of Charles who was slaine in S. Donatus in Bruges and by the King it was adjudged to Robert Duke of Normandy by right of consanguinity whereupon warres ensued After that the King caused his sonne Philip to be Crowned at Rheimes the fourteenth day of April 1129. the King of England being in presence but two yeares after hee dyed by meanes of a Hogge that came under his Horse feete and frighted the Horse that hee threw him on the ground Lewis his brother was Crowned in his place by Pope Jnnocent the five and twentieth of October 1131 Lewis the Grosse deceased at Paris Anno Dom. 1137. leaving sixe Children Baldwin Earle of Mons in Henault complaining unto Lewis the Grosse that he had wrongfully given the Earledom of Flanders which was his right unto Duke William of Normandy and desiring to have leave granted to maintaine his Title by Combate The King said You must combat then against me for the Seignory which you claime is my right and inheritance This King also in a Battaile being severed from his Souldiers was likely to be taken Prisoner by an English Knight who laying hold on the raines of his Horse cryed aloud The King is taken whereupon the King valiantly kild the Knight and as he fell downe said One man alone cannot in Chesse play give the King the Mate At a certaine siege being forsaken of his Souldiers in regard of the unseasonablenesse of the weather and constrained to retire hee said with a brave kind of anger That an honest and honourable death was better than a shamefull and dishonourable life The last action of his reigne was the marrying of his sonne unto the daughter and heire of William Duke of Normandy by this allyance to settle a more firme peace and make his sonne strong in friends while his younger sons were compelled to depend on the meere favour of their elder brother on whom the estate being setled they might therby bee instructed to shew unto him a willing obedience for equality breeds discord and grumbling but an acknowledged dependance on another procures respect for necessity makes brave minds glad to be oblieged Lewis the 7. the 41. King of France Surnamed Augustus Anno 1137. THis Lewis undertooke the government the same Moneth wherein his Father dyed and marryed Elianor the onely daughter of William Duke of Guienne and Poictou Afterwards hee made warre upon the Count of Vermendois because following the censures of the Pope hee repudiated Peronelle sister to Queene Elianor that he might re-entertaine his former wife whom before he had divorced And taking the Towne of Vitry in Parthois hee put to the sword and fire more than 3500 persons for the expiation of which fact St. Bernard advised him to make a voyage with his Army into the Holy Land for the succour of Palestine Whither hee arriving with his army he had but an ill trick put upon him by the Emperour of Greece Moreover perceiving his Army much affoibled by the assaults of the Turkes he saved himselfe in the towne of Attalia and came to Antioch where the King conceived a great distaste against his Wife who had accompanyed him all that vâ—age Afterwards he joyned forces with Conradus the Emperor for the beleaguering of Damietta But that siege tooke no effect through the envy of the old Christians there conceived against the new-commers which was a cause that the Emperour and the King â—etreated each to his owne home where the King was in danger to have bin surprised by the Emperour of Greece but he was rescued by George Lievtenant of the King of Sicily The King upon his returne divorced his Wife who married with Henry Count of Aniou and Normandy who should succeede to the Crowne of England bearing with him the Counties Poictou and Aquitaine Afterwards the King took to wife Constance the daughter of Alphonsus King of Castile who being deceased he tooke Adele or Ale alias Alice daughter of the Count of Champagne by whom An. Dom. 1165. he had a sonne named Philip and surnamed Deodoctus to whom the King growne aged resigned his Crowne notwithstanding hee was but 14. yeares of age and was Crowned at Rheimes An. Dom. 1179. King Lewis deceased the 19. or the 29. of September although some report upon the 29. of the same Moneth or August An. Dom. 1180. Hee lyes interred in the Abby of St. Barbeau which hee had formerly built In his reigne the Holy Land which the Christians had taken seemed to bee utterly conquered remaining under the Christians obedience untill the unhappy death of Godfrey of Bouillon for when the Commander was gone whose unspicious good fortune put life into this action the Warre did not prosper yet before his death he encountred an Army of sixe thousand men which the Turkes had brought into Palestine and came off with very good successe and had so proceeded if his Death had not prevented the good fortune of Christendome For the name of so great a Warrier conducting an Army prepares the
third surnamed the Hardy his eldest sonne having beene proclaimed King in the Campe before Tunis in Africk tooke his journey in his returne through Italy directly to Viterbe to make an agreement between the Cardinals who in two years space were in a dissention upon the Election of a Pope Hee was Crowned at Rheimes by the Bishop of Soissons the thirtieth of August Anno Dom. 1271. He after incorporated the County of Tholouse to the Crowne upon the decease of the Count Alphonse his uncle He went to aide Gerard of Cassebonne his Subjects against the Counts of Armigna and Foix by reason whereof the Count of Foix submitted himselfe to his mercy He restored the Countrey of Navarre to the obedience of Ioane daughter of the late Henry King of Navarre deceased The King marryed Mary the daughter of Henry Duke of Brabant who was suspected to have poysoned Lewis the eldest sonne of the King by his first wife Isabelle of Aragon She was found innocent by the report of two Bishops who were sent to a Nunne or rather a Sorceresse to know the truth The yeare after Peter De la Bresche great Chamberlaine of France and superintendant of the Finances and affaires of the King was hanged being accused and convicted for having discovered the secrets of France to the King of Spaine together with the death of the Kings sonne Anno Domini 1282. the Sicilian Evensong were executed upon the Frenchmen upon an Easter day or as others report on the thirtieth of March or thirteenth of April whereupon Charles Uncle to the King offered battaile to Peter of Aragon the author thereof but he refused it Afterwards the King having caused Ioane the onely daughter of the late Henry King of Navarre to be marryed to his eldest sonne Phillip he marched with his Army for the Conquest of Aragon which by the Pope had been given to Charles de valois the second sonne of Philip who conquered the County of Russillon after that the City of Gennes And after that having in an Embuscado slaine the King of Aragon he forced the Towne of Gironne to be yeelded up He went to conclude his Fate at the Towne of Perpignan of a Malady which surprised him in his Campe Anno Domini 1285. the 6. of October This King as it appeares in the whole course of his life would engage himselfe in all businesses and was therefore called the Hardy but his desperate Father would not undertake his Neighbours quarrells nor seek to make betwene them any agreement unlesse it might be done by safe and quiet means The reigne of this King was much disturbed by the warres maintained by Peter and Roger for the Isle of Sicily and after much effusion of blood Charles dyed and also Peter though politicke could not deceive death but having received a great overthrow concluded his Act of life with griefe and sorrow At last this King was by Roger Admirall of Arragon friend unto Peter set upon him lying sicke a bed at Pepignan yet in extreamity he exprest a noble courage and with his sicke weake voyce so encouraged his Souldiers that Roger was droven out of Pepignan the City held by Philip so distempered with this alarum that he grew sicke and dyed the fifteenth of October two moneths after Peter Pope Martin the fourth dying the same yeare 1286. to shew great Princes that their chiefe designes are crost by death It was now decreed in a Counsell at Lions that the Cardinals meeting after the Popes death should not come out of that Conolme untill they had chosen the Pope which begun upon occasion of the tedious Election of the former Pope and the Decree is still observed Thomas Aquinas now dyed being a subtile disputer But Bonaventure John Duns called Scot and Gabriel Biel succeeded and were famous schollers And to conclude hee was a Prince borne for a testimony to that obscure age and for corrupted times to bee a patterne to all Kings and Princes of religion equity clemency wisedome valour magnanimity patience and constancy to love piety justice order and peace to joyne the love of sanctity and modesty of manners with Armes and State Having shewed that it is very sitting for a King to be a good Christian a good warriour a good husband a good father a good governour a good Iustier and to know how to make war and peace That it is very necessary to joyne unto the Majesty Royall piety clemency and authority to gaine the low respect and obedience And lastly that the best guard and most assured revenew of a Prince is the love of his Subjects Thus he was worthy of that venerable name wherewith posterity hath justly honourd him being the Honour of vertue Philip 4. the 46. King of France Anno 1286. PHilip 4. surnaming himselfe The Faire King of Navarre succeeded his Father An. Dom. 1286. After that he had withdrawne his Army from Parpignan hee was crowned at Rheims the sixt of January He caused the Palace to be built at Paris at that time Edward King of England pretending to lead his Army to the aide of the Towne of Acre which the Saracens had now beleaguered made some incursions upon the Sea-townes of Normandy thinking to have surprised Rochell whereupon ensued the second Warre which the French had against the English Heere the French Writers shew themselves most shamefully partiall and false yet I am bound to follow my Authors they being of that Nation who notwithstanding their alliance with the Emperour Adolphus were valiantly repulsed as well by Charles of Valois where the Lord of St. John was taken as by Robert of Artois who gained the victory upon the fresh Army which Edmund brother to the King of England had led to Bayonne yea and the Count of Flanders who declared himselfe on the English party lost the battaile at Furnes against the Count of Artois who went to joyne forces with the French who besieged Lisle and the Lords of Mont Morency and Harcourt tooke the Towne of Dover The English perceiving that demanded a Truce which was converted to a peace by the Marriage of Madam Marguerite of France Daughter of King Philip with the King of England Afterwards the Emperour Albert and this King made an accord betweene them for the conservation of their kingdomes against all men A while after the Pope being much moved against the King sent a Bull into France by the Arch-bishop of Narbona interdicting the King which Bull was burnt in the Court of the Palace At that time the Flemings slew all the French Garrisons whereupon the King being enraged sent his Army to Courtrac which was by them defeated Whilest the King sent the Lords Tarra a Colonian and Nogareth with 2000. Horse into Italy they put the Pope in such a terrour that he dyed The King also tooke such a revenge upon the Flemings neare to the Mount of Poville that hee overthrew 36000. of them After that the King having suppressed the Knights Templars and causing James de
the Lady Katharines Picture was sent to King Henry to move him to pitty Roane Hee grants them peace and receives of the Burgesses of Roane 356000. Crownes of gold upon the sixteenth of June Anno Domini 1418. Afterward many Townes were surrendered to Henry At last a peace was concluded betweene King Henry and King Charles and the Duke of Burgogne Afterward Henry goes in person to Trois where he was met by Iohn King of France the Queene and the Lady Katharine to whom hee was contracted and by their marriage peace was established in France and the Crowne of France was entailed to England and the Subjects of France were sworne to duty of allegeance unto King Henry as also the two Crownes of England and France were united and confirmed to King Henry by his marrying the Lady Katherine for marryages have alwayes beene the happy conclusions of Tragicall Warres as may appeare by happy marriage Afterward the French growing rebellious King Henry besieges Paris and takes it Bicardy afterward sweares fealty and obedience to King Hen. Matters being setled all the Warres was concluded with joyfull Solemnities at the marriage of King Henry and the Lady Katharine with whom he returned afterward into England where every Subject exprest his love and loyalty to him each one contending who should be the forwardest for the entertaining of so Noble and victorious a Prince and his most Royall Consort Afterward King Henry being at the siege of Meaux his wife was delivered of Henry of Munmouth his last joy on earth for not long after sickning at at Melum and his malady encreasing at Bois De vincennois hee cheerefully rendred his Soule to GOD who received him to immortall joy where he remaines Crowned with Caelestiall glory while his body being conveyed into England was with all pompous Celebrity interred in the Church at Westminster where on his Tombe are ingraven these Verses Dux Normanorum verus Conquestor eorum Haeres Francorum decesset Hector corum Here Normans Duke so stil'd by Conquest just True heire of France great Hector lyes in Dust Charles 7. the 54. King of France Anno 1422. AFter the decease of Charles the 6 Charles 7. his sonne began to style himselfe King of France notwithstanding that his Father had dis-inherited him and given it to Henry King of England In the beginning of his Reigne having made Count Arthur brother to the Duke of Bretagne High Constable of France sent him against the English who in a manner were Masters of all France and had now beleaguered Orleans contrary to their promise made to their Duke who at that time was prisoner in England whereupon the King sent the Count of Dunois the Bastard of Orleans Pothon Hire all valiant Commanders to relieve it At that time the French lost the Battaile of Harens whereupon the King being enraged and not knowing which way best to betake himselfe was encouraged by Joane the Maid who miraculously drove the English from before Orleance and having recovered many lost Townes and gained the battaile neare Patay and conveyed the King to be crowned at Rheims but upon a Sally which she made out of Champagne upon the English she was taken and put to death at Rouen In the end a peace being made betweene the Duke of Burgundy and the King of France they first drove the English out of Paris nineteene yeares after their enjoying it into which the King made his entry the twelfth of November Anno Domini 1437 to equall which there presently ensued the Praguery Faction The quarrells also of the Houses of Orleance and Burgundy were extinguished by the Marriage of Charles Duke of Orleance with Mary of Cleue neare to the Duke of Burgundy The English also lived promiscuously with the French but the Truce being broken by an English Captaine who took in the Castle of Fougeres the King imployed his uttermost to quit France of all the English and thereupon hee to this designe appointed his Franc-archers or Boemen and began with Normandy which he reduced wholly to his obedience after that Guienne and the Citty of Bourdeaux insomuch that the English could retaine nothing on that side the Seas but Cales and the County of Guiennes The King enjoying this repose of peace was much troubled with the absence of the Dauphin who for sixe yeares had betaken himselfe to the Duke of Burgundy and thence into Brabant where hee remained till his Fathers decease which was the 22. of July Anno Dom. 1461. This King being unfortunate in his Warres grew so behind hand both in fame and estate that amongst other afflictions hee was burthened with reproach and poverty so that he dined in his Chamber attended on by his houshold servants where Pothon and la Hire comming to Chusteaudun to require succours found him at Table with a Rumpe of Mutton and two Chickens He was reproached for the love of faire Agnes but the History of St. Dennis reports that hee loved her onely for her pleasing behaviour eloquent speech and beauty and that he never used any lascivious action unto her nor never touched her beneath the chinne Joane a Virgin or rather Witch professing that she had a Revelation how to succour the King and chase the English from Orleance was brought by the Lord of Baudie Court Provost of Vancoleurs to Chinon attired like a man The King takes upon him the habite of a Countryman yet shee goes directly to the King although they told her shee was mistaken Shee had Armes and Horse given her with a Troope to enter the City accompanied by the Admirall and Martiall of France Shee comes to Orleance they rejoyce to behold the Maiden Warriour whereupon Joane sends threats to the English by Letter subscribed Vnderstand these Newes from God and from the Virgin Orleance was assaulted by her counsell The Virgin entred the Fort first crying Montjoy St. Dennis the Fort is wonne The English grew amazed at the Virgins exploits In memory whereof a Monument was erected King Charles the seventh armed and Joane the Virgin armed kneeling on their knees before a Crucifixe of Brasse which is still to bee seene upon the Bridge at Orleance Lewis the 11. and 55. King of France Anno 1461. LEwis the 11. departing out of Brabant being accompanyed with the Duke Philip of Burgundy and the Count of Charolois his sonne caused himselfe to be crowned King of France the fifteenth of August 1461. The Princes seeing themselves in contempt especially Mounsier Charles his brother who rose up in Armes against him under a pretensive colour for the common good giving him the famous battaile of Montlâ—bery the fifteenth of Iuly Anno Domini â—463 The King for the dissipating of their forces following the advise of the Duke of Milan gave Normandy to his brother which afterwards by subtilties he withdrew from him againe But in the end hee was enforced by the Duke of Burgundy to give unto his brother Mounsier Charles the Counties of Champagne and Brie which hee