Starre The Ensigne of this Order was a Starre set eminently in the Hat and the wordes were Monstrant Regibus Astra Viam The founder of this order béeing much molested with the difficulties happening in warre could not perfect what hée had instituted And therefore within a short while after this Order ceased ¶ Knightes of the Band. IN the yeare 1367. this Order was instituted â—y Alphonsus King of Spaine the Sonne of Ferdinand and Constance These Knights did weare a certaine red scarffe or Band of three Fingers breadth which like a scole was fastned on the left Shoulder and so come vnderneath the right Arme thwart the body Into this Order younger borne Bretheren onely of Noble descent and Family and none of the elder might be admitted Many Articles belonging to this order and to bee obserued by these Knightes are at large set downe by Sansouino ¶ Knights of the Annunciation ANno Dom. 1409. Amades or Amadeus as some write the sixt surnamed The greene Earle of Sauoy deuised this Order who were tearmed Knights of the virgin Mary and for this reason instituted because Amades the first Earle of Sauoy with wonderfull fortitude defended Rhodes against the Turkish powers in his memory it was thus celebrated A Chaine or Collar such as Knightes vse to weare made of Gold and Siluer plates and fastened together with little linkes each man had about his necke with these Letters engrauen thereon F. E. R. T. that is Fortitudo eius RhoduÌ„ tenuit Thereat hung also by another small Chaine the Picture of the Virgine Mary with the Angels salutation ¶ Knights of the golden Fliece IN the yeare 1429. Phillip sir-named the good Duke of Burgundie instituted this Order and dedicated it vnto Saint Iames. The number these Knightes were twenty foure whereof the Duke of Burgundy was the chiefe They vsed to weare the Picture of a Golden Shéepe affixed to a Chaine inter-wouen like flames of fire Charles the warrelike Duke of Burgundy who also is sayde by euery one to bee the first Founder of this Order added thereunto these words Aute ferit quam flamma micet But now at this day the Knights haue these words PRETIVM NON VILE LABORVM ¶ Knights of Saint Michaell IN the yeare 1469. Lewes the eleauenth King of Fraunce instituted this Order at Amiens and dedicated it to S. Michaell The beginning of this Society consisted of a Band of Men to the number of thirty sixe the very chéefest and Noblest Péeres of the kingdome béeing Knights cleare from all detection and the very chéefe of them was the King himselfe At this day there are a great number of these Knightes and the kingdome of Fraunce is not now so respectiue in their election as at the first These knights weare a Chaine of gold daily wouen like little shelles valewing two hundered Crownes And thereat hangeth the picture of Saint Michaell fighting with the Deuill the Wordes beeing these Immensi tremor Oceani These knights did vse to méet euerie yeare at the Feast of S. Michaell in the Church of S. Michaell on the Mount Their garments by Henry the second king of France were apointed in very honorable maner Knights of S. Stephen In the yeare 1561. this Order was instituted by Cosmo de Medices Duke of Florence and the same confirmed by Pius Quartus The Ensigne of these knightes was a redde Crosse worne on a blacke garment The Statutes of this Order do not much differ from them of Malta knights and they were allowed to haue wiues The Duke of Florence is alwayes the chiefe of this Order and it is not to be censured by anie of the religious degrées but properly it doth hold a fréedome in liberty Knights of the Holy-Ghost In the yeare 1578. Henry the third king of France instituted this Order and named it of the Holy-Ghost the memory whereof was to be celebrated in the time of Pentecost vpon which day the King was borne and succéeded also in the Kingdome These Knights are an hundered in number and the King him-self is the President This Feast is celebrated yearely the first day of Ianuary in the Augustines Church in Paris by the Parisians The Ensigne of these Knights is a Doue in which forme the Holy-Ghost appeared in midst of a Crosse The last or lowest degrée of Knight-hoode is theirs who as reward of their Vertues haue golden Spurres put on their héeles and vulgarly are called Knights Concerning Knights Bannerets who hadde that Title giuen them by the Kings of England in Warre And Knights of the Bath they beeing also created by the Kings of that kingdome because they are of another Nature I passe them ouer without vsing any further spéech of them ¶ Of the Emperor of Ethyopia called Prete-Ian or Prester-Iohn Of his Originall and customes of his people THe great Emperor of Ethyopia to whome wee corruptly giue the name Prester or Presbiter Iohn is neither Priest or Sacrificer though he be by some called Prete-Ian and by his owne people named Beldugian that is to say Ioy of incomparable excellency or of most great value and by others of them he is also called Ian which in their language signifyeth Mighty He commandeth ouer seuenty and two Kinges who are all of different languages hauing their diuersity of customes and the colour of their faces or complexions are much disagréeing He is able to levie in preparation for war a million of fighting men fiue hundred Elephantes with their armour and munition for encounter with an infinit number of Horses and Camelles His Knights or warlike Souldiors enter armed to the battell each wearing a long coat of Maile stretching downe closely to their thighes a Sallet or head-péece on the head a round Target or Pauois a crooked Fauchion by his side and a Launce with two Stéele points or Pikes Such as haue no Sallets or head-pieces do wear thick red quilted Cappes on their heades plated after the manner of the Mameluke Souldiors The younger sort carried Darts Arrows and Slings obseruing the same discipline and be as obedient or well gouerned in ranging their battails as we are They vse Drummes of Brasse and Trumpets also to incourage their souldiors to the fight which is performed with great hardiment appointing likewise sundry honours and respectiue rewards to such as declare themâ—elues to bee of highest merit They do daily pay the families of their warriors and marke the children that are borne of them with a Crosse which they imprint suddenly in the flesh with an hot yron so that the signe remayneth as if it were naturall vnto them The King himselfe most commonly called Prete-Ian after he hath bestowed some houres about State affayres when he perceiueth that he is indifferently eased of them he imployeth almost al the remainder of his time in the study of holye Readings and Histories which being doone he vseth a litle exercise of the body and then entring into his Bath afterward hee
or Iupedes what people they were there are opinions enow concerning them Some say that they were at first of Scythia and came thence as the Lombards did into Italy But hauing made a more curious and dilligent search I finde that they were a people of Germany and called then Gepudij or Sepusij and according to Ptolomeus Matauastus now at this day Siebemburgs that followed the Gothes the Vandals and the Normands also beeing erring and Vagabonde people till at length they ventured on the Seas and went to inhabite the Isles of the Orchades whereof Thylle is the latest inhabited as Volateranus auoucheth and they are now subiectes to the King of Scotland In speaking of so many Nations who are all said to be deriued from the Scithians we may not forget the Picts who by most Writers opinion are said to be a people of Germany that had their Originall out of Scythia descending of the Agathyrsi in Sarmatia who vsed to paint and collour their faces thereupon were named Picts Before they entred into Britaine they inhabited the Isle of Orkeney for a long time together ferrying ouer into Cathnesse daily so multiplying both in power number that getting vp further into the land they possessed Rosse Murrey-land Merne Angusse whence passing into Fife and Louthian they droue thence the Brittain Inhabitantes who were onely poore people that liued by nourishing breeding Cattle This their entrance into Albion for so was it then called was in the year of the worlds creation 3633. Cruthneus Camelonus is said to be the first king of the Picts that he builded a famous Citty on the bank of the Riuer called Caron appointing it to be the chief City of all the Pictish kingdom He builded also the town of Agneda afterward called Edenbrough of Ethus king of the Picts and the Castle named The Castle of Maydens because the Pictish kings kept their daughters there vnder strict custody in all good exercises til their yeares of mariage Concerning the warres strifes and bloody contentions betwéene the Albion Scots and Picts thorough all their Kings raigns til their vtter ouerthrow and quite desolation of Pict-land by Kenneth the victorious King of Scots I referre it to our larger discourse Only letting you know that this subuersion and vtter ruine of the Picts hapned in the year of our redemption 839. in the sixt yeare of King Kenneths glorious raigne 1168. yeares after their first plantation in Albion The Getes haue bin and yet are a warlick people mollested greatly by the Turkes at this instant and yet they found the Romain work sufficient These are the Transyluanians Valachians Moldauians their country is neere to the Riuer Ister where it falleth into the Pontick sea The Bourguignons are helde by Orosius to come forth of Germany and Volatteranus saith that Iouinianus the Emperour vanquished some such people that liued by the Riuer of Rhine But there is nothing more certaine according as I haue gathered by the Germaine Histories then that they yssued from some remaynes of the Gothes Vandals and Hunnes who beeing altogether chased by the Romains threw themselues on that part of Gaule which is called after theyr name and there perforce enthroned themselues For afterwarde they coulde so well resist the Romaines that they were constrained to yéelde them tolleration and let them liue in the saide Countrey amongst the first Inhabitants There they builded Fortes Villages and Townes which they called then Bourgs of the Gothes Hunnes but being soone corrupted into one word from Bourgs-Goth-Hunnes they are now called Bourguignons as much to say as a martiall people Aetius Lieutenant to the Emperor Theodosius gaue them a battel in the yeare of Christ 435. and won the day But it cost him so deare that he would neuer after meddle any more with them About the yeare 430. they receiued and embraced the Christian fayth This people in these dayes are become very ciuill and are as much addicted to Learning as to Armes For they haue a goodly Vniuersitie founded by one of the Dukes of Bourgougne wherein many Lectures are read of all the Sciences to Schollers of all Nations at Dola the Capitall Cittye of that parte of Bourgougne which is vnder commaund of the house of Austria and there they hold a Parliament also As for the other part of Bourgougne in obedience to the Crowne of France Digeon is the Metropolitane Citty thereof where likewise is helde another Parlament And these two Bourgougnes are maintained in very good peace albeit they are in obeysance to diuers Princes We wil conclude this discourse with the kingdome of Naples which is a Citty very auncient and Noble in all respects and giueth the Title of kingdome to the whole Prouince by her owne proper name As concerning the name of Kingcome I do not hold it to be of any great antiquity because the Normanes took it from the Grecians who possessed this Prouince in diuers partes thereof and then it was entitled the Earldome of Apulia or Puglia as some do yet tearme it Robert Guiscard a verie valiant and woorthy man expulsed suddenly the Grecians thence and tooke Sicilie also from the Sarrazins entitling himselfe Duke of Apulia and of Calabria and Earle of Sicilie In no long time after his nephew Ruggiero or Roger hauing conquered the Citty of Naples which till that time had béene in the Grecians Gouernment receiued the Title of King of both the Scicilies by Anacletus the Anti-Pope in the yeare of our Lorde 1130. which afterwarde was confirmed vnto him in good and lawfull manner And from that time forwarde it was called the kingdome of Scicilie on this side Pharos vntill the raigne of Charles the first when it became deuided from Sicilie by occasion of that famous accident called Vesro Sciciliano the Scicilian Euening wherein so many of the French were slaine I finde moreouer in many good Historians that Naples hath had three seuerall Names to wit the Kingdome of Naples the Kingdome of Apulia and the Kingdome of Scicilie on this side Pharos ¶ Of the Kingdome of Portugall THe Kingdome of Portugall beganne in the yeare of Christ M.C.X. after this manner Henry Earle of Lorrayne comming thether performed many valiant déedes against the Sarrazins And his high deseruings mooued Alphonsus the sixte King of Castile to giue him a Bastard daughter of his in mariage named Tiresia and in way of Dowrye assigned him also that part of Galicia which then was contained in Lusitania Of this marriage was Alphonsus borne who was the first that euer stiled himselfe K. of Portugall and he was the first also that tooke the Citty of Lisbone from the Sarrazins For he hauing conquered fiue of their kings in seueral battels caused his Armes to bee adorned with fiue seuerall Crownes and Coat-Armors which euer after continued the Ensigne of the kings of Portugall in perpetuall memory of his valour But he quickly
was then in Aquitaine hardly brooking this disgrace mooued great warre against Charles the Simple which continued for long time Neuerthelesse at the houre of his death hee entreated the Princes of Fraunce that they should restore the saide Charles to the Kingdome because in true right it appertained to him This Odo brought vp as a noueltie to haue a great many Floure-de-Luces without any direct number in the Armes of Fraunce which continued so till the time of Charles the sixt He raigned nine years and lieth buried at S. Denis 31 Charles the third sirnamed the Simple son of Lewes le Begue or the Stammerer began to raigne soly in the yeare 900. After his Tutours death who had held the kingdome in the minority of his yeares The warre of the Normans continued stil yet the king fel into acquaintance with Raoull or Rollo their Duke and gaue him his daughter in marriage endowed with all the Land which then was called Neustria and afterward made a dutchy and named Normandy with especial condition that he should be baptized Robert Earle of Paris Brother to Odo lately deceased pretended to vsurp the kingdom and drawing many Lords into his faction crowned himselfe King But Charles with the ayde of the Emperour Henrie gaue him battaile néere to Soissons wherein the saide Robert was vanquished and slaine Héereat Hebert Earle of Vermandois his Brother in Law was highlie displeased yet hee dissembled it for an apt time and one day pretending to feast the King he entreated him to lodge in his castle of Peronne No sooner was he entred but he did shut him vp in a Tower where hee dyed compelling him to resigne the Kingdome to Raoull Brother to the Duke of Burgundy Hee left by Theargina his Wife a Sonne named Lewes who fledde for his safetie into England This King raigned alone 14. yeares and lyeth enterred at Peronne 32 Raoull of Burgundy Sonne to Richard Duke of Burgundy was made King in the year 917. This man not being of the linage of kings would néedes bée crowned at Soissons as well by fauour of Hugh the great Earle of Paris as also of Hebert Earle of Vermandois who then kept King Charles the Simple Prisoner seazing his person vnder coulour of feasting him and constrayning him before his death to resigne his Kingdome in presence of many Lords and to giue it as a frée guift to the sayde Raoull which yéelded the greater authority to his raigne The Quéene Theargina wife to King Charles the Simple séeing such troubles in France made her retirement into England to the King her Brother with her Son Lewes called Lewes of beyond the Sea Raoull made a voyage into Italy pretending to get the Empire which was then in strife and there he vanquished Berengarius an Italian Prince who laide some claime thereto But finding himselfe not wel affected of the Italians hee with-drew thence into France where hee dyed of a very strange disease béeing eaten with wormes notwithstanding all remedies applied by his Phisitions He raigned about tenne yeares died at Auxerre and was buried at S. Colombe néere Sens. 33 Lewes fourth of that name sir-named Lewes d'Outre-mer or of beyond the Sea Son of Charles the Simple was made K. in the yeare 929. being then in England with the K. his vnckle the Princes Prelats and Barons of France sent for him into England whither his Mother Theargina had carried him for refuge when Hebert had betraied King Charles her Husband he was crowned at Laon. The King had debate with Raoul of Burgundy about the Kingdome and made warre vppon the Emperour Otho for the Dutchy of Lorraine but peace being made betwéene them he tooke to Wife Herberge Sister to the said Emperour At his returne home into Fraunce hee caused Hebert Earle of Vermandois to bee hanged who had procured his Father to dye in Prison Hugh the great Earle of Paris who then held the full sayle of the kingdome raised the Normans to rebell against the King But the King drawing him to his side he rebelled from him again because he had made an agréement with the Normans without him and caused them also to alter their purpose with a fresh begunne warre wherein the King was taken Prisoner and carried to Rouen Afterward he was deliuered to the great Earle Hugh who detained him at Laon but the Emperour Otho came to his succour deliuered him Lewes raigned twenty seauen yeares and lieth buryed at S. Remy of Rheimes 34 Lothaire Sonne of Lewes d' Outremer or of beyond the Sea was made King in the yeare 956. At the beginning of his raigne Hugh the great Earle of Paris gouerned all the affaires of France but he dyed soone after leauing thrée Sonnes to wit Hugh Capet who afterward vsurped the kingdom Otho and Henry who were successiuely Dukes of Burgundy and was sumptuously enterred at Saint Denis Lothaire raigned 31. yeares and lieth buried at S. Remy of Rheimes 35 After King Lothaire Lewes his Sonne fift of that name succéeded in the gouernment in the yeare 986. He raigned but one yeare died without any heire and was the last King of the race or linage of Charles the great his burial was at Compeigne Charles Duke of Lorraine who was his Unckle and néerest Heire hearing of his death would néedes passe into France to make himselfe King But the French hated him extreamely as well because he had continually pertaken with the Allemaignes sworne enemies then to the French as also in regard hee was a bad Prince to his owne Subiectes So that they would not receiue him for their King but wholy ranne to Hugh Capet then Maire of the pallace a very wise and woorthy man Hee perceiuing that the French fauoured and affected him knew well enough how to sow both in their eares and hearts an vnliking opinion of Charles Duke of Lorrain to make him the more hatefull to them He first laid before them how hee had permitted the Allemaignes frée passage when they came and warred on France Next that he had maintained the chéefe enemies to the crown of France wherein hee stood guilty of high treason And so by consequent was disabled of any succession to the said Crowne ¶ Heere endeth the second generation of the Kinges of France in the ligne Masculine being the race of the Carlouingians and which continued after Pepin for the space of 233. yeares HVgh Capet Sonne to Hugh the great Earle of Paris possessed himself of the Crown of France in the yeare 987. He was by some of the French proclaymed King at Noyon first of al soone after in the Citty of Rheimes partly by fauour and partly perforce Crowned King of Fraunce and made his entrance into Paris whereuppon Charles Duke of Lorraine took Rheimes Laon and Soissons Hugh Capet with a potent Armie besiedged Laon where hee tooke Charles with his Wife and Children by Treason in the Byshop of
the said place and sent them Prisoners to Orleaunce where they were very strictly kept and died Capet being the Conqueror maintained that the kingdome should wholy appertaine to him because Raoull of Burgundy his vnckle had formerly possessed himselfe thereof by the voluntary resignation of Charles the Simple Hée caused his son Robert who had followed his studies to be crowned at Orleaunce and to associate him in the kingdomes regiment taking away the authority of the Maire of the Pallace when thus he aduanced his son whom he had by Adela daughter to Edward King of England Hee appointed also the twelue Peeres againe beganne the dignity office of Constable and established the Marshals of France He raigned alone with his Son 9. yeares He founded the Abbay of S. Magloire at Paris and lieth buried at S. Denis 37 Robert the sonne of Hugh Capet béeing Crowned King in the life time of his Father began to rule alone in the yeare 997. as true inheritour both of the Crowne and likewise of his Fathers vertues He raigned worthily béeing a Man very deuout and méeke the Kingdome continuing peaceable and without warre This King was very wise and could compose in Latine very learnedlie for he made many Proses Himnes and answeres which yet to this day are sung in the Church He was also well skild in Musique and would oft-times sing among the Channons and weare a Coape for companie with them liuing as religiously as royally Henrie Duke of Burgundy his Vnckle by the Mothers side made him Heire of his Dutchie leauing it vnto him by his Testament and incited him against Landry Duke of Neuers béeing beloued and supported by the Burgundians who insulted vppon his right in which attempt they foyled him and droue him to flight Hée ioyned the Cittie of Sens to the Crowne by confiscation for a certaine delict doone by the Counte Reynard He sent his Armie against the Valentians with Richard Duke of Normandy to assist the Earle of Flanders his Kins-man against Henry the Emperor He had thrée wiues Luthard Bertha whom hee forsooke vppon some occasion and Constance by whom hee had thrée sons one whereof died during his raigne In his time was an vniuersal famine and mortality He dyed hauing raigned 34. yeares and lieth buried at S. Denis 38 Henry the first succéeded in the kingdome after his Father Robert in the yeare 1030. In his beginning to gouerne his younger Brother Robert warred against him béeing allied to the Earles of Champaigne and Flaunders who stroue to make him King by the procurement of his Step-mother but he assisted by the Duke of Normandy and the Earle of Corbeile mayntained his owne quietnesse He ioyned Meulanc to his Crowne by rebellion of the Earle of that place Raoull king of high Burgundy being dead the Emperor Conrade seazed on that part thereof which wee call La Franche Conte And the Dutchy béeing Roberts Brother to the King the kingdome of Burgundy which had so contied an hundred and thirtie yeares was then abolished The King seated young William the Bastard Duke of Normandy to whom he had béene Guardian peaceably in his Dutchy because some of his Subiects would haue depriued him thereof as beeing vnwilling to entertaine him He founded Saint Martine des Champs in the same place where his Pallace was without Paris By Anne his wife daughter to George or Gaultier king of the Russians he had Phillip and Hugh and a Daughter married to the Duke of Normandy Féeling himselfe to waxe weeke he caused his Sonne Phillip to bee crowned King of France And before his death he left Baldwine Earle of Flanders as Guardian of his Children He reigned 31. yeares and lieth buried at Saint Denis 39 Phillip the first succéeded after his Father in the year 1061. During his time William the Bastard Duke of Normandy conquered the Realme of England and Godfrey of Bullen was made King of Ierusalem also the Countrey of Gastinois came then to the Crown This king raigned 48. yeares and lyeth buried at S. Bennets on Loire 40 Lewes the sixt sir named le Gros immediatly after the death of King Phillip his Father in the year 1110. was sacred at Orleaunce by the Bishoppe of Sens the way of Rheimes not beeing then secure Some Princes and Lordes assisted by the King of England in the beginning of his raigne did giue him many molestations but still it was his happe to be Conquerour and the Warre of the English verie many times appointed was at last ended Pope Gelasius fled for refuge into France where hee was succoured against the Emperour In the yeare 1129. the King caused his Sonne Phillip to bée Crowned who two yeares after dyed at Paris by reason of a Hogges running betwéene the Legges of his Horse that threwe him violently on the Pauement and dying of that hurt he was buryed at Saint Denis Afterward hée had his other Sonne Lewes crowned and it was done by Pope Innocent he béeing then in France At this time were a great company of Lazers and Leapers in Fraunce who would haue infected all the rest of the people but they were all taken and burned The order of the Knights Templers Chartreux Monks began in this kinges raigne and the winds were so rough and impetuous in the yeare 1135. that they ouer-turned many Towers Castles Trées in Forrests and Mils This King appeased the troubles in Flanders Bouâ—bonnois Auuergne he builded the Abbay of Saint Victor néere Paris raigned 28. yeares died at the age of sixty leauing six Sons and a daughter and lieth buried at S. Denis 41 Lewes the seauenth sir-named the Young man beganne to raigne after his Father in the yeare 1138. He made war on Thibault Earle of Champaigne tooâ—oâ— him the Citty of Vitry And in a great â—age burned the Church with 13 hundred persons in it that had fledde thither for safety By the solicitation of S. Bernald he went to Hierusalem with his Queene and with the Army of the Emperour Conrade where besiedging Damas thorough discord in the Army hée could boast of no aduauntage but retyring thence had not the Shippes of Sicily befriended him and his they hadde remained Prisoners there Beeing returned into Fraunce hée made a separation betwéene him and Queene Aelianor his wife Dutchesse of Aquitaine and Aniou vppon two suspitions conceiued against her Henry Duke of Normandie who afterward was King of England married her with her Patrimony of the saide two Dutchies and there-about followed great Warres betwéene France and England The King married Constance Daughter to the K. of Spayn who dyed soon after And then he remarried Alice daughter to the Earle of Blois by whom he had Phillip Dieu-donne Gods gift Then happened great disturbance in England betwéene the King and his son who making his recourse to Lewes caused thereby a very troublesome war without any aduantage to either side But in the end they were accorded
and a marriage concluded of Alice the daughter of Lewes to the son of England The King died at Paris hauing raigned 43. yeares and lieth buried in the Abbay of Barbeau which was founded by him 42 Phillip Augustus sir-named Dieu-donne Gods gift succéeded after his Father in the year 1181. He banished all the Iewes out of Fraunce and yet afterward permitted them entraunce againe ordaining many Edicts against Blasphemers as also the vsury of the Iewes He did put to death the Albigeois Heretiques and them of Besiers augmenting greatly the Cittie of Paris instituting Sheriffes and Alder-men commaunding the stréetes to be paued building also the Halles for Studentes and the Church-yard of S. Innocent and enclosing with wals the Vniuersity side Hée went to recouer the Citty of Hierusalem with Richard Cueur de Lyon King of England and falling off from him returned home into France Hee hadde afterward great wars against the said K. Richard and Iohn without Land his brother who succéeded him about the titles of Normandy Aquitain Poictu Maine Aniou Auuergne He won the battaile at Bouines against the Emperor Otho and other French Lords who were entred into rebellion against him In which battell perished fifty thousand men and Otho himselfe was enforced to flight the Earle of Flanders and the Earl of Bolongne being taken Prisoners by which reason the king was called the Conqueror He raigned 43. yeares died at Mante aged 59. lieth buried at S. Denis leauing two sons and a daughter 43 Lewes the eyght succéeded after his Father in the yeare 1224. In the life time of his Father hee crossed the Seas and made Warre in England attayning to no such successe as hee expected Hee renewed kindnesse and Brotherhood betwéene the French and Germaines tooke Auignon and warred vpon the Albigeois He raigned thrée yeares and lyeth buryed at Saint Denis 44 Lewes the ninth succeeded his Father Lewes the eyght in the yeare 1227. Blaunche his Mother in regard of his young yeares was appointed to bée Regent whereat some Lords were discontented but she tooke order sufficiently with them She maintained the warre against the English and agréement was made with them vpon solemne Oath to holde Aquitaine doing homage and to yéelde vp Normandie Ponthieu Maine and Poictiers The king being in peace exercised himselfe to liue Religiously building Churches Hospitals and Monasteries enriching them with rents reuennues In the 24. yeare of his raigne hee went to recouer the Holy Land descended into Egypt and tooke Damieta He was afterward so rudely assayled that he was taken by the Soldane but deliuered againe vppon his restoring Damieta and paying a great ransome Hee bought of the Venetians the Crown of Thornes as was supposed with other Relickes of the passion caused them to be safely kept in the holy Chappel at Paris Many Shepheards vnderstanding that the King was prisoner arose vp in armes and made great spoile in France but they were foyled by them of Orleance and Bourges The king at his returne did very seuerely chastise blasphemers And passing afterward into Affrica tooke Carthage and assailed Thunis where the Pestilence happening in his Campe he died of a flux of blood He raigned 34. yeares and lieth buried at S. Denis Behold briefely the life and death of King Lewes ninth of that name who afterward by Pope Boniface the eight in the time of Phillip le Bel was cannonized among the number of Saints in Romes Kalender and called S. Lewes His raigne was truely in piety religion sanctitie and iustice His youth was much tormented with rebellions subleuations seditions of some Lords but his manly yeares did disperse them as the Sunne doth dimme clouds Hee was deuoute vpright valiant liberal seuere and yet clement vsing all these Vertues according as hee knewe them to be néedfull 45 Phillip the third Son of S. Lewes was proclaimed King in the Campe before Thunis in the yeare 1271. but was afterward Sacred at Rheimes He was Sur-named Phillip the hardie and at his comming back into France he had many difficulties about the death of Phillip his impoysoned Sonne in the Warres of Foix and Terracon Vpon an Easter day in the euening houre all the French being then in Sicily were euery one slaine whereon grew the By-word of the Sicilian Vespres or Euening The king died at Parpignan in the fortith yeare of his age and lieth buried at Saint Denis hee married Isabel Daughter to Peter of Arragon by whom he had Phillip Charles and Marie And then remarrying Marie Daughter vnto Henrie Duke of Brabant he hadde by her Lewes and Margaret 46 Phillip the fourth Sur-named le Bell or the Fayre Sonne to the fore-named Phillip succéeded his Father in the yeare 1286. both in the Kingdome of France and Nauarre in right of his wife In his younger daies he had a Schoolemaister a Roman borne and a great Diuine named Gilles who caused the King to write an excellent worke yet to be séene called The Institution of Princes As the King was at Paris being returned from his Corronation at Rheimes this Diuine according to the Vniuersities ancient custome which was to make a learned spéech after the kings sacring made a singuler Oratiō to him to encrease his desire in following Vertue piety preseruing his subiects in peace and tranquility He built the sumptuous Pallace of Paris subdued the Flemings who had forsaken his part giuen aide to the English against him the Earle of Flanders and his two sons beeing then taken prisoners The King left a Garrison in the countrey but they were slaine in a commotion of the people Whereupon the Earle of Flanders hauing giuen his faith to the King was sent thyther with one of his sons but being able to do no good he returned backe againe to the King and died soon after at Compeign The k. went thither himselfe in person at the first had no better successe but at length he charged them so furiously that he foiled 36000. wheron they were constrained to make attonement and pay him 200000. Crownes The day of Coutray was afterward fauourable to the Flemmings but deplorable to the French the English preuayling mightily against them Then came the Bulles of Pope Boniface against Phillippe but they were burned in the Court of the Pallace which made Boniface to excommunicate the King but Bennet his Successour absolued him againe In his time was the Papall See trans-ferred to Auignon where it continued thréescore ten yeares Rome being then gouerned by Legates The king died at Fountainebleu which was the place of his byrth hauing raigned 28. years and lieth buried at S. Denis 47 Lewes the tenth Sur-named Hutin after the conformity of his manners succéeded his Father in the yeare 1314. and had his right also after his Mother in the kingdome of Nauarre Enguerrand de Marigni General of the Finances being accused to haue robbed the
conquered by the Christians vnder the conduct of Godfrey of Bullen and those that then remained of the Turkes retired themselues to Nicea hauing neuer after any one K. of renowne vntill this man who made himselfe a Monarch hath the first place in the History of the Turkes He was but of meane descent yet of great spirit cunning dilligent and ambitious hauing euermore in his hart a desire to raigne and pondered vpon all meanes that thereto might best aduance him In this high disposition hee founde Fortune very fauourable to him for he subdued the greater part of Bithinia tooke many fortes néere to the Pontick Sea But his very greatest honour was the surprising of Sina a Citty anciently called Sebastia He died aged in the first yeare of Phillip de Valois King of France and Edward the third King of England Orchanes Son to the said Othoman was Emperour of the Turkes after his father He would not alter a iote of this newe authority no more then his father did and whom he farre surpassed in Warlike actions By his liberality and good carriage he woon the hearts of his people pursuing on very well what his father had begunne By his industry vigilancie and prouidence he woon the Countries of Mysia Lycaonia Phrygia and Caria and tooke in Warre Prusya which is now called Bursia and which was the aboade of the Kings of Bithynia where he receiued a hurt whereof he died in the first yeare of the raigne of Io. K. of France Edward the third of England stil raigning He raigned 22. yeares leauing Soliman and Amurath his sons and successors Soliman sonne of Orchanes raigned 2. yeares after his Father He made warre vpon the Greekes passed from Asya into Europe where he vanquished the Bulgarians and tooke many places from them especially in Thrace he got the Citties of Adrianople and Philopolis Some say that he died in his Fathers life time with a fall from his horse in hunting and that very soone after his father died with gréefe And this is the reason why some doe not set him in the rank of Turkish Emperors Amurath first of that name and sonne to Orchanes was Emperor of the Turkes in the year 1350. Good Fortune attended on him as shee did on his Graundfather and on his own Father likewise But he was as contrary to his graund father by the mothers side as his father had béen to his predecessor who bereft him of a great part of Cilicia by killing his sonne Amurath incited thereto by Iohn Paleologus sent twelue thousand Turkes for seruice of the said Paleologus which was the source and beginning of the ruyne of Constantinople For being allured with the riches of Europe to make another voyage he passed in the Genowaies gallies six thousand Turks vnder colour of yet giuing fresh succour to the Emperor of Constantinople and to expell his enemies out of the Empire But it was with full intention to vsurpe Greece So he crossed the arme of the Hellespont Sea to Abydos seazing Calypolis and other Citties Afterward with a verie strong power he set vpon the Emperor himselfe who no way doubted him Then tooke he Seruia and Bulgaria whose Princes he foiled comming in good manner against him But one of the followers of Lazarus Despote of Seruia in reuenge of his Maisters death slaine in the fight killed Amurath in the yeare 1378. Baiazeth King or Emperor of the Turks first of that name after the death of Amurath his Father slew his elder brother Solyman by Treason and enioyed the Empyre of the Turkes alone to himselfe To reuenge the death of his Father he made warre against Marke Lord of Bulgaria both vanquishing and killing him and subduing beside a great part of his country In short while after he ran thorow the Countries of Hungaria Albania and Valachia and doing great hurt vnto them tooke many Christians whom he carried Prisoners into Thrace In regard of most bold attempts in his Martiall businesse wherein hee was both hot and sudden hee was called Baiazeth Hildrin that is to say Heauens Lightning He subdued almost all Greece being assisted with the guifts and graces of Nature both in body and mind He besieged Constantinople for the space of eight yeares the Emperor wherof was gon into France to require assistance which was granted him Neuerthelesse Baiazeth had the victory ouer the French Hungarians Germaines Seruians Mysians at once assembled against him And so returning to Constantinople with a fresh besieging and finding no meanes to preserue the Empire of Constantinople suddenly Tamberlain came against Baiazeth and gaue him battel on mount Stella where Pompey fought with Mithridates There did Tamberlain conquer him bound him in chaines of gold placing him in a Cage of yron led him in that manner thorough Asya and Syria In which miserable estate Baiazeth died and after his decease we find that there was interregnum vntil Mahomet one of his sons came Iosuah or Cyriscelebes whom some wrongly name Calapine the eldest sonne of Baiazeth after the foyle of his Father was defeated of Asya by Tamberlain led Captiue to Constantinople for the Emperor as a singular prize But he was vsed as the sonne of a Prince and soon after with great humanity in the Emp. released and sent home into Asya where he recouered his Fathers kingdome After when he had well reestablished his forces he stoutly resisted Sigismond King of Hungary who came to assaile him and had woon diuers Prouinces from him presuming that the Turks could no way reléeue him after so great an ouerthrow giuen by Tamb. But Fortune spake no friendlier to Sigismund then she had formerly don to him when he fought against Baiazeth at Nicopolis his people being al larded with arrows before they could fall into order of battell For the Horsmen turned bridle euen at the first shocke noise of the Enemy and Cyriscelebes remained conqueror who was slaine by his brother Mustapha otherwise called Musulman in the very flower of his age the yeare 1407. Mustapha or Musulman was Emperor of the Turks a very small time for his brother Moyses possessed himselfe of the State and expelled him Som name this Mustapha Orchanes the second whom they tearme to be son and heire to Iosuah or Cyriscelebes and that he was slaine by Moyses his vncle by the fathers side but Moyses quickly did suffer his deserued punnishment For loosing both goods and life together himself was also slain by his owne brother Mahometh There be that write that this Mahometh raigned next after his father Baiazeth making no mention of Iosuah or Cyriscelebes neither of Mustapha or Orchanes nor of Moyses but after Baiazeth do make his sonne Mahometh presently to follow Moyses was expulsed and put to death by his brother Mustapha or as others say his nephue Orchanes and soone after he was likewise slaine by his brother Mahometh And these twoe by some are not set in ranke with
great number that were wounded This foile did so highly offend the Soldan that he leagued himselfe with Amurath Emperor of the Turkes with intention to make himselfe Maister of the Isle of Rhodes and to kill or expell thence that famous Order of Knight-hood Héereupon in the yeare 1444. he came and besiedged Rhodes which was vertuously defended by the Rhodian Knights and in the moneth of September the same yeare a generall assembly was held at Rhodes to helpe the ensuing necessities of the Order So the yeare following the Great Maister by aduise of the Pope and the King of Cyprus made peace with Amurath and helde a generall Chapter at Rhodes At whiche time the Duke of Cleues passed by Rhodes in his returne from Ierusalem where he had visited the holy places In the yeare 1451. a general assembly was made at Rhodes wherein the administration and gouernment of the Treasure and whole Fraternity was giuen to the Great Maister who in anno 1452. after the death of Amurath renewed the peace with Mahomet the second his sonne And yet the yeare following Mahomet became Maister of the Cittye of Constantinople the 29. of May when beeing not a little proude of this fortunate successe hee sent to the great Maister of Rhodes that he shold pay him yearly two thousand Ducats in name of tribute otherwise he purposed not to hold any longer the peace sworne betwéen them Wherevnto the great Maister made a couragious aunswere to wit That neither his Religion the Isle of Rhodes nor himselfe were subiectes to any but God and his Church and that he would neuer pay Turke any tribute being rather resolued to dye both he and all his Knights then to indure Christian liberty which euer had bin free to come now by his meanes into thraldome Whereupon he sent Ambassadors to the Pope and Christian Princes to entreat supplye from them against the periured Mahomet And in the yeare 1454. the 19. day of May he died hauing valiantly gouerned his Order sixtéene years sixe months and thirtéene daies 36 Iacques de Milly borne in Auuergne whereof he was Prior succéeded as Great Mayster the first day of Iune 1454. being in his Priory when he was elected his Nephew George de Boisrond brought him first tydings thereof Whereuppon hee immediatly went to Rhodes and helde a generall Chapter the same yeare in the month of Nouember In the yeare 1456. the Isle of Rhodes was greatly afflicted with Pestilence and Famine whereby it became halfe desert and to re-people it againe many generall citations were sent abroad to all the Knightes to méete there at a certaine time The yeare 1457. Mahomet besiedged the Isle of Lango and the Castle of the Isle des Singes but he was couragiously repulsed the Knights hauing a very happy and signat victory against him which caused Charles the seauenth King of France to send the Knights as a gift sixtéene thousand Crownes The Bailiffes Commaunders and other Officers of the Order being then enioyned by a generall Chapter to come to Rhodes for more secure and strong defence thereof The seuentéenth of August 1461. the Great Maister dyed hauing with much prouidence gouerned his charge in hard and troublesome times seauen yeares two months and sixteene daies He was greatly lamented because he was very benigne affable and humaine desirous to preserue peace and vnity among his worthy Bretheren 37 Peter Raymond Zacosta born in Arragon and Castileon d'Emposta was created Great M. next he being then absent in Spaine but at his comming to Rhodes by a generall Chapter there holden the eight language of Castile and Portugall was then admitted into the Order For till that instant there were but seauen languages there before to wit three of Fraunce Auuergne and Prouence one of Italy one of Arragon one of England and one of Allemaigne or Germany The yeare 1464. the Venetians Army besiedged the Citty of Rhodes but the siedge was soone raised and the Venetians returned home to their Countrey the warre beeing appeased by the wisedome of the Great-Maister who caused the Tower of Saint Nicholas to be built at the mouth of Rhodes Port in the very same place where in elder times the great Colossus of the Sunne numbred among the seauen wonders of the world had stood As a helpe to this building Phillip Duke of Burgundy gaue tenne thousand Crownes of Gold The yeare 1465. the great Turke sent Ambassadours to Rhodes to mediate a peace betwéen him and the Knights Hospitallers but they worthily refused it and in presence of the Ambassadours denounced Warre against the Turke The generall Chapter beeing then transferred from Rhodes to Rome and the Great Maister béeing present in person thereat he died there the twenty one of February 1467. and was buried in the Church of Saint Peter 38 Baptista Orsino Prior of Rome an Italian by Nation and tongue succéeded the Great-Maister Zacosta No sooner was hee come to Rhodes but hee receiued intelligence that the great Turke prepared a puissant Army purposing to besiedge either Rhodes or Negropont Wherfore he sent for a great number of the Knightes that were then absent to come forth-with for defence of the Island Moreouer hee leagued himselfe with the Seigneury of Venice against the Turke Neuerthelesse in the yeare 1470. Mahomet forcibly tooke the Citty of Negropont the last day of Iuly committing very great and horrible cruelties killing in cold blood all the Latines there to be found and by sound of Trumpet he proclaimed open war against the knights of Rhodes which enforced them to séeke all meanes for their best defence prouiding euerie way to withstand the Turkish Army But in this time of preparation the eight day of Iune the Great Maister died of a long lingering disease which had afflicted him a whole yeare together and after him succéeded 39 Peter d'Aubusson borne in Auuergne Prior there Captaine of the Citty of Rhodes He being chosen Great Maister solemnely took his oath according to custom to kéep the statutes of the Order He visited the whole Isle of Rhodes and made very great prouision to defend it against the Turkes Army sending for all knights and Commaunders appertaining to the Order to repaire thither for defence of the Isle and renewing peace with the Soldane of Egypt The same yeare King Lewes preuailed to haue a Iubilie in Fraunce in fauour of the Knightes of Rhodes taking order that the Monies thereby arising should soly be imployed for their defence And by this Iubily came great store of Money wherewith Castles and fortifications were builded in the Isle Truce also was taken betwéene the Knightes and the King of Tunis for thirtie yeares and the Knights of the Sepulcher at Ierusalem were ioyned with the Rhodians of S. Iohn In the yeare 1479. Mahomet the second Emperour of the Turkes held a solemne Councell that Rhodes should bée besiedged with a powerfull Army as indéede soone after it was in which siedge many sallies forth were made
him and accompanied with manie other Traytours leuied a great Army wherein Pope Gregory tooke part with them and then they compelled their Father to come and submit himselfe to their mercy bereauing him of his imperiall Ornaments and giuing him the habite of a Monke they caused him to be strictly guarded in the Abbey of Saint Medard de Soissons His Wife they sent as an exile into Italy and his Sonne Charles as a Prisoner to Prouence The Lordes of Fraunce and Allemaigne béeing vnwilling to suffer that such shame and indignity should bee done to an Emperour in the following yeare they gaue him his liberty bringing his Wife and Son againe vnto him Lothaire chéefe causer of his Fathers captiuity was glad to fly thence into Italy The Emperor constrayned his Sonnes to séeke his mercy and then hée fréely forgaue them At Mayence hée dyed hauing raigned twenty sixe yeares and was interred at Metz. 26 In the yeare 843. Charles the Baulde Sonne of Lewes the Méeke was made King by a diuision or partage made with his Bretheren Charles remained King of France Lewes king of Germany and Lothaire had Italy with the Empire Prouence and Austrasia whereof he made a Dutchy calling it Lorraine after his owne name Before the saide partage they had a great battaile néere to Auxerre wherein almost all the Nobility of France lost their liues Which was the cause that the Normans who were risen vnder conduct of two valiant leaders were become Maisters well-néere of all France but in the ende they were expelled by the King who was â—rowned Emperour by Pope Iohn after the decease of his Nephew Lewes the Son of Lothaire In this time he became very high minded contemning the French manner of habite anâ— wearing the Graecian fashion with a Dalmatian garment hanging down to his héels beside other strange pompous attires Hauing raigned two yeares in the Empire he was poysoned by his Phisition dying at Mantua and buried at Verceillis but seauen years after his body was transported to S. Denis He raigned in all 38. yeares 27 Lewes the second sirnamed the Stutter or Stammerer Sonne of Charles the Bauld succéeded his Father both in the Empire and Kingdome in the yeare 879. Charles the Bauld had thrée sons the first was named Charlon whose eyes hee caused to bee puld out in regard of his wicked gouernment The second was called Charles who dyed before him And the third was this Lewes sir-named the Stammerer because his tongue was somewhat short and made him to falter in his spéech Pope Iohn came into France being escaped out of prison because heâ— stood against the crowning of Charles le Gros Sonne to Lewes of Bauaria Emperour He Crowned King Lewes the Stutter Emperour which hée enioyed not long in regard of his sicklynesse for he dyed in the second yeare of his raigne leauing his Wife Richeult Sister to the King of England and who was returned home to her Brother great with Child of a Son that was afterward called Charles the Simple He appointed as his Guardian Odo Sonne to the Earle of Aniou hoping great comfort of the fruit in her Womb. Hee left also two Bastard Sons Lewes and Carlon During his raigne the Normans were valiantly repulsed hee lyeth buried at Compeigne 28 Carlon and Lewes the illegitimate sons of Lewes le Begue were Kings after his decease in the yeare 881. not hauing any other heire to succéed him Some sought to giue the kingdom to Boson King of Prouence and others to Charls the Emperor king of Germany Carlon Lewes neuerthelesse were crowned Kings and carried themselues valiantly against the Normans who for fiue years space made very great enterprises on France In the battaile which they had néere to Chinon they fought manfully vpon the riuer of Vienna there nine thousand were slaine beside them that were drowned in flight They expelled also the fore-named Boson and Charls the Emperor séeking to make themselues Kinges of France These two brethren died strangely Lewes pursuing a wilde Beare with his Iaueling was shot thorow with an arrow which one of his traine did let fly at the beast so he died in the 4. yeare of his raigne Carlon died a yeare after as vnluckily for hee being one day very pleasant on horse-back galloping after a faire Damsell who ran for her safety into a small Country cottage he not staying his horse nor minding the impossibility of his passage brake his necke at the doors entrance Now because he was the eldest and suruiued his Brother the name of King is atttibuted to him as if that he had raigned alone They were both buried at S. Denis 29 Lewes the third sirnamed Fai-neant Do nothing after the death of Carlon his Father was made King in the yeare 886. This man being altogether carelesse albeit hee hadde a great number of men which his Father had assembled to resist the Normans who wasted the kingdome very much would not vse any resistance but like one fearefull and negligent made agréement with them and promised to giue them 12. thousand pounds of Money yearely till twelue yeares should bee expired Whereuppon the French disdaining to bée tributary to the Normans deposed the said Doe nothing and made him a shauen Monke at Saint Denis And the rather they did it because he had taken a Nunne from Challes S. Baudour néere Paris married her whether she would or no. To resist the Normans the French sent for Charles le Gros Emperor of Rome Nephew also to Charles the bald and him they made King The Normans kept Paris besiedged with forty thousand men who were in such sort foyled as not a man of them escaped aliue Neuerthelesse to containe them in some more moderation hee made alliance and agréement with their Dukes Which raised such strange garboiles in the Realme so displeased the people and incensed them with such hatred against him that they expulsed him both out of the Empire and Kingdome and hee dyed in a poore Village of Suauba very poore and miserably Yet the fiue yeares of this raigne are attributed to him and not to Lewes Doe nothing 30 Odo or Eudes Sonne to Robert Earle of Angiers was made King in the yeare 891. after Charles le Gros by aduise of the Princes albeit hee was not of the race of Charlemaigne but onely Tutour to Charles the Simple and he was preferred by Arnould the Emperour successour to Charles le Gros who would haue had the Kingdome himselfe During his raigne the Normans breaking their agréement made with Charles le Gros began to warre againe much more cruelly then before and now the second time besiedged Paris But Odo carried himselfe so vndauntedly that he ouer-came them manie times In this while certaine Barons of the Realme had sent for Charles the Simple into England and Crowned him King of Fraunce at the age of fouretéene yeares Odo who
was also yeelded vp after it hadde endured 17000. Cannon shot and more Beside vpon some discontentment betwéene the Earle of Leicester and the States the Quéene called home the said Earle into England and the Lord Willoughby remayned there Generall of the English forces The sundry worthy seruices both by him and the English performed with the Spanish vndoubted hopes of Englands coÌ„quest in the dreadfull yeare of 1588. Prince Maurice his entrance into the Netherlands regiment and the Duke of Parmaes wars in France all these I passe ouer referring such as desire farther satisfaction therein to the large History of the Netherlands The Prince of Parma dying at Artas after his retreate from Rouen the second of September 1592. Maurice of Nassan borne Prince of Orange Marquesse of La Vere and of â—ing c. was made great Captaine and Admirall Generall of the vnited Prouinces of the Lowâ—countries by the Estates And Ernestus Arch-duke of Austria was also made Lieutenant Gouernour and Captaine Generall for Phillip King of Spaine Prince Maurice proouing very successefull in his warlike artemptes a Renegate or Apostat Priest in the habite of a Souldier was corrupted by the Arch-Duke Ernestus to murther the Prince Maurice at Breda and vppon his owne confession thereof hée was executed at the Hage Afterward vppon Prince Maurice his valiant surprisall of Gronning Ernestus hadde dealt in like manner with a Souldier named Peter du Four who had sometime serued in the company of the Guarde to Prince Maurice â—o vndertake the murdering of him at Lillo the which treason beeing confessed by the man himselfe he was executed in the Towne of Berghen vp-zoom Here might much be said of the honorable seruices of Sir Frances Vere and others but our purposed breuity is the onely imbarment and the Netherlandes History at large may thereof discharge me The Arch-Duke Ernestus dyed the twenty one day of February 1595. Moâ—dragons forces defeated by Prince Maurice and La Motte slaine before Dourlaus the Estates vnder the King of Spaine gladly sought peace with the vnited Prouinces and sent Articles in writing to Prince Maurice for consideration of their motion This was not done but vppon good aduise in the King of Spaine perceyuing the Netherlandes and Prince Maurice his great fortunes against him adding euery daie more and more to his vtter abolition thence Hereupon Albertus the Cardinall Brother to deceased Ernestus Arch-Duke of Austria was sent by the King to gouerne there for him many Easterlings and Netherland ships which had bin staied in Spain to méet the Indian fléete were suddenly released and Phillip of Nassau who is now Prince of Orange and Earle of Buron that had long time béene restrained of his liberty in Spain for better countenancing the intended businesse he likewise was sent along with the Cardinall Albertus The Cardinall being made Gouernour for the King de Spaine tooke Callice from the French King as his first peece of seruice but for losse thereof he recouered La-fere from the Spaniards Whereuppon the Cardinall besiedged Hulst in Flanders which yeilded in the end but it was a deare purchase to the Cardinall for this siedge continuing some two months cost him the liues of aboue threescore valiant Captaines besides other Commanders Collonels and men of mark and â—bouâ— fiue thousand well approued souldiers Then did the king of Spaine dispense with himselfe for payment of his debtes which made many Merchants in Spaine Italy Antwerp Amsterdam and Middlebourg to become Banquerouts A league was made betwéen the French King the Quéene of England and the States against the Spaniardes and then did Prince Maurice goe to Tournhoult where the Earle of Varax was slaine Amiens also was surprised by the Spaniardes but soone besiedged and recouered by the French King albeit the Cardinall offered succour which prooued in vaine Prince Maurice besiedged and tooke the Townes of Alpen Meurs Rhinberg Groll Brefort Enscheyde Oldenzeel Otmarsom Goor and Lingen all which seruices he performed in thrée monthes Then hapned another treacherous plot against the life of Prince Maurice by perswasion of the Iesuites at Doway and vnder-taken by Peter Panne a Cooper by Trade but beeing then a Broaker or Banquerout Merchant who hauing receiued the Sacrament to performe the déede either with Knife Ponyard or Pistoll the Prouinciall of the Iesuites made a long Sermon to encourage him in the action and assuring him of Paradice if he performed it vsed these wordes to him besides Goe in peace for thou shalt go like an Angell in the guard of God But the man beeing terrifyed in conscience discouered the whole Treason without any compulsion and was therefore executed at Leyden in Holland The King of Spaine growing weake and sickly gaue his Daughter the Infanta named Isabella Clara Eugenia in marriage to the Arch-duke Cardinall Albertus with transaction of the Netherlands and Bourgogne whereupon hee left his Cardinals habit went to fetch the Infanta Soone after died the King of Spaine on the 13. day of September Anno 1598. being seuenty one yeares old add foure months The Arch-Duke and the Infanta beeing come into the Neatherlandes had their instalment at Brussels Louaine Antwerp c. The Emperour sent to the States concerning a peace but theyr resolution held to make warre in Flanders Then happened the siedge and memorable battaile of Nieuport where Prince Maurice tooke dyuers Fortes from the Spanyards and ouer-threw the Arch-dukes Army he being there in person but gladly fled away leauing his Armes Horse of Combate all his Houshold Artillerie and baggage behind him and lost 6000. men beside 800. taken Prisoners among whom was Don Francesco de Mendoza Admirall of Arragon Marquesse of Guadaleste and Lieutenant Generall of the Arch-Dukes Army who was led to Oostend Don Baptista de Villa noua led to Horne in Holland Don Alonzo Ricquell to Delft Don Gonzalo Hernandes de Spinola to Vtrecht Don Pedro de Montenegro to the Hague Don Pedro de Valasco to Berghen with Don Francisco de Torres Don Antonio de Mendoza Don Pedro de Leusina to EnchuiseÌ„ besides the Arch-dukes thrée Pages Count Carlo Rezi Don Diego de Guzman and Mortier Don Pedro de Monte-maior his chiefe taster likewise his Phisition Barber Harbinger Rider Cook Porter the Grooms of his Chamber most of the Archers and Halberdiers of his Guard and in a manner all his houshold with thrée Priestes or Monkes 40. Auncients and 37. Pentioners tearmed by them Ancient and Sergeants reformed He lost also sixe pieces of Ordynance 136. Ensignes of foot taken and fiue Cornets of horse comprehending the Mutiners Standerd and the recouered lost Colours Moreouer on the Arch-Dukes side were slaine the Earle of Saume the Earle of La Fere the Seneshall of Montelimar the Baron of Pimereull Chassy Ortigny Son to the President Richadot Don Gaspar de Sapena Colonel who dyed at Oost-end
in the Abbey of Rhynsbourg his widdow Lady Elizabeth being carried back into England where she was afterward maried to the Earle of Oxford So that by the death of Earl Iohn in this maner those countries were deuolued to the earls of Henault issuing by the mothers side froÌ„ the Earls of Holland 21 Iohn second of that name called Iohn of Henault claiming his right from Alix sister to William king of the Romans succéeded after Iohn as Earle of Holland Zeland and Frizeland c. He had a long and tedious trouble with Iohn de Reuesse who perswaded the Emperor that Iohn Earle of Holland dying without issue his Earledomes ought in right to returne to the Empire according as Charles the Bald Emperor of the Romans had at first giuen them in sée homage to Thierrie of Aquitaine This suggestion raised the Emperor Albert in Armes against Iohn of Henault but the Bishop of Cullen compounded the matter betwéen them and Iohn de Reuesse was afteeward drowned by which means Iohn of Henault was rid of a turbulent enemy Iohn of Henault hauing gouerned Henault thirty years and his Countries of Holland Zeland Frizeland 5. years died was buried at Valenciennes 22 VVilliam the thirde son and heire to Count Iohn of Henault succéeded his fathers earldoms he was commonly called The good Earle william for his Vertues Iustice good life and honorable actions In his time happened so great a dearth and famine tn Holland that poore people died with hunger euen in the streetes as they went seeking also for hearbes and rootes in the fields and woods there they were likewise found dead and in the common high wayes litle children died sucking at their Mothers breasts and some were enforced to feede on their deade Children In this time of Famine a poore waman in the Towne of Leyden being extreamly ouercharged with hunger entreated her owne sister being a woman of better ability to lend hir som Bread which she would thankfully repay again when God should inable hir She very vnkindly without any pitty of hir extremity denied her oftentimes notwithstanding the others often vrgings that she was assured shee could not bee without bread Heereupon the vnmercifull Sister lying both to God and to her owne poore sister saide If I haue any bread I wish that it may instantly be turned into a stone wherewith the heauy displeasure of God laid hold vppon her words going afterward to her Cupboord to relieue hir self she found al her loaues of bread conuerted into apparant stones died her selfe with extreamity of hunger It is crediblie saide that one or two of those stones are yet to be séene in S. Peters Church at Leyden as a memorie of this iust iudgement of God There is also recorded another memorable Historie of vpright Iustice doone by this good Earle VVilliam to a poore Countrey-Man against a Bayliffe of South Holland who hadde taken a goodly faire Cowe from him that was the releefe of himselfe his poore Wife and Children as there are some Kine in that Countrey which doe giue twenty pottles of Milke and more in a day The Bayliffe at the poore mans complaint to this good Earle William who lay then sick in his Bed at Valenciennes yet neuer debarred any suters from audience were he sick or well was adiudged to giue the poore man an hundred Crownes of good Gold for the wrong he had done to him which was accordingly performed But for his iniury to publique Iustice being himselfe an Officer and abusing the authoritie committed in trust to him the Earle sent for an Executioner and caused his head to be smitten off by his Beddes side This good Count William beeing a vertuous Prince victorious in warre a Man learned wise well spoken and iudicious a great friend to peace gracious to all men beloued in all Princes courts hauing gouerned his Prouences 32. yeares died the 9. of Iune 1337. and was buried with great pomp at Valenciennes 23 William the fourth Sonne to the good Earle William came to his Fathers Earledoms by lawfull succession He was a man of high merit and a most famous Souldier whereof hée made good proofe first against the Sarrazins and Moores in the Kingdome of Granada Next with the Emperour Lewes and many Noble Earles ayding his brother in law Edward the 3. King of England against the King of Fraunce Thâ—â—ly in ouer-running all Lithuania Liuonia and warring against the Russian Infidels lading home his men with victory and wealthy spoiles And lastly in preuailing against the Frizons and Robert of Arckell Gouernour of Vtrecht Yet it was his hard hap to bee slaine vnknowne among the Frizons before any coulde haue power to help him so that he left no lawful Childe to succéede him and therefore his Sister being Empresse remained his onely Heire 24 Margaret Wise to Lewes of Bauaria then Emperour and eldest Sister to Earl William slaine as you haue heard by the Frizons by the Emperours interposition of his authority and her owne Natiue right went downe by the Rhine into Holland accompanied with a most princely and well beséeming traine and was acknowledged to be Lady and Princesse of Holland Zeland and Frizeland But before her returne backe to the Emperour againe shee constituted both his and her eldest sonne named William of Bauaria to be her Regent there in those Countries for a summe of Money yearely paied to her but remaining vnpaid she might resume all her rights to her selfe againe The Emperour deceasing the Empresse Margaret came thither againe and had resignation from her son William of all the fore-said Countries retyring himselfe into Henault as being well contented there to liue till by intestine discord dangerous practises of two intruded factions called Cabillaux and Hoecks wherein both Nobles and Gentlemen did too far enter the Mothers gouernment did grow vnsufferable and Duke William was recouered from Henault to vnder-goe the Sole-authority Two very bloudy battailes were fought betwéen the Empresse and her Son and in the first Earl William escaped with great difficultie and fledde into Holland for this battaile was fought at La Vere in Zeland But in the second there was so much bloud spilt that for thrée daies after the old Riuer of Mense at full Sea was all ouer red in that place The Empresse by helpe of a small Barke escaped into England and vppon an agreement afterward made betwéene them Duke VVilliam had the quiet possession of Holland Zeland and Frizeland assigned him and the Empresse Margaret had the County of Henault where fiue yeares after she ended her daies and lieth buried at Valenciennes 25 Duke William being peaceably possessed of his Seigneuries according to the former composition béeing also Duke of Bauaria Palatine of Rhine and Earle of Henault by his Mothers death tooke to Wife the Lady Mathilda daughter to Henry Duke of Lancaster in England by
whō he had not any children Much strife war and bloodie bickering happened betwéene him and the Byshoppe of Vtrecht with shrewd disaduantages on eyther side till by the meanes of some Noblemen they were reduced to amity This Duke VVilliam by what occasion it could neuer bee knowne fell distracted of his senses and slew a Knight with a blow of his Fist so that hee was shut vppe vnder good Guarde for ninetéene yeares space euen till he dyed Hauing gouerned his Prouinces of Holland Zeland and Frizeland before his madnesse seauen yeares and Henault two 26 Albert of Bauaria Brother to Duke William in the time of his distraction was sent for from Bauaria and made Gouernour of his Brothers Countries in hope of his recouery which by no meanes coulde hee compassed Hee vanquished the Frizons in many rebellions tooke the Towne of Delft and beheaded the Baron of Eughien vppon sinister informations which caused great trouble betweene him and fire bretheren of the said Baron but vpon their reconcilement Count Albert builded the Channorny of the Chappell at the Court of the Hage In his time a Sea-Woman by reason of great Tempestes at Sea and extraordinarie high tides was seene swimming in the Zuyderzee betwéene the Townes of Campen and Edam which béeing brought to Edam and cleansed from the Sea-Mosse grown about her by her long abiding there she was like to another woman endured to be apparrelled would féede on meates as others did yet sought shee all meanes to escape and get into the water againe had shee not very carefully bin tended She did learne to spin and exercise other womanly qualities being daily séene of infinite persons who haue made perfect testimoniall of this race accident and signified if for an vndoubted truth auouching that she liued fiftéene yeares and lyeth there buryed in the Church-yard In the yeare 1404. this famous Prince Albert dyed after hée had gouerned his Countries forty sixe yeares ninetéene as he was Tutor to his distracted Brother and twenty seauen as Prince Heire and Lorde of those Countries beeing buryed at the Hage in Holland 27 William sixt of that name after the death of Duke Albert of Bauaria his Father succéeded as his immediate Heire His first Wife was Daughter to Charles the fift King of Fraunce and shée dyed young without any Issue He secondly married the Daughter of Iohn Sonne to Phillip the bold Duke of Burgundie by whom he had one onely Daughtex named Iaqueline or Iacoba as the Dutch vse to call her This Count William wasted Frizeland spoiled Liege and preuailed against the Gueldres as also the Lordes Father and Sonne of Arckell at Gorrichom and reconciled the Duke of Burgundy to the French King The Dolphine of France Sonne to King Charles the sixt marryed Iaqueline Count Williams Daughter but he being poysoned by putting on a shirt of maile died without Issue As Earle William himselfe did not long after being bitten in the Legge by a mad Dogge which hurt could neuer bee cured So that Lady Iaqueline his Daughter and widow to the Dolphine of Fraunce was his true Heire in all his Seigneuries He gouerned thirtéene yeares and lieth buried at Valenciennes in Henault 28 Iaqueline or Iacoba Daughter and Sole-heire to William of Bauaria succéeded her Father in all his Earledomes and Seigneuries being then Widdow to the Dolphine of France and yet but 19. yeares of age In regard of her youth and widdow-hood she endured much mollestation in her gouernment chiefely in Holland for the two factions tooke head againe and bandied their boldnesse on both sides the Hoeckins fauouring the Countesses faction and the Cabillantines her Enemies by which meanes her rule was greatly disturbed For Iohn of Bauaria forsaking his Bishoppricke of Liege sought to make himselfe an Earle and marry his Nice Iaqueline vtterly against her will and yet to dispossesse her of her rightfull inheritance for which purpose he leagued himselfe with the Cabillantines and other powerfull Friends who neuerthelesse were slaine in their bolde aduenture at Gorrichome And to frustrate the Bishoppes vaine hope the Pope dispenced her marriage with Iohn Duke of Brabant albeit hee was her néere Kinsman whereby their Patrimoniall inheritances were the more strengthened and hée acknowledged as their Prince in Henault Holland Zeland Frizeland c. It were néedlesse here to relate the following molestations of Iohn of Bauaria the bishop to his Niece Iaqueline taking on himselfe the title of Earle and therefore by some rancked among the Earls of Holland or the after marriages of Lady Iaqueline to the Duke of Glocester Vnckle to Henry the sixt King of England the fourth and last time in great priuacy to Frank of Borsselle Lieutenant of Zeland or her no meane troubles by the Duke of Burgundy to whom she resigned vp all her Countries Let it suffice that she liued in continuall vexations 19. yeares and dying at the Hage was buried in the Chappell of the Court of Holland 30 Phillip Duke of Burgundy being both by Father and Mother rightfull yeire and successor to the fore-named Countesse Iaqueline was thus entitled Phillip Duke of Bourgogne Brabant and Lembourg Earle of Flanders Artois Burgogne Henault Holland Zeland and Namur Marquesse of the holy Empire Lord of Frizeland Salins and Macklyn He had thrée Wiues by the two first hee had no Children but by the last named Isabel daughter to Iohn K. of Portugall he had thrée sons Anthony losse who died young and Charles Martin Earle of Charolois and successor to his father This Phillip of Bourgogn instituted the order of Knight-hood of the golden Fliece had much discontent with his Son Charles whom at length he married to the Lady Margaret Sister to Edward the fourth K. of England The Rebels of Gaunt and Bruges dearly felt the valour of this Phillip he besieged Callis surprized Luxemboug subdued Liege and ouer-came the Hamecons Hee excéeded all his predecessors Duks of Bourgogne in riches Seigneuries height of Pomp and State He died the fift of Iune 1467. hauing gouerned about forty yeares In his time was the famous Art of Printing first inuented the men of Harlem in Holland do challenge the first honor thereof but it was reduced to perfection at Mentz by one Iohn Faustus who had béen Seruaunt to Laurence Ianson of Harlem as they constantly affirme it 31 Charles Sur-named the Warlique Duke of Bourgogne succéeded in all his Fathers Titles and Dignities The Inhabitants of Gant resisting him he brought them vnder obeysance defeated the Liegeois in battaile which enforced Liege to yéelde to him He made peace with the French King who doubted to be detayned at Peronne by Duke Charles Vpon a fresh rebellion of the Liegeois The Duke forced king Lewes to go with him to the siedge of their town which hee ruined and practised the like of the House of Brederode He warred against the Frizons and carried many