happened in Florence The Duke of Milan entred also into their League The warre was managed with that spleene wherewith their spirits were then transported The Venetians contemne these flashes of lightening and are amazed that Rome when it was Pagan had forbidden their Priest to looke vpon dead men o The Priestes at Rome diuerted their âeyes from all funerall sights when as Tiberius made his sonnes funerall Oration there was said Seneca a vaile betwixt him and the body Quod Pontificis oculos à funere arecret That it might keepe the high Priests eies froÌ that mournfull sight Sen. in Cons. ad Mart. and being Christian that he suffers men to kill one another That Pallas Priests durst not cursse Alcibiades p Pallas Priests at Athens would not cursse Alcibiades although the people commanded it for I haue answered shee the office of a Priest to pray for men and not to cursse them and that the Pope being head of the Church should cursse a whole Common-wealth Italy became the force and store-house of the warres of Christendome there being no hope to quench the fire which his wilfulnesse had kindled but by the bloud of the vanquished 5 Lewis intreats the Pope for the peace of Italy The King knowing that the common enemy should reape all the profite of this warre sent his Embassadours to the Pope to beseech him not to show himselfe implacable to these two Christian Common-wealths The Pope receiued them with much contentment as the Angels and Messengers of peace They came to Rome in February q All this dâscourse is drawne out of the Oration which is in the Acts of the Vatican of Sixtus the 4. the which is cloquÌet iudicious for that time and for the estate of the businesse it begins after this manner Proximo Februario venientes ad nos dilectos filios Oratores Christianissimi Franceorum regis pro nostra in eum principem solita charitate laeti suscepimus Auxit laetitiam missionis tam longinquae causa Ad paceÌ enim in Italia procuranda dicebaÌtur venire Our deere sonnes the Embassadours of the most Christian French King coÌming vnto vs we receiued theÌ ioyfully for our wonted charity vnto but Prince The cause of this long Embassage did encrease the ioy they were said to come to procure a peace in Italy and had audience as soone as they demanded it They let the Pope vnderstand that the Kings affection to the holy Sea and his zeale and piety to the seruice of the Church had bound him to seeke the meanes to quench this great diuision and to vnite the childrens will vnto the fathers for that he was well aduertised that Christendome should haue need to ioyne all her forces to resist the Turke who had a desire that yeare to inuade Christendome and it may be would begin with Italy and therefore the League did promise to giue care vnto a Pacification Offer made by the King for the League to the end they might contribute their forces and meanes for the common defence of Christendome The Pope r Egimus pro meritis gratias pium magni regis desideriumlaudibê° quibus potuimus extulimus NoÌ vinci nons tanti boni affectu monstrauimus Wee gaue them than thankes for their well deserning we did coÌmend as much as wee could the godly desire of that great King And we did shew that we could not be vanquished in affection to so great a good did thanke the Kings Embassadours with great affection he did much commend that commendable desire in Lewis whom he termed the Great King he that saith Great saith enough it was the glorious Title of the Kings of the East s For the title of Kings that of Great is excellent and common to the kings of Persia ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã and which comprehends all other greatnesse and desired that when there should be any occasion presented to seeke and aduance the good of Christendome his affection should neuer giue place to any other and that he had made it well knowne all the time of his Popedome by so many Legations which he had sent into all places The Pope desires Peace to maintaine the Publique Peace and make warre to cease and by that meanes supply the necessities and serue for the defence of the Faith That neuer Bishop t The History of Affricke saith that the Bishop of Nola after that he had sold all his goods to redeeme Christian slaues he sold himselfe vnto the Vandales for his brethren sold himselfe more willingly for his brethren then he would do for so many poore Christians which do groane vnder the yoake of Infidels The Kings Embassadours as Arbitrators and Iudges of the Controuersie Embassadours of France make an ouerture for a Peace propounded some Articles to end it and among others That there should be a suspension of Armes and Censures That the Cardinall of S. George should be set at liberty That they should ordaine certaine Suffrages and Prayers for them that had beene slaine in the Tumult of Florence That the Florentines and Laurence de Medicis should humble themselues vnto the Pope as they offered to do for the reuerence of the Apostolicke Sea And that all together should demand absolution after the forme ordained by the Church That they should giue caution and assurance for their obedience and fidelity and to maintaine the Liberties of the Church That all the forces of either side should be vnited together and paied for two or three yeares to make warre against the Turke The Pope hauing imparted the Articles and Instructions of the French Embassadours to the Colledge of Cardinals Articles of peace imparted to the Consistory Euery man commended the Kings Integrity Religion and Wisedome but they found them not full enough in matters which concerned the Holy Sea u Non multos post dies jideÌ oratores sicut internos atque aduersantes nobis mediatores accesseraÌt ita media quedam ad conueniendum scripta dederunt integritatem religionem sapientiaÌ deuoti regis monstraÌtia Iudicio tamen nostro venerabilium fratruÌ nostrorum ad honoreÌ sedis quem imprimis seruatum volebaÌt satis non plena After some few daies as there came aduerse mediators vnto vs so they propounded certaine meanes for an accord shewing the integrity Religion and wisedome of the Great King yet in our iudgemeÌt and of our reuerent brethren they were not ample enough for the honour of the Sea which they would haue chiefly kept which the Pope did chiefly regard and yet they were allowed vpon hope that they would produce a Peace and an vnion of Christian Forces against the enemy of the Church and also for that the King pretended to make the Venetians and Florentines consent to any thing that should be thought reasonable for satisfaction of the holy Sea Vpon this assurance The Pope receiues the Embassadours of Venice and Florence the Embassadours of Venice and
in the first part of his History accordingly as it is set downe in the Text the which to auoyd repetition I omit in the aire vpon the walles Vision miraculous a shining Crosse of gold a virgin attired in white with a Target on her Arme and a Launce in her hand and a man muffled with a Camels skinne followed with a great troope of armed men all glittering which seemed to come to succour the towne that the assailants were so amazed and terrified with this vision as they that were neerest vnto the walles durst not goe on and they that were farre off fled This miracle hath beene mentioned by all the Historians that haue written of this siege and William Coarsin Vice-Chancellor of the Order speakes amply in his Commentaries The Bashaw mad at their great constancy and resolution Retreat of the Turks retired caused his Artillery to be carefully drawne away whereof a Generall should haue an especiall care for the losse is dishonorable He caused it to be imbarked with his hurt men The rage which he could not poure forth vpon the Inhabitants of Rhodes shewed it selfe round about the Towne leauing no tree vn-cut Vine vn-puld vp nor house vn-burnt The Bashaw going out of the Port discouered two great ships which Ferdinand K. of Naples sent to their succour he held it an affront if hee should suffer them to passe without fighting But in despight of him and 20. Gallies which assailed these two ships they entred the Port after three houres fight Thus Rhodes the cleere Sun b For that there is no day how cloâdâ soeuer but the Sunne is seene at Rhodes the aâcients said it was consecrated to the Sun It lyes in the Carpatiaâsea in the ãâã of Iâcia separated from the coast by an Arme of the sea which they call the ãâã of Rhodes 20 miles broad It is loâg and ãâã about 120 miles compasse Towardes the North lyes ââeya Aeââpt to the south ãâã to the Eaât and Candy to the west of the sea so famous in the Histories of Antiquity was preserued for the Christians All the Citty in signe of ioy made bon-fires shot off Ordinance rung their bels The Trumpets Hautboyes and drums were vpon the walles vpon the newes which the great Maister receiued from Pope Sixtus the fourth of a mighty Army which came to his succour The Bashaw desirous to know the cause of this ioy sent certaine Grecians to demand it of the Centinels who told them it was for that the Christian Army was neere which being reported vnto him hee commanded to weigh anchor and to set saile the 18 of August hauing continued at this siege 89 dayes and lost the best part of his Army This valiant resistance for the preseruation of the Island of Rhodes did purchase much glory to Christendome and bound Christians to praise the God of Victories to make him fauourable when hee should be called c Xenophon exhortâ men to honour tâe Gods in prosperity to the end they maâ be âauouâable vâto them in aduersity in the like necessity for that the defence of towns and the defeat of Armies come only from him The Crosse triumphed ouer the Cressants Mahomet after this affront did but languish hauing propounded for a reuenge to make a great enterprise vpon Italy to make Rome another Constantinople a Serrail of the Vatican and a Mosquee of Latran Vpon the apprehensions of such ruines and desolation Sixtus the fourth was ready to abandon Rome and go into France Italy being too weake to resist so mighty an enemy who hauing made himselfe Maister of 12 realms in the lesser Asia of the Archipelagus of Albania and of Sclauoâia of all the Empire of CoÌstantinople of Trebizond threatned to enter into Europe by Apulia Calabria d Mâhomet the 2 d. made warre three yeares in Apulia and Calabria hee tooke the Townes oâ Ydrunte Tatum and Leuce by force where he had caused wonderfull desolations and spoiled Italy of the flower of her horse-men and it may be he should not haue found Princes which would haue sent backe his Embassadors so couragiously nor contemned his threats as Mathias Coruinus K. of Hnngary and Poland did for when this Barbarian had sent to him to haue him yeeld him his realme of Polonia he made this braue and hardie answere to his Embassadors e This generous answer made by Mathias Coruinus is related by Ioachin Cuâeus in the Annals of Silesiâ Mahomet did euer after feâre him Go and tell your maister that he reignes in Greece by my meanes and that he shall remaine there no longer then I please The end of the eighth Booke THE CONTENTS OF the Ninth Booke 1 MAXIMILIAM makes no good vse of his aduantage after the battell of Guinegaste 2 Attempt against the Kings Person miraculously preuented 3 The like enterprise discouered and punished 4 Taking and recouering of Beaune and Verdun 5 Sigismond Arch-duke of Austria giues his Estates to the Arch-duke Maximilian his Nephew 6 Lewis of Bourbon Bishop of Liege slaine by William de la March. 7 A new discipline for Souldiours made 8 Goodly obserâuations of the aduantages which Foot-men haue ouer Horse 9 Death of Mahomet the second Emperour of the Turkes an abridgement of the chiefe actions of his life and his cruelties 10 The Kings designe vpon Lorraine Estate of that House from Duke Iohn to Yoland of Aniou wife to Ferry Earle of Vaudemont 11 Variable successe of the huse of Aniou in the Realme of Naples from Lewis the second sonne to King Iohn to Rene Duke of Aniou 12 Death of Rene Duke Aniou his death and exercises he instituted the Order of the Croissant 13 Charles Earle of Mayne and Prouence giues the County of Prouence vnto the King 14 The King seazeth vpon the Dutchy of Barre 15 Rene Duke of Lorraine Generall of the Venetians Army 16 Warre of Ferara against the Venetians The Pope and the King of Naples deale in it The Venetians are excommunicated 17 Peace treated against the Popes liking magnanimity of his courage 18 Necessity of the Church to hold a Councell 19 Hardy enterprise of a Prelate against the Pope ⧠THE HISTORIE Of LEWIS the eleuenth THE NINTH BOOKE WHAT auayleth it for Stagges to haue goodly and strong heads if they haue not courage to vse them MaximiliaÌ makes no great vse of his aduantage at Guinegaste The Arch-duke Maximilian had more subiect to repent himselfe then to reioyce for the successe of Guinegate for that he did not make vse of his aduantage If he had presented himselfe before Therouenne or Arras hee had found amazement for resistance But hee durst not attempt it a Phillip de CoÌminâs saith that after the battell of Guingaste if Maximilian had beene counselled to returne before Therouenne hee had not âound any creature within it nor yet in Arras So as the battell which should haue purchased him glory among the Flemmings Hee lost more then he
Disposition of Charles the 8 th 117 Dispute of the Authority of the Pope and Councell 61 Dissimulation of the Duke of Brittanie 9 E Edict to reforme Souldiers 185 Edward the fourth his death 81 Embassadours of France make Ouerture for a peace 5 Embassages ambitiously affected neuer succed happily 185. Error of learned men not to communicate 194 Estate of Lorraine 49 Estate of the Low-countries at the discretion of the Gantois 75 Estates that are popular haue alwayes some one priuat man more eminent then all the rest 2 Estates vnhappy which are forced to seeke strange Maisters 30 Example is a cleare light in doubtfull things 154 Examples of diuers disorders 114 Excesse esteems nothing but what is rare and chargeable 158 Expences ruled by occasions 176 F Fauours of Princes last not 148 Ferdinando base son to Alphonso of Arragon crowned King of Naples by Pope Pius the 2 d. 52. is ouerthrowne by Iohn Duke of Calabria Ibid. and restored by Scanderbeg 53 Flatterers pleasing to Princes 106 Florence in one hundred yeares changed estate seuen times 3 Formes of warre changed 43 France cannot bee disarmed of foot-men 40. it sends Spaine to the Indies 177 Francisco de Paulo an Hermit of admirable holinesse 105 G Garniers Oke 178 Generosity of a yong Boy of Sparta 47 God the Iudge of hearts 122 Grauity ridiculous 133 Griefe of Pope Sixtus for the peace betweene the Venetians and Ferrarois 57 H Henry the fourth the last French King his worthy commendations 143 Heralds creation 137 History should be free from loue or hatred 89 Hugonet and Imbercourt condemned to dye 15 I Iames of Luxemburg his generous answer to the King 172 Ignorance and Weaknesse feare any encounter 67 Impiety ouertaken by Iustice. 10 Ingratitude and Impiety of Adolph of Guelders 16 Inhumanity of Mahomet 45 Intelligences of the Duke of Brittanie discouered 8 Inuentions are not perfect in the beginning 44 Iudgement transported with choler is like a shippe without a Pilot. 67 Iudgements are free after death 120 Iudgement vpon the recompence of seruices 187 Iustice is the felicity of Empires 154 K Katherine of Foix Queene of Nauarre 84 Kings haue long hands and many snares to entrap their enemies 51 L Lewis counselled to make his profit of the diuision in Italy 1. He declares himselfe for the Florentines 3. Hee seeketh a peace of Maximilian 38. His designes vpon Lorraine and Prouence 48 Hetakes possession of ProueÌce 54 He neglects the calling of a councell 57. His waywardnesse and melancholy 69. his visitation of his son at Ambois 70. he fals into new appreheÌsions of death 95. his distrust 104. his deuotion 107. his curiosity 108. his last actions 109. he could not indure to heare of death 111. his superstition Ibid. his death 112. his children 115. his pilgrimages 122. the Latine which he would haue his sonne to learne 130. his custome at Ceremonies 134. his contempt of the markes of Maiesty 136. hee knew not how to pardon 144. his rigorus prisons 145. his feare of the reuenge of women 150. he was neither liberall nor couetous 171. his meane borrowings 175. his proper Science 185. his letters pattents wherby he gaue Armes to his base daughter 193. his great popularity 196. his delight in hunting 197. his fauorites and Contemporaries Ibid. c. Lightnesse Choler and Facility do not well become a Prince 37 Loyalty of the Earle of Vandosme 89 Loue of God and contempt of the world 106 M Magistrates should not quit their charge for any respect 153 Magnificence of the house of Burgondy 137 Magnificence of Lewis 11 th 140 Magnificence how far it extends 141. Religious Magnificence 142 Mahomet dies for griefe after the losse at Belgrade 48 Maiesty compared to Moses rod. 133 Mariages of France Sauoy 164 Mathias Coruinus his resolute answere to the Turkes Embassadors 28. his commendation 98. is chosen king of Hungary 100. his valor and conduct with other worthy acts 101. his war against the Emperour 103. his death Ib. Maxime of Machiuel 122 Miscounting in the History 74 Misery of the Duke of Brittanie 11 N Necessity of Horse-men 41 Neighbour-estates haue alwayes some disputes 38 New discipline for Souldiers Ib. Nobility of Hungary discontented 102 O Oath of the gouernment of Florence 3. an Oath should haue three conditions Truth Iudgement and Iustice. 32 Obedience is the Science of Princes 130 Obseruations of the aduantages of foot-men ouer horse-men 39 Offers of Bajazet to the King 95 Office of Heralds at Armes 137 Offices that are great should not be hereditary 138 Offices are to bee maintained if they be good 139 Oppression of the people 68 P Philip Earle of Bresse his marriages and children 165 Policie to bring an enemy into suspition of his owne people 2 Policie in England for the Titles of families 135 Popes bound to the Crowne of France 125 Pouerty of France in the time of King Iohn 176 Practise against the life of an enemy by any other meanes then by Armes is vnworthy of of a Prince 35 Predictions vpon the Life of Lewis the eleuenth 189 Presumption of Oliuer le Daine 12 Pride troden vnder foot 47 Princes rely vpon their Ministers 157 Priuiledges of the Parisians 170 R Relapse of the Kings sicknesse at Tours 69 René of Anjou his commmendation 53 Reputation grounded vpon great and eminent vertues 155 Reuenge taken by a woman 46 Rhodes besieged by Mahomet 25 S Sacke and desolation of Dole 166 Science of Treasure 179 Sentence against the Duke of Alençon 146 Sentence very rigorous 150 Sermons of sedition 126 Silence the soule of great actions 163 Simplicity of the eloquence in old time 129 Sleping for a Benefice 173 Stablishment of Posts 169 Sterrility of Suisserland 180 Suspension of Armes not alwayes necessary to make a peace 7 T Temperance wherein it consists 193. the fruits thereof 195 Treaty of peace and marriage between France Bourgondy 75 Tributes by which the meanes to make war are maintained may not be touched 42 Tristan his barbarous behauiour 145 V Valour is naturall to the French Kings 183 Vanity of iuditiary Astrology 189 Venetians contempt of the Popes fulminations 4. their Accord with the great Turke 6. They proclaime warre against the Duke of Ferrara and soone after conclude a peace with him 56 Vertue enuied for the lustre thereof 10 Vision miraculous 27 W Wisedome of the Lord Hastings 167 Witnesses of our faults and imperfections wee seldome desire to see 65. Workes of vanity and ostentation Z Zizimi reuolts against Bajazet 95. his letter to Bajazet 96. he repaireth to Rhodes and is conducted into France 97 FINIS
animi lucem splendoremque sugientis iustam gloriam qui est fructus verae virtutis honestissimus repudiare Cic. ãâã Pis. For as it is a lightnes to hunt after vaine fâme all the shaddowes of falce glory so it is a weaknes to refuse iust glory which is the honeslest fruit of true vertue matters his fall could not be but very high As hee disdained glory of smal price and reputation which cost little so he did earnestly seek that which grew from great and goodly actions and which were the iust fruites of true vertue The English 1443. grown weake make a truce during the which Lewis goes to seeke excercise without the Realme and becomes head of the French and English to be reuenged on those who during the worst estate of his fathers affaires had troubled him and to fauour the warre of Sigismond Duke of Austria against the Suisses h The Duke of Austria had married Radigonde of France eldest daughter to King Charles the seauenth in fauâur of this alliance be intreats him to succours him against the suisses Hee remembred that the Earle of Montbelliard had entred the Frontiers of France toward Langres Hee cries quittance with him takes and spoiles Montbelliard and giues the gouernment to Iohn Thibergeaâ captaine of his Archers He oueruns the Bishop of Bassils country for that he had maintained the party of Amide Duke of Sauoy i Amidee Duke of Sauoy in the yeare 1437. retired to Repaille into a monastery of Moncke of S. ãâã and tooke their ãâã A grey gowne a long Cloake a grey hood a short corneâ a red cap vpon his hood but vpon his gowne he carâed a great girdle of gould and vpon his cloak a Crosse of gould being accompanied by twâty of his fauourits attired like the Monkes He reserued vnto himselfe the title of the Duke of Sauoy and the soueraigne authority ouer his Estates He was câosen Pope at the Council The election was signified vnto him the 11. of December 1439. He came to Basill the 24. of Iune was crowned the 24. of Iuly said his first Masse and made Cardenalâ the 27. of November He went to hold his sea at Lausaâa 1442. who by the sufferages of the Bishops prelates and Doctors of the Councill had beene made Pope and named Foelix the fift against Pope Engenius and who before his retreate into his Monasterie of Ripaille had done all hee could to fauour the English The Suisses seeing so mighty an enemy at their gates attend not vntill he did aduance but looke which way he would turne the head of his forces The Lord of Ramstein receiues him at Altkilch a Towne which he held by engagement of the Bishop of Basill for 12000. florens The Nobillity of the Country comes vnto him and to be reuenged of the people and to preserue their howses they offer him the seruice of their swords The Armies vsed incredible inhumanities vpon this poore people who gaue the name of Flears vnto the men of Warre k The souldiers who spoiled the frontiers and the Countryes of Basill and Ferrette at diuers times were allwayes called by one name Schindern Flears and by mockery Armeniacken The Towne of Bassil knew well that the councill would draw this storme vpon them Good order of them of Basill and that King Charles the seuenth would reuenge the degradation of Eugenius the Pope and therefore they omitted nothing that might serue for their defence safety they made a bulwarke at the Port of Spalen and rased all that was about the Towne which might help the besiegers they appointed two Bels one for warre and the other for fire by the first euery one knew whither hee should goe by the second Church-men and Monkes onely were bound to runne to the fire They caused a proclamation to be made in the country that whosoeuer would bring his goods and prouision into the Towne the Bourguemasters would bee bound to restore it againe or to pay the iust price if necessitie forced them to vse it l Wheras there is concord betwixt the townes and country not onely of ãâã in certaine things but in all that ãâã the common prfit a forâaine enemie shall finde great difficultie to worke any great effects for all conspire ãâã him The house of Austria had cast the Apple of discord among the Suisses Zurich Suisses besiege was allyed to Sygismond Archduke of Austria the Cantons of Berne Lucerne Vry Suuitz Vnderual and Glaris came to besiege Zurick to force them to renounce this allyance Beeing at this siege they are aduertised that Iohn of Rechberg in the beginning of August had surprised the Towne of Bruck in the Country of Ergueu belonging to the Canton of Berne that hee had committed great cruelties there and had sent the spoile by water to Laustemberg and the chiefe prisoners to Farnsberg The common feeling they had of the priuate offences of their Allies suffers them not to dissemble this iniurie Hee that attempts against the least Hamlet of this common-weale giues an Alarum to all the Cantons they ranne thither as if the fire had beene in their owne houses m The Lawe of alliance which is that of friendship requires that friends and allies should apprehend ãâã imbrace one anothers good or larme Their duties and interests shoulâ be common as ãâã in the ship of one-common-weale the which suffers not any one to saue himselfe apart nor that they which are at the poope should not be moued with the water which enters iâ at the prow They sent foure thousand men to besiege Farnsberg Reekberg who was within it let them know vpon their first approches that he was no man to yeeld Hee knew well that the Armie of France was not farre off and that the Swisses had worke enough elsewhere Burkard Monchen whom the French called Burgo the Monke Lord by ingagement of Landsec was as it were the guide and Marshall of the Armie Hee prest the Dauphin to come before Basil thinking that at the sight of so many men they would rather seeke to capitulate then resist 1441 Basill besieged by the Dauphin for the Armie consisted of 20000. horse the Histories of Germanie make mention of 30000. Basil n Basill made the first alliance with Bern and Soleure in the yeare 144â The house of Austria was offended sayâng that they did inâringe the Articles of the golden Bull. sends speedily to demand succours of the Suissees which were before Farnsberg They sent them one thousand and six hundred men whom the Siegneur of Halwil cals peasants o Thuring de Halluuil in a letter which he did write vnâo the Marquâs William and to the Towne of Zurick the day after the Battell callâ the Suisses Bauten Pesants The which were twice incountred and charged by the Earle of Dammartin first in the plaine of Brattelen when as they thought to passe at the breake of the day and the second time neere vnto the Village of
is sinne or a perseuerance or obstinacy in sinne At the same time the Pope made a Bull by the which he declared all appellations to the Councile an execrable abuse and neuer before heard of His Bull against appellations to a councell u This constitution begins thus Execrabilis pristinis temporibus ãâã tempesâate nostra inoleuit abusus vt a Romano Pontifice Iesu Christi Vicario cui dictum est in persona B. Petri. Pasee ones âeas c. quodcunque nonnulli spirituâ rebellioniâ imbuti non sanioris câpiditate iudicâi sed commissi enatione peceâtâ ad futurum Concilium prouocare presumâââ invented by spirits of rebellion not for any desier of abetter iudgement but to escape for sinnes committed being a ridiculous thing x Quis il Iud ridiculum indicauerit quodâd concilium apellâtur quod ãâã est neque seiture quae futurum fit Pius II. Const. execrabilis to frame an appellation to a Concile which was not yet assembled neither knew they when it would bee and that by this abuse the excesse remained vnpunished rebellion against the first Sea was supported and all Ecclesiasticall discipline in confusion wherefore by the aduice of the Cardinalls and Prelates which were then at Mantoua he did forbid such appellations as erronius detestable and pestilent and charged them with censures which receiued the Acts or did fauour them The Kings Ambassadors tooke these words for cracks of thunder and infalliable threats of excommunication and hauing reported them vnto King Charles the seauenth his councell did beleeue that he had resolued to curse both the King and his realme and all those that should cause the decrees of the Councile of Basill to bee obserued wherefore it was concluded that Iohn Dauvet his Attorney generall in the Court of Parlament should protest against his threats to auoyde the scandales which the Church and Christendome might receiue reseruing in all things a respect vnto the holy Sea and the obedience which is due vnto the Pope conformable to the holy decrees That the Pope should bee intreated y Summis desiderus opâat regia Maiestas vt idem S. D. N. cuÌ âacris generalibus concilâââ paceÌ foneat suis teÌporibus EcclesiaÌ Dei salubriâer regere dirigere curet sicuti sancti sui pre decestores facere studueruÌt paceÌ et vnirateÌânimo daÌ seruare querat and exhorted to consider duly of the importance of this resolution before hee did proceed to cut off such a member from the body of Christendome and how much it did import him to keepe peace with the Councils and not to suffer the vnity of the Church to be violated at such a time when as all the forces of the infidells were banded and vnited against her concord Turkes make their profit of the diuisions of Christendome That as the King z Ipse enim D. N. Reâ qui semper paâis vniuersae Ecclesiae desideratissmus est sicut magnis laboribus et sumptibus paââm et vnitatem inter sacra Concilia âel rec D. Papam EugeniuÌ ac consequenâer D. NicolauÌ successoreÌ eius prosecutus est vt illi in sede Apostolica pacifici maner eÌt sic nunc vehemeter cupit vt sacti simus D. N. modernus succedeÌs praefatis Pontificibus paceÌ manu teâere conseruâre laborer had labored more then all Christan Princes with much paine and great expence to mayntaine a peace and vnity betwixt the councils and Popes Eugenius and Nicholas to the end they might remaine quiet in their seats In like manner hee desired that the Pope should confirme this peace and good vnion causing those lets to cease which were against the Cannons of the Pragmatike Sanction made by a generall consent and to consider that such lets came onely from those that affected more their owne priuat commodities then the health of soules and could not endure that the Popes should march with the Councils in the vnity of Spirit as they had in former times done when as their temporall care was not so great as it is now and that they did zealously seeke the Kingdome of God before all things a Toâlat differeÌtias quae aduersus CaÌones vniuersali coÌsensu editos per non nulloruÌ affectus quae rââtiuâ plus priuata commoda quam salutem animarum suscitantur impediuntque ne summi Pontifices cum generalibus coÌciliis in vnitate spiritus ambulent eorumque decreta seruent sequantur ac predicent sicut olim profite haÌtur ac promptissime facere solebant dum non erat tanta commodorum temporal um solliciââdo ante omnia ãâã Dei âttentius quae rebatur That the King desyred the Pope would call a Council in a place of safty and liberty whereas the Preâats of the Church and learned men fearing God Mony leuied vnder the pretere of warre ill imployed hauing charge to be there might speake their opinions brotherly and charitably in tranquility of mind vpon the occasions which should be presented such assemblies being necessary to prouide for meanes to resist the desseins of the enemies and persecutors of Christian Religion For although that vnder this pretext they had leuied great summes of mony after diuers manners b Diuersae pecuniarum summae modis varus huins rei pretexta hacternus petitae et collatae suat yet Christendome had receyued no ease Besides the tenne years in the which the Council of Constans had or dained that they should hould a councell were expired That the King propounded to submit him-selfe to all that should bee determined and or dayned by the councell to the end that so good an order might be setled in the Church as God might bee better serued and christian people more edified And to the end the council might be in all liberty it was necessary to chuse a place of easie accesse for all that would come That it was not credible as many haue pretended that the Pope was resolued to haue it held in the church of S t. Iohn Lateran c Vt aut em prefatum concilium rite celebrari possit necessarium est ipsum in tali loco constitui vt omibus pateat plena libertas Nec credenâum est in veritate subsistere quod noânulli ferunt S. D. N. velle in Laterano vniuersale concilium celebrare cum locus ille fere omnibus nationibus Christianorum accessu difficilis sit frequenter pestibus subditus Stante que contradictione quam summus Pontifex aduersus canones conciliorum agere videtur non ilâie esset plena deliberandi libertas attenta etiam certa Liga quae aduersus Illustrissimum D. Reâatum Regnum Siciliae suos here des successor es facta ãâã quam ipse S. D. N. vt diciâur aperte souer suttineâ Ligaeinsdem caput principalis hetorie asseritur seeing that the citty of Rome was of hard accesse in a manner for all
the nations of christendome The Pope a party and many times subiect to great plagues besides that the chiefe question being touching the contradiction which was made to the Cannons of councells their opinions could not be free and the King was well aduertised of the league which was made against Rene King of Siciie and his children whreof they made the Pope the head That when as a place of liberty and safety should be chosen in some other Prouince the Pope if hee thought good might transport himselfe thither with lesse pain then he should receiue if he continued his designe to go in person into the East for the good of Christendome or elce hee might send his Legates as his predecessors had formerly done That the last Counsells hauing been held in the townes of Italy and Germany d Many generall Councels haue beene held in France and we find in the History of the Church the Councell of Lyon 2. Orleans 4. 5. Tours Paris Auuergne reason would that now it should be held in France as Pope Nicholas the fift had promised and therefore the King offered to prouide amply for all that should be necessary That his Maiesty could not imagine that the Pope by his new Bull against appellations to the Councill had any thought to interdict the vse in such sort as in no case no not when there was question to maintaine the Orthodoxall faith or for the extirpation of Schisme or the reformation of the vniuersall Church in the head and members for the wrongs which Popes might doe vnto Princes and there estates it might not bee lawfull to flie vnto this remedy e Neque etiam existimandum est âundem S N D. per litteraâ quas Mantuae publicasse fertur que incipiunt Execrabilis et Inauditus c. voluisse prohibete vt in nullo casu fiue tang at conseruationem Orthodoxae fidei fiue extirpationem Scismatis fiue vniuersalem reformationem Ecclesiae in capite et in membris super grauaminibus quae per aliquem summorum Pontificum inferri contingeret Principibus liciat quouismodo habere recursum ad iudicium plenarii concilii cum sub generali prohibitione non veneant ea quae speciali expressione indigerent seeing that vnder generall prohibitions they could not comprehend matters which required a more speciall and perticular expression and principally those which did regard the offences of Religion and the vnity of the Church and which fauoured Scismes and troubled the vniuersall estate of the Church Wherefore if the Pope attempted any thing against the obseruation of the holy decrees of the pragmatick Sanction the King ment to flye to a Councill Protestation of the King to fly vnto a Councel f vbi vero idem D.N.S. cui potestas data est in aedificationem non in destructionem eam conuertere vellet contra ipsum D.N. Regem aut viros ecclesiasticos vel etiam seculares ipsius dominii constitutos sibi subditos adhaerentes propter obseruationem Cannonum grauare et molestare Protestor ego Iohannes Dauuet Procurator Regius generalis in parte specialis nomine antedicto per notarios subscriptis de talium sententiarum ac censurarum nullitate iuxta canonicas Sanctiones c. and vntill it had determined thereof he protested of the nulity of all censures according to the forme of the Canonicall Sanctions the which in many cases declared the sentences and censures of Iudges and Pastors void yet submitting themselues to the iudgement of the vniuersall Church That if the Pope should refuse and would deferre the calling of the Councill the King declared that he would exhort all Christian Princes to labour iointly for this Conuocation yet hoping that the Pope hauing duly considered of this iust and necessary instance would not put him to that paine To make this protestation more sollemne and to shew that the King did affect it France the Sanctuary of Popes and that the Pope should haue a care not to incense a realme which had alwaies beene the sanctuary and refuge of Popes g Gregory 3. demanâed succors of Charles Martel against Luytprand King of Lombards who was forced to yeeld the lands which hee had vsurped of the Church Carol. Sigonius lib. 3. de Regno Italie An. 739. Plat. Pepin his sonne forced Astolpho King of Lombards to restore the sixe gouerments of Rauenna to Pope Stephen â and hee made warre against Guaiâier Duke of Aquitanie who vsurped the goods of the Church Regin Sigebertus Charlemaine defended Adrian against Didier King of the Lombards and restored Pope Leon. C. Volumus 2. Q. i. Adrianus dist 63. Lewis the gentill and Charles the bald gaâe great succors to Pope Iohn 8. Paul Emilius Pope Gelaâius 2. went into France to demand succors of Lewis 8. against Henry the Emperor Platina in Gelatio 2. Innocent 2. and Eugenius the third being driuen out of Rome came into France and the Kings of FraÌce haue the honor to haue restored seuen Popes to their seaâes And France hath lodged the 70. yeares in Auignon Paloti de rubros Nauarra who had neuer found more speedy and better succors against their enemies then the sword of France and who haue with reason called this Realme the admirable quiuer bound to Gods side out of the which he drawes his chosen arrowes to shoot them with the Bow of his mighty arme against Infidells His maiesty would that Andrew de Laual Lord of Loheac Mareschall of France should be present with many other men of quality Stephen Cheâalier Treasurer generall of France and Iohn Barbin Aduocate generall in Parliament It was made in the presence of Iohn Abbot of the Monasterie of S t. Eâoy de braue of the order of Premontre and of Peter Quesnot pryor of the priory of S t. Sauiour neere vnto Bray vpon Seyne Soone after the new raigne of Lewis the eleuenth made it knowne that things maintained so religiously by King Charles h Charles the seuenth was made Lord of the obseruation of the Pragmaticke Sanction if death had not preuented him âewâs resolued to call an Nationall Councel to haue it better obserued Pope Pius the second exhorts K. Lewis to abolish the pragmatick Sanction were not religiously respected by him The Pope hauing well obserued it caused him to be exhorted to respect the holy Sea to apprehend the danger of excommunication He sent his Nuncio vnto him to perswade him and to put him in minde of the name of most Christian which his predecessors had carried and which the Councill of Mantua had newly confirmed to King Charles his Father They found the pursuite of this reuocation more vnfit for Pope Pius the second Pius the second dââaâowes his owne writings then for his predecessors for he himselfe had been the instrument of these Decrees he had beene present at the resolutions hee had written them and vndertaken the defence of the Councell of Basill against that
to loue him as his brother Mathias promiseth it and their promises were confirmed by his marriage with Katherine daughter to Poguebrac with whom hee caused him to be conducted into Hungary He beganne to triumph as soone as to raigne for to fight vanquish was all one vnto him At one time being followed by his owne forces which were greater in courage and discipline then in number s These three qualities were eminent in Iohn Huniades Valiant Wise and Generous Ducum omnium saith the History qui cum Turcis arma contulerunt illotempore claâissimus solers ac sagax in prospiciendis patiens in expectandis acer in persequendis rerum occasionibus atque in ipsis rebus vrgendis pertinax in conficiendis felix ac fortunatus Of all Commanders which had made warre against the Turke hee was at that time the most famous watchfull to fore-see patient in expecting swift in embracing resolute in pursuing all occasions and happy in effecting them He did gloriously end three great enterprises the one against the Emperour Fredericke whom he forced to yeeld him that which he held of the Crowne of Hungary the second against the Bohemians whose factions and conspiracies he ouerthrew and the third against Mahomet the 2. to whom he gaue many occasions to think that the valour conduct and generosity of Iohn Huniades his father were reuiued in him He recouered Iaisse Exploits of Mathias Coruinâs and seuen and twenty Castles thereabouts he past the riuer of Saue entred into the higher Misia and in two assaults seized vpon Zerbenic where are those goodly Mines of siluer he expelled Suela that famous thiefe out of Bohemia pacified the seditions of Transiluania punished them that were the Authors t Punishment which is applied fitly and seuerely done vpon the head of a conspiracy offends few and spares many who had made Iohn Earle of S. Georges King and besieged burnt and ruined Romansarre The flames of the fire of his Iustice did amaze all Moldauia all the furies came out of Hell to follow his Armie and to reuenge the iniuries of Christendome vpon those Infidell Prouinces A warre which was all cruelty and a cruelty which was all iustice victory which is alwayes insolent and especially in ciuill warres u Pitty nor Mederation doe not alwayes purchase fauour in a Conquerours heart they are forced somtimes to giue place vnto liberty and therefore Tully saith that victoria ciuilib bellis seÌper est insolens Victory is alwayes insolent in ciuill warres had no pitty but of those which had no more need he had rather ruine Towns to saue soules then to saue Townes and ruine soules he left in all places such markes of the furies and terrors of the warre that euen at this day the Countrey laments the effects and numbers the examples That which the sword did spare was consumed by fire and famine And therfore the name of Mathias was at that time a terror to the Women and Children of Hungary His valour conduct who in all occasions performing the duty of a Generall and yet somtimes running the hazard of a Souldier as if his body had bin borrowed he was wounded in the thigh with an arrow He did so diminish the number of his enemies as the prouince was assured and his Armie rich with spoyles x Mathias is taxed with ingratitude for that hee had made warre a-against George King of Bohemia who had giuen him liberty and his daughter in marriage This warre was vnfortunate to either and preiudiciall to Christendome Being returned to Agria he came to Buda where he receiued letters of intreaty from Pope Pius the second and from the Emperour Fredericke to make warre against the Hussits the which he vndertooke He makes warre against the Hussites It was not his only obedience to the head of the Church which drew him to this warre nor any desire to triumph ouer the truth ambition had a great share in it the desire of a newe Crowne made him forget the good vsage which he had receiued in his imprisonment from Poguebrac and dispensed him of those bonds which cannot bee dissolued by death nor discharged but by life Great enterprises are not scrupulous and if the lawes of piety are to be violated it is to content those of ambition They write that these two Kings made warre ten yeares MATHIAS King of Hungary and GEORGE King of Bohemia made warre tenne yeares for Religion And in tbe end they agreed that his Religion should be the better whose Foole did vanquish the other at fist and that the combat of their Iesters fighting at fists reconciled them In the end Mathias dispossessed George Poguebrac of the prouinces of Morauia Silesia and Lusatia and death of his Crowne Mathias caused himselfe to be proclaimed and crowned King of Bohemia Mathias crowned King of Bohemia and Marques of Morauia Some Bohemians refused to obey him and framed a faction vnder the name of Ladislaus son to Casimir King of Polonia whom they did acknowledge for their King Mathias came thither and prest them so eagerly and intreated them with such rigor and seuerity as all the Townes submitted themselues to his will to haue his peace and pardon These long and and troublesome warres had so wâsted his treasure as hee was forced to make vse of the Clergy goods The Prelates of Hungary opposed themselues and the chiefe Noble-men of the Realme ioyned with them z This conspiracy was so stroâg and violent that of 75 Tribes of the realme there were but 9 that coÌtinued in their first obedience conspiring together to expell him the Realme Nobility of Hungary discontented Hitherto hee had made knowne what loue and force might doe now hee shewes himselfe so wife and temperate as returning into the way of the duety of a good Prince he doth easily reduce his people to that of good subiects a That Prince is wise which doth not disdaine to giue some satisfaction to his subiects whom he hath offended especially when he feares a greater mischiefe And by this meanes many who had cast themselues into his enemies Armie returned vnto him Ladislaus beeing coopt vp in Nitria was forced to make an Accord with Mathias and to returne into Poland Casimir his father apprehending this shamfull retreat and taking his part of the Affront reserued the whole reuenge to himselfe hee leuied an Armie of threescore thousand fighting men Polonians Bohemians Russians and Tartarians and entred into Morauia and Silesia to recouer that which Poguebrac had lost The first beginnings were so fauourable as not regarding the inconstancy of fortune he suffered his thoughts to wander in the common error of Princes who neglect the storme during the calme of their affaires In great designes Princes thinke onây what they should doe when they haue executed them cast not their eyes vpon that which may hinder the execution and which as Polybius saith hath neede of great prouidence
Aduentures vnto the thirtieth yeare Predictions vpon the life of Lewis the eleuenth hee aduertised King Charles the seuenth of his rebellion and how his gouernment would be wonderfull to men k This man was much esteemed by Duke Amedeus the Pope hee foretold the Schisme of the Church and the warre betwixt France and England Manasses a lew of Valencia continued these predictions vnto the battel of Montlehery Peter of Saint Valerien a Chanon of Paris and a great Astrologian was sent in the yeare 1435. into Scotland for the marriage of the Lady Margaret during his abode in Flanders hee consulted alwaies with Astrologians of future things and these impostors more hurtfull to a Common-wealth then Players l Sights entertaine the people and breed them vp ân idlenesse And therefore Phillip Augugustus by an Edict banisht Plaiers out of France Nihil tam moribus alienum quam in spectaculo desidere Sen. whom his predecessours had chased away were alwaies in his eares Hee caused many iudgements to be made by Iohn Coleman his Astrologian who taught him to vnderstand the great Almanacke and vpon the great Coniunction of Saturne and Mars which was the eighth of Aprill about ten of the clocke eighteene minutes in the yeare 1464 He spake plainely of the troubles of the League and so did in like manner Peter of Grauille whom Lewis the 11. caused to come out of Normandy Conrade Hermgarter a Germaine left the Duke of Bourgundies seruice for the Kings who gaue him great entertainements But aboue all hee made great esteeme of Angelo Catho a Neapolitan who came into France with the Prince of Tarentum m Iohn Spirink did also foretel the Duke of Bourgundy that if he went against the Suisses it would succede ill the Duke answered that the fury of his Sword should vanquish the course of heauen and had foretold the Duke of Bourgundy and the Duke of Guelders their misfortunes The King gaue him the Arch-bishopricke of Vienna wherein hee could not reside for the great crosses he receiued from them of Dauphiné but was forced to retire himselfe to Rome His Chronicle doth also speake of the death of Maister Arnold his Astrologian during the plague in the yeare 1466. the which hee had foreseene and which vnpeopled Paris of aboue 40000. persons France had other kinds of men which did better deserue the fauour and bounty of the King then these Deuiners God is offended at the rashnesse of this science which vndertakes the knowledge of future things which is onely reserued to his eternall Prouidence and which in regard of man is all composed in with clouds and impenetrable darkenesse Vanity of Iudiciary Astrology The curious are deceiued for they tell them things that are either true or false n Fauorinus with this Dilemma mockes at Iudiciary Astrology Aut aduersa dicunt prospera Si dicunt prospera fallunt miser fies frustra expectando Si aduersa dicunt mentiuntur miser fies frustra timendo Either they tell aduerse things or prosperous If they fore-tell prosperous things and erre thou art a wretch in vaine expectance if they tell aduerse things and lye thou wilt be a wretch in fearing without cause They make themselues miserable in the expectation of prosperity which neuer happens They are miserable also in the apprehension of aduersities which they feare incessantly happen not but when they least dreame of them thinking they haue escaped them and howsoeuer lying deceiues hope and augments feare o Iudiciary Astrologyis forbidden by the reasons which Epiphanius produceth against the Manicheans Basâle in his Exameron Chrisostome vpon Genesis Hom. 5. Augustin lib. 4. cap. 3. of ãâã Cofessionâ and by the Counciles of Tolâdo The Church which hath the eternall truth for the verticall Starre of her establishment which doth alwaies looke vnto the Sunne of Iustice and Constancie not gouerning her selfe like vnto the Synagogue by the inconstancy of the Moone hath religiously and iudiciously detested the practice of Iudiciary Astrology which filles the eares with vanity and curiosity and the conscience with amazement If the curiosity had had any reflexion to the aduancement and beautifying of learning Barbarisme had not tyranized so long ouer so many good wits Princes cannot adde goodlier Crownes to the Palmes and Bayes of their vertues then those which good wits do dedicate vnto them as an acknowledgement of their fauours to learning p The glory which a Prince doth get by Armes is great That which comes from the fauour and protection of learning is immortal Intâr omnia quae vertute principum ac felicitate recreantur sint licet for tasse alia magnitudine atque vtilitate potiora nihill est tameÌ admirabilius haec libertate quam fouendis honorandisue literarum studijs iâpartiuÌt Among all the things which are delighted with the vertue and felicity of Prinalthough it may be there are some to be preferred in greatnesse and profite yet there is nothing more admirable then that liberality which is bestowed to nourish honour the study of learning Eumenes Rhoetâr in orat pro instau scho King Charles the seuenth father to Lewis and King Charles the eighth his sonne had some care of the Vniuersity of Paris The first set downe an order for the decision of causes referred to the Court of Parliament The last declared what men should enioy the priuiledges of the Vniuersitie and how they should be inrowled in the booke of Priuiledges But wee do not finde that Lewis hath done any thing either with it or against it The President Thou whose History Europe doth no lesse admire for his eloquence and boldnesse then Italy did Titus Liuius and Greece Thucidides speakes of Iohannes Vulceus of Groningue and saith that he reformed the Vniuersity during the raigne of this King and this reformation shewes that there was some disorder The negligence of men was not so much the cause as the violence of times full of troubles and confusion which did not permit them either to teach or to learne These clouds of Ignorance were as darke in other Nations Barbarisme in in the time of Lewis The misery of that age was so great as who so should represent the potrraite of that Barbarisme would moue the minds of men both to pitty of so great ignorance and to feare that our negligence would bring vs soone into the like The sweetenesse of the Muses was but bitternesse their flowers all withered and their light all confusion the men of those times did not onely contemne learning but they did abhorre her beauty and said that it did not agree with the grauity and seuerity of other Sciences q Barbarisme being banished the schooles whereas the taught good learning it remained long among the Lawiers King Francis the first hauing seene these words in a Decree debotauit debottat commanded that alâ the Actes of iustice and contracts should be made in Lattine For this cause the purity of
Angiers with an army of 50000. men came vnto him to demand a peace The King of Sicily was disposâest of his country of Anjou beeing forced to retire into Prouence with griefe to suruiue his Son Iohn D. of Calabria Lorraine Nicholas Marques of Ponte his grand-child Hee doth represent the estate of his age house in the deuice which he carried of an old stock which had no greene sprout to make it liue it was Rene D. of Lorraine Son to Yoland of Anjou his daughter The Constable who would diuide his heart in two to nourish entertaine the warre thrust the duke of Burgundy into fury the King into distrust of him hauing left the path of moderation wisedome he came vnto the king by that of pride distrust refusing to represent himselfe vnto his maiesty but armed nor to speake vnto him but by a barre vpon a causey well garded with soldiers The D. of Burgondy not able to liue idly during this Truce seekes for worke in Germany passeth to Treues propounds to change his dukes Crowne for a Kings is offended with the Emperor for refusing it He besiegeth Nuze and seeing that the crosses which he had in his affaires proceeded onely from the King he perswades the K. of England to passe the seas to renew the pretensions of his predecessors and to make a fatall combustion of all France But Lewis diuerts this storme and makes a bridge of gold for this King to repasse the sea sending him home as wel content with peace as he was come resolute to war The King reapt both honor profit and by his foresight disappointed the great designes which were laid vnder fauor of this army and although it had diuers pretexts as diuers branches of the same stock of sedition and ambition they were all dangerous all the kinds of this poison were mortall The Duke of Bourgundy was forced to accept a peace of the king against whom he had proclaimed warre The coale which entertained the fire of discord was quenched and this head that made the windes to blow which caused the quiet of France to tremble was cut off at the Greue The Duke of Bourgundy to reuenge a light iniury done vnto the Earle of Romond vndertakes a great warre against the Suiâles which by the vnfortunate euent of three battels made him to loose his baggage at Granson his reputation his forces and his hopes at Morat and at Nancy his life with a part of his estate The King reapt the fruit of this warre hauing fauoured and supported the Duke of Lorraine against the great designes of this Conqueror Hee seased vpon both Burgundies and vpon a part of Artois and had forced the Archduke Maximilian to leaue the low countries and to leade the Princesse his wife into Germany with repentance of his mariage if the battell of Guinegaste had not troubled the face of his affaires and changed the designes of warre into resolutions of peace which was confirmed by the marriage of Charles Dauphin of France with Margaret of Austria Age which neuer comes alone suffers not the King to vndertake any long and difficult conqueâs and binds him to thinke vpon the meanes to leaue his crowne peaceably vnto his Sonne as it was rich mighty and more assured then hee had receiued it from his father hauing beautified it with many goodly flowers as Burgundy Anjou Barre Prouence and the recouerie of the Townes in Picardy and of some in Artois Being prest with troubles of mind as much as with the languishing of the body and reduced to an estate more lamentable then lamented in the which he could not liue would not dye he straue foure whole yeares against the force of an incurable disease and repulst by strange meanes the approches of death to retaine life which was but too long for his miseries and infirmities as it had beene too short for his designes and hopes He was forced to yeeld himselfe to discretion the 30 th day of August 1483. the 22 th yeare of his raigne and of his age the sixtith He carried nothing from the place which hee left but the proud title to haue freed the Kings of France from subiection or wardship capable to command not a Realme only but the whole world He was interred at our Lady of Clery hauing obtained from Pope Sixtus the fourth an excommunication against all such as would lay his body in any other tombe then in that which hee had built for himselfe and Charlotte of Sauoy his wife He did often visit this last abode and did lye in it soÌmetimes that by the meditation of death he might descend liuing into the graue The triumphant Chariot of the prosperities of his life was drawn by Wisdome Iustice Liberality and Reputation wisdome made him victorious ouer his enemies Iudge of the controuersie betwixt the Crownes of Castile and Nauarre Protector of the liberty of the Common-weales of Italy Arbitrator of the peace betwixt Rome and Florence and then betwixt Rome and Venice He added the county of Prouence to the Crowne Hee vndertooke strange impossible designes Iustice alwayes in heat by his extreame seuerity did more often put the sword of execution into his hand then the ballance of due consideration hee caused many great men to feele his rigour whose processe he began by the execution Liberality opened him the hearts and gates of townes which hee battered with his money caused many which were distracted from him to come like Bees at the sound of a bason hee vsed it to bind the English to his friendship the Suisses to his succors and the Brittaines to his seruice Reputation hath held all the powers of Europe in admiration of him and hath made him to bee redoubted of strangers and feared of his Subiects Yet the differences betwixt the priuate and publike fortunes of this Prince were great his fortunes were of long Time in fauour amidst his prosperities In his raigne he was a wise happy King a good and a bountifull maister a distrustfull friend a cruell enemy and a terrible neighbour in his house a bad son a bad father a bad husband he had no children by Margret Steward his first wife and by Charlotte of Sauoy his second hee had Ioachim Charles Francis Anne and Ioane The Contents of the first Booke of the History of Lewis the XI 1 Charles the 7. disinherited by King Charles the sixth his father by the perswasion of Isabel of Bauaria his wife A Table of the miseries of France by the diuisions of the houses or Orleans and Bourgondy 2. The birth of Lewis Dauphin of France sonne to Charles the seauenth His breeding and marriage with the Princesse of Scotland 3 Treaty of Arras betwixt King Charles the 7. and Phillip of BourgoÌdy 4 Reduction of the Citty of Paris 5 First Armes of Lewis the xi 6. He is carried from Loches Trouble of the Praguerie 7. The Duke of Bourgondy approues not this mutiny 8 King
as it seemed he would canonize him before his f Flattery giues honors to mortall men which belong not vnto them Tertullian reprocheth the Pagans of lying and flattery which made them declare men Gods and Tacitus saith Deum honor Principi non ante habetur quam agere inter homines desierit Tac. An. lib. 15. The honor of the Gods is not to bee giuen vnto the Prince vntil hee hath left to liue among men death after this followed an accord by the which the Duke of Burgundy should for a reparation aske pardon of the King vpon his knee The Queene the Dauphin the Kinges of Sicile and Nauarre the Duke of Berry making the like request for him in the presence of the Children of the Duke of Orleans melting with teares and weeping with sobs to see the bloud of their Father put to compromise and themselues forced to forget so sencible an Iniurie France was presently deuided into two factions of Orleanois and Burgundians A league of Armagnacs Th' one taking his fauour and authority from the ruines disgrace of the other The Duke of Burgundy hath the soueraigne gouernment of affaires and forceth them of the howse of Orleans to make an offensiue and defensiue league against that of Burgundy g League of Orleanois at Gâen the tenth of March 1410. the heads were Charles Duke of Orleance and his brethren Iohn Duke of Berry Lewis Duke of Bourbon Iohn Earle of Alanson Francis Earle of Clermont Bernard Lord of Armagnac and Charles of Albert Constable of France The heads of the Bourgundy faction were Iohn Duke of Bourgundy his brethren Charles King of Nauarre son to Charles the bad the Dukes of Lorraine Brabant Brittaine the Marques of Pont the Earles of Neuers Vaudemont St. Paul Ponthure The name was of Armanacks the marke a white scarfe the cause the Kinges liberty who was in captiuity vnder the law and will of the Duke of Burgundy Challenge sent to the Du. of Burgundy and to the end the quarel might be ended with lesse danger losse of men and time Charles Duke of Orleans sent a challenge to the Duke of Burgundy to fight a combate with him and to be reuenged of his fathers death The Duke of Burgundy who had drawn the Queene vnto his party had noe great dificultie to perswade the King that the designe of the howse of Orleans was nothing but ambition and rebellion in denying him to demaund succors from Henry the fourth king of England The Dolphin being of yeares able to iudge of the intentions of the one and the other The sonne in lawe against the father in lawe found that the interest of the house of Orleans was that of the Crowne and that the ambition of the Duke of Bourgondy his father in law h Queene Isabel being banded against her nephewes of Orleans adhered to the Duke of Burgundy made the marriage of his daughter Catherinâ with the Dauphin Lewis was the cheefe motiue of those troubles wherefore he vndertooke to crosse his designes and to make a peace this soule was seasond with good thoughts at the siege of Burges for when they told him that in a salley which the besieged had made some of his seruants were slaine and that the souldiers dyed of poisoned waters he said vnto the King his Father and the Duke of Burgundy That this warre lasted too long and that he would make an end of it Iohn of France Duke of Berry and i Enguerand of Monstrelet notes in what manner the Duke of Berry came to this treaty in his armes notwithstanding that hee was 70. yeares old for he llued aboue 80 hauing vpon theÌ a Cassocke of purple with a band poudred with marigolds and so he is painted in the gallery of the âoâure Philebert of Lignac great master of Rhodes employed themselues vertuously to reconcile the nephewes and the vnckle The conditions of this peace were concluded at Burges Peace of Burges sworn in a great assembly at Auxerre the names of that fatall faction of Armagnac and Burgundian were comprehended in the forgetfulnes of things past and Philip Earle of Vertus was married to the Duke of Burgundies daughter But all the parts of France recouer not their former health The warre renues againe and the Dauphin is no more for the Burgundian whose principall force consists in the sedition of Paris and the succours of the English who making their profit of ciuill diuisions win the battell of Azingcourt which was called the vnfortunate day of the 25. of October 1415. The battle of Azing-Court The Duke of Orleans armed to reuenge his fathers death and the libertie of his country was led prisoner into England and if religion had not comforted him he had no lesse reason then Pompey k The Mitcleniens came to salute Pompey after the battel intreating him to land which he refused and aduised them to obey the victor and not to feare any thing for that Caesar was a iust man and of a mild nature and then turning to the Philosopher Cratippus who was also come to see him he complained and disputed a little with him touching the diuine prouidence wherein Cratippus yeilded mildly vnto him putting him still in better hope to be amazed at the prouidence of God which seemeth to fauour the most vniust party tyranny against libertie and couetousnes against freedome Death of the Dolphin and Duke of Turraine This losse was followed by the death of Lewis the Dauphin and of Iohn Duke of Touraine the Kings second sonne By the death of these two Charles Earle of Ponthieu saw himselfe in the first degree of the Princes of the bloud and presently made show that he had been bred vp to apprehend the iniury which the Duke of Burgundy had done vnto his vncle All the Princes and Noble men which had followed the house of Orleans came vnto him and among others the Constable of Armagnac but his greatest affliction was for the vnnaturall hatred which the Queene his mother bare him who declared her selfe against him Regent of the Realme was maintained in that quarrel by the Duke of Burgundy vnder her was that cruell massacre committed the 12. of Iune 1418 whereas the l Amassacre at Paris vpon the Armagnacks from 4 of the clock in the morning the 12 of Iune vntil the next day 10. of the clock To note the Constable by the scarse which he carried they flead a bend of his skin and tyed it crosse his body his office was confirmed to the Duke of Lorraine and the Chancellors to Eustace de Lastre Constable of Armagnac and the Chancellor de Marle were slaine and the Dauphin ranne a daungerous fortune if Tanneguy du Chastel Prouost of Paris and his faithfull seruant had not saued him in the Bastille Paris saw it selfe reduc'd to that miserable estate as it seemed a retrait for Beares and Tigers During this fatall diuision the English
bene made and it was reason that he which had done the harme should shew some repentance and serue as a table in the history of France that a Prince which wants piety towards God and Iustice towards men falls alwayes into o He that hath pietie iustice for the guide of his actions frees himselfe happily from confusion in all sorts of affaires These bee the glorious titles which Demetrius purchased ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã religious to the gods and Iust to men confusion The Duke said that he pardoned him for the loue of God promising him to be his friend enemy to his enemies and to renounce the aliance of England and the deputies of the Councell dispenst him of the oath which he had made not to treat without the King of England This happie and memorable peace Peace of Arras sworne the 24. of Nouember 1435. was followed with great blessings for the French and great ruines for the English This was the Comet which threatned their ruine in France and which brought the Duke of Bedford vnto his graue Death of the Duke of Bedford Regent in France for the English With the like griefe six dayes after the treaty p Isabel of Bauaria contemned of the English and Bourgundian for whom shee had âanded her selfe against her sonne dyed at S. Paul house the last of September 1435. she was carried by the Riuer of Seine to S. Dennis and buried without pomp Her tombe was built in the same place where her husbands was and her portrait is yet to bee sâene in the window of that Chappell dyed that old malicious woman the Queene mother stepmother to the king and Realme She wanted meanes to liue before her death for being no more assisted by the Duke of Bourgundy the Duke of Bedford caused her to fast vpon dayes which were not commanded to be fasted lying in Saint Paule house She had alwaies liued full of honors and affayres and now she dyes plunged in miseries and contempts The reduction of Paris was the fruit of the peace she opened her gates vnto the King Reduction of Paris which shee had shut against him for the loue of the Duke of Bourgundy for she hath dealt with friendships as with flowers the new haue alwaies beene most pleasing vnto her The King was at Montpelier when Paris was reduc'd The q The English were chased out of Paris the 27. of February 1436. where they had entred in the yeere 1420. English depart the Lillies flourish and the Kings will with the lawes of the Realme are honored there The King made his entry and was receiued as victorious of his enemies by his valor and of himselfe by his clemencie forgetting so many iniuries whereby the people had incensed him Here I seeke the Dauphin and the Historie doth not showe me him 1437. although it be credible that the father did not forget to haue him seene in this great occasion in his capitall Citie no more then at the assembly of the estates which he called at Orleans But I finde him on horsebacke at the age of fourteene yeares and commanding the Kings armie before Monstreau Faut-Yonne Hee tooke the towne by assault and the Castle by composition and made so good warre with the English that were within it as they gaue him thankes in the Kings presence confessing that hee had giuen them cause in admiring his valor to commend his bounty to the which they were bound for their liues r A Prince which saues his life whom he may kil cannot do any thing that brings him sooner to the height of glory and reputation nec vlla re propius homines ad deum accedunt quam salute hominibus danda Cic. Neither is there any thing which makes meÌ liker vnto Gods then by giuing life vnto men This first beginning applauded by some old Knights flattering this yong Alexander who beganne to bee discontented for that his father left him no worke to doe made him to conceiue better of himselfe then hee ought For such flattering opinions s Flattery doth so transport young Princes with a good opinion of what they are or should be as it is easily conuerted into presumption and admits no counsell nor conduct are fruitlesse sproutes and vnprofitable leaues which grow too fast in these yong plants and in the end kils them The Father who had made him Captaine so soon repented as suddainely for he beganne to make showe that hee was not borne to follow but to goe before Martin Gouge Bishop of Cleremont Christopher of Harcourt and the Lord of Chaumont make him beleeue that his valor and courage would not suffer him to stay there that the more he should eleuate his trumpet of fame the farther it should bee heard that he could not beginne any exercise of glorie and reputation to t Alexander at 16. yeares of age defeated the Megariens and was at the battell of Cheronea wherefore Demosthenes called him child Hannibal was but eleuen yeares old when hee made open professioÌ of armes Wee must obserue saith Phil. de Commines That all men which haue don gret matters haue begunne very yong Warre is a science which is not learned by discourse It is a troublesome practise for him that hath not accustomed it from his youth Paul Emil. soone and that he should not attend vntill that fortune tooke him by the hand to lead him to the Empire of men but he should goe and meete her These Councellers were spirits that were not capable to command nor to be commanded and which could not liue vnder that great rigor of the Kings authoritie Bad counsell giuen to Lewis who knowing his humors allowed him not what he desired and made him giue eare to such as found no other course for their greatnes and who assured him that there was no other way for his rising then to absent himselfe from the presence of his father An aduise which could not bee commended but by such to whom all wickednes is commendable For of badde counsels such as was neuer giuen by men that were u Integrity or fidelitie sufficiencie or wisedome are the two principall qualities of good counsellors they add a third which depends of the precedent to haue his heart free from passion and priuate interest wise discreete and without any priuate interest three rare qualities but necessarie for him that takes vpon him to counsel another the worst and most pernicious is that which deuides the Sonne from the Father and withdrawes him from the dutie wherewith hee is bound by the lawes of nature and religion x The commandement of the Childrens dutie was halfe written in the first table which regards Gods right and halfe in the second table wherein are commândements which concerne our Neighbours as beeing partly diuine and partly humane nothing beeing able to extinguish this bond free this seruitude nor dispence him from the obedience due to the fathers commandements how
will the gates are open for you and if they were not wide enough I would cause sixteene or twenty fadome of the wall to be beaten downe to make you a greater passage I am your father your will depends vppon mine g The fathers will iâ soueraigne ouer that of the Sonne The power of the Father was in old time absosolute among the Romans Persians and Gaules ouer the liues deaths goods libertie actions and honor of their children I finde it very strange that you haue ingaged your word without knowing mine But it imports not The house of France by the grace of God is not so vnfurnished of Princes as it hath not some that will shew more affection then you haue done to maintaine her greatnes and honor This yong Prince desired rather to bee held a bad Sonne then a bad master Wilfulnes of the Dauphin Wee must beleeue that these clouds did not breake without some raine and that this fire of choller and loue was not quencht without teares The Duke of Bourbon who knew how to distinguish h Kings are offended when the subiects wil haue their children march equally with them The high Priests in the beginning of the yeare made publike prayers for the health and prospâritie of the Emperor Tiberius blamed theÌ sharply for that they had added the names of Nero and Drusus his successors hearing it impatiently to see youâh march equall with his age Aequam adolescentes Senectae suae impatienter indoluit Tacit. betwixt the authoritie of the one and the age of the other and would not that there should remaine any conceit in the Kings minde that this wilfulnes was supported by his Councell at the same time tooke the oath of Allegeance promising to leaue the Dauphin and all intelligences and leagues contrarie to his Maiesties seruice The Dauphin could doe no lesse then apply himselfe to the obedience and humilitie which God and Nature had ordained him He humbles himselfe The King kept him neere him changed all his officers except his Confessor and his Cooke set good gards about him that no bad thing might enter into his eares i Hearing is the entrie vnto the Soule good or bad Counsells haue no other passage When the gardes of these gates are wonne they triumph ouer the sort Ad summam sapiens eris fi clauseris âures quibus ceram parum oft obdere Firmiori spissamento opus est quam vsum in sociis Vlissem ferunt Senec. and hee caused them to be obserued that came neere him to the end hee might call them to an account for the bad Impressions they gaue him He gaue him men The King reformes the Dauphins house better knowne and recommended for their wisedome and Integritie then for their cunning and subtiltie k Good men are alwaies necessarie about Princes they must chase away factious spirits who are more fit to disorder then to settle affaires It is also good to haue them that are cunning and politicke to imploy them against deceiuers commanding them to haue a care of this yong Prince who was of a good disposition but very tractable and might easily bee diuerted Many vitious inclinations creepe into mens mindes whereof wee must no more blame Nature then the Vine when as the Wine growes sower or Iron when it rusts How good soeuer the disposition be it corrupts and is spoiled if it be not entertained and education doth alwaies frame men after her owne fashion notwithstanding any lets of Nature They that are about this Prince Hee is watcht least he fall by the Kings commandement keepe him so short as notwithstanding that Will be a prerogatiue of humane libertie l The will which is in her libertie and depends onely on the power of reason aâmes at things which are desirable and to be affected The name of vertue among the Grecians came from that of desire for that it is properly and chiefly to be desired hee durst not will any thing contrarie to his dutie And for that the Dukes of Alençon and Bourbon had promised by the treatie to yeelde vp vnto the King the places which they held they hauing no other securitie but the Kings word and clemencie the Armie was not dismist before that all was executed Which beeing done a Peace was proclaimed and this reuolt which they called the Praguerie supprest in lesse then nine monthes The Dauphin remained still neere the King he serued him and followed him in diuers occasions It was an incomparable happines m It is a great contentment for a King to come to that age to fashion his successor and to make him partaker of his experience and authoritie for him to see his way made vnto the Crowne and to learne how to liue vnder so good a father Parts which frame a Prince The practise of warre vnder the conduct and instruction of so valiant a Captaine and so wise a King the essentiall parts which frame a Prince counsell force reputation n The same things which support the frame of an Estate as Councell force and reputation are the essentiall parts which fashion a Prince Councell teacheth him the true formes how to raigne well force consists in the ãâã of six conditions which make him mighty the which are to to haue his estate louing great armed rich and setled Reputation is the glorious brute of that efficacie as opinion giues it credit and respect amoÌg other Potentates and the instruments to raigne which be first knowledge to looke into the nature of subiects secondly wisedome to giue them fit lawes thirdly order of armes fourthly the art to make warre fiftly industrie to maintaine peace sixtly diligence to foresee accidents seuenthly meanes to amplisie his Empire eighthly iudgement to know the iealousies and interests of States ninthly dexteritie to temporise inconuenients tenthly quicknes to resolue eleuenthly celeritie to execute twelfthly constancie in matters resolued thirteenthly force in aduersitie foureenthly moderation in prosperitie fifteenthly and so firme a knowledge of diuine things that superstition make him not fearefull nor libertie rash He led him to the siege of Pontoise the Accademie of the most memorable exploits which had bin seen in those times Siege of Pontoise The English hauing indiscreetly o Eueây man commits errors the FreÌch haue and the English also in the deciding of their affaires King Iohn refused the offer which the Prince of Wales made him to yeeld vp all which he had conquered and the spoile Hee would beside al this haue the Prince and foure of the chiefe Noblemen of his Armie yeeld at his discretion This refusall was followed with the losse of a battell and the taking of the King King Charles offered the English in the confârence at Calais to leaue them all that they held in doing him hâmage they refused it and had neither the one nor the other refused the kings offers who left them the quiet possession of that which
they were able to resist the most violent stormes of Enuie Vertue and good fortune had alwaies held the helme and sailes of his nauigation The troupes which he led had been well beaten vpon the fronter of Bourgundy The Dauphin said vnto him by way of iest yet without bitternes for he knew that this spirit would be easily moued g Euery iest that containes truth in it offends although it he spoken by a superiour The more mens cour ages are raised vp the lesse they endure and the longer they remember it ãâ¦ã facenis irridete follius quarum apud praepotentes in longâââ memoria est Tac. An lib. 5. ãâ¦ã wont to scoffe at Tiberius ãâ¦ã neither did he dwell vpon it for iests should end when as they begin to moue laughter How now Earle of Dammartin by the faith of my bodie the Marshall of Bourgundy hath vnshod you he doth contrarie to other Smithes who shooe horses and he vnshooes them You say well answered the Earle but I haue gotten ten thousand crownes to make new shooes for my horses He was very inward with him and of that credit as meaning to be reuenged of any one that had offended him Reuenge against the Seneshall of Normandy he imparted his deseine vnto him and gaue him mony to execute it h The Chronicle Martinienne speakes plainely of this proceeding A rack which euery Prince should shun if hee will not make shipwrack of his reputation To cause an enemy to be slaine is an act of feare and not of brauery It is a proud abstinency to refuse his prince but a great misery when it is for the recompence of a seruice which subiects the consience vnder the tyranie of repentance and remorse Iames of Chabannes Lord Steward of France blamed his brother for this match making by the which he gaue his friends cause to repent themselues for the esteeme they had made of him i He that doth an act to ruine his reputation forceth many to repent themselues of the admiration esteeme they haue had of him The King was aduertised and not able to dissemble an Act so vnworthy the generosity of the blood of France Excuse of the Dauphin to accuse Chabannes which knoweth not how to shed blood neither for delight nor reuenge but onely for necessity k Tyrants saith Seneca shed blood for pleasure and Kings for necessity reprehended him bitterly The Dauphin to excuse himselfe accused the Earle of Dammartin saying that it was by his counsell The Earle desuring rather to wrong his fortune then his honour did not accord with the Dauphin but tolde the King that therein he had but giuen eare and obayed The Dauphin seeing himselfe discouered and contradicted saide vnto the Earle reseruing my duty to the King my Lord you haue lyed The reproch of a lye is the most sensible offence that may be done by words but it is neither weaknes nor basenes to endure it of his prince it were indiscretion to be moued therewith Yet the Earle of Dammartin sought to reueÌge those words with this speach Reseruing the respect I owe vnto the King if you were not the Kings sonne I would make answer with my person against yours The Dauphin leaues the Court. but if there be any gentleman of your howse that will charge me with this matter I will make him say the contrary The King iudging by their countenances the truth of their intentions commanded the Dauphin to absent himselfe for fower Monthes l A Prince which hath many Children great capable to command should not keepe them about him hee must giue them some obiect to consume their ambition The idlenes of Court giues them vitious inclinations had deseignes Wherefore Tiberius absented himselfe Vrbano âuxu laseiuientem His spirit began to grow disordered by the excesse of the City and idlenes which make men humerous from Court and to go into Dauphine The Dauphin going out of the Kings Chamber bare headed and his heart full of reuenge and collor spake these words By this head which hath no hood I will be reuenged on those that haue cast me out of my howse And he kept his word for he was too true in his threats and promises of reuenge He did neuer loue that which he had hated and his disposition was far from that generous precept that wee must hate to loue more ardently m We must not ãâã hate but we wâst so dispose of hatred as it may be conuerted into more ardent friendship Whether the Kinges iealousie or the dislike of faire Agnes the wordes of the Earle of Dammartin or spies or flatterers had caused the absence of Lewis the father bare it with much greefe and repented himselfe that he had no more regarded his owne age then the age of his sonne and that he had neuer showed him his face but fraught with waiwardnes not opened his heart but full of wrath and disdaine n The youth of Primers hath their lawes and priuiledges The fathers seuerity should not seeke to breake them quite but to bend them gently He that had nothing refused to his owne youth should not deny all thinges to his sonnes Time which should haue cured this wound The Kings griefe for the Dauphins absence did but augment the griefe He is victorious ouer forraine enemies but he hath in his heart ciuill war which is more cruell He hath giuen peace vnto France and his soule is in trouble It was a great griefe not to see himselfe assisted and serued by a sonne so great and so valiant in those goodly occasions which hee ended so happily to make all France French Battell of Firmigny The siege of Rone and the reduction of all Normandy in one yeare and sixe dayes hauing remained English the space of 30. yeares the battell of Firmigny o The Battell of Firmigni the 15. of Aprill 1450. whereas there were slaine in the place and put into 14. pits 4574. english except 12. or 13. that were prisoners Our Histories report this battel diuersly we must giue credit to that geadly ould peece of tapestry which is at Fountainble au whereas the whole is represented A thousand fighting defeated 6000. English which for the death of 8. or 10. Frenchmen gaue the victory against the English of whom there were 4574. slaine vppon the place The Conquest of all Guienne The siege of Chastillion whereas Talbot p The English called Iohn Talbot their Achilles Hee is interred at VVhitechurch to whom they haue giuen this Epitaph Orate pro anima praenobilis Domini D. Iohannis Talbot quondam Comitis Saloprae D. Talbot D. Furniual D. verden D. Strange de Blaemere at Marescalli Franciae qui âbiit in bello apud Bourdeaur the 7. of Iuly 1453. the Achilles of the English was slaine whose name doth yet terrifie the little children in Guienne The taking of Bourdeaux with other great and goodly occasions which should haue beene as
borne late are soone Orphlins The losse of this infant which first had giuen him the name of Father was so sencible vnto him as Phillip de Comines saith that he made a vow neuer to loue any other woman but his owne wife and yet in many parts of his Cronicle we see him among women we find some lost some married and their husbands from base fortunes raised to great dignites with many other actions which argue not a continency equall to that of Alexander p Alexander being perswaded to see Darius daughters who were faire and yong made answer I will haue a care not to be vanquished by woemen seeing that I haue vanquished men who being a victor would not see those beauties which might vanquish him nor to that of Cyrus q They intreated Cyrna to see Panthea which he refused to doe and being told that shee was very faire it is for that reason said he I may not see her for if I doe visite her now that I haue leysure she will bind me another time when I shall be full of affaires who would by no meanes see her who he thought might bind him to see her more then once The King bare the absence of his sonne very impatiently it was a thorne in his heart which time could not pull out Death of Ladislaus King of Hungary Hee grew sicke and his sicknes was seconded by a great affliction for the death of Ladislaus r Sorrow creepes sodainly amidst ioy whiles they treat of a marriage at Toure betwixt the L. Magdalen of France and King Ladislans his Embassadors receiue newes of his death on Christmas ãâã 1457. King of Hungary to whom he had promised the lady Magdalen his daughter After his recouery he thought that all the cause of his ill grew from the Duke whom he accused to haue drawne away his son and corrupted his good nature resoluing to seeke a remedy rather with deedes then wordes He leuied a great army and no man knew how he would imploy it the duke fearing that it was to make some enterprise vppon the townes of the riuer of Somme which had beene giuen him by the treaty of Arras staid not to demand the reason t In occasions which presse we must not loose time with wordes men of courage should not haue their handes on their tongues but their tongues in their handes he armes and goes into Picardy to prouide for the safety of his townes and to hinder the Kinges entry with forces The King sendes word to the Duke of Bourgondy that he was in armes to take into his protection the goods of the Lord of Rodemart u Princes haue alwaies pretextâ to make warre and he that wil breake with his friend neuer failes to find occasions The Duke answered that he was no subiect of France that his lands lay in the Dutchy of Luxembourg that the King should speak more plainely and that he desired to know whether the king had a will to keepe the treaty of Arras or not The King had a desire to haue his sonne otherwise then by the hazard of Armes or breach of a truce which cost so much blood and drawn so many Princes into danger x In the assembly of Arras for a peace betweene King Charles the seuenth and Philip Duke of Bourgundy were present the Embossadors of the Pope of the Councell of Basill of the Emperor and of all Christian Princes They numbred about four thousand horses He feared to ingage hmselfe in new miseries and to bring France to the hazard of shipwrack which she had escaped He went to the west of his life and knew that the greatest of the Realme had their eyes turned to the East Age had coold his military heat the vigour of his nature was without edge the blood of his courage was nothing but slegme y Princes are men and borne men wherfore their best qualities and dispostions are mutable and in the and discouer their inconstancie And although that this first force of his spirits was not altogether deiected yet was it much altered France did still produce some fantastick humors vnknowne to other Prouinces as Egypt doth bring forth Beasts and Nile Fishes which are not found in other countries nor in other Riuers The house of Bourgundy had beene so beaten with the like storme as it desired to continue in this calme Declarâtion of the house of Bourgundy the couetousnes of great men was glutted with the calamities of innocents z The people are for the most part innocent of the causes of warre they suffer al the calamities The couetâusnes of Souldiers is neuer satisfied but with the miseries of innocents Calamitatibus insontium expletur auariâa Tac. lib. 2. the most greedy of troubles were forced to commend rest It would haue seemed hard vnto the subiects to see themselues ouerwhelmed so suddenly with waues a It is alwaies dangerous to take from the people the ease and commodities wherein they liue The iudgement of Tiberius was long in suspence before he could resolue to draw the people from the sweetnes of peace to the discommodities of warre Tac. saith Populum per tot annos moliter habitum non audebit ad durioâavertere The Duke would not leaue a doubtfull peace with his subiects he desired to be satisfied of the Kings intention saying that if they forced him to raise an armie they should bury him in his armes that he had no will vnto it vnlesse he were forced that the Trumper should make no noise if violence were not offered and that this Eccho should remaine quiet in the ease of solitarines but if they moued him hee would not be silent vntill that they who had caused him to speake did first hold their peace These practises past away and the King was glad that they raised no stormes not holding it reasonable to resolue to warre more by the occasion which hee had then by the inconueniences which he did foresee b All occasion to make warre should not be rashly nor ambitiously sought for what shew of profit soeuer they had It is better to haue a care to keepe subiects in peace is people townes and to increase the commerce so discipline souldiers and together treâsâre together least he be surprised in necessity besides being now opprest not with yeeres but with cares which seemes to be inseparable accidents of the life of great men and the excesse of those pleasures which Nature had made short for that they are pernicious hee suffered himselfe to be carried away with melancholly and waywardnes two rockes against which the vessell suffered shipwracke Hee grew wayward after the condemnation of Iohn Duke of Alençon to lose his head the tenth of October 1458. After which melancholly and heauines had seazed on him hee changed the troubles of his life into a perpetuall prison at Loches and gaue his goods to his wife and children c Iohn D. of
owne head and that he had no other Law then his will desired her a longer life for her presence had been a causey to stop these torrents m The great name of mother well bred and of vnderstanding is a great restraint vnto a Prince Tacitus saith that after that Nero had lost his mother he fell to all dissolutions and excesse Quaâ malâ coârcit as qualiscunque matris reuerentia tardauerat Seâanus did aâso keep Tiberius in awe and the same author saith that hee gaue himselfe to wicked and vnseemely things postquam remoto pudore et metu suo tantum ingenio vtebatur when as hauing banished shame and feare hee followed his own wit It falls out ill with a Prince who sees nothing betwixt God and himselfe whereof the respect should restraine him and be a bridle vnto him She had endured much before her death The Chronicle of Lewis the eleuenth commends her patience vnder her husbands raigne and humors but she could not dissemble the discontent which she receiued at the pleasure of her Augustus n They demanded of Liuia Augustus wife how shee had done to win and enioy Augustus To whom she answered in doing willingly whatsoeuer pleased him dissembling the plesures which he tooke in secret Dion As a good constitution of the body doth easily endure both heat and cold so the force and vigour of the mind doth without any great paine resist these crosses and discontents which are thornes amidst the roses of marriage This passion seazing vppon a weake spirit and without defence transports it to dislikes and extreame hatred About the end of the yeare he went to Tours the Earle of Charolois after his returne from pilgrimage came thither to him where after they had spent some daies in the pleasure of hunting he had the Commission of Lieftenant Generall in Normandy with 36000. Crownes for his entertainement This guift was without asking The benefits of Princes are sweeter offred then granted He had but one third part paid which defect made him to faile in his affection and transported him to other thoughts o Men are more discontented to see themselues frustrated of thinges promised then of those which are but hoped for In the one there is but misâap and they complaine only of fortune In the other contempt and they challenge him that hath broken his promise Hee went to Rouen to take possession of his gouernment It was at Tours that he began to frame his intelligences with the Duke of Brittanny These two Princes were yong both discontented and they which know one another salute a farre off The Earle of Charolois did conferre secretly with Romille Vicechancellor and Ambassador of Brittany to whom he gaue the seale of alliance wherewith hee shall be soone reprocht Lewis entered into France a friend to all his neighbours There was not any but Pope Pius 2 p Pius 2. called a Councile at Mantoâa in the yeare 1459. to consult of the meanes to resist Mohomet 2. who had made great ruines in Hungary Albania Constantinople who let him know that he could not be so Pius 2. presseth the abolition of the Pragmatike Sanction if the pragmatike Sanction were obserued To vnderstand how France hath lost that which she had preserued so deerely we must take the discourse somwhat higher The Pope had called an q Eugenius the 4. in the yeare 1443. gaue the Inuestitiure of the Realme of Naples to Alphonso King of Aragon with the two Sicities Bartho Flaccius in the life of Alphonse the 5. Pins 2. gaue the inuestiture of the Crowne of Naples to Ferdinand bastard to Alphonso King of Arragon Alexander 6. confirmed it to Alphonso 2. who left it to Ferdinand of Aragon and he held it when as Charles the eight conquered the Realme an assembly of Princes at Mantoua to consult of the meanes to make warre against the Turke land to preuent the great deseignes which hee had against Christendome King Charles the seauenth sent his Ambassadors thither Prelates Knightes and Doctors to let them vnderstand his intentions for the generall good of the Church They made a priuate request vnto the Pope that if hee would be pleased to giue the inuestiture of the Realmes of Naples and Sicile to King Rene who had beene wrongfully dispossest against the hereditary rightes of the house of Aniou the which the King desired the more earnestly for that besides the affection of blood which bound him to loue his kinsman and brother in Law he saw that the generall cause of Christendome would bee much fortefied against the common enemy for the Duke of Calabria the sonne of Renne entring into the inheritance of his predecessors propounded to aduance his armes and to expell the Ottomans out of the Empire of Constantinople when as they thought that the Christian Religion was at her period and could go no farther r Albunasat said that the Christian Relligion should last vnto the yeare 1460. Abraham the Iewe said that in the yeare 1464. the Iewish religion should bee in her glory liberity when as it was most afflicted An enterprise whereof they had great hope as well for the generosity of this Princes courage as for that he was in an age fit and capable of such actions whereby the holy Sea might reape great profit the possessions depending of his patrimony being by this meanesrestored vnto him The Pope vpon this proposition s This Act was imparted vnto mee by Gaspar Dauvet Siegneur of Marets Stuard of the kings house The chiefe clauses are reported here in the margent Post quaÌ plurimade laudibus Francorum S. D. N. praeclare dixerat adiecit etiam loqui in fanorem partis aduersae antedicti D. Regis Rentai de graÌdi exaltatione ille gitime natorum aliqua in ijs interserendo quae potius tacenda fuisse videntur hauing made a long discourse in commendation of the French The Popes affection to the house of Arragon hee added many things touching bastards fauoring couertly those which vsurped the rights of the house of Aniou and then falling vpon the decrees of the councile of Basill and of the Pragimatike sanction he said that it was a spot which did blemish the beauty of the face of France and vnder pretext whereof the Authority of the Apostolik Sea was disgrac'd the forces of Christian Relligion were weakened the vnity and liberty of the Church violated and troden downe and therefore hee was forced to speake Popes threat against France least his silence should bee reputed a conniuence or carelesnesse and that the wound which might bee cured grew not incurable and hee should be forced to abstaine from all intelligence and communication with the French alledging this passage of Scripture t Alledging that it is written in the old law Surper omnem animaÌ quae mortua est non ingredietur Pontifex The high Priest shall not see a dead soule and shall not bee whereas there
literae expeditae per Praelatos personas Ecclesiasticas dictiregni receptae non fuerunt nec ipsi Praelati personae Ecclesiastâcae illis parere nec monitis Sixti Innocentii Iulii aures praebere sed eidem Pragmaticae constitutioni inhaerere voluerint The Buls of Sixtus the third Innocent the eight Alexander the sixt and Iulio the second were fruitlesse The Decre of the Councell of Lateran serued to no purpose and this Pragmatick Sanction ended not before the Concordants were past at Bolonia betwixt Pope Leo the tenth and king Francis the first They did iudge by the kings first actions 1461. what the manner of his gouernment would be The King discontents the Nobilitie and that he would beautifie the diuinations of his raigne with other trophies then of clemencie t Clemencie is the Ornament of the raigne of Kings they should begin with it Nouuâ imperium occupantibus vtilis clementiae âama Tacit. lib. 4. Hist. Hee disappointed in a manner all the officers and seruants of king Charles his Father taking a great delight to vndoe that which hee had raised and to raise that which hee had puld downe He gaue Berry onely to his brother for his portion vpon condition that it should returne vnto the Crowne if he dyed without issue male u There was a time when as the Kings of France left vnto the Princes of their bloud the proprieties of their portions Philip of Valoiâ left the Countie of Valois to Charles his younger brother Philip the Faire was the first that ordained by his Câdicill that the County of Poictou giuen by him with other lands to his yonger sonne Philip of France who afterwards was K. Philip the Long should returne to the crowne for waÌt of Heyres male vpon condition the King which should then raigne should marrie his Daughter Hee tooke the Seales from Iuuenall of Vrsins and gaue them to Peter of Moruilliers The Duke of Alençon was a prisoner in the Castle of Loches whom he set at libertie Hee caused the Earle of Dammartins processe to be made and after that the Court of Parliament had condemned him to dye hee gaue him his life vpon coÌdition that he should imploy the remainder in the I le of Rhodes for the seruice of Christendome and should put in caution but not able to find any hee had the Bastil for his prison from whence he escaped in the night by a hole which he had made in the wall at the same time when as the Duke of Berry passed into Brittanny Taneguy of Chastell x Taneguy of Coastel Nephew te him that âlâw the Duke of Bourgunay was master of the horse to K. Charles the seuenth hee retired into Brittany where the Duke made him his high steward Chamberlaine being discontented for that he was not satisfied the money which he had aduanced for the funerals of Charles the seuenth retired himselfe to Francis Duke of Brittany This Prince had succeeded to Arthur of Brittany Earle of Richmond his Vncle Francis the second Du of Brittany and was well informed of the humor and designes of Lewis and therefore in the beginning hee sent his seruants throughout the Realme disguised in the habites of Iacobins and Franciscans to moue the people to looke vnto the beginning of this Raigne and to coniure them to defend their libertie with tooth and nayle y The Embassadors of Sparta beeing sent to Xerxes said vnto Gidarne who commended the felicity of such as serued the King If thou didst know Gidarne what libertie were thou wouldest counsell vs to defend it not with the launce and target onely but with our teeth and nayles aduising them that this King entered into the Realme as into a countrey of Conquest that he held all that pleased him to be lawfull That he forced great men not to obey but to serue The people not to bee gouerned but tiranized and to prepare themselues to liue in such sort as they might say they had not any thing Being aduertised of the Duke of Brittaines practises The Kings voyage into Brittany he went to see him vnder coulour to visit the Church of S. Sauiour of Redon Deuotion was the pretext and a desire to know the Dukes country and forces the cause of this Pilgrimage z It is a great aduantage to know the forces of an estate which one meanes to assaile and to measure them with his It was the aduise of Xenophon Chabrias said that theron consists a part of the Generals dutie He was not resolued to leaue him in peace He knew well that three or foure yeares before hee had sought to make himselfe a companion to King Charles the seuenth hauing refused to doe him homage vpon his knee and without his sword for the Dutchie of Brittanie a In the homage which Francis the second Duke of Brittany did vnto King Charles the seuenth at Moâbason in February 1458. Iohn of Estoteuille said vnto him My Lord of Brittanie you should put off your girdle And Chauuân Chancellor of Brittany answered He ought not It were an innouation he is as he should be hee had also discouered that hee and the Earle of Charolois had giuen their faith to runne the selfe same fortune although that the remembrance of the Death of the Duke of Orleans his grandfather by the mothers side had beene able to disswade him from the house of Bourgundy and that it had beene better for him to ioyne with his Cozens the Dukes of Orleans and Angolesme and to continue his designe vpon the Duchie of Milan to recouer his grandmothers inheritance whereof Francis Sforce had ceazed b Francis Duke of Brittanie sonne to Richard of Brittanie and Margaret of Orleans Daughter to Lewis D. of Orleans and Valantyn of Milan had vndertaken to make warre against Francis Sforce Anâal of Brittanie The Venetians and Borso of Este Duke of Ferrara gaue eare to the propositions which they made giuing hope to assist the rights of the house of Orleans These first years of the Raigne of Lewis were very sharpe and those which followed altogether insupportable Great men were depriued of their Dignities Rigor in the beginning of Lewis raigne and the meaner opprest with great charges There was couetousnes for men of merite and prodigalitie for the rest c It is good aâter a prodigall Prince to haue one that is couâtous who may restraine those excessiue prâfusion he that findes not any thing to giue cannot be liberall He said he would gather money together to redeeme the townes vpon the Riuer of Some He had knowne what a crowne was worth and how many peeces would make one They that haue past by the indiscretions of necessitie proceed very discreetely in their expences If all the time that hee had beene banished from the Court he had no want of necessarie things so had he no great abundance superfluous His sparing was the lights which swelled by the leannesse
of all the other members The complaints of the Rigor d When as the people are opprest they dare not accuse the Princes rigor but cast their complaints vpoÌ that of the time of the time became murmurings against the seueritie of the Prince Euery one lamented the Raigne of Charles and desired rather the end then the continuance of that of Lewis Great men beganne to make it knowne that they could not liue long in that seruitude shewing themselues more sencible of the contempt e The nature of man is more sensible of contempt then of losse The Senators of Rome were more discontented for that Caesar entred into the Senate without saluting them then for the enterprise which hee made vpon their libertie which was done them then of the miseries which the meaner sort suffered yet they found no better pretext of their priuate interest then that of the publike The King did not attend the consent of the Realme to haue money hee tooke it without asking They were not tributes of Loue f Princes finde pleasing names for things which are bittâr and hard Edward the fourth in posed vpoÌ the Realme of England a tribute which hee called a Bââeuolenââ Euerie one did contribute as hee pleased and according to his gifts they did iudge of his Loue to the King He that gaue much loued much Edward made vse of this tribute against the French found great succors Polid. lib. 24. 26. but of Rigour and constraint thinking that France was a meadow which he might mowe at all seasons A great sedition troubled the citie of Rheimes against those which had raised customes The Commissaries were slaine and their Commissions cast into the fire The King sent Souldiers disguised like Marchants and labourers who entring by diuers ports ioined with the Lord of Mouy their commander who caused a hundreth of the most seditious to bee hanged suppressed the sedition g The most frequent and knowne causes of sedition and mutenâ grâw from new charges and excessiue impositions reuenged the Kings seruice and setled his authoritie there the which had not beene impugned but for the naturall impatiencie of the people to endure that whereunto they were not accustomed All France was quiet Combustions in England and beheld as from the shore the tempests which were in England and Arragon The King was glad to entertaine the warre farre from him and to assist the house of Lancaster in England and the house of Arragon in Spaine whiles that the clouds and windes prepared to draw the storme vpon his owne head England for the diuision of the houses of Yorke Lancaster saw at that time such terrible changes and accidents as it is a wonder the Realme did not passe vnder some forraine command and that they did not cry quittance with him seeing there is no surer meanes to ruine an estate then ciuill discord h Ciuill Diuisions transport and change estates Spaine vnder the raigne of fourescore and twelue Kings hath beene torne in as many peeces as it hath had Realmes France hath changed thrice England hath been commanded by the English Danes Saxons and in the end by the Normans The Empire hath been past from the East vnto the West Naples hath been vnder the power of the French Germans Arragânois and since of Castitians But France had yet so many bad humors in her body as her disposition was more dying then liuing When as the English ceast to afflict her they began to quarrell and to ruine one another The end of forraine warres was the spring and renewing of ciuil Henry of Lancaster sonne to Henry the fift found himselfe without a crowne notwithstanding that in his infancie he had been crowned with that of France and England Richard Duke of Yorke an Ambitious Prince and who had both credit courage i Good things and which are commendable of themselues applied to il are perâitions Sepius industria acvigilancia noxiae quoties parando Regno fingatur Tac. lib. An. lib. â industrie and vigilancie qualities to bee suspected in an Ambitious spirit became head of a great faction the intentions whereof he couloured with the onely zeale of the publicke good to change the bad gouernement of the Realme to deliuer England from the insolencie of the Duke of Somerset who alone gouerned the helme of the affaires whilest that the King suffered his spirits to be transported not to delights and voluptuousnes but to carelesnes k An idle Prince is a waies contemned Three things saith Zeâophon make him excell ouer his subiects ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã His carelesse life incensed his subiects hearts and his idlenes distasted all men of his raigne The estate was like vnto a sicke body which is so prest with his infirmitie as he is forced to trust him that comes to let him bloud and cannot attend the Phisitions which are farre off l In violent diseases wee may not attend far fetcht remedies although they answere him that they will come and cure him Such as were discontented with the present Conspiracy against King Henry the sixt and desired to see some change applyed them-selues to the Duke of Yorks desseigns and intentions and among others Richard Neuell Earle of Salisbury and Richard Neuill Earle of Warwick his brother who had wisdome and courrage rare parties for a great desseigne and therewith such great credit among the people as it was thought that not any one in England durst doe that which these would vndertake The Duke of Yorke hauing cast his bell made the sound thereof to be generally heard hee strake such a terror into the Court and made the wicked so audacious as the King who had neuer tasted of Domesticke troubles his spirit beeing like vnto a ship m Courages tried in dangers are to bee commended A ship is neuer esteemed which hath neuer felt of a storme which had neuer sailed but in a calme was amazed and confounded and not holding himselfe safe in the Citie of London by reason of the inconstancie of the people and the great credit which this faction had gotten resolued to leaue it The Duke of Yorke besieged S t. Albons n The battell of S t. Albons began early in the morning and continued vntil 9. of the clock in the yere 1556 Edmund D. of Sommerset and Henry Earle of NorthumberlaÌd were slaine the two armies meet Henry the sixt defeated and the Kings is put to rout with the losse of their chiefe commanders Hee lamented greatly for the Death of the Duke of Sommerset After this victorie the Duke of Yorke who had made declaration thât hee had no other intention then the publicke good of the Realme and that his armes were not to offend the Prince accompanies King Henry to London as a Conqueror and freed from the Rule of the Duke of Sommerset which shewes that he had not taken armes but to free the King and the Realme who was ready
to submit himselfe to the mildest yoake seeing that hee could not remaine free o The miseries of ciuill diuision reduced Rome to that estate as hauing no hope euer to recouer her liberty she sought for nothing but for the mildest serâitude Hee left vnto Henry the name of King onely for all the authoritie was in his hands he gaue to the Earle of Salisbury the Office of Lord Chancellor of England and to Richard Neuell his Sonne the gouernment of Callis He disposed of publike charges as he pleased still giuing them vnto those of his faction In the end the king discouers the Duke of Yorkes designe Queene Margaret his wife who had been aduertised thereof le ts him vnderstand that he did temporise but vntill the partie were made to ceaze both of the king and Realme and among his partisans the king was held but for a Tyrant As if his Raigne had been by vsurpation or constraint p Among many differences betwixt a King and a Tyrant they put this that a King raigns with the loue anâ consent of the people and a Tyrant rules by constraint The king imparted this to his principall seruants D. of Yorke retires from the Court of England who were of aduise to restraine this great authoritie which the Duke of Yorke had within the Realme The Duke beeing suddenly aduertised thereof retired secretly to Wigmore in Wales Richard Neuell to his Castle of Midleham in the North Countie and Richard Earle of Warwicke to Callis so as the cruell seditions in England grew more violent then before during the which the French spoiled the coasts of Kent and Iames king of Scotland inuited by the same occasion entred by Roxborge The same cause which made this warre ended it q The shaâpest Ciuill wars are pacified when as strangers meddle to gaine by them The two parties agree against the third and although the Prince be offended yet it is better to remit the punishment The king of England let the Duke of Yorke vnderstand that the ciuill discord and the bad intelligence which was betwixt them had opened a gate to the enemies to inuade England that the common danger did binde them to vnite their forces to defend it and that hee was contented to forget all matters past vpon hope of a better conduct hereafter English cease their ciuill discords to war against the French excusing himselfe that matters had not alwaies gone directly being impossible for a Prince to obserue all the kinds of Iustice and equitie r Many things vniust of themselues are made iust when they are countenanced by necessitie or profit wherfore Plutark obserues That if there were question to accomplish al the kindes of iustice Iupiter himself might not in that case bee a Prince The Kings intention was allowed by all men the Duke of Yorke being loth to be the author of the ruines of the Realme declared that all his affections tended to his greatnes and quiet and to take away all occasions of doubt He came vnto the King to London with the chiefe of his faction The feare of a forraine warre quenched the ciuill s There is no such indiscretion as to hazard ones own to get another mans and to draw forth the bloud which is needfull for the life of the bodie It is more glorie for a Prince to maintaine himselfe them to grow great Preseruation safety is the essence of an estate profit it but an accessary Mens mindes altered with things past grew milder and all their wills were vnited in one accord for the defence of the Realme detesting the discord which had drawne them into a warre which was not necessarie nor could bee happie and made them a prey and triumph to their auncient enemie But as the fire of sedition is neuer so well quenched but there remaines some sparks in the ashes Troubles renewed in England which kindle again if they be a little blowne that there be alwaies some which delights in troubles for that it is their rest t Seditions commonly are fed supported by three sorts of men First the heads of factions Secondly they that cannot liue in safety in the time of peace Thirdly they which are out of the presse find themselues free from dangers and in danger for that they come not neere them being like vnto those riuers which enter into the sea and doe not mingle their streames the Duke of Yorke and the Earle of Salisburie being retired to their houses after this accord were presently forced to leaue them to reuenge an affront done to the Earle of Warwick at VVestminster where he had been set vpon by the kings guard and forced to saue himselfe by the Riuer of Thames with the hazard of his life They said that Queene Margret was the author thereof being very desirous to ruine the Nobility of England and to ouerthrow the cheefe howses u A King should maintaine great families neither can hee suffer theÌ to be wâonged but hee shal weaken the greatnes of his maiesty wherof the Nobility is the cheese piller In all estates the Nobles haue beene respected and distinguished from others euen amongst the Thracians the genlâemen went only vppon horseback and at Rome Noblemens wiues went in Littors who were the pillers of the Realme The warre began as soone as it was declared The three Richards are in field King Henry hauing leuied great forces comes to York Andrew Trollop who was come from Calleis with the Earle of Warwick thinking to serue the King when as he saw their armes turned against him left the Earle of Warwick to follow the King who in moment scattered his enemies and forced the Duke of York to passe into Holland there to attend vntill his Partisans had raised the ruines of that party Battaile before London whereas K. Henry was defeated Presently after the three heads of the faction returne into England with an intent to vanquish or to dye they present themselues at the gates of London they giue and winne a great Battell whereas the Victors saw tenne thousand men slaine and as many prisoners King Henry who seemed to haue beene raised vp to show the inconstancy of Fortune and the misery and vanity of man remained at the Victors discretion The English remembring that his grandfather had caused King Richard to dye in prison began to acknowledge the iudgements of Gods iustice who punisheth the Children for the offences of their fathers x Henry Earle of Harford and Duke of Lancastre tooke armes against Richard the 2. seazed on him puts him into the Tower of London and caused himselfe to bee crowned King and after that he had forced him to resigne the Crowne hee sent him to Langleâ where hee was murthered In this great prosperity the make falls from the Dukes face He speakes plainely Duke of York declared Regent that whatsoeuer he had done was grounded vppon the rightes of the house of Yorke the
France did belong vnto him The Earle of Foyx sent his Ambassadors and Deputies to the King being at Bordeaux to conclude the treaty p The cheife condition of the Marriage was that the children which should be borne without distinction of malâ or female should succeed in the counties of Foix and Bygorre He past to Bayonne to end a controuersie betweene the 2. Kinges of Nauarre and Aragon 1462. and Henry King of Castile his Nephew A controuersie begun with great spleene and was continued with the like and had not ended without excesse if he had not dealt in it for the parties flattered themselues in their pretentions were blind in their interests and found that the obscurenes proceeded rather from the thing then their owne blindnes But behold the causes and the effects After the death of Charles the third q Charles the third King of Nauarre taking delight to build at Olîta died suddenly in September 1425. the threescore and foure yeare of his age and the thirty nine of his raigne he was buryed at Pampeluna King of Nauarre the Crowne past from the house of France and Eureaux into that of Castile and Aragon not without trouble and discord Iohn second sonne to Ferdinand of Aragon married Blanch Infanta of Nauarre presumptiue heire of the Realme of Nauarre and widdow to Martin King of Sicilie and it was agreed by a treaty of marriage that in case she should die before her husband hee should raigne the rest of his life in Nauarre after king Charles the third his father in law Of this marriage was borne at Pegna Charles Prince of Viana born Charles Prince of Vianna a title belonging to the eldest Sonne of the King of Nauarre r Charles the the third King of Nauarre ereected Viana into a principalitie and did affect it to the eldest son of Nauarre in the yeere 1421. as Dauphin to that of France The Asturiez in Castille and Wales in England Charles the third his grandfather made him to bee sworne heyre of the Realme by the Estates after the death of Iohn his Father Charles being dead Iohn was declared King of Nauarre by some and Blanch his wife was acknowledged Queene by others yet both were crowned at Pampeluna Iohn had great warres with his brother the King of Castille Marriage betwiât the Prince of the Asturies and Blanch of Nauarre who did confiscate the lands which he held in Castille Iohn Earle of Foyx reconciled them by a marriage betwixt Henry Prince of the Asturies sonne to Iohn King of Castille and Blanch Daughter to Iohn king of Nauarre s By the constitution of the marriage of this Princesse which was of 42112. Florens of gold wee may iudge in what estate K. Charles the third had left the Realme of Nauarre The marriage was celebrated with great pompe and solemnitie but the Prince was vnable to consummate it The which the Princesse did long dissemble Shee had great cause to complaine of this want and to wish her selfe to be a widdow or her husband vnmarried t The dissembling of couiuâall imperfections is very seemly especially in a woman Tullia a great Romane Lady is blamed for her ordinarie complaints murmùring at her husbands disabilitie De viro ad fratrem de sorore ad viruÌ se rectius viduam illuÌ caelibem futurum Tit. Liu. but like an other Eusebia shee did long suffer for the disabilitie of Constans desiring rather to wrong her youth and beautie then her modestie A while after Blanch Queene of Nauarre died and king Iohn married againe with Ione Henriques Charles Prince of Viana fearing that his alliance would keep him back from the hope of raigning and from the inheritance of the Queene his Mother did not dissemble his discontent u A desire to raigne makes the father iealous of the sonne Plutarc saith in the life of Demetrius that the greatest and most ancient of all Alexanders successors did glorie that he feared not his sonne but suffered him to approch neere his person holding a Iauelin in his band pretending that by the lawes of the Realme his Father by marrying againe had lost the fruit of the Crowne Behold all naturall affection is altered betwixt the Father and the Sonne The desire of rule makes them enemies the Father growes iealous and would not suffer his Sonne to come neere him armed On the other side this second wife seeing her selfe mother to Ferdinand did what she could to show that she was mother in law to Charles x What will not an ambitious mother doe and vndoe for her children D. Ioane lying in the bed of death by reason of a Cankar which did consume her remembring what she had done to assure the Realme vnto her Sonne spake often these words with sighes which are reported in the 21. booke of the history of Spaine O my Son thou hast cost me deare For him she had caused Don Charles to bee poysoned and neuer ceast vntill this young plant were quâââht by the nipping cold of her bad intentions seeking to haue a share in the regencie of the Realme in the absence of the king who had reuiued the warre in Castille Hence sprung those two great factions Factions of Beaumont and Grandmont that of Beaumont which followed the intent of of the Prince against the King and that of Grandmont which was for the father against the sonne so as presently the Realme was diuided into two kings two constables Lewis of Beaumont Earle of Lerin was Constable to the Prince and Peter of Perault was Constable to the king The kings cause as the better and more iust remained victorious the Prince beeing twice ouerthrowne is forced to flye to Alfonso king of Arragon Valencia Sardinia Maiorca Minorca and Sicile hee had recourse vnto his clemencie and besought him to pardon him The king who could not forget the loue of a Father vnto him who shewed the dutie of a Sonne receiues him but hee had new aduertisments that hee made secret practises to trouble him wherefore he sent him prisoner vnto the Alferie of Saragossa from whence hee was drawne by the Cattallans who tooke armes for his libertie Charles of Nâuarre poisoned by his mother in law but he went out of the prison to enter into a graue y Charles Prince of Viana died being forty yeares old a valiant Prince a great Historian a subtill Philosopher and a good Poet hee translated Aristotles Ethicks into the Castilain tongue and hee wrote the History of Nauarre vnto the time of King Charles his Grandfather For the very day of his deliuerie he was poisoned and dyed with much repentance for that hee had rebelled against the king his father The Infant Don Ferdinand was acknowledged heyre of the crowne of Arragon They of Cattellonia tooke armes to reuenge the death of Prince Charles The seditious who blow the cole of this desection said that his soule walked in the
embroydered He is receiued with great pomp into Tournay as a signe that their heartes were all French This Towne bragging that they had neuer knowne any other command then French There the Lord of Crouy came vnto the King who made him Lord Steward of his howse and gaue him the County of Guisnes In the beginning of Lent and at the end of the yeare whose beginning was then accompted from the resurrection the King went to Lisle whether the Duke of Bourgondy came to conferre with him of his voyage to the holy land Crâysado published against the Turke Pope Pius the second continuing the designes of Calixtus the third had published a Croysado to releiue the Christians of the East t Calixtus the 3. perswaded all Christian Princes to make warre against the Turke he sent Lewis of ãâã a ârier to Vsâm Casâan King of Persia and Armenia and to the great Tartarâ hee exhorteth them with such vehemency as they were resolued Platin. Hee inuited all the Princes who imbraced his designe with such resolution as Mahomet was terrified with the great preparation u The deuise of this Câoysado carâied these words Dieu la veut God will haue it Mahomet was so amased as writing to Pius the second he said I am not guilty of the death of Iesus Christ do abhorre the Iewes who crucified him The Pope declared that he would go thither in person Croysado published against the Turke But great Cosmo de Medicis said that it was the designe of a yong man in a great age The Kinges of Naples and Hungary were resolued to accompany him The Duke of Bourgondy promised also to be of that party and demanded aduise and leaue of the King who represented vnto him the discommodities both of his age and voyage finding him much broken to beginne such a building x The age must be considered in great and lâng enterprises Marcus Crasâus found King Deiotarus in the Realme of Galacia who being very old built a new Citty who said vnto him in mockage O King mee thinkes you build very late beginning at the last hower of the day To whom the K. answered sodainely And you O Captaine came not forth very early to make warre against the Parâhians Foâ Crassus was aboue 60. yeareâ old But the Duke carried his courage beyond all these difficulties The king propounded so many vnto him as hee diswaded him for a yeare assuring him that after that yeare hee would giue him 10000. men entertained for foure monthes to accompany him The Duke of Bourgondy for that hee would not giue the Pope any subiect of discontent sent Anthony his Bastard thither with 2000. men The king left the Duke of Bourgondy at Lisle and returned to Paris Duke of Sauoy comes into France He found Lewis Duke of Sauoy the Queenes father at S t. Clou who was come to see him and to complaine of Phillip his yonger sonne who for that he had a more generous and actiue spirit then the elder had wonne the heartes of the chiefe of the Noblemen of Sauoy and of his Subiects y The Duke of Sauoy was a simple and a mild Prince Amy Prince of Piemont his eldest sonne was of the same humâr and had great inclinations to solitariââs Phillip his yonger Brother giuing greater impressions of his generosity and courage was followed by all the great men of the Country vppon this complaint the king commands Prââce Phillip to repaire vnto him z Lewis Duke of Sauoy dyed at Lyon the 24. of Ianuary 1466 his heart and bowels were interred in the Celestins Church which he had caused to be built His body was carried to Geneua and laid by Ame of Lusignan his wife and he comes with speed beeing arriued hee was sent prisoner to Loches The Duke being well satisfied to see his sonne lodged whereas hee repented him of his ambitious and extrauagant humors returned into Sauoy and two yeares after dyed at Lion whereas hee attended the king who was at Molyns Amy his sonne succeeded him The king being at Paris made it presently knowne that he was not to indure that which the necessity of time had caused his forefathers to suffer to the preiudice of the rights of the Crowne and hauing prepared his designes he made choyce of the occasion to execute them a To haue a will to doe and disposition to know how to doe and yet to attend the occasion of well doing it the act of a Prince of great patience and wisdome he sent Moruillierre his Chancellor to the Duke of Brittaine to let him vnderstand that if he called himselfe any more Duke of Brittaine by the grace of God if hee continued to coine any gold b The Duke of Brittaine as a souâraigne Prince had right to coyne âââuer but that of gold was reserued by treaty to the Crowne of France the great whereof should bee expresâ Charles the fift gaue it to the Duke of Berry who did coyne peeces of gold stampâ with a sheepe which Bodin affârmes to be the finest gold that euer was since within this Realme or if he hindred him from leuying of taxes and from the collation of Benefices in his country he proclaimed warre against him The Duke being amazed at this demaund answered that it was so great and of such importance as hee could make no answer without the aduise of his estates intreating the King to giue him three monthes respite to assemble them But this was to plead law to men that were armed c PoÌpey being in Sicile pressing the Mammartines to acknowledge his authoritie they sought to auoid it pretending that they had priuiledges and ancient Decrees from the people of Rome to whom Pompey answered in Choller will you plead law vnto vs who haue our swords by our sides Plut. The King had an Army vppon the frontier The Duke was prest and surprised yet resolute rather to loose himselfe then to quit that which his fathers had purchased for him wherefore he thought to make answer vnto the Kings intentions by armes rather then by wordes He aduertised the Duke of Bourgondy of the estate of his affaires and coniurd him to thinke of their common safety seeing that the Kinges designe was to entreat them alike and to ruine them Romille Vice Chancellor of Brittanny made many voiages into Flanders vppon that subiect The King who had eyes and eares in euery place being aduertised thereof commanded the Bastard of Rubenpre d The King sent a sea Captaine and the bastard RubeÌpre with him into Holland he landed at the Hage with three others in his coÌpany Hee was examined what hee was and wheÌce he came but hee made some difficultie to discouer his name and the cause of his coÌming The Earl of Charolois being their caused him to be apprehended as a Pirate to passe with a ship along the Coast of Holland to surprise Rommille and to bring him vnto him or to
D coÌplaines of the Kings breach of his word seeing you haue alwaies shewed such affection and goodwill vnto the King let him not now beleeue the contrarie in refusing so small a thing as hee demands It is true said the Duke I haue neuer failed in my affection and loue vnto the King but I may well say that he hath neuer granted me any thing that I haue demanded and hath kept nothing of that which hee hath promised me o WheÌ a Prince hath an opinion not to hold any thing that hee promiseth hee may say that âe hath put himselfe out of the commerce and negotiation of all sorâs of aââaires for no man can treat with him that hath nothing valuable but words There is nothing but distrust and iealousie of his actions detracta opinione probitatis witnes the townes engaged which he should haue suffered mee to enioy during my life And for that Moruillier did still infist to haue Rubempre the which was a matter of consequence against the Dukes soueraigne command Peter of Goux a knight and master of the lawes said that although the Duke was vassell vnto the King for some lands yet he had others that did not acknowledge any other Soueraigne but himselfe holding of the simple grace of God who had honored him as well as the King with the Image of his eternall gouernment p A royalty is the figure of eternall gâuernment and the Image of the Diuine monarchy And therfore Kings haue been held as the fathers of the people Aristotle in the third booke of his Polâââckes saith that a realme is the power of one that doth gouerne the coÌmonwealâ not seeking his own pâiuatâ profit but that of his subiects That the Duchies of Brabant Luxemburgh and Lotrech the Earledomes of Bourgundy Henalt Holland Zeland and Namure were soueraigne countries Yet he is no King said the Kings Embassadors to whom the Duke answered I would haue the world know that it was mine owne fault if I be not yet will I not tel how or by what meanes The next day the Earle of Charolois presented himselfe vnto his Father in the presence of the French Embassadors kneeling vpon a Cushion of Veluet an exemplary act of Reuerence and Humilitie of a Prince of thirtie yeares old vnto his Father and which assures this truth That who so will be honored of those which be vnder him should not faile to respect and honor those that bee aboue him The scope of his discourse was to iustifie himselfe for the taking of the Bastard of Rubempre and the confederacie betwixt the Duke of Brittaine and him wherein hee protested hee had no other designe then the Kings seruice and shewing that his condition had wherwith to content himselfe with his owne contempt of an other mans there beeing no lesse glorie in the contempt then in the possession q It is for great courages to contemne Riches The shortest way to riches is to contemne Riches It is easier to disdaine then to possesse all hee added that it was not for any discontent he had for the taking of his pension from him for that with the fauour of his father he could liue without the Kings bounty Whereupon Departurâ of the FreÌch Embassadors the Duke intreated the Embassadors to tell the king that hee besought him not to beleeue any thing lightly against him and his sonne and to hold them alwaies in his fauour r An Embassador must neuer supprâsse words of brauery nor threates which be heares spokâ by the Prince vnto whom he is sent They presented a banket vnto the Embassadors the History saith wine and spices When they tooke their leaues the Earle of Charolois spake these words vnto the Archbishop of Narbonna Phil. de Com. lib. 1. one of the three Embassadors recommend me most humbly vnto the Kings good grace and tell him that hee hath sought to disgrace me by his Chancellor but before the yeere bee past he will repent it From these little sparkles grew that great fire of the warre of the commonweale The Duke of Burbonne s The visits of great persons are suspitious Iohn Duke of Bourbon making shew to go see the Ladie Agnes his mother at Bruxells treated the league of the publike weale with the Duke Periculosae suÌt secretae coitiones who was the intellectuall agent The D. of Bourgundy comes to see his mother at Bruxells faining to goe see his Mother at Bruxells conferred with the Duke but did not discouer the secret saying onely that the Princes had no other intent but to present a petition vn-the king to reforme the disorders of the state and to haue forces readie to the end hee might know how many were interressed in this reformation Such as entered into this league knew one another by a silken point which they carried at their girdles Although the king had spies in all places yet knew he nothing of these coniunctions and assemblies Princes are within and not aboue the world to see all that was done They must bee aboue the heauens to know the ecclipses by themselues and not descend low to see the effects t The effects of great designes doe often break forth before the causes are discouered A vigilant Prince doth alwaies vse peruensions and diuersions The league was borne before he knew the conception hee did not apprehend that it should show it selfe on the Burgundians side for he considered that although the sonne were violent and ill affected towards him yet the father wanted no iudgement to restraine him and iudging that the ayre could not be troubled but towards Brittanie he assembled both the Princes of his bloud and the chiefe of his Noblemen at Tours about Christmas 1464. and propounded vnto them the great occasions he had to preuent the designes of the Duke of Brittany u The King as Montstrelet saith made this assembly to coÌplaine that the D. of Brittaine had said that he had a designe to make warre against the Princes and to dispossesse them of their lands It was at this assembly that Charles Duke of Orleans could not forbeare to speake for the Princes of the bloud See Claud. Saysell in the life of Lewis the twelfth beseeching the king not to doubt of their loyalties and affections The king was offended at this remonstrance and reiected it with words full of spleene bitternes and contempt The Duke of Orleans being thus roughly handled and grieued that in an age of threescore and ten yeares he was not heard by him whose grandfather had vouchsafed to heare him in his youth could not endure them not considering that they came from the mouth of his king who was not bound to fit them to his humor and that he must swallow them sweetly without murmuring for the demonstration of the offence doth but augment it He died for sorrow two daies after the fourth of Ianuary 1465. Hee was interred at Bloys his bones were carried
Cardinals hat which Martin the fift had giuen him The masters pouertie forced him to take another He placed himselfe with the Bishop of Noara but seeing that hee was in like manner persecuted by Pope Eugenius hee left him and did serue Nicholas Cardinall of S t. Croix and followed him to Arras when as he was sent by Pope Eugenius to reconcile the French King to the King of England and the Duke of Bourgundy At his returne finding that he was in no grace with Pope Eugenius His dignities commissions he came to Basill where he was imployed in the goodliest actions of the Councell he had the charge of Abreuiator Secretarie President in the chamber of the faith l In the Councell of Basill there were foure chambers or foure assemblies which they called four deputations that of the faith of Peace of reformation and of common affaires Euery chamber had a president which was changed euery three monethes and Orator in diuers sessions When there was Question of an embassage to any Prince or commonweale there was not any one but He fit for it He was sent to Amedeus Duke of Sauoy then to the Emperor Frederick to Pope Eugenius to Philip Vicecount Duke of Milan and to Alfonso King of Arragon It was he which perswaded the Emperor Frederick to goe to Rome to be crowned there Frederick sent him to Sienna to receiue Ellenor of Portugall his wife and afterwards into Bohemia to pacifie a controuersie which was growne for that the Emperor Frederick did not restore them their King Ladislaus m The Emperor Frederick seeing the troubles schismes in the realme of Hungarie seazed vpon the yong King Ladislaus gaue him in charge to Eneas Siluius He was sent to the dyet of Ratisbona whereas Philip Duke of Bourgundy assisted His oration to arme against the Turke he laid open the necessities of a warre against the Turke with such efficacie and eloquence as many Princes resolued to employ both their liues and goods But these suddaine resolutions went presently into smoke n Platina saith that all which heard him were wonderfull resolute to this war VeruÌ hoe natura coÌper tum est eorum animos cito residere quoruÌ affectus facile mouentur But it is found true by nature that their minds are soone changed whose affections are easily moued Hee also pacified a great complaint which Germany made against the Pope and the which hath been since continued the Princes and comminalties of the Empire being resolued not to acknowledge him in the policie and direction of spirituall things if he did not first grant them the same rights which Italy and France had by the Pragmatick Sanctions The Emperor found their first suite iust and was soone drawne to yeeld vnto it Aeneas Siluius changed his opinion representing vnto him that there was more honor and safety for him to haue good correspondence with the Pope then to fauour those who would diminish his authoritie whereof the Emperors were protectors o These complaints were pacified reuiued in the beginning of the Emperor Charles the fifths raigne when as they presented vnto the Popes Legate being at Nuremborg A. Remonstrance vnder this title Sacri Romani imperii Principum ac procerum grauamina aduersus sedem Romanam He was Archbishop of Sienna His bad affection to Lewis the eleuenth and after the death of Calixtus was aduanced to the Popedome in a manner without thinking of it Hee began with the assembly at Mantua whither all the Princes of the Empire sent their Embassadors Hee made open show that he loued not France as hath beene said and this affection continued after the death of Charles the seuenth for p Ludouieo Gallorum regi aduersatus est quod libertatem Ecclesiae minuere conaretur cum ab eo antea Pragmaticam Sanctionem Ecclesiae Romanae pernitiosissimam pestem extorsisset Platina saith that although he had wrested the Pragmatick Sanction out of the hands of Lewis the eleuenth yet he did not forbeare to crosse him for that hee thought to diminish the libertie of the Church Paul the second called Peter Barbo a Venetian succeeded him FINIS THE CONTENTS OF the third BOOKE 1 THe Wisedome of Lewis the eleuenth vppon the troubles of the League of the common weale 2 Hee sounds and discouers the intentions of the King of England 3 He labours to deuide the heades of the League and beginns with his Brother 4 The order which he set to preserue Paris He passeth into Bourbonois besiegeth Ryon and treats with the Dukes of Bourbon and Nemours 5 Entry of the Duke of Bourgondies army into Picardy that of Brittany musters at Chasteaubriant 6 Battell of Montleherry The victory is vncertaine and in a manner equall The Earle of Charolois is hurt The place of Battell remaines to him with a great disorder of either side 7 Obseruations of that which hapned both before and after the battell 8 The King passeth the night at Corbeil and goeth the next day to Paris 9 The army of the league lodged at Estampes whereas the Dukes of Berry and Brittanny arriue 10 It passeth the Riuer of Seine and besiegeth Paris 11 The Princes let the Parisians vnderstand the causes of their armes and demand a conference Paris sends her Deputies to St. Maur. 12 The Kinges army breakes the Conference and assures Paris yet he resolues to graunt all they should demand and to desperce this Army 13 Enteruiew of the King and the Earle of Charolois for a peace and the needles feare of the Dukes armie 14 Supplies of men and money sent by the Duke of Bourgundy to the Earle of Charrolois 15 The Kings second meeting with the Earle of Charrolois 16 Peace concluded and sworne at Bois de Vincennes 17 The Duke of Berrij is receiued into Roane with the Duke of Brittanie and the Earle of Charrolois returnes into Flanders 18 The King returnes to Paris and makes the Earle of S. Paul Constable of France 19 The Earle of S. Paul cannot liue in peace and takes for a maxime of his conduct to entertaine the two Princes in warre 20 Discords betwixt the Dukes of Normandy and Brittanie THE HISTORY of LEVVIS the XI THE THIRD BOOKE WHO so succeeds a good Prince hath a great aduantage ouer the affections of his owne subiects The loue the children for the fathers sake how rough and difficult soeuer his raigne be They hold themselues so much bound to the fathers bounty a The bounty of a Prince doth so binde the hearts as euen after his death they yeelde prootes of their affection to thier children although wicked Cambises was beloued for the loue of Cyrus his father CoÌ modus for the respect of Marcus Aurelius as they doe patiently endure the sonnes rigor France did owe her libertie to King Charles the seuenth he had freed her from the miseries of warre shee did acknowledge no other restorer then him This respect retained
could not be giuen to any other Plut. where they dranke to his health as to Iupiter the Deliuerer The Assembly of Noblemen and Ladies was great he related his great dangers his diligence and toyle He drew teares of ioy and pitty from the hearers euery man said all is well z The King reported his aduentures and in so doing spake and declared many goodly words and pittifull where at all wept aboundantly Chro Martin seeing the King is wel a The health of a good Prince is the health of his Estate the people said of Alexander Seuerus Saluâ Roma quia saluns est Alexander Lamprid. Hee assured all his seruants that he would neuer cease vntill he had chased all his enemies out of his realme Yet his designe was to doe what he could to end it other-wise then by Armes He sent the Bishop of Paris to the Earle of Charolois Bishop of Paris sent to the Earle of Charolois to let him vnderstand that he desired to know to what end he was entred into his Realme with so great a troupe for that hee could remember that when as he went into Flanders in the time of King Charles the seauenth his Father hee was not followed with so great a traine He commanded him to let him know the iniustice of his desseine That he vndertooke a warre vnder collour of the publik-weale to vndermine the whole estate and to set fire of the house to driue them out that clensed it That there was no such Phrensey as to make ones selfe sick to vse remedies b Peace is sweet after warre but much more proffitable before It is better neuer to haue beene an enemy then to bee reconcyled being naturall for a sick man to desire health But for him that was found to make himself sicke vpon hope of cure was folly and madnesse The Bishop of Paris went and hauing represented vnto the Earle of Charolois the Kings intentions and complaints Say vnto the King answered the Earle fretting the bitternesse of his ambition with humanity and myldnesse c Princes desirous to raigne haue made seruitude sweete with courtesie and mildnesse By this poysoned mylânesse Caesar ouer threw the common-wealth of Rome that I am not come to doe any ill but to procure the good of his Realme hauing liued in such sort with mine army as noe man hath occasion to complaine that being as I am able to serue and succor my friends and to anoy myne enemies I am not bound to yeeld any other reason of my desseignes But not to conceale them from him I am heere for two reasons the one not to fayle of my word to the Princes which haue taken armes for the publike good the other to haue two men which the King hath fauored and supported against me d Priuat interâst are alwaies mingled with the sublike causes of warre The E. of Charolois was an implacable enemy to the Earle of Neuers and the Lord of Croy be added this hatred to the causes of war If I be come well accompanied it is to defend my selfe in France from that harme which the king would haue done me in Flanders That when he came hee was receiued honorably richly and quietly and then was not that done vnto him which hee had a will to doe vnto mee That in a word France had more need of a warlike and armed liberty then of a quiet and miserable seruitude After the Battell the Earle of Charolois caused the whole army to bee lodged at Estampes and there abouts Armes of the League loged at Estampes The commodity of this lodging saued that which one more discomodious had lost e âf time and occasion giue leaue to chose a lodging to stay there they must consider two things which the ancient Romans haue alwaies obserued in their lodgings The helthfulnesse of the place for one and water with commodity of victualls for the other They knew what places were not helthfull obseruing their scituation the coÌplexion of the inhabitants In this place as the Earle of Charolois spake vnto Mounsieur at a window with great attention and affection a Britton cast a squib which strooke against the barre where they leaned and being amazed at this accident they thought it done of purpose to hurt them The lodging was presently enuironed with souldiers to gard them There was a dilligent search made for him that had done it who beeing only couered with his inocency descouered him-selfe and said that it was but a squib which he had cast to shew them pastime wherevpon this great amazement was turned to a iest All their forces being vnited they tooke councell how they shold imploy them Their opinions were alwaies applyed to their passions and desseines Charles the Kings brother weary of the warre An ordinary mischiefe in enterprises where there are many commanders f The pluralâty of heads is alwaies rumous and vnproffitable euery one seekes to prefeâre his owne reasons and counsells They doe and vndoe indespight on of another Tândendo ad sua quisque consilia cum aliud alii videtur ad inuasioneÌ loâum hosti apperiunt Tit. Lâu lib. 4. That of the duke of Brittain was not answerable to that of the Earle of Charolois Monsieur seemed already weary of the warre he lamented those that were slaine hurt or maymed in the army which shewed that matters were represented to his imagination of another collour in the vndertaking then in the executing g Matters wheÌ they are conceiued and proiected haue an other fâce then when they are executed He wisht that they were to begin greeuing that they made him the cause of so many miseries h A generous spirit is not sensible of the ruines and desolations which grow by warre and ciuill broyles The Duke of Berry was heauy seeing so great a number slaine and hurt in the Battell of Mântlehery The first slaughters of warre sticke terror into them that haue not seene them as of humain miseries the most lamentable is that which proceeds from his fault that complaines He had kindled the fire yet could not endure the flame he had begun the tragedy nay rather a cruell game whereas men made but a sport to force spoyle burne and kill He is not esteemed a soldiar that cannot doe al this in ciuill wars the most wicked of all others whereas by a fatall disorder they saw the fathers bury their children i When Craesus was prisoner to Cyrus by this reason that in the time of peace the children buried the frather and ân warre the fathers bury their children be preferred peace before warre And of all warres ciuill is the most vniust iâhumaine furious SummuÌ Brute naefas ciuilia bella fatemur Luc. These words were well obserued by the Earle of Charolois King of England sends the garter to the Earle of Charolois who from that time perswaded him-selfe that there would be noe great difficulty to reconcyle the
had troubled They propounded a peace with goodly conditions The Princes make show that they desired not warre but for the publike quiet and to liue without wrong They made many truces to treat that they which lasting but little was not much distinguished from warre d A short truce fauours more of war then peace Ignâuum tempus nec pâce laetuÌ nec bellis exercitum Cognatae induciis Insidie sunt as the middest doth alwaies leane more to one of the extremes then to the other The treatie was begun by diuers but the King ended it who one morning came by the riuer to Conflans Before he went out of the boat hee said vnto the Earle who attended him on the banke Enteruieâ of the King Earle of Charolois Brother doe you assure me that to whom the Earle of Charrolois answered I as a brother e The word of an enemie is a dangerous assurance K Lewis the eleuenth had no other to goe into the Princes Army which were iust against him If there coÌfidence hath vndone some it hath bin successefull to others and Scipio Africanus went vpon this assurance to Siphax who although he were abaroarian a cruell enemie to the Romane name yet the mildnes and generositie of Scipio made him a friend Ladislaus King of Bohemia went freely to Mathias King of Hungary his capitall enemy to end controuersies which could not be determined at Olmutz they became great friends Dubrau lib. 2â He receiued the King with much respect and the King spake vnto him with great mildnes which made his heart apt for any impression so great is the force of words and so well hee could handle his tongue the which he vsed as a pensill for all coulours He that will haue effects according to his owne heart must not spare words to his liking that may giue them Mens spirits are gouerned by words as a ship is gouerned by the helme and a horse by the bit and wee cannot say what power the sweetnes of words haue ouer the minde of man f Words are the Instrument by the which the minde of man is animated thrust forward and held backe A Prince that knowes how to vse them hath a great aduantage in all that he treates and when it is acompanied with such sweetnes as grauity is not wronged it workes what it lists in the hearts of men The King framing his speech to this tune said vnto the Earle Brother I know that you are a Gentleman and of the house of France why my Lord answered the Earle For that said the King When the foole Moruillier spake so boldly vnto you you sent me word that I would repent the words hee had spoken before the yeare were past you haue not failed and before the time The King spake these words with a countenance so free and full of affection although his heart were full of indignation and spleene as the Earle tooke delight in it He disauowed Moruillier and tooke the seales from him Princes play with their subiects and disauow them when as their negotiations are not answerable to their hopes He did walke long by the riuers side betwixt the Earle of Charolois and the Earle of S t. Paul and heard their Intentions g The King who thought nothing wel done if he were not an Actor went to the Earle of Charolois preferring the necessity of his affaires before the consideration of his qualiââ for he held that the honor and glory of an action depended on profit Yet they had deputed somâ of either side to treat For the King were imployed Charles of Aniou Earle of Maine The Signeur of Pressigny President of the Acounts 10. Dauuet President of the Parlament of Toulâsâ For the Princes the D. of Calabria the Earle of Dunois and the E. of S t. Paul The Earle of Charolois demanded the Dutchie of Normandie for the Duke of Berry and the riuer of Somme for himselfe little for the publike and much for priuate men The King told him plainely that he would neuer consent to dismember the Duchie of Normandie but he was content to restore him the Townes of Somme and finding that the Earle of S t. Paul was the Oracle of the Counsels and will of this Prince he offered him the office of Constable By these offers the strict bond of this league began to be dissolued for there is nothing so fast bound but it is vndone when as one string begins to slip The King did and spake all things so cunningly mingly offers with threats and curtesies with braueries as the Earle applied himselfe to his intentions The day after this first conference h This conference of the King and the Earle was the end of the war It was not thought fit the King should seeke vnto the Barle but to do his busines hee past all formalities would not comit that to hope which he might doe by discretioÌ What doth it import to ascend to any place to vse staires of wood or ston or whether the key bee of gold or iron so as it open the Earle of Charolois mustred his Armie Muster of the leagues Armie in view of the King whether the King came with thirty or forty horse commending those goodly forces The Earle of Charolois speaking vnto them vsed these words My masters you and I are for the King our Soueraigne Lord to serue him when soeuer hee shall haue need of vs. The Kings offers bred a iealousie betwixt the Princes of the league euery man cared for his owne affaires The Earle of Charolois saw one day vpon his conferences and propositions three Councels and three bands whereat hee was discontented saying that there should not be any thing secret in his presence During these conferences and enteruiewe Isabell of Bourbon Countesâe of Charolois died the Earle mourned and the King did comfort him This death gaue some more facilitie to the peace for the marriage of the Earle with the Lady Anne of France the Kings eldest Daughter was propounded with the transport of the Counties of Bry and Champagne i In marriages of the daughters of France Kings haue somtimes giuen money sometimes lands of the Crowne vpon condition they should returne Charles the fift gaue to his two eldest daughters a 100000. franks of gold and to the rest 60000. Charls the sixt gaue eight hundred thousand to Isabell married to Richard the second King of England King Iohn gaue the Contie of Somiers in Languedoc to Isabel his daughter married to the Duke of Milan Lewis the yong gaue to Margaret his daughter married to Henry the third King of England the Contie of Vexin for her dowrie and preferment which the Kings Predecessors had neuer done in marrying their daughters The Earle of Charrolois affected nothing more but vpon the doubt which was made vnto him of the alienation of these two Prouinces he sent William Hugonet and Iohn Carandolet to Paris to know if these two peeces
might be seperated from the Crowne The King gaue them all the assurances they could desire but he shewed that his intent was not to lodge his daughter in a house which he could not loue The conditions of the accord being treated after this manner with the Earle Charolois as hee who had all the power in his hands euery man stood vpon his gard The Earle was aduertised of the kings designes and there was still some one which discouered the Earles vnto the King k In ciuill warres Councels are not secret and the most hidden are diuulged euery one hath some friend on the contrarie partie A page came at midnight to the riuer side crying that they should be set vpon by all the forces that were in Paris Dukes of Berry and Brittanie armed once during this warre This cry gaue so hot an Alarum as no man doubted it Monsieur and the Duke of Brittanie shewed themselues armed which else they had neuer done and so past through the armie to finde the Earle of Charolois and the Duke of Calabria who had sent skouts to discouer These men troubled with the darknes of the night and the generall feare l Caesar sent Consydius at the break of day to discouer the enemy and going feare surprised him so as he returned with all speed and although hee had not seene any thing yet hee said that the enemy had already gotten the top of a mountaine wheras Caesar ment to loâge and that hee knew that by their Armes Caââs with knowldege of the Gaulâs Caesar âib 1. of the wars of Gaule beeing neere vnto Paris tooke thistels for the pikes and lances of an Armie put in Battell and so returned sweating to tell them that all Paris came vppon them Iohn Duke of Calabria came vnto the Dukes standard who like a couragious Prince beleeuing that which hee desired spake after this manner Now we are come to that which we haue alwaies desired behold the King and all the people sallied out of the Cittie and marching as our skouts report and to the end euery man may haue courage euen as they sallie out of Paris wee will measure after the Cittie Ell which is the greatest measure The Duke of Bourgundy vppon some aduertisement that the Duke of Berry and Brittanie might make their accord apart as the Kings designe was onely to diuide them he held it not fit to leaue his Sonne in that Estate as he should bee forced to doe any thing vpon necessitie m He that suffers himselfe to bee surprisâd by necessitie dâth no more any thing freely his councels actions sauor of a troubled iudgement and that if he were fortified with men and Armes he should keep his confederates in awe Succors of men and money sent to the Earle of Charolois and make his conditions more assured n To make a peace honorable and with aduantage it must be done in arms and that hee whom they will wrong may say boldly I will not doe it He sent him a hundred and twenty men at Armes led by the Lord of Saueur a thousand fiue hundred Archers and sixscore thousand crownes the which would haue made him more difficult in the Treatie if they had come before the conclusion It had been concluded that Monsieur should resigne Berry vnto the King Dutchie of Normandie giuen to the Kings brother and haue the Duchie of Normandie that Iohn Duke of Bourbon should enter into the Castle of Rouen o The Duke of Bourbon entrâd into Rouen by the Castle the widdow to the signior of Brezay Sânâshal of Normandie fauoured this entrie contrary to the âingâ intention The Bishop of Bayeux and Iohn Hebert Generall of the Finances of France aduanced the same designe All offended the K. and repented the displeasure they had done him during the treatie but hee entred also into the Towne When as the King saw that the Normans had allowed of this change without those difficulties and moderations which he expected he sent word vnto the Earle of Charolois that he desired to meete with him neere vnto Conââans Hee came and the King said vnto him that the Peace was made seeing his Brother was in Rouen This did so please the Earle of Charolois Earle of Charolois in a danger not foreseene as vnwittingly hearing and speaking with affection of this accord hee found himselfe at the entry of the Bulwarke which was at the end of the trench which the King had caused to be made by the which they might enter into the Towne The long black cloake which he carried for the losse of his wife seemed in a manner to mourne for his libertie He was much amazed but hee dissembled his feare and his amazement all hee could fearing that if the King perceiued it he would hold himselfe wronged and it may bee proceed farther The chiefe men that were in the Armie held their master lost and represented vnto theÌselues that which had hapened to his Grandfather at Montreaâ Faut Yonne p Aniâiury must bee dissembled when as he that receiues it is not in case to reuenge it and that he is in daÌger to receiue a greater if hee make show of it So Agripina seemed not to perceiue that Nero would haue slaine her Choller forced the signior of Neufchastell Marshall of Bourgundy to vse these words If this foole and mad man hath vndone himselfe we must not follow him nor ruine his house nor his fathers affaires let euery man thinke of his owne safety and of an honorable retreat No man can hinder vs from recouering of the frontier The ioy was exceeding great when they saw him returne This Marshall seeing him said vnto him that he was not at his seruice but by loane so long as his father liued q A young Prince must bee reprehended by such persons whose age experience and authoritie giue power to speake freely but the acknowledgement of the error must cause the reprehension cease the which must not be done publikely least it breed contempt and that they which should bee confirmed in an opinion that their commanmander hath nothing imperfect grow doubtfull of his conduct So all hold speeches free aduertisements to a delicate Prince that cannot endure to be grieued by hearing are dangerous Chide mee not answered the Earle Heacknowledgeth his error and is ashamed I confesse my great error but I found it so late as I was neere vnto the Bulwarke The Marshall of Bourgundy added you haue done it without me The Earle of Charolois held downe his head and made no answere for that which he had done exceeded the bounds of all iudgement The King was commended to haue dealt so iustly and the Earle of Charolois to haue committed himselfe so freely into a strongers hands The conditions of the peace beeing all concluded the King gaue to the Earle of Charrolois the Castle of Bois de Vincennes for his assurance promising to come thither the
next day Hee came where also were the Dukes of Berry and Brittanie and the Earle of Charolois the ports were well garded and the approches fortified and the King was in the like feare in the Castle as the Earle of Charolois had beene in the Bulwarke Euery man thought that the Publike weale Treatie of peace concluded at Bois de Vincennes which had beene so much exalted in this league should be preferred before all other conditions of the Treatie But it is a folly to thinke that what is desired of many can succeed when it depends of the affections of few men r Matters done hardly succeede but according to the intent of the first mouers Priuat interests and designes bande against publike intentions and seldom is it seene what all desire is executed by few which haue diuers designes They talked thereof when as all was done The Earle of Charolois had the Townes of either side the riuer of Somme Amiens St. Quentin Corbie Abbeuille the countie of Ponthieu Dourlans St. Requier Creuecaeur Arleux Monstreuil Croton and Mortaigne to bee redeemed for two hundred thousand crownes after the death of the Earle of Charolois The King to retire these Townes had nine monethes before paied foure hundred thousand crownes Monsieur did homage vnto the King for the Duchie of Normandy s Election of thirty six Dââuties to consult of the remedies of the common-weale and the ease of the people the King promising to coÌfirme all that should be done by them The Duke of Brittaine held some places in Normandy which he kept still for he said he had contributed more for the charges of the warre then all the rest The Conuocation of the estates was resolued and in the meane time it was held fit to chuse 36. persons Reformation of the disorders of the realme of all the orders of France to prouide with the Earle of Dunois for the disorder of Iustice and the reformation of the estate The King made no difficulty to grant all they demanded reseruing vnto himselfe the liberty to hinder it His intent was to diuide the forces of the league and then to turne ouer his bookes of the sword and dagger t The Emperor Caligula had two secret bookes the one was called the sword and the other the dagger wherein they were noted that should be put to death with those kind of Armes Suet. cap. 49. where were written in red letters their names which had offended him during his retreat into Flanders and his fathers raigne which had followed his brother and the Princes of the league and especially they that had receiued him so easily into Normandy u King Lewis the eleuenth held Normandie the most important Prouince of his Realme he gaue it to his Brother but to delay him it was to faire a peece to giue for a portion Philip de Commines saith he had seene raised in Normandie fourescore and fifteene thousand pound sterling for he would not for any thing haue consented to giue him that Prouince if he had not beene assured of their constancy that held the chiefe places But the Normans who did alwaies thinke that their Country did well deserue a Duke consented to this change for the desire they had to haue a Prince which should remaine within the Prouince There were but three which desired rather to leaue their houses then to change their maister Iustice had greater power in their soules then wisedome The Seneshall of Normandy the Balyfe of Rouen and one named Picard who was afterwards Generall of Normandy The History owes them this testimony of honor x To doe well among men of honor is easie and ordinary but not to suffer himselfe to be transported with the coruptions of the time nor to follow the violent passions of a multitude but to desire the good to dare vndertake it and to effect it in a bad season in the which vice is honored with the recompence of vertue it is an infallible argument of a spirit wonderfully disposed by nature to all good and commendable thinges the which is the more considerable for that there is some difficulties to retire ones selfe out of a presse that runs headlong and that the imitation and example of ill presents it selfe alwaies with much heat At their departure from Bois de Vincennes Departure of the Earle of Charolois euery one to tooke his course the Dukes of Normandy and Brittaine went to Rouen the King did accompany the Earle of Charolois to Villiers the faire They lodged together for a proofe of the confidence they had one of another The King was the weaker hauing but a small troupe but there was order that 200. men at armes should come to accompany him to Paris An act of wisedome as commendable as those of precedent conferences and trusts had beene dangerous for in such occasions there is nothing more safe then not to giue any aduantage to his aduerse party to wrong him y All assurances of friendship faith and promises which may be drawne from an enemy are good and profitable but by reason of the inconstancy of men and time there is none better then so to fit himselfe as he may haue noe meanes to hurt him The Earle of Charolois hearing thereof was troubled and caused his men to arme and stand vpon their gardes z Vppon the suspitioÌ which the Earle of Charolois had of this ' troupe Phil. de Com. speaketh thus It is almost impossible that â great Noblemen can agree together for the reports and iealousies which they haue continually And two great Princes that will entertaine friendship should neuer see one another but send honest and discreet men who shall entertaine them and repaire their errors Morning being come the King bad the Earle farewell and returning with them that came to fetch him he freed him from al subiect to distrust his intentions He entred gloriously into Paris The Kings returne to Paris to haue so happily calmed the storme which threatened him and two daies after his arriuall hee caused them to feast him at supper in the Townehouse The greatest personages were inuited with their wiues hee thanked the Parisiens for their fidelity and constancy in so important an occasion he commended them that had done him good seruice a It is a great content for good men to see how the Prince esteemes their courage and fidelity and among others Robert of Estouteuille to whom he restored the Prouostship of Paris which he had taken away he hauing held it during the raigne of King Charles his father He displaced the first President of Nanterre b When as Lewis II. came vnto the Crowne he made Helias of Tourette first President who dyed soone after and this place was giuen to the President of Nanterre at the suit of Iohn of Bureau a Knight Segneur of Mânglat and gaue that charge to Iohn Dauuet first President of Tholousa he tooke the seales from Moruillier
and restored them to Iuuenall of Vrsins from whom he had taken them The treaty c Treaty of Conflans proclaimed at Paris the 28. of October 1465. signed and sworne was proclaimed and thereby the warre for the publicke weale was ended Contentment of priuat men maks them forget the publike contenting the interests of priuate men The King desired to quench the fire of this deuision rather with siluer then with blood and teares of his subiects To the Duke of Bourbon was assigned the like pension that he receiued of Charles the seauenth Anthony of Chabannes Earle of Dammartin was restored to his landes and soone after made Lord Steward of France in the place of the lord of Crouy d Ther was neuer so great a marriage but some dined ill some did what they listed and others had nothing Phil de Com. lib. 1. Cap. 14. Many others suffered themselues to bee vanquished by the King thinking themselues more happy to fall vnder his power then to escape e Those that were subdued by Alexaâder were more happy ãâã they that escaped his power for these had not any one to free theÌ from their misery the others were made happy by the Victor Plut. for they were freed from miseries and such as remained with the Earle of Charolois could not hope for any great felicity knowing his Councells and designes to be vnfortunate and it seemed his head was not made but to aflict ruine his body Earle of S t. Paul made Constable of France And for that the Earle of St. Paul was as it were Arbitrator of all the Earles Councels the King wonne him offring him the sword of France which Valeran or Luxembourg f Valeran of Luxembourg Earle of St. Paul was made Constabâe of France Anno 1411. two yeares after be yâelded vp the sword to Charles Earl of Albret Suylly from whom Kiâg Charles the sixth had taken it had sometimes carried It is the first dignity of all the orders of France First dignity of the State hee carries the sword not in a scabberd behind the King as they do before the Duke of Venice to shew that the vse and authority depends of them that follow it but naked before the King who alone commands to draw it and to put it vp when he pleaseth as hauing the only power of the sword ouer his subiects That of his Iustice remaines in the hands of his soueraigne Courts for the punishment of Crimes wherewith he meddles not Iupiter doth not strike hurt nor condemne any man Not only the Princes eyes but his pictures and his statues g A Prince should abhorre all that is inhumane and cruel The Emperor Claudius caused Augustus Image to bee taken froÌ the place wheras slaues were punished which had slandered their Maisters vnder the Empire of Caius or Tiberius to the end it should not be violated nor behold those punishments Dion should be farre from executions The Kings of France haue held this course to reserue vnto themselues pardons benefits and rewards leauing the distribution of punishments to their officers Lewis of Luxembourg was declared Constable at the marble table he tooke his oath and his authoritie was verified by the Court of Parliament As Arthur h Arthur of Brittaine was chosen Constable of France by the suffrages of all the Princes and great Counsell and although the King was then troubled in his iudgement and the seales of France stampt with the Queenes picture yet by letters of prâuâsion But the keeping of the Kings sword is giuen for the Kings sârvice in fealty and homage and to be the chiefe in warre aboue all next vnto the King of Brittanie Earle of Richmont was the first whose letters of Constable were there published so Lewis of Luxembourg was the first that tooke his oath there We must not iudge of a mans fortune by the glorie of such dignities they bee peeces of Christall which as they glister so they will breake To hold a man happie that enters into great charges is to giue the name of the image to the mettle which is not yet molten Wee must see him come liue and runne to the end of the course to know what the issue will be With this charge Lewis of Luxembourg was wedded to his own ruine and did himselfe adde much vnto it for notwithstanding that he were bound vnto the King both by reason and oath Affection of the Constable S t. Paul yet as it is hard but the tree will retaine something of the soyle where it first tooke roote i Strangers ãâã not at the first leaue their affection to their party although they quit it Solon would not allow a stranger to be a Bourgesse in Athens if he were not banished from his Country the affections of men beeing like vnto a streame which ouerflowes and waters a field and is nothing the cleerer He still kept a naturall inclination to the seruice of his first Prince grounding his affections vpon one maxime in the which hee found his ruine in stead of greatnes whereunto he aspired k Theramenes an Atheââan the sonne of Aignon for that he was not firme in his opinions holding sometimes one party somtimes another was called Cothureue which is a kind of buskin vsed in Tragedies fit for either foot Pluâ in the life of Niceas He thought to play k Theramenes an Atheââan the sonne of Aignon for that he was not firme in his opinions holding somtimes one party somtimes another was called Cothureue which is a kind of buskin vsed in Tragedies fit for either foot Plut. in the life of Niceas Theramenes in this Tragedie to remaine a neuter betwixt these two great Potentates to make them quarrell when he pleased to iudge of the blowes and to keep himselfe from danger thinking to be alwaies supported by the one when the other should seek to ruine him and to make both of them depend so vpon his will as as hee should prescribe them a lawe of warre and peace when hee pleased nt considering that newtrality which may bee commended in a prince when by reason of wisedome or weaknes he cannot doe otherwise is meere trechery and treason in a subiect who can haue but one maister It was a great miserie for him to be betwixt two Princes which could not agree He that is in this estate is not like vnto the towne of Siria l Pliny saith that the towne of Palmira in Syria remained without touch amidst the powers of the Romane and Parthian Empires which was nothing anoyed being inuironed by the Armies of the Romans and Parthians Hee finds his condition oftentimes like vnto the miserable marriner of Tire whom one waue cast out of the ship and another brought him in againe His humor did fauor his bad fortune wauering alwaies amidst the vncertainty of his resolutions and a spirit of contradiction When he was freed from one businesse he intangled himselfe with another
His bad conduct vnsortunate end well in France ill in Flanders and as the cloudes turne alwayes either into wind or to raine his enterprises ended alwayes in teares or sighes In a word he made a trade of the profession of armes and did not take them to haue peace but to make the warre continue m Whilst that Rome was well gouerned which was vntill the time of the Gracchi there was neuer Captaine nor Souldier which made a trade of war when it was ended euery man returned to his first exercise Aâtilliâs Regulus being Generall of the Army in the last war against Carthage demanded leaue of the Senate to returne vnto his houses to manure his grounds which his farmors had left wast When as he saw that Councells are not esteemed by Princes but according to the euents He kindles the firebrands of warre hee desired to make his to be allowed by some fauorable occasion He sees the Duke of Bourgondy busie in war against them of Liege he knowes how much the King is offended at the practises and Intelligences which the Dukes of Normandy and Brittaine had with his enemie hee therefore Counsells him to make warre against them to make worke in their owne estates and to kindle a fire in their owne houses to the end they should not haue leisure to cast it against their Neighbours These two Princes in the beginning were great friends n Of great friends are made the greatest ennemies hatred folowes and accompanies friendship Chilon could him that vanted he had no enemies That he should also haue noe friends Plut. but as great hatred growes from great friendship they did so iarre in the diuision of the fruites of the peace as they continued not long together The Duke of Normandies seruants who had serued King Charles the seauenth could not indure the Brittons for companions The Duke of Brittaine would bee respected as the instrument of their good fortune Seeing these two Princes could not remaine Neighbours they would neuer haue beene associated in the Empire o An admirable and sole example of trufriendship Dioclesian and Maxim Emperors entred the Empire together commanded together and lefâ it with one accord The Duke of Normandy was aduertised that the Duke of Brittanie had a designe not to leaue him and that the Earle of Dammartin vndertooke to lead him into Brittaine Hee was then at Mont St. Catherines attending vntill the preparation which they made for his entry were finished but when hee had sent notice thereof to them of Rouen they would not deferre his entry a minute They set him on horseback without a foot-cloth and led him to the Cathedrall Church in a black veluet gowne where they sware obedience vnto him the Brittons were out of countenance to see their designes made frustrate The King made his profit of this bad intelligence He came into Normandy Normandy yeelded to the King and within few daies forced his brother to depart The Earle of Charrolois was much greeued that this diuision had lost Normandy p Ruines caused by diuision are reparied by coÌcord The Dukes of Normandie and Brittanie câsidering that they had lost Normandie by their had intâlligence reconcile themselues It is impâssible saith Phil. de Com. by this diuisiân that many Noblemen can long liue together if theâe be not one head aboue them A Prince hauing command ouer 10000. men and meanes to entertaine thÌ is more to bâe feared then ten allâes confederaâs hauing euery one six thousand for that they haue so many things to accord betwixt them as halfe the time iâ spent before they conclude any thing for hee beleeued that that Prouince being out of the Kings handes hee was weakned a third part Monsieur had no other refuge then Brittaine being poore naked and dispossest which mooued them to pitty that were too weak to releeue him and support him against a Brother who was so great and mighty The Earle of Charrolois was not long in suspence whether the King would hold all that he had promised for hauing sent Imbercourt and Carondolet vnto him to put him in minde of the promise of marriage of his daughter they found that shee was promised to Peter of Bourbon Lord of Beaujeu The King told them that hee would marrie her better cheape then the Earle of Charolois would take her and that Champagne and Brie were too good to bee dismembred from the Crowne If men could iudge as truely as sodainly of all things What should remaine for the prouidence of God to decide Euery man thought that France would neuer escape this Apoplexie which if it did not bring death would at the least end with a Palsey but her destinies were otherwise set downe in the eternall tables of the great God the father of time the true Saturne q The Romans held Sat-rne to bâe the God and father of truth and did sacrifice bare-headed vnto him to shew that there is not any thing hidden froÌ him which must bee worshipped bare-headed and knowes onely the periods and ends of Estates After the glorie which belongs wholly to his bounty We must commend the Kings wisedome and iudgement who remained so staied in occasions where as the coldest spirits would haue been inflamed to runne vpon their enemies He plaied Sertorius against Metellus r Metellus sought onely to fight Sertorius refusing the Battel cut of his victuals tooke his water froÌ him kept him from forrage When he thought to march he staied him when he was lodged he annoyed him in such sort as he forced him to dislodge if he layed siege to any place hee found himselfe besieged through want of victuals France neuer saw so many men assembled to ruine her but she shewed that her foundations were good The forces that were before Paris were so great and so many as they might well be admired both of friends and enemies for it was an apparent demonstration what this Crowne can doe against the conspiracie of all others Yet Paris did feele of this storme long after and was so vnpeopled by this warre and by a plague which happened in August 1467. as the king to repeople it drew strangers thither with great priuiledges as such as had been condemned by iustice Vnpeopling of Paris by the assurance of impunitie and all as the Chronicle saith according to the priuiledge giuen to all banished men remaining in the Townes of S t. Malo and Valenciennes The fidelitie of Paris saued the Estate for if shee had refused entrie vnto the king he was resolued to retire into Suisser-land or to the Duke of Milan It is true that as it happens alwaies in Ciuill warres s In ciuill wars there are but to many occasions offred to be iealous of them of whose loyalty they shâld least doubt Kinsmen grow faithlesse Your seruant may be of that party which you feare M. de M. whereas distrusts and iealousies grow without sowing the religion of secrecie
was not obserued for the Princes were aduertised of all the resolutions that were taken against them yea of the time and of the sally which should be made vpon their Armie in three seuerall places the first and the greatest towards Paris the second towards Pont Charanton and the third by Bois de Vincennes Wherefore all this siege the king was euer in Iealousie t They watch in vaine for the safety defence of a Town besieged if fidelitie sleepes at the gates the gard must bee committed to them whose loialtie is well assured for that one night he found the Bastille gate open towards the field The Chronicle saith it was on Thursday the 29. of September He was conceited it had beene done by Charles of Melun but he made no shew of it Wise Princes should not lightly call in doubt two such deere and precious things as the reputation and loyaltie of their seruants u It is hard to repaire and recompence the iniuries done to faith and reputation Famae et fidei damna maiora sunt quaÌ quae estimariqueant Tit. Liu. Phil. de Commines saith notwithstanding that the king had not a better seruant that yeere then this Charles de Melun and the Chronicle attributes to his care the honor to haue saued Paris The best blowes which were giuen at this siege were drawne from his head and from the wise resolution which he tooke not to haue any thought but to diuide the company he had forces sufficient to fight with all the Princes together without paine or perill they had not yet past their Apprentiship in warre Onely the Duke of Calabria knew something hauing learned it vnfortunately in the warre of Naples The Earle of Charolois had in his youth followed his Father in his Armies and Battels but a long peace had made him forget more then hee knew As for the Duke of Berry and Brittanie the amazement wherein they were when as the Canon played vppon their quarter made it knowne that warre was not their Element The Historie hath obserued that after the Armie had past the riuer of Seine the Earle of Charolois and the Duke of Calabria troubled themselues much to haue the souldiers march in order and represents them so well armed as they seemed to haue a great desire to fight But when it describes the equipage of the Duke of Berry and Brittaine it makes a right Prosopopeia seruing onely for the number and pompe They did ride saith Phil. de Commin vpon little nags at their ease carrying for the most part but little light Brigandins yet some said they had nothing but little gilt nayles vpon Sattin that they might not weigh yet I know not the truth He that goes to the warre without his Armes shewes that he hath no desire to come neere blowes FINIS THE CONTENTS OF the fourth BOOKE 1 Entry of Queene Charlot into Paris She is accompanied by Amé duke of Sauoy her Brother and Bonna of Sauoy her sister 2 Rebellion of them of Liege and Dinand Their Insolencie against the Duke of Bourgondy The seuere punishment of their folly 3 Death of Phillip Duke of Bourgondy greatnesse and felicity of his estate his bounty and reputation in Europe his chiefe Actions 4 Entry of Charles Duke of Bourgondy into Gand sedition for the abolishing of customes 5 Wisdome of K. Lewis the eleuenth to descouer the desseines of the Dukes of Brittaine and Bourgondy His Army in Brittany 6 Newe reuolt of them of Liege They consult whether they should put their hostages to death An Ambassage from the King to the Duke of Bourgondy touching that The taking of the Towne of Liege and the desolation thereof 7 The Ganto is acknowledge their errors The Duke makes his entry there armed The King deuides the Dukes of Normandy and Brittaine from all Intelligence with the Duke of Bourgondy 8. Enteruiew betwixt the King and the Duke of Bourgondy at Peronne his perplexity in the apparant danger wherein he was he treats with the Duke of Bourgondy and accompanies him to Liege 9 The Liegeois beseeged by the King and the Duke of Bourgondy their furious sallie they are surprised spoyled and slaine 10 The King returnes to Paris his wordes leauing the Duke of Bourgondy continuation of the warre in the Contry of Liege 11 A breefe recitall of the chiefe actions life and death of Alexander Scanderbeg King of Albania THE HISTORY of LEVVIS the XI THE FOVRTH BOOKE PARIS was all in Feasts and Ioy for the happie successe of the Kings affaires who had so wisely pacified the windes which threatened his ship with shipwracke but much more for the discharge which he made of certaine souldiers and impositions which the people found insupportable a On Saturday the third of August 1465. the King remitted the fourth peny of the wine to the eight tooke away all impositions except of MarchaÌdise of the six farmes in grosse These publike ioyes were doubled by the Queenes entrie into Paris Queenes entry into Paris She went by Bote to our Ladies church past to the Celistins and so to the Tournelles She was accompanied by the Duke Amé her Brother and the Lady Bonna of Sauoy her Sister married to Iohn Galeas Duke of Milan The Historie of these times as curious to represent the order of Feasts that were made as that of Battels b Paul Aemilius obserued a wonderfull order and disposition in feasts saying that there was the like suffâciencie of Iudgement to know how to order a Battell fearefull to the enemies and a feast pâeasing to friends for the one and the other dâpend of good iudgment to know how to order things Plut. as if the knowledge of the one gaue as great proofe of sufficiencie as the other reports the magnificence and addes that in the house of Iohn Dauuet the first President they had made foure bathes they were alwaies acknowledged among the delights for the Queene and for the Ladies Her indisposition and that of the time would not suffer her to bathe One of the bathes was for the Ladies of Bourbon and Sauoy the other for the Daughter of the Lord of Monglat married to the sonne of Nicholas Balue brother to the Bishop of Eureux and Perrete of Chalon a Bourgesse of Paris This woman is particularly named in diuers places of the Historie and here shee hath her share in the delights and pleasures of the bathes The Duke of Sauoy procured libertie for his Brother Philip whom the King married vnto Margarete the third Daughter of Charles Duke of Bourbon and of Agnes of Bourgundie but the content of his libertie was not of such force in his remembrance as the distast of his imprisonment the apprehension whereof made him to follow the humors of Charles Duke of Bourgundy against the King Amé dyed three or foure yeares after in the Towne of Orleans of a Flix c Ame the third dyed at Orleans about the end of Iune 1471. he left 2.
Prince should neuer be present to make his opinion g When as a Prince will doâ any thing by Councell hee should not bee here for his presânce hinâders the liberty of their opinions especially when the question is of the death of any one accused Tiberius would not that Drusus his Sonne should giue his opinion first in Lepidus cause aâcused of treason So when Piso was commaÌded to speak his opinion touching Granius Marcellus being accused to haue set his Statue higher then the Emperours He said directing his speech vnto the Emperor And you Sir in whatâ rank will you giue your opinion for if you speak last I feare my opinion will be coÌtrarie to yours Quo loco censebis Caesar si primus habebo quod sequar si post omnes vereor ne imprudens dissentiam knowne to the end it may not be followed as a Decree and that such as will contradict it may doe it freely The Marshall of Bourgundy and the Signior of Contay concluded to haue them put to death grounding their opinion vpon this reason that so strange a reuolt should bee extraordinarily reuenged that these Mutyns were vnworthy of the Princes Clemencie and that the bonds whereby they contained such wilde spirits in their duties must be taken in the terror of punishments h âThere are crimes as diseaeases which require violent and extraordinarie cures It is not good alwaies to vse to great mildnes in the peoples folly and madnes Dennis of Syracusa scorned at that shâme saying that the chaines of demands wherewith Estates were bound are the terror of punishments Armes and Armes The Innocencie of the Hostages found fauour in the opinions of the Earle of S t Paul and the Sig r of Imbercourt who detested this crueltie against the poore Bourgesses which had willingly sacrificed themselues for the publike perswaded the Duke to take God of his side this reason was sufficient and words were superfluous to oppose against it But in these occasions whereas all is disputable it is good that the Prince haue more then one or two of his Councell to the end that wandring opinions may bee set right by others for men are no Angels i There somtimes escape from the wisest absurd and iâconsiderate opinions and therefore the Councell of one âlone is dangerous the which must consist of diuers heads For the spirits of men haue their seasons as wel as their bodies and the wisest man liuing is not alwaies wise without passion they bring them with them in all their Actions and sometimes hatred or enuie feare or hope the waywardnes and indisposition of the person are as it were the moulds and formes of Councels Besides there are many which doe not speake but after others The mildest and most iust opinion was followed and the Hostages sent back to Liege being aduised not to meddle in the contagion of the infidelitie of others and to tell them that if they abused their Princes clemencie they should feele his rigour One of the assistants k The Sig r of Coâtay was reputed a wise and discrect Knight they had neuer noted crâeâtie nor indiscretion in his ãâã and yet hee was ãâã for this cruell Councell and his death they imputed to a iust iudgement of heauen according to Phil. of Commines at this Councel foretold the death of the Sig r of Coâtay within a yeare Death of the Sig r of Contay for that hee had concluded the death of the Hostage and it was true In the meane time the Duke of Brittanie cryed out for succors The Duke of Bourgundy sent vnto the King to intreat him to cease that warre and to consider that the Duke of Brittanies cause was his The King to pay him with the same reason sent him word that if hee would leaue the protection of his brother and the Duke of Brittanie hee would abandon the Liegeois The Constable of St. Paul and la Balue carried this message to whom the Duke answered that he could not abandon his friends Nor we ours replied the Constable you choose not but take all you will neither haue vs succour our friends nor make warre against our enemies Well said the Duke going to horse the Liegeois are in field I haue proclaimed warre l The Heraulds which proclaimed this war carried in the right hand a naked sword and in the other a flaming torch a fearefull threat of fire bloud against them with a naked sword and a flaming torch I will fight with them before three daies passe if I loose the battell you may doe as you please but if I winne it you shall leaue the Brittons in peace The Duke besieged Saintron Siege of Saintron the Leigois beeing 30000. came to succour the besieged and lodge in a great Village enuironed with a marish a mile from the Dukes Armie there they are charged and repulsed euen vnto their trenches with the shot of Arrowes and Canon but when they that assailed had no more arrowes the Liegeois recouered courage charged them with their pikes and in an instant slew fiue hundred and made the rest to wauer betwixt flight and amazement The Duke seeing his foreward turne their backes caused the Archers of the battell to aduance by whom the Leigeois were beaten and slaine to the number of nine thousand A number according to the truth not to flatterie and passion which sometimes makes Gyants of Dwarfes m The true number of the dead in a battel is seldome set down the victors make ât greater the vanquished lesser and many as Phil. de CoÌmines saith to flatter Princes for one slaine number a hundred The number of the dead in the Battell of Marignan was neuer truely knowne The Frâch said that they had cut halfe the Suisses Army in pieces which was of 25000. men The Suisses say that being returned into their countrey they found but 5000. wanting and that the French had lost more Gradenic saith that in al there were 22000. Iustin numbers aboue 15000. Suisses and Guichardin as many A varietie which proceeds eyther from error or passion The rest retired to Liege and if there had not been a Moore betwixt them and the Dukes horse-men Saintron yeelds to discretion yeelded to the Dukes discretion deliuering ten men to his Iustice. Whose heads saued the rest and serued for an example against their rebellion He did the like to Tongres which yeelded vpon the same condition and in this decimation n Decimation was inuented to punish a multitude in such sort as the fear might seeme generall to all the Offenders and the punishment to a small number all felt it not but euery man feared it some of those hostages were found which he had sent home Hee presented himselfe before Liege Leige yeelds demands pardon one of the mightiest and best peopled townes of the countrie The Dukes presence made some resolue to trust vnto his clemencie and others to feare his Iustice. Three
called an assembly of the Princes and chiefe noblemen and propounded this question which he seemed to receiue from the K. of England to haue his aduice What punishment that farmer descrued who hauing inuited his maister to come vnto his house had put him to death All concluded that the crime was punishable and Hubert said that hee ought to be hanged You shall bee said the King you haue condemned your selfe And hee had noe sooner spokeÌ the word but hee was hanged the simple being lodged at the foot of the Tower where he had beene imprisoned He made some offer to pacifie the Duke and to giue hostage to procure such satisfaction from the Liegeois as was fit He had friends in the Dukes Councell i The aduice of that which was done in the D. counsell came as it was said from Phil. de Commines and casting twelue or fifteene thousand Crownes among them And he himselfe writes after this manner The King had some friend which aduertised him that he should haue no harme if he did yeeld vnto those two points but if he did otherwise hee thrust himselfe into very great danger he was by that meanes aduertised of the Resolutions which were taken wherof the mildest and most moderate were not pleasing vnto him The first opinion was that they should keep promise with him so as he would declare himselfe an enemy to them of Liege The second that being offended as he was it was dangerous to giue him liberty to reuenge himselfe The third that they should send for the Duke his brother and the other Princes to consult what was to be done In the end they past by this straight that he was constrained and it is the greatest violence that may be done vnto a King to consent vnto a a warre against them of Liege who had relyed vppon his protection The Duke continued three dayes in great alterations and past the third night in such disquietnes as he did not vncloath himselfe but lay downe vppon his bed then rising sodainly he would walke and talke to Phillip de Commines his Chamberlaine whose integrity and moderation did serue to calme those violent stormes that troubled his soule He was wholly French k Philip de Commines became a Partisan to the King who drew him into France gaue him the signory of Argenton in Poictou and the Seneshalship of the same Country and from that time some thought he resolued to retire himselfe into France But it is not credible that there was any trechery in him The vptightnes and sincerity of his writings frees him from suspition If he had been blemished with infidelity ingratitude vices which dissolue al humane society l All the greatest reproches are comprehended in these two wordes Ingrate and trecherous Nihil aeque Concordiam humani generis dissociat et distrahit quam hoc ingratitudinis vitium Sen. the King had not trusted him with so many great and important affaires The Duke went early in the morning vnto the Castell to the King who was already aduertised of what he would say vnto him and had time to thinke of his answer and to fit it not so much vnto reason as to necessity m Amazement should neuer bee seene on a Princes forehead He should be maister of his wordes but much more of his countenance for his lookes do often contradict them and betray the secrets of the heart and aboue all to carry so euen a countenance as the Duke should not discouer that he had any ill game or that he had any apprehension to loose for if he had thought that hee had made him affraid he would haue done him a mischeefe n Many times a bad designe begun is not ended when as he that doth it thinkes that he is not discouered And it is a maxime grounded more vpon experience then Conscience in such occasions not to do so much or to do more all together The Duke was accompanied by the Lordes of Crequy Charny and la Roche He could not by the humility of his wordes so well dissemble his proud and threatning gesture The Duke coniures the King to go to Liege but the trembling of his voice discouered the motion and storme which choller caused in his heart â And then there is no great reason in humble wordes and respectiue countenances when as the effects are contrary and that the inferior braues the superior o To what end sârues respect and humility of wordes if the action be proud The day when K. Iohn wââ taken at the battell of Poictâers the prince of Wales serued his maiesty at supper bareheaded The King intreated him to sit downe It belongs not to the subiect answered the Prince and yet hee held him prisoner He demanded of him if he would hold the treaty and come to Liege to help to reuenge him and the Bishop of Liege his kinsman of the Liegeois who by reason of his comming were reuolted The King granted it the Peace was sworne vppon Charlemaignes crosse and the whole towne was full of ioy for this accord the 12. of October 1468. 1468. Oliuer de la March reports this otherwise then Phillip de Commines The King saith he was not well assured but as soone as he saw the Duke enter into his Chamber he could not conceale his feare but said vnto the Duke Brother I am not safe in your house and in your Country and the Duke answered yes sir and so safe as if I should set an arrow come towards you I would put my self â before you to preserue you And the King said vnto him I thank you for your good will and will goe where I haue promised you but I pray you let the peace be presently sworne betwixt vs. Then they brought the Arme of St. Leu and the King of France sware the peace betwixt him and the Duke of Bourgondy and the Duke of Bourgondy sware the said peace and promised to keepe and entertaine it with and against all men The next day they parted and came to Cambray p Notwithstanding their speeches vnto the Duke of BourgoÌdy that hee should be blamed to break the assurance which he had promised the King hee still answered Hee hath promised me and hee shall hold it I will make no Conscience to force him Peter of Goux his ChaÌcellor was one of those which counselled him not to offând the King Oli. de la March. and entred into the Contry of Liege in the beginning of winter The King had no forces but his scottish garde and 300. men at armes The Duke held a Counsell in the sight of Liege what he should do Some were of opinion that he should send back part of his Army for his forces were too great against a demantled towne which could not be releeued seing the King was with him He gaue no credit to this Counsell and it succeeded well for he could not be too strong hauing a mighty
Aduise my Lord if there bee any thing whereof you repent y A breach in the obseruation of forced promises is not dishonorable and hee wants force that obserues them it is at your choise to doe it or leaue it I desire to adde one Article in fauour of the Lords of Lau Vrfet and Poncet of Riuiere that they may bee restostored to their lands and offices I am content replyed the King so as the Earle of Neuers and the Lord of Croui may bee also restored The Duke who bare a deadly hatred to these two spake no more of the rest and the King declared that he would obserue the Treatie z In Treaties which are made by equals impertinent demands are choked with the like demands Hee had so great a desire to be farre off as to make no stay of his departure he made no show of discontent Hee concealed his griefe so cunningly as it was impossible to iudge that hee felt any The Duke vsed some complements to excuse himselfe for that hee had drawne him to the warre of Liege Excuses of the Duke He had need of very artificiall poulders a Words of excuse and complements in actions which caÌnot be excused are like spices and sauce of a delicat taste to meate which is tainted to make this sauce pleasing the gilding tooke not away the bitternes of these pilles Hee did accompanie him a mile at their farewell and imbracings the King to shew his affection and trust Words of the K. at his departure said vnto him Sir if my Brother which is in Brittanie were not contented with the portion which I giue him for your sake what would you haue me doe The Duke answered if hee will not accept it I referre my selfe to you two and care not so as he be satisfied These words beeing spoken somewhat roughly were well considered by the King who from that time resolued not to lodge his Brother in Normandie too neere to England nor in Champagne too neere to Bourgundy The Duke continued the rigour of warre vpon the country of Franchemont Warre in Franchimânt leauing the Towne of Liege on fire b The Duke appointed three thousand foote to burne the Town of Liege and to desend the Churches It was fired thrice in three seuerall quarters They reserued three hundred houses for the Priests with whom many inhabitants lodged Phil. de Com. not excepting any thing but Churches and the houses of such as attended the diuine seruice c Impiety respects sacred things after that liberty hath profaned them Fab. Maximus hauing spoyled Tarentum and made it desolate with all kindes of cruelties When his Secretary came to aske him What shall we doe with our enemies Gods he answered let vs leaue the angry Gods vnto the Tarentins Plut. in Fabio They respected the Temples after they had offended him who was worshipped there by all sorts of impieties Whilest that the souldiers warmed themselues at this fire the rest endured incredible cold in the Mountaines of Franchemont whereas the wine being frozen in the hogs-heads Sharpe Winter it was cut in peeces with Axes and carried away in hats and baskets without decrease Oliuer de la March writes that the Dukes tysan was frozen in siluer flagons and that the force was so great as they brake At the same time the death of the King of Albania was spred ouer all Europe Death of the King of Albania Lewis was much grieued for that hee alone stayed the Turkes furie who were cruell scourges to punish the disorders of that depraued Age. He was the yongest Sonne of nine children to Iohn Castriot d Voysane daughter to the King of the Tribâleâ a part of Macedonie Bulgaria hauing conceiued George Castriote drempt that shee was deliuered of a serpent of such greatnes as he spred ouer all Epirus who commanded at Croy the chiefe Towne of Albania who gaue him with his Brethren to Amurath to assure the faith of his promises beeing forced to yeeld vnder the yoke of that command Amurath George Castriot circumcised caled Scanberbeg the Nabuchodonosor e God hath vsed the power of infidels to punish his people and by diuers meanes he hath giuen them power to trouble them He raised Nabuchodonosor to ruine the Israelits therefore leremie calls him his seruants although he were most cruell of the Israelites made them all be circumcised and change their names George was called Scanderbeg that is to say Alexander Lord and as Alexander he began betimes to make such proofes of his valour f Scanderbeg was instructed in all the exercises of war before the force of his body could shew what his courage was He also learned the Turkish Sclamonian ArabiaÌ Greeke Italian tongues as euery man thoght that his militarie toyles would make him worthy of that name that he would end more Battels in effect then the Princes of his time had seene painted g When Cicero spake of PoÌpey he said that he had brought more battels to a happy end theÌ others had read in Histories conquered more Prouinces then any one before him had conceiued in his wishes that hee had triumphed almost as many times as he had followed the warre yeares that he would winne more victories then others had encountred dangers He was Sangiac the first dignitie next vnto a Basha then was he sent into diuers expeditions and knowne to be the sole authour of all the good successe which happened in Greece Asia and Hungarie there being nothing in the Art of warre but in the end came to his knowledge But this great valour had almost vndone him Amurath apprehended it to haue such a Prince neere him and the enemies of his courage but more of his hopes said that he nourisht a domestick enemie to weaken his intentions and disappoint his intelligences He put his Brethren to death beeing resolued to make him runne the like fortune if he had not made it knowne by his cariage that he had no other thought nor passion but that of his seruice and that his Father h After the death of Iohn father to Scanderbeg Amurath seazed vpon the Realme of Epirus and put a garrison into Croy. Scanderbeg dissembled the griefe of his fathers death the taking of his estate the murther of his Brethren so from that time he resolued to pull that Crowne from Amurath and his Brethren did reuiue in the affection which he bare vnto him Amurath puts Scanderbegs brethren to death And when as Amurath to sound him had offered him the crowne of Albania he said that he preferred the honour of his seruice before all the Scepters and Empires of the world and that he felt his hand fitter for a sword then his head for a Crowne This answere pleased Amurath He grovves fearfull of his valour but it freed him not from all his feares which the greatnes of his spirit imprinted in his
soule as often as he returned from any exploits of war which were more admirable then imitable Wherefore hauing resolued to make warre against George Lord of Misia i Misia is commonly called by the Turke Segoria and comprehends Seruia Bosnia Russia and the Prince is called Despote of Seruia he made him Generall of his Armie as well for that he had not any one more capable as also to be rid of him thinking that being forward and fierie by nature hee would thrust himselfe into dangers from which he should not free himselfe for his braue and generous Captaine like an other Cato k Cato as Tit. Liu. saith wold be euery where and execute euery thing in person sparing himselfe no more then the least of his soldiors hauing no other aduantage ouer them but the honour of his commandements would see all himselfe and had no other aduantage in militarie labours then to haue the honor to command them and to be the first to execute them But as often as hee went so often did Andrinopolis see him returne laden with honor and victories A remarkeable worke of Gods prouidence to preserue this braue courage for his seruice At length Scanderbeg Scanderbeg leaues the Turke who had alwaies the heart of a Christian and an Albanois being wearie to liue in the continuall disquiettings of so many distrusts and conspiracies to kill him resolues to quit Amurath m ScaÌderbegs retreat was in the year 1444. hee conferred with Huniades of his enterprise that vnder a coulour of making warre against him hee might retire on his side whereupon hee ioined with Huniades Prince of Transiluania He ioynes with Iohn Huniades and with him defeates the Basha of Romania who had fourescore thousand men he caused his Secretarie to be taken and setting a dagger to his throat forced him to write letters to the Gouernor of Croy carrying a commandement in Amuraths name to consigne the place vnto him The Gouernor of Croy obayed and receiued Scanderbeg Entrie of Scanderbeg into Croy. all the Infidels were put to the sword and the Christians preserued and such as would become Christians He besieged the other places of Albania and in few daies with much paine and no money he recouered his forefathers estate and made the black Eagle n The house of Scanderbeg caried an Eagle sables in a field gules When as the people of Albania saw them in his Exsignes Standards they presently renewed the ancient affection they bare vnto their Princes with two heads to be seene in all places Hitherto hee had fought for himselfe now he fights for Christendome Ladislaus King of Hungary and Poland intreats him to assist him against Amurath hee was hindred by Huniades o Iohn Despote of Transiluania otherwise called Huniades being discoÌtented with the King of Hungary for that certaine places in Seruiae which had bin granted him in reward of his vertue were detained from him refused passage to ScaÌderbeg to ioin with the Christian Army Despote of Transiluania neither did the cause of the warre seeme iust for it brake a peace solemnely sworne with Amurath Battell of Varna It was decided in the valley of Varna on the limits of Misia or Segoria vppon the Euxin Sea within foure dayes iourney of Andrynopolis to the dishonour of the Christians who were put to flight but the triumph cost Amurath so many men as his ioy was turned to repentance If hee made some triumph Scanderbeg reapt the profit for seeing that hee had retired his forces hee went to field p These say that Amurath hauing escaped this danger grew more sad then he had been accustomed and being blamed by his followers he answered I would not win after this manner Amurath caused a pillar to be set whereas the Battell was giuen with an inscription of the victory and at this day the heapes of dead mens bones are to bee seene which shew that the slaughter had been wonderfull and made such sharpe warres as the Turke wrote vnto him rather to stay his exploites then to threaten him with reuenge and yet his Letters were full of reproches and pride Letters froÌ Amurath to Scanderbeg the ordinarie Passion of an incensed spirit Hee sweares that if hee will returne vnto him hee will forget all his offences past for that hee is more mindfull of the seruices hee hath done him then of his ingratitude hee offers to leaue him the Towne of Croy and the Lands which his Father held vpon condition that hee should yeeld vp all the other Townes of Albania and Misia These letters were receiued with that contempt they deserued q The letters beginne after this manner Amurath and Ottoman Soueraigne of the Turks and Emperour of the East sends no salutations to Scanderbeg his ingrateful nurschild He saith that he knowes not what wordes to vse to him for that hee doth not merit any good for his ingratitude and a rough sharp speech would make his arrogant nature more insolent Scanderbeg thinking that Amuraths feare who grew old and broken had made him to write them hauing a desire to leaue his Empire in some safety Scanderbegs answer yet he made him an answer and after that hee had told him that he should remember the good which he had receiued from him if the numbring did not renew the remembrance of a greater number of ills he concluded with these wordes Such fortune as it shall please God to giue vs we will beare In the meane time we aske no councell of the ennemy of that we intend to doe neither do we sue for peace of you but hope with the helpe of God r A Christian Prince should not referre any thing to fortune but to the prouidence of God who is the only cause of all causes guids al things after his will the moouable by their motions the immoueable by their firmenesse the voluntary by their liberty and the reasonable by their will to haue victory ouer you Within a while after he was victorious ouerthrew great armies which Amurath sent into Epirus the first led by the Basha Ferise and the other two by Mustapha He wonne the Battell of Drinon against the Venetians Battall of Drinon in Dalmatia and vsed this victory so well as the Venetians to make him raise the seege from before Dayne s Dayne is a little Towne planted vppon a high hill as in a manner all those of Epirus bee yet the soile of it is fat and the aire good and holsome they haue store of Venison and bees and all kindes of trees and fruites which was in their protection yeelded that he should haue a part of the Country of Scutarii which was very commodious for him Amurath besieged Sfetigarde where as Scanderberg flew in single Combate Seege of Sfetigarde Ferise Basha Generall of the Army yet it was taken and presently besieged againe by Scanderbeg but he was forced to raise the siege
t This dislodging was very dishonorable for Amurath and very glorious for Scanderbeg who was honored much for it by christian Princes namely by Pope Nicholas the fift and Ladislaus King of Hungary being aduertised that Amurath came into Epirus with Mahomet his sonne to besiege Croy. After that his Artillery was cast the Towne battered many assaults giuen maintained and the ruines of the Assaylants blowne vp and laid open Amurath tired with the tediousnesse of the siege offers to retire and to leaue Albania vnto Scanderbeg with the title of a Realme so as he would do him homage and pay tibute Scanderbeg who held himselfe nothing inferiour to the Emperor as long as hee was more powerfull u Cato reduced to that extremity in Vtica as his friendes aduised him to make an Accord with Caesar. It is for them said he to sue that are vanquished as for me I will hold my selfe inuinsible as long as I am stronger in right then Caesar. then hee in the iustice of his armes found these offers so contrary to the honour of his religion as he reiected them couragiously saying that hee would neuer indure that the name of an Albanois should be defamed with such a blemish no not if Amurath would giue him halfe his Empire Death of Amurath before Croy. This answer with the little likelihood there was to vanquish the obstinacy of the besieged did so aflict Amurath as he dyed complaining of his hard fortune x Among the precepts which be left to Mahomet his sonne he did often reitterate these wordes with aboundance of teares That he should neuer contemne an enemy not knowing any thing in all his life whereof he did repent him and should repent in the other world but that he had contemned Scandebeg that after he had giuen subiect to all the world to speake of his triumphes against the Grecians and Hungarians hee saw himselfe now forced to yeeld vp his soule before the walles halfe ruined of a petty Castle y Croy the cheefe Towne of Albania is scituated vppon the top of a mountaine in a manner vnaccessible of euery side in the view of an enemy which had been his slaue The memory of Amurath past away with his teares Mahomet succeeded him and whilst he studies somthing worthy the beginning of his Empire Scanderbeg labours to fortefie Croy y Croy the cheefe Towne of Albania is scituated vppon the top of a mountaine in a manner vnaccessible of euery side and to repaire her ruines but Mahomet gaue him no long liberty to do it for he presently sent Acmat his Basha to visite him with an Army of 12000 horse If the number had beene greater it had not serued but to increase the number of the dead or prisoners for Scanderbeg hauing taken the Generall prisoner z They say that Scanderbeg had it in particular in all his incounters and military actions alwaies to begin his first stratagems of victory with the death of the head saing That the head should be first cut off and the rest of the body will fall alone and that he knew no kind of liuing creature that could suruiue the head beeing taken off a maxime which hee held for the first of military stratagems Mahomets Army in Hungary the defeat of the rest was not difficult He attempted the siege of Sfetigarde and after that of Belgrad the one and other expedition brought him no profit but repentance and notwithstanding that he had the worst yet he sold Mahomet his victory so deere as he was forced to say that his Army had nothing but the name of triumph Constantinople taken He turned his forces towards Constantinople where he made the victory horrible by all kindes of Brutish and barbarous inhumanities which caused the most stayed and modest spirits to bee amazed a If the Infidels prosper if they raise theÌselues vpon the ruines of Christians yet may wee not murmure against the eternall prouidence Stay humane rashnes it is not lawfull to pierce into the secrets of Gods Iudgments nor to define when how nor how long it is fit the wicked should florish at so visible a testimony of the fauour of heauen against those whom the eternall Iustice had chosen to repaire the ruines The long patience of the Almighty and his sufferance of the wicked hath forced many to murmure against his prouidence that he doth not cast those roddes into the fire wherewith he hath scourged his children b The stay of the wickeds punishment doth wrong vnto Gods Iustice. Deus sua sibi patientia detrahit plures enim Dominum idcirco non credunt quia seeulo iratum tam diu nesciunt Tertul. de pacientiae The Conquest of Constantinople made him resolue to ruine Epirus but Mahomet sped so ill Warre renewed in Albania was so often beaten as he sought a peace or truce of Scanderbeg during the which past the troubles of Naples betwixt the French and the Arragonois The Venetians wronged by this Accord presse them to breake with Mahomet the warre is renewed they fight to maintaine the Christian liberty c All war saith Polybius lib. 11. is made either to preserue liberty or for feare of falling into seruitude and to auoid the Turkish seruitude Mahomet sent Baillaban to whom he promised the Crowne of Epirus d A pittifull atteration of things to see a Prince who had lately come into Europe with a mighty army and had refused a short truce unto the Emperor of the Turkes to be now forced in his old yeares to abandon his Country and to goe farre to seeâe for succors being alwaies accompanied by Langey Arch-Bishop of Durras so as he could make away Scanderbeg He made foure voyages and was as often beaten the number giuing place to valour Scanderbeg demands succors of the Pope But in the end Scanderbeg seeing that Croy could not hold any longer against so mighty an enemy and that Albania was all couered with troupes of Infidels he went away in a disguised habit to demand succors of the Pope Paul the second had no great pitty to see these sad and mournefull relickes of so many Princes and of so many heads of Macedon and of all Greece nor of the common necessity and eminent perill of Christendome The Venetians apprehended it more sencibly and gaue some succours to Scanderberg with the which and that which he drew from his Allies of Epyrus Macedonie Sclauonia and Dalmatia which might make about 13000. and foure hundred good men he returned into Albania and freed Croy before which Baillaban was slaine Mahomet sent Allibey and Arabey thither with 20000. Turkes he had profited little there if death e Scanderbeg being ready to take from the Turkes the towne of Valmes lately built by Mahomet and being come to Lissa he fell into a violent feuer iealous of Scanderbegs glory had not surprized him by a sicknes not daining to assaile him in armes In
wont to say Che non potea la Republica crescere molto di potenze se non hauesse nell imprese di Terra impiegate le sue forze la quale cosa perche noÌ haue a prima fatts pero era stata molto ritardata et impedita quella grandezza alla quale se tale consiglio hauesse preso piu per tempo po teua caminare felicemente haue thought that this Common-weale had begun too late to inlarge it selfe vpon the maine land to make profit of her neighbours ruynes The two principall intentions which shee hath had for the greatnes of her estate to maintaine her selfe free and to become ritch haue succeeded for the one she hath alwayes maintained her selfe strong at Sea there beeing no other meanes to anoy her and she hath continued her traffick without the which she could not continue this goodly flower of liberty had been withered by the idlenes of her subiects The industry of marchandize should bee no lesse honorable vnto them then tillages to the old Senators of Rome both the one and the other in their labours and trafficke haue produced famous examples of publike vertues We must giue vnto Venice the glory of the best gouernment of all the Estates of the world the forme and order of her politick gonernment is in all parts so well disposed and obserued as this Common weale amidst so many diuers accidents of good fortune and bad was neuer troubled with any discord or domestick diuision which haue aflicted Aristocraticall Estates and driuen gouernours of Common-weales into such feares and distrusts as the Pallace where they haue assembled to resolue of publique affaires hath beene often dishonored with the losse of their liues or liberties h After that they of Miletum had expelled their tyrants they setled an Aristocraticall Estate but the people did still mutiâe against this kind of Gouernment and the great men did still liue in such feare as they could not hold a Councell in safety but in shippes The Lords of Samos were murthered by the people when they were in counsell Inevitable stormes in estates which depend not of the power of one alone whereas the lesser are alwaies kept vnder by the greater and the poore cannot long indure the felicity of the ritch who so will keepe the poore people in such obedience must after the example of Rome allow them a share in the estate i The gouernment of Rome was diuided betwixt the Consulls Senate and people with such a conformity of their duties and common Offices as neuer common weale was better instituted The power of the one was bridled and restrayned by that of the other Nulla efferre se pars supra caeteras valet nequie impotenter superbire omnia quippe in ãâã statu manent cum aliorum cehibiatur impetus aliine in se quoque insurgatur perpeuo metuunt The Venetians haue made them subiect by meanes very pleasing vnto them they haue in a manner the best part of the liberty and their pleasures are not limited but by excesse they do their affaires quietly and the Senate hath all the care to maintaine them in liberty and rest The greatest disdaine not them that are meaner they contract Allyances together and do not restraine them from certaine publique charges There is a great temper betwixt Aristocratia and Democratia For the Gouerment retayning little of the one and much of the other is freed from disorders and corruptions which haue alwaies troubled ciuill tranquillity FINIS THE CONTENTS OF of the fifth BOOKE 1 THE King considers of the Preiudice which hee receiues by the obseruation of the Treatie of Peronne 2 Assembly of the Estates of the Realme at Tours by whose aduice the Duchie of Guienne is giuen to the Duke of Normandie Thé Duke of Bourgundy adiourned to the Parliament at Paris 3 The Court of Parliament complaines of the reuocation of the Pragmatick Sanction 4 Institution of the Order of S. Michel the first Princes and Noblemen were honored and the Knights bonds 5 Warre resolued by the Estates and begunne against the Duke of Bourgundy 6 A strange change in England The Duke of Clarence Brother to King Edward and the Earle of Warwicke take Armes against the King 7 Margaret wife to Henry the sixt the Duke of Clarence and the Earle of Warwick come into France for succors 8 Henry the sixt at libertie and Edward expelled the Realme 9 Exploits in Picardie and warre proclaimed against the Duke of Bourgundie 10 The Constable perswades him to giue his Daughter to the Duke of Guienne 11 Armie of the Duke of Bourgundy before Amiens 12 A marriage sought betwixt the heire of Castille and the Duke of Guienne 13 Birth of Charles Dauphin of France 14 Practises of the Constable to breake the promises of marriage made in Castille 15 Death of Pope Paul the second 16 New designes to draw the Duke of Bourgundy into the Townes of Picardie 17 Promise made by the King to restore Amiens and S. Quentin 18 Death of the Duke of Guienne changeth the affaires 19 Obseruation of the Duke of Guiennes life and the seueritie of the King his Brother Strange death of Gilles Sonne to Iohn the sixt Duke of Brittany 20 Troubles in Nauarre the King sends forces thither 21 Letters written by the King to the Earle of Lude Siege of Parpignan Peace betwixt the King and the King of Arragon 22 Iohn Earle of Armagnac expelled his Country and the pittifull discourse of his fortune and death THE HISTORY of LEVVIS the XI THE FIFTH BOOKE THE Duke of Normandy was no sooner aduertised that the King had promised by the Treaty of Peronne to giue him the Contries of Champaigne and Brie for his portion but hee presently besought him to giue him leaue to goe thither and not to suffer him to languish any longer for the enioying of his rest and quiet the cheefe part whereof consisted in not beeing troubled to seeke it a It is a part of rest not to be in paine to seek it The King who had promised nothing freely thought to discharge himselfe of his promises at a better rate Hee wonne the Sig r. of Lescun b He that wil winne a Princes heart let him first win the cheefe ministers which possesse him who are as it were the eyes by the which hee seees and the eares by the which he hears and vndrstands who was his Brothers whole Councell The King winnes his Brother by the practise of Odet of Rye to perswade him to be conformable to his intentions and to rest satisfied not with that which he desired but with what should be offered him Yet this practise was not so secret but the Duke of Bourgondy was aduertised by the Cardinall Balâe a double heart and a turbulent spirit full of passion who wrate vnto him that the King treated with his Brother that they made no mention of him and that hee should looke to his busines This
letter being surprised lodged him in a Cage of Iron c Cardinall Balue was coÌmitted to prison in Aprill 1468. The Commission to examine him was giuen to Tanequy of Chastel gouernour of Roussillon William Cousinot the maister of Torsy and Peter of Oriolo Generall of the finances for a prison from the which hee was not freed but by the Popes intercession and towards the end of this raigne These Cages were of his inuention d Wicked and bad inuentions fall vppon the inuentors the forger is fettered is fettered in his owne ãâã Arantius Paterculus is rosted in his brazen horse part wood part iron and couered with plates of Iron so Perillus was rosted in the bull which he had inuented The King being returned into France whereas they talked of his indiscretion and great credulity in trusting his enemie set a good countenance of it and made shew that what had beene done at Peronne had been as beneficiall vnto him as if it had beene resolued in Paris e To make shew to doe that willingly which was extorted by force is an act of wisedome not to loose the credit and opinion which is bad of him to be aduised aâd alwayes equall but to put other fancies into the heads of the Parisiens and other discourses into their mouthes hee caused a proclamation to be made by the trumpet that all birds which are kept in Cages as Pyes Iayes and such like should bee brought vnto him to Amboise They that had the Charge of this commission should informe themselues what euery Bird could say and where it had been taken and taught f It is good to diuert brues the peoples discouâses but oftentimes if they be not allowed to speake that which is true they inuent fables which are more preiudiciall Fractis apud CremonaÌ rebus prohibuit per ciuitatem sermones eoque plutes ac si liceret vera narraturi quia vetabantur atrociora vulgaueraââ Tacât Hist. l. 3. An act of iudgement which did preuent many inconfiderate speeches A ridiculous Edict 19. Nouemb. which would haue been vsed against this Prince for that he had thrust himselfe so rashly into his enemies power and brought himselfe to that estate as he was like vnto the Elephant who paies his ransome with the Iuory of his teeth To repaire this error and to preuent his Brother and the Duke of Bourgundy of their pretensions he labours to breake the Treatie but he will doe all with solemnitie and if hee must cast forth the Thunderbolts of warre it shall not be done without the Councell of the Gods h A Prince should not alone resloue to make war Iupiter did not cast forth his lightning without the Councel of twelue Gods The Kings of France did not vndertake any war but with the aduice of the twelue Peeres imitating the wisedome of his Predecessors who did not vndertake any warre without the aduice of a Parliament So Pepin past the Alpes to succour the Pope so he armed against the Saxons so hee expelled Gaifre out of Aquitaine so Charlemaine went against the King of the Lombards and the Duke of Bauaria hauing first acquainted the Parliament with these designes 1468 Conuocation of the Estates at Tours To this end he assembled the Estates of the Realme at Tours i The Estates assemble for one of these three reasons for the regencie of the Realme in the Kings minoritie for the reformatioÌ of the realme and to prouide meanes to succour the necessities of the Crowne It is a bodie of three Orders hath been alwaies obserued among the Gaules the pretext was to preuent the ruines of the Realme but the essentiall cause was to resolue two things a portion for Monsieur and the restitution of the Townes vpon the riuer of Some both depending vpon this Lawe which is one of the pillars of the Estate That the Lands of the Crowne are inalienable and portions are not giuen but with condition to returne againe for want of heires masle k A Monarchy suffers no diuision nor estimation for the yongers portions of the house of France are not diuided but for want of Masles returne to the Crowne The tongue hath done great seruices to this Prince in diuers actions Eloquence naturall to K. Lewis the eleuenth in this yet without any Art or affection l It is necessarie for the Prince to speake well but without affectation his eloquence should more appeare in the facillitie of his owne nature then in any curious Art for there are more parts required to make a man eloquent then to make a Cuptaine to know and discourse of particular things we must vnderstand the generall he strikes fire to inflame the coldest spirits to what he will and speakes to all the Deputies and lets euery man know the importance of the Duchie of Normandie and the preiudice which other Prouinces receiued when it was in the power of the English with the incredible to ile which King Charles his Father had past to wrest it out of their hands That although he did not hold his brother to be of so bad a disposition as to haue intelligence with them Importance of the Duchy of Normandie yet he knew well that they of his intelligence bad great practises in England that he might haue children which should not bee of his humor beeing most certaine that the Princes of the same bloud extend their thoughts farther then they should m Ambition neuer takes root but in hearts that are vigorous hardy and desirous of innovations When as it incounters with any preheminence of bloud or fauour of the people it is ãâã to retaine it or may goe aspire to great matters and are not content with their condition That for these reasons he could not leaue the Duchie of Normandie That his promises in that regard should be soundly vnderstood and that affaires of State were not managed with such scrupulous considerations That hee offered notwithstanding to giue him such a portion as the Estates should aduise making them Iudges and Arbitrators therein but aboue all he commanded that the lawes of the Realme should not be infringed n The Realme of France is seated vpon a triangular basis the Salique ãâã the holding of the Estates and the reuenewes inalâenable Hauing thus prepared their minds he opens the Estates came thither with greater Maiesty then he did euer shew in any action during his raigne A Prince cannot adde too much in such great occasions for besides that this light doth please it dazels and transports mens mindes he must allwayes hold himselfe in admiration it is a toile which is neuer set but some one is taken His throne was vpon a stage three foot high railed in containing all the bredth of the vpper end of the hall his chaire was of blew veluet pouldred with flowers-de-luce vnder a cloth of estate of the same and vpon three steps He was attired in a long robe of
the good of the publike y In these Estates they did not thinke of the publike good nor of the peoples ease who complained for Lewis leuied much more then King Charles and dismist them giuing order for the intelligences which hee had vpon Amiens Abbeuille and St. Quentin Then representing vnto himselfe how much the discontentments of the great men of this Realme had ruined his affaires hee inuented a meanes to vnite their mindes to his will and to keep them firme by new bonds of honor and fidelitie Institution of the order of S t Michell the which hee found in the order of S t Michael making it not onely a recompence for vertue like to the Consulship of Rome but a marke of the Nobilitie of bloud and extraction z The dignity of Consull at Rome was as Valerius said vnto his soldiers Premium virtutis non sanguinis and went to seek out the vertuous in any house at any age Princes should haue things in their meere disposition which should be out of the commerce of their subiects 1469 and wherevnto they may not aspire but by the degrees of Vertue Honors which may bee recouered for money are no more honors for the sale may make them fall vpon vnworthy heads a The sale of honors makes them to be lesse esteemed vertue to bee contemned sufficiency lesse necessarie euery one thinking that he may attaine vnto it for money It is a great disorder when as such as are aduanced cannot say that they are bound vnto their vertue although they haue glorious shewes and that is not held rare which may be recouered for money b Glory is the desire of great courages Caesar would haue scorned him that should haue giuen him gold but hee dyed with desire to haue a crown of bayes Fortune may impouerish the greatest houses of Christendome but the honour which they hold from their Ancestors remaines for euer and a branch of Laurell which remaines of their fathers Crownes is more deere vnto them then any other thing Wee see not any Prince reduced to that necessitie as hee prefers siluer before honor And that King hath no great power in a Realme wheras they obtaine all for coyne The King making himselfe Generall of this Order The King great master of the order of S t Michel would also haue them that were neerest vnto him honored c By these orders the Prince becomes a companion to the whole Colledge Tiberius made an order of Knights which were caled Augustales and made himselfe grear master to the end it might haue more reputation hee would haue Drusus his sonne with T. Claudius and Germanicus his nephews to be of it Tac. An. Lib. 7. He gaue the first coller of the Order to Monsieur his Brother the second to Charles Duke of Bourbon and Auuergne Hee thought to draw in the Dukes of Bourgundy and Brittany but they would not bee bound to appeare at the Chapter With this Order were also honored the chiefe Noblemen of the Realme First knights of S t Michel d The ancient order of France was of the Knights of the starre institututed by King Iohn surnamed the good in the yeare 1351. the 6. of Ianuary the Knights weare a starre of gold in their hats and vpon their cloakes and the deuice was Monstrant regibus Astra viam A hundred and eight yeares after Lewis the eleuenth made the order of S t Michel the 1. of August 1469. A hundred ten yeares after that Henry the third instituted the Knights of the holy Ghost and in the yeare 1579. After an Age all things grow old Lewis of Luxenbourg Earle of S t Paul and Constable of France Andrew of Laual Lord of Loheac Marshall of France Iohn Earle of Sancerre Lord of Bueil Lewis of Beaumont Lord of Forest and Plessis Lewis of Estouteuille Lord of Torcy Lewis of Laual Lord of Chastillon Lewis Bastard of Bourbon Earle of Roussillon Admirall of France Anthony of Chabannes Earle of Dammartin Lord Stuard of the Kings house Iohn Bastard of Armagnac Earle of Comminges Marshall of France and Gouernor of Dauphiné George of Tremouille Lord of Craon Gilbert of Chabannes Lord of Curton Seneshall of Guienne Charles Lord of Crussol Seneshall of Poitou Taneguy of Chastell Gouernor of the Country of Roussillon and Sardinia The King reserued to make vp the number of six and thirty Knights to his Election at the first chapter The Duke of Bourgundy at the same time receiued the Order of England and the Duke of Brittanie that of Bourgundie the one instituted by Edward the third f Edward the third instituted the Order of the garter of fiue and twenty Knights in the yeare 1348. Philip that of the goldeÌfleece in the yeare 1428. of one and thirty Knights Amedee of Sauoy caled the greene Earle that of Anunciado in the yeare 1409. of fourteene Knights the other by Philip Duke of Bourgundy As this Order had one head so had it one certaine and determinate place one habite one marke or Ensigne of Officers one forme of reception one oath and one rule The place was the Church of Mont S t Michel The place for the assembly of the Order transferred since to Bois de Vincennes as well for that the place was then noted to haue neuer yeelded vnto that yoake of the ancient enemies of the Crowne of France as also for the King Charles the seuenth said that beeing vpon the bridge of Orleans when he entred with the Virgin Ioan he saw not by any fantastical visions of Southsayers like to Caesar g Caesar going to the warre against Pópey a South-sayer came vnto him transported said â Caesar thou shalt ouerecome It was true and Caesar soone after writing vnto his friends sent them this word Veni vidi vici but truely that Arke-angell fighting on his right hand Hee appointed seates for the cheefe of the Order and Knights in the Quier of the Church with their Armes aboue their seates The habit was a long cloake of white Damaske downe to the ground The habit of the order with a border imbrodered with cockle shells of gold interlaced and furred with Ermines all of one length and one fashion with hoodes of Crimson vellet and long tippets the hood of the chiefe of the order was of Murry Skarlet h The Knights aââired in this habit are bound on S t Michels Eue to come vnto the Pallace of the chiefe of the Order to conduct him to the Euensong and the next day to Masse whereas euery one offers a peâce of gold for his deuotioÌ The marke or enseigne was a coller of Golde Marke of the order i They are alwaies bound to carry the coller but when they trauel remaine in their houses or goe a hunting then they may weare the Image of the Order in a silke ryband in the midest of which vpon a rocke was the Image of Saint Michael
reciued shall bee maâe ready and laid before the Kings sâat vppon a Carpet of Crimson Tâffata or Saâten hanging dâwne at either ând and the said coller âobes shall bee perfumed with incense after that the Preest hath perfumed the Altar Art 82. of the amplifying the Statutes of the Order in the yeaar 1476. hauing his hands vpon the Crosse and the holy Euangill which done the said Knight newly chosen shall come reuerently before the Soueraigne The Kings words in giuing the Coller who taking the Coller of the Order shall put it about his necke saying or causing these words to bee said The Order receaues you into this amiable company ãâã token thereof giues you this present Coller God graunt you may carry it long to his glory and seruice aduancement of the holy Church and increase of the honor of the Order and of your merrits and good âame In the name of the Father the Sonne and holy Ghost whereunto the said Knight shall say Amen God giue mee the grace After which the eldest Knight shall lead the said Knight newly receiued vnto the Soueraigne who shall kisse him in signe of perpetuall loue and in like maner all the Knights that are present shall doe the same in order Bonds of Knights reciprocall Besides this the knights are bound to certaine respects one towards another They did promise at their entrie into the Order to serue the King as their head in all occasions both within and without the Realme and the King did promise to maintaine them in their goods Lewis the elâuenth bound himselfe not to vndertake any warre nor any other matter of importance without making iâ knowne to the Knights of the order lands and estates as his Bretheren and companions and not to attempt any warre without their aduise Hee thought to hold those hearts which had been distracted fast bound vnto him but infidelity was so bold and so contagious as all the respects of honor and conscience were too weake to restraine her from drawing them from their dueties who say the lawes of their birth were most bound vnto it It was a difficult thing for good men to bridle themselues from running into ill so licentious was the time To doc well when as vertue raignes good men are honored is ordinary and easie but not to suffer himselfe to bee infected with the corruptians of the time but to haue a good intent to dare vndertake it and effect it in a bad season is the true signe of a generous spirit and so hard a matter it is to do well when as euery man glories in doing ill and that crimes become examples and customes Iohn Duke of Bourbon continued his intelligence with the Duke of Bourgondy and aduertised him of what the King practised vppon the Townes in Picardy The Constable vsed all his practises betwixt the two Princes Intelligences continued betwixt Bourgondy and Bourâon fearing that if the Kings Choller found not some subiect to worke vppon abroad it would fall vppon the neerest that were about him That a long peace would cut off the entertainment of his soldiers making him vnproffitable to the King and without reputation in the realme promising vnto himselfe that whilst the warre continued hee should gouerne all The perpetuity of his charge which could haue no other end but with his life held him not in those apprehensions wherewith their mindes are troubled which hold them as a Wolfe by the eare u Charges which are aboue others should be short least they should grow insupportable and insolânt Those which are but temporary hold them that enioy them in ther duties and the perpetuall makes them forgetfull Peace alone makes a ciuill warre in his soule wherefore he assures the King that when he pleased hee would recouer him St. Quentin by the meanes of some places which he held about it and would speedily execute the intelligences which he had in Flanders and Brabant Warre beeing concluded by the Estates at Tours Wars proclaimed it was as soone begun as proclaimed The Duke being at Gand receiued the Citation to appeare in person at the Court of Parliament who caused the Vsher of the Court to be imprisoned hauing adiourned him as hee was going to Masse and beeing madde to see himselfe made equall to the meanest of the Realme he resolued to appeare with his sword in his hand and to transport the warre as neere his Iudges as hee could The Kings practises began then to breake forth many declared themselues French Baldwine Bastard of Bourgundy retired himselfe vnto the Kings seruice The Duke is surprised The Duke of Brittanie had made an accord with him x Accord of the D. of Brittanie with the King at Anceâis the 18. of September 1468. The Duke of Guienne was satisfied and if hee could not haue all that hee desired hee was content with that which did suffice him y The ease of great Princes must be considered by their coÌtent They haue but too much so as they thinke they haue enough One demanded of Zeleuchus what Reuenewes hee had to whom hee answered As much as I need Plut. The Constable sent word to the Duke of Bourgundy that all was lost that there was no reliefe for him in England being fallen into the same convulsions which had in a manner smothered it in the yeare 1461. Edward being bound to the Earle of Warwicks vertue for his fortune made him a sharer Troubles in England and gaue him goodly peeces depending of the Crowne and the continuation of the gouernment of Calice with fourescore thousand Crownes rent to increase his reuenues Yet the Earle of Warwick did not hold these recompences proportionable to his great seruices beeing moreouer discontented for that the King hauing sent him into France to seeke the Kings Alliance by the marriage of Bonna of Sauoy z The King of England sent the Earle of Warwicke into France to demand Bonna of Sauoy daughter to Lewis Duke of Sauoy the Queenes Sister in marriage had mockt him in marrying with Grayes widdow the which Lewis made sensible to the Earle of Warwicke to the end this complaint might bee as a thorne of discontent in his heart And as Princes take delight to pull them downe whom they haue raised and aduanced and doe not willingly suffer such high heads of Poppie to grow in their gardens Edward grew iealous and an enemie to this great authority which had cherished made speed vnder the shadow of his He brake quite with him and some say that hauing attempted against the honour of a Kinswoman of his a Of wrongs which make the greatest impression in the hart those which regard âhe honor of Lâdies are most sensible Polidore Virgil wâites thus of this attempt Nec abhorret a veritate EduarduÌ tentasse vt aiunt nescio quid in domo Comitis quod ab honestatâ omnino abesset cum homo esset qui
foundation and to raise it for it canâotlast vpoÌ light actions That of the E. of Warwiâk must needs be great hauing twise changâd the estate of EnglaÌd and as it were disposed of the Crowne sent vnto the King to receiue him The King seemed to haue a great desire to see him and succour him He landed at Diepe and was conducted with all his troupe to Amboise The people flockt vppon the high-wayes to see those mournefull relikes of Troy Euery man had heard speake of the desolation of the house of Lancaster they did regard them as Prodigies of fortune whom she had chosen to be pittifull examples of her inconstancie Within six monethes the King gaue them meanes to returne into England The K. giueâ succors to K. Henry with such forces as Edward durst not affront them Hee was forced to quit the partie and seeing how dangerous it was to stay vntill the Earle of Warwick came vnto the gates of London hee retired into Holland to the Duke of Bourgundie carrying nothing with him but a hope to returne k It is a poore equipage for a Prince which goes out of his estate with hope to returne but a retreat of this sort against a Prince that is stronger is honorable Valentinean the second left Aquilea to Maximin and fled into Thessalonica with Iustina his mother where he obtained succors of the Emperour Theodosius who restored him to the Contrie Sigon Lib. 9. Imp. Occident Behold Henry the sixt drawne out of prison and set in the royall throne Henry the sixt ãâã it lâbertie and Edward expelled but he continued but six monethes for Edward being relieued with ships and men from the Duke of Bourgundy returned into England and presented himselfe before the gates of London where he entred victorious The Duke of Clarence left the Earle of VVarwick l The Duke of Clarence being in France was sollicited and wonne by a Gentlewoman which came out of England from the King his Brother and he ãâã that belong in England he would turne to his side side King Henry was murthered in the Tower his sonne was detained prisoner Death of King Henry the sixt and soone after slaine The Earle of VVarwicke was slaine vpon the place and the Queenâ was a prisoner Thus the Realme which Edward had lost in eleuen dayes was recouered in one so true it is that Estates change in a moment m The euersions and conuersions of the estates are most commââty ãâã Breui bus momentis suÌma verti possunt Tac. lib. 8. An. that it is hard to make good vse of things ill ãâã During these Tragedies the King who wisht they had continued longer the more to weaken the Dukes designes and to humble his thoughts continued the warre which he had begun in Picardie The Constable who would needs be a necessarie euill n Hibrea a wise Cittizen of Messala a Towne in Caria said smiling to Eutidianus a man very profitable but difficult and insupportable in the gouerment of publike affairs that hee was a necessary euill to the Towne for that noâ manâ could indure him for his roughnes nor âliue without him for his good gouermeÌt to these two Princes was glad to let the Duke vnderstand what he could doe Amiens S t. Quentin taken He took S t Quentin Amiens opened her gates vnto him Abbeuille the Cittadell of Picardy had entred into the same partie if Philip of Creuecaeur Lord of Cordes had not entred The Duke not holding himselfe safe in the middest of the Constables friends retyred to Dourlans and from thence to Arras Being there he receiued a letter from the Duke of Guienne containing these wordes Labour to content your subiects and then care not for you shall find friendes The Duke seeing himselfe thus surprised and dispossest of the Townes which he did so much esteeme intreated the Constable not to presse this warre so hotly nor to doe the worst he could and to consider that the King without any precedent offence had taken armes and broken the treaty of Peronne before that he had disclaimed his friendship o The Romans before they made war Renunciabant amicitiam Germanicus being wronged by Piso Gouernour of Soria sent him word that he was no more his friend The Constable beeing glad to see the pride of his first maister humbled Pollicy of the Constable of S t. Paul makes the danger greater then it was hee threatens him with an ineuitable ruine if he did not open his eyes to those expediments which he propounded vnto him letting him know that in the darknes of his infidelity he did alwaies reserue a good day for his seruice p I neuer knew saith Phil. de Commines that man haue a good end that sought to terrifie his Maister and keep him in Iealousie Yet will he not declare himselfe to be other then a good Frenchman for to mannage his busines with honour the leape was too dangerous from S t. Quintin to Brussels The passage from one contrary to another is neuer made without violence q MeÌs thoughts passe not sodainly from one extreame vnto an other they goe by degrees there must be a meane betwixt both to vnite the two extreames He promiseth to serue the Duke in effect in seruing the King in shew and to make knowne the fruites of his seruice by the bad intelligence and diuision which hee would still entertaine and was already framed betwixt the two brethren the King and Mounsire the only means for him to be in safety and his estate in peace r The hatred and discord of brethren is the ruine of States all well as of priuate families This mischeefe hath bin long in the world the examples are borne with it And if two brethren could not agree together in their mothers womb it is no wonder if two brethren being armed quarrell But to end this war which was begun and would continue with such cruell effects Hee councells the Duke to giue his daughter to the Kings Brother against him there was no other help but to win Monsieur in giuing him his daughter in marriage that all his desires should ayme at this marke as the true end of his contentment from the which he might wander by many waies s They say we may come to one end by diuers meanes But to hit one marke there is but one direction the straightest lines are the shortest we may misse by diuers meanes ayming too high or too low on the right hand or on the left It is euen so in the actions of men and could not attaine vnto it but by this Allyance that if he were so resolued hee would follow his party and bring his head to his seruice with the Towne of S t Quentin and a good number of his seruants In a word that he would doe any thing yea set fire of the Temple of peace t There are seruants âound sit for all assaies
and without condition C. Blosius said that he would do all that Tiberius Gracchus should coÌmand him yea hee would burne Iupiters Temple if âe would Val. Max. lib. 45. 7. if he pleased He should not haue perswaded the Duke of Bourgondy to this marriage with reasons of feare and amazement A great courage doth neuer any thing to shew that he feares This course was odious vnto the Duke but much more vnto the King being offended that the Constable would make such an alliance and not acquaint them with it for the same fault a Nobleman of the same quality dignity lost his head in Spaine u Amongst the causes for the which the Coâstable of Aâalos was beheaded at Vailledâlit in the yeare 1453. They marke for that he presumed to make the marriage of the Sonne of D. Pedro of Portugal without the permission of the K. of Castile his maister The Duke had other thoughtes then to marry his Daughter Many beleeued that he would not do it whilst hee liued contenting himselfe to leaue her pleased in this liberty Desseins of the Duke vppon his Daughters marriage to hold many hopes in seruitude for he entertained them that might assist him or anoy him with goodly discourses of this allyance The Daughters of Soueraigne houses are not married to all them they are made sure vnto x When as they wondred why Hercules of Este Duke of Fârrara had married Lucretia daughter to Pope Alexander the sixth hauing been made sure to three husbands was then widdow to Gismond Prince of Bisselli whom the Duke of Valentinois had ââaine the only coÌsideration of the safety of his estate and of his affaires tooke away the amazement Guichard Lib. 5. Princes in marrying do not regard their pleasure but the necessity and profit of their affaires But seeing the Constable propound no other remedy but this marriage of Monsieur and his daughter and that yeelding vnto it hee should fill the world with a beleefe that hee had consented for feare of his enemies y A free spirit cannot indure âo bee forced Vt in Principaââ beatisâimum est non cogi ita miserrimum non suaderi he beganne then to hate him deadly and to sweare his ruine The King who iudged of the future by the knowledge of things past z Things past carry a light before iudgment which searcheth into the obscurity of future things The world goes alwaies after his manner There is not anything spoken or done but hath some ancient example Thinges goe and come vnder diuers names and other coullers ââut a wise man doth discernâ them trusted him no more for he had discouered that in this war he regarded his own priuate interest more then the good of his seruice that hee had made himselfe the instrument of an allyance which was so much the more vnpleasing vnto him for that hee ment to keepe him in Iealousie with his brother and to hold his greatnesse suspect Although the Duke of Brittany did still intertaine the Duke with feares and amazements sending him word that the King had desseins vpon Amiens Bruges and Brussells that hee was resolued to beseege him a These aduertisements were deliuered vnto the Duke of Bourgondy by mouth by a footman of the Duke of Brittaines To whom the Duke answered sodainely that his maister was ill aduertised and that the Townes whereof he spake were too great to bee beseeged where hee should find himselfe deceaued euen in Gand The King discouers the Constable yet hee went to field with his Armie beeing resolute to passe the riuer of Somme vppon a bridge which hee had made at Piqueny and to fight with the King if hee sought to hinder him Hee remained sixe weekes before Amiens saying that hee attended vntill the King who was then at Beauuais should come and force him to dislodge But the King by his temporizing let him know that hee did not fight by the fortune of his enemies but by his owne b A Prince should not suffer himselfe to be driuento that extremity as his eânemy should prescribe him a Law and bind him to fight Biorix King of the Cimbrians seeing the Consull Marius to lye still offred him Battell But Marius answered that the Romans were not accustomed to fight at their enemies pleasures Romanorum reos est suo non hostrium Arbirrio dimicare The Towne was fortified with the presence of the chiefe men of the realme the Constable the Lord Steward the Admirall and Marshall were within it with one thousand and foure hundred men at Armes and foure thousand franke Archers They had resolued to sally foorth vppon the Duke and to ingage him betwixt the king and them Seâge of Amens but the King would not his mind was so resolute to end or to continue the warre as any wauering might cause his will tend to the one side or the other c When themind is in suspence betwixt doing and not doing a small matter turnes the ballance A lâght reasonor any president makes the waight but there is a great difference betwixt the irresolution and suspencion of the mind which growes by the concurrence equality of reasons When as a mighty Prince doth not all he can vnto his inferiours it argues that eyther hee hath some great desseine to circumuent him or that warre is vnpleasing vnto him Wherefore the Duke beeing aduertised that the King had not allowed of this desseine sent Simon of Quingey with a letter of six lines written with his owne hand in tearmes of great humility and exceeding greefe to see that warre begun vnder coullor of his seruice to satisfie another mans passions adding that he beleeued if the King had beene well informed of all things hee would not haue done it The King who would not doe all hee could for oftentimes hee that would haue all looseth all d A Prince should not desire to haue the extremity of all things The wise men of Italy say Volere ostinatamente ill sommo di turte cose Somtimes in thinking to draw more frute from an occasion then it can in honesty yeeld it ruines the affaires tooke delight in this letter hauing discouered the practises of his Brother of the Duke of Brittany and the Constable wherefore hee sent backe Simon of Quingey with good words and granted a truce to the Duke of Bourgondy which sent euery man home A Truce granted dissolues the Armies the King into Touraine Monsieur into Guienne the Duke into Flanders and the Constable to Saint Quentin where he still continued his practises and not onely tormented himselfe with his owne discommodities but with that which succeeded happily to either of these two Princes e A miserable folly and a foolish misery of those which ar not content to torment themselues with their owne miseries which are but too great but they aflâct theÌselues with the felicities of other men The King who knew well that the Duke of Bourgondy
bad frâtâ and yeâ wee see that from âood fathers come bad children The Iewes prouerb is Homets ben iin vâneger is the son of wine Natum crebro tanquam ex industria malis ebonis agrestes â doctioribus ceteris âu vic torin Caliguls Impressions were very easie in this lightnesse The rigor which King Lewis the eleuenth shewed vnto him made him giue eare to such as sought to finde their owne contentments in his discontents It is Iniustice in a Soueraigne brother not to prouide for the entertainment of his yonger whom he should put in the number of his forces and felicities They are of the same bloud and grounded vppon part and portion of the successiue rights but they haue neuer prospered which haue troubled the house for this and conspired with the members against the head Twenty yeares before this death France had seene a notable example in Brittaine Tragicall end of Giles of Brittaine There is no danger to lay the History a little aside Giles g Iohn the fift Duke of Brittaine left three Sonnes Francis Peter and Giles sonne to Iohn the fifth Duke of Brittaine and Brother to Francis the first being not well pleased with his portion retired himselfe to Guildo a Castle neere vnto the sea by Matignon The Duke his Brother makes King Charles the seuenth beleeue that he was there to fauour the English with aduice and intelligence h Vpon the first suspition of any ones fidelity they presently ad the communicatiân of friends They doe exactly reuise actions past which deface or confirme the doubt of the present A beliefe which might easily bee setled in the soule of a iealous King for that this Prince had beene bred vp in England and the king had giuen him the Order of the Garter and the office of Constable Proces made to the Prince of Brittany Vppon this first impression the king sends to take him and deliuers him into the Dukes hands who sends him prisoner to Chasteau Briant commanding his Attourney Generall i The Duke demanded of the Atturney Generall what should be done in this processe The good man answered that he did not see what might be done that by the custome the elder had no criminall iustice ouer his yonger brother and that the Duke could not call him to his Iustice. An answer which was more simple theÌ true Hâst of Brit. lib. 11. to make his processe for treason but there was no crime nor any accuser The hand which had hurt him sought to cure him The king beeing informed of his innocencie laboured for his deliuerance The Duke durst not refuse him but being ready to be set a libertie his enemies suppose letters from the king of England wherevpon the king changeth his aduice and causeth him to bee kept more straightly in the Castle of Touffort There he is made to languish and endure greater extremities then those of the Quarries of Siracusa k The vsage of such as were shut vp in the Iayle of the Quarries of Siracusa was very straâght for they had but two dishfuls of barley and one of water allowed them by dayâ lut in the life ãâã for they refused him water and if he had bread they were the scraps of a poore woman who hearing him cry for hunger put them in at a window which was vpon the ditch side His gardes who had vndertaken to starue him seeing it continue to long Gilles of Brittany adiournes his Brother before God strangled him They gaue him leysure to thinke of his conscience hee charged a Friar to adiourne his Brother to heauen seeing there was no Iustice on earth for his innocencie l Gilles of ãâã for ãâã speech charged a Friar to goe vnto D. Francis the first and to tell him in what estate hee had left him the miseries he endured by iniustice that he could haue no right but referred all to the iudgement of God before ãâã he called him The Duke appeared Death pulling this thorne out of the kings heart gaue him meanes of more rest if his spirit had been capable of rest It carried him into many places m A spirit which is not restrained to certaine designes liues in continuall disquietnes Phil. de Commines speaking of this Prince saies these words The time that he rested his vnderstanding laboreâ for âe had to doe in many âaces and did as willingly busie himselfe with his neighbours affaires as with his owne and thrust him into sundry designes medling with his neighbours affaires as with his owne True it is he had great crosses by them that were neerest vnto him Imprisonmenâ of the Duke of Alencon Iohn the second Duke of Alençon the first Prince of the bloud was sent prisoner to the Louure for conspiring with the Kings enemies and at the same time they saw other Princes afflicted with the like Domesticke diseases Lewis was nothing sorrie to disquiet them he did what he could to fill vp the measure of their cares hauing no respect to make enemies so as they came to his Mill. Iohn the second King of Nauarre and Arragon had prosperities and aduersities Troubles in Nauarre both publike and priuate so variable and diuers as it could not be said whether he had more of the one then the other his youth was tost and his age was not quiet but still his courage remained inuincible in the greatest fury of the storme n They that make profession of wisedome faint in aduersitie are like vnto Pilots which grow sick during a storme Charles the onely Sonne and presumptiue heyre of the Crowne of Nauarre tooke Armes against him to bee King Charles Prince of Nauarre makes war against his Father Henry the fourth King of Castille who had married his eldest Daughter fauored his rebels of Barcelona and Gaston Earle of Foix husband to Elenor his second daughter seeing him busied against the Castillans sought to dispossesse him of the Crowne of Nauarre D. Pedro of Portugall was chosen King dyed at the siege of Tortosa o After that the Aâragonis had declared K. Iohn vnwortây the crown as the murtherer of his own son they did choose D. Pedro the third CoÌstable of Portugal son to D. Pedro D. of âimbra Rene of Anjou Duke of Lorraine and Earle of Prouence being desirous to recouer the Title of a king which he had lost at Naples accepted the same election by the aduice of King Lewis the eleuenth and sent the Duke of Calabria his Sonne into Spaine with French troupes which ioyning with them of the countie of Roussillon besieged Girone The French besiege Giâonne The Arragonois were beaten and defeated and the Prince D. Ferdinand sonne to the King of Nauarre in danger to be taken prisoner p At the Battell of Denia the Prince D. Ferdinand was prisoneâ Roderic of Rebâledo caused himselfe to âee taken in his place to giue him meanes to escape and the King redeemeâ
him for ten thousaÌd florins Winter came on the Duke of Calabria retired his troupes to Perpignan hee made a voyage into France to haue new forces and returned with ten thousand men with the which he forced king Iohn to raise the siege from before Peralta the which was wonderfully prest with their Ordinance and hauing made a great breach the assaylants assured themselues to force it at the firt assault The night before it should be giuen the Duke of Calabria entred with such furie into their quarters without discouerie the Sentinels being a sleepe q It is easie to make a surprise when as Sentinels be a sleepe The Romans coÌsidering that the safety of the Armie or Camp depending of their vigilancy had cries and trumpets to keep them waking There were some also that went the round with bels to the same end Of all which we finde examples in Tacitus Hist. 5. Polibeus lib. 2. stratagem of Clearchus Thucidid li. 4. as euery man sought how to saue themselues In combats by night the amazement is so great as he that begins first wins The King fled away bare headed towards Figueres France made bonfires for this victorie the which was seconded by the taking of Girona Death of Iohn D. of Calabia but within few daies after they lamented the death of the Duke of Calabria who dyed at Perpignan of a pestilent burning Feuer When as the King of Arragon had ended a Ciuill warre against his subiects he found himselfe ingaged in warre against the French King Lewis the eleuenth being often importuned with the ordinarie complaints which were made of the insolencies of the French r The inhabitants of Perpignan intreated Iohn King of Arragon either to giue the K. other pâwnes for the assuraÌce of his money which hee had lent or to suffer them to retire themselues which were at Roussillon and that the inhabitants of Perpignan being reuolted against the garrison had forced them to retire into the Castle he sent the King word that he should pay him his three hundred thousand crownes retire his countrie or that he should make him an absolute sale or giue him caution for the paiment The King of Arragon finding either of these conditions verie harsh answered that he could not yet vngage the country and that it would bee no honour to him to alienate it being a part of the Crowne of Arragon and that it was a matter neuer heard of to presse a King to gaue Caution the pawne being sufficient The King taking this answere for a refusall prepared to warre and made his preparation slowly to haue a more speedy victorie s He that will demand any thing of an enemie must not be disarmed neither must hee prepare hastily to war to vanquish more speedily Diu apparandum est bellum vt vineas celerius quia longa belli preparatio celerem facit victoriam Senec. With the like care as he armed for an offensiue warre against the King of Arragon he gaue order for a defensiue and to furnish the Towne of Perpignan with victuals and necessary commodities to maintaine a siege and gaue the command thereof to the Lord of Lude The Letter which he wrote vnto him vpon that subiect deserues well to be considered of beeing drawne from the originall and full of passages which discouer the humor of this Prince the order and conduct of his affaires and the manner of writing of those times My Lord Gouernor t The Lord of Lude as may be seene by the subscription of this Letter was Gouernor of Dauphiné Chamberlaine to K. Lewis ãâã the Earle of Cardonna and the Castellan of Emposta are arriued at Paris Kings Letter to the Lord of Lude I haue sent Monsieur Daire and the Sieg r of Bouffille vnto them to know and vnderstand of them if they came to make any good appointment or whether they came to deceiue mee and to dissemble The said Bouffille is returned vnto me and as farre as they can finde they bring not any good newes and their intention is onely to entertaine mee with words vntill they haue gathered in their coine And therefore I must play M r Lewis and you Mr Iohn and whereas they seeke to deceiue vs let vs shew our selues more politick then they In regard of my selfe I will entertaine them heere vntill the first weeke of May and in the meane time you shall part with all the speed you can and shall draw together a hundred Lances in Dauphine to lead with you and cause them to be led by Monsieur de S. Priet or by Pouillalier or by them both together that is to say fourescore Lances by S. Priet and twentie by Pouillalier or all to him alone or to both together as you shal think the matter may be best conducted for my profit for I referre this Article to you I send you a Letter which I write vnto them by Beauuoisin whom I charged to tell them and to doe what you shall thinke fit And for the paiment of the said hundred Lances A hundred pound starling you must speedilie finde a thousand Liuers to giue them at their departure for they shall make but a roade to spoile and burne the corne and then returne which is ten francks a month for euerie Lance And seeing they haue no Archers and continue but eight or ten daies it must suffice them it is fit to finde a meanes to recouer the said thousand Francks either by confiscation of Corne or otherwise And if it should come to the extremitie that you could not finde it before you want take it vppon the accounts of the Treasurer of Dauphinâ to whom I write expressely but vse such diligence as the said men at Armes may part the 25. day of this month and if you take any money vp in Dauphinâ I will repay it My Lord Gouernor the greatest seruice you can doe me is to vse such speed as you may burne all their Corne betimes for thereby they shall be forced to speake plainely I haue spoken vnto Captaine Odet Daidre who is well content to goe thither I send him vnto you with his hundred Lances to assist you to make the spoile in my opinion when you are all together you are inough I send Yuon Diliers vnto Monsieur de Charluz to raise an hundred Lances in Lanquedoc I doe also write vnto de Charluz to gather together of his Franc Archers the neerest to those marches to the number of three thousand and that he cause them to march into Roussillon with you and that all be readie to part the 25. of this month of Aprill And for the paiment of the hundred Lances of Lanquedoc and of the said Franc Archers I write vnto the Generall and Treasurer of Lanquedoc that they cause foure thousand Francs to be deliuered vnto them that is to say a thousand Francs to the hundred Lances and to the said Franc Archers 3000. Francs I doe also send Destueille
to Monsieur Dalby who carries a commission directed to him to Monsieur Charluz and to the said Destueille and to euery of them to cause great store of victuals to be carried to Narbona and other places of the fronter to the end the men at Armes may haue no want but you must haue a care that vnder coâllor thereof none be carried to Perpignan I haue giuen charge to the said Beauuoisien to be gouerned by you and in case that Mousieur de S. Priet lead the hundred Lances of Dauphinâ the said Beauuoisien shall bring vnto me Hardouin de la Iaille whom I haue written to S. Priet to send me I haue sent vnto you Raoulet of Balparque and Claux the Canonier to assist you imploy them well and spare nothing The Seig r of Bouffille shall part within two or three daies and in my opinion with those hundred Lances with yours those of Dauphinè Lanquedoc and of Captaine Odet with the three thousand Franc of Archers you shall haue forces sufficient to spoile and burne their whole Country and to take and beate downe their paltry places or ruine and burne such as you cannot beat downe I doe also write vnto the Generall Treasurer and Officers of Languedoc that they doe whatsoeuer Monsi r Dalby and you shall commaund them Beauuoisien shall tell you the rest Farewell my Lord Gouernor I pray you let mee vnderstand of your newes Written at Senlis the 9. of Aprill V. Lewis and vnderneath N. Tilhart The Kings armie besieged Parpignan Siege of Parpignan D. Iohn King of Arragon maintained the siege the Prince D. Ferdinand came to succor him and forced the French to retire Lewis hearing of this shamefull retreat commanded his Captaines to returne speedilyâ and to take the place or to die there The siege continued eight monthes the besieged were wonderfully prest with famine for when as they had eaten horses dogs Cats and Rats they deuoured their flesh that were slaine at assaults chosing rather to dye after this manner then to returne vnder the command of the French Famine and yeelding of Parpignan Yet their obstinacy was no hinderance from letting the K. suffer them to feele the effects of his Clemencie receiuing them vpon composition euen when as they could no more u The obstinacy and fury of a Town besieged should not hinder the bounty and clemencie of a Prince Laurence Palatin of Hungarie being amazed that the Emperor Sygismond left them their liues goods and held them for good subiects whom hee had vanquished answered in this manner I kill my enemies in pardoning and in doing them good I binde them Aeneas Sit. lib. 3. Com. So the Contâe of Roussillon remained to France all the raigne of King Lewis King Charles his Sonne restored it to King Ferdinand x Charles the eight yeelded the Countie of Rossiâlon to Ferdinand King of Arragon did acquit him of the same for the which hee was engaged this was in the yeare 1494. It had cost the King his Father many men and much money His Chronicle relates that it was said in those times that the Contrie of Arragon was a Church-yard vnto the French Philip de Commines saith that in the Contie of Roussillon there died many good men for this warre continued long A Peace was mas made betwixt Lewis and D. Iohn King of Arragon and Nauarre Embassadors from the King of Arragon sent into France whose Embassadors being come into France were well receiued and graciously vsed by the King who gaue them two cups of gold waying fortie markes y As a weake Prince should not make any show of his forces so hee that is mighty glories to shew what hee can The King out of one Citie of his realme musters a huÌdred thousand men in Armes the 20. of Aprill 1470. and esteemed worth three thousand two hundred crownes of gold and to the end they might iudge of the whole peece by a patterne he caused them to see the Inhabitants of Paris in Armes they did muster a hundred foure thousand men the Originall saith they were all in one liuerie in red Casacks and white Crosses The fortune of the house of Armagnac was intangled in that of Arragon Iohn Earle of Armagnac expelled his Country Iohn Earle of Armagnac had married Ioane of Foix Daughter to Gaston Earle of Foix and D. Leonora of Arragon This alliance could not defend him from the indignation of King Lewis the eleuenth in the furie whereof he found first the losse of his libertie then of his goods and lastly of his life The King could not forget with what vehemency he had followed the Bourguignon party in the war of the Common weale after that he had promised to retire himselfe from all Leagues and associations contrary to the Kings intentions nor with what affection he had followed the youthfull follies of the Duke of Guienne his brother who had restored him to his lands contrary to his commandement In the yeare 1469. one called Iohn Bon of Wales in England brought letters vnto the King which King Edward had writen to the Earle of Armagnac Accused by a welchmaÌ and the answer which the Earle made him The King reading them with the passion where-with he was possest and easily beleeuing one man alone a To draw many heades in question vppon the report of one tongue is an act of extreame odious Iustice. Graue militibus visuÌ quod in causa falconis multos milites ad vnius serui testimonium occidi preceperat Pertinax Iul. Capitol to ruine one who was worth many and who would cost him much thought that Infidellity was noe new thing in a spirit who had already shewed the proofes and without further inquisition sends the Earle of Dammarting with twelue or thirteene hundreth Lances and with ten or twelue thousand Franc Archers to seaze vpon the Earles person lands and estate Being come into the Towne of Rhodets he put the whole Country into the Kings hands His lands put into the Kings haÌds changed the officers and caused a Proclamation to be made by the sound of a Trumpet that noe man of what estate or condition whatsoeuer should advowe himselfe seruant nor officer to the Earle of Armagnac nor make any poursute for him vpon paine of confiscation of body and goods b There is nothing so powerfull nor fearefull as a publik declaration of the Princes hatred against any one especially among a people which esteem not their Gouernors but by the authority and credit they haue with their Superior In these extremities there is not any man that will willingly loose himselfe for another Good men are loth to drawe their friends into danger As it is an office of frendshippe to runne into danger for ones friends and rashnes to goe into perils without occasion so it is cruelty to bring others into danger The Earle of Dammartin made booty of all the places and Siegneuries which did
belong vnto the Earle of Armagnac If he tooke his part as some taxed him he did contrary to the duty of a Generall who should content himselfe with the glory of the command and execution c The glory honor of well executing the coÌmandements of his Prince serues for a booty in the distributioÌ wherof he that commands must consider that there is not any thing for himselfe Themistocles seeing a great nuÌber of Collers chains in the enemies Camp said vnto him that did accoÌpany him Take off theÌ for you are not Themistocles and leaue vnto the soldier that which concernes profit The Earle of Armagnac seeing that hee must haue time to cleere these brutes He retires to Fonteraby and that oftentimes Innocency is forced to yeeld vnto a sodaine euent d We must giue time to broyles to make them vanish away when there is no meanes to resist Innocency it selfe is troubled when she is surprized Relinquenda rumoribus tempus quo senescant innocentes recente inuidiae impares Tac. An. Lib. 2. was aduised to goe out of the Realme and to retire to Fonteraby with his wife being loth that his person should be at the Earle of Dammartins discretion who beeing aduertised of his flight past on and seazed vppon the towne of Lestoré The Court Parliament of Paris vppon the informations of the Intelligences which the Earle of Armaignac had with the enemies of the Realme decreed a personall adiournment against him His processe was made by reason of his contumacy e The first default was obtained the 24. of Nouember 1469. the second the 19. of February 1469 the third the 6. of August 1470. and before that the E. of DaÌmartin had seazed vppon all the County of Armagnac and by a sentence giuen the 7. of September 1470. he was condemned to loose his head But he was in a place of safety whereas the sentence could not be executed hauing an intent to let them know which had condemned him that he was aliue After that he had for two yeares space indured the miseries and discommodities which they suffer which are expelled from their owne houses and liue in a strange country hauing tryed that the wandring starres were as vnfortunate as the fixed f There is no such sweet abode as ones owne house They which bold them happy that runne from Prouince to Prouince are like vnto those saith Plutarch which iudge the wandring flârres more fortunate then the fixed and sought by all meanes to returne into the Kings fauour Returnes into Guienne vnder the Dukes protection when as he saw that by the resolution of the Estates held at Tours the Kings brother left Normandy and tooke Guyenne for his portion and that hee was arriued at Bourdeaux he thought that he could not find a better refuge nor portion then with him he acquaints him with the misery of his life which was such as liuing his life was nothing but a liuing death g It is not life to stand alâwaies in feare â fall in to the handes of a mighty enemy which hath long armes Ita viuere vt non sit viuendum miserimuÌ est Cic. and the power which his enemies had against his innocency The Duke of Guienne pittied his estate and gaue him prouision to be restored to all his lands This displeased the King who saw that the Duke of Guienne ioyning with them whom hee held enemies to the Crowne aud continuing his poursute of marriage with the Duke of Bourgondies daughter Army of the King in Guienne might reuiue the League which he had smothered This feare h A Prince can make no greater shew that he feares his vassall then when âhee retires from him Alexander by bis proclamation gaue leaue to all bannished men to returne into their Contries except the Thebanes and therefore Eudamidas said that Alexander feared none but the Thebans Plut. caused him to send 500. Lances with Foot-men and Canon vnto the fronter of Guienne deferring a more priuate reuenge against the Earle of Armagnac vntill another time He felt it cruelly after the death of the Duke of Guienne when as the King sent the Lord of Beaujeu Brother to to the Duke of Bourbon Seege of Lestore the Cardinal of Alby Bishop of Aras the Seneshals of Tholousa and Beaucaire the Lord of Lude with many other Captaines and a great nomber of Soldiers with Artillery who laid siege to Lestoré and contiââed it sixe or seauen monthes The Earle of Armagnac sent them his Chancellor being Abbot of Pessant i The Deputies for the Earle of Armaâgnac were the Abbot of St. Denis and Bishop of Lombes with the Lords of Barbasan Raulsac and Palmarieux to tell them that it was not needfull to imploy such great forces against him The Earle desires a safe Conduct to iustifie himselfe that the Kings commandements should find no resistance in his contry that all was vnder his obedience and disposition yea his person so as it would please the King to giue him good security that he might go vnto him to iustifie his life and loyalty The offers were not accepted k It hath beene alwaies found strange that a subiect whose will should be conuerted into obedience and his reasons to humility should capitulate with his Prince The Duke of Nemours the Earle of St. Paul the Duke of Brittaine and the Earle of Armagnac repented it to late the Capitulations of an Inferiour beeing then more odious then they haue been since with Kings Al the Contry was ouerrunne spoiled and ruined and yet the Earle would not suffer his people to defend themselues declaring alwaies that he was the Kings seruant desiring nothing more then to iustifie himselfe offering to deliuer vp the Towne of Lestoré and for a greater declaration of his will hee caused the white Crosse and the Armes of France to be set vpon the Towers and Walles The Lord of Beaujeu and the Cardinall of Alby seing that without hazarding the Kinges forces they might enter the place Accord made with the E. of ârmagnac by an accord which the King was not bound to keepe l This Maxime That a Prince being forced to make a peace or treaty to his disaduantage may fall from it at his pleasure had already taken footing in the councells of Princes they entred into treaty with the Earle of Armagnac and it was agreed That the said Lord of Beaujeu as Lieutenant to the King hauing speciall power soe to doe did pardon all crimes and delicts which he might haue committed against the King as wel in adhering vnto the Duke of Guienne m The Earle of Armagnac had followed the D. of Guienne in the warre of the Common weale and since had termed him selfe his Lieutenant Generall as otherwise That noe trouble nor hinderance should be giuen to himnor his seruaÌts going nor comming That he might goe safely vnto the King with a hundred or sixe-score Horses
de See and brought words and offers of affection and seruice on the Dukes behalfe who feared that the King would make some sodaine inuasion The D. of Brittaine demands a peace hauing an armie of fifty thousand men ready to fall vpon his country The King with all his forces p A Prince should neuer doe all that be may against his enemies would not doe what he might doe against these gyant-like enterprises reseruing his thunder-bolts to an other season The more slowly Princes take Armes the more difficult it is to draw them out of armies hee resolued to vanquish without fighting and considering that the Lord of Lescun was the first linke of the chaine of the Duke of Brittanies Councell that all the iudgement conduct and experience in Brittanie did lye in the person of this Nobleman q Phil. de Com. speaking of the Lord of Lescun saith that there was neither iudgement nor vertue in Brittanie but what proceeded from him who after the death of the Duke of Guienne his master had retired himselfe to the Duke of Brittanie a good and a loyall French man who neuer would consent that the places of Normandie should bee giuen vnto the English hee thought that if he could draw him to his seruice the accord which he should make with the Duke of Brittanie would be more firme and withdrawing him from the Duke of Bourgundies alliance hee should make him so weake as all his forces would not suffice for his defence The King drawes the D. of Brittanie from the Duke of Bourgundies alliance There r When as the Prince hath won him that is in most credit and authoritie with him with whom he treats hee doth worke his affaires safely and with aduantage is nothing so easie as to bring one whether necessitie driues him The Lord of Lescun being won giues the Duke his master to vnderstand that there is no other safety for his affaires but the Kings protection The accord was made so as the Duke might haue eight thousand pounds starling The Lord of Lescun had a pension of six hundred pounds starling foure thousand crownes in readie money the Order of S. Michel the Earledome of Cominges halfe the gouernement of Guienne the Seneshallships of Vennes and Bourdelois The Captainship of one of the Castells of Bourdeaux s K. Charles the seuenth hauing taken Bourdeaux againe he caused two Castles to be built Castell Trumpet towards the Sea and that of Du Han towards the firme land which King Charles the seuenth had caused to be built and those of Bayonne and St. Seuert Essars and Souppleinuille instruments of this negotiation were also rewarded t Phil. des Essars a GentlemaÌ of the house of Brittany had 4000. Crownes giuen and six score pounds starâing for yearely pension with the Baillewike of Meaux and was made Master of the Riuers Forrests of France Souppleinuille who did belong to the Lord of Lescun had six thousand crownes in gift a pension and offices fit for his qualitie the Kings bounty could not suffer any seruice to passe without recompence Truce annuall betwixt the King and the Duke of Bourgundy The affaires of Brittany being compounded the King went into Picardie It was his and the Duke of Bourgundies custome euery yeare to make a truce for six monthes in the beginning of Winter during the which there were many voiages and conferences to quench the causes of warre which they held to be shut in the Constables thoughts who began to stand in feare of the Duke and to keep aloofe from the King Philip de Commines saith that the Chancellor of Bourgundy came to make it but as it was the first yeare of his comming to Court he was not very curious to vnderstand the truth the which is drawne out of the Articles that were published and signed by the Earle of S. Paul Constable of France and by Philip of Croy deputed for the King and Guy of Brunen Lord of Imbercourt and Anthony Rollin Lord of Emery for the Duke of Bourgundy The Deputies promised to cause this Truce to be ratified by the first of December it ended the first of Aprill following betwixt which they should meete at Amiens u This assembly was appointed in Amiens the first of December 1472. to treat a peace and the restitution of S t Valery which the D. of Bourgundy demanded to treat a Peace The Constable following the intention of the King his Master and that which had been treated with the Lord of Lescun would not haue the Duke of Brittany comprehended in the Truce among the Allies of Bourgundy The Deputies shewed that the Duke of Brittany their Ally did relye vpon them x To forget Allies in Treatiâs and Accords is an iniury against the lawe of friendship Vnde maiores cum qui socium feâellisles in virorum bonorum numero non putaââerunt haberi oportere Cic. our Elders did not hold him worthy to bee put in the number of good men that deceiued his companion that they could not forget them in the number of their frends that he had not disclaimed their friendship that they held him yet for their Allie and that he had often abandoned them by Letters and words and yet had beene firme to them in effect That youth did inflame his bloud but reason did still reclaime him That the Duke did then name him among his Allies leauing it to his choise by the first of February whether he would be comprehended among the Kings Allies or the Dukes There was no remedy The King would haue fifteene daies to name his Allies and eight dayes after to adde such as he should forget The Duke of Bourgundy Ambitions designes of the Duke of Bourgundy who would spend the time of Truce in great imaginations which filled his head with fumes and his heart with perpetuall flames propounded to allye himselfe vnto the Emperor He desired to extend the bounds of his Empire from one Sea vnto the other his spirit went still on and neuer lookt backe y It is an error in Princes that they seldome or neuer look behind theÌ They consult vpon the passage but neuer vpon the returne Leopold Archduke of Austria talking how hee should passe an Army of twentie thousand men into the Canâon of Suâits Kune of Stocke his iâster said vnto him I will not follow thee thou talkest how thou shalt enter but thou neuer dreamest how thou shalt come forth Leopold was defeated aâ Morgarten Munster The like was said vnto K. Francis the first by Amaril vppon his proposition to passe thâ Alpes He held himself King alreadie of one part of Gaule hee deuoured all Germany in Imagination God had giuen him great Prouinces which he thought deserued a more stately Title then of Duke of Earle for the obtaining whereof hee made a voyage to Treues to the Emperor Frederiâ hauing made a very sumptuous preparation for the solemnitie of that publike
declaration of King of Gaule-Belgicke He came thither about S t Michell in the yeare 1473. the Emperor went to meet him D. of Bourgundy goes to the Emperour to ãâã conducted him into the Towne and offred him his lodging The Duke was contented to returne and lodge in a Monasterie without the Towne To haue that which he pretended he offred vnto the Emperor the marriage of his Daughter with the Arch-duke Maximilian his sonne who succeeded him in the Empire It was an Act of wisedome in the Duke z A Prince should alwaies prouide that his successor be not vncertaine Ne successor inâerto âit This certaintie preuents practises and partialities to prouide for the succession of his Estates seeing that he had but one daughter but it was vanitie to buy the Title of a King so deerely The crowne the Scepter and other royall ornaments were made there was no let but in the Emperor why the Duke did not vse them but hauing demanded vnpleasing conditions their enteruiew brake off and neither Royaltie nor marriage succeeded The Emperor not to delay him and abuse him refused him the Crowne sodainely a Although they hold sodaine refusals to be the best and that he which denies speedily abuseth least yet when he that is refused mightie and may be reuenged they must win time wherewith all things are accommodated departed secretly from Treues and imbarked vpon the Rhin without giuing him any answere The Emperor mockes at the dukes demand not thinking himselfe bound to bid him farewell that was come without his priuitie The Duke was left alone with his mouth open to the ayre of his hopes swearing by S. George that Frederic should repent it and that he would haue by force that which he refused him vpon his intreatie and merit They continued a month together the publike discourses were of the meanes to make warre against the Turke the priuate past about this Royaltie Thus they parted both as much discontented as they seemed pleased at their meeting b Cranzius who writes this enterview hath these wordes Tandem minori alacritate digresti quam congressi sunt visi In the end they parted with lesser ioy then they came to gether The Duke of Bourgondy visited the Lands that were ingaged vnto him The Duke passeth by the County of Ferette where his soldiers intreated the poore Peasants so cruelly as from that time euery man studied how to returne to his first maister c The Duke was no sooner gone out of Brisac but the soldiers spoiled the towne coÌmitting a thousand insolencies and buânt the Augustins Monastery Colmar refused to open her gates He past his Christmas at Brisac and there ended the yeare 1473. In the beginning of the next he returned to Montbelliard from thence to Besançon and then to Dijon The ministers of both Princes foreseeing that whilst the Constable liued Peace would be vncertaine 1474. and that one and the selfe same Sunne would see it spring vp and dye they make religious remonstrances and full of Conscience vnto their maisters and dispose them to a good reconciliation for the which by their consents there was a conference appointed at Bouuines Assembly at Bouines d This Conserence of Deputies for the K. and Duke of Bourgondy at Bouines in the yeare 1474. was sought by Imbercourt to reuenge the iniury which the Constable had done him at Roy. neere vnto Namur The King sent the Lord of Curton Gouernour of Limosin and Iohn Heberge Bishop of Eureux For the Duke of Bourgondy came William Hugonet his Chancellour and the Lord of Imbercourt The first proposition was to make away the Constable who was much aflicted for the Duke of Guiennes death it was the swarme which gaue him both hony and waxe e A great authority caÌnot maintaine it selfe in a season when it is not respected that of the Constable could not continue but in warre warre was his element it entertained his Estats made him to bee respected both of the King and the D. of Bourgondy They held him to be a spirit of discord from whence came all Inuentions to make peace of no continuance and warre euerlasting Resolution taken to do iustice of the Constable and to maintaine his authority in Confusion They said that he was like vnto the bay tree in the hauen of Amicus which they called mad for that one branch of it being put into a ship all that were in it fell to iarres and deuision wherevppon they resolued that who so could first seaze on him should put him to death within eight dayes after his taking or deliuer him to the other party to dispose of him at his pleasure The best resolutions vanish away as soone as they are discouered The Constable had an inkling of this proposition f Great affairs should be managed with secrecy iudgement The resolution taken at ãâã against the Constable was not secret he was aduertised and by this meanes anoided the storme which threatâed him but this was but to deferre an ineuitable mischefe and assembled all the trickes and deuises of his braine to breake off this assembly he aduertised the King how the Duke had sought him The Conble creepes into the Kings fauor to draw him to his party and of his great attempts to shake his loyalty and with what constancy and generosity hee had reiected his offers hauing no desire to affect any greatnes more assured nor any assurance more happy then the seruice of his King without the which there is not any thing in the world that deserued his loue or remembrance beseeching him Not to beleeue the passions g It is necessary to haue a sound and perfect Iudgment to discerne with what intention aduertisments are giuen which concerne the loyalty of a man of credit for oftentimes they are the practises of Enemies to make them frustrate When a Prince is iealous of his good seruants he remaines at the discretion of others Zenon vsed this policy against Phalaris of the Deputies of Bounines who set his head to sale to make a cruell sacrifice thereof to the Duke of Boârgondies reâenge and to satisfie his discontent for that he could not draw him aliue vnto his seruice nor perswade him to so base a treason against his Prince The King beleeued him the more easily for that he knew well that the Deputies of Bouines were the Constables enemies in particular and desired to find their reuenge in his disgrace with the two Princes The priuate h A man that hath power authority and aspirces to more cannot indure to bee ârost or contradicted Crastus being in an assembly which was held âor the diuiding of the gouernmeÌts of Prouinces seeing himselfe gainsayed by another bee flrooke him on the face with his first sent him away all bloudy Plut. hatred grew for that the Constable in an assembly held at Roy had giuen the lye vnto the Lord of
and burnt aliue by iudgement of the Magistrate for crimes which cannot bee too seuerely punished s There is noe wickednes that is new but hath some president In former times wee haue heard speake of all the the disorders villanies which are now committed by soldiars The Chronicle of Basill saies that these men were burnt for Sodomy forcing of women and for that they had profancd Churches and troden the holy Sacrament vnder foot burnt murthered and sowed vp womens priuy parts In those times they made noe warre in winter the souldiers retyred to their garrisons It beganne againe in Aprill the next yeare very furiously and the King was forced to enter into it The Germaines and Swisses complayned that hee stood gazing on them that fought Kings army in the Duke of Bourgundies contry euery one laboured to ruine the house of Bourgundy whose greatnesse made all men enuy and whose dissipation promised proffit to many t A mightie Prince that is enuied of many maintaines him selfe hardly that state which is least enuied is most durable The Emperor Frederick put men and victualls into Nuz and presents him-selfe with all the forces of Germany to make the Duke dislodge The King makes warre against him in Picardy Bourgoundy and Artois The Duke of Lorraine sends him a defie The Swisses beseege Pontarlier vpon the riuer of Doux they take Blammont Orbe brings them the Keys and in two monthes they become Maisters of nine townes or Castells The Bourgoundians burnt 40. villages about Pourrentru and Montbeliard and spoyled all the Mountaine All this amazed him not the more enemies the more Triumph The greatnesse of his desseignes made all difficulties smale They could not represent vnto him so many inconueniences but hee did hope for more profit by this Germaine warre Places takeÌ by the kings troupes in Picardy The King tooke the Castell of Tronquoy by assault Mondider and Roye yeelded by composition Corbie endured 3. daies batterie Those two townes were burnt contrary to that which Phillip de Commines had propromised them in the Kings name making the capitulation It was not his entent to haue this warre contynue long but to force the Duke of Bourgundy to prolong the truce and to content himselfe with two or three enemies which hee had without the Realme It was not that which the Kings friends desired for they were discontented to see him a newter whilest that he incouraged them to fight and this newtrality did not diminish the number of enemies nor of friends x Although that neutrality doth not bind friends nor ruine enemies neque amicos parat neque inimicos tollit yet when a Prince hath meanes to be as he may bee ãâã he exceeds either in greatnesse dignity âr in force and power theÌ that conteÌd he hath alwaies the honour to be arbitrator iudge But for petty Princes neutrality is dangerous They must either bee the strongest or with the strongest On the other side the Duke of Bourgondy feeling the secret blowes which the King gaue him desired rather to haue him an open enemy He was also so full of reuenge and indignation against the King who had gathered together all the clouds and wyndes to raise this storme against him as hee would rather haue troubled Hell then not to let him knowe the fury of his passion His resolutions were so strange as they did not promise him other safty then danger Danger in the continuance of the seege of Nuz danger in a new warre against the Swisses and danger to serue himselfe with the succors of England which he attended impatiently The King commanded the Bastard of Bourbon Bastard of Bourbon makes wââ in Artois Admirall of France to carry a burning besome into the countries of Artois and Ponthieu vpon the aduice which a Lady gaue him y Philip de Comines saith that they gaue credit to this woe man for she was womaÌ of state but hee commends not her deed for that saith he she was not bound vnto it Shee receyued great losses in this war which the King repaired the which she repented for shee was singed in the flames of that fier which shee her selfe had kindled At the taking of Arras Iames of Luxembourg the Counstables brother with the Lords of Contay and Caroucy were taken prisoners The King sent Iohn Tiercelin Ambassage sent by the King to the Emperer Frederick Lord of la Brosse vnto the Emperor Frederick to aduise of the progresse of his forces against the Duke and to inuite him to doe the like for his part that they might diuide his spoyles betwixt them the Emperor taking for his part the Prouinces which depended of the Empire and the King those which did hold of his Crowne This Ambassador more faithfull to him that sent him then pleasing to him to whome hee was sent reapt noe great fruits of his Legation An apology for an answere The Emperors answere was by this Apology Three huntsmen going to take a Beare which did anoy the country had drunke freely vpon credit in a Tauerne vpon an opinion of profit which they should make in selling the skinne and their Host increased their reckning a Example is a very good means to perswade may bee framed not onely of things done but of those that are sayned as fables bee which delight instruct Stesiarus vsed theÌ in discoursing to the Imeriens Esope to the Samiens Menenius Agrippa to the Romaines comming neere the caue where they thought to surpize him the Beare came out vnto them and so terrefied them as one got into a tree another fled towards the towne and the third not so good a footeman fell flat on the ground as if he had beene dead for he had heard say that this beast pardons dead folks as the Lyon doth them that humble themselues The Beare put his mussell to his nose and eare to iudge if he were dead and thinking him to be so for that he held his breth he left him Hee that was in the tree and had obserued all asked his companion what the Beare had said in his eare he tould me said he that we must neuer make bargin for the Beares skinne vntill he be dead Whereby hee would let this Doctor vnderstand that they must first take the Duke and then talke of diuiding his spoile and that there is noe wisedome which holds firme when they must resolue vpon that which is to come b It is folly to deliberate vpon things not yet hapened he that aimes so far off neuer hits the white we may well foresee diuers accidents but the variety is so great as two or three may happen so little foreseene as they may change all other resolutions The Duke contynued the seege before Nuz meditating furious reuenges against them that had so ill intreated his subiects That great exployt of Arras where hee had lost his cheefe commanders did much afflict him and the
mischiefe had bin greater if the Constable had not moderated it with an apparant falling from his duty and loyalty to his King who had commanded him that when as the Bastard of Bourbon should enter into Artois hee should beseege Auennes in Hainault He spent two or three daies in that seege very carelesly without watch or gard If there were courage and resolution in his troupes c Caesar said that he desired modesty and obedience as much in a soldiar as prowesse and courrage Caesar. lib. there was little order and obedience He retyred to Saint Quintin IntelligeÌce of the Constable with the Duke of Bourgondy fearing to loose that retreat he excused him-selfe vpon an enterprise which he said he had discouered d I heard his man my selfe by the Kings commandement who tould so many apparant signes as he was in a manner beleeued and that one of theÌ was suspected to haue said som thing vnto the Constable which he should haue concealed Phil. de Com. lib. 4. cap. 4. of two soldiers who brag'd that they had beene commanded and seed to kill him Hee remayned at Saint Quentin contynuing the traffick of his faith with the two Princes Hee sent the Duke word that he was very sorry the King made his profit of his absence and he did aduertise the King that the Dukes affaires were in good estate thinking hee should finde noe other safety then in the feares and alarumes which he gaue them But when as he saw that this Lyon e Aduersitie humbles great men and makes them mild as a quarteâ ague breaks the fury of a Lion notwithstanding any feuer or shaking that he had grew nothing more myld he thought that there was noe meanes for his safety but to keepe a loose and that his last refuge was to relie vpon his first maister to whome he had offered entry into S. Quintin thinking that his Brother Iames of Luxembourg would goe thether with some troupes and not carry Saint Andrewes crosse Hee made these bargaines when as feare prest him and that hee knew not whome to trust to diuert the Kings desseignes but when as the Danger was past he would noe more heare speake of his promises and keept both ware and siluer He abused the Duke of Bourgundy thrice with such fictions his brother being taken prisoner at Arras descouered it so freely vnto the King as it was a meanes to moderate the rigorous vsage f A gratious kind vsage maks the misery of a prison more easie and supportable Plut. in the life of Niceas which a prisoner of that condition might haue He was willing to shroud himselfe vnder the Duke of Bourgondies protection but he did foresee the storme would be so great as the leaues of the tree would drowne him that should creep vnder it Hee did apprehend nothing so much as the Kings quiet and peace of the realme He gaue aduise vnto the Duke to drawe in the English to his succor and to reuenge his Iniuries and vpon this aduise the English were sollicited very earnestly to passe the sea Edward King of England who was in his soundest yeares Edward K. of England passeth into France 1475 actiue and vigorous for a great designe layes hold of this occasion in the which he did hope to recouer the rights which his Predecessors had purchased for him vpon the crowne of France He was soone perswaded to passe the sea thinking he should haue no more paine to conquer a part of France then hee had to reduce all England vnder his obedience The remembrance of the succours which King Lewis the eleuenth had giuen vnto his enemie added to the old quarrels which haue made deluges of bloud in this Realme would not suffer him to pause and consider of the Iustice or iniustice g Traian said they should neuer enter into an vniust war He alone of all the Romane Emperors neuer lost Battell of his enterprise False Assurances giuen by the Duke a Constable The Duke of Bourgundy assured him to ioyne with his forces the Constable did represent vnto him the Kings weaknes and wants offring him S. Quentin to refresh him Behold a great Armie at Douer readie to passe It did consist of fiueteene hundred men at Armes fifteene thousand Archers on horseback and a great number of foote all good and resolute souldiours hauing once continued any time on this side the sea English very ready to passe into France It was in his owne will to make it greater h There are none more simple nor vnhandsome then the English when they passe first but in a short time they are very good soldiers wise and hardy Phil. de Com. l. 4. c. 5. for there is not any enterprise in England that is seconded with more vowes and voices then that which is made against France All the world runnes vnto it their purses are not tyed but with leaues of Leekes for the King cannot exact any thing of his subiects but with the common consent of his Parliament vnlesse it be when he makes warre in France True it is that hauing imployed some part of the money leuied for this warre about the affaires of his house and finding himselfe scanted he inuented a milde course to haue money calling together the richest of the Realme and representing vnto them the greatnes of his designe with the glorie and profit which the realme might hope for coniuring them to assist him with their meanes and that in this occasion he should know them that loued him although that hee should be but a dispenser or Stuard i A Prince is but a receiuer distributer of the publike money and they that giue it regard more the publike necessitie then the Princes priuate commodities Aristotle calles him ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Custodem dispensatorem vt communium non vt propriorum Polit. lib. 1. cap. 11. A keeper or distributor of that which is common not proper of that which they should giue and he called this Tribute a Beneuolence some for shame others for vanitie and some through zeale filled his Coffers The Duke of Bourgundy sent ships out of Holland and Zeland to passe the Armie It made a number of fortie or fiftie thousand men and threatned to doe double effects The Constable gaue the King to vnderstand that this Armie of strangers should land in Normandie and his aduertisement seemed the more credible for that the King knew that the Duke of Brittanie had conspired with the King of Englands designes Herevpon there arriued a Herald who brought Letters of defiance from the King of England Letters of defiance froÌ the King of England Letters full of brauerie and boldnes and puft vp with the Duke of Bourgundies passion and the stile k Hee brought vnto the King a Letter of defiance from the K. of England in a gallat stile which I thinke was not done by any English man He required the King to restore him the
realme of FraÌce which did belong vnto him to the end hee might restore the Church the Nobilitie the people to their ancient liberty and ease them of their troubles and charges and in case of refusall he protested of the miseries which should follow after the manner and forme accustomed is like cases CHRONIC of some bad Frenchman He demanded the Realme of France as his ancient inheritance he declared his Armes to be iust to recouer it and to set the French at libertie and to deliuer them from the oppressions which they endured The Letter being read the King drew the Messenger apart and spake vnto him alone with words of such Emphesie as hee left an opinion in him that the King of Englands enterprise hauing no support but the weaknesse of the Duke of Bourgundy the dissembling Constable and the passion of some English would not finde any great credit in France and so he sent him back with a present of three hundred Crownes and thirty elles of Crimson Veluet so full of good will as hee promised not to returne but to offer him a peace The Chronicle saies that the King sent vnto King Edward the goodliest Courser he had in his stable And after that an Asse a Woolfe and a wilde Beare all signes of affection and of other thoughts then warre and hatred for it is as great a testimonie of friendship to receiue a present as to giue l He that giues offers friendship he that receiues it accepts and binds himself to loue Wherefore among all the pride of the Romans they haue noted this to disdaine the presents which came not from friends Pharnax sent a Crowne of gold to Caesar who sent him word that hee should first doe that which hee was commanded then send him presents which Roman Emperors after the happy successe of their enterprises were accustomed to receiue froÌ their friends This great Prince desiring rather to saue a Cittizen then to kill an hundred enemies was resolued not to hazard any thing but money preferring the price of an assured Peace before a doubtfull victorie and notwithstanding that his Armie was great and mightie being in number aboue an hundred thousand men yet would he shew himselfe a Hercules m The Priests of Hercules Temples in Sicile told the Syracusans that they should bee victors if they did not affaiâe first but did onely defend themselues for that Hercules had preuailed in all his Enterprises defending himselfe when they câme to assaile him Plut. rather in defending then assailing Hee knew the body was not well purged from those vicious humours Considerations of the K. to haue a Peace that there were yet great windes to raise tempests Earthquakes that France was not without it like vnto Egypt This descent of the English had three great passions to moue it Ambition Reuenge and feare The King of England commanded in his Armie and Ambition commanded the King of Englands heart who promised vnto himselfe the conquest of the whole Realme The Duke of Bourgundy reioyced to see the English reuenge his quarrel as they had before a wrong done vnto his Grandfather The Constable thought that he could not otherwise appease the growing feare which presented vnto him an infallible losse both of life and fortune but in kindling these troubles The King found himselfe much troubled to auoide this storme Wisedome of the King to auoid the storme he must needs content these three passions He had many seruants of whose fidelitie he did not doubt n It is a great aduantage for a Prince against the discontentment of great men to haue the hearts and affections of his subiects firme He may well assure himselfe against few enemies but against a generall what safety Quello che ha per nemici pochi facilmente senza âolti scandali si asâicura ma chi ha per nemico vniuersale non si assicura mai Guicciard lib. 11. Cap. 16. He that hath few for enemies may eaâsly and without any great scandall recouer himselfe but he that hath a generality for ãâã can never be secnred there was no rebellion discouered within any townes yet there were many great men which promised vnto themselues that the English would take reuenge of their discontents He feared that S. Quentin would be a prey to his enemies He was no lesse troubled to keepe the Constable from failing then to seeke meanes to punish his fault He sent to haue him come vnto him The King sends for the Constable to ioyne their Councels together and to prepare for a iust defence against his enemies promising to giue him the recompence which hee demanded from the Countie of Guise The Constable let the King vnderstand that he desired nothing more then to be neere his Maiestie to yeeld him the dutie of his seruice and to make new vowes of fidelity and obedience vnto him so as it would please him to sweare vppon the crosse of S t Laud that he would not doe Hee will haue the K. sweare for his safety not suffer any harme to be done vnto him o Constantine would not go to the Court of Michel Paphlagon Emperor of Constantinople before he had made him sweare his safety vpon the wood of the true Crosse vppon the Image of our Sauiour and vppon the letter which hee had written Angarus Cedren Ann. Pa. 607. It is in the Cittie of Angiers where the people hold this old beleefe that whosoeuer sweare vpon this crosse and forsweare themselues die miserably before the end of the yeare The King sent the Constable word that he had sworne neuer to take that oath to any man liuing and that there was not any other but hee would willingly take although he should relye vpon his word p Princes will be trusted of their word It is a great rashnes in a subiect to make his Prince sweare euery oth as Plutarke saith is like a torture giuen to a free man This refusall did sufficiently discouer the Kings intent and the Constable knowing that hee had once made no difficultie to take the same oath for the Lord of Lescun thought that there was no other safety for him then not to come neere the King and not to see him but by his picture In the meane time the English armie past the sea and landed with so great difficulties as they spent three weekes there and if it had incountred any let with that speed and diligence that the affaires q Caesar being ariued in England hauing cast another admonished his Lieutenants and Colonels to dâligence for sea causes being very sodaine mutable they must be executed in an instant and in the turning of an eye of the sea which is sodaine and mutable requires it had been disperst of it selfe One ship alone of Eu tooke two or three English But the King vnderstood not sea-matters and they that had charge of his armies lesse then himselfe The French haue neuer
curiosity the King had of the markes of the greatnesse of the Maiesty of Kings when he saith that there was not a coate of armes to be found in all his campe and that they were forced to make one of the banner of a trompet to attyer this Herald Souueraigne powers were neuer without them f Princes haue alwaies had marks of greatnes maiesty The Senate ordained foure twenty Sargents to march before Augustus Before that the Roman Emperors had fire and a diademe for marks of maiesty they had maces and rods enuironed with boyes Excubiae arms cetera Anlae saith Tacit watching Armes and the rest of the Court. Being come into the army he was conducted to the king of Englands tent they demanded of him what he was whence he came and what he would His coate of armes made answer to the first demand and for the rest he said that he had commandement to speake vnto the King and to addresse himselfe to Haward and Stanley The King of England was then at diner in the meane time they made the Herald good cheere and then presented him vnto the King to deliuer his charge Instructed by the Signeur of Argenton Wee must stand to that which hee hath written that did instruct him and who hath reported it after this manner That the K. had long desired to be in friendship with him and that the two realmes might liue in peace and that neuer since hee was King of France The Heralds speech to the King of England he had not made warre nor attempted any thing against the King nor the Realme of England excusing him-selfe g These Prepositions seeme nothing generous they argue feare and ere vnworthy of a great Prince who should let his enemies know that he did not demand nor accord any thing by force But Phil. de Com. excuseth the K. and saith that If God had not disposed the King to choose so wise a party the Realme had been in great danger Then he addes Wee had then many secret matters among vs vvhence had sprung great inconueniences vnto the Realme and that sodainly if the accord had not been soon made as wel from Brittaine as other places And I verily beleeue by matters which I haue seene in my time that God had and hath a speciall care of this Realme for that he had formerly entertayned the Earle of Warwicke and said that it was onely against the Duke of Bourgundy and not against him Hee also let him vnderstand that the said Duke of Bourgundy had not called him but to make a better accord with the King vppon the occasion of his comming and if there were any other that had a hand in it it was but to repaire their errors tending to their priuate ends and touching the King of Englands interest they cared not what became thereof so as they might make their owne good Hee also layed before him the time and winter which approached and that he knew well he was at great charge and that there were many in England both of the Nobility and Marchants which desired to haue warre in France And if the King of England should doe his endeauour to harken to a treaty that the said king would doe the like so as he and his realme should remaine content And to the end he might be better informed of these things Hee demands a pasport for a Conference if he would giue a pasport for an hundred horse that the king would send Ambassadors vnto him well informed of his will or if the king of England desired it should rather be in some Village midway betwixt both Armies and that the Deputies of either side should meet there he would be well content and would send a safe conduct Many thought that King Edward would haue said vnto the Herald We will talke in Paris h Arsaces K. of the Parthians sent to tell Crassus that if he were sent by the Romans to make warre against him hee would haue no peace but if he came of his owne free will to possesse his Contry that then hee would suffer them to depart with their liues and goods wherevnto Crassus said brauely I will make you an ansvver in the Towne of Seleucia the Parthian Ambassador began to smile and shewing him the palme of his hand hee said Crassus thou shalt sooner see haire grow in this hollow of mine hand then the Citty of Seleucia in thine but this first ouerture was so pleasing Ouerture of a peace betwixt the two Kings as he granted pasports for the Deputies of the conference England had rather forced then perswaded him to the Chimeras of this war He had leuied great summes of money for his passage the warre drew them out of his cofers peace kept them there and added more Ciuill warre had so weakened and impouerished England as at need they could neither hope for men nor money Hee had caused some of the Deputies of the Commons of England to passe with him Reasons which perswaded the English to peace they were already weary of the warre and to lodge after the manner of Soldiers These men did allow of this proposition of Peace and said that it was iust and reasonable i It is a weakenes in a Prince to make it apparantly knowne that hee desires a peace It is indiscretion to refuse it when it is iust If a Peace bee iust and honest saith Polibius 4. it is in truth good and goodly yet must they not doe any thing that is vniust and vnreasonable nor suffer any shamefull thing to bee done to enioy it that it were indiscretion to refuse it and that they should be contented to haue reduced the French King to seeke a peace with the King of England for that a great King cannot humble himselfe more nor descend lower then to seeke his enemy for a peace Pasports were dispatcht of either part and the Deputies entred into conference in a Village neere vnto Amiens in view of both armies which were but fower leagues asunder The Bastard of Bourbon Admirall St. Pierre and Heberge Bishop of Ereux for Lewis Haward one Challenger and Morton who was afterwards Chancelor of England for Edward The Ouerture of the assembly was by a demand of the Realme of France which the English said did belong vnto them grounding their pretensions vppon those of Edward the third k Edward the third King of England sonne to Edward the second and to Marguerite or Elizabeth of France disputed the Regency and Royalty in the yeare 1328. who as sonne to Elizabeth daughter to Phillip the faire had first disputed the Regency and then the succession of the Crowne against Philip of Valois thinking to ouerthrow the ancient order of the Salike Law l The Salike law excludes woemen from the succession of the Crowne it carries these wordes Nulla portio hereditatis mulieri veniat sed ad virilem sexuââ tota terrae hereditas perueniat Let
inteÌtions Archidamus sonne to Agesilaus said that sheepe knâw but one note but Kings had many to vse as they pleased words did but inflame the flint of his reuenge the more and from the concurrence of these two contraries rose the last tempest which ruined the Constable Yet he made shew to approue his Intentions he said they were good and called a secretary vnto him to write a letter The King sends for the Constable by the which he gaue him aduice of all that had past with the English and that for the troble of minde wherein he was to dispatch many great affayres he had greate neede of his head If he had promised to saue him he would haue accepted the neck of his promises he was so constrained to make an example of the trechery of a bad subiect Rapin was not cunning enough to obserue two things which past at this instant m Paul Erizze gouernor of Negrepont hauing yeelded in the yeare 1470. vppon condicioÌ that they should saue his head Mahomet caused him to be sawne in two and when he reproched him with the breach of his word he said vnto him that the flanks were not comprehended in the promise to saue his hed Iustinian the one was that the king turning to the Lord Haward deputie for the King of England and the Siegneour of Contay expounding vnto them the counterfence of this letter saied I doe not meane that we should haue his body but his head only The other was that the Lord of Lude demanded of Rapine if he knew where his masters ready money was a word which should haue condemned the mouth from whence it came to perpetuall silence n By the law of the Gymnosophists they that haue once accused the vse of the tongue are condemned to perpetuall sylence It was sooner deliuered then considered there are witts which betraie wisdome and discretion their suddainesse stayes vppon the first obiects they are not allwayes ready This speech should haue serued as a Trumpet to giue the Constable an Alarum who vnderstanding what Rapine had done and heard chose rather to commit his safty to a good place then to the Kings good words He had caused the Castell of Han to be built and within it a Tower six and thirtie foote thick Castell of Han built by the Constable vppon the porte whereof there was seene a corde wouen with two tassells hanging on the one side and the other and this motto of his humor Mon Mieux He assured himselfe to finde his best alwayes in that place in the worst estate of his fortune and from thence hee should see as from a safe shoare the waues and winds play vppon France But there is no rock nor Acrocorinthe that can hould at the presence of a Prince which meanes to punnish the infidelity of his subiect Against a iust enemie they must make it knowne that a greate courage hath not lesse Clemencie beeing discouered then valour in Armes o Mithridatus king of Bosphorus being defeated vanquishâd he intreated the Emperor to make him fire warre his answere was short and generous That at Rome there was as much clemency against the vanquished as courage against an armed enemie But against disloyalltie and ingratitude all pitty is crueltie Hee had propounded to retire himselfe thether but considering that hee should bee beseeged by the Kings forces and the Duke of Bourgundies hee resolues to goe into Germany to imploy his mony in the pourchase of some place vppon the Rhine or else to passe into Spayne Perplexities of the Constable There was not any Sainct in paradice in whom hee durst trust By Sainct Quentin hee had alwaies shrowded himselfe from the thunderclaps of these two Princes By Saint Quentin he did hope to passe without touch amidst so many arrowes that were shot at him He would haue kept these Princes in feare doubt and they now driue him into an amazement p A dangerous course to keepe his maister in feare and iealousie Although that euery man saith Phil. de Com seekes to free himselfe from suspition and feare and that euery man hates him that keepes him in it yet there is not any one that in this point comes neere to Princes for I neuer knew any but did mortally hate them that would keepe them in feare and to the sad thoughtes of his ruine This Castle of Saint-Quentin was but a prison vnto him q Great men in the gouernemeÌt of publike affaires must make themselus famous and not enuyed by their pride and insolencie hee neuer heares it named but his soule is tormented Hee added to these meditations publike hatred raysed against him by the Insolency of his carriage hauing vsed his great offices to purchase enuy of the great and to oppresse the meaner sort besides the libells scandalous songs which had been heard publickly throughout Paris the which had had more credit and course beeing prohibited then if the reading had beene allowed for such drogues do presently loose their sent when they are vented the trouble to recouer them augments the currosity Beeing prest and opprest with these difficulties all resolution abandons him as he had abandoned himselfe There was danger in going forth and danger in staying France threatned him with death England with captiuity and Flanders with scorne In these trances and amazements which are not so great without as those which his Conscience giues him inwardly to see that he is held of all men as r It were much better not to be in the number of men then to be held among those that are borne for the ruine of the coÌmon-weale borne to the ruine of the Common-weale he cast his eyes to that part whereas nature had first opened them The Constable reâires to to Mons in Hainault desiring rather to giue himselfe vnto the Duke then to suffer himselfe to bee taken by the King hee goes to Mons in Henault vppon a pasport which they gaue him with fifteene or twentie horse not considering that the firmest frendship doth not passe the Altars nor the respects of dutie which we owe vnto superiors and that in Accidents of iniustice the proofe is s It is dangerus to trie frends against Princes and lawes Alcibiades to make this triall one a time called them whom he held to bee his friends and led them one after another into a darke place shewing them the Image of a dead body and saying that it was a man whome hee had slayne intreating them to helpe to bury him but hee found but one among them all that would yeeld vnto it and that was Callias Happy is hee that hath manie friends but vnhappy that hath neede of them daungerous He trusted in the Lord of Emery Balife of Henault his surest frend who commanded there for the Duke It is hard to take an old fox Mucho sabe la Raposa pero mas el que la toma A she Fox knowes
Body hath no cause to grieue when the head is wounded Suet. The Admirall tould them that by the Kings commandement hee did deliuer the Constable ouer vnto them to make his processe with all speede vppon the letters written and sealed which the King of England and the Duke of Bourgundie and Bourbon had sent the which he presented vnto them d The want of rewarding the good is not so preiudiciall to an estate as the impunity of the wicked The Empires of the world martcht vppon two feete vppon the recompence of good and the punnishment of ill and they must goe streight on the one and not halt on the other and yet it is better to faile on the right foote which is the reward of good then on the left which is the punnishment of whomesoeuer On this foote they went against the Constable but somewhat to swiftly Hee saw him selfe reduced vnto those termes as they did not regard his seruices past but his present offences He beares this affliction as impatiently e They carry prosperities insolently and aduersities impatiently which thinke that neither the one nor the other can euer chaÌge as hee past his prosperities insolently They began his processe by his answers Hee must eyther speake or beee silent His processe is made his words discouer the treason his silence the Traytor There is nothing but pitty to speake for him and there is not any to be fouÌd for crimes of this sort His own writings were against him He coÌfest that to maintaine his office of Constable and trouble the Kings estate he had alwayes entertayned war betwixt the king the Duke of Bourgundy His Conââssions to this effect had giuen him his seale and promise that when as the souldiers which martcht vnder his commaundement should be ready to strik hee would cause them retyre That seing a marriage f He that desires to continue warre in an Estate let him follow the Maxime of the Constable of S t. Paul alwaies to keepe the King in bad termes with the neerest of his bloud As the Princes of the bloud beeing well vnited vnto the Prince make him to bee more assured and redoubted so when as they are drawne away the state must needs suffer Hereof we reade two goodly examples one of Hipparcus in Thucid the other of Sext Tarquinius in Tit Liâius treated and concluded betwixt the Duke of Guyenne the kings brother the princesse of Castill he wrote vnto M sr aduising him to haue a care how he proceeded as soon as he should be gone into Spayne to fetch his wife the King was resolued to send an Army into the Dutchie of Guienne to dispossesse him to make him miserable and that if he would giue eare to marry with the Duke of Bourgundies daughter he assured himselfe to make him haue her so as hee would send his seale to the Duke of Bourgundie that he would passe a procuration to obtaine a dispensation of the oth for his promse of marriage with the Princesse of Castill That the Duke of Bourgundie hauing sent a man expressely to him to haue his seale the which he would send to the Duke of Sauoy he would that they should paffe to the Duke of Bourbon to draw him vnto their league and intelligence against the King who answered them that he had rather be as poore as Iob g There is no misery comparable to that which treason and infidelâty causeth and therefore the Duke of Bourben did rather choose the condition of Iob then to reuolt against his K. then consent to their conspiracie and that the end would be miserable That the king hauing commanded him to write to the king of England to the Queen to the Earle of Somerset and to M sr de Candalles touching the E. of Warwick that he had writen quite contrary to the kings intentions They desired to heare him touching the barre and Causey of Compeigne At that word he found his owne mistaking and that the perfection of mans actions depends of well knowing himselfe h The first precept or rather the summary of the Instructions of the conduct of mans life is to know himselfe wel Theron depends the good or bad issues of actions Heraclitus speaking of a great and high cogitation of his spirit said that he sought himselfe He could not denie but that he had there played the companion with his master He confest that when he spake with the king neere vnto Compiegne he had caused a barre to be made betwixt the King and him to the end he might talke in safety and yet the king notwithstanding past the barre to imbrace him and to intreat him to holde his partie the which he promised and sware notwithstanding two dayes after the Duke of Bourgundy sent one vnto him to know if he would performe that which he promised him to offer him a pension of a thousand pounds sterling That he had writen vnto the Duke of Bourgundie that he could finde meanes to seaze vppon the king and then kill him or carry him to any place and that he would lodg the Quene and the Dauphin where as they should be allwaies found They shewed him the letters which he had written to the king of England He acknowledgeth his letters written and he doth acknowledg them and if there had bene no other cryme i Phil. de Commines saith that the hast of this proceeding was sound strange and that the King did much presse the Commissioners The Historiens haue not well obserued the time but wee may coniecturâ it in that the Earle of Mârle the Constables sonne sent on the 4. of December a herald called Montioy who did reside commonly with the Constable to Iohn Ladreche President of the accounts borne in Brabant to intreat him to succour and to stay the Constable if this were the beginning of his âmprisonment as it is credible his processe was made in fifteene or sixteene dayes it had bene sufficient to conuict him The king did presse the Commissioners very earnestly and they proceeded but slowly in a matter of that weight The treason being apparent their opinions tended to death by the courses of extremitie and of the highest point of Iustice and the sentence was pronounced in Parliament by the President of Popincourt It was necessary that the prisoner should heare it in Parliament Hee is sent for to the Court of Parliament and therefore the Siegneur of S t. Pierre went early in the morning to the Bastile to fetch him comming into his Chamber he demanded of him what he did and if he slept he answered that he had been long awake but he kept his bed hauing his head full of fancies The Siegneur of S t. Pierre told him that the Court of Parliament had viewed his processe for the expedition whereof it was necessary hee should be heard He rose and prepared himselfe to goe vnto the Pallace not thinking that
which he ware about his neck and which resisted poyson but the Chancellor kept it to present it vnto the King This disposition beeing made they led him to a great seaffold from the which they did ascend to an other which was lesse but higher where he should receiue an end of his life u Death is sweet when it is the end not the punishment of life And they say it is a troublesome thing to die before one be sick for a punishment Vpon the greater were the Chancellor the Siegneur of Gaucourt and some other of the Kings Officers all the place and all windowes were full euen to the tops of houses He went vp vnto the Scaffold with his hands vnbound He is executed at the Greue the executioner bound them with a little cord They presented him a Cushion of other stuffe then those be wheron the Constables x The Chancellors Constables of France take their oth vnto the King kneeling vpon a cushion of veluet here they offer the Constable one of wooll with the Armes of the City of Paris of France take their oth vnto the King He remoued it with his foote and set it right and then he kneeled downe with his face towards our Ladies Church There in the sight of heauen and of two hundred thousand people the fire-brand of warre was quencht the 29. day of December 1475 He dyed much amazed but full of deuotion and repentance He dyed trembling To dye trembling after that manner was not to dye like a man who had carried the sword of France The executioner should not haue been more hardy to strike y In what place soeuer death assailes a generous man hee should die generously The generosity of courage doth something abate the infamie of the punishment Rubrius Flauius being condemne thy Neâo to loose his head when as the executioner said vnto him that he should stretch forth his neck boldy he answered Thou shalt not strike more boldly then I will present my head then he to offer his neck to receiue the blow Thus he who had no care nor thought but of diuision had his head diuided from his sholders the which as full of winde goes into the Ayre and the bodie fals to the earth the life which remained caused some little motion which makes the head to moue apart and the bodie apart but it is without soule for that is not diuided The Franciscane Friars carried the bodie to their Church and they said then vpon the dispute which they had with the Curate of S. Iohn at the Greue that two hundred Friaâs had had their heads cut off Wee must conclude this discourse with so certaine a Maxime as whosoeuer shall affirme it cannot lye Neuer any one that dealt craftily with his Prince but in the end he was deceiued and there is nothing more certaine by considerations of presidents experience and reason that who so keepes his Master in feare forceth him to free himselfe This place remained vnsupplyed aboue fortie yeares ImportaÌce of the office of Constable for the command is so great ouer all the forces of the Realme and the name of such lustre as if it fals into the hands of an ambitious man that is able to make his authoritie march equall with the Kings if of a Prince of the bloud he is the Kings King if of an other the Princes and great men of the Realme will not obay him and his commandement as Bertrand of Gueschin said z Berârand of Gueschin refused to accept the Office of Constable for that he was but a simple Knight and durât ãâã presume to command the kings bâothers Câzins ãâ¦ã not your selfe by this meanes for I haue neither Brother Cozin nor Nephewes Earle nâr Baron within my realme but shal obay you willingly if any one should doe otherwise hee should displease me Froislard doth concerne the great rather then the lesse The Constables goods beeing forfeited were restored to Francis of Bourbon Earle of Vendosme marrying Mary of Luxembourg Her slender and small stature brought into this house the smalnes of bodies of those great Princes who before were of that goodly and rich stature The first beauty of men admired and desired in Kings As the King had shewed an example of his Iustice in the Constables death Duke of Alencon set at libertie so did hee one of his bounty to the Duke of Alençcon a The D. of Alencon was coÌducted from the Louure to the house of Michel Luillier on Thursday the 28. of December 1475 at six of the clock at night by Iohn Harlay Knight of the watch with foure torches as the Author of the Chronicle doth obserue whom he suffred to go out of the Louure where he was a prisoner and to be lodged in a Burgesses house of Paris The fortune of this Prince was to be pittied and the consideration of his birth bound the Princes to commiseration Hee was of the bloud of France and the house of Alençon was a branch of that of Valois Charles of France Earle of Valois had two sonnes Philip of Valois King of France and Charles of Valois b Charles of Valois Brother to Philip of Valeis King of FraÌce had four sonnes by Mary of Spaine his second â wife Charles who was a Iacobin and then Archbishop of Lyon Peter Earle of Alencon Philip Archbishop of ãâã and Robert Earle of Perch Earle of Chartres and then of Alençon who dyed at the Battell of Crecy He was father to Iohn first Duke Duke of Alençon who married Marry of Brittanie and by her had this Iohn the second of that name Duke of Alençon his sonne Rene Duke of Alençon married Margaret of Lorraine by whom he had Charles the last Duke of Alençon married to Margaret of Orleans the onely Sister of King Francis the first and died without children By the Constables death the Duke of Bourgundy receiued from the King St. Quentin Profit and blame of the Duke for the Constables death Han and Bohain and the spoiles of the dead which might amount to fourescore thousand crownes He was sorie that he had lost him who had made him haue so good a share in France He was blamed to haue giuen him a safe conduit and then c Behold the iudgment which the Lord of Argenton makes vpon this deliuerie There was no need for the D. of Bourgundie who was so great a Prince of so famous and honorable a house to giue an assurance to the Constable to take him which was a great crueltie the Battel where he was certain of deth and for couetousnes deliuer him 1476. and to deliuer him to him that pursued him after the assurances of Protection and defence This breach was noted for an infallible presage of the ruine of his house The Annales of the Franche Contie of Bourgundy adde an other cause which was that the Duke had seazed of a great sum of money at Aussone
The King coniured him not to trouble himselfe with the conquest of a countrie where he could not enter the stronger He seekes to reuenge the Earle of Romonâs wrong but with hazard to die of hunger nor weake but to be beaten that the enemies whom he tormented had paine inough to liue in peace and that he should seeke some better l Against an enemie that it poore and miserable there is no great hope of war nor profit They did councell Iulian the Emperor to make warre against the Gothes I will said he haue better enemies we must leaue them to the Marchants who sell them as they please Sigonius Lib. 6. Imp. Occid The King parted from Tours in the beginning of February The Kings voyage to Lyon in the yeare 1476. he past into Bourbonois and Auuergne stayed at our Lady of Puis from thence to Lyon and so into Dauphine It was to assure his frontier m On that side where a neighbour is armed they must alwaies prouide for the frontier the Duke of Bourgundy and the Suisses being in Armes and to be neere at hand to see what would bee the issue of their quarrell A desire to haue often aduice made him to erect posts Posts erected Hee did much apprehend the Duke of Bourgundies progresse against the Suisses the which would haue added much vnto his power for he had all the house of Sauoy at his dispose and the Duchesse although she were the Kings Sister was most passionate for the red Crosse. n The Duke of BourgoÌdy gap't afâer the Duchy of Milan Rene King of Sicile and Duke of Aniou held the conquest infallible and therefore hee desired to adopt him for his sonne to giue him the County of Prouence The D. vpon this âope had sent Chasteau Guien into Piâdmont to leuy men and to make them passe into Prouence The King of Sicile Earle of Prouence offred him Prouence Galeas Duke of Milan was his Ally The Princes of Italy were of his intelligence it was a wonderfull content vnto him to see so many seeke his friendship o The offârs of succors of alliance friendship are pleasing when they may bee forborne Magnificum saith Tacitus Laetumque ãâã t is sociorum auxiliis ambiri neque indigere It is stately to bee offered so great succors from Allies not to need theÌ and to be able to passe without theirs The Germans told the King that if hee did not declare himselfe against the Duke they would make an accord with him to make warre against the King The King who saw farre of and behind him thought that his affaiers could not long prosper if the Dukes enterprise did succeed against the Swisses The Swisses being aduertised of his resolution to assaile them they prepared to let him know that as a desire of comand was naturall in him The Swisses craue peace of the duke of Bourgundy so a resolution to defend them-selues was also natural vnto them p There are no such people to be found There were neuer any so simple as to submit themselues volontarily to seruitude without defeÌce or resistance As it is natural for the Siciliens saith Hermo crates to seeke to domineere ouer those that doe willingly submit themselues so it is proper for a maÌ to defend himselfe from the iniuries that any one would doe him Thucid. But to lay al the blame vpon him they sent him their deputies to beseech him to leaue them in peace they offer to forsake all Alliances which should bee offensiue vnto him euen that of France that their countries deserued not the paines he should take for all the spoyle and ransomes his soldiars could hope for was not worth his horsemens spurres and bits The deputies of the Cantons which were then but eight commonalties q The liberty of the Swisses began in the yeare 1315. by the Allyance of Vry Schuits and Vnderuald Lucerne did ascociate it selfe to these Cantons in the yeare 1332. Zurich 1350. Zug and Glaris 1352. Firbourg and Bârne 1401. Sâleure 1481. Basill and Schaffosue in the yeare 1501. Appââzel 1514. returned with nothing but words of choller from this Prince who was offended both for the succor they had giuen to the Duke of Lorraine and for the iniury they had done to the Earle of Romont hauing taken from him a cart loden with sheepes skins so small an iniury was the ruin of his house whose most illustrious mark was the Golden Fleece of a sheepe This warre being begun for lesse then figs or raysyns or the head of a wild boare r Smale matters haue drawne great armies to field A Swisse named Elico brought figs and raynsis out of Italy to the Gaules to make them know the abondance and delights of the Contry vpon which motion the Gaules past the Alpes The Lombards were inuited by the like allurements The war betwixt the Etoliens and Arcadiens was long and bloudy for the head of a wild bâare discharged his first furies vppon Yuerdun Light occasion of the war against the Svvisses the which was taken and recouered againe in few daies Granson a town neere vnto the Lake of Neuf Chastell was beseeged and defended onely by foure huundred Swisses of the Canton of Berne who not finding themselues strong enough Army stroÌg in men and artillery against the Svvisses nor the towne to be held against so great forces for the Duke had fifty thousand men and a great number of ordynance of diuers sorts s I. de Serres writes that the Duke of Bourgondy had fiue hundred peeces of ordinance of all sorts The History of the Swisses reports that they tooke in the spoyles 400. peeceâ âey 400 allerlye buchseÌ If wee consider the equipage necessary for all this wee will hâld it a fable they abandone it and fire it and then retire into the Castell where they compounded to haue their liues saued The Capitulation was not obserued for the Duke being incensed that the beseeged had endured many daies seege Seege of Granson caused foure score to be hanged two hundred to be drowned and the rest to be put to ransome an Act which thrust the other townes into despaire and gaue them so much courage as they resolued neuer to trust this Princes faith any more and rather to see themselues ruined then to yeeld Being victor ouer this first resistance he promised vnto himselfe the like issue The Duke shewes all his riches at the seege of Granson and as he was in the Mountaines not to fight but to triumph he discoursed rather what he should doe after the victory then what was to bee done t It is a ridiculous presumption to assure himselfe of that which depends of the inconstaÌcy of fortune Caesar mockt at Pompeys captaines who talked more how they should vse the victory theÌâow they shold fight Nec quibus rationibus superare possent sed quemadmedum vti victoria debeberent
subdued the victors and that a Prince is not ruined so long as hee hath a spirit hope and a sword remaining k As long as a Prince keepes himselfe vp how ruinous soeuer his affaires hee wee must not âould him for lost Masanissa beeing put to rout by Siphar saued himselfe by swimming hid himseâfe in a Caue being bruted that he was dead He went to field beeing cured of a wound receiued and recouered his Realme Leonidas sonne to Syphâx expellâd him another time hee fled with 70. horse and by Scipios meanes was restored The King informed himselfe particularly of this defeat Contay told him that there were but seauen men at armes slaine Number of them that were slaine in the battell but the losse of the baggage was inestimable The King being among his most confident seruants made it appeare that nothing displeased him so much as the little number Hee commanded them to make Contay good cheere who made no shew to heare the people of Lions singing through the streetes the shame and ruine of this battel the courage of the Suisses and the rashnes of the Bourgondians for at that time there was not a Battell but there was presently a Song made of it l The custome is very antient to make hymms and Songs of Battells and victories There are examples in Aristophanes and in Plutark in the life of Flaminius Charle maigne caused a collection to be made of all the rimes of the like subiect This hard incounter bred a great alteration in mens mindes and affections Those which feared the courage and admired the prosperity of this Prince began presently to contemne him after the newes of this rout There was not any friend no loue Galeas Duke of Milan renouncing the alliance the had made with him besought the King to renew those which he formerly had with France and offers him a hundred thousand Ducats The King made this braue proud answer to his Ambassador Tell your maister that I will none of his money and that once in a yeare I leuie three times more then hee as for peace and warre I will dispose as I please but if he repent himselfe to haue left my alliance to imbrace that of the Duke of Bourgondy I am content to returne as we was vpon which wordes the Truces were published againe This good newes augmented the content which the King tooke at Lion whether Rene Duke of Aniou came to see him This good Prince who had seene the death of his three sonnes Rene Duke of Aniou comes to the King and had but one daughter m Rene Duke of Aniou had by Isabel daughter to Charles Duke of Lorayne three sonnes who died in the flower of their yeares Iohn Duke of Calabria Nicholas Duke of Bar. Lewis marquis of Pont and yoland put the Duke of Bourgondy in some hope that hee would adopt him for his sonne and transferre the rightes of his house to the Crowne of Sicile with the Earledome of Prouence and this Prince had already sent Chasteau Guion into Piedmont with 20. thousand crownes to leuie soldiers and to passe them into Prouence to take possession thereof The King being aduertised heereof sent to Phillip Earle of Sauoy to seaze vppon Chasteau Guion with his money and men Hee had great difficulty to saue his owne person but lost his money adding this losse to others which his maister had receiued The King intreated him to come to Lion and not to deale with the Duke of Bourgondy who sought to ruine him The good old man being discontented with the Duke of Lorraine who had forced him to giue his daughter n After the death of Charls the first of that name Duke of Lorraine Rene Duke of Aniou pretended the Duchie as husband to Isabell daughter to Charles Hee lost a Battell against the Earl of Vaudemont and was taken prisoner forced to giue his Daughter Yoland to Ferry of Lorraine son to Anthony Earl of Vaudemont Yoland of Aniou to Ferry his sonne resolued to this voyage Complaint of the Du of Aniou made by the Seneshall Hee led with him Iohn Cosse Seneshall of prouence who with a freedome worthy of the age wherin he liued and little knowne to them of his nation for he was a Sicilien let the King vnderstand that all which o Rene of Sicile sold to Lewis of Chalon the homage soueraigntie of the Principalitie of Oranges his Son submitted it to the Parliament of Dauphiné and afterward K. Lewis restored it vnto him Duke Rene had treated with the Duke of Bourgondy touching Prouence Sicily and that which he had dismembred to the benefit of the Prince of Orange was only to make his maiesty know the wrong which hee had done him in detaining the Castles of Bar and Anger 's and crossing him in all his affaires that this dispight had forced him to these resolutions the which notwithstanding he had no desire to effect if he might otherwise haue reason from his maiesty The King taking the libertie of this Discourse in good part as free from flatterie and seasoned with discretion p To fit a discourse to flattery for to please is impudencie but it is a great indiscretion to be to free and hardy to auoid pleasing flatterie They must obserue a mean Seemelinesse comes from mediocritie ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Plut. he found truth in it which he could not gainesay the which did binde him by all courtesie and good vsage to deface the discontents which the good old man his Vnckle King of Sicile had against him The Chronicle saith that he made him great cheere at Lyon he made him see the faire of S t Iohn and the faire Dames of Lyon but hee did well requite this good cheere for before hee parted hee contented the King with such assurances as he desired to adde Prouence to the Crowne The Duke of Bourgundy had besieged Morat Morat besieged by the Duke of Bourgundy a small Towne two leagues from Berne with an armie of fourescore thousand men The Suisses had twelue thousand Pikes ten thousand Halbards and ten thousand shot The Duke of Lorraine came also with such troupes as the King had giuen him and although the number were not great yet hee was commended by the Suisses q They were weary saith Phil. de Com. in our Court of the D. of Lorraine When a great man hath lost al his owne most coÌmonly he tires them that support him There might be in all some thirty two thousand foote and three or foure thousand horse The Duke of Bourgundy held it impossible for the Suisses or the Duke of Lorraine to succour Morat Battell of Morat won by the Suisses and yet they did attempt it and execute it very happily As they approched the Duke saluted them with his Canon which did play so furiously vppon their troupes as presently there were many horses seene without riders The Suisses notwithstanding
the imbecillitie and weaknes of his Nature for whereas hee should haue opposed himselfe against those mutinies he suffred them to get such credit and authoritie as the Archbishop of Toledo being sent for to come vnto him to the end hee might pacifie those troubles he said vnto him that brought him this charge Tell your King that I am weary of him his affaires and that he shall shortly see who is the true King of Castille The Grandos of the Realme assembled in a great plaine neere vnto Auila to degrade the King from the royall dignity That which they could not doe vnto his person Alfonso proclained K. of Castille they did vnto his statue d When as King Henry vnderstood of this degradation which was in Iune 1â65 he said I haue bred vp children and they haue contemned me I came naked from my mothers wombe and the earth atâends me naked No man can liue so poorely as hee is borne and it God expels mee now for my fins he wil comfort and preserue mee afterwards for his infinite power is that which kils and restores to life which wouÌds and cures that which giues Siegneuries takes them away which raiseth vp Kings puls them downe when he pleaseth which they presented vpon a scaffold when as the Herad said that D. Henry was degraded from the royall dignity the Archbishop of Toledo tooke the Crowne from his image the Earle of Plaisance the sword and the Earle of Beneuent the Scepter this done Diego Lopes cast it out of the royall seat Alfonsos standard was aduanced and poore Henry shouted at and contemned They would end the quarrell by a battell before Olivedo e The Battell of Oluiedo was in the yeare 1467. They doe not agree who had the victory D. Alfonso was seen armed aâ all peeces incouraging his men D. Henry appeared not in the fight but entered triumphing towards night into Medina del Campo The two Armies fought by order one squadron against another The Archbishop of Toledo led his army hauing a white stole vpon his armes The combat continewed three houres and ended with so great disorder of either side as both parties made bonfiers for the victory The Pope sent his Legat f Anthony de Veneris Bishop of Lyon the Popes Legate being in Spain coÌmanded them to lay downe Armes vpon paine of excommunication the great men of Spaine opposed themselues said that they appealed to a Councill The Licentiat Iohn D. Alcacer and Doctor Alphonso of Madrigall were committed for this appeale to pacefie these troubles during the which King D. Alfonso hauing raigned three yeares died of the plague at Cardegnosa Death of Alfonso King of Castille The League would haue declared Isabella heire of the Realme the which she would not accept the King her brother lyuing wherevpon a peace was made by which she was declared Princesse of Castille the nineteenth of September 1468. vpon condition that she should not marry without the consent of the King hir brother They would haue married her to Alfonso of Portugall who was a widower and D. Ioane to Iohn the eldest Sonne of Portugall vpon condition that if there came no children of the marriage of the Pincesse Isabell g D. Isabella was sought for in marriage by the brother of King Lewis by the King of Englands brother She made choise of D. Ferdinand Prince of Arragon He came to see her vnknown D. Guttiere of Cardona who coÌducted him shewed him her saiing in Spanish Esse es It is he To whome the Princesse answerered sodenly and S. Shal be thine armes vpon this cause the family of this knight doth at this day carry an S in tâeir armes and deuice those which issued from the marriage of D. Ioane should succeed to the realme Castille But D. Isabella had other thoughts she loued Ferdinand sonne to Iohn King of Navarre and Arragon whome shee caused to come to Vaillidolet in a disguized habit and marryed him the eighteenth of October 1469. Isabella of Castille marries Ferdinand of Arragon King Henry was so incensed at this marriage as hee declared his Sister fallen from all the rights which shee might pretend to the crowne of Castille and caused Ioane his daughter to be proclaymed his true heire who was married to Charles Duke of Guienne as hath beene formerly said This treaty of marriage was broken by the death of the Dukd of Guienne King Henry died also h The death of Henry the 4. King of Castille was in the yere 1474. the one and forty yeare of his age and the on twenteth of his raign Hee was interred in the great Chappell of the Monastery of Guadalupe He appointed 52. lampes of siluer to burne day night vpon his tombe And notwithstanding that the Crowne were assured to Ferdinand and Isabel yet Ioane continued the title of Queene of Castille Troupes sent out of France into Castille and in this quality she married with Alfonso King of Portugall which was an occasion of great warres The French King being discontented with the house of Arragon and the warre of Pergignan sent troupes to the King of Portugal vnder the command of Aman of Albret i Ambassadors haue oste ingaged their Maisters in very ruin ous voiages Philip de CoÌmines who had treated with them of the K. of Portugall saith that if they had beene well aduised they would haue informed themselues better of matters here before they had councelled their Maister to this voiage wâich was very preiudiciall vnto him But the King of Portugal hauing lost his enterprises and his Partisans was forced to retyer himselfe into Portugall carring away no other triumph of the warre of Castille but the Princesse D. Ioane his wife whome notwithstanding hee would not mary before hee were assured of the Realme of Castille and therefore he went into France to implore ayde from King Lewis with whome he had treated an alliance by his Ambassadors who vnder the good chere which was made them and the good words which were giuen them during the treaty without any other intent perswaded their Maister to come into France assuring him that he should doe more by his presence for the succors which he demanded then by the mediation of his servants and that there might bee a marriage made betwixt the Dauphin and D. Ioane his Neece He landed at Marseille Alfonsâ K of Portugall comes to Tours came to Lyons and so went downe the riuer of Loire to Tours where he acquainted the King with the cause of his voyage k Necessity âorceth Princes euen to things vnworthy of their quality They write that this Prince besought the King to succor him with such vehemency and humanity as hee fell on his knees at his heete It had not beene secret though he had beene silent Kings come neuer to the gates of other Kings to offer or to giue but to demand and entreat He carried a Lampe in
the one had beene depriued of his benifice the other two saw their Sisters dishonoured by the voluptuousnes of this Prince y Galeas Duke of Milan defloured the Sister of Charls Viscount master of his ward robe and then gaue her to one of his Mignons to abuse Paul Iou. The conspiracie being resolued and they furnished with courage and armes for the execution they go to him being at the doore of St. Stephens Church in Milan approching neere him He is slaine at the Church doore making shew to salute him Iohn Andrew Lampognano strook him in the windpipe z They write that Lampognano to accustome and incourage himselfe to this execution did euery day stabbe the Dukes picture with a dagger and after his cruell meditations executed his desseigne Ierosme Olgiato in the throat and stomacke and Charles Viscount wounded him in the belly It was impossible to escape presently the Dukes Seruants seazed of them The first being content to die seeing that Galeas was dead cried out as they cut him in peeces After this manner I desire to die Ierosme was taken aliue and being condemned to be fleied and quartered vpon a scaffold aliue he saied making no other repentance for this crime that of so cruell a death the reputation would be perpetuall a Ierosme Olgiati beeing strecht out vpon the scaffold to be quartered said Mors acerba fama perpetua stabit vetus memoria facti Burt. Lib. 5. Hist. Florent A bitter death but a perpetual fame the memory of the fact shall remaine old The King was not so much greeued for the death of Galeas as he had beene for that of Francis Sforce Lewis xi a friend to Francis Sforce the best of his good friendes froÌ whom he receiued 500. men at armes and 3000. foot led by Galeas against the league of the Commonweale and to whom he was resolued to retire if he might not haue entred into Paris When as the King saw himselfe freed of one enemy Lewis sends an Ambassador into Scotland he studied what he should do to be reuenged of another and remembring that K. Edward had past the seas for the D. of Bourgundies passions hee desired to cry quittance with him and therfore he sent Robert of Ireland a Scottishman and a Sorbonist with two French Gentlemen to perswade Iames 3. King of Scotland to make warre against England but the Estate of Scotland was so full of bad humours as they could not stir this bodie without danger of an incurable disease b Whilist that a body is found it feeles not the putrified and corrupted humors which are disperced into diuers mebeâs but as soone as one part is grieued all gather together run thither It is euen so of states whilst they are in peace but vpon the first trouble any thing that is wicked seditious and rebellious discouers it selfe The King was but seauen yeares old when he succeded to his Father ContentioÌ in Scotland for the Regency and the diuision was great to know who should haue the Regencie and Gouernment of the Realme Some were for Queene Marie his Mother Others were for Iames Kenneth and George Douglas Earle of Anguse The Queene caused her selfe to be declared that which she would be they that were for her saied that if they regarded Proximitie there was not any neerer vnto the Sonne then the mother If they did consider the good of the childe not any one could haue more care then she If they could not contend with her in the degree of Proximitie it were indiscretion to call her affection and fidelitie in doubt hauing therein nature for her Caution If they respect the common good the condition of her birth was considerable for that being a stranger no way possest with loue nor passion they should not finde that she would support the one to the preiudice of the other as they might doe which had Alliances Kinsmen and Intelligences within the Realme who carried their dessignes beyond the Kinges life and might builde vpon his toombe As for her the death of her Son could bring her no other fruits but a perpetuall sorrow and therefore she was bound to desire his health and preseruation Kenneth seeing this ScottishmeÌ hate the commaund of women stirs vp the people to apprehend the iniurie which was done vnto the Lawes of a Realme which had alwaies detested the rule of Women as contrary to that of nature c Gynecoratis or the gouernment of women is directly against the laws of nature which hath giuen vnto men seâce wisedom arms and commaundment and hath taken it from womeÌ and the law of God hath wisely decreed that the woman should bee subiect vnto the man not onely in the gouernment of realms and Empires but also in euery mans priuate family Bodin Lib. 6 cap. 5. and which had seen the raigne of an hundred Kings and not any one of their Daughters that succeeded Shall wee not finde saied hee among so many thousands of men one man that is capaple to commaund men must a Nation which hath no other experience but armes beforced to subiect their swords to the lawes of a distaffe and suffer themselues to be gouerned at the discretion of a woman and of a strange woman d The first woman which opened the waie for the rule of women in Scotland was Mary Stuard and Mary the Daughter of Henry the 8. in England To pacifie this discord they resolued to leaue all matters as they were for a moneth during the which the passions of both parties were but the more enflamed Many within the Realme desired rather to obey the Queene then any other that should be of an equall condition or superior vnto them But as in such occasions a man of credit and authority workes wonders drawing the hearts and opinions of men as he pleaseth Iames Kenneth Archbishop of St. Andrew giuing the Parlament to vnderstand e Cato desirous to let the Romans vnderstand that the commandemeÌt of women was shameful spake these wordes vnto them All men coÌmand women wee coÌmand men and women command vs. Plut. that to giue the authority to the Queene was to contradict the auncient Lawes of the Realme to expose Scotland to dangers and Scottishmen to the scorn of a shamefull gouernment and who should iustifie the reproach which might be made vnto them to commaund men and to be commaunded by women That Scotland neuer knew what the gouernment of women was they found no names in their language to expresse it they had neuer seene woman preside in their Councels nor Parliaments nor to dispose of Iustice nor of the Treasure and that which other Nations call Queene Scotland cals the Kings Wife f The history of ScotlaÌd reports the wordes of Iames Kenneth Mairoes nostri adeo erant a cura publica muliaeribus mandanda alieni vt si omnia reruÌ vocabula excutias ne mulâebus quidem imperii nomen opud eas
returned into Denmarke past into Germanie and so into France to intreat K. Lewis the eleuenth to make his peace with the K. of Scotland but wheÌ he saw that the king would not do any thing he retired to the Duke of Bourgondie and did him great seruices But he did not long enioy the peace and quietnesse which hee thought to finde there for the King of Scotland who desired to see this house vtterly ruined commaunded his Sister to leaue her Husband m An extreme hatred from an extreme loue which forceth the K. of Scotland to breake a bond which could not be dissolued but by death An example that tâer is nothing assured in the great fauour of Princes and an instruction to ground our felicitie vpon our selues and not vpon an other Man begins to be subiect vnto Fortune when he settles his felicity without himselfe She was fullie resolued to runne her Husbands fortune but hee himselfe intreated her to goe vnto the King her Brother thinking that he could not haue more fauour nor better sollicit an end of his exile then by her As soone as euer she came to Court the King married her to another and makes her to send for her children which were in Flanders Thomas Bothwell died for greefe at Antwerp and the Duke of Bourgoundie his heire made him a rich tombe not so much for any care of his memorie as to erect vnto Fortune the trophee which she had gotten by the ruine of a house n The house of the Bothwels was as soon ouer throwne as raised The History of Scotland saith Ita Bodiorum quae tum erat in Scotia florentissima familia intra paucos annos creuât corruit magno posteris documento quam sint lubricae Regum adolescentium Amicitia So the familie of the Bothwels which then did florish much in ScotlaÌd within few yeares did both rise and fall a great instruction to posteritie how slipperie the loue of yong Kings is against the which it seemed she had no power The King in the meane time who had been bred vp in great libertie King of Scotlands good inclination corrupted suffred himselfe to goe whether his humors led him and puts his Estate into such confusion as there was nothing in a manner firme nor well setled The Truce with England was expired it was feared they should fall to war for that the same time the English had taken and spoiled a great ship of Scotland but K. Edward who after that he had ended his busines with FraÌce had no care but to take his plesure made no difficulty to restore that which had been taken to the end the Truce might be coÌtinued the mariage of one of his daughters treated with the Kings eldest son the better to Cyment this accord The King of Scotland sent two Embassadors to the Duke of Bourgundy to haue iustice of some complaints made by the Marchants which did traffick vpon his coast Being arriued in Flanders there came a Phisition called Andrew to visit them Hee was a great Sorcerer and one of those who to steale diuination thinke to imitate Diuinitie Andrew a Scottish Phisition a great Sorcerer and to abuse the world with illusions wherewith their Demons abuse them o The diuels inspire illusions into Sorcerers minds to the end they should not see that which is see that which is not Quicquid miraculi ludunt per Dae mones faciunt What miracle soeuer they play they doe it by their Diuels Min. Felix They are Apes of Diuinitie theeues of Diuination Emulantur Diuinitatem dum furantur Diuinationem They imitate Diuinitie whilest steale Diuination Tert. Apolo c. 22. He met them with amazement for he told them that they needed not to make suâh hast for that within two daies they should haue newes of the Duke which vvould make them to change their resolution The two daies vvere not expired before the newes of the Dukes death vvas brought to Gand. An accident which ouerthrew their embassage and sent them home into Scotland where they did not forget to tell the King as Courtiers doe willingly discourse of that vnto their Master which pleaseth him that Andrew a Phisition had foretold them of the duke of Bourgundies death King of Scotland giuen to Sorcerie Curiositie and idlenes had already framed this Princes spirit to receiue these vanities for infallible sciences beleeuing that he could not be a King if hee were not a Magician p Apuleius saith that to be a King in Persia hee must be a Magiâian Vili inter Persas concessum est Magum esse hand magis qnam regnate The brauery of the Court was all in these Impostures if there were any spirit corrupted with these errors he was presently led into the Kings Cabinet whose spirit was like an infected Lyuer which draws out of a great glasse of water a drop of wine to corrupt it more q When a spirit begins to be depraued it seekes the ill although it be shut vp enuironed with good and conuerts the good into bad nourishment some of his learned women had foretold him that the Lyon shold be smothered by the yong Lyons To haue more knowledge of this prediction he sent for this Phisition he gaue him Benefices great entertainments to make him stay in Scotland and consulting with him as the Oracle of his fortune hee had this answere from him That the dangers which threatned his life should come from the conspiracie of his owne These words made so strange a Metamorphosis in this Prince as being gentle milde and courteous he became inaccessible iealous and distrustfull r Crueltie giues vnto a Prince the âitles of Cyclops Busyris Phalaris and others wherewith Maximin was defamed for his cruelty and to make it a Maxime Nisi crudelitate Imperium noÌ retineri An Empire is not held without crueltie Iul. Cap He thought that crueltie would purchase feare and feare would assure him and disappoint the designes which should be made against him Hee held his neerest kinsmen for enemies and the greatest of the Realme to be traitors Hee made new creatures and gaue himselfe to be gouerned by base men who managed the state at their pleasures and neuer did well but when as they thought to doe ill The Nobilitie of the Realme beeing offended at this bad gouerment The Noblemen conspire and to see that the King was a slaue to men who could not remember their fathers condition without blushing and who held him coopt vp like a sauage beast that he might not grow tame they resolued to free him but to preuent it these petty tyrants of the Kings will seaze vpon his Brethren s Iohn Earle of Marre the Kings brother was slaine in prison he was accused to haue sought to bewitch the king they caused twelue Sorcerers to be burnt they make the yonger dye by bleeding the other was put in prison but the escaped and got into
France Parricides and cruelties with his wife Daughter to the Earle of Bullen being forced to make that his contrie where he found his fortune thinking to see the same sunne euery where which he saw in Scotland He besought K. Lewis the eleuenth to assist him with sufficient forces to make war in Scotland t Euery soile is the Countrie of a great courage Quo modo lucem noctem que omnibus hominibus ita omnes terras fortibus viris natura aperuit As nature hath opened the day and night for all men so hath she al contries for men of courage Tac. lib. 4. The bad vsage he had receiued froÌ his brother caried him to these motions to ouerthrow all that hee could not remoue The K. thought it not fit to ground a war against his allies vpon an other mans passions so as the Duke of Albany seeing that he could not obtain that he expected froÌ the king he past ouer into England and perswaded K. Edward to make war against the K. of Scotland u It is alwaies dangerous to make warre vpon the Councels of men that are banished from their countries and reduced to those extremities to ruine it for reuenge Passion doth easily transport them they promise that which they cannot hold and their wils are subiect to change The Noblemen of the Realme apprehending this storme assembled together by night in a Church where they resolued to cast all that into the Sea which was the cause of this tempest and which made the King to play at tenis with his subiects heads x Nothing is of so little respect to a cruell Prince as the bloud of his subiects Stratocles seeing them buy the heads and nâckes of beasts for his supper said it was that wherwith they that gouerned the commonweale played at tosse-ball Plut. in Demet. being necessary to rid himselfe of domesticke enemies before he did incounter strangers The King who had spies in all places was aduertised of this assembly and sent Cocheran one of his fauorites to discouer it he was met by Archembald Douglas Earle of Anguse Conspiracie of the Nobilitie executed who took him by the neck and made him fast with the same chaine of gold which he himselfe ware and then he gaue him in gard to certaine soldiors vntill it was day at the breake of which hee was carried vnto a gibbet lamenting his hard fortune which had raised him vp to ruine him Some cried out to haue him dispacht others were moued to pittie y In these changes of fortune some sing others weâp wâân Radamystus caused Mithridates to bee taken vnchained the people remembering the rigour of his coÌmandemenâs added blows to his misfortune others lamânted the change of his fortune Vulgus duto Imperio habitum probra ac verbera intentabat Et erant contra qui tantuÌ fortunae commutationem miseretentur The common people required his hard command with reproches and blows And there were others which Pittied the change of his fortune Tac. lib. 4. To be wise we must fly the conuersation of fooles Magna pars sanitatis est hortatores Insaniae reliquisse Sen. Epist. 94. It is a great part of health to haue left the perswades to madnes All reioiced to see the Court purged from this contagious plague He goes directly to the Kings Chamber and seazeth vpon all these Empericks of state vnder whose gouernment impietie had so raigned and iniustice been in such credit in Scotland and causeth them all to be hanged The King of England made his profit of these broiles King of England sends an armie into Scotland for hauing sent Richard Duke of Glocester his brother into Scotland with a mighty Armie he forced the King to restore him Barwick which the Scottishmen had kept one and twenty yeares by meanes wherof a Peace was treated and sworne The Nobilitie of Scotland thought that the King would grow wise hauing no more these instruments of folly about him z but hee made them to change their opinions for hauing setled his affaires abroad he began to call them to an account at home and to be reuenged of them which had prescribed him a law This caused anew reuolt to pacifie the which the King fled to the Pope who sent a Legate to draw the Rebels to their duties and hee intreated the King of France and England by his Embassadors to assist him to quench a mischiefe the contagion whereof might creep in among their subiects Not holding himselfe safe in Edinbourg hee would haue retired to Sterling but the Gouernour would not giue him entry He was then forced to keep the field hauing no retreat his enemies incounter him he accepts the Battel which they presented King of Scotland ââairne and fought valiantly but finding his horse wounded he retires vnto a Mill whether hee was pursued and slaine in the yeare 1488. the 31. of his age and the eight and twentith of his raigne FINIS THE CONTENTS OF of the eighth BOOKE 1 THe King is aduised to make his profit of the diuisions of Italy but he will not heare of it 2 Troubles at Florence and conspiracies against the house of Medicis 3 The Pope excommunicates the Florentines and for their sakes the Venetians arming the King of Naples against them 4 The King declares himselfe for the Florentines and forbids to send money to Rome The Venetians ioine in league with the Florentines 5 He sends his Embassadors to Rome and is arbitrator of the controuersie Ouerture for a Peace The lets of the Venetians side 6 The Popes complaint against them 7 Intelligences of the Duke of Brittany discouered and Letters surprized by the King 8 Punishment of Peter Landais 9 Townes of the Riuer of Somme recouered by the King 10 Negotiation of Oliuer le Dain at Gand. Taking of the Towne of Tournay 11 Princesse of Bourgundy sends Embassadors vnto the King to haue his Peace and protection 12 The King wins the Embassadors Restoring of the Townes of Hesdin Therouenne and Monstreuil Siege of Bullen two and twenty Deputies of Arras hanged 13 Arras yeelds vpon a composition which is not obserued 14 The Gantois rise against their Princesse and will haue part in the gouernment of affaires Their Embassadors sent vnto the King bring back a letter which the Princesse had written contrarie to their Embassage 15 The Princesse Chancellor and the Lord of Himbercourt Gouernor of Liege put to death 16 Ingratitude and impietie of Adolpe of Gueldres against his father 17 The King entertaines friendship with the King of England and keepes him from inclining to the Princesse of Bourgundy 18 Marriage of Maximilian Archduke of Austria with the Princesse of Bourgundy 19 The Kings armie in the Franch Countie 20 The fiâst alliance of France with the Suisses 21 Estate of the affaires of Castille vnder the new raigne of Ferdinand and Isabella 22 Death of Iohn the second King of Nauarre and Arragon 23 Peace and alliances renued
k Pâsusanlas said that he was a good Phisition which did not suffer the sicke to languish nor rot but did bury theÌ speedily Plut. She had passed through all the formes of gouernements which the lawes haue established ouer people From Oligarthia she fell to an Aristocratia and then the people banded against the Nobility and were reduced to those tearmes as they intreated the Pope to giue them a Prince This was Charles of Aniou l The Citty of Florence was made desolate by the cruell factions of the people which made the bloud to flowe in the streets and put all into combution The Lucquois came and parted them it was resolued they should take a maister from the Pope so as he were royally descended This was Charles of Aniou brother to the King S. Lewis brother to the King S. Lewis going to Naples He had scarce let them know what difference there is betwixt the iust command of a Monarchy popular confusions but they that were bred vp not to endure a maister bring the popular estate againe into credit Duke of Athens died at the battell of Poitiers then they returne to a Soueraignty and submit themselues to the Duke of Athens against whom they made their conspiracies and forced him to leaue them m It is hard for a multitude to continue long in one forme of gouerment especially when it is a stirring actiue and subtill Nation These changes haue bin noted in the Athenians Samians Megarians Syracusans Florentines Genouoys The Athenians chaÌged 6 times in lesse then a hundred yeares The petty Cantons of the Suiffes haue maintain'd theÌselues in their first popular estate then they returned to their first confusions they change and rechange their policy gouernement thinking that they had got much by the change when they had new Officers and that they which gouerned had new names the peoples vnderstanding beeing dulled with a desire of Innouation so as we finde that in lesse then a hundred yeares Florence in an 100. yeares changed estate seuen times they haue changed their estate seuen times euery man seeking to haue his share in the affaires and thinking himselfe more capable then his neighbour That wherin they were now was to be held most lamentable and would haue beene more if the King had not shewed his affection for their defence He sent them not any force against their enemies King Lewis declares himselfe for the Florentines but he made an Edict forbidding his subiects to send any money to the Court of Rome either by billes of exchange or otherwise to obtaine prouisions of benifices to the end that France should not furnish the Pope with money to ruine his friends In the Edict which the King made to forbid them to send money to Rome bearing date the 16. of August 1478. after a great and patheticall complaint of the enterprises and practises against Florence made by Count Ieronimo whom he calles an Vpstart a man almost vnknowne of base and meane condition we reade these words We did hope that our holy Father like a good Father and Pastor of Christian people would haue imployed himselfe for a peace and not haue shewed himselfe partiall of either side and hoping that for our sake who haue alwayes carried a great reuerence and deuotion vnto the holy Apostolike Sea hee would do some thing we haue let him vnderstand of the ancient friendship league and alliance which we haue with the Sgniory and Commonalty of Florence Oath of the Gouernment of FloreÌce n The FloreÌtins haue beene alwaies Allyes Confederate to the Crowne of France they holding that their Citty being ruined by Totila King of the Gothes was built againe by Charlemaigne cherished by the succeeding kings whose party they haue alwaies followed and declared themselues Guelphes for their sakes Moreouer the King was bound to fauour this house of Medicis which hath beene alwayes affected to his seruice and be remeÌbred the great Cosmo had exhorted his Citizens not to break with France to fauour the designes of the Pope of the King of Naples nor the Duke of Millan And in consideration of these great proofes of affection good wil he had suffered Peter his son in the yeare 1465. to carry three Floures de Luce in his Scutchion which hath beene alwayes so well affected to vs to the King and house of France as they haue held them for their singular Protectors and in signe thereof whensoeuer they renew the Gouernours of their Signory they sware to be true and loyall to the house of France and to defend their honour and to entertaine themselues in their friendship good will and seruice But notwithstanding all these aboue-named things and without respect of the present necessity of Christian people our sacred holy Father hath shewed himselfe partiall in this matter against the said Signiory and Common-wealth of Florence and in like manner against the Duke and Signory of Venice wherefore they cannot by any better meanes fortefie the Turke and Infidels against Christians then to molest and oppresse them that maintaine the Warre against the Turke which things are so strange to thinke of as the Vniuersall Church and euery vertuous and Catholicke Prince should be grieued at it And moreouer wee haue beene aduertised that our said holy Father hath said that in this warre against the Florentines Venetians and others of their part hee would employ his Person Goods and all that he could furnish The which is a very strange thing that the goods and reuenewes of the Church which are appointed for the seruice of God defence of the Catholicke Faith and for the sustenance of the poore should be imployed in such warres and for such Factions against Christians and to mainetaine such conspiracies to vsurpe the Signiories of Italy and such murthers and execrable crimes In like manner it is very strange that they suffer the indue exactions which are made at Rome by expectatiue Buls and other meanes and by the Vacants which they leuy contrary to the holy Cannons and Decrets of the Church made and constituted by the holy Fathers and against the determination of the Vniuersall Church and of holy councels to employ the mony which hath beene so gotten to any Earledomes and Signories to giue them vnto men of base condition and to aduance them without precedent merite or without any aide or succour which they haue giuen vnto the Church Among all the Kings and Realmes of Christendome we our sacred Realme of France and Countrey of Dauphine and generally all our Subiects haue a very great interest and losse by the great abundance of money which is drawne and paid by a great excessiue taxe contrary to the said holy Decrees and the liberties of the French Church The Venetians made a league with the Florentines League betwixt the Venetians and Florentines The Pope excommunicates them being no lesse offended at this League then at the troubles which
Gand to giue him a fauourable end of his suite and to haue infringed the priuiledges of Gand Hogonet Imbercourt condeÌned to die the which may not be changed nor broken without paine of death Vpon these accusations or rather slanders the Maior AldermeÌ of Gand condemn theÌ to loose their heads In 6 daies their processe was made the number of their freinds nor the appearance of their innocency which in those extremities is the last refuge could not saue them n Innocency is the last refuge of the miserable helps him much that hath nothing else remaining It hath sometimes set the condemned in the Iudges place Neri sonne to Vgucione of Fagiuola Lord of Luga condemned Castrucio to death and the people freed him going to execution and set him in Neris place Three houres after the sentence was pronounced they were executed without any respect to the appeale which they had made to the Court Parliament at Paris Brother in law The Pope and Emperor offended at this impiety at whose instance the Pope and the Emperour Fredericke send vnto Adolph to set the Country at liberty and to yeeld obedience to his father and vpon the contempt of this commandement they write vnto the Duke of Bourgundy not to suffer this impiety any longer The Duke was then about Dourlans he commanded Adolph to come and to bring his father Adolph durst not displease so mighty a Neighbour The Duke heares them in their complaints and confronts them together The sonne accuseth the father of villanous and wicked actions Duke of Bourgundy Iudge of the quarrell whereof he presently purgeth himselfe and by the testimony of Noblemen that were there present at this confrontation the sons slander was discouered and detested then the father transported with extreme griefe presented the single coÌbat vnto his son The Duke would not allow it for the vncertaine euent could not be where soeuer the victory fell without a certain crime Hauing conferred of this businesse with his Councell hee ordained that the father should retaine the title of Duke with the Towne of Graue and 3000. Crownes for his entertainment the son should haue all the rest Notwithstanding that this iudgement was so fauourable for the sonne as all men thought that the Iudge was more affected to him then to the father x Adolph had maried Catherine of Bourbon daughter to Iohn Duke of Bourbon and Anne of Bourgundy sister to Phillip The Sig r. of Argenton saith that the Duke fauored Adolph in respect of this marriage yet this vnnaturall sonne straying from all obedience duty y Decius was commended for that hee refused the Empire saying that being Emperour hee should forget to be a sonne Imperet pater meus meum imperium sit parere humiliter imperanti Let my father rule my Empire shall be humbly to obay him that rules Val. Max. lib. 4. would not be satisfied saying That his father had raigned long enough and that he should content himselfe with the pension of 3000. Crownes and that he should neuer set his foote in the Countrey of Guelders To be short that hee had rather cast his father into a Well and himselfe headlong after him then consent to the conditions of this sentence z It is an impious thing saith Plato for any one to force his father and his Country he saith more-ouer that the child should haue a care not to offend him for there is not any praier which the Gods heare sooner then that which the fathers make against their children The Duke being prest to go vnto his Army before Amiens leaues them in this dispute and would not alter his iudgement The sonne fearing that his obstinacy might bring him to the place where he had put his father and knowing that few men affected him stale away in a disguised French habite and tooke the way to Graue Adolph steales away and is taken prisoner But passing the Riuer at Namur with one man in his company he was knowne by a Priest and staied by others and conducted to the Duke of Bourgundy who sent him prisoner to Villeuor and afterwards to Courtray where he remained miserable and no man pittied him in his misery a It is a cruelty and inhumanity to pitty a parricide The punishment which he endures how great soeuer doth not giue so much amazement as the crime causeth horror and execration vntill that the Gantois set him at liberty to be their Generall in the warre of Tournay The father dying had giuen the Dutchy of Guelders to the Duke of Bourgundy The warre being vndertaken by them of Gand against Tournay and the Mutiny growing insolently violent against the Dutchesse of Bourgundy they had need of a Head for without it their hands were not much to be feared He is set at liberty by the Gantols They cast their eyes vpon Adolph draw him out of prison and like mad-men as they are thinke that this cruell wretch who could not loue his father will haue a care of their affaires b What piety can bee expected of him that hath beene impious and inhuman to his owne father Qui fallere audebit Parentes qualis erit in ceteris He that dares deceiue his Parents what will hee bee to other men Casiod They giue him absolute command being resolued to aduance him higher then his Predecessours and to make him husband to the Dutchesse People in such distractions haue played madder prankes and made more indiscreete elections He lead them to Tournay where hauing burnt the Suburbs he was slaine His death was not more honourable vnto him then his life The Princesse was not sorry for this action For if hee had returned tryumphing from this exploite the Gantois had forced her to mary him and rather then to haue had a husband of their choice she would haue taken one by chance as the heire of Bohemia had done Primislaus a Laboâer becomes King of Bohemia who marryed Primislaus and drew him from labour to the honour of her Marriage and Crowne c Lybussa daughter to Gracus second King of Bohemia declared in an Assembly of the Estates held in an open field that shee would take him for husband before whom a horse shold stay which she should let go without guide or force He stayed before Primislaus who was tilling his Land They tooke him and led him to the Princesse who made him her husband and gaue him to the people for their King His wodden shoes were long kept in the Cathedrall Church of Prage and shewed to the Kings of Bohemia to make them remember their beginning The Princesse of Bourgundies affaires impaired Many Physitions vndid the Patient The King had a mighty Army which kept all the Low Countries in awe in his absence it was commanded by the Bastard of Bourbon Admirall of France There was nothing attempted by the enemy but was defeated In many exploits of warre which were made vpon this
was buried in the Monastery of Poblete He was a great Prince like vnto others had past the pikes of fortune It hath beene said before that his son Charles and after his death his subiects of Barcelona and after all that the king of Castille and then the kings of France made warre against him he saw his realme in horrible combustions by the factions of Beaumont and Grandmont which he had seene spring vp neglected to quench them in their breeding About the end of his dayes when as he had more need of a Tombe then a wife and that the law Papia z Augustus in his latter dayes caused the Senate to make the Law Papia it had many heads amongst others a man of 60 yeares old a woman of 50 might not mary This word Buckle was vsed by Seneca and after him by Lactantius Quid ergo est quare apud Poetas salacissimus Iupiter desierit liberos tollere sexagenarius factus est illi âex papia fibulam imposuit had buckled him vp being aboue fourescore years old he fell in loue with a yong maid named Francina Rosa which was no helpe for him to recouer his sight which extreme age for the interest of so long an abode in the world had taken from him The yeare before his death he went to see his son D. Ferdinand at Victoria to conferre with him vpon the affaires of the realme which he should leaue vnto him In this incounter the father had not any with him but ancient men aboue threescore years old and the sonne was attended on by the flower of all the Nobility of Castille It was noted that the father in all things gaue place to the king D. Ferdinand his son as the head of the house of Castille from whence he was desended a Alphonso the fifth King of Arragon brother to Iohn the second king of Nauarre would haue his Embassadors giue place to them of Henry the fourth K. of Castillâ in signing the Articles of a Treatie made at Naples The dispute of this precedence had bin begun in the Councell of Constance and decided in that of Basil in fauour of Castille Alphonso the fift king of Arragon would not yeeld it to his father Iohn the second King of Castille b It is a difficult thing sometimes for the prerogatiue of nature to giue place to that of fortune dignity witnesse the Senator of Venice who would not giue place to his sonne although he were Duke who to binde his Father did alwayes carry a great Crucifix to the which the father said hee did his duty The law of Maiesty was of more force then that of respect and naturall obedience wherof the son how great soeuer many not dispence himself towards his father The Crowne of Castille had alwaies pretended that Arragon depended of it in soueraignty and that if it were free it was by grace The King D. Iohn the second at his returne from this voyage dyed at Barcelona It was by his aduice that a peace was at that time treated Peace and Alliances renewed with Spain of betwixt king Lewis the eleuenth and the kings of Castille to confirme the ancient Alliances that were betwixt the two Crownes d Philip de Comines saith that the Alliances of France and Castille are betwixt King and King Realme Realme Man Man of their subiects The Embassadors of France were the Lord of Lescut and the Bishop of Lombais Abbot of S. Denis they of Castille were Iohn de Gamboa Gouernour of Fontarabie and Iohn de Medina one of the kings Councell This peace being concluded the Embassadors of Castille came into France they were receiued at Paris with great honour on Saturday the third of Iuly 1479. they did the like to the Embassadors of France who went to Guadalupa whereas D. Ferdinand and D. Isabella were busied in punishing the disobedience of the Marques of Villena who had hindered D. George Manriquez from chastizing them of Cinchilla who had reuolted At that time when as the Court was at Guadalupa the Marques of Villâna head of the faction being incensed that his enemies had caused six of his Souldiers to be hanged wold do the like to as many of theirs being his prisoners the chance fell vpon a Souldier of Villeneufue of Laxara neere to Allarcon in whose place the yonger brother presented himselfe and intreated that hee might dye for him for that his brother had wife and children who was set at liberty and his offer accepted Hist. of Spa. Lib. 22. The Articles are sworne by the king and moreouer it was agreed that the Towne of Parpignan should be put into the possession of the Cardinall of Spaine that the two kings should name an Arbitrator to decide within fiue yeares what K. Lewis did pretend to be due vnto him After the death of D. Iohn the 2 d king of Nauarre and Arragon D. Ferdinand succeeded in his fathers Estate of Arragon and Sicile and D. Leonora to the Mothers as daughter to Blanche Queene of Nauarre but this succession which shee would haue aduanced contrary to the Lawes of Nature and Humanity beeing blamed by the Histories of Spaine to haue caused her elder Sister to be poysoned f D. Blanch being put away by D. Henry the vnable was carried as it were a prisoner to Lescut in Bearne by Gaston Earle of Foix her Brother-in-law to the end she should not marry againe The Spaniards write that her sister Elenor caused her to bee poysoned did not passe the fifteenth day after her Coronation Shee had by Gaston Earle of Foix many worthy Children Gaston Blanche Countesse of Foix mother of many children Earle of Foix Iohn Vicount of Narbona Peter Cardinall of Foix Iames who serued King Lewis the twelfth in the warres of Lombardy and fiue daughters g Out of this house of Foix were issued four Queenes cousin germans at one time Catherin Q. of Nauarre German Q. of Castille and Arragon Anne Queene of France and Dutchesse of Brittaine Anne Queene of Bohemia Hungary Mary wife to William Marquis of Montferrat Ioane married to the Earle of Armagnac Margaret to Francis Duke of Brittanie Catherine to the Earle of Candalâ and Elenor promised to the Duke of Medina Celi The peace of Castille did not hinder the warre which the King had against Maximilian of Austria 1479. who to diuert the Kings forces and frustrate his designes besieged Therouenne h Maximilian camped before Therouenne with 20000. Flemings some Troopes of Germans and 300. English It was reâieued by de Cordes with 8000. Franke Archers and eleuen hundred men at Armes the Lord of Cordes came to succour it Maximilian went to meet him and both Armies encountred at Guinegaste The i The Gaules Horsemen were alwaies estemed and feared Plutarch Polibius and Appian coÌmend theÌ Caesar saith that in the war of Affricke 30 horsemen Gaules put to rout 2000. horsemen Numidians
Caualarie of France shewing their ancient valour Battell of Guinegaste brake that of Maximilian and chased them as farre as Aire which made their Foot-men to wauer yet they were staied by the constancy and good order of the Captaines which did fight on foot Maximilian put himselfe among the foot-men the Earle of Rhomont and Engelbert Earle of Nassau behaued themselues so valiantly that day as they carried away the honour and Maximilian had the field and profite The French being Victors busied themselues at the spoyle k Greedinesse of spoyle hath many times made them loose the victory who had it most assured They that escaped froÌ this battell and were at that of Nouora committed not this error in pursuing the victory as to fall to spoyle they were heard to cry out in the sield Companions remember Guinegaste and lost the victory which they had certaine When newes was brought vnto Lewis hee would not beleeue that the losse was such as they said If it be true said he that the victory be lost for me fare-well all my Conquests This losse made a Truce and the Truce a peace Christendome had great need to vnite her forces against Mahomet who besieged Rhodes The King obtained a Iubile from Pope Sixtus and caused it to be published throughout his Realme to gather mens Almes and Deuotion for the reliefe and defence of that mighty Bulwarke of Christendome But the History doth not say that he gaue any thing of his owne to the Relligion as King Charles the seuenth had done to prepare himselfe against the Agression of so mighty and fearefull an enemy who vnder a vaine and deceitfull proposition of peace l Nothing doth so much fauour the designes of warre as an opinion of peace Mahomet caused his sonne Zizimi to make some ouerture of a truce vnto Demetrio Sofrano Embassador of the Order and vnder his negotiation he prepared for the warre laboured to discharge vpon them all the furies of warre But it was vaine against Rhodes Siege of Rhodes by Mahomet valiantly defended by the valour and vigilancy of the great Maister of Aubusson who vpon the first aduice that was giuen him of Mahomets designe prouided carefully for the defence and safety of the Towne hee caused some Churches to bee beaten downe which might haue annoyed them if the enemy should get them but hee would not attempt this demolition tumultuously nor of his absolute authority but would first haue the Priests Monkes and all others that were interessed These men by the permission of the Metropolitan of the Grecians and of the Archbishop m There is alwaies a great correspondency betwixt the Order of the Church the inferiors ordaine nothing without the aduice of their superiors The Synode of Laodicea forbad the Bishops diuided among the Villages of the Prouince to doe any thing without the Bishop which was in the Towne Colossensis or of Rhodes for there is a great Relation of authority and obedience of power and respect among them consented In all his designes hee euer respected the Kings aduice and counsell and informed him of all that past yea of the fortifications which he made in the Island and of the ouertures of an accord which Mahomet made to deceiue him beseeching him that the French Commanders and Knights which were within his Realme should not loose so goodly an ocasion to serue Christendome The siege of Rhodes began after that of Scutari n At the siege of Sâutari the Assailants shot so many Arrowes into the Towne as the besieged for a long time after the siege burnt no other wood but Arrowes Mahomet was forced to raise the siege The Venetians Lords of Scutari left it him to haue a peace in the end of May 1480. 1480. After that Mahomet had knowne Tribute refused to Mahomet that it was impossible for him to haue that tribute from the Rhodians which he demanded in regard whereof he would suffer them to liue in peace the Army camped on Saint Stephens Mountaine and vpon little Hilles thereabouts it consisted of an hundred thousand men and a great quantity of Artillery A great troope of horse and foote came furiously from the Mountaine to discouer the Towne of Rhodes the which were twice beaten and repulst Their Batteries being planted the Canon played against S. Nicholas Tower The great Maister was informed of euery thing in the Turkes Army by a Germaine Inginer who cast himselfe into the Towne and left the Infidels making shew that the onely zeale of religion had moued him hee related the whole estate of the Campe and discouered that which they could not learne but by him But his zeale was meere treachery and treason Treason of a German Inginer for the which he was soone after hanged by the commandement of the great Maister who feared Traitors more then Enemies o At the siege of Towns the practises within are no lesse to bee feared then the attempts without Scipio Affricanus said that he was not so carefull to defend himselfe from the enemy as from traitors He refresht the Garrison in S. Nicholas Tower and placed of the most valiant Knights and best Souldiers to guard it he viewes the ruines which the battery had made and causeth them to be repaired speedily The Turkes assaile it with an incredible fury but they were so receiued Assault giuen by the Turkes as in lesse then an houre they lost 700 Souldiers besides them that were wounded and they that retired suddenly to their Gallies were drowned The great Maister went triumphing to Rhodes to giue God thankes for this victory The Turkes to weaken the forces of the besieged and to vanquish them the more easily being diuided batter the Towne in many places p The Artillery battering the walles of Rhodes caused the Iland tremble and it was heard plainly at the Iland of Castle Rosso towards the East an incredible way off with peeces and Engines of warre of an vnknowne greatnesse There was neuer Fort more furiously battered neither was there euer Campe more annoyed by the battery of the besieged The assailants made some shot whose noyse was like vnto Thunder and their ruines like that of Thunder-bolts The Rhodians had a Canon which they called the Tribute which carried away great heapes of the enemies The Scorpions Rammes Slings and Crosse-bowes of the old warres which carried and forced Mil-stones and Rockes with such great violence and so farre off wrought not such terrible effects The Turkes shot out of Engines the stones whereof ruined houses where they fell And after this maner Philip Augustus and Richard King of England had in former times ruined Ptolemaid There was danger to remaine within and danger to come out of the houses q Pauâus Aemilius saith that at the siege of Ptolemaid Saxorum ictu quae Tollenonibus mittebantur tecta domorum superne perfringebantur The toppes of housâs were broken downe with the stones they cast out of engines
The great Maister whose prudence was without feare and valour without rashnesse would not neglect it he was as couetous of his peoples bloud as he was prodigall of his owne he could not see them die miserably but provided a good remedy r To feare to loose his men to spare their liues is the duty of one that commands Fortes paratissimi effundere sanguinem suum alienum videre non possunt Valiant men are ready to powre forth their own bloud but they cannot see anothers Sen. commanding the Women Children and vnable persons to leaue the houses causing them to be lodged in a void place betwixt the houses and the Towne-wall vnder Tents supported with great peeces of timber The stones they shot out of their Bombards alwayes past ouer them for the Turkes shot onely at the houses and at the places most frequented and if any stone fell there it found resistance and did no harme At night the people retired into Churches that were vaulted He commanded publicke prayers to be made euery man casting his eyes to heauen hauing no other hope of helpe it was impossible to defend the wall and therefore hee made intrenchments where the Women laboured with a wonderfull affection they would haue giuen their haire s Women haue often giuen their haire to make Instruments for the warre or strings for bows the examples are reported by Vegetius lib. 4. The Senate of Rome in remembrance thereof did dedicate a Temple vnto them called Venus without haire In honorem Matronarum Templum Veneri caluae senatus dicauit Iâl cap. to haue made ropes against the Turkes more willingly then euer the Dames of Rome Aquilea or Bizantium did to make bow-strings against their enemies When as the Bashaw saw that the sole presence of the great Maister was the chiefe force and defence of Rhodes The Bashaw seeks to poyson the great Maister he set two men to poyson him the first being surprized and trembling at the first demaund they made him entring into Rhodes discouered the second Saint Nicholas Tower did so command the Port as the enemy thinking that all the defence of Rhodes depended theron gaue an assault by night when as they thought that the besieged tired with the continuall toyles of the day had neglected the defence they made their troopes to land secretly and marched directly to the Mole it is the Port whereas sometimes the Colosse one of the wonders of the world stood u The Colosse of the Sunne at Rhodes was 70 cubits high of brasse set vpon the port all ships past betwixt the legges It was ouerthrowne by an Earth-quake and laie long vpon the shore Mabia a Captaine of the Sarazens hauing defeated Constant the son of Constantine and nephew to Heraclius in a battell at sea seized vpon Rhodes and sold the mettall of this Colosse to a Iew who laded 900. horse and sent it to Alexandria in the yeare 614. that is to say 1460 yeares after that Charles the Indian an excellent Grauer had made it but found them that attended them who repulst them in such sort as they lost a great number of their companions The Bashaw by these first attempts did iudge of the Issue of the siege thinking that he did beate in vaine against this rocke and that he might win the great Maister by some other meanes he demaunded to speake with him vpon the ditches banke where hee told him that hee wondered at his presumption and rashnesse in seeking to resist so mighty a Prince and obstinately to refuse him tribute x It is a troublesome and importune demand to require a tribute of free-men yea it is insupportable to them that are born to seruitude The King of Castille demanded from Muly Alboacen King of Granado the Tribute and Arrerages to whom the Embassadors answered that the Kings of Granado tributaries to them of Castille were dead and therefore their bond was voyd and that in Granado they carried no more gold nor siluer but heads of Lances Arrowes and such like Armes to turne them against their enemies and to free themselues from seruitude and charge seeing that he could not receiue more honor then to be Tributary to a Prince to whom the greatest of Asia Affricke and Europe paid tribute Although the great Maister did not thinke it fit to spend time in words and answeres for that in such occasions a Generall should not haue his hands on his tongue but his tongue in his hands yet would he not suffer the Bashaw to returne without an answere as without any profite of his discourse and therefore he said vnto him Know that thou hast not to doe with base and effeminate Asians Generous answer of the great Maister but with Christian Knights who are ready to burie themselues in the ruines of this Towne rather then once thinke of yeelding The walles of Rhodes had in few dayes endured 3500 Cannon shot the Towers the Bastions with the goodliest buildings were beaten downe and ruined there was a breach on all parts but in the knights hearts who were resolued to loose themselues rather then to leaue it y Constancy and courage is neuer beter tryed then in Townes besieged whereof there haue been admirable examples seene Some more through obstinacy then reason haue first slaine their wiues and children and then killed one another to win the honour to be constant The Bashaw the more to incourage the Souldiers to an assault gaue them the spoile of the towne and caused it to bee proclaimed by Trumpet declaring that nothing should bee saued but the Infants to bee conducted to the great Turkes Serrail that all the rest should bee put to the Sword hauing caused 8000 stakes to be made to impale them that should be taken aliue All things beeing ready forty thousand Turkes came vnto the assault towards the Iewes wall and the quarter of Ierusalem with such fury as if their Prophet had beene behinde them like vnto the Egyptian Gods z King Amasis making warre against the Arabians caused the statues of the Aegyptians gods whiâh they did worship to bee carried after them to the end they might goe more cheerefully to dangers remembring that they had behinde theÌ their Gods for spectators and that they were bound to saue them and not to leaue them in their enemies power Polioenus lib. 7. The attempt was so great as the Christistians could not hinder them from planting of their ladders the wall was wonne and their Ensignes set vp in signe of victory but they continued not long the great Maister and Anthony of Aubusson Vicount of Montelier his brother came to succour them they finde many Turkes within the Towne Scalodoe repulst whom they cut in peeces repulst the rest and follow them euen to the Bashawes Pauillion where they take the Turkes standard Royall and carry it to Rhodes They say that in this assault the Turkes saw a This vision is related at large by I. Bosio
inconstaÌt giues his estates to his Nephew if the Arch-duke Sigismond had not beene an Actor and quit the Kings Alliance He was suddenly incensed and as soone pacified a Lightnesse Choâer and Facility do not wel become a prince either he is feared more then hee ought or esteemed lesse theÌ be desires Such was Vitellius Quem subitis offensis aut in tempestiuis blanditiiâ mutabilem contemnebant ãâ¦ã as inconstart they did contemne and feare for his sudden choler and vnseasonable flattery These humors doe neuer incounter in a Prince but they make him coÌtemptible or fearfull He suffered himselfe to be gouerned by his seruants who abused him as well in making him feare as in putting him in hope By the counsell of some he had followed the King against the Duke of Bourgondy by aduice of others and in the worst estate hee leaues the King for his Nephew the Arch-duke Maximilian and sends German Troopes into Bourgondy vnder the command of Simon of Quingey dispossesseth himselfe of all his estates and reserues onely a pension b Sigisâând Archduke of Austria having no children by his first nor second marriage gaue his goods to the Archduke maximilian his Nephew Phi. de Commin ãâã saith that he suffered himselfe to be gouerned by his seruants and there was neuer any great Iudgement nor honour in him What was lost in the battell of Guinegaste was recompenced with the winning of the Towne of Aire Lewis of Bourbon Bishop of Liege slaine and the troubles which happened at Liege Lewis of Bourbon Bishop of Liege brother to Iohn and Peter of Bourbon was growne old in the hatred which the Liegeo is bare him the which tooke deepe roote in their memories when as they remembred that to reuenge his priuate iniuries the Duke of Bourgondy had reduced them to that misery and desolation which they yet felt William de la Marche called the Boare of Ardenne who had beene bred vp by the hand of this Prince and who was a pentioner to the house of Bourgondy vndertooke to kill him and to make his sonne Bishop To execute this designe hee gathered together a Troope of the most desperate wretches that were in Paris a Forrest at that time where such sauadge beasts did lurke c ãâ¦ã with the honor of their villanies and the feare of Iustice. Therascally mullitude in Townes are alwayes dissolute and they principally quibus ob egestatenâ flagitia maxima peccandi necessitas who for then pouerty or vilâanies are forced to sinne he gaue them red Cassockes and for a Badge a Boares head vpon the sleeue with whom he went into the Country of Liege Hee acquainted some of Liege with his Conspiracie Treason of the Liegeois who promised to serue him They presently tooke an Alarme to see these Boares in their Vines they let the Bishop vnderstand that he must not suffer them there and that if he would go forth to chase them away euery man would follow him This good prelate whose courage could not deferre such an occasion to another season and did thinke that Palmes were not planted for cowards resolued as sudenly as he was intreated to go out against these theeues Beeing ready to charge the Liegeois abandoned him so as hee was compassed in by these Boares and barbarously slaine by their Leader who caused him to bee stripped starke naked and to bee carried to the place before the Cathedrall Church Soone after Maximilian caused the head of la March to bee cut off Although the King held a Peace difficult betwixt Prouinces so neere so interressed and so accustomed to picke quarrels as it is a hard matter for two Neighbours Lewis seeketh a peace of MaximliaÌ which haue many desputes to bee long at peace d Neighbour Estates haue alwayes some disputes The Romans and Carthaginians continued fiue hundred yeares in peace but when they began to extend their frontiers and to draw neere one vnto another suspition iealousie and enuy of eithers greatnes thrust them into warre yet the losse of the battle at Guinegaste made him resolue to seeke it A resolution which could not growe but from great wisedome and policie hauing duely considered that it was necessary honourable and profitable for him so to doe A Prince that is already well stricken in Age who sees great discontentments amongst great men and heares great complaints amongst the meaner and hath his Children very young should no more thinke of Warre if he could not draw vnto him the aduantage which he desired and considering that the Footemen had all the honour of the battle hee made the body of an Army of ten thousand Foot two thousand Pioners six thousand Suisses and a thousand fiue hundred horse to imploy vpon all occasions This establishment must bee reckoned among the examples of his good Gouernement or rather among the Instruments which hee could handle to reigne powerfully If hee had made this Order sooner New discipline for Souldiers or if King Charles the eighth and Lewis the twelfsth had continued it France had not felt those wants and weakenesse which haue beene a let that her designes haue not beene equall to her courage Estates depend not so much vpon a good forme of Gouernement e Estates may wel be gouerned either by one alone or by fewe heads or by many but their strength or weaknes depends vpon priuat order and especially of Martiall discipline whose effect is so great as it preserues euen Tyrants in the estate which they hold wherof the house of the Ottomans is a president as of Force Military Discipline is the foundation of an Estate The groundes of Warlike Discipline are Foote-men and all Foote-men which are not drawne from the Princes owne Estates cause more discommodity then profite Rome which in her greatnesse that is to say Dangerous to imploy forraine souldiers from Numa to the Emperour Augustus f Footmen haue giuen vnto the Romans the Empire ofâ all the world FroÌ Numa to Augustus they had but one yeare a suspension of Armes haue alwayes carried the warre into the Enemies countrey how farre off soeuer had fought fiue hundred and fifty Battels and had wonne foure hundred thirty seuen with her owne Troopes held that footmen were the sinewes of her forces and hath not found a more certaine cause of her ruine then to haue mingled strangers in their legions Strangers draw away the chiefe treasure of the realme their affection and fidelity is not so naturall as they care more then the subiects to preserue the estate They dis-band for want of pay and sometimes they bandy against them of the Countrey with more fury then against their enemies they will prescribe a law when they are ready to decide a good action and like vnto Rauens rather follow the prey then accompany the Wolues which pursue and take it g The Fable saith that the Rauens hauing accompanied the Wolues at the pursute of some beast to deuoure it
would haue their share wheÌ it was taken saying that they had assisted theÌ and alwaies follow'd them you were not for vs answered the Wolues it was the prey that drew you thither if it had succeeded ill and that we had beene taken you wold not haue spared our owne flesh Experience teacheth many examples to confirme this Maxime Those estates which haue no other suport but by forraine forces suffer great discommodities in time of peace and receiâe small profit and succours in time of warre they are alwaies declining to their ruine the which is not deferred but by the slacknesse of the occasion or the small courage of the assailant Men of warre are not ordained but to preserue or conquer Obseruations of the aduaÌtages of Foot-men ouer horsmen to defend or take townes and to decide by a battell the rights and differences of Princes and Estates In all these occasions foot-men are more proper then horse-men A towne which is kept by hors-men receiueth such discommodity for provision as oftentime it is more prest by necessity within then by the enemies without and alwaies horse do more trouble a h Philip. father to Alexander seeking to campe in a place of aduantage for the souldiers but vnfit for the horse cryed out that it was a great pitty of our life which must be subiect to the commodity of horse Generall to feed then to discipline his souldiers At assaults of places hors-men are of small seruice if they leaue not their horse serue on foot At battels foot-men which haue meanes to entrench and couer themselues and haue good store of pikes are alwaies more then equall to horsemen It is true that the Cauallary hath great aduantages for a horse-man hath better legges then his owne hee chargeth more furiously and hath more force heat and breath then a foot-man Foot-men are leuied more speedily are led and lodged with more facility are paid and entertained more commodiously fight more safely couragiously and rally themselues againe more i We are not now in the time of the old warres when as Gentlemen onely gaue themselues to the exercise of Armes At this day euery man hath liberty to seeke it without the Realme and many are growne Souldiers and neuer went out of their Village easily For the facility of the leuy it is so great in France since that the ciuill warres haue armed the people as there is not any parish where you find not Souldiers which haue carried Armes and others which are resolued to run that fortune The Prouinces are so peopled France cannot be disarmed of footmen as if the King should loose as many battels as the mightiest conquerer could giue him yet could he not disarme him of Foot-men Adde hereunto that horse fit for the warre are alwayes deere and rare and that we euer finde more men then horses k The Romans to repulse the Gaules who had seized vpon some Townes of Lombardy made a description of their forces and of the number of men fit for the warre they found six hundred thousand foot and threescore thousand horse Touching the pay we know that the difference is great betwixt the pay of a man at Armes and that of a foot-man and that it is easier to raise a thousand foot then a hundred horse For the facility of lodging foot-men couer and entrench themselues in field and fortifie themselues within a Towne if they be lodged in a village they lye close to defend themselues and not scattering like vnto horse-men For the aduantage of fight it is true that horse-men haue sooner done l but also wee haue seene battels lost by the disorder and violence of the horse who can hardly keepe their ranks nor recouer them beeing lost and oftentimes they fall vpon the foot and breake them with more disorder then the Elephants of the Antients m One of the greatest forces of the Armies of the East consisted of ElephaÌts They must of necessity saith M. de Montagne giue great credite to their beasts and to their discourse abandoning vnto them the head of the Battle wherâs the least stay they could make for the greatnesse and heauinesse of their bodies the least amazemeÌt that had made theÌ turne head vpon their owne men was sufficient to ouerthrow all to whose discretion they did commit the head of the Army A Foote-man fights more surely and more resolutely then a horse-man In what perplexity doth a valiant man fight vpa faint-hearted Iade and what is a Coward or a mad-man vpon a couragious horse How many haue we seene carried away by their horses into dangers not foreseene who can no more stay them in the flight then in the heat of their fight n They that speake of warre with knowledge and experience hold that commonly when as the Cauallary aduanceth to giue the first charge it is the cause of the losse of the victory returning often vpon their foot and striking a great amazement into them for that hauing conceiued a great opinion and assured themselues often to winne the Battell they finde themselues suddenly deceiued and therefore the Rout of the Cauallary is alwayes full of amazement For the commodity of the leading bee it to march lodge or fight the foot-men passe in all places whereas the Cauallary comes often into such difficult passages as the men at Armes should rather desire flying then ordinary horses Speaking hereof with a braue French knight very well knowne in these last warres and who hath yet command amongst the Kings men at Armes he said vnto me That the discommodity of forrage had beene so great as the horsemen were sometimes fifteene or twenty leagues from the campe to supply their wants That some went to warre with fiue or sixe Horse who fought but vpon one and yet the people were forced to feed these vnprofitable beasts with their keepers That ten horse-men had more Carts then a company on foote And if his aduice might purchase credite they should therein imitate the Spaniards who giue honors recompences and markes of vertue to the foote and the contrary to horse-men o It is more honourable in Spaine to bee among the foot companies then among the Horse The contrary is obserued at Rome Valerius the Consull said vnto his Troope Agite Iuvenes prestate virtute peditem vt honore ordini prestatis Goe to yong men excell the foot-men in vertue as you do in honor and order Liv. The Horse-men were the losse of the battell at Courtray and the footmen defeated the Earle of Flanders before Gand. The horsemen seeking to haue all the honour of the battell at Poitiers came to charge before that the foot companies had meanes to ioyne this was the cause that the English whose force consisted wholly in Foote wonne the Battell At the Battell of Guinegaste the Arch-duke Maximilians Horse-men abandoned the Foote who stood firme and kept the place of Battell Wee haue formerly seene that
many of stone in the quarries of Peronne Since that men grew so ingenious not to imitate Nature ãâ¦ã as Xeuxis in his Vine Appelles in his Venus Memnon in his Statue Miron in his Cow Architas in his Doue Sapor in his Heauen of Glasse Mont-royall in the Eagle of Wood and in his Flie of Iron Albert the great in his brazen head but to offend and destroy Artâllery inuented that Mens wits haue giuen wings and fire to Iron to hasten death more speedily that a German Monke y The inuention of Gun-powder and Ordinance was found out by Bartholmew le Noiâ a German Monk The yeare is diuersly reported some date it 1330. others 1334 and others 1380. went downe into Hell to finde fire there for the ruine of Man as Prometheus had mounted vp vnto Heauen to fetch that there wherewith hee thought to giue them life and that Europe hath knowne that which was not in vse Nothing strong without Cannons but to vnknowne Nations z The Portugals found Peeces of ordinance in the realme of Pegu which the Chinois had broght thither 2500. yeares before and the Chinois attribute this invention to an euill spirit who taught it to their first King called Vitey to defend himselfe against the Tartars aboue a thousand yeares before the birth of Christ. Artillery hath beene a marke of the power and greatnesse of Estates which cannot bee held strong nor assured if they be vnfurnished seeing that nothing can be gotten nor preserued without it Artillery shewes those Forts to bee weake which the Ancients held impregnable there is not any but feares this thunder and if they ouer-throw the Attemps and consume the meanes and patience of the assailant Formes of war changed it is onely by the Cannon It workes such terrible effects and so farre from the vse of the Engines in old time as it hath changed a Artillery is the cause that warre is at this day more iuditiously managed then in former times when as quarrels were ended by battels Euery man seeketh to win time and to force his enemy to necessity They trust nothing to fortune that may be committed to wisedome they gouerne their designes with longer time and more safety all the old formes of Sieges and Battels Gun-powder and wilde-fire are multiplied in so many sorts and are growne to such perfection as the warre which in former times was made onely with Iron is now done with Artillery and Powder They cause the Cannon to martch in the head of the Army All yeeldeth vnto the Cannon and that holdeth the ranke of Elephants a Elephants haue beene employed in the head of Armies Siquidem Tirio seruire sedebam Anâ ibali When I did sit to serue Anniball of Tire and Chariots armed with Sythes which did cut in sunder all they incounter They giue them the honour to begin those great battels whereupon depend the healthes of Estates they open passages and make new all that come by one way scatter themselues into a dozen because they would not encounter them nothing preserueth it selfe but to receiue death or fight They are absolute Iudges of the doubs of victorie and if a battalion of foote presents it selfe so strong so well armed with Pikes and so couered with Muskets as they mock at all the attempts of a victorious Prince and merite that glorious name of an Armed wall b Dion calles the fourth Legion ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã See what hath beene spoken thereon in the first Booke they must at the sight of the Cannon yeeld their Armes or suffer the paine of their rashnesse and see themselues sooner ouerthrowne then Grasse or Corne is mowne downe and reaped c The terrible effects of Artillery is wittily represented by the Signior of Bartas in his Poëme of the Law Euen as when many Cannons shot at once Affront an Army th' earth with thunder grones Here flyes a broken arme and breakes another There stands th' one halfe of a halu'd body th' other Falles downe a furlong thence here flies a shield And deepe-wide windowes make they in the field It is Ordinance then which maketh a Prince equall to thundering Iupiter who maketh the Rockes to leape and ouerthrowes the Gyants vnder the mountaines which they had raised against him The Brazen-mouthes which vomit forth Iron winged with fire shew the greatnesse and augment the reputation of them that make them speake All the Trumpets of their glory sound not so loud and are not heard so farre as these Flutes They be the most certaine Titles of the right of Armes and are not subiect to contradiction so the charge is Royall and there is not any Prince how great and powerfull soeuer but in processe of time will finde it insupportable They write that King Henry the second in his voyage to Germany neuer made Cannon-shot but cost him three hundred Crownes d Blaise of Vigenere â saith That in the voiage of K. Henry in the yeare 1552. at Danwilliers Iuoy places of small importance which notwithstanding endured thousands of Cannon-shot there was not any one shot but cost the King accounting all the equipage furniture belonging to the Artillery two or three hundred Crownes so as a dozen of those balles came to a thousand six huÌdred crowns All the Instruments and Engines of Warre knowne vnto the Antiens haue beene contemned to bring Artillery in vse which hath all the effects and force of Bowes Arrowes Rammes Slings Crosse-bowes Scorpions and those terrible Engines which did raise vp men into the Aire carried away whole Gallies heaped vp and carried with great violence Rockes Mill-stones and Men e The Cross-bow was an Engine which carried farre off and with great violence Somtimes they did put in men aliue or dead Pelagius a young man of Spaine seeing himselfe forced to yeeld to the infamous execrable lust of Almansor strooke him on the face wherewith being incensed he caused him to be cast by one of his Slings beyond the Riuer of Betis or Guadalquibir in the yeare 895. Iussit âum funda machinali trans Betim mitti scopulosis rupibus illidendum whom they made to leap beyond the Walles the Riuers and the Mountaines of those places which they would make subiect to ruine But as Inventions are not perfect in the beginning the first Peeces of Ordinance were all of Iron InuentioÌs at the first rude and imperfect with bandes and hoopes of the same so heauy and ill made so difficult to gouerne so ill mounted and of so bad a bore as they had more shew then execution and did onely serue to amaze them that would bee amazed with the noyse f All Mechanicke Inuentions are rude and grosse in their Infancy as appeares in Artillery and Printing The Batteries of those times were ridiculous they did onely serue for an vnprofitable expence of powder They shotâ a farre off and at randon and fiue or six vollies in a whole
day The Chronicle reports an example which shewes the little industry and addresse that was euen in the Maisters of this Art for all the Officers of the Ordinance being gathered together on Munday before Twelfth day Bombard made at Tours in the yeare 1448. in the field before Saint Anthonies Bastille to try a great Bombard which the King had caused to bee made at Tours At the first shot it carried an Iron Bullet of fiue hundred pounds weight vnto the Gibbet at Pont Charenton They thought it was not well boared and therefore they would haue it cleansed and charged againe The Caster playing the Gunner scoured it so carelesly as hee left fire in it so as hauing charged it anew and put in his Bullet the Bombard hauing no fire set to the touch-hole discharged of it selfe blowing vp the Caster ino the Aire into many peeces which slew neere and farre off two and twenty men and burnt and maimed many others g The Chronicle addes that the peeces of the Casters body were gathered together and buried in the Church of S. Merry and that they cried in the streets Pray vnto God for I. Maugue caster of the Bombard who is newly dead between heauen earth in the seruice of the king our Lord. Our age more industrious Ordinance of Brasse and subtile hauing caused Brasen Ordinance to bee cast that is to say a mixture of Tinne and Copper softer and more flexible then Iron Artilery beganne to be good in the warres of the Emperour Charles the fift and of Francis the first and better vnder the raigne of Henry the second King Henry the fourth hath brought it to perfection France could not carry the title of Inuincible before her Arsenals were filled with that whose want maketh the mightiest Empires weake Shee may now bragge to haue the keyes of all the forts of Europe and that there is not any one but will stoope and humble it selfe at the sight of this Thunderbolt when as at the first word of Iupiter it shall be cast forth by the Eagle which carieth it and which onely demands where is it If Christian Princes would haue vented out in any other place then in Europe Death of Mahomet 2. that warlike heate which turmoyled them to their owne ruines God had giuen them a goodly occasion to employ both the Camping Troupes of Lewis the 11. and all the forces of other Christian Princes to the ouerthrowing of that of the Turks which was wonderfully shaken by the death of Mahomet h Mahomet the second Emperour of the Turkes dyed the the 3 d. of May 1481. in the 52. yeare of his age Hee dyed at that time in Nicomedia Pope Sixtus was so glad as he appointed three festiuall daies Sixtus the 4. reioyceth at the death of Mahomet in Rome to thanke God for that the Church was deliuered from such a scourge dying hee cursed Rhodes thrice he was a wiser and more polliticke Prince then any of the house of the Ottomans as he who in all his conquests added pollicy to force Hee was thicke synowy and strong of body he had an Aquiline nose and so crooked as the end hung ouer his lip Being yong he beganne to take delight in the actes of Alexander the Great promising himselfe to surpasse or equall him i Mahomet propounded no other patterne vnto himselfe then that of Alexander not to imitate him in his vertues but in his ambition The first day he sate in the Throne of Amurath k Amurath dyed before the Castle of Croy in the yeare 1450. his father who raigned 32. yeares Mahomet surnames himselfe the Great a Prince much beloued of his owne and iust vnto his enemies he would be surnamed the Great In shew he held Mahomets Religion but hauing beene bred vp as a Christian by his Mother who was daughter to Lazarus Prince of Seruia instructed by her in the Prayers Confession of the Christian Faith when he came to the Empire he found himselfe in so great a doubt distraction what he should beleeue as he resolued not to beleeue any thing caring no more for the Gospell then for the Alcoran making a scoffe at Mahomet whom he termed to be a Slaue a Thiefe holding his Prophecies for Fables and his Lawes for Impostures The father dying had recommended vnto him his yong sonne Turcin being but eighteene Monthes old and he had promised not to make him feele the rigor of the house of the Ottomans But as he had no faith towards God so he kept none with men l Wee must not expect any obseruation of faith from a Prince that hath no Religion he forgat this promise for death had no sooner closed vp his fathers eyes but he drew this poore Infant out of the Nurses armes to beate out his braines against the wall saying that hee would not haue his father interred alone Moses one of his chiefe seruants entreated him not to defile his hands in his owne bloud This reason did not moue him but onely to change the executioner for he commanded him to kill him Moses caused water to bee brought and powred such aboundance into the mouth of this infant as he did both smother him and drowne him The mother seeing this Inhumanity fild the house with fearefull cryes and made terrible imprecations against Mahomet who to comfort her said That she sought in vaine to reuiue her sonne with teares that she should conforme her selfe vnto the Law m This custeme is inhumane and vnnaturall But we must not expect iust Lawes in a ãâ¦ã it is better to murther some few then to expose a million to death by the warre which should grâw in the house of the Ottomans if the great Senior should suffer the Princes of his bloud to liue But where is the Law of the God which they adore that approues a Parricide It is a tyrannous custome but yet ancient The sâccessors of Alexander saith Plutarch did commonly kill the mothers wiues and children with their brethren it was an ordinary custome which would not that a Prince comming to the Empire should suffer his brethren to liue for that there could be but one Head in the Empire nor but one Sunne in Heauen but if shee desired any other thing whatsoeuer it were she should be sure to obtaine it This woman changing her griefe into reuenge demanded the heart of Moses Reuenge of a woman Mahomet instantly commanded that he should be bound hand and foote and with the same knife which she thrust into his body she opened his side pulled out his heart cast it to the dogs and was therewith pacified n The Author of the History of Scandeberge relating this History in the 7 th book addes these words A profitable instruction for those corrupted spiâits which prostitute their consciences to the furious passions of great men Amurath had another sonne of sixe months old called Calepin and foreseeing it would be
of K. Charles he was restored to the Dutchy of Bar and had a company of an hundred Lances giuen him gaue him that this rigorous season would be followed with a greater calme Warre against Ferrara The Venetians entreated him to accept the charge of Generall of their land Army against the Duke of Ferrara It was a warre which shaking the peace of Italy brought the peace of Christendome into question and gaue a great aduantage vnto the Turke who beheld these Tragicall furies neere at hand And this was the cocasion After the death of Borsio of Esté Hercules of Esté his brother would succeed in the principality Lionel of Esté their brother had left Nicholas his sonne who had the same pretension Italy was in a maner diuided the one for the Vncle the other for the Nephew The Venetians did succour Hercules so powerfully so fitly as the Scepter of his fathers remained to him He married Elenor daughter to Ferdinand of Arragon and being fortified with this new alliance he suffered the heate of friendship which his fathers entertained with the Venetians to grow cold as commonly Princes doe not long follow their predecessors steppes and if they commend their Orders yet they subiect not themselues vnto them c Borsio had very carefully entertained friendship with the Signiory of Venice When there fell out any controuersie betwixt them for their limites or that their Officers did attempt vpon one anothers Iurisdiction Borsio came to Venice with a small troope like a priuate person to giue reasons vnto the the Senate He restored the Salt-pits of Commachio contrary to the ancient Conuentions hee tooke from the Venetian Merchants the exemptions and freedomes of Imposts which they had enioyed he caused a Fort to be built neere vnto Cap d' Argent to bound his Estates and dissembled the wrong which the Magistrate of Venice residing in his Citty by accord had receiued hauing suffered him to be excommunicated by the Archbishop of Ferrara The Venetians The venetians proclaim war against the Duke of Ferrara although tired with warre by reason of the great ruines which they had receiued by the Ottomans yet they declared it against Hercules of Esté they grounded it vpon the necessity of their defence which iustifieth all kindes of proceedings and makes all that to be found good that is profitable All times are in season d When there is question of a defence there is no regard to be had to Iustice or Religion A certaine and ineuitable danger iustifies Armies The Romans held some dayes vnfortunate for enterprises but when as necessity forced them they feared not any thing Dies certos euitabiles obseruabant cum inferenda in hostes arma non propulsanda forent They did obserue certaine auoidable dayes when to assaile an enemy but not to repell him They raise two Armies one by land and another by sea the one to run along the Costs of Apulia and Calabria and to hinder the succours of Ferdinand the other to remaine in the riuer of Pau. The Pope was in the beginning for them and hindered Alphonso of Naples from passing with foure thousand men to succour his brother-in-law The Senate sent Robert of Arimini to succour the Pope Pope Sixtus ioynes with the Veâetians who wonne a battell against Alphonso of Arragon but this victory cost him his life which he ended soone after e They write that in one day died two of the greatest Captaines of Italy âredericke of Vrbin at Ferrara and Robert of Arâminial Roâe Pope Sixâus caused thâse words to bee set âpon ãâ¦ã veni vidi vici pontifici retuli ãâã secundis rebus invidet I came I saw and ouercame and told the Pope that death enuies prosperity Ferrara was besieged and so prest with the valour and good fortune of the Assailants as it could no longer hold out The Pope who had incited the Venetians to this warre exhorted them to peace He declares him selfe against them and seeing that they would not harken vnto it declared himself for the Ferrarois he drew the spiritual sword against them strook them interdicting their Common weale Baptista Zeno Iohn Michele 2 Venetian Cardinals did coragiously resist this resolution yet the Pope notwithstanding their contradiction proceeded on It is true that as in the heate of Armes they doe not alwayes thinke of religion his censures were contemned by the Venetiaâs who did not respect them as good physicke but as an Emperikes plaister the which Popes were wont to vse for all kinds of sores They found it strange that hee would force them vnto a peace the which notwithstanding had not beene obserued when they were busied in warre against the Turke The Princes of Italy made a league against them and an Assembly of the Confederats which was held at Cassal-maior in the territory of Cremona Fredericke Gonzague Prince of Mantua was chosen Generall of the Army the honour of the enterprise and of the chiefe authority being reserued to the Arragonois There was not any Prince Citty nor Common-weale in Italy except Genoua but was engaged in this enterprise to ruine the greatnesse of Venice f The greatnesse of Venice was then suspected to all the Potentates of Italy if it had beene augmented with the estate of Ferrara the way had beene open to greater designes René of Lorraine whom the death and ruine of Charles of Bourgondy had aduanced to the reputation of one of the greatest Captaines of this age serued most gloriously in this Expedition Both parties were soone weary of this warre they spake of treating of a peace at Cesara but this Proposition tooke no effect It was continued at Tourbolles betwixt Robert Sanseuerin and Lewis Sforce Peace coÌcluded who finished it and it was concluded That the Venetians should returne into all the places which they had lost during this warre in Lombardie and should retire all the garrisons which they had on either side of the riuer of Pau They should ruine all the Forts which they had made on the bankes thereof and should restore to Hercules of Este all that they had taken from him except the Pâllesin of Rouigâ which they should retaine vnto themselues should enioy the same rights both old and new which they were went to haue in Ferrara and there abouts Such was the end of the sociall warre which cost the Venetians in lesse then 2 yeares three millions and 600000 duckets This peace was receiued with much content after these turbulent and ruinous seasons They made bon-fires and combates with great pompe at Venice g When âs Guichardiâ speakes of this peace he saith that it was honourable for the Common-weale of Venicâ shamefull for all the rest of Italy the which with a generall applause and at such time as it did flourish in riches armes force had âanded to ruine the Venetians but God would not that the effects of his sâuerity and mercy
dangerously sicke hee found himselfe very ill and fell into a great weakenesse and faintings loosing his speech and all knowledge Hee was speedily succoured by the Signior of Bouchages who was his Phisition and afterwards Arch-bishop of Vienna hauing taken a glister he recouered his spirits went to horse returned to the Forges and there dyned But hee had so great a difficulty in his speech as hee could not be vnderstood but by signes Phillip de Commines who serued him as Grome of his Chamber in this sickenesse was also his Truchman e He vnderstood little of what was said vnto him but he felt no paine Hee made mee a signe to lye in his chamber he did not pronounce many words I did serue him fifteene daies at his meate and about his person as Groome of his Chamber the which I held for a great honour and was well respected Phil. de Com. when as he confest himselfe to the Officiall of Tours And for that being surprised with this sickenesse they carried him from the Table vnto the fire An Apoplexy vnperfect and would not suffer him to come neere vnto the windowes hee remembred all this and being come vnto himselfe he demanded who they were that had staid him by force and kept him from taking of the aire being named vnto him he chased them away and would no more see them for hee did neuer like that King Charles his father should be forced to eate for that the Subiect should not in any thing force his Prince f Wee doe not willingly see theÌ that haue beene the secret witnesses of our faults or imperfections The Ape beholding it selfe and seeing his foulenesse his wrinkles and deformed shape breaks the glasse He thought that as soone as a Prince suffered himselfe to bee gouerned by his seruants he was as it were in tutelage and seruitude Lewis maintaines his authority to the last gaspe and he would not that this great authority the which he had so absolutely maintained all his life should bee in any thing restrained so as immagination being weakned and troubled by age Melancholy and distrust could not endure that he should bee contradicted or disswaded from any thing hauing these words often in his mouth Do you thinke that I know not what I do Nothing did so much afflict him He feares contempt the forerunner of sedition as the feare that his infirmity should be knowne g There is nothing that a Prince which beginnes to grow old should so much preuent as to make it knowne that hee grows heauy that the vigour of his spirits is weakened For ambition of rule is so itching a thing as euery man will giue order to these defects For hee thought that as soone as his weakenesse and infirmity should be discouered they would hold him as dead and vnprofitable to the world that he should be contemned of his Subiects who would passe sudenly from contempt to sedition Hee feared that in the end they would make him beleeue that his sences were distracted and that they would controule him in the expedition of affaires wherefore as soone as he felt his faintings past and that his spirits beganne to returne hee would dye in action and standing h Vespasian being tormented with a bloudyflixe whereof he dyed did not forbeare to rise and stirre his Physitions told him that it did encrease his griefe perswading him to lye quiet but he answered them The Emperour must dye standing he caused all the dispatches made by his Secretaries Hee cals for dispatches and expeditions to be brought vnto him seeming to vnderstand more then he had vigor or light of vnderstanding Hee made shew to reade the letters and although he sometimes turned them vpside downe and had little knowledge yet no man durst aduise him The misfortune of this accident was happy for Cardinaâl Balue i Cardinall Balue was imprisoned in August in the yeare 1469. Cardinall Balue set at liberty whom hee remembred among the scruples of his consciences Hee had taken as much pleasure to ruine him as he had receiued content to raise and aduance him He was first imprisoned at Montbasson hee did confiscate his goods and gaue his moueables to the Commissioners which made his Processe His plate was sold and the money deliuered to the Treasurer of the warres Tanneguy of Chastell Gouernour of Rousillon had his Tapestry-hangings Peter of Orioles Generall of the Finances his Library the Lord of Crussoll a peece of Tapestry of twenty elles with the ground of Gold certaine skinnes of Sables and a peece of skarlet of Florence If wee should onely consider the malice of this mans nature who was a deceiuer treacherous and ambitious and so knowne by the Italians amongst whom hee had liued and there dyed k Ierome Garimbert âspeakes of this Cardinall after this manner Egli fu di natione Francesce da Verdune pouero plâbeio triste cupido sempre di nouae rapacitae ribaldârie Hee was a Frenchman borne of Verdune a poore Plebeian wicked and alwaies couetous of gaine and filthinesse the cause of his imprisonment cannot be but iust His spirit which had lodged him there twelue yeare for that hee had employed all his pollicies and inuentions to nourish ciuill discord and which like vnto the serpent drew in the whole body where he might passe the head furnisht him with a notable stratageme to set him at liberty He pist and dranke his Vrine so secretly as they thought this retention would kill him His pollicy to get out of prison The King caused him to bee visited his Physitions told him that his life was desperate whereupon the King who was weakned with his infirmity entred into some scruple that hee had done wrongfully to haue kept a Cardinall twelue whole yeares in a Cage of Iron that the Church was scandalized and his liberty wronged The Cardinall of Saint Peter ad vincula who afterwards was called Iulio the second and was come into France to mediate a peace tooke the King in this good thought l The question is great vpon the exemption of Church-men out of the power of Princes Some hold it is ordained by the Law of God and others by grace and concession made him to apprehend the offence of the Church in the long captiuity of such a Minister and entreated for his liberty the which was presently granted Balue went to Rome and was all the remainder of his life an enemy to France and for this cause was much fauoured by Ferdinand King of Naples he dyed Bishop of Preneste and was interred at Saint Praxede This Prelate had all his life time warlike thoughts and inclinations and a chollericke and stirring spirit The Cronicle saith that in the warre of the Common-weale hee went day and night on horse-backe to visite the Guards Hee got a Commission from the King to go and muster the Souldiers at Paris The Earle of Dammartin seeing the confusion and
circumstances and dependances not doing or suffering any thing to bee done to the contrary either now or hereafter vpon any cause or occasion what soeuer forcing all them that shall oppose themselues to the contrary by the taking away of their letters granted to the contrary ãâã thereof seizure and detention of their goods in our hands imprisonment of their persons euen as is accustomed to be done for our own affaires notwithstanding any opposition appeale or complaint or any Ordonance made or to be made by Vs or our said sonne restraint or commandement defences or letters to the contrary for the which wee will not haue the contents effect and execution of these presents in any sort deferred stayed or hindered And for that many men haue need of these Presents in diuers places We will that full credit shall be giuen vnto the Copy therof made vnder the seale Royall or signed by the said Parrent or any other of our Notaries or ordinary Secretaries as to this present Originall In witnesse whereof we haue caused our Seale to be set to these Presents Giuen at our Castle of Ambois the 22 of September in the yeare of grace 1482. and of our reigne 22. By the King my Lord the Dauphin the Earle of Beaujeu the Earle of Marle Marshall of France the Archbishop of Narbona the Signiors of Bouchage Percigny Plessis of Solhes Iohn Doyac Gouernor of Auuergne Oliuer Guerin Steward of his houshold and many others being present Miscounting in the History Signed Parrent The date of this Edict discouers the mis-counting of Philip de Commines n Philip de Comines was sent into Sauoy to set at liberty the Signior of Illins a Dauphinois whom the King had giuen for Gouernour to Duke Philebert his Nephew When as the Earle of Bresse sawe the Kings Armie at Maston hee did what they desired who saith that in the yeare 1483. the King would see the Dauphin his sonne whom he had not seene in many yeares before and that soone after he had spoken vnto him he fell into the extremity of his sicknesse whereof he died for this Remonstrance was made in the Castle of Ambois in September 1482. and the King died not before August the yeare following But to resolue the doubt of times it may be that the King some few dayes before his death had a will to see the Dauphin when as they conducted him to Paris to make his entry and to celebrate his marriage and that Philip de Commines not beeing at Ambois when this first Remonstrance was made beeing stayed in Dauphin or Sauoy whether the King had sent him with Troopes against the Earle of Bresse hee had no knowledge thereof and therefore hath written That the King had not seene the Dauphin in many yeares before If a History bee the Image of Truth o A History is the proofe of time the light of truth the life of memory the mystery of life and the Trumpet of Antiquity It is the Image of truth and as the image is perfect that doth rightly represent the Originall so a History should represent all things in their simple truth and if Truth can haue but one vniuersall face in all things how can it accord the Chronicle with this Edict It writes that the King going to Saint Claude and before his departure out of Tourraine sawe the Dauphin at Ambois and gaue him his blessing That in the moneth of October the same yeare beeing fallen into a Relapse of his sickenesse hee caused himselfe to bee carried to Ambois to exhort him to that which hee should doe which makes mee to wonder if in matters that bee secrete and important Writers doe not alwayes giue full perpetuall and immutable Assurances seeing that in these they dispense so freely with the Certainety The Instructions which the King gaue vnto the Dauphin were found Good and Holy but they could yeeld no good fruits but with a peace All the rest without it had beene of small vse there being nothing whereof a Father who leaues a yong heire should bee more carefull then to leaue him his inheritance quiet and assured Being therefore resolued to giue a peace to France who attended it as a gift from heauen p There can bee nothing giuen more pleasing noâ more healthfull to the people then a peace Vt circumspiciamus omnia quae populo grata âânt atque iocunda nihil tam populare quam pacem quam concordiam quaÌ otium reperimus Let vs looke vnto all things that are pleasing and acceptable vnto the people wee shall not find any thing more popular then peace concord and ease Cicerâ pro Le Agr. he thought to giue his sonne a wife but not the Princesse of England who was promised him by the Treaty of Piquigny After the death of the Dutchesse of Bourgondy the Gantois had seized vpon Prince Philip Estate of the Low-countries at the discretion of the Gantois and the Princesse Margaret her Children telling the Arch-duke Maximilian that the Guard and Tutele belonged vnto them The King who desired to haue the Princesse Margaret married vnto the Dauphin and knewe well that by the Gantois meanes the Propositions of the Treaty would bee to his aduantage commaunded Des Cordes to make some Ouerture thereof with two or three petty Companions of the Towne of Gand who had purchased some credite in the Seditions and Mutinies of the people These Men sitting their duety to the time and fortune A proposition of a peace and marriage transported with priuate passion a deadly poyson q All passion priuate affection is a poyson in the conduct and managing of affaires Peffimum veri affectus Iuditij venenum sua euique vtilitas Euery mans private interest is a deadly poyson to true iudgement Tacit. in Affaires of importance and distasted with the soft and effeminate commande of Maximilian consent speedily to the Propositions of Des Cordes and promise to make them succeed to the Kings good liking There was little paine in the effecting of this businesse for the Gantois to preuent all difficulties which the Father might propound in the marriage of his Daughter told him plainely that they would haue no more warres with France They insulted ouer him doing and vndoing many thing contrary to his Intentions On the other side Pope Sixtus both by the reason of his Office P. Sixtus mediates a peace as a common Father and by the Law of Religion which doth nothing more Christian r There is nothing more proper for a Christian then to make peace ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã BASIL then to make peace solicited the King and the Archduke thereunto to ioyne their forces against the common enemy of Christendome and had sent the Cardinall of Saint Peter ad Vincula to exhort them The Deputies of either side met at Arras A Treatie of peace and marriage they layd open all the Pretences of the Crowne of France to the House of Bourgondy
sometimes in sachirresolution as not daring to make warre heâ doth things preiudiciall to peace Phillip de Commines saith His Exercises and pleasures that hee had no thought but of Ladies and more then was fit of Hunting and to entreate his owne person well When hee went a Hunting hee caused many Pauillions to be carried for Ladies and in this sort made great feasts for hee had a body as fit for it as any that euer I saw being yong and as beautifull as any man that liued in his time q Edward was held in his youth to excell all the Princes of his age in beauty and stature but when as hee came into France in the yeare one thousand foure hundred three score and fifteene He was growne grosse Fâw men become so but by their owne meanes Entring into the Realme hee saw himselfe surprized with a storme and expelled by him who had assisted him to conquer it Hee retired into Holland with two Hulkes a little Ship and many men without mony seeing himselfe to giue a gowne furred with âables to satisfie the Marriner who had transported him At the end of sixe monthes he re-entred into London when as his enemies had held him to be lost In eleuen daies the Earle of Warwicke had wonne the whole Realme for Henry the sixth Edward recouers it in twenty daies with the hazard of two great battles The strongest carried it r They are sometimes bound to fortune and sometimes to pollicy for the happy euents of great enterprises but most coÌmonly the stronger is the Maister ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Occurrat forti qui mage fortis erat and remained peaceable King yet with some remorse to haue beene bound for the quiet possession of his Realme to the cruelties and inhumanities which he committed against his owne bloud For he put to death King Henry the sixth and Edward Prince of Wales his sonne with the Duke of Clarence his brother The cause of this brothers death is not very certaine The most common opinion is that hee would haue armed to succour the Princesse of Bourgundy contrary to his brothers liking Polydore Virgil saith that enforming himselfe he learned of them that liued in those times that King Edward being aduertised by a Coniurer s All the answeres of Sorcerers are doubtfull and deceiue them that trust in them They spake truely meaning the Duke of Glocester and the King deceiued himselfe vnderstanding it of his brother of Clarence that his name that should succeed him beganne with a G. had a conceit that George Duke of Clarence his brother should take the Crowne from his children Death of the Duke of Clarence the Kings brother and vpon this apprehension hee put him to death in a But of Malmesey Others haue written that hee sought the Alliance of the Princesse of Bourgundy and that the Dutchesse Margaret sister to Edward fauoured his Designes which the King not wishing so great a fortune to his brother hindred That at the same time one of the Dukes seruants hauing beene condemned to dye for poyson the Duke of Clarence was offended and spake in such sort as the King taking his words for threates of some great trouble caused him to die in pryson t George Duke of Clarence brother to the King of England made choice to dye in a But of Malmeâcy to die with some content which an ãâã disolution of the soule is wont to cause as Seneca saith or to make himselfe drunke and to free himselfe from the horrour end feeling of death Drusus meaning to dye of hunger would not cate any thing in nine daies but the flockes of his bed Tacit. l. 6. Annal. An act notwithstanding which did afflict him with such griefe and repentance as remembring the great precipitation of his iudgement procured by his brothers enemies when as any came to sue for a pardon for any one that was condemned to dye u Repentance doth vndoubtedly follow cruell and rash actions Caracalla hauing put his brother Getâ to death hee did neuer thinke of him or looke vpon his stature but hee wept Hee caused Loetus who had perswaded him to this paracide to be imprisoned and did all kindes of honour vnto his Funerall Funus Gerae accuratius fuisse dicitur quam eius qui à fratre videretur occisus Getas Funerall was performed with more then his that seemed to bee murthered by his brother AELIVS SPARTIANVS he alwaies said My poore brother had not any to sue for him He left two children Margaret who was married to Richard Poole and Edward whom the King made Earle of Warwicke All the crosses which Edward had suffred did not so much afflict him as he receiued contentment at his returne from the warres of France for the peace which he had brought backe and the Treatie of marriage which he had made of his daughter with the Dauphin of France and the pension of fifty thousand Crownes So when he saw the Dauphin married vnto the Lady Margaret of Austria he was so grieued as hee resolued to returne into France to reuenge this iniury Choller and griefe were so violent in his soule as he dyed the tenth of Aprill at Westminster whereas the Parliament was assembled to resolue vpon the warre of France His body was carried to the Castle of Windsor and interred in S. Georges Chappell He had tenne children by Elizabeth his wife and left Edward Prince of Wales and Richard Duke of Yorke liuing All his life hee had beene liberall and dyed coueâous Hee recommended his wife His brother murthers his children children and Realme to Richard Duke of Glocester who to haue the Crowne put Edward who had raigned but two monthes and Richard his Nephewes to death x Edward had a base sonne called Arthur his daughters were married to diuers Princes Brigit the last was a religious woman The daughters were declared Bastards by the Parliament for that a Bishop affirmed that hee had married Edward vnto a Lady of England before that hee was married to the Lady Elizabeth Riuers Hee caused himselfe to bee Crowned King in Iuly following The parricide of his two Nephewes caused so great scandall and horrour in all the orders of the Realme and the mother who had fledde into the Sanctuary at Westminster y This trust and recommendation of such precious Iewels bound the Duke of Glocester to haue a care of them IS DIGERDES King of Persia seeing that ARCADIVS the Emperour his enemy had recommended his some THEODOSIVS vnto him found himselfe bound to preserue his Estates and laying aside all passions of precedent hatred hee proclaimed warre against any one that should molest his pupill hauing fore-seene the rage of this Tiger filled the Citty of London with very pittifull and strange complaints as euery man found this greedy and vnsatiate desire to raigne inhumane and tyrannous hauing forced him brutishly to teare in peecees the Lawes of Nature and to pollute his hands with
that which hee loues and to ruine that which he hath raised In the end this charge of Lord Steward is returned into the house from whence it went It did honor others Charles of Bourbon Earle of Soissons doth honor it at this day by the great and goodly qualities which heauen addes to the greatnesse of his birth he restored order in the kings house and reuiued the glory of his Maiesties seruice With the same courage that Iohn the second followed the King against his rebellious subiects he serued him against forraigne enemies e He was present at the great Assembly at Ambois with all the Princes of the bloud and the chiefe Officers of the Crowne to resolue a warre against the house of York in England against the duke of Brittanie where there was a league made for the defence of the house of LaÌcaster and Edward sonne to King Henry the sixth was married to the Earle of Warwicks daughter and was imployed with the Duke of Bourbon to disperse the storme wherewith King Edward the fourth threatned France being come thither not so much to fight as to receiue the triumph which the vanity of his ambition promised him The proofes of his seruice are not verified by those of recompence and wee may say that this Prince beeing not present at the distributions of the great honours of the Realme had no great share in the Kings fauours and bounty Wee see him hold his ranke at the Coronation and in the Assembly of the Estates but being none of those that were honoured with the first colours of the Order of Saint Michael hee hath remained in the ranke of those great Spirits whose contentment dependes onely of themselues All the Princes of the bloud cannot haue all the honours of the Realme All Planets make not a shadow the refusall of a dignity augments the glory of him that hath well deserued it and the concession doth not make him famous that is vnworthy f They ordained statues for them that had made war in Affricke against Tacfarinates though they did not vaÌquish him Dolabella went thither defeated him slue him he demanded the same honours which had been giuen to others which Tiberius refused Taciâus thereupon said Sed neque Blesus illustrior huic negatus honor gloriaÌ intendis He had sixe daughters Ioane of Bourbon married to Iohn the second Duke of Bourbon Catherine married to Gilbert of Chabannes Ioane wife to Lewis of Ioyeuse Charlotte married to Engelbert of Cleues Earle of Neuers René Abbesse of Paintes and then of Fonteuerard and Isabell Abbesse of Caen and two sonnes Lewis Earle of Vendosme g Lewis of Burbon haâ 2 sons Iohn Earle of Vendosme and Lewis of Roche-sur you head of the house of Montpensier who married Mary of Luxemburg and Charles his eldest sonne the first Duke of Vendosme married Frances of Alençon and had by her seuen sonnes and six daughters the second of his sonnes was Anthony who married Ioane of Albret Queene of Nauarre and heire of the house of Foix Albret Bearn and Armagnac Of their marriage was borne Henry the fourth king of France and Nauarre their third sonne was Lewis of Bourbon Prince of Condé father to Henry Prince of Condé to Henry Prince of Conty to the Cardinall of Vendosme and to Charles Earle of Soissons and Grand-fahter to Henry Prince of Condé first Prince of the bloud The yonger sonne of Iohn the 2 d Earle of Vendosme was Lewis head of the branch of Montpensier and of Roche-sur-yon whom death hath cut off from this great tree There remains one daughter promised to the Duke of Orleans the Kings second sonne Death freed the Earle of Vendosme from the cares which a longer life had augmented by the iealousies and distrusts which the King conceiued of all the Princes of his bloud which kept him continually in the diuers agitations of hatred and feare It is impossible but that he who by his extreame rigors seuerities hath offended many should feare alwayes hee cannot trust his subiects as his Children seeing he hath not entreated them as a Father h Loue is a strong guard of a Princes person Agesilaus said that he wold liue safe without gardes if he coÌmanded his Subiects as a good father doth his children He must be beloued of his subiects and feared of strangers Amorem apud populares meââ apud hostes quaerat Tacit. he hath his share of the feare which hee hath made common Wheresoeuer hee casteth his eyes he seeth markes of his seuerity so hee findeth not any one but puts him in feare hee hath feare of his Children feare before him and feare behind and as in his life hee had alwayes desired more to be feared then loued so in the end he found himselfe composed of the same humor fearing more then he loued Hitherto it seemeth he did not trust any man but Peter of Bourbon Lord of Beaujeu his son-in-law in whom he had so great a confidence as he referred vnto him all the care of his affaires when as the pleasure of hunting entertained him in the Forrests not for some few dayes but whole moneths The Author of the Annals of the house of Bourbon who hath seene the originals of many great treaties speakes after this maner This Peter of Bourbon Lord of Beaujeu was in such fauour with the king as his Maiesty desiring to retire himselfe from affaires kept commonly at Chamois and places thereabout a Countrey at that time full of wood and wilde beasts causing the said Lord Peter of Bourbon his son-in-law to remaine at Montereau-faut-yonne to bee chiefe of the Councell to whom all men repaired for their dispatches which had any businesse in Court i A Prince must be feared and loued but for that it is difficult to haue these two things concurre together it were better and more safe to be feared for that Princes which haue grounded themselues vpon the loue of the people haue found that there is nothing more inconstant men do sooner offend him that makes himselfe to be loued then hee that is feared yet must they not in seeking to bee feared make themselues odious The King loued the woods and hunting to free himselfe from cares reposing all vpon the said Lord of Beaujeu His Maiestie also said That hee did hate deadly them of Bourgondy Aniou Alençon and the Dukes of Brittanie for their pride And contrariwise that hee loued Charles of Artois Earle of Eu for that hee retained nothing of the arrogancy of his predecessours and them of Bourbon more for their mildnesse and humility k It is not the first testimony which the kings of France haue giuen of the mildnesse wisedome and moderation of the Princes of the house of Bourbon When as King Charles the âsâh passed from Auâgaon where hee had seene Pope Clement the sixth iâto Laâgueclock to settle an order for the coplaints of the Countrey against the oppressions which they
and the Stoickes haue painted palenes and blushing on the foreheads of many great and valiant Captaines The greatest courage of the world wold not willingly go to danger if he were assured to dye there finding it too distasting for a Kings eare Yet must he be content that she present her selfe and that she take his Crowne from his head as she hath done the Armes Club Scepter and Sword out of the hands of Achilles Hercules Alexander and Caesar They that had charge of his conscience expected when he himselfe finding his strength to faile would acknowledge it The resolution to signifie this iudgement vnto him was taken betwixt a Diuine his Physition and Maister Oliuer They went roughly unto him and with small respect like vnto men which had added impudencie to the basenesse of their condition there speech was after this manner Indiscretion of theÌ that speaks to Lewis the 11. of death Sir wee must discharge our consciences hope no more in this holy man nor in any other thing for vndoubtedly you are a dead man thinke of your conscience for there is no remedy Euery man spake something briefly to let him know that they were all of one accord concerning his death He answered I hope that God will helpe mee and the flesh desiring to deceiue the Spirit by a vaine confidence of her forces and to declare herselfe openly against the constancy and resolution which this last point of life required of him to make them iudge of his courage she made him say I am not it may be so sicke as you thinke Being halfe dead he counterfeits himselfe whole The spirit body forces faile him onely dissembling holdeth good Hee desired rather to weare in languishing then couragiously to breake in sunder the chaine which although he were a great Prince held him in the seruitude of life q Lewis hath had great resemblances in his raigne and in his life to the âumour of Tiberius his end did also sauour of his Tiberium iam corpus iam vires nondum dissimulatio deserebat ideÌ animi vigor sermone ac vultu intentus quae-sitae interdum comitate quaÌuis manifesta defectione tegebat Force strength fayled Tiberius but not dissembling the same vigor of the minde with a setled speech and countenance and a counterfeit courtesie did couer it although he decayed visibly Tacit. lib. 6. Annal. Hee was enuironed with Reliques and made Barricades of them thinking that death should not dare to passe ouer them and lay hold of him he was so often dead as fiue daies before his death r Tiberius did all he could to conceale his death it being bruited abroad Caligula thought to enter into the Empire but behold the dead man demanded meate and his successour began to quake for feare Macro who had beene one of his fauourits seeing him to continue too long caused him to be smothered with couerings Macro intrepidus opprimi senem iniectu maltae vestis iubet discedique ab limine Macro being without feare commanded that the old man should be smotherd with couerings and that they should presently go from the dore newes came to Paris before the accident by reason of a fainting They that were about him held him for dead and euery man thought of his owne priuate affaires But behold sodainely the dead man called for meate they saw him reuiue in an instant hauing a plaine speech a firme vnderstanding and a iudgement such as in the vigour of his age disposing of many things for the good of his Estate as if this fainting of his bodily force had beene nothing but to suffer his spirit to meditate saying Tell Des Cordes that hee giue ouer the enterprise which wee haue vpon Callice least hee incense the English that hee remaine sixe monthes with the King my sonne and that they thinke no more to make warre against the Duke of Brittany nor any neighbours to this Realme for fiue yeares at the least Hee would haue peace beginne his new raigne to the end the Kingmight grow in age and France in wealth I will be interred said he at our Lady of Clery and accompanied at my funerall by such and such They told him that the Kings of France were interred at Saint Dennis s Saint Dennis ãâ¦ã is the Sepâlchâe of the kings of France Dagobert was the first sâunder and there was interred The kings predecessâuâs had there Seâulââres in dâuers places Clouis is interred at Saânt ãâã Childeberâ Chilperiâ and Câoâaâe at S. ãâã main dâspres Clouis or Lewis at Châlâes Peâin at Saint Denis Chorlemanse at Air Laââ apelle and their successours haue their Tombes in diuers places but the greatest number is at Saint Dennis and that his father and Grand-fathers were there It is all one said he I will lye there Hee had so great a deuotion to the Virgin Mary had made so many vowes vnto her and had receiued such visible effects of her intercession as he would haue her Temple the depositary of his bones He fell extremely sicke on Monday and although that no man thought that he should haue continued vntill the next day yet hee said That the good Lady would make him liue vntill Saturdy It was true his prayer returned into his owne bosome he ended the weeke Death of Lewis the eleuenth the last day of his life was on Saturday the thirtieth of August at eight of the clocke at night hauing liued three score and three yeares and raigned three and twenty Hee continued in the world longer then any Prince of his race that is to say of the third branch of the Kings of France but he liued little t I thinke saith Phillip de Commines that from his infancy he neuer had but troubles and afflictions vntill his death and if all the good daies which hee had in his life wherein he had more ioy and pleasure then trouble care were well numbred I beleeue there would bee few sound and that for one of pleasure ease their would bee twenty of paine and affliction hee that hath beene long at Sea in stormes and tempests and hath neuer arriued at a safe Port cannot say that he hath sayled much but that he hath bene long tossed with a tempest In like manner hee that hath liued long in the crosses of this life cannot say that his life hath beene long but that hee hath continued long in the waues of this world Hee dyed not with this griefe not to haue done any thing in the world he that in dying carryeth no other marke of his being but old age departeth shamefully out of this life Lewis the 11. left it not with that remorse to haue beene idle to haue let the torrent of age slip away without retaining some-thing u Of running water there is nothing kept but what is drawne forth to vse In like manner of the course of life there remaineth nothing but what vertue reserueth for glory to haue liued Tantum
his Schoole-maister and did people it with the most learned men of his time Hee had soure wiues and many Concubines the greatnesse of his vertue and the wonders of his reputation made him to be adored of his subiects and redoubted of strangers The Sophie of Persia and Prester Iohn of Ethiopia sought for his alliance He built two goodly houses His Buildings the one at Iughelheim the place of his birth the other at Nieumegue hee built the Bridge at Mentz a worke of tenne yeares the which the yeare before his death was ruined by a suddaine fire in lesse then two howres He built the Church of Aix la Chapelle where he is interred During his life he caused sixe Councels to be called at Mentz at Rheims at Tours at Chalons at Arles and at Francfort and made Orders for the Reformation of the Church s Charlemain made a booke for the reformation of the Church which carries this title Capitula Carolâ Magni and containes Proofes of his great piety When he went to Collegiall Churches or Monasteries hee did sing with the Priests and say the lessons of the morning and caused theÌ to be said by his children and other Princes of his Court. He died the eighteenth of Ianuary and in the eighth day of his sickenesse in the yeare eight hundred and foureteene His Death the three score and eleuenth yeare of his age and the seuen and fortieth of his raigne including fifteene yeares of his Empire For his great and heroicke vertues which serue as an example and patterne to Princes and for his great bounty to Churches for the which Phillip de Commines saith that a Chartreux Monke called Iohn Galleas His Canânization Duke of Milan Saint t Phillip de Commines visiting the Church of Pauia and beholding the statue of Iohn Galeas Duke of Milan on horseback to be higher then the Altar whom a Chartrous Monke borne at Bourges called Saint he demanded of him why he called him Saint seeing the Towns which were painted about him were so many markes of his tiranny hee answered softly in this Country we cal all theÌ Saints that do vs good hee built this Monastery King Lewis the 11. would that the day of his death should be solemnized like Sonday The Church doth not solemnize the birth of Saints it makes the day of their death a Feast which is another kind of birth then the first there being no more proportion betwixt the world out of which they go and heauen whereinto they enter then there is betwixt the wombe out of which they go and the world whereinto they enter He caused his Statue to be taken out of the ranke of the Kings to make an image vpon the Altar of the Chappell at the Pallace with that of Saint Lewis he would also haue his owne in his ranke after another fashion kneeling before the Image of our Lady But how great soeuer his zeale was vnto the Church yet would he haue the Popes know wherein and wherefore they were bound vnto the Crowne of France The Kings of France haue deserued the glorious Surname of Eldest sonne of the Church Popes bound to the Crown of France hauing defended it from great enemies and freed it from terrible persecutions It is also found that at the last wherewith she is threatned she shall haue no other deliuerer but a King of France u This opinion is grounded vpon a Treatise of Antichrist which some attribute to Saint Augustine others to other ancient fathers and many to Rabanus Reade vpon this subiect the eighth Discourse of Doctor Suares a Portugois vpon the Apocalipse the which hath made many to say and write that the Maiesty of the Church shall neuer bee ouerthrowne so long as the Crowne of France shall endure The deuotion of Lewis did not make him incensible of the wrongs which the Temporall power might receiue from the Spirituall Pope Pius the second Paul the second and Sixtus the fourth knew well that this spirit could not submit himselfe in all things without knowing the reason He did not dissemble the wrong which Sixtus the fourth x Pope Sixtus beeing âffârded at the violence done to Cardinal Riario his Nephew and to the Arch-bishop of Pisa did excommunicate the Florentines declaring that âee would employ against them the Venetians his person goods whatsoeuer else he could The KIng vpon this aduertisement thought it not reasonable that the goods appointed for the seruice of God should be employed in war making a defence to to carry mony to Rome did vnto the dignity of his father and common pastor of Christian people banding himselfe against the Common-weales of Florence and Venice and suppoting the vndue exactions which were made in the Chancery of Rome He forbad all men to send any mony thither to haue prouision of Benefices by Buls and expectatiue graces vpon paine of confiscation of body and goods giuing the moueables iewels and horses of all the offendours to them that should discouer them Hee appointed Commissioners in the chiefe Townes of the Realme to see and peruse the Buls and prouisions which should be brought from Rome that he might know whether they were contrary to the priuileges and liberties of the French Church y The Signior of Gaucourtâ Chamberlaine to the King was appointed in the Towne of Amiens the commission is reported by Du. Tillet He commanded the Bishops and Prelates which remained in the Court of Rome to watch ouer their Troupes and to be resident in their Bishoprickes vpon paine of priuation of the Temporall of their Reuenewes and to prepare themselues for the holding of a Councell at Lyon when it should be called vpon the instance which he would make vnto the Pope He was aduertised that Religious Friers going to generall Chapters of their Orders out of the Realme were imployed to carry packets Religious men imploied in messages and intelligences he made a defence for the going to any Chapters which should be held in forraine Prouinces z The defences by this Edict giuen at Selongnes the third of September 1476. were generall against the Religious of the Order of Cisteaux of the Charthusians of Clugny and the fowre begging Friers But the Chartusians are not subiect to the punishment by the same Edict it is spoken of the Friers Minors of the three Orders the punishment was diuers He appointed banishment for them of Cisteaux and of Clugny and declared them incapable to hold any Benefices in France and in regard of the Begging Friers besides banishment he said that he would root out and expell the Realme all them of that Order which should infringe his Edict Howsoeuer he did reuerence Church-men yet would hee not haue them stray from publicke instructions Sermons of seditioÌ to censure affaires of Estate for such kinds of discourses do more trouble the minds of men then comfort them They be but cloudes which breake forth into brutes of sedition
might be helpt by his nourishment hee did not care to breed him vp in those vertues which are worthy of a Prince These defects proceeded not so much from the fathers fault as from the time p In thâse daies they held that learning did wrong to courage and the most valâant of those times were very grosse and ignârant They say also that Italy being giuen more to learning then Armes had giuen a great aduantage to them that had conquered it where the old errour was sworne by the greatest Families that the study of learning did daunt their courages Hee would not haue him learne any more Lattine then these few words Qui nescit dissmulare nescit regnare q King Lewis the 11. would not haue his sonne learne any other Art but how to dissemble in the which he had pasi Maister he also said that in reading bookes he should find so many accidents and perils as he would becomelesse couragious A Prince leaues his sonne learned enough when he hath made him capable to force obedience Obedience is the Science of Princes r There is not any Science necessary for a Prince but to command well and to bee well obeyed Of his two daughters hee loued none but her whom hee gaue to the Duke of Bourbon the eldest was a sadde encounter to his eyes Hee fayled also in the affection which hee ought vnto the mother for hee gaue her not so good a share of his heart as shee ought to haue had CLAVDIVS of Seyssell saith That whilst hee was in the vigour of his age hee was not loyall of his person Hee alwaies kept her meanely attended in some Castell for the most part whether hee went some times to see her Lewis the 11. a bad Husband more for a desire to haue Issue then for any delight hee tooke in her and for the feare shee had of him and his sowre vsage of her it is credible that shee had no great delight nor pleasure in his company But that which is worse towards the end of his daies hee sent her into Dauphiné and did expressely command that shee should not bee neere his sonne when hee should bee King Of all the contentments of life that of marriage is most to bee desired It is a roughs passage the waies are flanked with Bushes and Thomes it is impossible to go vnto the end of it but some Brier or Bramble will catch hold of you s Marriage is good of it selfe but it is subiect to bad accidents To explaine this truth Gregory brings a comparison of a way which is cleane and straight yet hath on either side brambles which may catch hold In via quidem munda non offendimur sed à latere nascitur quo pungamur We are not hurt in a cleane way but it growes from the sides wherewith we are prickt Greg. 12. Moral And the great Prince which did draw all sorts of Sciences aboundantly out of the Treasures of the Eternall Wisedome doth number the concord of Marriage among his chiefest felicities holding him happy that hath a wise wife and aduowing that there is not any thing more pleasing vnto God then Nuptiall Concord That of brethren is no lesse pleasing vnto him Lewis bad to his brother there was not any betwixt the King and the Duke of Guienne his brother and wee cannot say that of them which is written of the two Twinnes t Two brethren were held Twinnes for that being toucht with the same Infirmity the beginning progresse and declining was equall in either of them August lib 5. de Ciuit. that the one had a feeling of anothers infirmity There was no resemblance of Complexions and Will betwixt them The Duke of Guienne hauing seene that his presumptions in the League of the Common-weale and those of the Dukes of Brittany Bourgundy Bourbon had beene recompensed and to draw fauours from the King it was good to make himselfe to bee feared hee still continued his practises with them that might terrifie him and held his spirit in the apprehensions of warre This great rigour which the King vsed towards him might well bee excused and maintained with this great reason not to make the Princes of the bloud great in a time of trouble and liberty If his brother had had a greater share in the State and if his portion had lyen neerer to his enemies the League of the Common-weale had continued longer In the beginning hee thought to content him in giuing the Dutchy of Berry u The Dutchy of Berry was giuen him for his portion in Nouember 1461. in the yeare 1465. he entred into the Dutchy of Normandy and the Lands which the Duke of Orleance held there as the Counties of Mortaigne and Longueuille to him and to his Heires Male then the Dutchy of Normandy with power to impose all sorts of Subsidies But hee did all this onely for the necessity of his affaires and to dispierce and cut assunder the storme of the League Soone after hee draue him out of Normandy and compelled him to retire and with-draw himselfe into Brittany as poore as euer This seuere course was approued and allowed by the three Estates who held it not fit nor conuenient to pull so goodly a Flower from the Crowne saying that hee should rest himselfe contented and satisfied with the offer which the King made him of twelue hundred pounds Sterling yearely rent with the Title of a Dutchy and foure thousand eight hundred pounds Pension x This offer was made according to the Ordonance of King Charles the fift in October 1374. by the which he would that Lewis of France his second son should haue twelue hundred pound sterling yearely rent for his portion and 4000. pounds giuen him to furnish him In the end hee gaue him the gouernement of Guienne but hee commanded Iohn of Popincourt President of the Accounts at Paris not to inuest him with his Letters before hee had deliuered and resigned vp the others and made his renounciation This was but a scantling of the whole peece for of this great spacious and goodly Prouince of Guienne hee had nothing but the Country of Bourdelois Bazadois and Landesse Hee neither enioyed it long nor yet possessed it quietly for being there hee presently found great troubles for the limites and bounds which the Kings Officers stroue and contended for and for the which the Duke of Bourgundy would haue taken Armes but it was compounded and verefied by the Court of Parliament two yeares after Death gaue him a more contented quiet and certaine Portion in the other world If death had not done the like grace to the Duke of Orleance and drawne him out of the cares and afflictions of this life hee had declared the cause of the same resolution the which hee made knowne to King CHARLES the seuenth The violent death of LEVVIS Duke of Orleance his father hauing inuited the English to mount vpon the Stage and there to
whole posterity but onely to them which descend from the Males There are two houses which bee so great and famous of themselues as they honour the titles which are giuen them King Charles the seuenth his Father hauing made the Earledome of Foix a Pairie for Gaston of Foix hee confirmed this erection but hee made not any new This house of Foix was in those times one of the most famous in Christendome and compare with Soueraigne Princes o We find that in great ceremonies the Earles of Foix are named before the Princes and had precedence of the Earles of Vendosme There is no other reason but that the eldest of Princes houses precede the yonger of other houses and therfore at the Estates held at Tours the Earles of Neuers Eu and Foix had precedence of the Earle of Vendosme Gaston of Foix who liued in the time of King Charles the fifth went equall with Kings when as King Charles the sixth was at Tholousa he sent the Earle of Sancerre Marshall of France and the Signior of Riuiere one of the chiefe of his Councell to the Earle of Foix who was then at Mazere to intreate him to come vnto him or else he would goe to see him He did not excuse himselfe vpon the Indispositions of his great Age and being sorry that hee had not preuented this summons he parted from Mazere with six hundred horse and came to the King to Tholousa Traine of the Earle of Foix. The History saith that presenting himselfe vnto the king hee was followed by two hundred Gentlemen all cloathed in silkes among them there was noted the Vicount of Bruniquet and his brethren Roger of Spaine Lord of Montespan issued from the bloud of Arragon and head of the house of Montespan p Espagno let of Spaine sonne to Roger of Spaine sonne to Leon of Spaine and the Lord of Corras who first raised the honour of the Earles of Caramain a great and rich family Beginning of the houses of MoÌtespan Caramain allied to that of Foix and who seeing that Houses and Families haue their periods like to all other worldly things could not desire a more glorious fall then into the house of Monluc where it begins to reuiue King Charles the sixth requited this visite at New-yeares tide in the yeare 1390. q At this voyage the Earle did institute King Charles the sixth his heire the which hee would not accept for that he would not defraud the Vicount of Chastellan his lawfull Heire He fauoured the house of Lauall with the like declarations of honour House of Lauall the which was long before held for one of the worthiest of France hauing neuer wanted children nor the first dignities and alliances of France hauing for their stemme the House of Montmorency r They drawe the beginning of the first house of Montmorency to the time of Saint Denis by whom the first that was conuerted among the French Knights was a Lord of Montmorency and therefore the ancient Deuice of this house is God helpe the first Christians the first Christian of France and there is no difference in their Armes but fiue Cockle-shels Argent to the Crosse. Wherefore he would that Francis of Lauall Lord of Gaure sonne of a daughter of king Charles the seuenths sister should go in rank with the Earles of Vendosme as well in Councell as in Parliament and in all other publike actions and caused his letters to be dispatcht at Mans the nine and twentith day of Nouember 1467. to serue for a speciall and perpetuall priuiledge to his posteritie He had much contemned the glorious and honourable markes of Maiesty s Princes had alwayes men appointed to serue in time of peace and warre for the ornament of their maiesty and royall greatnesse Heralds were instituted in France for that respect in time of peace they carried mayles vpon their breasts and in times of warre their Coat of Armes powdred with Flowers de Luce. I haue obserued in the Church and Cloister of Saint Catherine du Val of the Schollers twenty of their Tombes which shew the forme of their Maces and Scutchions Bodin writes that hauing chased away almost all the Gentlemen of his house hee imployed his Taylor for a Herald at Armes and his Barber for an Embassador and his Physitian for a Chancellor as an ancient king of Syria did Apolophanes his Physitian whom he made the president of his Councell Philip de Commines obserues it when hee shewes how much hee was troubled to furnish out a Herald which he sent to the King of England Heralds were necessary for the Maiesty of a Prince in actions of war and in the most solemne dayes of peace They had diuers names and diuers charges and they either carried the Titles of the Soueraignes Prouinces or of some other famous occasion as in France the Heralds are diuersly named and wee finde often in the History of France these names giuen to Heralds Bosios error in the History of Malta Monjoy e Saint Denis Mont Saint Michel t This word of Monjoy Saint Denis was sometimes the warlicke cry of the French They say it grew vpon that which Clouis said in the battell neere to Colleyn when as fearing to loose it hee promised to beleeue in Iesus Christ worshipped by Clotilde his wife and to hold him for his Ioue Since that time they cryed in their battels Monjoye Saint Denis as if they would say Christ whom Saint Denis hath preached in Gaule is my Ioue that is to say my Iupiter The word of Ioue beeing turned into that of Ioye The Antiquities of Gaule wriâten by the President Fauchet wherein a great man of Italy hath erred and moues them that obserue it to laugh for hauing found in our Histories that King Lewis the eleuenth had sent two Heralds to Bajazeth to complaine that hee had broken the peace with the Venetians hee sets downe their names after this manner Monsieur Gaudio de Saint Denis Monsieur de Saint Michel whereas hee should haue saide The Herald Monjoy Saint Denis and Mont Saint Michel They were created at great and solemne Feasts and when they presented Wine vnto the Prince hauing drunke he gaue the cup to him whom he made Herald wherwith he should make his Scutchion Oliuer of la Marche saith that Philip Duke of Bourgondy did somtimes giue them the name of that Country whereas the Wine which hee then dranke did grow which done the other Heralds gaue him the Coate of Armes charged with the Princes Armes There were more Ceremonies at the Creation of a King at Armes for his sufficiency was to bee testified by all the Kings at Armes Creation of Heralds and Heralds that might bee found and they were distinguished from others by a Crowne croslet which they carried on their heads Their chiefe charge was to make a distinction of the Armes of Families to preserue the ancient and preuent the vsurpation of new
Kings owne mouth Clemency Clemency This goodly Pearle is not seene in his Crowne b The vertue which rayseth Kings to heauen is Clemency Consulere patriae pârcere afflictis fera Caede abstinere tempus arque ira dare Orbi quietem saeculo pacem suo Haec summa virtus petitur hac coelum via Sen. in Octau this great and royall vertue which pardons the afflicted rayseth vp them that are deiected Lewis the 11. knew not how to pardon and breakes the current of choller was vnknowne vnto him Yet neuer Prince found more occasion to winne himselfe honour but that deceitfull Maxime that a Princes iustice may alwaies and in all cases dissemble c A Prince may mingle prudence with Iustice he may bee a Doue and a Serpent with these three conditions that it be for the necessary apparant and important good of the State that it be with measure and discretion and that it be for an offence and not to offend and sow the Foxes skinne vnto the Lyons fil'd his raigne with tragicall examples of seuerity and gaue him in dying that contentment not to haue left any offence vnpunished Phillip de Commines being to liue vnder the sonnes raigne hath not written all he knew and could haue spoken vpon the fathers and yet he saies but too much to shew his rigour Hee was these are his words suspitious as all Princes bee which haue many enemies and which haue offended many as he had done Hee was not beloued of great men nor of many of the meaner sort and had charged his Subiects more then euer King had done If Commines would haue painted out a cruell Prince hee could not haue imployed other coulours then those wherewith hee sets forth his rigorous prisons his Cages of Iron and his fetters d Cardinall Balue inuentor of these Cages of Iron was lodged there with the first and continued 14. yeares Lacum fodit aperuit eum incidit in foueaÌ quam fecit He digged a pit and opened it and fell into the Ditch whicâ hee had made Hee saith That they were of wood couered with plates of Iron that he had caused Germanes to make most heauy and terrible fetters for mens feete Rigorous prisons of Lewis the eleuenth and there was a ring to put vpon the legge very hard to open like vnto a choller the chaine was great and waighty with a great bullet of Iron at the end much more weighty then was fit and they were called the Kings Snares Although that punishments be the effects of Iustice and very necessary for that hee hurts the good which pardons the wicked yet it caries some shew of cruelty when as the Prince himselfe seemes more carefull thereof then he ought and that hee doth employ them as well against innocents as those that are guilty e The more rare executions bee the more profitable is the example Remedies which curemildly are to be preferred before theÌ which burâne mutulate To affect new punishment and against accustomed manners of the Country are markes of cruelty I haue seene saith Phillip de Commines good men prisoners with fetters on their feete who afterwards came forth with great honour and receiued great fauours from him amongst others a sonne to the Lord of Gruture of Flanders taken in battell whom the King married and made his Chamberlaine and Seneschall of Anjou and gaue him a hundred Lances Also the Lord of Pieââes a prisoner in the warre and the Lord of Vergy For hee found in the end that vigour doth but distract mens minds the violent gust of the Northen wind cannot make a passenger to abandon his Cloake whereas the Sunne casting his beames by little and little doth heate him in such sort as hee will bee ready to strip himselfe into his shirit Generous horses obey the shaddow of a small Wand whereas Asses tell their paces by the number of their blowes The raigne of this Prince was wonderfull stormy they could not say of him as of Antonyn that hee had shedde no bloud f The raigne of the Emperour Antonyn was so good as Herodian called it ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã that is to say without bloud Tristan his great Prouost who for his barbarous and seuere behauiour did as iustly as Maximin deserue the name of Sowre was so ready in the execution of his rigorous commandements as hee hath sometimes caused the innocent to bee ruined for the offendor Hee alwaies disposed this Prince rather to vse a sword to punish faults then a Bridle to keepe them from falling A more temperate Spirit would haue staid him and Princes in these stormes doe but what pleaseth them which guide the effects of their Wils A Prince is no lesse dishonoured by the multitude of executions g A multitude of executions saith Seneca breeds as bad a reputation to the Prince as a multitude of Burials to a Physitian too great rigours makes the paines contemptible augments the number of offendours and makes them to become wicked through despight then a Physitian receiues blame by the death of his Patient Claud of Seyssell could not say any thing more bitter to the memory of this Prince then that which hee writes That there were seene about the places of his abode many men hanged vpon Trees and the prisons and other houses neere full of prisoners who were often heard day and night crying out for the torments which they endured besides others which were cast into the Riuer Many great Princes haue felt the seuerity of his humours Iohn Duke of Alençon had in the end as much cause to murmurre against his iustice as hee had to commend his Clemency in the beginning of his Raigne Hee had beene condâmned to loose his head vnder Charles the seuenth The King restored him to his liberty and honour to make him some yeares after vndergoe the like censure h The Duke of Alençon being prisoner in the Casile of Loches was led to Paris the sixt of Iune 1473. by the Lord of Gaucort Chaletiere Steward of the Kings house with 24. Gentlemen and 50. Archers Hee caused him to bee apprehended and carried to the Towre at the Louure His Processe was made in the yeare one thousand foure hundred three score and foureteene and a Sentence pronounc't the eightenth of Iuly in these termes Sentence against the Duke of Alençon The Court hauing seene the Charges Informations and Confrontations of witnesses against Iohn of Alenâcon his voluntary confessions the Processe and other things which were to bee seene touching the great and heynous crimes committed by him by the conspiracies practises and treaties which hee hath many and sundry times had and made with the English the ancient enemies and aduersaries of this Realme and other Rebels disobedient to the King and to the great preiudice of the King and subuersion of the publique good of the Realme forgetting through ingratitude the great grace that the King had done
est à Domino potestas vobis virtus ab Altissimo qui interrogabit opera vestra cogitationes quoniam cum effetis Ministri regni illius noÌ recte iudicastis nec custodistis legem Iustitiaeâ neque secum duÌ voluntateÌ Dei ambulastis Heare â yee Iudges of the earth vnderstand c. To demaund Iustice of a King is to do him a kind of homage which doth not belong to any other and to confesse that he holds the ranke ouer men that God doth ouer Kings But for that they cannot participate with euery thing see all heare all not bee euery where Princes relye vpoÌ their Ministers they relye vpon the dilligence and fidelity of their seruants whereof some assist them with their wits counsell and tongues and others with their hands swords and fortune France hath alwaies beene seconded by men of this quality it brings more forth daily and is not weary of so many Childe-birthes Princes are like worke-men their Officers are the Iustruments with the which they may cut and fashion as they please And although all charges bee distinguished and haue their bounds that the Trowell may not do the office of the Hammer yet they tend all to one end the seruice of the Prince whereon depends the publick safety which is the perfection of the worke The Princes eare is like vnto the Temple of the Goddesse Horta which was alwaies open but the prayers must be short and guided by reuerence and humility for Iupiter of Crete hath eares at his feete Those which are vniust are dead towards the King and mortall towards God for him that makes them Wee must speake vnto the King as if God vnderstood it and none must speake vnto God as if we were vnderstood by men There are some which demand things of Kings which they would not giue to them that aske them and others that would blush if the prayers which they make vnto God were knowne Wherefore a Prince sends such petitions to whom hee pleaseth to see if they bee iust and ciuill It were impossible for him to heare them and determine them without doing wrong to those affaires which require no delay to resolue on The greatnesse of his Maiesty is wronged when as they make him discend into the care of base things d It is importunity to a Prince to giue him an account of base things When as Pliny wrote to Traian De seruis damnatis quise Ministerijs publicis immiscuerunt Of slaues condemned who had wrought in the publike workes Hee addes this Preface to his Letter Salua magnitudine tua Domine descendas oportet ad meas curas cùm ius mihi dederis referendi ad te de quibus dubito My Lord sauing your Greatnesse you must descend vnto my cares hauing giuen me leaue to impart my doubts vnto you Wisedome which is the light of his actions and the Serpent which shadowes his fore-head e Bochoris King of Egipt being by nature rough sowre and violent the Goddesse Isis sent him a Serpent which wrething about his head did make a shadow to the end his iudgement should bee seasoned with Prudence and Iustice. forbids them to trouble their heads for all sorts of affaires the which are often represented by men which neither see farre off nor much behind them who confounds their discourses in the beginning and speaking without reason would be heard with patience Wee must beautify this discourse with the same authority which gaue lustre vnto the precedent The discourses which are held at the Table of the Chancellours of France are alwaies vpon some goodly Subiect pleasing to learne and profitable and necessary to vnderstand and wee may say that delicacy of wits findes that there which excesse did furnish to the appetite of men for foure monthes to deliuer into his hands the foure chiefe Townes of Brabant Brussels Antwerpe Macklin and Louan and to leaue him the Country of Flanders in Soueraignety without homage if he could conquer it These offers proceeding rather from the necessity of affaires then from the Kings intention who desired nothing but to aduance his affaires in Bourgundy and Artois and to diuide and weaken his enemies forces were well and wisely weyed by the King of England y The lesse which is profitable and certaine is to be preferred before the more which is vnprofitable and vncertaine The King of England desires rather the Countries of Bullen in effect then Brabant FlaÌders in hope neither could the English consent vnto a warre which did interrupt their Trafficke with the Low Countries who answered that if the King were so well minded to make him a sharer of his conquest he had rather haue some of those which were already conquered in Picardy and that in deliuering him Bulloine hee would declare himselfe for him against the Princesse of Bourgundy The King then hauing contemned the way of mildenesse and reason to follow that of force and fortune neglected also the occasion which this first amazement of the Princesse and her people put into his hands and leauing her the liberty to marry her selfe and to carry those goodly Prouinces to a strange house all things became impossible Maximilian hauing married the Princesse raysed with great solemnity the order of the Golden Fleece z Oliuer dela-March reports the ceremony which was made at the raising of this Order and saith that they wondered the King had not preuented the Arch-Duke to shew that he would also restore the affaires of that house Yet for all this they do not leaue to giue him the honour of the wisest of his age Partes of wisedome He made his wisedome appeare in that he could consult and deliberate well he could iudge and resolue well and he could leade and execute wel This wisedome was wholy his and depended not of the motion or discourse of any other Wherefore when as he demanded of Brezay Seneschall of Normandy the reason why he said that his horse was great and strong being but little and of a weake stature For that answered Brezay hee carries you and all your Counsell It is a very singular grace of heauen when as the actions of Princes vnfurnished of Councell succeede happily For as a Prince hath need of a soule to liue by so is it necessary for him to haue counsell to raigne a Euery Prince hath two Councels one interior and the other exterior The interior is that which growes in his head from his owne knowledge and vnderstanding The exterior is of those that assist him in the managing of affaires It is weake councell which consists onely of yong heads Yong men may well haue some good points but they are like vnto those of the eares of corne The force of councell consists in wisedome which is not gotten but by experience and experience comes not but with time A man may be borne capable of wisedome but onely time makes the wise Yong Vines carry Grapes aboundantly but the
old make the good wine In all that he vndertooke hee shewed the force of his spirit speaking of Armes hee seemed neuer to haue done any other thing but fight with men and besiege places and discoursing of affaires of Estate he seemed to haue past his whole life in Councell b Great Spirits are alwaies entire in any thing they deale in When as Cato had Armes in hand bee seemed neuer to haue practised any other thing When as hee spake of Sciences a man would haue said hee had neuer gone out of the Vniuersity Hee informed himselfe curiously and exactly of all things and of all persons whom he knew not to be capable to shew any arte or disguising A Prince addes much esteeme and respect vnto his reputation when as he beleeues that he knowes all Phillip de Commines obserues an effect of his wisedome to sow discord and diuision among those that would agree against his seruice King Lewis our Maister vnderstood that Art better to diuide men then any other Prince that I euer knew and hee spared neither his Siluer Goods nor Paines not onely towards the Maisters but also to the seruants c The must heare all things to draw profiâe from them Valetius Publicola is praysed by Plutarch for the liberty hee gaue euery man to enformeâ him of that which concerned him And Isocrates doth therefore commend Euagoras King of Cypres But there must bee great discretion in that which is spoken with and against priuate men Another act of his wisedome to haue kindled and entertained the fire which did consume the forces and burnt to ashes the ambition of his enemie In causing the instruments of the warre of Germany Swisserland and Lorraine to moue he remained at peace Hee had meanes to discharge his Realme of the vnprofitable burthen of men which cannot liue but in trouble As the flowing and ebbing is necessary for the Sea to discharge it of the great scumme and filth which a calme gathers together so a great Empire must purge it selfe and cast forth the bad humours which a dead and idle life drawes together Although his promptnesse in speaking hath oftentimes hurt him Silence a soule of great actions yet would hee haue it knowne that his very Hat had no part of his secrets Silence is the Pole and Axletree of enterprises the which must not onely be in words but also in gesture and countenance for the eyes and the face are the dumbe interpreters of the mind d He that doth manage a great designe must know how to gouern his tongue but much more his minde for Polybius saith that many haue discouered by their faces the designes which they haue kept in their hearts They cannot be executed but at certaine times vpon certaine places with certaine men and by certaine meanes if the one or the other be neglected or discouerd all must go to smoake The concurrence of many things is necessary for the execution of a designe the failing of one is able to ruine it but there is neuer enough when they talke too much Wisedome hath also cause to complaine of his tongue Hee hath often paid for the liberty of his speech But who can impose silence to Princes The liberty of Speech is a marke of their authority it is the point and seasoning of discourse but the diuersity of occasion makes it perilous It sometimes offends the most mild and patient spirits and as euery wound hath his griefe so there is not any wound that seemes light to him that feeles it and oftentimes they fall into incurable vlcers e Nothing can happen more troublesome to free men then to bee debarred of the liberty of free speech The liberty of free Discourse saith Democrates is a signe of courage and generosity There are houres when wee may not speake anything A rule how to speake others when we may speake some thing but none when wee may speake all Besides the exact intelligence of his affaires he had a great iudgement in the choice of men and an admirable wisedome to entertaine them and keepe them He esteemed them bound them vnto him and did not suffer them to languish in any discontent nor to attend the fruits of their seruice He knew how to lay the stone-worke to enrich the Iewell and to beautefie it with Amaile gold and ornament Hee not onely knew them of his Realme that were most capable to be imployed in diuers functions for his seruice but also who were the most worthy Ministers with Neighbour Princes Hee knew in what heads did reside the sufficiency of England Spaine and Portugall and did not cease This great and profitable skill to diuide their minds that might hurt him did not onely stetch to the seruants and ministers of the same Prince but he knew how to diuide Princes of one bloud and family He did gouerne the affections of Sigismond at his pleasure n The Archduke Sigismond of Austria was wonne by the King whose party hee followed both against the Duke of Bourgondy and the Archduke Maximilian He reuoked the adoption which hee had made in his fauour beleeuing them that sayd that to shorten his hopes hee would shorten his life and turned him sometimes against the Archduke Maximilian his perswasion being of such force with this Prince who was good and tractable as he made him beleeue that Maximilian had designes against his life the sooner to get possession of his Estates which were assured him after his death Sigismond in the end discouered this fraud and found that the ruine of the Archduke his Nephew toucht him so neere as the Franch-County could not bee lost but the County of Feret would be also exposed to great danger and had great subiect to apprehend the increase of greatnesse of so mighty a neighbour and therefore hee yeelded to a leuie of some troopes in his Estates of Elsasse and Ferret which were imployed to relieue and defend Dole the chiefe Town of the Franch County which was besieged by the Lord of Chaumont of Ambois The King found meanes in loosing Sigismond to winne the Captaines that led the Troopes so as they suffered a great number of Franke Archers of the Kings Campe to slippe into the Towne with their Troopes who seizing vpon the Gates gaue entry to the rest of the Armie The Towne was exposed to sacke and pillage Sacke and desolation of Doâe both of the enemies and of strangers and fire made an end to ruine that which the Souldiers could not spoyle or carry away neither was there any house exempt but whereas the Generall was lodged o A lamentable example of the misery of those Townes which are relieued by forraigne forces whose fidelity being gotten maintained by money depends alwayes of him that offers most From that time Dole was called the Dolorous By the same skill of winning men and knowing how to vnknit knots without cutting the Corde hee had at his deuotion the most confident
Priuiledges of the Parisians and the profit which it feeles by the ordinary presence of their Maiesties he gaue leaue to euery Burgesse to take yearely a certaine measure of salt for their prouision paying the Marchants right onely and to be freed of the forraigne imposition paying six deniers vpon the Liuer in Paris and twelue vpon the furthest parts of the Realme not being bound to giue caution for the sale of it That they should not bee forced by any harbinger to lodge the kings Officers nor any Souldiers but at their owne pleasures f These priuiledges were amplâfied and confirmed during the warre of the Common-weale and for that the people did apprehend that they might bee reuoked when it did cease the Chronicle saith that he declared in a great Assembly that hee desired rather to augment them then to cut off any thing Not to be bound to plead any where but in Paris for what cause soeuer To be freed from all duties and seruices for the fees they held yet vpon condition to haue sufficient and defencible Armes according to the value of their fees for the guard and defence of the Citty In like manner the Citty of Lyon that mighty Bulwarke of the State is bound vnto him for the establishment of the Faires Commerce is a great meanes to drawe forraigne commodities into a State but it may cause a dangerous transport of gold and siluer if it bee not entertained by the exchange of Wares And as it should not bee lawfull to transport those that bee necessary and whereof the Subiects may haue need g One of the iustest and most ancient meanes to augment a kings tributes is vpon the entry going forth and passage of Merchandise It is the forraigne Imposition an ancient right to Soueraignes and it is called Portorium quod mercium quae importantur exportanâurve nomine penditur neither those which are vn-wrought so the permission should be easie and free for those which are needfull for strangers that the subiects may thereby gaine the profit of their hands This Prince being giuen to vnderstand that the Faires at Geneua did draw a great quantitie of Money out of France he erected foure Faires at Lyon h The Estates of Tours after the death of King Lewis the eleuenth required to haue these Faires âept but twice a yeare at Easter and at the Feast of All-Saints and in some other Towne then Lyon for that it was too ãâ¦ã âââthest bounds of the Realme and gaue them his letters patents at Saint Michael vpon Loire the 20 th of October 1462. Trafficke cannot receiue a more sencible iniury then by the calling downe or raising of Money which wrongs the Law of Nations If there bee any thing in an estate which should bee immutable it is the certainty of their valour Wisedome is not commended but for the constancy of that which she resolues i A Prince who is the warrant of publicke Iustice subiect to the law of Nations should not suffer the course of Money to bee variable vncertaine to the preiudice of his subiects strangers which treat traffick with them Wherfore the Kings of Arragon comming to the Crowne tooke an Oath not to alter the Coines which were allowed she learnes fit accidents which are mutable and immutable to reason which is constant and one and not reason to accidents When as the course of Money is disordered and vncertaine all is in confusion Lewis the eleuenth changed the course of coins in the yeare 1473. hee ordained that the great Blankes should goe currant for eleuen Deniers Turnois which before were worth but ten he reduced another coine called Targes Orders for Coins to eleuen Deniers which past for twelue The Crowne at thirty Souls three Deniers Turnois and after this proportion all other peeces Then considering that one of the causes of the weakning of Coines grew for that the Officers tooke their Fees and entertainements from the rights of the Mint which should bee vnknowne in great Estates k The Ancients knew not what the right of Minting meant and the Coines were not imparted for the fees of officers which were taken froÌ other kindes of mony to the end that the coyning of money should be free from all suspition of deceit it was done in publicke places as at Rome in Iuno's Temple and Charlemain did forbid any to bee coined but in his Palace and are not seemely but in petty ones where they draw profite from euery thing and augment their Reuenues by the coining of money In the yeare 1475. he displaced the Generals and Maisters of the Mint and set foure Commissioners in their places Germaine de Merle Nicholas Potier Denis the Britton and Simon Ausorran and ordained that the Kings crownes of Gold which before had course for foure and twenty Souls Parisis and three Turnois should goe for fiue and thirty peeces of eleuen being worth fiue and twenty Souls eight Deniers Parisis and they should make other Crowns which should haue a Halfe-moone in stead of a Crowne which was on the rest and should be worth thirty six peeces of eleuen of the value of twenty six Souls six Deniers and new Dozains at 12 Turnois a peece Liberality Wee should lye in calling this Prince couetous as well as in saying he was liberall Liberality he neuer knew what it was to spare no not in his age when as couetousnesse doth most trouble the mind when it hath least need of it l Couetousnesse which comes in the end of mans life is inexcusable What auails it to prouide so many things for so smal a iourny Auaritia senilis maxime est vituperanda Potest enim quicquaÌ esse absurdius quam quo minus viae restat eo plus viatici quaerere Couetousnesse in age is much to be blamed Can there bee any thing more obsurd then when there is least way to go to make most prouision Cat. Mâi One thinking that there was nothing so honest as to demand and receiue demanded of King Archelaus being at supper a cup of gold wherein he dranke The King commanded his Page to go and giue it to Euripides who was at the table and turning towards him that had beg'd it âe said As for thee thou art worthy to demand and to be refused for that thou dost begge but Euripides is worthy to be rewarded although he demands not he knew not what it was to giue with reason and discretion to whom how much and when Hee gaue not with a refusing countenance but cheerefully and freely No man holds himselfe bound for that which is giuen by importunity and which is rather wrested away then receiued Slow graces are as troublesome as the swift are sweete Bounty should preuent demands sometimes hopes and neuer merit Shee doth not consider who receiues how farre the greatnesse of his courage and fortune goes that giues and doth fore-warne him that there are some that deserue to bee refused when
Accompts of the Chamber of the Treasure that in the yeare one thousand foure hundred three score and seuenteene he caused a woman of Bethune with two more with her to come to Plessis hauing two horses and foure Kine to make Butter and Cheese for his owne mouth and that for the voiage implements and prouision of this woman and her Family he paid seuen pounds This popular facility did much auaile him to winne the hearts of the Parisians Popularity of Lewis the 11. whom the pretext of the Common-weale had much shaken The Signior of Haillan saith That being come to Pares hee went from street to streete and from house to house to dine and sup with them talking familiarly with euery one to make himselfe pleasing vnto the people and to incense them against his enemies That the Parisians neuer held the better party nor did any thing commendable but at this time for they were for the King and did support and releiue him His Chronicle obserues for an example of his affection to Paris that he came in the yeare one thousand foure hundred three score and eleuen with the Duke of Guienne his brother and there made great feasts and kindled the Bonfire at the Greue on Saint Iohn Baptists Eue His most confident seruants fate commonly at his Table and hee made them discourse of diuerse subiects He would not haue their hearts in the clouds whilst their bodies were at the Table l ãâ¦ã the minde ãâã the necessary pleasures of the body not that ãâ¦ã wallow in them He must sâbmit his violent occupations ãâã Lbhorious thoughts to the vse of the ordinary life and if hee bee wâse lât him vse moderation Hee would be entertained in his eare by them that came from other Prouinces to vnderstand all things and to draw out the Quintessence Among the profites of Commerce the knowledge they haue of that is done among strangers should be esteemed one of the chiefe for by the going and comming of Marchants Princes are aduertised of many things whereof they should otherwise be ignorant and they that report them do not conceiue of them after the same manner as they do that receiue them Great Vnderstandings draw profite from euery thing and can iudge of the resemblances of things which do nothing resemable the which is one of the highest points of humane wisedome It is true that the wise obserue other discommodities which grow by commerce to alter and degenerate mens m When as Caesar would giue a reason of the Belges vallour he saith Propterea quod à cultu humanitate Prouinciae long issimè absunt minimeque ad eos mercatores saepe commeant atque ea quae ad effeminaâdos animos pertinent important Caes. l. 1. de Bell. Gall. For that the Prouinces are farre from ciuility and humanity neither do Marchants go often vnto the to carry those things that may make their minds effâminat manners courages The King being very familiar with men of this sort caused them to eate at his Table to discourse more freely The Kings good countenance added to the place and good cheere makes them speake that are most staied A Marchant seeing himselfe often in this honour disdained to see himselfe still called Sir Iohn and besought the King to make him an Esquire The King gaue him letters of gentry after which the Marchant ware a Rapier and apparell accordingly n Marchandise is incompatible with Nobility not for that the one propounds honour onely the other profiâe for both may bee vnited But for that Gentry cannot be purchased but by birth and the seruice of the sword or by the dâgnity of Offices which make men Noble wherefore the Emperour Maximilian answered a merchant who besought him to make him a Gentleman I can make thee much richer then thou art but it it is not in my power to make thee a Gentleman He presented himselfe vnto the King thinking that by this new honour hee had beene raysed to the Epicycle of Mars and that hee should go equall with the chiefe Noble-men in Court The Asse is entertained with blowes when as the Spaniell is cherished at the Table But hee would not vouchsafe to looke on him and left him alwayes attending The Merchants would gladly haue left his letters to returne vnto his first course and not able to endure this change hee complained vnto the King who said vnto him When I made you sit at my table I held you as the first of your condition and did no wrong vnto this Gentlemen to honour you for such o The change of condition is not alwayes honorarable nor fortunate It is better to be the head of a slye then the tayle of a Lyon Now that you would be a Gentleman and that in this quality you are preceded by many who purchased it by the Swords of their Ancestors and by their owne merits I should do them wrong in doing you the like fauour Go M r Gentleman Of all exercises he was most earnest at hunting Lewis 11. delighted in hunting and indeed it is the most royall and most necessary for a Prince to inure him to toyle p Hunting is the true exercise of Princes The Roman Emperours beeing alwayes in warre had no pleasures and besides they were forced to hunt very farre from Rome The Kings of Macedonia Persia Parthia haue alwaies been great Hunters to know the Countrey and to entertaine in time of peace a goodly table of warre but he would not haue this exercise common although it doth rightly belong vnto the Nobility when they are dispenced withall from the seruice of the sword Hee did forbid hunting in the beginning of his reigne and added to this defence odious punishments It was a hanging matter for a Gentleman to flye idlenesse they punished him as rigorously that had slaine a wild beast as a Man q To take the exercise of hunting from a Gentleman is to declare him base Besides it he can not do any thing in time of peace and to play the Gentleman for time that is not is to do nothing A Lacedemonian seing that the Ariopage had condemned an Athenian of Idlenesse intreated his friendes that were about him to shewe him the man that was condemned to liue a Gentleman and thereof come so many tales of the seuerity of this Prince which haue dishonoured his life and which now beautifie this History as Toads Serpents and Monsters are admired and pleasing vpon Marbles and Agathes r It was more pardonable saith Claud Seyffel to kill a man then a Stagge or a wilde Boare Princes haue alwayes made choyce of a great number of seruants in some they haue had more confidence and credit they haue done them greater fauours and aduanced them more then the rest And although these elections bee not alwayes grounded vpon merit and that honours conferred vpon vnworthy men are the lesse esteemed yet it were to clippe the wings of
the Kings Authority to restraine him from this liberty Hee made of men as an Auditor doth of Counters placing some for hundreds others for thousands some for ten and some for vnits He allowed many petty Companions in his Cabinet who could not remember the condition of their fore-fathers without blushing or disavowing them s Honor meeting with an vnworthy subiect hath lesse luster and esteeme When as the people of Athens saw that Yperbolââ ãâã decayed man and who had nothing to loose was intreatreated equally with good men they dissolued the ãâã an honorable punishment for those whose vertue was suspected In like manner they tooke it ill at Roma when as Flauius being freed by Appius was made Edilis Curulis But for all that he did not leaue to haue about him and to imploy in great charges Noble-men issued from houses which were then illustrious both by their owne vertues and by those of their fore-fathers Of this number was Iohn of Daillon Lord of Lude The Lord of Lude and Imbert of Baterney Lord of Bouchages They came in fauour with this Prince by diuers meanes and maintained it in like maner The Lord of Lude had been bred vp with this Prince and the affection which begins so soone doth not wither easily Philip de Commines addes this reason that he knew well how to please the King Fortune fauoured the merits of Imbert of Baterney Imbert of Baterney Lewis Dauphin of France retiring himselfe into Dauphiné and going from Moras to Romans hee staied in a valley vnder the Castle of Baterney to take the coole aire and demanding some refreshing in the heate of the season and the tediousnesse of the way the Lord of Baterney sent some things vnto him and came himselfe to doe his duty hee brought with him Imbert of Baterney being then but a youg man who carried a Hauke with the which hee kild some Partridges t The pleasure of hunting which had beene the raâing of his fortune was in a manner the cause of his ruine Claude of Seyell saith that going to ãâã to see the Dauphin hauing had him to field to see his Haukes flye the king was much incâsed thinking that he had a designe to make him see the woâld and to know it The Dauphin tooke pleasure in it and commanded him to come vnto him to Romans for that hee had a desire to see that Hauke flye againe He went and did so please this Prince as he demanded him of his father and from that time he neuer abandoned him vntill his death He made him great in riches and honor as he was in merit and vertue Charles of Artois Charles of Artoix Earle of Eu hauing remained three and twenty yeares prisoner in England returned into France and was much beloued of king Lewis the eleuenth for that he held nothing of the sower arrogant humors of his predecessors he continued in the Kings seruice at such time as the Noble-men left him to follow the Princes Armie He reconciled the King and the Duke of Brittanie and soone after died in Iuly in the yeare 1471. without any children Iohn of Bourgondy Earle of Neuers his Nephew was his heire u The accord betwixt the king and the Duke of Brittany was made at Saumur in the yeare 1469. and the difficulties were decided by the deâterity of the Earles of Eu and Dunois Iohn of Orleans Bastard of Orleans Earle of Longueville base sonne to Lewis Duke of Orleans was the greatest and most fortunate Captaine of his time he alone of all the Noblemen of the league of the Common-weale pursued the fruits which France expected of such an enterprise He was chiefe and President of the Commissioners appointed for the reformation of the disorders of the Realme and died before he could see the effects of that which hee had so earnestly pursued in the yeare 1470. Andrew of Laual Andrew of Laual Lord of Loheac Lewis 11. tooke from him the dignity of Marshall of France wherewith Charles 7 had honoured him and rewarded his seruice Hee restored it vnto him againe when as necessity made him know that none was more capable then he For his sake he gaue vnto his brother the Lord of Chastillon the Office of great Maister of the Waters and Forrests Alaine of Albret purchased the surname of Great by the same greatnesse of courage which gaue the sword of France to Charles of Albret his grand-father Alaine of Albret x Charles of Albret was not onely entreated but in a manner forced by the King to receiue the sword of Costable The king pât it into his hand the Dukes of Orleans Burgondy Berry Bourbo girt him with it a little before hee had caried Charles the seuenth vnto the font He left the league of the Common-weale as soone as he was entred into it and remained more constant in the assurance of his word then the Duke of Nemours his great corage found nothing impossible He was often wont to say that he which had force in hand needed no other thing He married Francis Vicountesse of Limoges and was father to Iohn of Albret King of Nauarre Iohn of Bueil Iohn of Bueil Earle of Sancerre presently after the coronation of Lewis the eleuenth was dismist from his Office of Admirally y The Earle of Sancerre was Admirall of France by the death of Pregent of Coitiuy Son-in-Law to Giles of Raix Marshall of France for no other reason but for that he had serued Charles the seuenth He returned to Court and fauour but yet he stood alwayes vpon his guard against that Lyon which strooke with his paw when they least thought of him Iohn of Andie Iohn of Andie Bastard of Armagnac Lord of Lescun and Earle of Cominges was Admiral of France after the dismission of the Earle of Sancerre and then Marshall of France he chased the Brittains from Baieux and was Gouernour of Dauphine Ioachim of Rouvault Ioachim of Rouvault z Hee had done great sâruices vnder King Charles the seuenth and had beene present at the battell of Fromigny and at the siege of Bourdeaux The King gaue him the place of Marshall of France and Monstrelet saith that Charles the seuenth made him constable of Bourdeaux and that hee tooke his oath in the hands of the Chancellors of France Lord of Gamasches serued him worthily and couragiously in the warre of the Common-weale and was the cause of the preseruation of Paris He alwayes coasted the Duke of Bourgondy his Army to keepe it from scattering to the hurt of the Kings subiects and that it should not make profit by the surprise of any places in passing Then he cast himselfe into Paris and by his presence fortified the courages which an accident rather feared then foreseene had much deiected The King gaue him the gouernment with a troope of two hundred maisters and made him Marshall of France Tanneguy of Chastel Tanneguy
of Chastel a He was one of the Commissioners whom the King appointed for the accusation and Imprisonment of the Cardinall of Balue one of the Architects of the league found in the end that there was no better lodging then at the kings armes His fortune was ruined in Brittany and raised in France Hee did negotiate the enter-view of the King and Duke of Bourgondy at Peronne he was imployed in the Truce of nine yeares 1475. and was aduanced to the gouernment of Rousillon The Lord of Nantoillet had for a time the authority ouer all the Armies of France Lord of Nantoillet he wanted nothing but the name of Constable for he did exercise the Functions the King hauing made him his Lieutenant Generall throughout his whole Realme and afterwards Lord Steward of France He was so fauoured as the King gaue him often the moity of his bed This fauour lasted not long The Chronicle of the Kings library saith That the King could not pardon any one of whom he had suspition Death of the Lord of Nantoillet He caused his head to be cut off in the yeare 1468. and that the Hangman hauing cut off but a peece at the first blow hee lest him force and courage enough to stand vp and to protest before heauen and the people that hee died an Innocent After that Philip de Commines had said that he had serued the king well in Paris in the warre of the Common-weale he addes In the end he was ill rewarded more by the pursuite of his enemies then by the Kings fault but neither the one nor the other can well excuse themselues Anthony of Chabannes Anthony of Chabannes Earle of Dammartin brother to Iames of Chabannes Lord Steward of France saw the ship of his fortune cast vpon the shelfe in the beginning of this Princes Reigne His good fotune drew him out of the Bastille to go to the warre of the Common-weale in the end whereof hee was made Lord Steward of France hee had the chiefe charge of the Kings Army in Guyenne and was then much fauoured by this Prince with whom hee was so inward as when hee meant to marry his second Daughter to the Duke of Orleans hee discouered his secret affections vnto him by a letter which hee did write vnto him vpon that subiect wher of the Chronicle in written hand of King Lewis the twelfth makes mention hee sent him word that whatsoeuer they said hee was resolued to giue his daughter to the yong Duke of Orleans but no man should bee troubled to nourish the Children that should bee borne of that marriage Peter of Termouille Peter of Tremouille Lord of Croan saw not his life to end with the fauours and honors hee had had of this Prince His Predecessors Guy of Tremouille and Iohn of Tremouille Lord of Ionuelle were made great in following the Duke of Bourgondies party The eldest of this house married Ioane Countesse of Boulleyn and Comminges Widow to Iohn of France Duke of Berry b K. Charles ãâ¦ã yeare 1430. King Charles 7 supported George of Tremouille Lord of Craon in the quarrell which he had with the Earle of Richmont for the Lands of Thouars and Benon Peter of Tremouille defeated the troopes of the Prince of Orange before Gy in the Franch-County but hauing beene repulst from the siege of Dole hee was disgraced by Lewis the eleuenth who loued the seruices better then the seruants Hee was saith Philip de Commines a very fat man who being reasonably well content and rich retired himselfe to his house Charles of Ambois did long feele the disgrace of Peter of Chaumont his father Charles of Ambois who retired himselfe in the begining of the reigne of Lewis with the Duke of Berry c The House of ãâ¦ã by the Kings Commandement in the ãâã 1465. He was afterwards imployed in great affaires and continued vnto the end His brother was Bishop of Alby and then Cardinall and the greatest fauourite of Lewis the twelfth who called him M r. George Philip de Commines calleth Charles of Ambois a most Valiant Wife and Diligent Man Peter of Rohan Peter of Rohan Lord of Gy did gouerne his fortune happily amidst the waues and stormes of this Princes reigne who made him Marshall of France He was one of the foure which vndertooke the gouernment of affaires during the Kings infirmity and disability d ãâ¦ã the Bishop of ãâã the Lord of Châumont the Marshall of Gye and the Lord of Lude gouerned the Estate for 10 or 12 dayes Hee continued this great Authority vnder the reigne of Charles the eighth for the respect whereof the Lady Anne of France Regent to the King and Wife to Peter of Bourbon offended that the Duke of Orleans attempted vpon her Authority would haue taken him prisoner by the Marshall of Gye The Duke of Orleans retired himselfe and hee that was chosen to stay him was the Instrument of his returne and made his peace with the Regent Iohn of Chalons Prince of Orange Iohn of Chalons left the Duke of Bourgondy to serue Lewis the eleuenth then hee left Lewis to serue Mary daugther to the Duke of Bourgondy This first discontentment against his first maister grew for that disputing the succession of Iohn of Chalons Prince of Orange his Grand-father e Iohn of Chalons sonne to Lewis Margaret of Vienne was married to Mary of Baussac heire of the principalitie of Orange by whom hee had Lewis surnamed the Good Lewis first maried Ioane of Montbelâart by whom hee had William and then hee maââied Elenor of Armagnaâ by whom hee had Lewis and Hugh Williaâ was married to Katherine of ãâã of ãâã Iohn of Chalons was borne of whom wee now make mention against Lewis and Hughe his vncles the Duke of Bourgondy being President in his Councell when as the cause was pleaded made a Decree against him This despight drew him to the Kings seruice who promised to restore him to his lands and to giue him the gouernment of Bourgondy but when as he saw that he had but the name and that the Lord of Tremouille had the command of all the forces he returned to the seruice of the Princesse of Bourgondy and caused the whole Countrey to reuolt from the King He troubled him much and let him see that a great Prince hath no small enemies that a Hornet is able to put a Bull into fury Iohn of Esteteuille Iohn of Eââteuille Lord of Torcy gouerned his fortune amidst so many rockes and shelues vnto a safe port The King made him maister of the Cross-bowes and committed vnto him the guard of the Cardinal of Balue in the Castell of Montbason It was he that came and aduertised the King of the danger in suffering such numbers of English to enter into Amiens during the Treaty of Piquigny Philip of Creuecoeur Philip of Creuecoeur Lord of Esquerdes or Cordes Marshall of France He had great
pride or folly for any one to hold himselfe too strong Lib. 2. Cha. 10 and yet Captaines doe it sometimes to be held valiant or for that they doe not well vnderstand the busines which they haue in hand Among other things that are fit to make conquest if there bee not a great iudgement all the rest is of no force and I thinke that it must come from the grace of God He that hath the profit of the Warre hath the honor There must bee no hast nor precipitation when they vndertake Lib. 5. Chap. 28 and begin a warre And I tell you that Kings and Princes are much the stronger when they vndertake it with the consents of the subiects and are more feared of their enemies When it is a defensiue warre this cloud is seene comming a farre off especially if it be from strangers and therein good subiects should not complaine nor refuse any thing and the accident cannot be so sudden but they may call some men such as shall bee named It is not done without cause and therein they vse no fixion nor entertaine a pettie warre at pleasure and without cause to haue occasion to leuy money The greatest miseries come commonly from the stronger For the weaker seeke nothing but patience Souldiours I Hold that men at Armes entertained are well imployed vnder the authoritie of a wise King or Prince Lib. 3. Chap. 3. but when he is otherwise or that he leaues Infants the vse wherevnto their Gouernours imploy them is not alwaies profitable neither for the King nor for his subiects Men at Armes lie continually vpon the Country without paying any thing committing infinite insolencies and excesse as all others know For which they are not content with an ordinarie life and with that which they finde in a labourers house from whom they are payed But contrariwise they beat the poore men and force them to fetch bread wine and victuals from abroad And if he hath a faire Wife or a Daughter hee shall doe well to keepe her safely Yet seeing there is pay it were easie to reforme it so as the men at Armes were payed euery two monethes at the farthest and so they should haue no excuse to commit those insolencies which they doe vnder coulour of want of pay For the money is leuied and comes at the end of the yeare I speake this for our Realme which is more opprest in this case then any other that I know and no man can help it but a wise King Other neighbour countries haue other punishments Sieges ALthough that sometimes sallies bee very necessarie yet are they dangerous for them that are in a place for the losse of Ten men is greater to them then a hundred to the enemie without their numbers not being equal neither can they recouer more when they will and they may loose a Commander or a Leader which oftentimes is the cause that the rest of the souldiors demand nothing more then to abandon the place In sieges of places the losse of one man alone is the cause to preserue his Master from a great inconuenience Lib. 5. Chap. 3. although he be not of his house nor of any great extraction but onely hath iudgment and vertue Example in Cohin an Englishman who being slaine with a Canon shot within Nancy the Englishmen whom he commanded mutined and caused the Towne to be yeelded After that a Prince hath laid siege against a place Lib. 5. Chap. 6. and planted his Artilerie if any come to enter and to relieue it against him they are worthy of death by the law of Armes Yet it is not practised in our Warres which are more cruell then the wars of Italy or Spaine whereas they vse this custome Despaire of succors make men besieged to put all things in hazard Example by the furious sallie of them of Liege who had like to haue taken or slaine the King or the Duke of Bourgundy Victorie THey doe alwaies augment the number of the vanquished Lib. 2 Chap. 2. I haue seene in many places whereas for one man they said they had slaine a hundred to please them and with such lies they doe sometimes abuse their masters Hee that gaines in warre growes in greater reputation with his Souldiors then before Lib. 2. Chap. 2. His obedience encreaseth They grant him what hee demands and his men are more hardie and couragious Changes THe changes are great after the death of great and mighty Princes In the Prologue where some loose and others gaine Great changes proceed not from fortune Lib. 1. Chap. 12. which is nothing but a Poeticall fiction The Author speakes this vppon the Constables ruine and concludes in these tearmes He should be very ignorant that should beleeue that fortune or any such like thing should cause so wise a man to be hated of these two Princes at one instant who in their liues did neuer agree in any thing but in this and most of all of the King of England who had married his Neece and did wonderfully loue all his wiues kindred and especially those of this house of S t Pol. It is likely and very certaine that hee was depriued of the grace of GOD to haue made himselfe an enemie to these three Princes and not to haue any one friend that durst lodge him one night and there was no other fortune that had any hand in it but God and so it hath happened and will happen to many others who after great and long prosperities fall into great aduersities When as a great man hath lost all his owne he soone wearies them that support him Example of Rene Duke of Lorraine who retired into France after the Duke of Bourgundie had taken his Country God giues extraordinarie willes vnto Princes when it pleaseth him to change their fortunes Lib. 5. Chap. 5. Example of Charles Duke of Bourgundie who grew obstinate at the second siege of Nancy against the aduice of his Councell Prosperitie Aduersitie A Misfortune neuer comes alone Lib. 3. Chap. 5. Prosperitie makes people proud Lib. 4. Chap. 3. Example of them of Arras Princes are proud and seeke not the true remedies in their misfortunes Lib. 5. Chap. 5. whereof the first is to returne vnto God and to consider if they haue offended him in any thing and to humble themselues before him and acknowledge their errors For it is he that iudges of such suites whereas no error can bee propounded After this it will doe him great good to conferre with some priuate friend and boldly to discouer his griefes vnto him for it doth ease and comfort the heart and the spirits recouer their vertue conferring thus with some one in priuate or else he must seeke another remedy by exercise and labour for of necessitie seeing we be men such griefes must passe with great passion either in publike or in priuate In time of aduersitie euerie one murmures and contemnes all the actions of the
with great pompe into Tournay 64. His message to the Duke of Britany 65. Hee separates the heads of the League 107. Two errours which he coÌmitted in the assurance of his person 111. 112 His politick dissimulation with the Constable 170. His iudgement to distinguish spirits 183 His message to the King of England Ibid. He discouers the Constables double dealing to the Bourgundian 186. His iests vpon the peace made with Edward 4 th and his feare to haue them related againe 191. Learning disalowed by the Turke 219. Liberty the ancient coulour for innouation 80. Lie especially in a Gentleman how to be punished 169. Leige reuolts against the Duke of Bourgundy 103. Is supported by the French king 107. Submits it selfe and demands pardon 109 Hath her wals beaten downe 110. Is againe besieged by the Bourgundian 114. Loue without regard of honour or profite 58. Loue continued towards children for their fathers sake 76. M Marriage of Lewis the 11 th 6. Misery of imprisonment mittigated by kind vsage 177. miseries of France for 70. yeares 5. Modesty of Blanch daughter to Iohn King of Nauarre 6. Mony leuied vnder the pretext of warre and ill employed 46. Multiplicity of Popes 38. Murder iustified by the Duke of Bourgundy 2. N Nauigation contemned by the French 180. Neutrality in a subiect is meere Treason 98. Normandy yeelded to the King 99 O Obedience in a Souldier is as much commendable as courage 177. Obseruations of the Duke of Guiennes life 150. Occasion which caused an ouerture of peace betwixt the French and English 182. Opinion causeth terrible motions in the soule 15. Opportunity of fight neglected 81 Ostentation of Maiesty not suteable with misery 6. P Paris reduced to the French Kings obedience 9. Famisheth the Army which would haue famished it 91. Almost vnpeopled 99. Parpignan besieged and wonne by famine 154. Parts which frame a Prince 16. Peace of Bourges 3. Peter Hagembach his crimes iniustice and death 174. Phillip Duke of Bourgundy wins Dinan by force and ruines it 104. His death the greatnes of his house Ibid. His bounty courage and moderation 105. Pius 2 presseth the abolition of the Pragmaticall sanction 44. His affection to the house of ArragoÌ and his threat against France 45. He disauowes his own writings 48. His death birth fortune and dignities 72. Plurallity of chiefes is for the most part ruinous vnprofitable 88 Pontoise taken by assault 18. Power which is not feared by straÌgers is not well obeyed by Subiects 32. Pragmaticke Sanction abolished and dragged through the streets of Rome 51. Praecipitation is a shelfe couered with the shipwrackes which she hath caused in great occasions 78. Princes are especially to provide that great houses vnder their gouernment ally not themselues against their liking 19 Princes seeme very weake or very fearefull which giue an Enemy-army leasure to make a bridg 89 Princes in marrying regard not their pleasure but the necessity and profit of their affaires 144. They are no lesse bound by simple words then priuate persons are by Oathes 163 Q Quality of Cardinals 50 R Reasons which perswaded the English to peace 184 Reformations of the disorders of the Realme 95 Reception of the King of Portugall into Paris 219 Representations ridiculous 43 Reputation of a generous Father makes a valiant sonne lesse remarkeable 20 Rigor of Lewis in the beginning of his reigne 53 Royalty endures no equall 8 Rubempre staid at the Hage by the Earle of Charalois 66 Ruine and desolation of the Legeois 118 S Sedition ought to be smothered in the beginning 76 Sedition cloked by Religion 106 Siege of Pontoise 17 Siege of Saintron 109 Siege of Nancy 221 Seuerity of discipline is hardly obseruable in ciuill warres 80 Son-in-law against father-in-law 3 Succours of Men and Money sent to the Earle of Charalois 94 Suisses before Zurich 21. defeated 23. they send succours to the Duke of Lorraine 222 Summe of the Pragmaticke Sanction 49 T Talbot relieues Pontoise 17 Temporising profitable 149 Thornes and Roses of Marriage 44 Trechery most damnable 158 Treaty made without Liberty bindes not 119 Treaty of peace between the FreÌch King and the Bourgondian 192 Trifles want not their moment and serue many times to driue weightier matters out of the heads of the people 132 Troubles in England 140 Truce betweene France and England prolonged 24 Truth not to be found in an enemies tongue 25 Tumults in Cyprus 127 Turkes make their profit of the diuision of Christendome 46 V Valour and bounty of Lewis the Dauphin 9 Valour and fidelity of the Scottishmen 117 W Water not to bee digged for in a neighbours house before we haue sought for it in our owne 148 Wisedome and temporising surmount all difficulties Words of S. Bernard 49 Words of the Duke of Bourgondy 79 Words of K. Lewis at his departure from the Duke of Bourgondy 119 Words betwixt the King of England and the Duke of Bourgondy 187 Y Youth and Inconstancy are Sisters of one Mother 78 A Table of the principall Matters contained in the last foure Bookes ADmonition made by the king to the Dauphin 70 Age becomes couetous when it hath not any need of goods 64 Alponso King of Castille his death 87 Anaxagoras his speech of the Sunne 11 Andrew Archbishop of Krane preacheth against the Pope 58. and persisteth in his proposition 60 Armies are not to bee entertained without tribute 42. Arras yeelded to the French King by composition 14 Artillery inuented 43 Audiences of Henry the third at his returne from Poland 159 Authority of the King is an Ocean 135 B Balue the Cardinall his policy to get out of prison 66 Barbarisme in the time of Lewis the eleuenth 190 Basnesse aduanced forgets it selfe the fauor which raised it 10. Basill excommunicated by the Pope 58 Beginnings of the diminution of Flanders 76. Bishop of Liege trecherously slaine being abandoned of his owne people 37. 38 Boloigne vnder the virgin Maries homage 13 Bosio's errour in the History of Malta 137 C Changes of gouernment at Florence 2 Charlemaine founder of the Vniversity at Paris 124 Chauvin Chancellor of Brittanie his lamentable end 10 Chronicles often follow toyes and leaue out most famous actions 88 Claudius Seissel his hard iudgement 121. Comandements extraordinary of the King 110 Confession of the fault is the best rethorick to appease iust choler 9 Conspiracy against the life of the French King miraculously discouered 31. 32. c. Contempt is the fore-runer of sedition 65 Contempt of discipline in Souldiers 184 Controuersie for the Lands of Berne Foix and Bigorre 84 Cosmo de Medicis his great riches and bounty 167. his exile and returne 168 Credit of Astrologians 188 Cruelties of Mahomet at the taking of Constantinople 46 Curing of the kings euill 123 D Danger in employing forraigne Souldiers 39 Death of the Lord of Nantoillet 199 Desolation is the house of Bourgondy 161 Discourse of a powerfull charme 127 Discommodities of prouision for Horse-men 39