mountaines deluded the Kings commandements who knew well how to hunt him out of his Rockes and to send him prisoner to Beaucaire with his Wife and Children there to disgest his fellonie and to teache more mightie Vassalls and Subiects what it is to dallie with their Soueraigne Hauing tamed him with a whole yeares imprisonment and drawne from him proofes of a serious confession of his fault hee grants him lâ—bertie his Earledome and his fauour making good vse of him in his affaâ—res But the quarrell of Nauarre was of greater consequence Henry King of Nauarre Earle of Champagne and Brie Troubles in Nauarre had married Isabell the Daughter of Robert Earle of Arthois brother to Saint Lewis and at that time dyed leauing one onely Daughter his heire named Iane with his Widow to whome hee had appointed the regencie of his realme After the decease of Henry which was in the yeare 1274. at Pampelune the Nobility were greeued to bee gouerned by a Woman 1274. shee flies to Philip as to her neere Kinsman The King sends Eustace of Beau-marais a Knight to assist her with his Councell the which encreased the discontent of the Nauarrois who take Armes and beseege the Mother the Daughter and this newe Councellor in the Castle of Pampelune hoping to become Maisters thereof and to settle the gouernement at their pleasures Philip hastens thether releeues the Beseeged punisheth the Rebells setleth the Gouernement furnisheth the Forts and sends Ioane the Heyre of Nauarre into France with the good liking of the Nauarrois by the assurance which Philip gaue them to make her Queene of France in marrying her to his eldest Sonne Nauarre continued thus without any alteration wholy at Philips disposition whose authority was confirmed in all those Prouinces and his Name grewe great throughout all Spaine This worke thus easily ended an other taske began which brought much misery to this raigne The French affayres succeeded not well at Constantinople we haue shewed into what extremity the successors of Baldwin Emperor of Constantinople were brought and now behold the last act of this borrowed Empire Baldwin the sonne of Robert in the life of Iohn of Breyne his Father in Law made head against his enemies so as hauing imployed all his meanes and exhausted his treasure he flies to Frederick the 2. his Brother in Law but in vaine and this was the period of his ruine for his absence gaue his enemies meanes to attempt and his fruitlesse labour was a proofe of his weakenesse at his returne Michel Paleologus a Lord of the Country great both in meanes and courage after the death of Theodore Lascaris The French expâ—â—â—ed Constantinople by the Greekes of whom we haue spoken had so managed this occasioÌ„ as Baldwin could scarse enter into Constantinople to prouide for the safety of the Citty when he was beseeged by Paleologus and so hardly prest as he saued himselfe with difficulty in the I le of Negrepont and from thence went into Italy leauing Constantinople with all this imaginary Empire threescore yeares after the taking thereof by Baldwin the first Thus the Greeks are repossessed vnder the gouernement of Michel Paleologus who in the end seized on the Empire of the East But the comming of Baldwin into Italy was the cause of a long and painefull taske wherein our Philip was so farre ingaged as he shall leaue his life there and cause much trouble to his subiects His Vncle Charles King of Sicilia shall be the motiue Philips disposition but his owne disposition shall thrust him forward Philip was a great vndertaker oftentimes of other mens affayres as the whole discourse of his life will shew wherby it seemes the Title of Hardy was giuen him Not so discreet therein as his Father Why he was called Hardâ— who carried himselfe alwayes coldly a neuter in his neighbours dissentions but when hee found meanes to reconcile them with mildnes Let vs now returne whence we parted Baldwin thus dispossessed of Constantinople flies to Charles King of Sicilia a Frenchman to a French but he had a more strict gage his Daughter Bertha whom Charles had married after the death of Beatrix Countesse of Prouence Moreouer he addressed himselfe to one whose spirit was neuer quiet but in Action A strange man hee was Earle of Prouence King of Naples and Sicilia Vicar of the Empire Senator of Rome holding Tuscane at his deuotion almost all Italy 〈…〉 baâ—enâ— Prince in as great reputation as any Prince of his time yet not satisfied Baldwin arriued presently after this shipwracke perswading him to hope for better he tryes all meanes to leuy a goodly army to go into Greece and to restore him with the rest of the French Nobility to their Estates and Seigneuries whereof Paleologus had dispossessed them not foreseeing how much more necessary it was for him to gard his newe conquests of Sicilia and Naples and to keepe his credit in Italy in well intreating his new Subiects and imbracing polletikely the Italians loue As Charles deuised the meanes to attempt so his enemies sought the meanes to preuent him They were not small nor fewe in number Pope Nicholas Peter King of Arragon and Michell Peleologus Emperor of Constantinople but there wanted a Soliciter There was one found out proued a notable instrument Iohn Prochite one of the greatest men of Sicilia being dispossessed he imployed his whole study to recouer his Estate by expelling of Charles his capitall enemy Pope Vrbain a Frenchman 1280. borne at Troyes in Champagne had called Charles to these goodly Kingdomes and contrary wise Pope Nicholas an Italian borne at Rome plotted this Tragedie to dispossesse him although his successor Martin borne at Tours did fauour him seeking to restore him againe to his possessions but it was too late Such is the ebbing and flowing of the fauour of the Sea of Rome subiect to receiue diuers persons and by consequence diuers humors Peter of Arragon had married the daughter of Manfroy whome Charles had dispossessed of Sicilia as we haue sayd and therefore had reason to attempt any thing against Charles for the recouery thereof A party made against Charles King of Sicilia holding his title better then the Popes guift Michel Paleologus sought to preuent this storme which Charles prepared against his new purchase and therefore had reason to imploy all his forces against him But that which did most preiudice Charles was his carriage and his officers towards the people of Naples and Sicilia whome hee discontented by all kindes of excesse impoâ—itions rigorous exactions of money insolencies against their wiues and daughters and outrages against their persones This vniust and vnchast libertie which exceeded in the manners of our men bred a iust choller against them in the mindes of this poore Captiue people which made them to seeke all meanes to shake off their yoake and to be reuenged But they had cheefely offended the Soueraigne Iudge of all the
he and his sonne shall vse no lesse then the Nauarrois had done this happened in the yeare of our Lord God 1387. in the moneth of December This iust execution did greatly countenance the young age of Charles for that in so sollemne an acte he had carryed a countenance worthy of a royall Maiestie His age and the name of a King made him know that he was a King together with the dayly instructions which did sound in his eares by his most inward and trustie seruants yet his Vncle 's kept him still in his minoritie disposing of matters in councell by their authoritie 1388. Charles was much discontented with this proceeding of the Dukes of Berry and Bourgongne who should rather haue preuented him then he them experience hauing taught all Frenchmen what he was He therefore seekes a remedy for their errour He caused a councell to be held at Rheimes where it was decreed That Charles should be freee from the gouernement of his vncles Charles out of his vncles gouernemâ—nt who grâ—we discontented for that both his age and the proofe of his iudgment did tesâ—ifie plainely that he was worthy to gouerne his realme This resolution greatly displeased the Dukes of Berry and Bourgongne who would gladly haue held a longer possession of this royall authority which they inioyed being discontented with such as had put this spirit into the yong King The Cardinall of Laon one of the first authors of this councell enioyed it not long for he died not without suspition of poyson Iohn of Montague shall pay both principall and interest in this time Iohn Mercier and the Lord of Noiant shall haue their parts these shall now enter into quarter and haue all the credit It is this Noiant which caused the golden Hart in the Pallace to bee made for a modell of that which he would make of gold of the Ingots hee had gathered together in the Treasurye hauing reduced the coyned money into this forme least Charles a yong Prince and very bountifull should giue it away prodigally The Dukes of Berry and Bourgongne retire themselues quietly to their houses making a shewe to be very well satisfied although they hatched a great discontent and especially Philip being a man of an imperious and insupportable spirit The order â—f this relation We haue drawne Charles out of his Minority the first parcell of our discourse Let vs now see his Maiority into the which I tremble to enter foreseeing so happy a beginning to haue so lamentable an end But alas what shall wee see therein which wee haue not seene in our miserable age Our experience shal be vnto vs a mourneful commentary most truâ— in the raigne which we are to represent The Maiority of King Charles the sixt Remarkable in two respects of health and sicknes HE raigned thirteene yeares eyther with his Vncles or alone in his good sense and 29. in phrensie not ruling but ruled or rather rauished by the sundry passions of others So wee will distinguish his Maioritye according to the calculation of these two seasons and in eyther of them the most famous actes of these home-bred confusions The first time of the Kings health From the yeare 1388. vnto 1393. FRance enioyed a long rest the tempests of these popular tumults being pacified Flanders subdued and the English forced to hold a truce by reason of their home-bred quarrells the which brought forth strange effects as we shall hereafter shewe Charles then vndertooke the charge of his Realme to gouerne alone without any Tutors The flower of his youth framed to great affaires and commendable for his milde disposition promised the fruites of a raigne both wise moderate peacefull and most happy But oâ— the vanity of mans hopes a dreame of him that wakes a fruitlesse paine which hunts and getts nothing Beeing freed from the gouernement of others hauing absolute authority he was desirous to marry Lewis his onely Brother and to giue him authority neither would he abandon his cousins of Aniou Lewis and Charles in their pretensions to the Realme of Naples The Estate of Milan did wonderfully import to aduance this action for the commodityes it hath in Italy To this ende he married his brother Lewis with Valentine the daughter of Iohn Galeas Duke of Milan a marriage which succeeded not according to his desseine no more then his owne An Italian woman ioyned with a Germane shall make strange worke to shewe that all is not gold that glisters for both these marriages were built vpon grounds of apparant good as farre as humane reason could comprehend to the ende they might haue great intelligences both in Germanie and Italy alliances which import much for the good of France Philip of Valois the Kings brother and Iohn Duke of Orleans were dead without children and the duchy returned to the ctowne Charles giues the Duchy of Orleans to his brother Lâ—wis Charles giues this duchie to his brother Lewis who was but Earle of Touraine and now shal be duke of Orleans and by this name shal be much spoken of In this profound peace it was necessary for Charles to make himselfe knowne to his subiects after so many confusions He makes a progresse into Languedock one of the farthest Prouinces from his chiefe Citty lying vpon the Mediterranean sea and yet one of the most fertill and best affected to the crowne He had especiall reasons to visit this goodly Prouince for the great complaints they made against the duke of Berry their gouernor who committed great extorsions by his officers vnder colour of authority Charles passeth by Dijon to his Vncle the Duke of Bourgogne He visits Bourgongne who accompanies him to Auignon The Earle of Sauoy comes vnto him the people of Daulphiné and Viâ—arez shewe a wonderfull ioy to see their King after so troublesome a time So he comes to Auignon being kindly receiued and much made of by Pope Clemenâ— the 7. who could not stand without him hauing Vrbain the 6 for his competitor The widdow of Lewis Duke of Aniou repaired thither who by the fauour of Charles caused Lewis the 2 her eldest sonne to be crowned King of Naples This course wee must hold for the countinuance of our history From Auignon he went into Languedoc to settle his authority the which was much respected by the people of that country but had beene greatly blemished by the gouernement of the Dukes of Aniou and Berry his Vnkles Gouernours of that goodly Prouince one after another Hee stayes at Montpellier a Cittie of a goodly and pleasant scituation 1389. where he heard many complaints against the Duke of Berry â—reat complaints against the Duke of Berry in Languedoc his Vncle for his great oppression of the countrie But the absence of this Prince and the authoritie of his name stayed the remedie to another season The Estates of the countrie made sute to haue the Earle of Foix for their gouernour hauing heretofore liued quietly vnder him but
sonnes Theodebert and Thierri Tragicall practises of â—wo women The first had for his portion the realme of Austrasia the second had Bourgongne Brunehault his mother suruiued him and kept at Metz with the eldest she presentenly styrred vp these two Princes ouer whome shee had great authority as their grandmother to pursue Clotaire for the shame and death of their father Behold sodenly an army of Austrasians and Bourguignons marcheth into France led by these two yong Princes Clotaire accustomed to these sports opposeth himselfe in person and gettes the victory with such successe as they say the course of the riuer of Aurance where the battaill was fought was stayed by the dead bodies of the conquered Fredegonde leapt for ioye of this second triumph Fredegonde dies with 〈◊〉 victory by reason of Brunehault who was her chiefe obiect but her ioye was presently conuerted into her owne funerall for shee died soone after to teach reuenging spirits that their hatreds which they would haue perpetuall are mortall and at the least wise ende with their deathes Thus Fredegonde died in her bed and was interred neare to Chilperic whom she had caused to be slaine so as in this peaceable death we may consider the patience of God which doth often attend those it reserues to his last iudgement But Brunehault who thought her selfe a conqueresse by the death of Fredegonde her capital enemy incenfeth Theodebert Thierri her grand-children anew against Clotaire They raise another army vnder the coÌ„duct of Beroald not willing any more to hazard their persons being taught by the successe of two great defeats Beroald is slaine in this battaile and yet the victory remaines to his men with great losse to the French so as it seemed the warre would grow more violent betwixt these Princes who nowe beganne to see a part of their reuenge against their Cousine Clotaire But the malice of Brunehault who had banded the Cousins must nowe diuide the brethren This old bitch euen in the fury of war fouÌ„d stil meanes to follow her beastly lechery then had she got a yong courtier called Protade for a stallion whom she entertained in vew and knowlege of the whole Court 599. and aduanced him beyond dutie or deâ—ert The dislike of this vnchast conuersation offensiue to the whole world doth in the end force Theodebert to find a meanes to withdrawe his mother from the view of the multitude who were eye witnesses of the filthinesse of this shamelesse old woman and of the ignominie of his house He supposed to send her away with pollicie perswading her she should doe best to retyre her selfe into some goodly monasterie there to lead a godly life and to seeke for rest be fitting her age This admonition caused her partly to leaue the Court and State of Theodebert but not to change her mind She retyres then from Metz Brunehault incenseth 〈◊〉 brother against the other and comes into Bourgongue to her other sonne full of choller and finding Thierri ill affected against his brother shee presently kindles the vnfortunate fire of dissention betwixt them which consumed them both and finally her selfe That posterities may note in this tragedie the examples of Gods iust iudgement who punisheth one sinne by another and the sinner by his owne sinne This lewd woman perswades Thierri that Theodebert was a bastard the sonne of a Gardiner and that he had lawfull cause to make warre against him as an vsurper of that which belonged vnto him by right Thierri being exceeding couetous embraceth this occasion prepares an armie against Theodebert and imployes this Protade in the principall charge who was a kindler of warre in the spirit of this yong Prince The cheefe Noblemen of Bourgongne infinitely grieued with these disorders not daring directly to charge Brunehault they set vpon her Minion kill him By this meanes they drawe Thierri to an accord with his brother Theodebert and so either of them sends backe his troupes Thus this fire seemed to be wholy quencht the which kindled soone after in an other place by the practises of the same woâ—k woman Thierri had remayned long vnmarried entertayning change of women by the counsell of this bitche who daily prouided him store of this stuffe but solicited by the continuall perswasions prayers of his Councel The husband against the 〈◊〉 he takes to wife Membergue the daughter of Dataric King of Spaine louing her with that honest affectioÌ„ that a man ought to loue his wife Brunehault iealous of this lawfull loue fearing to be dispossessed of her authoritie and credit if a lawfull wife possessed her husbands hart she workes by her charmes reducing Thierri to that extremitie that hee was not able to accompany with his wife and for a bait to his adulterie she furnisheth other women whome he might freely vse as shee loathed him of this poore Princesse causing him to send her home to her father Dataric as vnable to beare children who infinitly greeued with this disgrace done him in the person of his daughter resolues to reuenge Hee complaynes of this iniurie both to Clotaire and Theodebert whome he knew to be enemies to Thierri and all togither resolue to make warre against him Brunehault seeing this great storme ready to fall vpon Thierri she perswades him to compound with his brother Theodebert at what price soeuer whose humour she knew wel This accord was sold by Theodebert to Thierri at a deere rate for he had the CouÌ„tries of Champaigne Touraine Artois and many other places but it cost himselfe much dearer for by this composition all the armie was dispersed and euery one retyred home Thierri who by the aduise of his mother stood vpon his guard surpriseth his brother Theodebert with such aduantage that not onely he recouers all that he had giuen him but by the Councell of this Proserpina he embrewes his hands in his blood murthering him most barbarously The brother kills the brother Theodebert had but one onely daughter whome Thierri would take to wife to haue some honest pretext to seize vppon all his Estates But Brunehault who desired greatly to see him maister but not to haue a companion in this absolute authoritie disswades him from this marriage inferring to couer her hidden intent that it was not lawfull to marrie his neece Thierri blinded with passion who by a iust iudgement of God sought to die by poyson of this viper by whose meanes hee had done so much mischiefe replies that the daughter of Theodebert was none of his neece seeing that Theodebert was not his brother being begotten by another father reproching BruÌ„â—hault that he knew no more then she had taught him And that vpon this occasion shee had encouraged him to kill him And as they grew hot in wordes hee threatened to kill her Brunehault seeing her selfe taken by the â—ose 601 and measured by the same measure she had measured to others resolues to preuent Thierri and to murther him She herselâ—e
sweete Liquor of his insatiable reuenge A notable obseruation for treacherous and reuenging spirits who are then vanquished when they thinke to bee Conquerors Thierri a King in shewe is a spectator of these Tragedies as of a game at tables of his diuers Maiors which play at leuell coyle vntill that Pepin gets it and enioyes it onely with the Soueraigne gouernment of the French Monarchie Pepin during the confusions of these raigns had beene in Austrasia and purchased great credit with all men so as he was held worthy of this great charge the which he gouerned with so great wisdome and valour as hauing settled France in a peacefull Estate he had purchased more credit authority among the French then the King himselfe In the ende Thierri dies in the yeare 693. hauing raigned 19. yeares leauing Clouis and Childebert his Children for a witnesse that he had liued but in effect Pepin and his for the true heires of the Realme CLOVIS the third the 16. King of France CLOVIS .3 KING OF FRANC XVI BEing the eldest sonne of Thierri he raigned foure yeares and dyes without name and without children 693 to whom succeeds his brother CHILDEBERT the second the 17. King of France CHILDEBERT .2 KING OF FRANCE XVII WHO raigned 17. yeares 700. and dies in the yeare 718. hauing left two Sonnes Dagobert and Clotaire of like humour to himselfe DAGOBERT the second the 18. King of France DAGOBERT .2 KING OF FRANCE XVIII 719. HE raigned foure yeares and left two Children Chilperiâ— and Thierri with no better memorie then the rest So there passed fortie and foure yeares during which time Pepin had good meanes to fortifie his authority the which was in effect absolute by the negligence or rather idlenesse of these Kings who made a necessary way to newe desseins by their voluntary suffrance to incroach vpon their authority Pepin well acquainted with the humour of the French naturally bent to loue their Princes did not openly despise his masters but excused their weake dispositions not capable of much paine representing the heauie burthen of a great Estate and that the honour to gouerne iâ— is a trouble which costes deere He setled an impression in the Frenchmens mindes That those onely were worthie to bee Kings that knewe howe to gouerne So without any infinuating speech the ordinarie seruices hee did to the realme mayntayning â—t in peace his great prâ—fession to loue religion Iustice and the peâ—ple whose â—ase hee was wonderfull carefull of did recommend him to all men and the good turnes he did to all persons by reason of his charge did daylie purchase him many friends and seruantâ— Doubtlesse as it is as great policie to bee a good man so is there no small dexterity in the tâ—king of Citties and Countries by the hearts of men Thus Pepin layed the foundation and his successors finished the perfect building of a newe gouernment A lesson for our Kings to haue a care howe they referre the charge of affaires to their seruants Read and iudge O yee Kings and to whome they trust and howe This example doth verifie that they were better to be more careful and take more paines then to disroabe themselues of this great authority the which makes them not only eminent aboue all men but carries as it were a tipe of the Maiestie of God in the gouernment of the world 718 whereof they must yeeld him an account and not loose that by base cowardlinesse which they should mainteine by vertue But let vs returne to Pepin â—ee made great shewe to loue religion and vpon this cause he makes warre against Râ—bod Duke of Fâ—ise a pagan whome hee conquered and forced to receiue the Christian religâ—on â—ith all â—is subiects He restored Lambert Bishop of Traict to his dignity beeâ—ng expelled by â—broin and confined into a Monastery finally he infinitly fauored all that tended to the seruice of God and one of his chiefest cares was to aduance them that had châ—â—ge ouer the Church whose loues he had so purchased by this good vsage as they soone requited him causing the people to loue him with whome such as rule their consciences haue great authority This was a point of state as much as of deuotion He also made proofe of his valour in diuers sorts reducing the people of Germany on either side the â—hin to the obedience of the French who began to mutine and so restored the beautie of the realme of Austrasia He was carefull to maintaine Iustice and imbraced the people no waies oppressing them with any new impositions In the meane time he was not carelesse of himselfe and his Children He commaunded absolutely beeing armed with the authority of his Soueraigne neither was there any appeale from him vnto the King Hee had two sonnes by Plectrude Drogon and Grimoald he gaue Champagne to Drogon and after his death hee caused his sonne to succeede him with the title oâ— a Duke In the beginning he gaue the offices of great Master and generall of the Treasure to Nordebert his deere friend but after his death he inuested his owne sonne Grimoald in those places Pepin incontinent But as the vanitie of man transports it selfe beyond the lymits of respect it chanced in the end that Pepin forgat himselfe in his prosperity for not satisfied with Plectrude his lawfull wife hee fell in loue with a gentlewoman named Alpaide by whome he had one Bastard which shal be verie famous in the course of this historie vnder the name of Charles Martel and as the mischiefe encreased hee puts away Plectrude and marries Alpaide Lambert Bishop of Traict admonished him of this fault but he suffred Alpaide to cause him to be slaine by her brother Dodon who soone after â—elt the punishment of this bloud for being strooke with a disease of wormes not able to endure his owne stench he cast himselfe headlong into the riuer of Meuze Grimoald the sonne of Pepin following his fathers example abandoned himself to strange women disdayning his wife But this adultery was decre to them both for Grimoald too familiar with one named Rangare sonne in lawe to Rabod Duke of Frisâ— was slaine with him by a iust iudgement of God hauing taught him so filthy a trade to abâ—ndon himselfe to strumpets and to reiect his wife Pepin was so perplexed for the death of his sonne as hee died for greefe and choller against Rabod the author of this murther Thus both he and his sonne reaped the fruits of their adultery Vpon his deathbed he ordayned Charles his Bastard to succeed him in the gouernment of the realme but Plectrude imbracing this occasion Charles Martel bastard to Pâ—pin vpon the death of her husband and well supported by her kinsfolkes causeth Charles to be taken and put in pryson at Cologne and aduanceth Thibauld the sonne of Drogon her owne sonne and Pepins to the gouernment although in effect she vnder his name gouerned all the affaires of state This
Venaâ—sin and in Prouence He besiegeth Auignon and takes it from thence he passeth into Prouence where as all yeelds to his will The Counties of Viuaret and Dié yeelds without blowes and many families were made desolate Dâ—sâ—lation of the Albigeois by Lewis by the rigour of these Edicts which did forfaite both bodies and goods The house of Montlor one of the greatest of Viuaret hauing followed the Albigeois partie being cursed makes his peace by meanes of the Towne of Argentiere giuen to the Bishp of Viuiers who enioyeth it vnto this day These poore miserable people were dispersed here and there and such as remained in the Countrie were forced to acknowledge the Pope as soueraigne pastor of the Church This heat was for a while restrained but the seeds were not rooted out as we shall see in the following raignes Lewis hauing thus subdued the Albigeois gaue order to suppresse them if they should rise againe appointing the Marshall Foy of the house of Myrâ—pois to command his forces and leauing the Lord of Beauieu for Gouernor and Lieutenant generall of Languedoc he tooke his way towards France But comming to Montpensier in Auuergne hee dyed in the yeare 1225. the 27. of October leauing foure sonnes by his Wife Blanche Lewis which succeeded him Robert Earle of Arthois who dyed in Morea Alphonso Earle of Poitiers and Charles Earle of Aniou who shall be Earle of Prouence and King of Sicilia and Ierusalem Lewis dyes In this yeare the Flemings were much disquieted by meanes of an Impostor who said he was their Prince but hee receiued condigne punishment for his rashnesse and by his death this error vanished wherewith many had beene bewitched Lewis the eldest sonne of France succeeding his father goes now to sit in the royall Throne LEWIS the 9. called Saint Lewis 1227. the 44. King of France LEWIS .9 KING OF FRANCE XXXXIIII THE piety and good disposition of this Prince consecrated to the happy memory of his posterity represented vnto France goodly first fruites but his age not yet capable to gouerne the helme of this Monarchie suffred him onely to take the first and most pretious gage of his lawfull and hereditarie right for being but twelue yeares old he was crowned at Rheims but his mother Blanche a wise and couragious Princesse tooke vpon her the gouernment of his person and Realme Blanche regent of the Kâ—nâ— and realmâ— according to the the decree of Lewis the 8. who knowing her capacitie had appointed her for Regent He began to raigne in the yeare 1227. Blanche had much honour in the education and instruction of her Sonne the which purchased her the free consent of the Estates assembled at Paris to be admitted Regent but this was not pleasing to the Princes of the bâ—oud who pretended this prerogatiue to appertaine vnto them and not to a woman and a stranger borne From these discontents sprung two warres in France in the beginning of this raigne the which were suppressed not onely by the discretion of Blanche but also by the wisdome and valour of young Lewis who then played his parte with so good successe as he purchased great credit in his youth The heads of this faction were Philip Earle of Bologne A Faction in France for the Regencâ—â— Vncle to the King by the Fathers side Robert Earle of Champagne Peter of Dreux Duke of Brittanie and Robert Earle of Dreux his Brother Princes of the bloud valiant and factious men who had imbarked many of the Nobility vnder a goodly pretext That it was not reasonable a Spanish woman abusing the Kings minoritie should gouerne the Realme at her pleasuâ—e and by the Councell of Spaniards whom she aduanced reiecting the Princes keepâ—ng back the Naturall French from all preferments But that which was most to be feared in this occurrent of affaires was that Raymond Earle of Tholouse who had so great a subiect of discontent against the King being spoiled of the greatest part of his estate should ioyne with that partie and drawe his cousin the Earle of Prouence into the same quarrell Men which were neither dull witted nor goutie handed and who were nothing altered in minde although they had made a good shew yeelding to necessitie the which Blanche preuented happily winning Count Raymond who now began to rise in Languedock by the mariage of Ioane his only Daughter with Alphonso the Kings brother Languedoc annexed to the Crowne by mariage and Earle of Poitiers vpon condition that Raymond should enioy it during his life and that after his death the said Alphonso should succeed in the right of his wife and if they had no issue the Earldome with all the dependances should returne to the Crowne as to his first beginning Thus Languedock shaken at the first by Armes as we haue said was honourablie vnited to the Crowne of France by this accord as the Historie will hereafter shew in the raigne of Philip sonne to our Lewis By the like meanes she drew Robert Earle of Champagne vnto her a very factious man and did not onely thereby weaken the party of these discontented Princes thus disioyned by withdrawing the most sufficient man they had but also shee imployed him against them There remained a Triumuirate Blanch supplanâ—s the discontented Princes the which she deuided They made a good shew but Blanche did cunningly countermine them discouering their actions euen within their Cabinets where she found accesse by money In the end their practise must breake forth The Earle of Bologne fortified Calais and the Duke of Brittaine with the Earle of Dreux did purposely demand some of the Crowne lands which they knew well that Blanche would not yeeld vnto as Inalienable whereby they might pretend some colour to rebell They now go to armes and at the first seize vpon Saint Iames of Beâ—ron and of Belesme Blanche flies to the Maiestie of the King and threatens these armed Princes to proclaime them rebels and guiltie of high treason if they obey not The confederate Princes answer That they most humblie beseeche his Maiestie to giue them free accesse to complaine of his Mother who abused both his name and his authoritie Blanche admits them being well aduertised by the Earle of Champagne that their intent was vnder colour of this parley to seize vpon the Kings person Their desire was to haue this meeting at Vendosme but they had layde their ambush neerer to surprise him by the way Lewis in danger to be surprised by his rebels They had aduanced their troupes to Corbeil when as the King parted from Paris being arriued at Mont-lehery newes came that the troupes marched to surprize him The King retires to the Castell then being of some strength and Blanche giues it out that the King is in a manner besieged The Parisians aâ—me speedily and goe in great troupes to fetch their King to make the Leaguers thereby more odious and to confirme the Queenes authoritie These Princes being thus discouered
daughter named Katherine all by Elizabeth of Bauiere Charles vnworthily married one of the chiefe fier brands of this Tragedie an outragious woman an vnnaturall mother and altogether vnworthy of this crowne These three sonnes were Daulphins one after another in their fathers life but Charles succeeded him notwithstanding all crosses and difficulties and Katherine his sister was married to Henry the 5. King of England a mournfull gage of a horrible confusion for this Realme But alas how many cruell acts of ambition vanitie and treacherie of such as held the helme of this estate being either royall persons or setled in the highest dignities How many changes and reuolutions of these froward humors daring any thing vnder the libertie of this raigne the King being eyther a child or sick and alwayes weake and vnable to gouerne so great a charge Strange â—uents In the first Scene of this Tragedie we shall see the Vncles of this young King in diuision one against another Lewis Duke of Aniou declared Regent as first Prince of the bloud is crossed by his bretheren the Dukes of Berry and Bourgogne and he abuseth his authoritie imperiously Lewis Duke of Aniou being dead Lewis Duke of Orleans brother to King Charles the sixt shall take his place as the first Prince and shall fall to quarrell with Philip the Hardie duke of Bourgogne his Vncle who dying shall leaue Iohn his sonne successor of his iealousie against Lewis Duke of Orleans his cousin Iohn shall exceed all humanitie and kill him but the hatred shall not dye being transplanted into Charles Duke of Orleans sonne to Lewis massacred the which shall breed infinite troubles The Daulphins shall play their parts sometimes friends and sometimes enemies one to another Iohn who had murthered Lewis of Orleans shall be slaine by Charles the Daulphin who shall be King but from Iohn shal spring another Philip of Bourgongne who shal kindle a new fire to be reuenged of his fathers death The Stranger is ingaged in these ciuill warres women augment it by their furies On the one side Valentine Dutchesse of Orleans on the other Isabel Queene of France The Constables of Clisson and Armagnac are likewise drawne in and the subiect growes licentious in these disorders Passion preuailes with such furie as the mother forgets the birth of her owne wombe and so abuseth her authoritie as she dares attempt against the fundamentall law of state to giue the realme to a Stranger who was crowned and proclaimed King in the heart of France by her boldnesse These be the contents of this wretched raigne with these two parcels distinctly to be obserued the Kings Minoritie and his Maioritie and thereby we shall diuide our whole discourse THE MINORITIE OF KING Charles the sixt From the yeare 1380. When as Charles receiued the Crowne by the decease of his Father vnto the yeare 87. that he dismissed his Vncles to rule alone with absolute authoritie THe generall estates assemble at Paris 1380. presently after the death of Charles called the Wise to prouide for the gouernment of the King and realme and to auoide all apparant iealousie betwixt the Kings Vncles they decree That according to the declaration made by their good King deceased Charles his sonne should be annoynted and crowned King and that vntill he were of competent age to gouerne so great an estate Lewis Duke of Aniou as eldest of the house of France and so the first Prince of the bloud should be Regent Lewis of Aniou Regent and haue the authoritie of Councell and royall command And likewise by vertue of King Charles his will Clisson Constable Oliuer of Clisson a braue and valiant Knight borne in Brittanie was made Constable of France Oliuer of Clisson tooke possession of his charge preparing for the Kings Coronation And the Duke of Aniou receiuing the Kings treasour which they say was eighteene hundred thousand Crownes A very great summe for those times and after so wretched a â—eason He forced Sauoisy the head Treasurer to deliuer those summes into his hands and by this excesse laide the ground of a great presumption which followed Charles is anoynted at Rheâ—ms and Crowned after the custome of France the 25. of October in the yeare 1380. in a sollemne assemblie of his Princes of the bloud A controuersie for precedence betwixt the Kings Vncleâ— at his coronation Princes allyed and Officers of this Crowne The Dukes of Aniou Beâ—ry and Bougrongne the Kings Vncles Wencelin Duke of Brabant the Dukes of Lorraine and Barre the Earles of Sauoy of Marche and Eu friends and confederates to our Kings did assist At this solemnitie there was some question for place whether should take it the Duke of Aniou as Regent of the Realme or the Duke of Bourgongne as first Peere of France and Deane of the Peeres distinguishing the degrees according to their qualâ—ties to whom the order was giuen The King to crowne his installment by some notable act tooke vpon him to decide this controuersie and decreed That for as much as at the Kings annointing the Peeres of France ought to hold the first ranke in all ceremonies the Duke of Bourgongne as the first Peere sâ—ould take place of the Duke of Aniou And so Philip was preferred before his elder brother continuing the possession of the name of Hardie the which he purchased in defending his father Iohn so stoutly at the battaile of Poitiers But he encreased this name of Hardy too much in his carriage leauing it hereditarie to his children conuerting this stoutnesse into an imperious presumption which bâ—ed a huge deluge of miseries to the great preiudice of the whole realme The day after the coronation the States beseech the Regent to prouide for the releefe of the poore people whose burthen was too heauie for the great arrerages they were to pay of debts growne in former raignes and the rather for that there was no warre which imposed the necessity of so great a charge The Regent did not yeeld therevnto Tumults in France but continued these leauies of money more and more which was the occasion of tumults in diuers Prouinces of France as if this popular humour had beene like vnto a pestilent feauer or an infectious disease Flanders likewise kindled great fiers vpon sundry occasions which were quenched with much trouble after memorable combustions Flanders shall imbarke first in this misfortune and shall come last to land not without danger by strange accidents To teach Princes how farre they should presse their subiects And for subiects with what respect they should reuerence their Superiours in seeking out remedies for their afflictions for in the ende amiddest all these tumults the victors weepe and lament in the ruine and notable losse and ouerthrow of the vanquished Flanders We haue sayd that Philip Duke of Bourgongne made a composition for the Gantois with the Earle of Flanders his father in lawe But this accord lasted not long for the Earle disdayning the
especially of the treasure for the releefe of the poore people To make this partie good the Citty of Paris must make the first point The Bourguiâ—non raiseth sedition at Paris but the vniuersity which stood as a newter dealing with nothing but their bookes should make the proposition and first instance The cause was vehemently set downe by a Doctor chosen for the purpose and auoched by the Cittie and deputies of the Prouinces Such as were subiect to accompts were much terrified and the greatest number fled Such as were taken lost their heads at the Halles or Greue to the peoples great content who highlie commend the Duke of Bourgongne as the onely Prince which loued the good of the realme The Daulphin growes â—ealous at the sound of the praises as preiudicall to his honouâ— vowing neuer to suffer the Bourguignon to attempt any thing against his authoritie The Daulphin takâ—s vpon him the name of Regent Such as were interessed fedde the yong Princes humor Who by the meanes of Lewis of Bauiere his Vncle by the mother side perswade him to take the name of Regent for a marke of his greatnesse He takes this title and giues notice to the Duke of Bourgongne that it is nowe high time he were knowne in his degree The Bourgongnon protesting that hee hath no other obiect but the good of the Realme makes no shewe to deale in these affaires leauing the gouernment thereof to whome it appertayned yet vnder hand he caused the Parisiens to arme and least the better sort should be called into question he imployes the basest beeing led by one Caboch a butcher followed by a multitude of rascalles who being armed come in troupe to the Regents lodging and require of him by rowle the chiefe enemies of the Bourguignons house who they sayed had gouerned the treasure or had beene enriched by excessiue gifts A strange sedition in Paris Amongst the which was Peter of Essars who without any long proces lost his head receyuing a iust reward for his great wickednesse by his hands who had then caused him to commit them But this was not one dayes furie the next day the people assemble in great multitudes and taking white cappes for their badge they come to Saint Pol where the King lodged and demaund audience hauing seized on all the passages to his lodging after a terrible manner A Carmelit Frier was speaker for the people accompanied with the Deputies of this multitude as his ruffians Being entred into the Kings chamber after many tedious speeches he demands reformation of the State The Parisiens insolenâ— bâ—hauiâ—r protesting they would not be fed with words they vrged the King to punish such whose names they had conteyned in a liste being guiltie of capitall crimes The Duke of Bourgongne makes a good shewe and answers That the King would consider thereof This Frier replies impudently that they would not depart before they had such as they demanded Their rage was such as the King and Princes tooke white cappes the marke of the seditious They demand the chiefe seruants of the King Queene and Daulphin not onelie men but also women which had beene in any credit and aboue all Lewis of Bauiere the Queenes brother There was not any one but stood amazed at these audacious impudencies The Queene comes weeping shee intreats the King the Monke and the deputies of the people They answere it is their charge and they cannot alter it The people crie fâ—om the base Court with a violent noyse that if they deliuer not these prysoners â—hey will force the lodging So as after all these intreaties Lewis the Queenes brother with the rest specified in the rowle both men and women yeeld vnto the mercie of these madde and furious men and are by them led into diuers prysons The Bourguignon the secret practises of all these insolencies This night passed not without many murthers many were strangled and many cast into the riuer without any other formes of iustice but the Bourguignons secret commandement who with his cold and graue countenance made shewe to haue no interest in the action 1414 The Citty was neuer in so lamentable an estate by this shameâ—full contempt of Law order of the King Princes Magistrates There is no taâ—ke but of bloud killing hanging and drowning of poore prisoners The horror of this confusion toucht the hearts of the most passionate The vniuersity which had b in the mouth of these captious complaints repaires to Henry of Marâ—e the first president to Iohn Iuuenall of Vrsins the Kings aduocate protesting that they were not guilty of these infamous disorders And hauing taken aduice they resolue to go to the King The vniuersity dislikes of these disorders as well to purge themselues of the suspition of these abhominable confusions as to intreat him to giue eare to a good peace They giue him meanes to winne the heads of this popular faction and set vp an Ensigne with the Kings armes crie in all parts of the Cittie Peace peace good people an inuention which preuailed much in this action Ill councell is most hurtfull to him that giues it the Bourguignons practises light on his owne head The people pacified The people seeing themselues disauowed by the vniuersity who then had great credit for their esteeme of wisdom and knowledge hauing the King and his parliament opposite being abandoned by their Tribunes they hide themselues in â—ourgongne and he himselfe feeling the storme to approch retires to Compiegne attâ—â—ding the euent The Orlean faction repaires to Paris with speede and were receiued ioyfully by the people as the Anchor of their hope All the world exclaimes of the Bourguignon as the onely motiue of the troubles of France The King incensed against the Bourgongâ—ion and the people forsake him and vnworthy to hold so honorable a â—ancke among the Princes of the bloud The Queene feedes this dislike for the interest of her brother imprisonned and the King thunders forth his edicts against the Bourguignon the which are seuerely executed vpon such as are apprehended Scaffolds riueâ—s and streetes witnesse the reuenge of the murthers committed by the Bourguignons vppon the Orleanois All Officers preferred by the Bourguignon are displaced and all such as had supported him are ill intreated Valeran Earle of S. Pol is put from the dignity of CoÌ„stable Guichard Daulphin of Auuergne from that of great Maister Charles of Rambures from beeing maister of the crossebowes The Bouâ—guignon faction disgraced and banished the which is at this day as the colonell of the infantery Three hundred men and women of the Bourguignon faction are banished by a decree of the Court of Parliament Iohn Duke of Brittain leaues the Bourguignon comes to court against him To conclude all bandie against the Bourguignon yet he is nothing amazed but continues constant against all stormes He craues ayde of his citties in Flanders in this necessity being thus
hundred horse with a sufficient number of foote to keepe the place The Cittizens of Colongne with their neighbours arme sixteene thousand foote and incampe vpon the Rhin right against the Duke to cut off his victualls that came out of Gueldres and to stay the boats with their Cannon The Emperour and Princes both spirituall and temporall do arme as the King had often solicited them they send vnto him to make a triall of his intent Lewis failes not to graunt what they demanded promising twenty thousand men when as the Imperiall army should be at Colongne But he had worke at home Edward King of England discontented The English prepare for France that Lewis had supported Henry and the Earle of Warwicke against him prepares in the Bourguignons fauour fifteene hundred maisters all Gentlemen well mounted and the most part barded which made a great number of horse 14000. Archers all on horse-backe with a great number of foote The Duke of Brittaine hauing already consented to rebellion should receiue three thousand English and ioyne his army with them as appeared by letters written by the hand of Vrfé sometimes master of the Kings horse and then seruant to the Britton the one letter to the king of England the other to Hastings great Chamberlaine of the said realme the which the King did buy of a Secretary of England for three score markes of siluer In the meane time the King treats of a peace with the Duke of Bourgongne to preuent this storme Lewis seekes for a peace of the Duke of Bourgongne is refused or at the least to prolong the truce The Duke excuseth himselfe vpon his word giuen to the English who labours to drawe the Duke from Nuz exhorting him to accomplish the conuentions considering his great charge and that the season fit for warre was almost spent To this ende the Lord Scales Nephew to the Constable makes two iournies to Charles who pretends by friuolous reasons that his honour is much ingaged in this siege and that hee could not rise without great blame Lewis procures to Charles many enimies Lewis to crosse him being alwayes his crafts master in any action eyther of warre or peace procures him many and new enimies It was no matter of difficulty to draw in René the sonne of the daughter of René King of Sicile the heyre of Lorraine by reason of his grandmother after the death of Iohn Duke of Calabria and Lorraine his Vncle and of the Marquis Nicholas sonne to the said Iohn For the Duke being dead Charles of Bouâ—gongne desirous to vnite thiâ— Duchy to his country had caused him to be taken prisoner but he was deliuered in exchange for a young Germaine Prince who was taken studying at Paris and marching presently with his armye hee had easily deuoured that preie if the King following him had not forced him to passe on René Duke of Lorraine René therefore sends to defie him before Nuz and fortified by some French troupes commanded by the Lord of Craon he enters the Duchy of Luxembourg spoyles the country and razeth Pierre-forte a place of the said Duchy and neere to Nancie Sigismond of Austria Sigismond Archduke of Austria had in the yeare 1469. ingaged his country of Ferrete to the Duke of Bourgongne with all the lands he enioyed on eyther side the Rhin for threescore and ten thousand Crownes Charles had placed Peter of Hagenbach there for Gouernour a wicked man a violent extortioner and insupportable both to the nobility people who complaine to Sigismond beseeching him to succour them against the outrage concussions of Hagenbach Sigismond had beene long in dislike with the Suisses his neighbours but by the Kings meanes they were all easily reconciled So they conclude a league in the which the imperiall Citties ioyne Strausbourg Basill Colmar and Slestad and contribute to furnish the summe due by Sigismond to Charles And many Imperiall citties the which they consigne into the hands of a banker at Basill then the inhabitants of these ingaged lands signifie vnto the Duke of Bourgongne that they hold themselues freed of the oath they had made vnto him And holding themselues freed from the Bourguignons obedience they reiect his Lieutenant generals coÌ„mands To suppresse them he assembles a great troupe of Picardes Flemings Hennuiers and Lombards and on Chistmas day at night a good worke on a good day hee seekes to bring them secretly into Enshem The Cittizens beate them back kill and take many the rest flie to Brizac with Hagenbac The Brizançons arme and are the stronger they â—â—ize on the gouernor expell the soldiars and then do they speedily informe of his mildemeanors giuing intelligence to all their allies and demand Iudges to iudge of the processe They depute some from Alsatia Strasbourg Basill Songoye of the blacke forest Fribourg Berne Soleure and other places who condemne Hagenbach to dâ—e vpon foure principall crimes The Duke of Bâ—â—â—gongâ—â—â— Lieutenant executed by the Suisses for that he had caused foure men of honour to bee beheaded at â—han without any forme of Lawe to haue made and displaced officers at his pleasure contrarie to his oath to haue brought in forraine nations into places with all liberty and for that he had rauished women forced virgins and committed incest with Nunnes The Duke of Bourgongne aduertised of the death of Hagenbach resolues to be reuenged of such as had beene actors And herevpon Henry Earle of Vittemberg and Montbeliard is taken by the Dukes men Those of Basill aduertised hereof send a number of men with artillery to Montbeliard to stop the Bourguignons passage who suÌ„mons the Castell the which refusing to yeeld he sends six thousand horse vnder the commande of Stephen Hagenbach to reuenge his brothers death Open warre betwixt the Dukeof Bourgongne and the Suisses and to make war vpon the Bishop of Basill who whilest that Sigismond assembles his coÌ„federats spoiles about thirty villages killes takes carries away and ransomes men women children and cattle Behold a strong party made against Charles of Bourgongne by the Kings policy whereby the Suisses entring into Bourgongne take Blasmont beseege Hericourt defeate the Bourguignons that come to succor it and kill two thousand which done they retyre The truce nowe expired as the King had vnderhand stirred vp the Duke of Lorraine Lewis his exploits the truce being expired the Germains and the Suisses against the Duke of Bourgongne sufficiently busied before Nuz he now by open force takes from him spoiles and burnes Tronquoy Montdidier Roye Montreul and Corbye and then sends the bastard of Bourbon Admirall of France Generall of this army before Arras and there abouts who spoiles and consumes with fire most of the places lying betwixt Abbeuille and Arras The Inhabitants of Arras force their men of warre to go to field vnder the commande of the Earle of Rhomont the Queenes brother But the Admirall hauing layed a strong ambush sends forth about
there they cut off his other eare whipt him likewise Moreouer Dâ—yâ—c whipt and lâ—st his eares the excessiue rewards which Lewis had giuen to some peâ—sons were reuoked and they constrayned to make restitution To teach meane men raised by the bountie of Kings that man is mortall but the memorie of indignitie is immortal with great men At the same time the Duke of Brittaine was wholy possessed by Peter Landay his Treasorer of whom we haue formerly spoken by whose slanders and suggestions he had suffered his Chancellor Chauuin to die miserably in prison of hungar and cold being a very honest and a reuerend man Landays was the sonne of a poore Taylor in the suburbs of Rachapt 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 insolent at Vitry in Brittaine as it appeareth in his proces quicke witted and busie headed His first accesse vnto the Duke was in the qualitie of a Taylor and after hee vsed him to carrie his loue letters the said Duke being of a very amorous disposition In the end he makes him master of his wardroppe and finally his Treasorer generall then hee begun to manage the Treasor Iustice and affaires of State at his pleasure to many and preferre Officers by his letters without the Dukes appointment to place or displace whome he pleased proud treacherours reuengefull implacable to such as had offended him Presumptuous His proud proceeding against the Nobility declaring such Noblemen of Brittaine as could no longer endure his arrogancie guiltie of high Treason for that they had attempted against his personne forfeites their goods banisheth their persons and arming his maister to their distruction the which they could not auoyd but by a generall pardon and remission In the end their patience is mooued Iohn of Chalon Prince of Orange sonne to one of the Dukes sisters and Iohn of Rieux Marshall of Brittaine the principal of his Court hauing layed a plot with the other Barons of the Country at all aduentures to seize vpon Landays they enter the Castell of Nantes being secreatly armed seeke for Landays and finde him not being gone to Pabotiere a house of his vpon Loire An attempt against him which succeeded not neere vnto Nantes The Duke is amazed at this insolent proceeding and beleeues it is some practise against his person One of his seruants goes vp to the batlements towards the Towne and cries out aloude That they seeke to force the Duke The archers of his gard storme the Officers and gentlemen of his house flie thether the people troupe togither They plant such Cannons as they finde in the Towne against the Castell readie to batter downe the gate The vndertakers who had not foreseene so dangerous a consequence shewe forth the Duke vpon the batlements and cause him to speake He assures them that they haue not attempted any thing against his person and to satisfie the multitude Philip of Montauban enters by agreement hee aduiseth these Noblemen to absent themselues for a time in the meane time the people would be pacified and the Dukes wrath appeased Landays on the other side hauing escaped a troupe that was sent to surprise him in his house Landays escapes and comes to the Duke saues himselfe through the ditches of his garden alone and on foote and so in the night recouers the Castell of Poënté and giues the Duke notice of his aduenture The Duke sends a Conuoie for him and is more ruled by him then before So Landays assembles all the Officers and men of Counsell in Brittaine hee sends to the Vniuersities of Italy layes open the violence done to the Duke in his owne house by his vassalles and subiects He condemnes the Noblemen of high Treason and demands what punishment this offence deserues The Assemblie answers as Landays desired That they found them guilty of high treason yea in the highest degree and therfore deserued death and losâ—e of goods A decree followes with condemnation of death houses beaten downe woods cut vp at the wast with al the rigours which men condemned for such a crime might deserue They flie into France offer their seruice to the couÌ„tesse of Beauieu the kings sister coÌ„playning of the insolencies of Landays without making further mentioÌ„ of their quarel with the Duke Landays discouers their retâ—eat he vnderstaÌ„ds of the discord betwixt Lewis Duke of Orleans the said Ladie causeth his master by letters written to Lewis to accuse the disobedieÌ„ce treachery of his nobility Lewis causeth his master to incense the Duke of Orleans against the Countesse of Beauieu who acknowleding Anne for Regent of the Realme depriued him of the honor right that was due to him rather then to a womaÌ„ as the first Prince of the bloud he exhorts him not to relinquish his iust title promiseth to assist him with his best meanes The Duke of Orleans had against his minde as we haue heard married Ioane the yongest daughter of Lewis XI deformed and vnfit for conception and followed the onely aduice of the Earle of Dunois â—onne to Iohn bastard of Orleans a man of great foresight aduised a good and a valiant captaine This Earle did presently forecast that by the meanes of Landais who did so secretly inuite Duke Lewis forsaking Ioane he might marrie with Anne the eldest daughter of Francis Duke of Brittain This hope drew him soone to Nantes where hauing heard the coÌ„plaints of the French and contented theÌ„ with words and promises without any meaning to accoplish theÌ„ mooued rather with desire to gouerne the state The Duke of Oâ—leans goes into Briâ—tain The Kings Coronation he returnes into France to assist at the Kings coronation at Rheims whereof the day approched There were present at the Kings coronation the Dukes of Orleans Alenâ—ccedil on Bourbon Lorrain the Earles of Beauieu Angoulesme Vendosme la Roche sur-Yon MoÌ„tpensier Longueuille Foix Dunois and those that were fled out of Brittain the Prince of Orange Iohn Lord of Rieux Ancenis the Earle of Aumale Poncet de la Riuiere who was created Mayre of Bourdeaux the lord of Vrfé who was created master of the horse others of their troupe al which brought him with pompe to make his entry into Paris and to prepare for a generall Parliament to bee held at Iours 1484. with more free accesse then had beene vsuall yet not so effectuall as was expected euery one seeking rather to mainteine his priuate authoritie then to procure the peoples case The Pragmatik Sanction was restored to vse it as they had accustomed The Constables sword was giuen to the Duke of Bourbon the gouernment of the Kings person to his sister a cunning woman The Countesse of Beauieu the Kings sister hath the gouernmeÌ„t of his person Lewis put from the Regencie and somewhat of her fathers humour but the name of Regent was forbidden to them all to preuent iealousies There was a Counsell erected of twelue by whom matters should be dispatched
of Limoges should haue for her yeerely portion a hundred thousand Crownes and in case shee had any children they should carry the same titles and be prouided for And in case she did suruiue him she should inioy the Dâ—chie of Bar in Barrois with a yeerely pension taken out of the reuenues of Lorraine This done the ancient allyances which had bin betwixt these two houses were renewed and the marriage was consuÌ„mated but there was fiâ—st some quest on touching the reformed religioÌ„ in the which she had bin bred the which she would not change Why shee would not change her religion by reason as she said of her deceased mother Qâ—eene Ioan of Nauarre whose life actioÌ„s she held worthy to be imitated She did with all her heart affect that which did concerne the libertie of Conscience throughout all France beseeching the King often to let her see the assurances thereof whilest she was in France not to suffer his Edicts to remaine without execution being proclaymed and without a durable obseruation being executed Shee was Daughter to a Mother who preferred safety of coÌ„science before assurance of honours and greatnesse yea then life it selfe being accustomed to say to them of her part Ioan of Albret Queene of Nauarre caused 12. medailles to be mâ—de at Rocâ—â—ll wâ—th this insâ—riptioÌ„ Pai◠〈…〉 Mort honeste The King desiâ—es his sisteâ— should be â— a Catholike that armes should not bee layd downe but with these three conditions either an assured peace an absolute victorie or an honest death Moreouer Shee apprehended the reproche of inconstancie at that age if Shee should change her religion hauing returned vnto it after Shee had beene a while Catholike yet Shee promised her future husband to suffer herselfe to be instructed and to do what he pleased The King seeing his sisters resolution did what he could to reclayme her by mildnes propounding vnto her his own example and giuing her to vnderstand by some words that she must otherwise looke for no fauour at his hands Seeing hee could not pâ—euaile before he signed the sayd contract which was at Monceaux a Castell belonging to the Duckesse of Beaufort whome the King loued and the common bruite was that Shee did greatly presse this marriage by reason of her pretentions about the end of the yeare the King told her that his meaning was not to force her neither for her Religion nor for her Marriage He aduised his future Brother in Law to do his dutie and so discharge his conscience He also aduertised him of one expedient which was to remoue certaine women and other persons from about the sayd Lady for that her traine consisted of Catholikes and others and among those others there were some wilfull and contentious in whome the same Ladie trusted much for that they had bin bred vp in her seruice from her cradle but all that proceeded but from the bountâ—e of the saâ—d Ladie The sayd Prince of Lorraine accompanied with his Brother the Earle of Vaâ—demont The Prince of Loâ—â—aine arriueâ— at Paâ—is and other Noblemen of Lorraine with three hundred gentlemen well appointed a little before Ianuary this yeare 1599. arriued at Paris in which moneth the King had appointed the day of the marriage He entred by Saint Denis gate the King doing him the honour to enter with him hauing mett him in the field as hee came from hunting The King led the sayd Duke his Brother in Law calling him commonly brother to the Louure where they supped togither and Madam his Sister with them The time was spent in dancing and other exercises of recreation and pastime among the great Princes The Kings sister for her part shewed all the conteÌ„tment that might be as shee had good reason hauing attayned to that which shee was accustomed to say Grata superueniet quae non sperabitur hora the sayd Lady being wel instructed in the Latin tongue and sâ—ee did the more apprehend this Latin verse for that some had giuen it forth shee would neuer be married According vnto that which the sayd Ladie had promised to suffer her selfe to be instructed in the Catholike religion it was resolued by his Maiestie that there should be a confâ—rence betwixt some Catholike Doctors some Ministers of the reformed Relâ—gion in the presence of his Sister but they preuailed nothing for her conuersion The King foreseeing some inconueniences resolued as well to satisfie her conscience as to auoyd scandall to haue this instruction deferred vntill another time And in the meane time they should proceed in the marriage Hereupon there were some practises by the Ministers of the pretended Religion who would haue the honour sayd they that the Kings onely Sister should bee married by them and that the Prince of Lorraine should seeke his spouse where shee was and that it was not conuenient shee should seeke him in his Church In truth this was plausible and it seemed the Ladie had a great interest in it But the Prince on the other side protested neuer to be married by a Minister So as there was much arguing in what forme they should bee marryed But the King by his accustomed wisedome shewed the effect of his Authoritie The thirtith dâ—y of Ianuary being Sunday in the morning the King hauing aduertised his Sister ouer night of his intention and intreated the sayd Prince of Lorraine to be ready hee goes and takes his Sister at her rising and conducts her by the hand into his Cabinet where her future Spouse was already Hee commaunded the worthie and reuerent Archbishop of Roan his naturall Brother to marrie the sayd Marquis Prince and Duke with the sayd Princesse and Duchesse his Sister 1596. by words of the present Wherevnto the sayd Archbishop at the fiâ—st made some refusall saying That the accustomed solemnities must be therein obserued Wherevnto hee replyed most learnedly That his presence wâ—s more then all other solemnities and that his Cabinet was a sacred place And therefore hauing commanded the sayd Archebishop to go on notwithstanding all difficulties hee proceeded then to the Nuptiall blessing of the â—ayd parties present that were there conioyned in marriage euen as if they had beene in the greatest Church in Paris which done euery one went to his deuotion Afterwards the King commanded his Sister to attire her selfe like a Bride and so the feast was sollemnly celebrated All the great Officers did assist and serue there in their degrees with all the grace and Honour the King could deuise to giue vnto the Prince of Lorraine his Brother in Lawe This Marriage was Honoured with all kindes of sports and Dancing About the end of February the sayd Princesse went with her Husband into Lorraine whereas the Duke gaue her the greatest enteâ—tainement hee could deuise imbracing her as his owne Child There had beene great heart-burning and discontentment by reason of the diuersitie of Religion The Kings intentions were to drowne the remembrance of the bitternesse of forepassed raignes
King The Presence Authority and intreaty of his Maiesty was of Force to smother the remembrance of all iniuries and to reconcile their willes Let vs nowe see what they haue done in the Nationall Synode helde at Gap held by them of the reformed Religion A Synod held at Gap whereas many beleeued that in giuing audience to Ambassadors and receiuing Letters from Forraine Princes and Common weales they had done more then their condition would allowe and had taken the way to make an Estate in the Estate I will say no more The passion of Religion might diminish the beleefe of the Trueth Peter Mathâ—w The Synode began the first of October It Treated of things touching Doctrine Discipline and the Gouernement of the Churches giuing a good Testimony that there are among them men full of zeale to the aduancement of their Religion and who in their Resolutions can ioyne Wisedome with Doctrine causing them to blushe that haue so much suffered the ancient constitutions of the Church to degenerate and haue so much neglected the Gouernement and Discipline as the Synodall Assemblies of Diocesses so necessary and profitable are nothing but vaine and fond Ceremonies where they doe onely exhort them to do well hereafter not caring to correct or amende the ill that is gone and past Of many meanes which the Church in her infancy did vse to preserue this spirit of Peace and Charity which gaue life vnto all the members and intertained the Cyment and bond of the whole building The profit of Synodes that of these Assemblies hath beene held the most fruitfull and should bee made twise a yeare if they will follow the Canons of the Apostles and the Decrees of Nice and Sardinia Thâ—re they conferred of the Order and Direction of all affayres There the Pastors taking knowledge one of an other entertayned their friendships renuyng the bonds of their affections It serued for a bloud-letting and a good purgation for badde humours in a corrupted Body to preserue and keepe it in Health Purytie and Chasterye of the Fayth There they shewed the power of the Spirituall Sword vppon the incorrigible who in the ende found the pappes of the Church drye for them when through Errour Malice or Obstinacy they made themselues vnworthy of the swetnesse of her Milke There in the ende they did strayne the strings of the Policy and Discipline of the Church the which beeing through negligence growne slacke made no Sounde nor Harmony In this assembly of Gap after that all the Deputies of the Prouinces of the Realme had shewed their Commissions they began by the Inuocation of the name of GOD the which was followed by the reading of the confession oâ— the Fayth wherein they did expound those things that were not playne enough The common desire of the Ministers te see the schisme pacified that was betwixt them and the other Congregations of Germany England and the Low Countryes made them resolue that the Assembly should write vnto the Vniuersityes both Lutherans and Caluinists to deuise some meanes to reconcile these contrarieties in some poynts of their confession This yeare the King did graue in the register of his vertues a memorable example of Iustâ—ce The cause is considerable and the subiect of consequence A yong gentlewoman of Normandie visited and courted by her Brother disdayned her husband A memorable example of a crime and of Iustice. by whome she had two Children for that he was some-what aged and made no profession of Armes This inequality of age togither with his condition made the Coniugall aâ—fâ—ction like vnto a small Brooke whereof when the spring is stopt the bedde remaines drie and there is nothing left but filthe for Toades and Frogges The greene graâ—â—e that was vpon the bankes withereth yea the trees that were planted along die This marriage hauing lost the radicall humor of Loue it made all pleasure and content to wither produced nothing but noise disdaine contempt and quarrell This miserable woman carâ—d no more for her husband bâ—t to drawe meanes from him to make her selfe more pleasing in the eyes of an other delighting in Luxâ—riosnesse and excesse oâ— Apparell vnder the which the Diuill is accustomed to make open Warre to Chasterie and to rauish the Honour of a woman without the which her life is a life without a Bodie a Bodâ—e without a Soule a Soule with out a Spirit a Spirit without Breth and a Breth without Aâ—re It seemed that the first acquaintance of this woman with her Brother was nothing but a perfect Loue such as Honour and that which they were one vnto another might well allowe Who so had seene the familiarities of this Sister with her Brother would not haue beleeued that they had made Loue the Lawe of Nature beeing of greater force then Reason or Truth it selâ—e In the meane time this furie prooued Adultery and Incest making the Wife to abandon the Company of her Husband to cleaue vnto her Brother who forgetting nothing that might be sayd or done to couer â—iâ— crime and to auoyde punishment waâ—dâ—ed vp and downe the Counâ—ry with hâ—r vnder disguised names but carrying still in his Conscience the sting and vlcer of so execrable a pleasure She grewe bigge with Childe and beleeuing that in hiding her great Beâ—lie her offâ—ence should bee also hidden shee caused her selfe to bee conductâ—d into that great forest of Paris where she continued with her Brother the exercises of Cupid and Psyches The figge leaues could not couer their shame The al-seeing eye oâ— the diuine Iustice discouers them and will not suffer that so Infamous a Lust should continâ—e These violent streames beeing runne out the Mudde and filthe that was in the bottom appered presently The husâ—band opprest with so iusta greefe as the Lawe doth not hold him puâ—nishable whom it forceth to kill the Wife beeing surprised in Adultery came to Paris and discouered those which had depriued him both of rest and Honour hee causeth them to be apprehended and committed prisoners the one in the great Chastâ—let the other in Four l' Euesques The Sister confesseth her-selfe guilty of Adultery to free her Brother from Incest laying the Childe to one that was aâ—togither innocent Vpon the difficulty of proofes the Lieutenant Cryminall condemned them both to the racke Hee might well haue proceeded to sentence A sentence giuen by the Lieutenant Criminell Bâ—t considering that they must deliberate well before they iudge of the life of a Man which is not made without care he desired rather to proceed coldly therein then ouerboldly The Husband whose heart could not be mooued to pitty by the consideration of his two Children appeales from this sentence of the racke The Court confidering that mildenesse doth norrish and giues more scope to vice declares the appellation and sentence from the which he had appealed to be voide and amending it A sentence oâ— the Court. they iudge the accused sufficiently conuicted of the crimes of