to furnish themselues in this affected voyage at what price soeuer Godefroy of Bouillon chiefe of the armie sold the Seigneurie of Bouillon to Aubert Bishop of Liege and Metz to the Inhabitants Robert Duke of Normandie ingaged all his lands to his brother William King of England Herpin Earle of Berry his Earledome to King Philip. A sale farre more honorable for the selâ—ers then for the buiers There was a quarrell betwixt the children of Taâ—cred the Norman of whom we haue spokenâ— who by his valour had conquered Scicile Calabria Apulia â— growne from light beginnings It seemed to be immortall the question being betwixt wilfull Kinsmen but this zeale did so pacific their quarrels as they brought aboue twenty thousand braue men to the army with their own persons Iâ— euery 〈◊〉 there was nothing but men making their prouisions the wayes were full of souldiers horseâ— baggage which repaired to the Rendezuous the Ports Hauens and Seas swarmed with sâ—ips and vessels to transport our generous Argonauts they being guided with this holy zeale The number of the Armie to the Holy lâ—nd to settle the State of Christians in the Holy land The number of the armie is diuersly reported Some write they were six hundred thousand fighting men others restraine it onely to a hundred thousand The first number were more likely for what were that in Europe but for our wretched dissentions But that which they adde is to be considered That many else well affected were kept back by reason of the dissentions betwixt the Emperours and Popes so as Germanie a great nurâ—erie of men of warre sent very few and Italy fewer being dispensed withall by the Pope who had ingaged others See the ordinarie frutes of home-bred quarrels the which fortifies the enemies of Christendome Some writers of iudgment adde that Pope Vrbain did cunningly vse the Christians zeale to weaken the Emperour and his Partisans that hee might preuaile with more facilitie causing them to marche in this action and retaining such as were at his deuotion This is their opinion as the wise reader may verifie in their places 1096. The sequell will shewe that this voiage did nothing mortifie the quarrell betwixt the Emperor the Pope the which was reuiued after a tragick maner We follow the traces of truth as euery thing hath succeeded Here we discourse of the beginnings and motiues of this war we shall see the end and issue of this great preparation Let vs reurne to the hauen to our Argonaâ—â—es the trumpets sound they are all ready to set saile Godefroye diuided his army into three fleets making the Rendezuous aâ— Constantinople whether he had sent his Ambassadors to Alexis Emperour of Greece The army parts and arriues at Constaâ—tinople who entring into iealousie of so great an army made some difficulty to grant him ports yet in the end hee yeelded and gaue him an honorable entertainement The departure of these Christian Aduenturers was in the yeare 1096. the first day of Aprill Behold our Latins arriued in safe port thus hereafter wee shall call them to distinguish them from the Greekes being Christians friends the Turkes Leuantins enemies They vndertooke no small worke neither went they to take possession of an empty inheritance The Turkes and Mahometains their enemies were Lords of Asia from the realme of Pontus towards the Mediterranian sea vnto Hellespont after they had expelled the Greekes ouerthrowne the forces of the Caliphes of Babilon and Egipt The Maâ—â—metain command and had seized on Palestina Iudea and all the rest of the Kingdome of Israell from the entry of the holie Land vnto Libanus Ierusalem was in their hands Their estate springing from weake beginnings encreased dayly Soliman Belchiaroc was their fiâ—t Sultan or Emperour who quickned with so hot a sommons of Christians assembled his forces togither stoode vpon his gard and prepared to fight Godefroy taking the aduice of Alexis Emperour of Greece who made shewe to imploy all his meanes to aduance the common cause resolued to passe into Chalcedone and beginning with the Citties of Asia to make his passage more easie The Christian troupes twâ—se defeated by the Turkes Hee had sent Peter the Hermit before the first trumpet of this warre with Gaultier who was a better soldiar and some troupes to discouer the Country but both togither making scarce one good Captaine suffred themselues to be beaten by the Turkes so as Godefroy sends in their place one called Regnaud or Raimond who makes profession to know the Country but he speeds worse suâ—â—ring himselfe to be beaten by the Turkes and to â—ace his life he renounced the Christian religion abandoning al that had followed him to the slaughter This was a â—oretelling of ill successe The army marching by Asia the lesse first they beseege Nicomedia the lesse takes it â—â—en they attempt Nicea a Citty of Bethinia famous for the first generall Councell 〈◊〉 â—as held against Arrius The Sultan had thrust Mahomet into it one of his braâ—est Captaines yet was it taken by assault by the Christians after two and twenty daies â—â—ege The Sultan had his army in field the which approched to fauour the beseeged Godeâ—â—oy winnes the greatest part oâ— Asia and to saue the remainder of this ship-wracke and likewise to hold the Citties in obedience which stood amazed Nicea being yeelded there were some skirmishes so fauorable for the Latins as Soliman retires his army to the mountaines leaues the plaines Citties to Godefroy who puft vp with this happy successe and leauing a good gard in Nicea he passeth through Bethinia and comes to Heraclea the which yeelds presently and goes on with such successe as in lesse then foure yeares he subdued all the goodliest Prouinces of Asia that is to say Lycaonia Cilicia Cappadocia Paphlagonia Siria Mesopotaâ—ia and Comagene as the wise reader may see in the Originalls of the whole History without making of any particular relation in this discourse These happy and gainefull conquests strooke as great a terror in Soliman and the Leuantins as it purchased honour and reputation to Godefroy and the Christians so as hauing taken Antioche Tripaly and other renowned Citties Iudeâ— and Ierusalem taken Godefroy of Boullâ—n chosen King of Ierusalem they came into Iudea and to Ierusalem with a victorious courage Thus Ierusalem is beseeged with such dilligence and resolution as after eight and thirty daies it is taken by assault and all the Turkes â—ut in peeces The poore inhabitants without armes are carefully preserued to purchase a double victory to the Latins of valour in fighting well and of clemency in sparing the vanquished 1109. The Citty wone the Latins assemble in councel with one coÌ„mon consent choose Godefroy of Bouillon King of Ierusalem Al the royall ornaments were taken accâ—pted by him except the Crowne of gold the which he would haue of thornes like to that of our sauiour Iesus Christ to augment the price
wherevnto he added a complaint of their bounds in the diuision whereof he would resolutely haue the aduantage But to giue a better colour to this quarrell of State hee ioynes religion For saith he to his people to what end should these Arrians haue so good a paâ—t among the Christians Yet before he would come to open force Warre against the 〈◊〉 he talkes of a friendâ—y conference The two Kings appoint a day and a place for an enterview to parlee of their affaires But this meeting increased their hatred for being both vpon the place some confident seruants to Clouis gaue him notice that Alaric had laide an Ambuscadoe to surprize him in their parle Clouis was much moued with this and resolues to make warre against Alaric hee raiseth an armie and beeing ready to marche towards Guyenne behold a new occasion which makes him turne his forces towards Bourgongne We haue shewed how that Gondebault King of Bourgongne Warres in Bourgongne and why slue his brother Chilperic father to Clotilde vpon the first diuision of their portions after their fathers death Hee had two bretheren remaining Gondemar and Gondegesil of whom he desired infinitely to bee freed hauing too many bretheren and too little land according to his vnsatiable desire Their debate was for Prouence and Daulphiné which they demanded for their portions Gondebault enioyed the chiefe Citties except Vienne which the brethren held Clouis his Armie ouercomes that of Gondebault marching victoriously through the Countrie of Venaison where the battell was fought Gondebault saues himselfe with great difficultie in Auignon and is presently besieged by Clouis who yee grants him an honourable composition and labours to reconcile him with his bretheren which done he returnes into France and Gondemar and Gondegesil retire into Vienne dreaming of nothing lesse then to haue their elder brother for an enemy But Vienne must be the pitte-fall of their misery to swallow them both vp one after an other for behold Gondebault is with a strong armie at the gates of Vienne and his bretheren are reduced to that extremitie as hauing no meanes to defend themsâ—luâ—â— nor to get reliefe from their friends the Citty is easily taken and euery mâ—n seekeâ— to saue himselfe as he can Gondemar flyes into a Tower where he is besieged assaâ—â—ed and burnt with all his troupe Gondegesil is taken aliue after this tragick feare but being alone he slippes a way and flyes to Clouis whome hee found in Armes ready to march vpon this new accident Clouis takes new aduise The ancient hatred he bare to Gondebault who had crossed him in his mariage the iniustice and more then barbarous crueltie the complaint of this poore Prince his ally who cast himselfe into his armes had much power to perswade him to the voyage of Bourgongne But that which made him resolue was for that Gondebault prepared to succour Alaric against whom Clouis did now march with his forces Thus the iust iudgement of God prouided a scourge for this murtherer who addes rashnesse and insolencie to his first disorders Clouis enters with an armiâ— into Bourgongne Feare doth not onely surprise the countrie but also the peoples iust hatred of this tyrant being infamous with so many parricides so as in few dayes the principall Citties yeeld vnto Clouis and the rest are ready to submit themselues into his hands as to their deliuerer Gondebault pursued by God and men faintes being insolent in prosperitie and daunted in aduersitie 507. All things conspired to his ruine But as God doth not alwaies take sinners at the rebound Clouis conquestes in Bourgongne hee stayed the blow by meanes of Clotilde who grieuing to see her house decay to the ouerthrowe of the state of Bourgongne makes intercession to her husband for her vncle and his Countrie and preuailes so with him through her intercession as shee perswades him to passe no further but to leaue the rest to her vncle Gondebault with a reasonable peace whereof she drew the articles Thus Clouis dismisseth his armie hauing onely prouided for the gard of Vienne Mascon Chaalon and other Townes taken from Gondebault and hee giues the charge of them to Gondegesil This is all that Gondebault could hope for in so great a danger but he would needes perish A treacherous attempt of Gondebault when as he sees himselfe without any enemie By Clouis departure he marceth so secretly with his forces as in one night he surpriseth Vienne by the Conduit heads guided by him that had them in charge being cast out ofâ— the Citie with the scumme of vnprofitable people Vienne must bee the Sepulchre of Gondegesil as it was of Gondemar for in this vnexpected surprise as 〈◊〉 and the Bishop sought meanes to saue themselues in the temple of Saint Mory amazement giues an easie entrie vnto Gondebault who being maâ—ster thereof doth massâ—cre both Gondegesil his brother and the Bishop without any reâ—pect Clouis moued with this treacâ—erous attâ—mpt returnes with his armie and beseegeth Gondebault who vnable to resâ—st escapâ—â— by night and saues himselfe in Italie with Thierry King of the Ostrogoths his friend and confederate They being tormented in conscience A iust punishment oâ— the murtherer Gondebault without all 〈◊〉 of releefe hee falls into horrible dispaire and dyes hatefull euen to those that had receiued him leauing a notable example to all men that man is the cause of his â—wâ—e miserie that hee deceiueth himselfe when as ouerruled by his owne passion hee thinkes to mocke God freely who sleepes not when as men are most secure in their wickednesse But after a long patience God payes both the principall and the interest and hee that seekes an other mans goods doth often loose his owâ—e the halfe being better then the whole for to liue quietly with content This was the end of Gondebault and the beginning of the title which the Kings oâ— France pretended to Bourgongne The fast winning 〈…〉 â—nd Prouâ—nce The States of Prouence Daulphiné and Saâ—oye were dependances on this Crowne Clouis reteyning Daulphiné and the Countries adioyning vnto Bourgogne he left Sauoy and Prouence to Sigismond and Gondemar the children of Gondebault ioyning equitie and mildnes to his iust victorie Hauing thus setled the affaires of Bourgongne he marcheth presently with his victoâ—ious armie into Languedoc against Alaric King of the Visigoths who held not onely that goodly Prouince but 〈◊〉 the Countrie from the Pirence mountaines euen to the bankes of Rosne and Loire as wee haue sayd Clouis hauing assembled his armie at Tours marcheth into Poictou where Alaric attends him with his forces meaning to fight with him at his entrie The battaile is giuen and much blood shed on either side but the absolute victorie remaines to Clouis as the bodies the held and the head of Alaric whome hee slew with his owne hand an accident very remarkable 〈◊〉 slaine by the hand o◠〈◊〉 that one Prince should kill another with his sword in hand in the
the end yeelds by composition and Didier who had hated Charles without cause and attempted warre vpon an houre â—alâ—s into his hands who shewes himselfe wise and modest both to vndertake a warre and to vse the victory Thus Charlemagne hauing wisely vndertaken a iust warre and ended it happily hee ruined the Kingdome of the Lombards carrying Didier prisoner to Lion or to Leege The Kingdome of the Lombards ruined for writers speake diuersely of the place of his imprisonment This was in the yeare 776. A notable date to represent the tragicall end of so great a Kingdome the which continued in Italy onely two hundred and â—oure yeares vnder Princes of diuers humors But iniustice tyranie and pride prouoked the wrath of God against them so as thinking to take from an other they lost their owne to vsurpe the liberties of others they fell into an ignominious slauery and their subtilty was the cause of their owne misery A mirror for Princes and great States neuer to attempt an vniust and vnnecessary warre to vsurpe an other mans right neuer to thinke to preuaile ouer a good cause by craft and policy Charlemagne vsed his victory with great moderation towards the conquered nation to the great content of all the Italians who held it a great gaine to haue lost their old master and to be rightly free being subiect to so wise a Lord for he left them their ancient liberties and to particular Princes such as were vassals to Didier their Seigneuâ—ies to Aragise sonne in lawe to Didier hee left the Marquisate of 〈◊〉 He placed French Gouernors in conquered Lombardy meaning to haue theÌ„â—â—treated with the like mildnesse as the ancient patrimony receiued from his Predecessors During the seege of Pauia a Councell was held at Rome by Pope Adrian in fauour of Charlemagne 778. to giue him honours answerable to his deseruing of the Church and namely the right to giue all benefices throughout all Christendome was said to belong vnto him Charlemagne being returned into France Aldegise the sonne of Didier sought to disquiet Italie aided by the Emperour Constantine and the practises of Rogand to whome Charlemagne had giuen Friul who reuolted from his obedience but all these rebellious were â—oone suppressed by the faithfull care of the French Gouernours whome Charlemagne had left in the Countrie newly conquered and Rogand being seized of it suffered the paines of his treacherous rashnes being beheaded by the Kings commaundement Thus Italie remayning quiet to him and his as conquered by a iust warre it shal be hereafter incorporate to the French Monarchie in this second race being giuen in partage to the chidren of France whilest that the good gouernmeÌ„t of our kings maintaines the dignitie of the Crowne A memorable warre in Germanie But the end of this war was the beginning of an other in Germanie wherof the Saxons were the chief darwing vnto them according to the diuersitie of occasions other people of Germanie their neighbours This war continued 33. yeares not all successiuely but at diuers brunts seasons the Saxons hauing for a perpetual subiect to crosse Charlemagne in his desseins especially being busied in many other matters of great consequence I will breefly relate this war of Saxony reporting with one breath what hath beene seuerally dispersed in the whole history without confusion of times or mater following a stile fit for this history In those times Germanie was subiect to the Crowne of France although it had particular Estates vassals to our Kings whatsoeuer the Germaines say who confesse but a part thereof The Saxons were subiect to our Crowne as appeares by that aboue written and namely vnder Martel and Pepin his sonne The motiues of this warre were diuers the impatiencie of a people desiring their ancient libertie not able to beare an others command as the Germains say the hatred and iealousie of a mighty neighbour thâ—eatning them with seruitude the controuersie for the limits of their lands but the greatest and most important cause of these wars The causes of this wâ—â—re was the diuersitie of religion for that the Saxons would obstinatly hold the Pagan superstition which they had receiued from their Ancestors and Charlemagne vrged them to forsake their Paganisme and to make open profession of the Christian faith moued with zeale to the generall aduancement of the truth and the priuat dutie of a Prince to his subiects to prouide for their soules health A thing very worthie obseruation Belial did then fight against Christ The differeâ—ce betwixt the warres which Câ—arles 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 this day Pagan superstition against Christian veritie But alas by whome and wherefore are these vnciuill warres at this day Christian fights against Christian the most sacred signe of Christianitie appeares on either side in Christian and French armies Christians bloud is spilt by Christians through a blind furie want of vnderstanding in the fundamentall accord of the sauing trueth These are not onely different but coÌ„traâ—ie wars to those of Charlemagne and our inâ—aged tumults are begun nourished without reason both against the good of the Estate and Church Vpon this controuersie of religion the Saxons made war eight times against Chaâ—lemagne especially when they found him busied elswhere watching their oportunitie either to crosse him in his desâ—eine or to frustrate his attempts At such time as hee was in Italie they played the wild colts not onely in reiecting the French coÌ„mand but also making open war against those Cities in Germanie which obeyed Charlemagne they had taken Eresbourg from the Crowne of France euen vpoÌ„ his returne beseeged Sigisbourg robbing spoyling al the Country about Charlemagne assembling a Parliament at Wormes Hee subdues the 〈◊〉 and perswades 〈◊〉 to be a Christian leuies a great armie to charge the Saxons in diuerse places This Councell succeeded happily for hauing vanquished the Saxons twise in one moneth in a pitched field he reduced them to their ancient obedience vsing his victorie with much modestie and wisedome desiring rather to shew them the power of his authoritie then the rigour of his force The chief among them was Widichind as religion was the chief motiue of these ordinary rebellioÌ„ so Charlemagne seeking the establishmeÌ„t of Christian religion in Saxony with great zeale happily eâ—â—â—cted it Hauing vanquished this Widichind by reason and humanitie and brought him to the knowledge of the truth by his graue wise conuersatioÌ„ whom he perswaded without any violence to leaue the Pagan superstition 784. which force of armes could not effect in him nor in the Saxons for Mens soules are not gained by force of armes but by reason By the meanes of this Widichind the greatest part of the Saxons were drawne to the knowledge of the true God and the obedience of the French monarchie the most obstinate were forced eyther to obey or to abandon the country as in deed great numbers of the Saxons retyred themselues into diuers strange
shew my selfe passionate in a matter which I report as an interpreter or â—ruchman Platina the Popes Secretary In those daies saieth he sprong vp an heresie at Tholouse the which by the care of Pope Innocent S. Dominik suppressed with exceeding great dilligency with the helpe of Simon Montfort In the raigne of Philip Augustus for they were infâ—rced not only to vse disputation of words but armes also so great credit had this heresie gotten Paulus Aemilius sayth The vertue of Dominik was very appareÌ„t in beating downe the heresie of the Albigeois The opinions of the Albigeois as some write This infection tooke first footing in the Earldome of Tholoâ—â—e of whoÌ„ the Albigeois depend had infected the neighbor Citties They called our Popes the Bishops of the wicked our Church the Sinagoge of hel They conteÌ„ned mariages held that for holy which is execrable To ioyne theÌ„selues â—arnally with women without order They are held enemies of aâ— goodmen Pope InnoceÌ„t decreed a holy war against theÌ„ and sent his Legats into all partes to exhort them to make war against so execrable a sect But the Lord of Haillan to whoÌ„ this history is much indebted saith Although they held bad opinions yet that did not so much incense the Pope great Princes against theÌ„ as the liberty of their speech blaming the vices and dissolutions of Princes and of the Clergy yea taxing the Popes life and actions This was the chiefe point which made them generally to bee hated King Augustus incensed by the Clergy of his realme who charged the Albigeois with all kinds of heresies for that they blamed detested their vices intreated Pope Innocent to interpose his authority The Earle of Thoulose was the head of this faction of the Albigeois but hee was not alone The Earle of Tholouse head of the Albigois in the raigne of Philip Augustus The Earles of Foix and of Comminges Gaston of Foix and Roger of Comminges very renouned men in their time were of that partie and Alphonso King of Arragon had ioyned in the same cause with them The Countries of Languedoc Daulphiné Guienne Gascony and Prouence were full of them Tholouse Carcasonne Alby Castelnau and Castres in Albigeois Narbone Beziers Saint Gilles Arles and Auignon are directly noted in this history The first subiect of this tumult was the discontent the people had against the Clergy The occasion of this warâ—e discontented with their leude disordered life from discontent grewe contempt and in the end a quarrel and so open warre The Clergy thus contemned fled to Pope Innocent the 3. who sent the Cardinall of Saint Maria in Porticu and Nicholas Bishop of Thusculum with Preachers who went through all the Country but preuailed nothing for that the Earle did visibly fauour this contempt of his subiects being transported with the like humor Vpon the Legats report Pope Innocent decrees a sentence of excommunication against Count Raymond and sends Peter of Chasteauneuf his Legat to publish it The Popes Legat slaine by the Albigois but he was slaine Innocent wonderfully displeased with this murther sends Gallon for his Legat and by him doth command King Philip to arme against Count Raymond and his subiects as against heretiks and sworne enemies to the Church and doth likewise command Odo Duke of Bourgongne and William Earle of Neuers to ioyne in this warre The assembly was held at Paris whether repaired a great number of the Clergy and there they resolued vpon a Croisadoe as against infidells An army against the Albigois The Arch-bishoppes of Tholouse Roan and Sens the Bishoppes of Lisieux Bayeux Chartres Comminges Coserans Lodeux Beziers and many Abbots contributed first great summes of money to quench the fire before it passe farther Simon Earle of Montfort neere vnto Paris a braue and valiant Captaine issued from a bastard of Robert King of France is chosen generall of this army this was in the yeare a thousand two hundred ten The army enters into Lanquedoc where the Kings name was respected as their Soueraigne but the Citties would not open their gates to their enemies army who they sayd abused the Kings authority Vpon their refusall Simon threatens to beseege them Beziers was first attempted and with such cruell successe A wonderfull slaughter of the Albigois as hauing taken it the bloud flowed by the losse of threescore thousand persons and in the ende it was spoiled sackt burnt and made desolate All other Townes being terrified yeelded at first sommons Carcassonne held out but it was taken by composition That the Inhabitants should depart all naked onely their priuy partes couered and halters about their neckes Castelnau likewise would not obey yet in the end it yeelded In the raigne of Philip Augustus and Simon caused fifty men to bee burned aliue Alby obeyes without force Lauaur by the resolution of Gerarde the Lady of the place did resist but the Towne was taken by force and this woman cast into a well Amaulry a gentleman of the Contry who had maintayned the seege against Simon was hanged By these fearefull examples Castres Rabastens Gaillac la Caussade Puy Laurence Saint Antonin and Saint Marcell yeeld Cahors followes but Moissac beeing obstinate was taken and spoyled Strange executions done by Simon of oâ— Montfort This sodaine execution amazed Count Raymond who hauing excused himself touching the Legates death and beeing so neere allied vnto the King his Brother in Lawe hee attended nothing lesse then an army against him yea hearing of the Leuie and seeing it to march hee feared not that which was put in execution against his subiects He conceiued it had been onely to countenance the sermons of S. Dominike who accompanied the army with a notable number of Clergy men Beeing awaked with so great a losse hee seekes out all his meanes and friends to oppose them against Count Simon of Montfort who was wonderfully feared by reason of so victorious a successe King Alphonso of Arragon and the Earles of Cominges and Foix 1215. bring him great troupes Incouraged by these examples to their preseruation In the raigne of Philip Augustus Raymond imployes all he can his armie as they say consisted of a hundred thousand men As tâ—is armie of the Albigeois led by Count Raymond goes to field to recouer their lost Townes Simon opposeth himselfe couragiously with faâ—re lesser forces Count Raymond and his conâ—ederates defeated by Simon of Montfort and yet ouerthrew these great numbers with little losse Alphonso was slaine in this defeat the taking sack of Tholouse followed where there died twenty thousand men by the victors sword The Citties of Rouergue Agenois terrefied with this seuere proceeding â—eelded obedience vnto Simon This hapned in the yeare 1215. the place of the bataile is diuersly reported at Muret or at Mirebeau After this strange ruinous defeat Count Raimond seeing himselfe spoiled of his possessions retires into Spaine to the Estats
hee allyed himselfe with this Fredericke the second Emperour who hath filled some leaues in our discourse and made his peace with the Pope vpon condition That hee should succour and ayde the Christians in the East Fredericke hauing recouered Ierusalem by the truce hee made with the Sultan as we haue sayd left it to Iohn of Breyne his Father in Lawe and returned into Germanie to make the end which wee haue before set downe On the other side as Christian Kings and Princes laboured what they could to repaire this their decayed estate Andrew King of Hungarie the Sonne of Bela assisted by the Dukes of Austria and Neuers whose names are not specified went into the East with a goodly Armie and to make worke for the Christian enemies hee besieged Damiette in Egipt where being succoured by Iohn of Breyne after a long siege hee takes it but it was soone after recouered by the Mammelucks Lewis therefore vndertooke this voyage of the East when as extreame necessitie called him to succour the afflicted Christians The Popes Innocent the third Honorius and Gregorie had one after another vehemently perswaded him to this voyage but the affaires of his realme had stayed him from attempting rashly to settle the generall estate and ruine his owne particular Yet being fallen extreamly sicke hee resolued to delay it no longer preparing for this expedition vpon his recouerie Hee assembled his Estates and by their free consent left the Regencie of the Realme to his Mother Blanche who was gladly receiued of all men vpon the conceit of her first gouernment Lewâ—s goes with an armie inâ—o the East Hee parts accompanied with Alphonso Earle of Tholouse and Poiters and Robert Earle of Arthois his Bretheren Hugh Duke of Bourgongne William Earle of Flanders and Guy of Flanders his Brother Hugh Earle of Saint Paul and Gautier his Nephew Hugh Earle of Marche the Earles of Salbruke and Vandosme of Montfort of Dreux and Archibauld of Bourbon very renowmed in the course of this Historie being Father to the Mother of our King now raigning the Lord of Ioinuille who hath worthily written this Historie Hugh Brun and his Sonne Gauberd of Aspremont William Morlet William of Barres men of great esteeme in their times the Lordes of La Voute Mont laur Turnon and Crusol men of accoumpt in the Countrie of Viâ—arez intouled with Count Raymond who dyed vppon the point of their departure and the rest passed on This was in the yeare 1258. about the twentith yeare of the raigne of Saint Lewis The Queene accompanies the King The Armie consisted of two and thirty thousand fighting men Queene Marguerite his Wife bare him company in his voyage but more faithfull then Elenor was to Lewis the seuenth the Countesses of Tholouse and Arthois did also goe with their husbands after the Queenes example Blanche his Mother bare him companie to Lions where Innocent the fourth attended him Hee imbarkes at Marseilles From thence hee went to Marseilles where hee imbarked with the Geneuois that were hired by him His departure was the 25. day of August to the best voyage vnder heauen Hee arriued happily in the Iland of Cipres held by Guy of Lusigâ—an where attending the rest of his Armie the plague wasted many of his men euen of the chiefe of his Court Archibauld of Bourbon Iohn of Montfort and others dyed The fame of his Holinesse moued the King of Tartaria to send his Ambassadors vnto him to offer him his friendship 1260. and to acquaint him with the desire he had to become a Christian Lewis sends him Preachers to instruct him in the Christian religion The Tartares refuse the Christian religion by reason of the Christians ill life But the Tartarians vnderstanding that the Christians liues were not answerable to their profession they returne without any better fruite then the shame of their ill life whose doctrine was so famous At the releefe of Cipres Lewis had conference with the Christians of Iudea where they resolued to recouer the Cittie of Damieâ—te as most riche and very important for their state The Mammâ—luckes sought to hinder Lewis his discent but to their great losse and also of their Commander the Satrape of Canope Behold Lewis is now landed and from thence he goes to Damiette the which hee speedily besiegeth yet not with so great foresight Lewis takes Damieâ—te but the stranger garrison hauing made shew to yeeld at the first summons had meanes to make a hoale in the night and to saue themselues This happy taking of Damiette gaue sundry Councels both to Lewis and to the Mammeluâ—ks To Lewis to pursue his victory to the Mammelucks to defend themselues and the rather for that soone after the losse of Damiette Meledin Sultan of Babilon died leauing his Sonne Melexala for his successor a young man of great hope The proiect of Lewis was to pursue his victory to keepe his enemy busied in attempting Caire the capitall Citty of Egipt anciently called Memphis Beâ—iegeth Caire indiscreetly but the ignorance of these strange places where he was not onely depriued him of the fruite of his first conquest but gaue Melexala meanes not onely to preserue himselfe but to defeat Lewis his armie and to take him prisoner Whilest they attend Count Alphonso his Brother with new forces and spend too much time vpon the passage of Nilus behold the miscreants forces flie into Egipt from all parts to succour the yong Sultan from Arabia and Siria The iealousies betwixt the Satrapes of Halape Damas were by this occasion conuerted into vnion and firme loue to expell a common enemy whose victory would proue their generall ruine Lewis ingaged beyond Nilus in an enemies country where he must either vanquish or die behold a great and mighty armie of enemies against him assembled from all parts Lewis a braue and resolute Commander desired nothing more then to imploy the first furie of the French in battaile Melexala a politike Commander incouraged by the happy successe of Damiette But Melexala who was within his owne Countrie and prepared rather to defend himselfe then to assaile resolued to weary Lewis his forces the which he knew would be more anoyed by the foggie aire where they were lodged and by the want of all kind of victuals then by his sword The successe answered his desseigne the Campe is presently full of diseases those contagious The common souldiers the NoblemeÌ„ The plâ—gue in Lewis his Campe. and in the end the King is sick all is disordred with this infectious sicknesse The Gards and Sentinels stand in feare all are amazed Melexala well informed of their estate surchargeth them with an other discomodity he takes from them the passage of Nilus by the which victuals came from Damiette to the Christians Campe. And to braue these poore sick men who had neither hands to fight nor feet to flie he sends troopes hourely to their trenches to prouoke them and cuts them in peeces
much eased This prouision came happily for the preseruation of France against the which Edward made then great preparatioÌ„ at the instance of the Nauarrois The truce expired he did forbid the FreÌ„ch to trafficke into England in the meane time his army laÌ„ds at Calais himself follows in persoÌ„ with a goodly traine Being landed resolued to take possession of the realme of France or by force to turne it he marcheth directly to Arras the which he takes in 3. daies Edward enters France with an army hauing assured it with a stroÌ„g garâ—ison he goes towards Champagne where passing onely he besieged Sens which yeelds without resistance and by their example Neuers All Bourgongne was strooke into such a terror as they redeemed their country froÌ„ spoile with a great summe of mony Hauing thus found means to intertaine his armie at his enimies charge enriched his souldiers with an inestimable booty he marcheth towards Paris as the head city of the whole realme the chiefe end of his desseâ—â—e the certain triumph of his conquest the goodly theater of his victories Our â—egent was nothing amased at these threats of Edward for hauing asseÌ„bled a goodly army with great expeditioÌ„ he atteÌ„ds him at Paris where the whole burthen of this was did lie He lodgeth his army in the suburbes fortifieth against approches being taught by the examples of his grandfather father not to hazard any thing resoluing only to defend himselfe within his trenches This resolutioÌ„ succeeded happily He besiegeth Paris but in vaine for Edward seeing the impossibility to draw the regent to fight notwithstaÌ„ding al his alarums raiseth his siege marcheth into Britany to refresh his army to the great conteÌ„t of the ParisieÌ„s who could not sufficiently coÌ„mend the wisdom of their regent hauing so politikly auoided this storme The regent imbraceth this occasion he furnisheth Paris with aboundance of victualls commands the souldiers to liue orderly without oppression of the inhabitants he fortifies the weakest places with all speed and doth so incourage the people as they are ready to sacrifice theÌ„selues for the preseruation of the State Edward supposing the great wast caused by the men of warre resident in this great citty would haue taken from them al means to coÌ„tinue haue bred an impatiency in the minds of this vnconstant people giuing him the better meanes to enter it he returnes with his army being strong lusty by this good refreshing of Britaine Being returned he finds things better ordered then before so as preuailing nothing but walking about the citty beholding a far off the great towers and the admirable masse of so many buildings as a briefe of the whole world he resolues to leaue the siege returne no more Thus experience teaching him what the strength of our chiefe citty was he packes all vp and goes towards Chartres meaning to besiege it But whilest he lodged there his army making a horrible spoile of the whole couÌ„try there chanced an occasioÌ„ as the worke of heauen which sodainely quailed his ambitious disseine to ruine France for behold a horrible extraordinary tempest of haile thuÌ„der and lightning falls with such violence as many horses men in the armie perished as if that God had stretched forth his hand from heauen to stay his course Edward amazed with thunder He resolues to conclude a peace with King Iohn This amazemeÌ„nt causeth Edward to vow to make a peace with King Iohn and the regent his son vpon reasonable conditions He which had thus thundred did likewise opeÌ„ the Duke of Lancasters mouth shewing how reasonable it was to limit humane attempts within restrained bouÌ„ds not to attend an infinit perpetuall prosperity in wordly affaires beeing more safe to content himself with a meane successe theÌ„ to be traÌ„sported with the violent course of humane hopes cast in the mould of indiscreet desires He likewise laied before him the impossibility of so extraordinary a desseine as to make himselfe maister of all France a notable example for Princes to behold their own infirmities and the greatnes of God to whoÌ„ they owe the homage of their enterprises being theÌ„ most happy when they are most sober â—â—â—rate without imagining an infinite power in the short weaknes of this mortal life wherevnto they are subiect like other men A peace concluded at Bretignie The Articles This lessoÌ„ mollified Edwards hart inclining to the deliuery of K. Iohn his prisoner to a general peace the which was concluded at 〈◊〉 a village nere vnto Chartres in the yeare 1360. the 8. of May vpoÌ„ these coÌ„ditioÌ„s That the country of Poitu the Fiefs of Thouars Belleuille the couÌ„tries of Gascony Agenois Peregort Limosin Cahors Tarbe Bigorre Rouergue and Angoumois in soueraignty with the homages of the two next yeares after 1360. at reasonable paâ—ments And for the consideration the said King of England and the Prince of Wales his sonne both for themselues 〈◊〉 successors should renoâ—â—â— all rights pretended to the Crowne of France the Duchie of Normandie the countries of Tourance Aniou and Maine the soueraingty and homage of Brittâ—ine and the Earldome of Flanders and within three weekes they should deliuer King Iohn at Calais at their charge the expences of the Kings house onely excepted The hostages giuen for the performance of the conditions For assurance of which agreement there should be deliuered into the King of Englands hands these hostages Lewis Duke of Aniou Iohn Duke of Berry sonnes to the King of France Philip Duke of Orleance the Kings brother Philip Duke of Bourgongne the Earles of Blois Alanson Saint Pol Hâ—â—court Porcian Valentinois Grandpre Denne and Forest the Lords of Vaudemont Coussy Pyennes Saint Venant Preaux Montmorency Careneieres Boâ—â—â— guion Estoute-ville the Daulphin of Auueigne Andregel and Craon A choâ—â—â— of well selected personages to be a sufficient caution for the money and conditions that were to be performed The Deputies that treated The Deputies for King Iohn were Iohn of Dormans Bishop of Beauuais and Chanâ—eller of France Iohn of Melun Earle of Tanearuille the Lord of 〈◊〉 Marshaâ—â— of France â— the Lords of Montmorency and Vigny Iohn Croâ—â—â—e Simon of 〈◊〉 Iohn Marâ—â—â— Lawyers and Iohn Maillard and Stephen of Paris Bourgesies of Paris For the King of England were Iohn Duke of Lancaster the Earles of Northampton Warwicke and Suffoâ—â—â— Renauâ—d of Celâ—sâ—an Gualtâ—r of Maâ—ny Knights with certaine learned men for their Councell This treatie of a generall peace signed by the two Kings was ratified by their two eldest sonnes Charles and Edward and proclaimed by Heraulds first at the wiâ—dowâ—â— of the Kings and Princes lodgings and then at the corners of the streetes in great solemnitie The hostages were deliuered to Edward the father who imbarked at 〈◊〉 and lead them into England leauing the Earle of Warwicke in France to see the execution of the peace King Iohn brought to Calis
authority and the Daulphins who was heire apparent to the Crowne of France the capitall Citty of the realme the aâ—pâ—â—bation of the best Cities most of the Prouinces and wâ—thout comparison gâ—eateâ— means of himselfe both for men and mony Thâ—s â—â—cond warre continued a veare it began in Iuly 1411. and ended the yeare afâ—eâ— 1412. in the same moneth far more variable and violent then the first and memoâ—â—ble in this that the vanquished was victor and the victor vanquished The same authoâ—itie which had supported the stronger was in the ende fauorable to the weaker â—uch as most pleased their masters humor receiued death of him for their reward Very necesâ—aâ—â— obsâ—â—uations to iudge of these Ciuill warres The Orlean faction went first to field They were about seuen or eight thousand horse The number of their foote is not specified 1411 Charles Duke of Orleans makes the body of his army in Gastinoâ—s the Duke of Bourbon in Bourbonois and the the Earle of Alenson in Vermandoâ—s Peronne Chauny Neele and Han yeeld vnto them Clermont which belonged to the Duke of Bourbon is fortified they seeke to surprise Reteil and Bapaumes but in vaine This was the first sally begun by them of Orleans But the Bourguignon takes an other course he prepares the Kings Edicts against them he imployes the peoples force within the Citties and armes in field and all availes him at the first He had a great army both of horse and foote the which doth presently march into Picardy where the Orleanois had begun and easily recouers what they had gotten Han standes resolute they beseege take spoile and sacke it The Flemings which were vassalls to the Duke of Bourgongne being laden with spoile craue leaue to returne home neyther could the Dukes promises nor threats retayne them but they leaue his army and depart This had almost ouerthrowne his affaiâ—es he abandons Mondidier the which was presently surprised by Peter of Quesnes Lord of Gannes of the Orlean faction and putting his army into garrisons doubting the euent of this warre he sends with all speede to Henry the 4. King of England crauing succors in this necessity The Bourâ—ignon crâ—ues aide of the King of England Henry makes his profit of these ciuill dissentions in France he presently sends twelue hundred men to the Bourguignon to supply the Flemings want vnder the commande of Thomas Earle of Arondel The Orleanois loose no time and for their neâ—rer approch to Paris they surprise Saint Denis and Saint Cloud places of importance and fortifie Corbeil for the passage of the riuer of purpose to famish this great Cittie which liues by dayly prouisions brought from diuers parts But hee findes one to countermine his practises vsing the same instrument he had imployed to hurt him The Orleanois keeping the field about Paris must needes be the cause of great calamities And all this was acted in the viewe of the King and Daulphin Iohn informes the King of his enemies insolencie who without appealing to his Maiestie presumed to spoile the heart of Francâ— as if they were strangers or enemies Charles apprehends this error but too easily Tâ—e King Daâ—â—pâ—iâ— incensed against the Duke of Orleans desiring nothing but rest but Lewis the Daulphin especially is incensed by these informations and his chollâ—r encreaseth daâ—ly against his Cousins of Orleans The Bourguignon saied that they played the Kings and could not conceale their intention which was to seize on the Crowne seeing they presumed to take armes against the King There are rigorous Edicts made against the Orleans faction as against rebelles and guilty of high treason All their goods honours and persons are confiscate which remayne in thâ—s army if within fiâ—teene dayes after publication of the Kings letters pattents they retire not themselues to their houses And to begin with thegreatest Charles of Albret Constable of France and Arnolde of Corby the Chanceâ—lor are dâ—spossessed of their dignities and the Earle of Saint Pol preferred to the first place and Dolâ—haing the Duke of Bouâ—gongnes aduocate to the last This stormâ— makes worke at Paris they seeke out all of the Orleans partie and presently cast theÌ„ into prison The Parisienâ— mutine against the Orlean faction Peter of Essars being restored to his place remembers the article made against him at Wincestre and aâ—mes the people against them Whosoâ—uer is found out by the Parisiens bâ—eing of the Orleans faction hee is brought with hazard of his lâ—fe to prison All is lawfull in this popular rage so it bee against the Armagnacs All these engins forced from diuets parts do strangely shake the Orlean partie Such as were restrayned within any Townes duâ—st not breath and many in the army slippe away daily fearing the rigour of these Edicts which were executed withall seueritie Chaâ—les Duke of Orleans hauing taken counsell of the Princes and Noblemen his associaâ—s what course to followe in this alteration before a greater in conueniency resolues to drawe the Bourguignon to battaile although he were fortified with these new forces from England So as hauing passed the riuer of Oyse vpon a bridge of boats all the passages being seized on by the Bourguignon in the Kings name he presents himselfe before the gates of Clermont in Beauuoisis 1412. where Iohn his capitall enemie remayned The Orleans aâ—my yet faire beautified with the presence of great personages the Duke of Bourbon the Eaâ—les of Alenson Clâ—rmont Albret Vertus Vienne Bouciquaut the Archbishop of Sens brother to that Montagu which was beheaded Craon Montbason Hangest with many Batons Knights and Squiers all resolute to ende this quarrell by battaile and to that ende hauing defied the Duke of Bourgongne they attend him betwixt Clermont and Cathenay But the Bourguignon leauing them there to spoile that goodly and fertill country of the Isle of France whereby they increased the hatred and curse of the people more incensed then euer against these Aâ—magnacs exclayming of him as of a coward that durst not fight he arriues at Paris to the peoples great content who attende him with all deuotion Hee presently takes Saint Cloud and Saint Denis from the Orlean partie to their great losse notwithstanding any diligence of Charles their head who proclaymed a victory before the combaâ—e Thus Paris is freed without any restrainte and all the Orleans partie brought verie lowe Neyther Charles noâ— his Associats talke any more of fighting with the Bourguignon they had worke inough to retyre themselues and to defend their Townes expecting a present seege Iohn of Bourgongne failes not to husband this good successe and â—o countenance his forces hee doth intangle the King and Daulphin in the pursuâ—e of his enemies halfe vanquâ—shed So his victorious army enters into Beausse turning head towards the Country of Orleans the inheritance of his chiefe enemie Esâ—ampes yeelds â—o the King The Duke of Bourbon is there taken prisoner and sent presently into Flanders Whilest that all things succeeded thus
and Chancellour of France was there hauing succeeded Renauld of Chartres Arche-bishop of Rheims being lately deceased The Lords of Culant Eueil Montgascon Blainuille Pressigny Brion Prally la Boussicre Montet Aigreuille Malicorne and Han with an infinite number of the Nobilitie Charles resolued to imbrace these goodly occasions finding by the obedience of so many countrie Townes the way laied open to Rouen the capitall Cittie of that Prouince he determines to besiege it and all with one consent aime at this goodly marke as the chiefe of the Kings affaires But it chanced through the prouidence of God that where as there seemed greatest difficultie there it proued most easie by the loyaltie of the French who cannot denie their Prince The combate was ciuill managed more by councell then by force The Cittie was much at the Kings deuotion yet were they kept in awe by the English forces being maisters of the strongest Fortes within the Cittie The Duke of Somerset was there present with authoritie Talbot must imploy all his valour but neither force fortes authoritie nor valour were of any force for that God hauing determined to restore this estate by the meanes of Charles the 7. inclined both hands and hearts to his decree the which no mortall man can preuent The King being at Pont l'Arche The King sends his armie to Rouen had certaine intelligence from the best Cittizens of Rouen that the whole Citty was resolued to obey him desiring only to be supported by his presence and forces vpon this aduise he causeth the Earle of Dunois to march and to shew himselfe vnto the Cittizens who sends a Herauld to summon them to yeeld their obedâ—ence vnto the King whom the English were like to haue torne in peeces No Cittâ—zen daâ—es shew himselfe vpon the walles all is filled with enimies The English had seized vpon the walles so as no man within the Towne durst approach Hauing thus marched about the Towne in good order fearing no lesse the lightnesse of the peoples humour then the Winter which approched being then October he resolues to retire Charles and his councell distrust these popular humors as not able to draw the Cittie to yeeldâ— he therefore thinkes it best to lodge his armie about it and to seize vpon the passages of the Cittizens chiefe houses being the best meanes to draw them to reason The which was speedily put in practise The troupes were scarce lodged in their quarters when as Charles lying at Pont l'Arche had intelligence that his seruants had seized vpon two Towers by meanes whereof they had a quarter of the Cittie Wherevpon the 〈◊〉 of Dunois shewes himselfe presently with the Armie before the Citty and diuides his troupes according to their quarters The brute of those forces is great vpon their approch they haue aduice to march the which they do resolutely being set in order 〈◊〉 of generous resolution as in the Kings presence The Ladders are set to the wall and they begin to mount all prepare to follow fortie of our men gette vp the wall when as Lord Talbot arriues with three hundred desperate English who hauing cut the Cittizens in peeces charge our men that were ingaged some they kill the rest leape from the walles The French attempt it by Scaladoe and repulsed and fewe recouer the place from whence they were mounted The King holding the Cittie wonne comes to Darnetall when as the Earle of Dunois returnes to aduertise him of the hard successe of this popular brag so as all held it for winde and smoake In the meane time the Cittizens slept not the litle bloud of some that were slaine set all the rest of the Cittizens on fire who resolued to vnmaske themselues and to speake plainely to the English The whole Cittie is incensed by meanes of the magistrats euery man prepares his armes against these strangers The Archebishop of Rouen a name which the historie owes to the truth and honor of the French loyaltie was a good seruant to the King had great credit with the Cittizens so as the whole Cittie assembles with him and by a common consent all resolue to returne to the Crowne of France as to their first beginning Somerset and Talbot runne thether with fiftie men but what is that against a multitude The Archebishop acquaints them with the Cittizens resolution who in their presence depute the Officiall to go vnto the King The Cittizens resolue to yeeld and send their depuâ—es to the King The Summe of his Ambassage was that his Maistie should graunt vnto the Cittizens of Rouen a generall abolition of all that was past and leaue for the English and all others of their humor to retire without danger offring him their obedience as to their lawfull King that he should come when he pleased where he should finde the gates as open as their hearts This resolution deliuered boldlie in the presence of Somerset and Talbot amazed them much their courages were daunted And what could their weake authority do against the whole body of a Cittie fortified with the Kings approch his army and his right Thus the Cittie of Rouen sends deputies vnto the King and obtaine all they demande who beeing returned with this good answere all are satisfied but the English who keepe the walles Towers bridge Castell and Palace all this must be fought for They prepare for force the people do the like al the streetes are filled with armed men to force the walles The Cittizens send againe vnto the King beseeching him to approch with his army with all speede to take absolute possession of his Cittie of Rouen Attending the Kings answere the Cittizens do happily winne the walles the Towers and the gates all that belongs to the Cittie obeyes the King Rouen yeelded vnto the Kinâ— and the Englâ—sh beâ—â—egâ—d in their forts the English with great difficultie recouer the bridge Castell and Pallace But they inioye not these forts long for the Cittizens beseege the bridge and winne it and now the army comes downe the hâ—ll The Cittizens at the sighâ— thereof câ—ie God saue the King all breake out into ioy and triomph The armie enters the Cittie to the peoples exceding ioy attending the King In the meane time Saint Katherins fort is beseeged and yeelded to the Earle of Dunois Charles lodgeth there whilest the Cittie is freed from strangers The Castell yeelds the Pallace onely remaines Somerset and Talbot are there they are men of action who had wheâ—e with all to fight for their liues but how can they hold out all being disposed to an accord The Eâ—â—le of Someâ—sâ—â— and Talbot yeeld and come to King Charles Charles being wholie inclined to Clemencie doth willingly see Somerset and Talbot at Saint Katherins fort who receiue a lawe from his victorious hands yet would he not admit them with conditions like vnto the Cittizens but he giues them leaue to retire with theâ—r liues and goods vpon these conditions That they should leaue their
army with a braue hardie resolutioÌ„ opened the passage by force but with great losse of hisforces the which fortified with newe troupes hee sends into high Misia and Selauonia chased Stephen King of Bossne out of Iaize the chiefe Citty dispossessed him of his Realme and in the end slewe him about the yeare 1463. A while after Matthias King of Hongarie recouered the sayd Citty and Realme ouerthrewe a great armie of Turkes spoiling the country of Sirme tooke many places in Croatia and Dalmatia and in the ende expelled Mahomet being come to beseege Iaize spoiled his campe and was master of all his baggage Scanderbeg expelled his country was retyred into Italy where shewing that the diuision of Christian Princes was the meanes to confirme the Turkes estate and that it was impossible to make him giue ouer this audacious and insatiable desire beeing at Lisse vpon the riuer of Drille hee was surprised with a feuer whereof hee died being threescore and three yeares old in the yeare 1467. Scanderbeg 〈◊〉 His vertues A Prince exceeding all men in valour of an wonderfull courage so as euen with vehemency his lippes did bleed at the beginning of euery charge Hee neuer refused battaile neuer turned his backe neuer was hurt but once lightly in the foote with an arrowe he neuer led aboue six thousand horse and three thousand foote and had slaine with his owne hand aboue two thousand barbarians striking with such force as he cut many in two peeces Mahumed being freed by the death of Scanderbeg vndertooke three warres at one instant Misithes of the race of the Paleologues had commission to go to Rhodes Acomath Bascha into Italy to conquer it with Rome and the Empire of the West and Mahumed himselfe goes into Asia Mesithes being often beaten was forced to returne with the remainders of his armie languishing and in pittifull estate Acomath lands in Calabria takes Otranto and so amazeth all Italie as the Pope neglecting all in regard of the safetie of his person resolues to leaue Rome Mahumed going into Asia died of the Collick neere vnto Nicomedia in the yeare 1471. A happy death for the Christians for Otranto besieged by the Italians aided by Matthias was yeelded by composition wiâ—h their liues and goods saued without attending fiue and twenty thousand Turkes which Acomath pursuing his victorie brought to their succours Thus Italie was deliâ—ered from imminent danger and the Pope assured we will now leaue the raigne of Baiazet second successor to Mahumed to continue our worke in the West CHARLES the eight the 56. King of France CHARLES 8 KING OF FRANCE .56 THis raigne will not hold vs long 1483. but after the Duke of Orleans league the motiue of fiue yeares warre in Brittanie ended A briefe rehearsall of Charles his raigne by the Kings marriage with Anne the eldest daughter to Francis Duke of Brittanie we shall be transported beyond the Alpes to take the possession which René King of Sicile and Charles Earle of Maine his brother had by their testaments left to Lewis the xi to the rights they pretended to the realme of Naples vpon the way wee shall see him entertained by Lewis Sforce in the Towne of Ast then hauing receiued the Forts of Florence with the Cittie of Pisa from Peter de Medicis he enters Rome notwithstanding the gainsaying of Pope Alexander hauing vsed therein the rights of a coÌ„querour he treats an accord with the said Pope receiues from him the title of Emperour of Constantinople with the institution of the realme of Naples and consequently causeth himselfe to bee crowned King of Sicile And to augment his honour hee makes his passage maugre the forces of all the Princes and Potentates of Italie at Fournoue and laden with glorie and spoiles returnes triumphantly to seeke some rest in France after his wearie toyles But alas when as in the greene and vigorous season of his life he shall meditate of a second voiage for the recouerie of his realme of Naples as easily lost as wonne and when as the Easterne partes liued in hope to haue the Christian church restoted by him oppressed now vnder the Turkish Traine Death vniust and vnseasonable according to man shal with himselfe cut off al his goodly desseins the which he had laid in the beginning of his florishing youth to carry him to the fruition of a better rest The iudicious reader may iudge if we haue reaped more honour profit in the getting then shame hurt in the losse of so many Estates lying farre from vs. Charles came to the Crowne at the age of 13. yeares Charles his disposition and education delicate weake sickly in his youth mild gratious deuout but wilful in his humors Lewis had bred him vp at Amboise attended on by few seruants not visited by any without any instruction but bare reading not willing to helpe nature by art Yet the weaknes thereof hath often times more need of a prop to support it a spurre to pricke it forward then of a bitt to restraine it Did he feare that learning should imparre his health or corrupt the good seeds which nature hap planted in his mind He was content that according to his fathers humour his sonne should learne this only senteÌ„ce in Latin He that cannot dissemble cannot rule But he did him wrong for he was inclined to the reading of French books he came no sooner to the crowne but they found in him a desire of knowledge which made him to haue a taste in the Latin tongue But as the aptest of his age was slipt away without profit so did hee salute the Muses but a farre off weake of bodie but of a good wit capable of counsell succeptible of the helpes requisite for the gouernment of a firme solide State His minoritie was the cause of a quarrell The Duke of Oâ—leans and Earle of Beauieu contend for the Regencie betwixt the Duke of Orleans a young Prince and neerest to the Crowne and the Earle of Beauieu for the Regencie which caused his Coronation to be differred vntill the next yeere after the which an assembly of States should determine of the administration of the King Realme The Princes of the bloud attending this sollemnitie hauing bin so often wronged by Oliuer le Daim Daniel his seruant Doyac who had wholy gouerned the deceased King did without the Kings priuitie whose young yeares witheld him from gouernmeÌ„t informed of their insolencies proud carriage vniust murthers thefts extortions other crimes which they had committed vnder â—he authoritie of Lewis the xi and by a decree of the Court make Daniel forfaite both bodie and goods and his master likewise some few dayes after Doyac whipped at the corner of euery street Oliuer and 〈◊〉 hâ—â—ged lost one of his eares vpon the pillerie at the Halles of Paris then hauing his tongue pearced with a whot iron he was conueied to Mont-Ferrant in Auuergne where he was borne
and iâ—piety could inuent in mad souldiars Wee knowe the Lion by his pawes The towne of Arquenay three Leagues from Laual had a Church guilt and enriched by the Lords of Rambouilleâ— and at that time filled with all the goods of the Inhabitants Commeronde with a regiment of seauen or eight hundred men hauing ouerrunne and spoyled the Country of Aniou and the Countie of Laual comes thether with his men to lodge in the ende of Aprill who burnt the doores of the Church sackt it quite hauing no respect of the feminine sexe they slue a poore man at the foote of the Crucifixe complayning that in the same place they had rauished his wife they did their excrements in the holy water stocke perfumed all the Church with their filthinesse applied to their owne vses the ornaments of our Ladie sold the Câ—apes the Banner and reliks to the Monks of Eurons the Chalices and Crosses of siluer to them of Vague· and to heape vp the measure of their villanies hauing taken the pixe of siluer and some foure and twentie of their holy cakes in it one of them attired himselfe like a preest causing some twenty of the soldiars to kneele downe and with his hands imbâ—ewed with bloud and sacrilege distributed them vnto them and troad the rest vnder his feete The like they did within fewe daies after at Thorigny It sâ—fficeth among so many to haue noted this horrible impiety in particular that posterity may learne that armes do not edifie but destroy the Altars and that pietie dwells not much among such as followe the campe The renuion of the two Kings had greatly troubled the Leaguers of Paris Nowe they ceasse not to drawe articles instructions and aduertisements both within and without the realme The Parisieâ—â— courses they forget nothing that may confirme the building of their confusion They send their deputies to Rome the Commander de Diou the Councellor Coquelay the Abbot of Orbais and the Deane of Reims who iustifie their actions to the Pope demande a Legate promise the publication of the Councell of Trent Their petition vnâ—o the Pope beseeche his holâ—nesse to bee gratious and fauorable to their desseins and to the Townes of their alâ—iance and to contribute to the charge of this common warre whereof they must beare the cheefe burthen In deed they had need of much money tâ—â—â—â—nish the expenses of so many pettie Kings but some fiâ—led their cofers others paâ—ed their debts and some bought lands and Lordshippes Thus the people are the instâ—â—ments of great men and the sheâ—fe whereon all kind of stormes and tempests doe beate Lâ—bertie exceeded in all places and rage against the Kings authoritie seemed desperate The â—ire of this reuolt had kindled the heart and all the corners of the Realme and generally there was nothing but inroads spoiles surprising and sacking whâ—n as sodainly many cheâ—ks amaze the League and giue hope of a speedie reuiuing oâ— the Kings affaires The Duke of Montpensâ—er assisted by the Lords of Hallot Creâ—â—â—aur Bacqueuille and Larchant Diuerse defeaâ—s oâ— the League was in Normandie with forces for his Maiesties serâ—iâ—e and for the first fruits hauing defeated the garrison of â—alaise taken three Captaine cutâ— most of their companies in peeces and dispersed the rest they beseeged the Toâ—ne and had brought it readie to yeeld when as the Earle of Brissae who of late 〈◊〉 â—onders in speaking well at the Estates in the Kings fauour aduanced wâ—th about â—â—ree hundred gentlemen and fiue or sixe thousand â—oote whom they caâ—â—ed Gaulâ—iâ—rs and made the Duke abandon the seege Of the Gaultiâ—â—â— to meet with them They lodged in three 〈◊〉 the Duke forceth two kills such as mâ—ke resistance and chase the rest with small difâ—icultie The Eaâ—le flies with all his horse leauing a thousand or twelue hundâ—ed â—risoners and about three thousand slaine vpon the place amongst the which were â—oâ—nd many gentlemen After this attempt of the Duke of Mayenne in the suburbs of Tours the King sends the Lord of Lorges to discouer the enemie the Duke of Aumale hath intelligence therof and sends some troupes to charge him The Lord of Chastillon passeth at Boisgency with two hundred horse and as many harguebuziers to second Lâ—rges and causeth â—ouquerolles to aduance with twentie gentlemen towards Bonneuall Of Reâ—lainuillâ— They meet with Reclainuille who commaunded in Chartres Hee offers to discouer them they charge him and kill fiue or sixe of his men hee retires in hast and giues the alarum to the troupes 〈◊〉 Picardie led by Saueuse and les Brosses who commaunded about 300. masters and a good number of harguebusiers on horsebacke and on foot The two commaunders Chastillon and Saueuse are in front one of an other No man makes shew to recoyle and both resolue to fight Saueuse puts his harguebusiers before and placeth his Lanciers in haie approching softly without dis banding Chastillon disposeth of his foot Of Saueuse makes two battaâ—â—ons of his horse and sets Charboniere and Harambure on his left hand with their companies of light horses and then hee aduanceth to the charge Saueuse chargeth resolutely His harguebusiers on horsebacke discharge very neere Chasâ—â—llons footmen receiue them in the like sort and with one bâ—eath enter among the horse that were come to the charge they kill many horses with their swords and loose but three souldiars Saueuse chargeth the light horsemen vppon his right hand and breaking the first rankes had vnhorsed Chastillon and some eight or tenne gentlemen bâ—t with the losse of fiue and twentie horse as these rise and fight on foote Harambure and Fouquerolles comes in they charge Saueuse and his men â—ill aboue sixescore gentlemen ouerthrowe the rest and force through them Thus broken without meanes to make a new head euery man fâ—â—es euery one placeth his safetie in the heeles of his horse Chastillon goes to horsebacke and poursues chasing beating and killing aboue threescore more in the flâ—ght with all their haâ—guebusiers Two Cornets were gotten and fortie gentlemen taken most being hurt in the conflict Saueuse carried to Boisgency died there of his wounds not able to bee perswaded by any meanes to acknowledge the King or scarce to aske God forgiuenes Senâ—is had of late dayes by the meanes of some good inhabitants shaken off the yoake of the League It was a troublesome thorne in the Parisiens feete being distant but one small dayes iourney to come from their Cittie towards Picardie To pull it out the Duke of Aumale goes from Paris with some troupes of Balagny Chamois Tremont Congis Menneuille and an armie of the inhabitants chosen out of euery quarter he besiegeth batters it and makes a breache but is repulsed from the assault Now they aduise the besieged to prouide for their safeties when as the Duke of Longueuille appeared being followed by the Lords of Humieres Bonniuet la Noue Giury and other Commanders the Duke of Aumale turnes head and prepares to fight
it vpon his owne head But these men had diuided it amongst them giuing the rest to vnderstand that they fedde themselues with vaine hopes To cast more wood and oyle into the flames of their diuision and to ruine one by another matters were so handled as the 15. of August The Duke of Guise escapes the yong Duke of Guise escaped out of prison from Tours and not farre from the riuer found a troupe of horse appointed by the Lord of La Chastre to conduct him This escape caused many bonfires and greatly reuiued their hearts who held this Prince fitte to make a King of the Vnion But the cleere sighted thought with reason that his arriuall at Paris would rather ruine then aduance their partye and the deuises and practises of other pretendants must needs soone kindle an extreame and common ielousie amongst them Whilest these consult with their most trustie friends and seruants Noyon taken by the King what effects might grow by this new accident the King in the same moneth besieged Noyon in Picardie defeated the succours sent by the League foure times killed their most resolute men at armes tooke many prisoners put the rest to flight and at the Duke of Mayennes nose who to auoyde this check which the League was like to receiue attempted vpon Mante sought to force his Maiesties Suisses lodged at Houdan and approched neere to Noyon but would not fight heaping shame vpon his enemies hee forced the besieged to yeeld to his obedience and moreouer went and dared him to fight before Han. Let vs returne into Daulphiné to behold the most memorable and most fatall defeate for the enemies of this Crowne the most vertuous expedition of armes which for these many yeares hath most broken their desseignes vpon Prouence and Daulphiné The 〈◊〉 of Sauoy defeated and most weakened the League in those Prouinces which the Sauoisien affected Don Amedeo bastard brother to the Duke of Sauoy Don Oliuares chiefe of the Spaniards whom the Duke had lately obtained of King Philip his father in lawe the Marquis of Treuiâ— and others conducted twelue or thirteene thousand men by the plaine of Pontcharra neere to the Castle of Bayard in the vallee of Graisiâ—odan Doubtlesse the place should reuiue the memory of that incomparable Knight who by the valour of his armes hath in former times wonderfully tyed the realme to recommend his merits the Lord Les Diguieres meetes them chargeth and ouercomes them leauing two thousand fiue hundred slaine vpon the place carries away many prisoners and most of the Commanders takes eighteene Enseignes with Red Crosses and makes bootie of all their baggage which amounts to aboue two hundred thousand Crownes in Chaines Iewels plate money both golde and siluer horse and armes Two thousand Romaines and Milanois which had saued themselues with Conte Galeas of Bel Ioyeuse their Commander in the Castle of Aualon were the next day at the Victors discretion sixe or seuen hundred were cut in peeces the rest were sent to a place of safetie with white wands in their hands and then sent home into Italy with an oth neuer to carry armes against France The King seeing that neither by the taking of Noyon nor by any other baite hee could draw his enemies to fight doth presse them yet more neerely To this end hee commands that Paris should bee restrained on all sides both by water and land and should enioy no commodities but by the mercie of the neighbour garrisons the which he entertained vpon the tributes and customes imposed vpon victuals which they suffered to passe to Paris and by this meanes emptied the inhabitants purses stript them and drew out of the Citty necessary commodities for his troopes then with one part of his army hee marcheth into Normandie surpriseth Louuiers approcheth to Rouan to tire the inhabitants Rouan besieged who seemed no lesse obstinate then the Parisiens He is no sooner arriued but they crie out for succors and his Maiestie sees them neere their ruine or at the least ready to yeeld to some reason So the King of Spaine sollicited from many partes Succoured by the Duke of Parma and thrust on by the consideration of his owne priuate interest and satisfaction sends to the Duke of Parma commands him to leaue the gouernment of the Lowe Countries in his absence 1591. to the Cont Mansfield to go and free Rouan and to imbrace such occasions as should be offered The Kings happy successe and his enemies miseries drawes the Prince of Parma the second time into France hee parts from Bruxelles with foure thousand foote and three thousand horse and fortified with the succours of Italy and three thousand Suisses hee marcheth by small iourneys for hee wisely conceiued that his Maister sent him into France for the same considerations that hee would haue giuen him the conduct of his armie by sea into England and vnder this shew of armes hee practised an other desseigne To cause the Estates of the League whereof they purposed a conuocation the next yeare to giue the Crowne of France to the Infanta of Spaine whom the father promised to marry with one of the heads of the partie whome the Estates should name This tended greatly to the preiudice of the Duke of Mayenne for hee was marryed Diuision bewixt the Duke of Mayenne and the sixteene and the eldest sonne of Lorraine the Dukes of Guise and Nemours were to marry Hee is therefore now resolutely determined to crosse the sixteene Tribunes of Paris who with their Champions carried away the peoples voyces and aboue all others did feed the Spaniards hopes in this realme to whome inticed by the gold of Peru and his prodigall promises they had already solde the Capitall Cittie The sixteene growne hatefull through their tyranous authoritie feare to be soone suppressed they resolue to preuent it and rather to vnhorse the Duke the better to aduance their affaires according to King Phillips intentions One thing seemed to aduance their desseigne they held prisoner one named Brigard a Proctor of the Towne-house accused to haue had intelligence with the King and of letters written to his Maiestie Brigard escapes out of prison They suspect the President Brisson and the Councellors Larcher and Tardife to haue fauoured his escape In this furie the 15. of Nouember they seize vpon these three venerable persons hale them to the Chastelet cause them to bee strangled in the close prison and the next day hang vp their bodyes at the Greue with infamous writings on their brests This execrable fact might haue extended farther and made the like spectacle of any one that should in any thing haue controuled the actions of these homicides The Duke of Mayenne who treated with Parma posts to appease this tumult hee caused Louchart Auroux Hameline and Emonnot the chiefe authors of this cursed attempt to bee apprehended and executed in the open view of all the people who bowed their backes mournefully at the damnable commands of
victory There is no so great prosperity but is crossed with some aduersity S. Luc slaine and trouble Two daies after the Lord of Saint Luc gouernor of Brouage and great Master of the Artillery of France slaine in the trenches obteyned that graue and worthy testymonie of his valour from his Maiesties mouth to haue 〈◊〉 that day a most valiant and faithâ—ull seruant leauing his people much greeued and the whole campe lamenting this generall losse to France as of one of the braue Captaiâ—es of his age In the meane time the Cardinall approched vaunting that he would fight within foure daies Yet had hee no inclynation to put it in practise The King to drawe him to battaile preuents the policy which the enemy would vse to succour the place he takes his place of battaile on the toppe of Long-pré a quarter of a league behind the inclosure of his campe intrenched as well to saue themselues from the Cannon shot of the towne as from theirs that came to succor them And to keepe the enemy from sending in any succors on the other side of the riuer he leaues the Lords of Montigny La Noue de Viâ—ques and Cluseaux there with three thousand foote and foure hundred horse The 15. of the sayd moneth the towne beeing reduced to that Estate as without succors it must needes yeeld of it selfe The Cardiâ—al approchetâ— the Cardinall in the morning castes two artificiall bridges vpon the riuer of Somme where through the fauour of his forces and Cannon hee passeth two thousand fiue hundred men amongest which were eight hundred choise Captaines to thrust themselues into the Towne and about two of the clocke hee shewes himselfe in the vewes of Long-pré with an order which in shewe did promise a generous attempt But the dilligence of his Maiesty his courage without feare and the wise order hee presently gaue at his arriuall changed their braue countenance into a cowardly and base feare The King leaues three thousand men to gard the trenches against the sallies of the towne hee presently marcheth with all his troupes to the place of battaile and plants his Cannon to his best aduantage The artillery of the beseeged and of them that came to succor them thunders but they passe ouer his Maiesties esquadrons Our men during this seege haue beene well acquainted with the shot of the Cannon but they stand firme like rockes They tire the enemy with continuall skirmishes the Cannon mightely annoye them the admirable gournment of the Leader and the firme resolution of the assaylants doth so terrefie them as at the first attempt they thinke of a retreat and presently they retire to the quarter where the Kings light horse did lodge by the riuers â—ide The foure aboue named Colonels hauing discouered the Cardinalls Stratageme charged them that came to succor the towne kill take and force the whole bodie to repaâ—se the riuer in disoâ—der and to abandon their bridges The King seeing the enemy lodged alongst the riuer passeth three Cannons ouer the water shootes at them and doth annoye their lodging and remayning all night on the place of battaile abates the ioye which the beseeged had showen by the number of fires which they had made So the Cardinall seeing all his attempts fruitlesse in steede of turning head to the towne or against the French troupes The Cardinal retireâ— hee beginnes verie earlie in the morning to retyre and to take an other lodging on the mountaine of Vâ—gnancourt The King followes him with foure thousand horse and twelue thousand foote lodgeth vpon the next hill and a great valley betwixt them continues foure or fiue houres in battaile before their army prouokes them by his Cannon and continuall skirmishes vewes all their forces number forme and countenance and seeing them disposed to retire determines to charge them in their lodging But it is good some-times to make a bridge of gold to a flying enemie Moreouer it was a great glorie for his Maiesty to haue shamefully chased him away without raysing the seege from so great a towne and to haue pursued him with the Cannon three Leagues They take a contrary way and couer the right wing of their army which lay next to the French with their wagons chained togither they cause their horse to aduance into the head of the army in forme of a halfe moone and their foote into battaillons diuided into foreward battaile and rereward they place their Cannon in the head of these esquadrons in this sort they place their troupes and their baggage in â—afety making a shewe some-times as if they would charge But seeing that to come to the gates of the Citty beseeged they must force through the Kings army which being in battaile did fight with their countenances and gesture they haue no will to attempt this passage and by their speedie retreat giue all France an assured hope to be soone freed from this strange nation which sought to ruine it The beseeged are nowe forced to yeeld to the victors Lawe This shamefull retreat hath ouerthrowne their first resolution Their practises inuentions engins their incredible labour to cast vp earth their many Cannons their deepe trenches their continuall watching nor the strength of the place could not keepe the assaylants from lodging vpon their rampar and rauelin so nere as they came to handie blowes So two daies after the Marquis of Montenegro who coÌ„manded in the towne after the death of Hernand doth promise to yeeld the place if within six daies he be not succored with two thousand horse that should enter into the towne So was it sayd and so done The time inuited the Cardinall and gaue him leysure Amiens yeelded and the Spaniards depart being with all his forces within seauen Leagues of the towne but he had neyther will nor power to releeue them And therefore according to the capitulation made the 19. that the soldiars should depaâ—t with their armes their matches light their colours flying and drums sounding with their horse and baggage and whatsoeuer they could carry-away of theirs the fiue and twentith of the moneth his Maiesty hauing put his army in battaile sent the Constable the Marshall of Biron the Duke of Montbason and the Lord of Vicques to the port of Beauuois where the garrison should come forth who comming to the gate the bridge is let downe and the Marquis comes forth on horse-backe alone but followed by a hundred and thirty horse and as many Harguebuziers on foote for the gard of his person They receiue him and conduct him to his Maiesty who attended him halfe a League from the towne The King was accompanied with his white Cornet wherein were about seauenteene hundred horse and fiue hundred Suisses hauing about him the Prince of Conty the Dukes of Montpensier Neuers and Nemours the Prince of Ioinuille twelue Marshalls of France and other Noblemen in great numbers mounted vpon a goodly courser with a rich caâ—arason and a sadle imbrodered with
of Tours For this great seruice he expected some notable recompence But Martel excusing himselfe that he could not alienate the reuenewes of the Crowne nor doe any thing to the preiudice of his Master left Eudon no more aduanced then before the warres and very ill satisfied but he died soone after leauing Hunault and â—effroye his children heires of â—is dâ—scontent After their fathers decease they seeke all possible meanes to trouble the quiet of France Their cheefe strength was in Guienne they had lâ—kewise â—ome in Prouence through the fauour of Maurice Gouernour of the Countrie and Earle of Marseilles but especially in Languedoc whence they were issued as I haue said being descended from the Visigoths whose memorie with their name liues still throughout all that Prouince although they all depend vpon the Crowne of France Thus they assemble all the people they can A famous war in Languedoc either by friends or credit and fortifie good Townes against the French attending to make warre with al violence But finding all these meanes too feeble for so great a proiect they proceed farther The Sarazins remayning in Spaine were much grieued at so great a losse of their men being a general dishonour to al their nation They are easily drawne into this League to be reuenged of the French the better to fâ—rtifie their partie they ioyne with the Vandales Ostrogoths Alans which remained yet in Spaine not friends among themselues yet common enemies to the French King Athin led the Sarazin troupes 738. Hunault and Ieffry brethren commanded those that were assembled in the Prouinces on this side Loire Besides their forces they had intelligence within Lions and the best Citties of Bourgongne assuring themselues to seize vpon Daulphiné as well for the neernesse of Languedoc where they had a great partie as also by meanes of Maurice the Prouensall and the credit they had with the principall of the Country Thus they make a great party to vndermine and ruine the state of France and did manage their practises with such secrecie as their army was sooner in field then Martell could haue intelligence of their preparations The bodie of this armie assembled in Languedoc passeth the Rosne entreth into Daulphinè and goes through it with such celerity and ease as the Citties of Pierrelate Saint Pol Montlimar Liuron Valence Romans other Townes bordering vpon the Rosne hauing yeelded at the first brute they surprise the Cittie of Lions by meanes of their intelligence Vienne alone held firme for the Kings seruice in this deluge of Goths and Sarazins The fidelity of the Viennois They passed from Lions by Sauoye and the Countries on either side of the mount Iura and in the ende seized on many of the best Citties of Bourgongne Chaalon Mascon Dijon and Auxerre by meanes of their intelligences and the generall amazement Martel slept not in this confusion but to preuent this vnexpected storme he assureth the Citties and leuies men with all expedition The courage of a Bishop The towne of Sens through the resolute counsell of their bishop Otho sallies forth so fitly vpon the Sarazin army as hauing slaine a great number they force them to raise the seâ—ge with shame Other townes by their example growe resolute vnder the assurance of their Commander whom they finde carefull of their preseruation Thus this army halfe victorious fearing a second skirmish of Tours by the waighty blowes of Martel loth to ingage themselues farther in France retyres into the Countries of their allies leauing garrisons in the townes they had surprised One part passeth into Languedoc and lodgeth in friend townes an other seâ—zeth on Auignon then a Cittie of Prouence by the meanes of Maurice gouernour of the Country Arles holds firme for the Kings seruice amidest these confusions and the treachery of Maurice Hunault and Ieffroy returne into their Country of Guienne New attempts of the League to preuent the desseins of Martel and to retaine their townes in obedience Hauing thus disposed of their asfaires they send ioyntly into Spaine for newe forces whilest that Martell labors to settle that which they had disordered in many places And in truth they had prouided worke for him the which he preuented in this sort He sends Childebert presently into Prouence with a meane army as well to assure the townes that stoode firme as to keepe the enemy at a bay and to crosse their desseins Hee himselfe remaines in Bourgongne with a great army to recouer such townes as were held by the enemy Both worke according to their proiects but not with like successe Childebert beseegeth Auignon but with much toyle losse of time and small hope of successe so as he was shamefully forced to raise the seege but then comes Martel with his army hauing recouered the Citties of Bourgongne Lions and the rest of Daulphinè with the like facility as they had bin lost punishing the rebells in all places Being incamped before Auignon he so presseth the seege as in fewe daies he takes the towne and cuts the Sarazins in peeces yet their King Athin saued himselfe in Languedoc by the riuer of Rosne and retired to Narbone to his other troupes Martel hauing releeued the Cittie of Arles with a newe garrison passeth into Languedoc and beseegeth Narbonne beeing then a very strong Citty and of great importance for the whole Prouince And as this seege grewe long A new army oâ— Sarazins in France behold a newe armie of Sarazins comes out of Spaine vnder the conduct of Amoré an other pettie Sarazin King Martel fearing least they of Guienne should come and those within the Cittie issue forth and all being vnited make one bodie of an army he resolues to fight with them apart vsing this stratageme which succeeded happily He leaues a part of his army before the Citty with the same countenance as if it had beene whole rising without sound of drum or trumpet and surpriseth this newe army of Sarazins with such celerity as he defeats them 739. Athin frustrate of hope of any succors saues him selfe by sea with a small troupe and abandons Narbonne and the whole Country to the mercy of Charles Martel then a Conqueror This was the ende of that perillous warre bred by Hunault and Ieffroy the sonnes of Eudon and the fruit of all these broyles in Languedoc was that they brought those Citties which had followed them Languedoc seuerely punished by Martel to extremity whome Martel punished seuerely for their rashnesse and rebellion The histories name Narbonne Nismes Beziers and Agde the which he caused to be sackt and burnt It is likely that the ancient walls of Nismes were then pulled downe whereof we nowe see the ruines of an admirable greatnesse vndoubtfull signes of the ancient beauty and welth of that goodly Cittie the which in the time of the Romaine Empire being free in Gaule Narbonoise did enioye the priuileges of Italie hauing had the honour to furnish Rome with an
greâ—t men are no hereditarie possessions to be left vnto their children but they are the gifts of God the author of all good and their soueraigne Prince to whom they owe homage for their greatnesse as to him of whom depends absolutely all the kingdoms of the earth and whose prouidence is the infallible rule of the changes which wee seâ— incident to mankinde the wâ—â—ch the ignorant without reason attribute to blind fortune Pepin seeing himselfe seated in the throne of the French Monarchie by the honourable fauour of the French Pepin striues to win their loues by good â—eeds he resolues to satisfie their hopes by the effects of his actions and begins to confirme in their mindes the true and firme bond of obedience the which is vnited with these two strings loue and the peoples respect to their superiours No thing being more naturall then to loue him from whom wee receiue or hope for good and to respect him whom we hold sufficient to make vs to liue peaceably and in quiet especially when he hath power and command in the commonweale without the which the particular cannot subsist Thus Pepin assembles the generall estates meaning to laye a good foundation in time for the affayres of the realme by the aduice of such as had called him An assembly of the general estates and according to his Fathers stile hee names this assembly a Parliament wherevnto hee calles the Clergie the Nobilitie the Iudges of the land and the common people that with one consent they might resolue what was necessary for the whole estate consisting of these goodly parts During these alterations the Saxons as farthest from their Maisters had shaken off the yoake of the French obedience The Saxons rebeâ—l and are subdued and by their example and practises had drawne other people of Germanie subiect to this Crowne to the like reuolt Pepin armes presently and goes with such expedition as he ouerthrowes them at the passage of the riuer of Vistula but the Popes distresse giues him presently a new cause to imploy his forces for Zacharie being dead Stephen the second a Romaine borne succeeds both in place and troubleâ— 751 beâ—ng â—orced to defend himselfe against the Lombardes the capitall enemies of the Romane 〈◊〉 Astolpho was then their King who made great preparatiues against this new Pope although he made no shew of open hatred Stephen well informed of the Lombards hâ—mour and intent resolues not to attend the stroake but to fortifie himselfe in time seeking â—iâ—st to Constantine Emperour of the East without any â—uccesse hee intreates Pepin to succour him from whom hauing receiued a fauourable answer the better to obtaine the remedy he expected Peâ—in prouidâ—s 〈◊〉 the affairâ—s of Italy he resolues to go into France where beâ—ng honourably entertained by Pepin he doth againe Crowne him King of France in Saint Denis Church in a great and solemne assembly and makes miserable Childeric a Monke assigning him the Cloister for a perpetuall prison a Friars frock for an ignominious punishment â—ithout any hope of returne Then he imployed all his wits to perswade Pepin to vndertake the voyage of Italy against the Lombards and drew him easily thervnto But Astolpho fearing the Pope imployed Carolomâ—n the brother of Pepin to diuert him from this enterprise This Caroloman was a Monke and in great reputation of piety A wâ—se 〈◊〉 of Pepin 〈◊〉 vndâ—rtaking a warre but he could not disswade Pepin from this desseine yet would he not attempt any thing rashly but first trie mildnesse before force Hee therefore sends his Ambassadors to the Lombard to summon him to yeeld Rauenna and all the Townes of the six gouernours to the Pope Astolphe vseth great temperance in his answers to shew the reuerence he bare to the Church of Rome and to Pepins intercession but he resolued neuer to yeeld any thing Pepin finding the Lombards euasions and policie who sought but to auoâ—de this storme assembles a Parliament and layes before them both dutye aâ—d necâ—ssity to succour the Pope To tâ—is end hee resolues to leâ—â—e an Armie against the Lombard Winter being spent in these treaties and in the preparations for warre in the Spring he enters Italy with a strong and mighty armie which marcheth victoriouslie in all places taking Townes and â—poiling the country of Astolphe and then hee went to besiege Pauia the capitall Ciâ—ty of Lombardie Astolphe foreseeing his ruine flies to humble intreaties both to the Pope and Pepin The Pope lulled a sleepe with the Lombards faire promises not greatly louing the French but by constraint suffers himselâ—e first to bee abused and then hee perswades Pepin to returne backe into France Astolpho promiâ—ed to yeeld vp both Rauenna and all that hee deteined from the Church the which â—e could not performe in so great a desolation of his country being 〈◊〉 charged 〈◊〉 such an enemy 〈◊〉 breaks his 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Rome Stephen was weâ—l satisfied with this promise forgeting â—he Lombardâ— humour so welâ— knowne vnto him Pepin glad to see the Pope satisfied hauing no other obiect bâ—t to giue him satisfaction returnes presently into France to his â—wne â—ffaires But he had sâ—arce passed the Alpes when as Astolpho assembles all hiâ— subiectâ— being mad with rage for their great losses and infiâ—itly incensed against the Pope who had drawne in the French and enters the terâ—itoâ—ies of the Church in 〈◊〉 manner The Lombard 〈◊〉 Rome and is forced to 〈◊〉 and to sue for a peace sackes and 〈◊〉 all with a fâ—rious cruelty sodenly besiegeth Rome where tâ—e Pope was resident Stephen amazed at this vnexpected violence sends back to Pepin implores his aide laments his credâ—lity and detestâ— the treachery of the Lombards â—e beseecheth him to make hast if he will preserue his old age from the cruell hand of this disloyall and the whole Church from a horrible desolation exceeding that of the Vandales or Ostrogoths Pepin moued with the Popes intreaties and the ancient daunger assembles his forceâ— with a wonderfull celerity and although Constantin by a most affectionate message laboured to dâ—uert him yet he brings back his army into Italy â—he fruite of his returne was both sodaine great for Astolpho at the brute thereof raiseth the siege from before Rome and retires to Pauia the capitall Citty of his realme Pepin besiegeth him anâ—â—orceth him to accept of such conditions of peace as hee wouâ—d prescribe viz. 〈◊〉 Astolpho should presently deliuer vp all that he held of the Church and giue 〈◊〉 and Pepin should remaine in Italy at the Lombards charge vntill hee had 〈◊〉 all things Astolpho sends in forty hostages yeelds Raueâ—na with the Citties of the sixe Gouernours 754. and those hee held in Romagnia but when there remained no more to deliuer vp but the Citties of Ferrara and Faenze the Lombard did cunningly delay the full accomplishment of his promise to finde some meanes to send backe so rude an officer as the
countries Thus the war of Saxonie ended being both long dangerous those which were conquered by the truth were the true conquerers in knowing the true God Charlemagne hauing caused the Saxons to leaue their false opinions was carefull to haue them instructed in the truth Care of religion most worthy of Princes to this end he appointed holy and learned men in all places and gaue meanes to maintaine them as the Germaine histories report more particularly It sufficeth me in declaring this briefely to shew his pieâ—y compatible with his valour and happinesse and for a president to Princes to make religion the soueraigne end of their armes and authorities This Widichind was a great personage both in wisedome valour and authority and by consequence very notable in the order of our subiect From him are descended very famous races The two Henries the one called Oiseleur or the Fowler and the other of Bamberg and the two Othoes all Emperours and likewise the Dukes of Saxonie the Marquis of Misne the Dukes of Sauoy and also the most famous race of Hugh Capet is drawne from this spring The offspring of VVidichind by the common consent of learned writers the which ought to be well obserued in the continuance of this Historie From this warre of Saxonie sprung many other in the Northerne parts whereof I will intreat hauing discoursed briefely of the warre of Spaine both for that it chanced during that of Saxonie as also being very memorable for the ouerthrow of the Sarazins who threatned Christendome like a deluge Histories differ much touching this warre but I will report what is most likely by the consent of most approued writers whereof the studious reader may iudge by conference I being but a faithfull reporter The motiue of this Spanish warre was more vpon pleasure then necessitie but the zeale of religion gaue a colour and shew of necessitie to the heroycall desire of Charlemagne seeking to inlarge the limits of the French Monarchie by armes Warre in Spaine So this warre of Spaine was more painfull more dangerous and of lesse successe then that of Italy whereunto necessity and duty had drawne Charlemagne but his wise proceeding in the action did warrant him from all blame The occasion which made him bend his forces against the Sarazins in Spaine was the assurance of his good fortune the quiet peace of his realme the meanes to imploy his Souldiars the Spaniards hate against the Sarazins and the generall feare of all Christians least these Caterpillers should creepe farther into Europe This was the estate of Spaine the Sarazins had conquered a great part thereof Estate of Spaine and were diuided into diuers commands vnder the title of Kingdomes yet these diuers Kings resolued to oppose their vnited forces against Charles their common enemie Foreseeing then the tempest they seeke to preuent it and to crosse the desseignes of Charlemagne which being discouered they caused King Idnabala a Sarazin to insinuate into his friendship being a man full of subtill mildnesse This stratageâ— preuailed more then all their forces Charlemagne was thrust forwards by Alphonso surnamed the chaste King of Nauarre and by the Asturiens and Galliciens Christian people of Spaine to vndertake this warre being easie profitable and honourable and by consequence most worthy the valiant happinesse of Charlemagne Moreouer this Idnabala making a shew of friendship laboured to hasten him to the execution of this enterprise from the which he knew well he should not diuert him but in effect it was to betray him by the discouering of his intentions flattering his desire to get the more credit by pleasing him Charlemagne then well affected of himselfe and perswaded by others calles a Parliament at Noyon and there concludes a warre against the Sarazins of Spaine 786 The armie he imployed in that action was goodly both for the number of men and valour of great warriours Waâ—â—e agâ—inst the 〈…〉 being the choise of the most worthy Captaines in Christendome Amongst the which they number Milon Earle of Anger 's Rowland the sonne of Milon and Berthe sister to Charlemagne Renald of Montaban the foure sonnes of Aimon Oger the Dane Oliuer Earle of Geneua Brabin Arnold of Bellande and others the gâ—eat valour of which persons hath beene fabulously reported by the writers of those obscure times with a thousand ridiculous tales vnworthy the valour of those heroick spirits Institution of the twelue Peeres proofes of the ignorance of that age being barren of learned wits They say that Charlemagne to make this voyage more honourable in shew did then institute the order of the twelue Peeres of France Being entred into Spaine he found no Sarazin forces in field but their Citties well fortified hauing resolued a defensiue rather then an offensiue warre The most renowmed Sarazin Kings were Aigoland The treachery 〈…〉 the Saâ—azin Bellingan Denisâ—s Marsile and Idnabala which be the sâ—bâ—ect of our fabulous tales but the last as I haue sayd made shew of friendship wâ—th Charlemagne and open hatred against the other Sarazin Kings with whom notwitâ—standing he had most strict correspondencie to betray Charles Pâ—mpelune takâ—n The first Cittie he attempted was Pampelune in the Kingdome of Nauarre the which he tooke by force but with much paine losse and danger Hauing sackt it and slaine all the Sarazins he found Saragoce yeelds to him by composition with many other small Townes terrâ—fied by the example of Pampelune This beginning incouraged him to march on relying on his wonted fortune but as he passed through the Prouinces of Spaine like a victoâ—ious Prince without any dâ—fficulty hauing giuen a part of his armie to lead to Milon of Angiers his brother in law it chanced neere vnto Bayonne that Aigoland a Sarazin King hauing in this common dispaire thrust an army into field incountred â—ilon with his troupes little dreading any enemy and tooke him at such an aduantage as he defeated him The losse was very great for they report it was of forty thousand men The Sarazins victory where Milon was slaine for a confirmation of the Sarazins victory Charlemagne was farre off and not able by any diligence to preuent the losse hee pacifies this amazement least it should daunt the whole armie Hee hastens thether and gathers together the relikes of these discomfited troupes keeping the conquered Citties and such as were friends in their obedience But after this followes a second accident Aigoland puft vp with the pride of this victory â—asseth into Gasconie and besiegeth Agen to diuert Charlemagne from his pursute and to draw him home to defend his owne country The Saâ—azins 〈◊〉 into Gâ—sâ—onie So as Charlemagne fearing least his absence and the Sarazins late victory should alter the mindes of them of Guienne being then subiects of small assurance he returnes into France Aigoland hauing continued some moneths at the siege of Agen and preuailed little but in ouerrunning the country the which he did freely without
Willam King of Sicilia Al these were preparatiues of great warre against France And could Baldwine Earle of Flanders be wel satisfied being intreated as we haue seene Richard ioynes with him They resolue to make warre against Phiâ—ip in diuers places Hauing assembled foâ—ces their Baldwine enteâ—s into Artois Richard into Vexin contries then in Controuersie wherby reasoÌ„ the warre should begin seing the processe was bred there Philip without any amazement prouids for Artois sending forces thether vnder the command of his Sonne Lewis Warres with Richard King of England He himselfe marcheth in person against Richard who beseeged Corceeile the which he releeued in despight of him Richard not able to hinder these souccors takes his way into the Contrie of Beauuoisin and spoyles it Phillip doth the like in Normandy All tends to trouble by the willfulnes of these two Princes when as the Pope some say Celestin others Innocent .3 sends his Noncio to exhort them to peace This perswasion staied it not but only made a diuersion of their armes for Richard supposing that Philip could not auoide the blow being ingaged in Nomandie he marcheth into Berry and being assisted wâ—th all his forces of Guienne beseegeth Yssoudun hauing wasted and spoyled all the country Philip beseeged Vernon although the name be diuersly coated Vernon Vernueil or Aumale he leaues the Towne and flies to Richard to draw him to fight who finding himselfe to weake retyres to his towne Philip returnes to his seege and wins the Towne not withstanding all the attempts of Richard who now takes breth to seeke his reueng but God had otherwise disposed with whome all Princes ought to accoumpt for their actions 1223. who laughes at men when they vexe themselues most During his aboade at Limoges hee was aduertised that one of his men at armes had found a great treasure in the ground This Souldiar fearing to bee ill rewarded by Richard flies to a small Towne of Limosin which the Historie called Caalac or Cailus held by the French although it were of the Prouince of Guienne then belonging to the English Richard besiegeth it but as hee approched too neere the walles hee was wounded with an Arrow in the left arme His desire to follow this siege makes him to neglect his wound which impaires not being drest He takes the Towne but the man saues himselfe hauing hidden his treasure so as Richard tooke not the treasure which hee hunted after with a desire so vnseemely for a great Prince but insteed of taking gold Richard King of England dyes death surprised him who leauing his life vpon so light an occasion leaues a notable example of the vanitie of this world in the lightnesse of humaine spirits who suffer themselues to bee transported with couetousnesse a miserable councellor both to great and small This death did somewhat temper the bitternesse of their dissentions but it did not quench it betwixt France and England Iohn had right to succeed in the Realme of England as brother suruiuing the King deceased Iohn succeeds Richard and makes peace with Philip. but Arthur Duke of Brittanie sonne to Geoffrey the other brother as wee haue said pretended the Crowne to belong vnto him as the sonne of the elder Elenor their mother being yet liuâ—ng Iohn was receiued by the English so as being in possession he had the better and stronger title Philip fauoured Arthur but hee meant to make his profit of the Brothers dâ—uision and to keepe the stakes Being sought vnto by Iohn the new King of England who had then nothing of greater import then his friendship hee concludes a peace with him vpon condition That Iohn should yeeld vp all that his Brother had taken in Berry and neuer pretend any thing of that which Philip had taken Vexin in these latter warres and that Elenor Mother to Iohn Duchesse of Guienne should doe homage to the King for that Prouince as depending of the Crowne of France This aâ—cord is ratified by a new alliance the which encreased no loue Lewis the Sonne of Augâ—stus takes to Wife Blanche the Daughter of Alphonsus King of Castill War betwixt Iohn King of England and Artâ—ur his Nephew and of Iohns Sister being his Neece In the meane time Philip fauours Arthur vnder-hand who assisted by his meanes takes the Cittie of Tours to his great content Arthur doth him homage presently for the Countries of Touraine Aniou and Maine and so passeth on and takes Mirâ—â—eau where Elenor his Gâ—and-mother was resoluing to proceed on further but the Almightie GOD stayed his course For Iohn comes besiegeth and takes Mircbeau againe and Arthur his Nephew likewise Iohn murthers his Nephew Artâ—ur Elenor extreamly afflicted with these diuisions dyes for griefe and Iohn puts his Nephew Arthur whom he held Prisoner to death to extinguish all controuersies for the title â—f the Realme although this death were cloaked as accidentally falne out for sorrâ—w The cauâ—e of a cruell warre Hence sprung a cruâ—ll Warre Constance the Mother of Arthur Duchesse of Brittanie demands Iustice of Philip as her Soueraigne Philip adiornes Iohn and for not appealing hee condemnes him as guiltie of the crime imposed Iohn declared 〈◊〉 of murtheâ— felony by 〈◊〉 and of fellonie in disâ—beying of his commandements Hee proclaimes him an enemie and doth confiscate all hee held of the Crowne This sentence is seconded by open force to make the execution thereof more easie The Brittons and Poiteuins wonderfully greeued with this cruell fact arme and come to Philip. So Iohn abandoned of all flies to Pope Innocent the third accusing Philip of the breach of his faith in making Warre against him Innocent the third declaring that the breache of faith belonged properly to his authority and so by consequence carrying himselfe for Soueraigne Iudge of the câ—ntrouersie betwâ—xt the two Kings commands both the one and the other to laye aside Armes and to suffer the Churches in peace threatning to cursse his realme that should disobey his authority Pope Innocent â—â—â—â—rposeth his authority Philip shewes that hee hath neyther broken his faith nor peace with Iohn But that hee being his vassaile had slaine his Nephew in the territories of his obedience as it appeared by good proofes so as it was not reasonable the holye authoritie of the Church should serue as a defence or support for his impunity in so detestable a crime seeing the punishments of subiects and vassals 1201. appertained to the Prince by all diuine and humane Lawes But there were new complaints to the Pope against Philip that finding himselfe oppressed with war he imposed certain tenths vpon the Clergy to ease the people who complayned of their burthens He did not exact this of the Church by his owne decree but had assembled a Nationall Councell at Soissons to that end The Pope said this was done against his authority and not onely threatned Philip by his Censure but also all the Clergy that had assisted
of K. Alphonso attending meanâ— to repaire his affaires in better season In the meane time Simon doth promise himselfe the property of all Raymonds estates the which he had gotten with his Sword but for that it was apparent that the King of France would hardly grant so goodly a Prouince taken from his kinsman to one of his subiects Simon therefore flies vnto the Pope by whose authority this war was chiefely ingaged from whom he attended his chiefe recompence hauing laboured for him Innocent the 3. finding that Philip who would not desist in his pursute against Iohn King of England notwithstanding his interdictioÌ„â— would not be moued now by his simple authority to leaue so important a peece he assembles a great Councell meaning to force the King to yeeld vnto his will â—he Patriarkes of Ierusalem and Constantinople were there in person The Councell of Latran and those of Antioche and Alexandria sent their deputies there were 70. Archbishops 400. Bishops and 1000. Abbots Priors The Emperors of the East West the Kings of France England Spaine Ierusalem Cipres and other Kings Princes and great estates had their Ambassadors By a decree of this notable assembly Count Raymond was excommunicated with all his associats The Earldome of Tholouse giuen to Simon of Montfort by the Pope his lands adiuged to Simon of Montfort for his seruice done and to do to the Catholike Church Philip could not gain-say this decree confirmed in a maner by the consent of the whole world He therfore receiued SimoÌ„ to homage for the Prouince of Languedoc whereof he tooke peaceable possession but he did not long enioy it â—or seeing himselfe inuested he began to oppresse his new subiects An Eâ—le is lost with ouer griping The people of Languedoc finding themselues oppressed with this insupportable burthen of Simon they resolue to call home their Count Raymond who was retired into Spaine to seeke some meanes to recouer the possession of his estate His case was not desperate for hee enioyed the Earldomes of Viuareâ—z Venaissan and the Citty of Auignon places kept by his subiects during these occurrents whether Simons forces were not yet come Raymond being called by his subiects returnes into Languedoc accompanied with a notable troupe of Arragonois being discontented for the death of their King Alphonso The whole Countrey baâ—died against Simon hating him as an vsurper Simon hated by his subiects of Languâ—doc for hâ—s oppression â—yâ—â—nie and detesting him as a tyrant for doubtlesse vniust violent things cannot continue Whilest that Simon seekes to bridle the Citties of his new conquests leaping from place to place with an infinite toile behold Raymond is receiued into Tholousâ— by intelligence with great ioy of the inhabitants Simon abandons all the rest and flies thether but he finds a stop for comming to the gates of the Citty as he approched neere the walles to parley he was hurt in the head with a stone wherof he died The example of Tholouse made the greatest part of the subdued Citties to reuolt Simon of Montfort left two sonnes Simon of Montfort slaâ—n before Tholouse Guy and Amaulry vpon the reuolt of Tholouse the one seizeth vpon Carcassone the other of Narbonne but Guy was slaine in Carcassone by the Inhabitants who were the stronger Amaulry hauing fortified Narbonne repaires to Philip Augustus beseeching him to succor him in his necessity Philip had the Wolfe by the eare for as on the one side he desired this goodly Prouince for himselfe rather then for the children of Simon of Montfort so was he also restâ—ained by the authority of the Pope and Councell He theâ—fore sends his sonne Lewis into Languedoc to reduce the Country to his obedience But he had scarce taken any one Castell when as his fathers death calls him home Count Raymond receiued againe in Languedock So as Count Raymond his subiects of Languedoc had time to reuiue their spirits recouer many places gotteÌ„ by Simon The king of England would neither assist nor send to the coronatioÌ„ of Lewis although he were held as Duke of Guienne 1223. This occasion moued Lewis to warre against him Warre in Guienne against the English whereby he got Niort and Rochel and Sauary of Mauleon Gouernour for the English retired to his seruice This losse made the warre more violent Richard Earle of Cornwaile brother to Henry King of England passed into France with a goodly armie and hauing taken S. Macaire Langon and Reolle Townes seated vpon the Riuer of Garonne and defeated some French troupes he made way for a truce which was fauourable for both parties But especially for Lewis being desirous to settle matters in Languedoc the which troubled him for the daily proceedings of the Albigeois yet was hee loth to labour for another For this reason he treats with Amaulry Earle of Montfort touching the right he had to that Countrie with whom hee preuailed the more easily for that hauing lost the greatest part of the Prouince he was not able to hold the rest with the Kings dislike to whom hee resigned it by order of a decree made by the Pope in the Councell of Latran and in recompence hee made him Constable of France with the consent of Pope Honorius Lewis compounds for Languâ—doc with the â—oâ—n of Simon Montfort Hauing compounded with the Children of Simon Montfort hee resolued to winne Count Raymond to his deuotion and to perswade him to lay aside armes whereof hee did see the euents to be very doubtfull His intent was to vnite this rich Prouince of Languedoc to the Crowne But reason which saith that no man thinkes his owne too much the respect which great men do vsually beare one to another and the alliance which the house of France had with the Countie of Tholouse were great restraints for the couetousnesse of Lewis But how soeuer he determined to make himselfe the stronger to prescribe them a law To this end he leuied a great Armie fortified with his Edicts by the which hee thunders against these poore Albigeois as Heretikes and Rebels These Edicts were of force whereas his authoritie was respected Count Raymond considering with himselfe the cruell beginning of this warre and the continuance of the like miserie in these second armes fearing to imbarke himselfe the third time with a people against his King is easily perswaded by Lewis to reconcile himselfe to Pope Honorius Thus Raimond leauing to oppose himselfe Count Raymond submits himselfe vnâ—o the Pope yeelds to Lewis and perswades the â—arle of Cominges the chiefe agent of his desseignes to the like obedience Thus both of them abandon the people go to Rome they make their peace with the Pope and leaue the Albigeois to the mercie of Lewis who seeing them without a head imbraceth this occasion to their ruine High and base Languedoc was wholy in his power by Raymonds departure Auignon remained with many other places in the Countie of
on by his wife Beatrex desirous to be called Queene like to her other sisters drawne headlong by the shewe of these goodly Crownes Câ—aâ—les Eâ—rle 〈…〉 Manâ—roy in Sicilâ—a suffereth himselfe to bee easily transported at the Popes intreaty Hee armes drawes vnto him a great nomber of French Nobility comes into Sicilia gâ—ues battell to Manfroy defeats and kills him making him to suffer the punishment of hâ—s cruell and wicked purchase the which he inioyed not full ten years For Charles Duke of Aniou became maister of these two Realmes in the yeare 1265. and Manfroy was confounded in his vniust desseigns After the death of Frederick the 2. the violent elections of Henry of Turinge and William of Holland feare retayning some and fury thrusting on others the Empire was in effect without an Emperor beeing without a guide by the furyes of ciuill confusions like to a great ship at sea beaten with the wind and waues without Sailes without Helme and without Pilot. 1257. Pope Vrbain pretending then that in the vacation of the Empire The Empire without an Emperâ—ur by 〈…〉 confuâ—ions the gouernment belonged to the Sea of Rome He created Charles of Aniou Vicar of the Empire and gaue him Tuscane vpon condition to succour the Sea of Rome against the Gibelins and Sueuians So at one instant Charles of Aniou was possessed of the two Realmes of Sicilia and Naples and the gouernment of the whole Empire Charles of Aniou Vâ—car oâ— the Empire King of Naplâ—s and Sicâ—lia But these two great dignities purchased by the Popes bountie must be countenanced by his vertues and this was the meanes Conradin the Sonne of Conrade was not dead as the Imposter Manfroy had giuen it out but hauing beene patient during these tempeâ—ts he had so well managed his hereditarie meanes as finding himselfe strong he sought to recouer his Realmes vsurped by Charles Duke of Aniou 〈◊〉 â—eeks to 〈◊〉 his realme Hauing incensed the Gibelins throughout all the Citties of Italie to drawe them to reuolt hee leuies a goodly Armie with the helpe of his friends and comes into Italie hauing in the meane time bred an alteration in Sicilia where many Citties were taken and Nocera in the Kingdome of Naples Conradin accompanied by many Noblemen which hunted after his doubtfull fortune but the chiefe were Frederick Duke of Austria and Henry the Sonne of the King of Castile Charles of Aniou besieged Nocera where Conradin resolued to charge him Hauing prouided for the siege he goes to encounter Conradin and hauing drawne him to fight by a stratagem hee defeates his Armie takes him prisoner Conradin defeâ—ted and with him Frederick of Austria and Henry of Castile with a great number of the Nobilitie This goodly and absolute victorie leading the Commanders prisoners in triumph should haue beene seasoned with the wise clemencie of our Lewis But Charles of Aniou his Brother had no portion with him in this excellent vertue whereby we haue seene that Philip their Grand-father in well vsing a victorie did purchase the name of Augustus and did consecrate it to the honourable memorie of his posteritie For Charles hauing these great Princes in his power by the Councell of Pope Clement the fourth Conradin beheaded cruelly by 〈◊〉 with many others beheaded the two first bathing the Scaffold with the bloud of twelue of the greatest Noblemen of the Armie and coopt vp Henry of Castile in a Cage of Iron to make him die hourely causing him to be carryed through all the Citties of Apulia and Beneuent in a most ignominious sort A reuenge which shall cost France deere at the Cicilian Euen-song But wee haue wandred enough in the confusions of Italie An ignominious reuenge Let vs now returne into France and to our Lewis Lewis beheld the tempestuous estate of Christendome a farre off which was the more incurable in Germanie and Italy for that the sick refused Phisicke and that darkenesse came from them whence light should haue proceeded Hee carried himselfe very coldly â—n the heate of these deuisions the which he could not redresse But seeing his realme in peace Lewis resâ—lues to goe into Asia and his authoritie firmely setled in the loue of his subiects and the amitie of his bretheren â—ore-seeing also that by the wisedome of his Mother hee might salue the inconuenience of his absence he resolued to succour the Christians afflicted by the miscreants both in Affricke and in the East Philip Augustus with the Emperouâ—s which had passed thether one after an other had nothing repaired their decayed Estate and the mischiefe came from the Christians themselues one opposite to another the which gaue great aduantage to their enemies as if they had purposâ—ly sought to fortifie them The Empire of the East was in a horrible confusion dismembred by home-bred deuisions The confused estate of the Easterne Empire which drew in the French and the Venetians One Alexis Ducas called Murzuphile hauing himselfe strangled another Alexis called the young and caused one Nicholas another Compeâ—â—tor in the Empire to bee slaine in the end hee is strangled himselfe The Theodâ—res Dâ—cas and Lascares being the greatest families contend for the Empire In the end Constantinople is taken by the French and Baldwin Earle of Flanders of whome wee haue spoken is chosen Emperour The Empire â—o the 〈◊〉 translâ—â—â—d vnto the French so as the Empire of Greece is transported to the French and deuided with the Venetians who at that time carried away the Isle of Canâ—â—e So as at one instant there were three Emperours in the East Baldwin Earle of Flanders at Constantinople Theodore Lascaris in Natolia in the Cittie of Nicea and the third was Alexis Coâ—â—nene at Trebisonde commanding ouer Cappadâ—cia and Colcida All this shall bee a prey to the enemies of Christendome 1258. But let vs returne to our Frenchmen Three Emperours at one instant in the East who leaue the certaine to runne after the vncertaine They scarse held this shadow of the Empire three score yeares Baldwin of Flanders was slaine Henrie his Brother dyed soone after Peter of Auxerre his Father in lawe succeeded rather in his miserie then in the Empire For going against Theodore Lascaris the other Emperour hee was taken and afflicted with the imprisonment of two yeares In the end he lost his head vpon a Scaffold leauing the shadow of the Empire to his Sonne Baldwin too young to gouerne a masse of affaires so confused So as by the aduise of Pope Gregorie Iohn of Breyne was giuen him for an assistant This Iohn of Breyne of whome wee haue spoken was a French Gentleman of meane calling who by his valour hauing taken the Cittie of Tyre became a Prince and after in the confusion of times as the most sufficient of these poore afflicted Christians was chosen King of Ierusalem the which was not yet in his possession So as finding himselfe too feeble for so waightie a burthen
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
enterprises were happy but in his age very vnfortunate Robert Earle of Artois by the decease of the Father and imprisonment of the Sonne remaines Tutor to the Children of his Father in Lawe Charles the Lame and Regent of the Realme of Naples Charles King of Naples â—yes but Peter of Arragon keepes Sicilia at that time lost for the French After the death of Charles of Aniou behold Peter of Arragon is assailed with a new partie Pope Martin the fourth doubled his excommunications against him as a capitall enemie of the Church and inuested Charles the youngest Sonne of Philip King of France in his Realme hee absolues the Arragonois from their othe of obedience and Proclaimes a holy Warre as against a sworne enemie of the Church For the execution of these threats Philip imployes all his meanes to raise a goodly Armie vowing to be no more circumuented by Peter of Arragon Iames King of Maiorica and Minorica ioynes with him an enemie to Peter Philip makes warre agâ—inst Peter of Aragon who had spoiled him of his Estate so as there were foure Kings in this Armie Philip King of France and his eldest Sonne Philip King of Nauarre Charles his Sonne inuested in the Realme of Arragon by the Pope and Iames King of Maiorica The Armie was faire and the Frenchmens courage great being very resolute to reuenge the massacre of the Sicilian Euen-song the ridiculous scorne of the combate and the imprisonment of Charles The Red scarfe the marke of the holy Warre Warre in Arragon against one excommunicated and their couragious resolution to bee reuenged of a cruell enemy who had shed bloud by treason appeares in these troupes brauely armed All this promised a great victorie to Philip who commanded his armie in person But the issue will shew that being a Conquerour he lost the fruites of his victorie and in the death of three great personages shall bee seene the vanitie of this world Philip enters the Countie of Rossillâ—n with a goodly Armie all obeyes him except the Cittie of Gennes neere to Perpignan the which hee besieged and it was well defended but in the end it was taken by the French Peter was come out of Sicilia to defend his Fathers inheritance hee fortifies all hee can against Philip and the difficultie of the passages seemed to fauour him but the resolution of the French surmounted the steepenesse of the Rockes The passages are forced Peters Armie is defeated and hee saues himselfe with difficultie by these inaccessible places The Armie enters the Countie of Emporias Peter of Arragon defeated Pierre 〈…〉 in one day Girone is besieged and as Peter comes to succour it the French incounter him and ouercomes him who hardly saues himselfe in Ville-franche extreamly amazed with this happy beginning of Philip. What followed hee that was accustomed to deceiue all the world by his inuentions and pollicies He dyes could not by any meanes deceiue Death transported with griefe sorrow impatiencie and dispaire hee dyes the fifteene of August in the same yeare with his enemie Charles The brute of Peters death makes Girone to yeeld presently 1286. being a very strong Citty and promiseth Philip an assured possession not onely of the realme of Arragon but also of Sicilia where in shew they could not resist when as behold other occurrents which mans reason could not preuent Philip assuring himselfe thus of the peaceable possession of the realme of Arragon minding to free himselfe of a needlesse charge he dismisseth the Galleys of Genoa and Pisa the which hee had hired and for that the plague was crept into his Campe he had dispersed his forces about the Citties of Giâ—onne and Perpignan whether he retired himselfe very sick with an intent to pacifie the whole Countrie hauing recouered his health and taken some breath Roger Admirall of Arragon of whom we haue spoken ignorant of Peters death was parted from Sicilia with an intent to bring him succours against the French Fleete Being arriued at Genoa a newter Cittie and of free accesse for both parties he is informed both of the death of his Maister and of the estate of Perpignan and being there of this new accidentâ— he takes a new aduise In steed of returning into Sicilia hee hiers the Galleys of Genoa and â—isa dismissed by Philip and resolues to enter the Port of Perpignan where he had intelligence that Philip remained without any great garde and the Port to bee without defence He arâ—iues so happily as without any opposition he giues a signall to the people of his arriuall Philip set vpon vnawares and 〈◊〉 danger who sodenly rise and kill the French in the houses streetes Philip lay sick in his bed and the French Souldiars had no thought of Roger. The King made a vertue of necessitie he incourageth his men with a sicke and feeble voice and they behaued themselues so valiantly as they expell Roger out of Perpignan and Philip held the Citty who was so distempred with this alarum as his sicknesse encreased dayly The death of Philip. and he died the 15. day of October hauing suruiued Peter but two moneths in the same yeare 1286. and in the same moneth dyed Pope Martin the 4. to shew vnto great Princes the incertaintie of their great desseignes Thus liued thus raigned and thus dyed Phillp the 3. surnamed the Hardie hauing raigned 15. yeares and liued fortie a great vndertaker leauing no memorable acte to his posteritie but a good example not to deale in other mens affaires Of his first wife Isabel he had Philip and Charles remaining His children Charles was Earle of Vallois of Alanson and of Perche Father to Philip of Vallois who in his course shall succeed to the crowne Philip his eldest Sonne was King of France of the same marriage he had one Daughter Marie who was Duchesse of Austria By his second wife Marie he had Lewis Earle of Eureux and Marguerite Queene of England The estate of the Empire after a long confusion of diuers Emperours and the interregne had some rest the Popes being busied in the warres of Sicilia Raoul of Auspourg a good and a wise Prince was chosen Emperour after these disorders imploying himselfe carefully to cure the wounds of Germanie and held the Empire from the yeare 1273. vnto 93. The estate of the Church appeares by that which hath beene spoken in this raigne This onely is particular That a Councell was held at Lions by Gregorie the 10. where it was Decreed That to auoide the tediousnesse of the Popes election the Cardinals should assemble at the Popes death and keepe the Conclaue neither going forth not conferring with any one vntill the Pope were chosen The which is practised at this day In those dayes dyed Thomas Aquinas a very subtill disputer Bonauenture Ihon Duns called Scott and Gabriel Biel famous men in those dayes suruiued him PHILIP the fourth called the Faire the 46 King of France PHILIPPE .4 KING OF
indignities he had digested during the sedition could not forget them but vnder fained quarrels to the end they should haue no cause of complaint as breaking the accord he pincheth some The Earle of Flanders seeks reuenge of his subiects and ruines others and for that the Gantois stood vpon their garde not suffering the Earles men to attempt any thing within their Cittie he made a search in the Cittie of Bruges where he commanded absolutely for such as had beene of the faction of White Cappes where he executed aboue fiue hundred This execution kindled a new fier Gand falles to armes and Ypre followes to whose â—uccour the Gantois send three thousand men The Earle being the stronger cuttes them in peeces betwixt Courtray and Pourprigny The Flemings â—â—ke armes as they marche Ypre yeelds vnto him being entred the Towne he cuttes off seauen hundred of the cheefest mens heads and then without any stay he marcheth to Gand and beseegeth it But his forces were too small in regard of that great and spatious Cittie so as hauing imployed all his meanes they had still the libertie of foure gates The Gantois loth to be shut vp and to endure the discommodities of a siege hauing a wonderfull aduantage by the numbers of their people resolues to prouide well for the garde of the Cittie and then to drawe forth a good troupe to spoile the Countrie and to force some of the Earles places thereby to make a diuersion of the siege They go to field with six thousand choise men vnder the commaund of Iohn de Launoy one of their Tribunes They take and burne Tenremonde and Gramont Townes belonging to the Earle committing infinite spoiles in the countrie The Gantois go to field with an armie and are defeated The Earle leaues the siege and marcheth away with an intent to fight with them He findes them neere to Niuelle chargeth them defeats them and puts them to flight They recouer the gates of Niuelle and the Earle enters with them pell mell some of them led by Launoy recouer the fort of the Towne the Earle besiegeth them and causeth many â—agots and Bauins to be brought about this Tower and to be set on fire All these poore wretches are burnt making most horrible cryes This Tribune intreateth that they might be receyued to ransome and shewing his purse but receiuing no answer from them but scornes and mockes he castes himselfe from the toppe of the Tower vpon their Halbards and Pikes Many of thâ— burnt in a Tower and so hee dyes very valiantly This sight was horrible and truely vnworthy of a Lord displeased with his subiects and yet he continued it with a new slaughter of this poore people who being amazed with this great defeat had neither feete to runne nor hands to defend themselues All are put to the sword A cruell execution of a Lord against his subiects so as of six thousand there hardly escape three hundred But the Gantois shall soone haue their reuenge At the bruâ—e hereof they were as much amazed as the Earle was pufte vp with pride to pursuâ—e his victorie being in so ready a way for the execution and pursue thereof In this disorder the Gantois choose another head Philip of Arteuille sonne to Iames of Arteuille who as wee sayd was slaine by the people who aduiseth them to humble themselues vnto their Earle and to craue pardon They are resolued hauing necessitie for their chiefe Councellour The Gantois 〈◊〉 for mercy praying and beseeching their Earle To haue pittie of the bloud of his subiects who submitted their liues and goods to his mercy to dispose at his pleasure eyther in pardoning them or suffering them to depart in abandoning their natiue Country as a perpetuall banishment that it would please him onely to graunt them their liues The Earle was greatly incensed against them and in such a choler as they could receiue no other answer But that all sorts within the Citty The Earle makes the GaÌ„tois desperate men and women aboue the age of fâ—â—eteene yeares should barefeet and bareheaded submit themselues to his mercy and being in this estate he would aduise what to do The people of Gand seeing him transported with wrath and no meanes to pacifie it They resolue by the aduice of Philip of Arteuille their leader in this extreame necessity to hazzard all and not to hope for any safety but in dispaire being the least of two mischiefes to die couragiously for the liberty of their country and defending themselues against the vniust violence of so inexorable a man then hauing seene their wiues and daughters deflowred they should either suruiue their infamie or bee slaine and massacred without any defence like Dogges at the mercie of so cruell an enemy The euent or rather GOD the protector of the afflicted The Gantois desperate resolution fauoured this couragious resolution For the effecting hereof they make choyse of fiue thousand of their most resolute and best armed men to trye their fortunes against the Earle and prouide the best they can for the gard of the Citty with a generall resolution and consent That if these fiue thousand men should be defeated to the ende they should not attend the doubtfull euent of a siege nor fall into the hands of so irreconciliable an enemy they would set fire of the Citty and euery one saue himselfe as he could This being concluded Philip of Arteuille parts from Gand with his desperate troupe and marcheth directly to Bruges takes a seat of aduantage and intrencheth himselfe attending the oportunity eyther to defend themselues with aduantage or to sally vppon the enimy The Earle puft vp with his first successe imagining them too few for the Laquaies belonging to the Gentlemen of his traine came to charge them within their trenches and to force them to fight Arteuille not like a Brewer of Beere as he was but as a great Captaine ordred his troopes with such dexteritie as the Earles armie had the sunne in their eyes vpon this sodaine change hauing a full view of the Earles men he goes resolutely to the charge leading forth this desperate troupe which fell vpon them like a great streame of water breaking forth sodenly hauing found a passage The Earle of Flanders defeated by the Gantois The first rankes troubled with the Sunne beames which dazeled their eyes and not able to withstand so violent a charge giue way and turning their backes they disorder all the rest The Gantois vppon this aduantage teare all in peeces they encounter as famished Wolues do in a flocke of sheepe This braue Nobilitie flies as astonied and is put to the sword The Earle cryes intreates and runnes but all in vaine he that had the swiftest horse and the best legges to flie was the most valiant The passage thence to Bruges was neere the multitude flyes thether like a current of water The Earle encounters with the rest not able to gather againe together his
people and shuttes himselfe into his Castell They enter Bruges The Gantois following and killing them that fled enter pel mel and seized vpon the gates Arteuille hauing speedily prouided for the guard thereof the Gantois being victorers disperse themselues through out the Cittie crying against the vanquished The Cittie is wonne and proclaimed for the good Cittizens Libertie killing all such as they found to fauour the Earle searching all houses for his seruants and commanding to spare the good Cittizens The Earle foreseeing by this brute that the enemy would presently pursue him he sodenly leaues his riche attire and takes the simplest of one of his gromes and so forsakes the Castell to seeke some corner to hide his head in He was scarse gone out but his Castell was beset and easily taken and spoiled whilest that he saues himselfe in a poore womans house The Earle hides himselfe where in her sillie cottage she had onely one roome beneath and aboue a gatret to the which they mounted by a ladder The Earle creepes into this cabbin and the woman hides him in the bed-strawe where her children did lie and comming downe tooke away the ladder The Gantois hauing made search in euery corner for the Earle they came to the house where the Earle was and searching it they went vp to the place where hee laye hidden The Earle of Flandâ—rs in great peâ—plexâ—â—e He that could haue read the secrets of this poore Princes heart in this amazement should haue seene a remorse of conscience for that he had not intreated his subiects with more mildnesse Being thus freed hee creepes out of this cottage and gettes forth of the Towne being alone and on foote running from bush to bush and from ditche to ditche fearing euery one that passed when as behold lying hidden in a Ditch he discouers a houshold seruant of his owne named Robert Marshall who takes him vp on horse-backe behind him and in this order he recouers Lisle This vnexpected successe bred new desseignes in the frantick braine of this Tribune and of this furious multitude who should haue beene satisfied to haue auoyded shipwracke The error of the Gantois and returning to their houses should haue fallen to their vsuall trades and haue vsed this profitable successe to good purpose and made their peace with their lawfull Lord being sufficiently chastised But vanitie thrusts them on and the certaintie of Gods threats shewed it selfe in the following punishment to teach vs That man hath but the miseriâ— which he seekes by his owne folly A generall lesson for great and small both for men families and States Arteuille with his Gantois hauing glutted themselues with the sacke and blood of such as were any way affected to the Earle hauing spoyled his Castle and left it desolate beaten downe the gates of Bruges and filled vp the ditches From thence they goe to conquer the other citties of Flanders where he conceiued a newe Empire Presently all obey him Ypre Dam Bergues Bourlbourg Furnes Scluse Pourprigné Courtray and the lesser townes Andenard resists It is presently besieged At the brute of this sucesse all Flanders flies thither so as in few daies there were aboue a hundred thousand men assembled before the towne All Flanders reuolts and ioynes with the Gantois The Earle amazed with so violent a reuolt of all his subiects hath recourse to his son-in-law Philip Duke of Bourgongne that by his meanes hee might bee relieued from the King although he were more affected to the English then French hauing beene too much respected by our Kings A proud Prince he was in prosperity and too much deâ—ected in aduersity The Regent and the Councell refused to venture the King with this man in so dangerous a cause but two reasons moued the King thereunto and made him ouerrule both the Duke of Aniou his Vncle and his whole councell by the perswasions of the Duke of Bourgongne King Charles succoâ—s the Earâ—e oâ— Flanâ—â—â—â— contrarie to he aduice of the Regent and Councel The one was Arteuille himselfe who during the siege of Andenard not content to haue ruined the Noblemens houses of the Country had made some roades vpon the frontiers of France The other was King Charles dreamed that he was mounted vppon a flying hart which carried him gently through the ayre and a Heron vnder him which did beat downe all other birds came then flying to his fist and the Hart brought him to the place from whence he carryed him to his great content Arteuille to auoide this storme fortâ—fies the passages into Flanders especially Pont du Lis neere to Comines The french surprise this passage cunningly hauing patiently attended all night in the miery fenne vp to the ancles expecting the commoditie of the passage there As the King conceiued a delight to report this dreame 1382. as presage of some good successe so the Duke of Bourgongne labored to drawe him into Flanders The King vpon these motiues doth presently leuie an armie and goes to field Arteuille to auoide this storme fortefies the passages of Flanders especially Pont du Lis neere vnto Comines The French surprise this passage politikly hauing attended all night in the dirty maâ—â—sh vp to the ancles expecting the comoditie of the passage Their patience was the more comendable for that it was in the depth of a sharpe winter in December Comines and Veâ—rain being taken sackt and burnt the Towne of Ypre killes their gouernor who wold not suffer them to obey the King and yeeld themselues paying fortie thousand fraâ—ks for a composition By their example Cassel Bergues Bourlbourg Grauelin Furnes Dunkerke Fourprigné Tourront Vaillant Messine other neighbour Townes resolue to seaze vpon their Gouernors being Gantois and to send them bound hands and feete vnto the King as testimonie that they had yeelded vpon force Charles receiues the Townes to mercie and cuts off the heads of these vnlawful Gouernors Arteuille fearing the reuolt of other Citties The Townes of Flandâ—rs seaze vpon their Gouernors and send them to the King and that his forces which were great would fall from him resolues to preuent Charles and to force him to fight promising himselfe the like successe as he had against the Earle before Bruges With this resolution he chargeth the French army betwixt Courtray and Rosebecque vpon the Mount of gold but hee â—ound an alteration The Gantois charge ouâ— foreward like furious beasts which at the first shocke did somewhat amaze them they recoyling a little but without any disorder yet supported by the Battaile and rereward they breath and all togither charge this multitude with so great a furie as all are put to flight are cut in peeces or taken with a strange disorder They number aboue threescore thousand men slaine and an infinite number of prisoners taken after the Nobilitie had glutted their choller vpon this seditious rable The Flemings ouercome by Charles and threescore thousand slaine who had made rebellion a
and to multiply the afflictions the Bouâ—guignon is in field and besiegeth S. 〈◊〉 The Kâ—ngâ— armie is not d smâ—ssed but dispersed into dâ—uers parts according to tâ—e nâ—cessitâ—e of his affaires The Daulphin hauing need of the gâ—eatest part for Rouen seâ—d the lesser to the besieged bâ—t the succours being â—eake and slâ—cke S. Florentine yâ—eâ—d to the Dâ—ke of Bouâ—gongne This hard beginning might haue beene preâ—udiciaâ— to â—is aâ—â—aires at Rouen but they succeed better for the chiefe of the cittie mette â—itâ— the Daulâ—hin and excuse themselues of this tumult imputing it to the people ouer-charged they beâ—eech him to pardon this fault and to receiue their voluntarie obedience Thus he is honourablie receiued into the Câ—ttie already pacified â—nd settle aâ—l things â—ith mâ—ldnesse But there are other newes of harder digestion for the Bourguignon marcheth to Paris â—ith a great power and the English takes port in Normandie with a thousand â—aile Tâ—ere were reasons on eâ—ther side to ballance these great difficulties The Dauâ—pâ—iâ— incoâ—ntâ—ed by three great enemies and to trouble tâ—e Dâ—uâ—phiâ— for whether shall he go fiâ—st if he march to Paris the English will conâ—â—â—â— without resistâ—nce If he make head against the English then Paris is lost being wholy inclined to the Bourguignons practises who sees not but the losse of the capitall 〈…〉 would be his ruine and the ouerthrow of all his desseâ—gnes The Boâ—â—guigâ—on The English But 〈◊〉 did not foresee a gâ—eater difficultie at hand by his mother more waâ—gâ—tie and daâ—â—erous then all the rest yet must he auoide all these three stormes not without greâ—t danger That the prouidence of God His motheâ— the preseruer of this Monarcâ—ie might 〈◊〉 it selfe more admâ—rable restoring this estate being in shew vtterly lost For Charles â—ho in so sharpe an incounter reaped so worthy a victory owes tâ—e homage vnto God who gaue him meanes both to fight well and to vanquish happily The Daulpâ—in stâ—â—dâ—ng doubtfull betwixt these two great extreames resolues to go to Paris to deâ—eâ—d the Cittie against the Bourguignons practises and to assure the Kings person whom he knew would speake whatsoeuer he pleased being in his power Henry of Maâ—le Chancellor of France remained at Paris with the King being wholy at the Daulphâ—ns deuotion The people stirre not being kept in awe by the Parliament and Vniuersitie who were then well vnited But experience will soone discouer the inconstancie of humane attempts when they seeme most assured and the vanitie of a multitude being the actors of great mens proiects The Bourguignon at one instant doth publish his protestation and displaies his colours causing his troupes to marche He makes a declaration conteining the causes for the which he takes armes The BourguignoÌ„ makes â— declaration That is To reforme the state extreamly desolate by the ill gouerâ—ment of such as abusing the Kings infirmity managed the affaires of the realme at their pleasure and without pittie of the poore people oppressed them with extraordinarie charges against all right and reason He protested to haue no other intent but to restore the realme to her former libertie But he shall change his coppie imposing new exactions to the preiudice of the people and shall grow offended with such as shall oppose themselues so as it seemes all this was but a maske to abuse the people vnder the goodly shew of ease and libertie But as at the first all seemes goodly so these glorious beginnings wonne him great credit with the French nation Thus his armie begins to marche through Picardie towards Paris All Citties open their gates where he doth presently proclaime an exemption of all Subsidâ—es and other charges except of Salt as the gentlest imposition seeing that all men without distinction payed their part But aboâ—e all he was very carefull that his armie should liue orderly and modestly without any oppression to the poore people being his ordinarie discourse as one greatly grieued for their afflictions and being very desirous of their quiet aâ—d content These examples proclaimed his vertues and wonne him the peoples hearts Other Citties in Picardie follow this example Beauuais yeelds willingly vnto him and shout out for ioy at his entrie he goes presently to Senlis kept by Robert Deusné for the Armagnacs The Cittizens desirous to imitate the rest seize vpon their gouernour open their gates wiâ—lingly call in the Bourguignon and receiue him with all ioy From thence he marcheth speedily to Beaumont the which hauing indured some Canon shotte being subiect to the house of Bourbon yeelds vpon an easie composition Ponthoise and Melun obey without any dispute The Bourguignon with an armie before Paris So by degrees he come before Paris and to shew his armie to the Parisiens he lodgeth at Mont-rouge but to approach neerer he incampes lower in a place called The withered Tree vnto this day by reason there stood a great dryed Tree A presage what should after befall his greene and flourishing desseignes Being there he writes his letters to the King and Cittie of Pariâ— full of cunning admonitions beseeching the one and exhorting the other to hearken seriously to a good reformation of the State the true and soueraigne eâ—d of his armeâ— In the meane time hee looseth not an houre Iohn of Luxembourg during this his necessarie aboad at Paris goes with a part of the armie to trie the voluntarâ—e Citties and euery day made new conquests Chartres Estampes Gaillardon Montlehery Auncau and Rochefort obey and after some dayes of rest to annoy Paris he besiegeth Corbeil a place of importance for the victualing thereof But whilest he pressed Corbeil with exceeding hast behold he sodenly abandons it against the opinion of all men The Daulphin and the Constable of Armagnac supposed that seeing that he had lost his labour at Paris hee would seeke to possesse himselfe of places of eâ—â—â—er conquest according to his course begun But the effect will shew that his râ—siâ—g was to an other intent which bred a horrible combustion throughout the whole realme for Isabell Queene of France discontented with her sonne Charles intreâ—tes the Dâ—ke of Bourgongne to free her from captiuitie The Bourguignon goes to Queene Isâ—â—â—ll at Tours She was then at Tours with some gard by the Kings commandement for the which she blamed her sonne and the Constable who then had the gouernment of the Court They kept not so strict a garde oâ—â—he Queâ—ne but she hâ—d lâ—beâ—tie to walke both wiâ—hin and without the Citty â—uen to the Abbâ—e of Maâ—mâ—ustiâ—r where she had her speciall 〈◊〉 This was a mâ—anes to giue intelligence vnto the Bourguignon and to slip into hiâ— hands as we shall sâ—ewe Reason requiâ—es the history should set downe the motiue of so vnnatural a discontent but she is silent and reports onely a very light occasion Tâ—â— King disâ—â—kâ—â— oâ—â—hâ— Queene That the King comming from visiting of the Queene who held her state at â—ois-de-Viâ—câ—nnes and returning to Paâ—is
restore this estate was not amazed nor daunted but hauing commonly in his mouth this Oracle We must haue God and reason on our side He hath recourse vnto God and falles couragiously to worke Hee flies to Rocheâ—l to assure it vnder his obedience Beeing in the Towne there happens a notable accident as he was in councell a part of the chamber sunke and Iames of Bourbon with diuer others were slaine in this ruine The King was but hurt From this danger he passeth on to the chiefe of his affaires He sends into Scotland Milan and Castile to summon his friends to succour him who speedily will send him notable aides He prouides for all the passages vnder his obedience He assures himselfe of Languedoc from whence hedrew his chiefe helpes by the Earle of Clermont from Daulphné by the Lord of Gaucourt from Lions Lyonnois Forrest Beauieâ—lois and Mâ—sconois by Imbert of 〈◊〉 Seneshall of Lions from Gascogne and other countries of high Guienne where he was acknowledged by the Vicont of Narbonne and the maister of Oruall He sendeâ— Iames of Harcourt into Picardy accompanied with Pothon of Xintrailles or S. Treille Stephen Vignoles called la Hire the flower of his captaines And likewise the Bourguignon sent thither the greatest part of his forces Ambrose de Lore goes into Maine â—â—rcâ—e Pregene of Coitiuy into Champagne The Earle of Dunois a bastard of the house of Oâ—leâ—ns â— keepes Orleans The townes lying vpon the riuer of Loire aboue beneath Orleans â—ere vnder the obedience of the French La Charité Gyan Iargeau Meung Baugency 〈◊〉 Amboâ—sâ— Tours Samour diuerse small townes in Beausse La Ferâ—é of â—aules Ianuille Esâ—ernâ—y Pluuiers And in the countries of Gastenois Vrepois Montargis Chastillon Millâ— Neerer vnto Paris Mont-lehery Orsay Marcoussy very strong places then but now desolate kept Paris in alarme Thus the Cardes were shufled but the English had the better part keeping the great citties and the Kings purse and as the stronger he begins the game which had this issue for the remainder of that yeare The English besiege and take Bazas and the French 〈◊〉 in Meulan vpoÌ„ Seine with great slaughter of the English but the Duke of Bedford loth to indure suce a thorne in the sides of Paris doth presently besiege it Charles sends theÌ„ succors vnder the command of the Earle of Aumale the Constable Boucqham Tanneguv of Chastel Too many coÌ„manders to do any great exploit Iealousie of command bred â—uch a confusion as all these troupes marched in disorder no man acknowledging but his priuate coÌ„mander Herevpon the English army arriues who had an eâ—sie coÌ„quest of these disordered troupes then Meulan yeelds to the Duke of Bedford The sharpnes of winter could not temper the heat of these warriours as the fortune of the warre is variable one wins another looseth Ambrose de Lore Iohn of Bâ—lâ—y thinking to take Fresnoy le Conte lost a notable troupe of their men The Lord of Fontaines hath his reuenge vpon the English defeates eight hundred of them at Neaâ—uille and Iohn of Luxembourg a Bourguignon defeates the Lords of Camâ—sches and Amaulry with their troupes The Earle of Salisbury takes the Townes of Vertus and Espeâ—nay and the strong places of Montaguillon and Osny neere vnto Paris The composition is strange the souldiers yeelding at the Regents discretion are brought to Paris bare-headed halters about their necks and swords at their breasts This miserable troupe thus tyed and ledde in triumph passeth through S. Iames street to go to the Tournelles where the Regent was lodged and from thence to bee drawne to the place of execution if the Duchesse of Bedford moued with the pitty of a French woman at so pittifull a spectacle had not begged the liues of these poore condemned men of hir husband Thus that yeare passed wherein Charles the 6. and Henry the 5 died but God to restore our Monarchie beganne in the same yeare to lay a leuaine against the attempts of Strangers The cause of diuision betwixt the Dukes of Bedford and Bourgongne who sought to ruine it Iaqueline of Bauiere Countesse of Hainault and Holland the onely heire of those two states had married with Iohn Duke of Brabant who by a blind and ambitious auarice gaue her selfe to Humfry Duke of Glocester vncle to the King of England and married with him reiecting her lawfull husband Her excuse was that the Brabantin was her cousin germaine but this shal be a meanes to dissolue the alliance so cunningly conioined by the dukes of Bedford Bourgongne Charles hath diuers losses who shall breake vpon this occasion The yeare begins while that losses came by heaps vpon Charles as the current of an vnauoidable ruine whatsoeuer he vndertooke succeeded not Iames of Harcourt was Gouernour of Picardy placed there ouer some remainders of the ship wrack of that country In Picardie he surpriseth Dommart in Ponthieu from the Bourguignon and spoiles the neighbour Abbaies and the country Hauing ruined these poore disarmed men he is charged by Ralfe Butler an English Captaine looseth all his conquest and escapes hardly with his life sees Crotoy taken before his face the chiefe dungeon of his desseines Rue S. Valery and in the ende the goodly Cittie of Abbeuille sufficient to sâ—ay the English forces if it had bin garded by good men After these shamfull losses he comes to Charles to excuse himselfe hee pardons him but GOD made him soone paye the interest of his thefts beeing the cause of his owne ruine Hauing no place of aboad he retires to Parthenay to his vncle who entertained him courteously but Harcourt not content with this kind vsage would be maister of the Castle his practise fell vppon his owne head beeing slaine by the gardes suffring the punishment of his treachery as he had done of his couetousnesse cowardise A lesson for bad seruants to their Princes detestable either for their robberies or for their treacherous cowardises whom God payes in due season In Maine The entrance of this yeare was also infamous in two shamefull losses happened to two great Captaines To Ambrose of Lore who looseth the Castle of Tennuye in the country of Maine and to Oliuer of Magny beaten by the English at the Bishops parke nere Auranches but from small accidents we must come to great actions Champagne was in no better case then Mayne In Champagne The Earle of Salisbury made warre with all violence against Pregent of Coytiuy who defended the Kings party the best he could but not able to beare so great a burthen he flies to Charles who sends him his Constable with forces Bourgongne the which were imployed both in an other cause and with other successe then hee had desseined for behold the towne of Creuant in Bourgongne situated vppon the riuer of Yonne vpon the frontiers of Champagne is surprised by the bastard of Baume for the King The Constable flies thither
the Countrie in great disorder The best soldiars were guilty of these insolencies for want of pay Rodrigo de Villandrade an Arragonois who had faithfully serued the King was in disgrace and banished with his troupe but being ioyned with Pothon in Gasconie and hauing taken some places from the English he made his peace with Charles This confusion was not alone in one Countrie but generally diâ—persed throughout the Realme A troupe of 2000. horse led by Anthonie of Chabannes Blanchfort Gualter of Bron â—loquet and other renowned Captaines The robberies oâ— soldiars parting from Normandie passe through the Countries of Vimeu and Ponthieu by Dorlens Oruille Braâ— Cappy Liâ—ons in Sauters and enter into Cambresy from thence they lodge at Solames towards Hainault with infinit spoile eating and ransoming all after a hostile manner Iohn of Croy the Bayliffe of Hainault sent troupes against them but they were deâ—feated They were called the shauers or fleaers In the ende through Charles his many commands they come into Champagne where hauing remained sometime they were imployed to take Chasteau-Landon Charny and Nemours and from thence they were led to Monstereau-faut yonne where there was a meruailous seege being well assayled and well defended but in the ende the Towne was taken by force and the Castell by composition Charles was at Bray and the Daulphin commanded at this seege He made faire warâ—es with the English The Daulpâ—in intreats the English courteously who thanking him before the King his father yeelded him these first fruits of his authoritie in the viewe of the whole army who honored him afterwards as the Sun rising whence greâ—e the iealousies we shall hereafter speake of Tâ—e Mignons of Court which were then in quarter gaue a great occasioÌ„ Christopher of Harcourt Lord of Chaumont and Martin Gouge Bishop of Clermont Factions in Fâ—anders The Duke of Bourgongâ—e in danger of his life at Bruges men that had no good in them but to do ill The Duke of Bourgongne had much trouble this yeare the English had sowed great diuisions in his chiefest Citties Bruges stirred vp strange mutynies against him whereas he was in danger of his life Lisle Adam chiefe Captaine of his gard is slaine A popular man whom wee haue seene to coÌ„mand the Parisiens twise once against the King and an other time for the King he presumed in like sort to gouerne them of Bruges but they teare him in peeces as the Gantois had in former times massacred Arteuille their Tribune A multitude is a dangerous thorne which cannot be handled without pricking Gant followed the example of Bruges but in the end all was pacified with the losse of the most seditious to the content of the same people who deuowre him they did adore After these seditions Philip returnes to waâ—re he beseegeth Crotoy a place very important for the free trafficke of his Countries but after great paines and charge it proued all vaine He is vnfortunate in war A man vnfortunate in war but in Councell he commanded mens minds with an Imperious grauity But a midest the generall shall I omit this particular obseruation profitable for the example That great Captaine la Hire passing neere vnto Clermont a Towne then subiect to the English was there honorably receiued by the Lord of Anfemont gouernor of the Towne 1437. Two strange surprizes and for that he trusted la Hire much he suffred him to enter with his men into the rauelin to eate a banket la Hire imbracing this occasion makes him his prisoner and takes the place Anfemont had his reuenge in time by meanes of the Lord of Mouy he enters Beauuais where la Hire was gouernor goes vnto him to the Tenise Court takes him and leads him away prisoner in vewe of all the Inhabitants and makes him to yeeld both his ransome and Clermont againe notwithstanding Charles his letters to the Bourguignon but in the ende they are good friends Thus discurtesie is alwaies requited with the like leauing a long repentance for him that is the author of the iniurie how braue and cunning soeuer he bee God punishing iniquitie in due season when as men thinke least of it and by meanes least apparent The warres had wonderfully vnpeopled France Famine and pestilence followe war but this scourge was not sufficient The whole Countrie lying wast not able to be tilled by reason of the daylie incursions and ordinarie spoiles of both parties there fell a great famine That which was vsually worth but fiue pence was sold for fiue shillings and six pence or more The people being famished sought bred where they might finde it being forced from their houses by raging hungar they disperse themselues in the fields and Townes in the one to finde some fruite among the trees and in the bushes ro some herbes or rootes in the other to get some morcell of bread or some garbage to fill the panch with any thing they could meete withall So their bodies filled with bad meates were likewise filled with bad humors falling into diuers languishing diseases In the ende all turned to a plague so horrible as al these poore creatures famished weakned with diseases were like vnto drie wood in a great flame Thus one plague bred an other and that miserable plant of warre brought forth two branches of miserie to our wretched Countrie famine and pestilence A lamentable spectacle in Paris These afflictions dispersed throughout the Realme raigned chiefely at Paris the sollemne Rendezâ—ous of this languishing people There was nothing to bee seene but lamentable troupes of people pale and leane of all sexes and ages eyther running in the fields or vp and downe the streets or layed vpon dunghills or dead in the market places a most horrible spectacle to behold There died threescore thousand persons in Paris All the principall men abandoned the Cittie except Adam of Cambray the first President Ambrose of Lore the Prouost of Paris and the President of the Accounts whome God preserued in this contagion to eternize their commendable memories for euer hauing succored the publicke in necessity without whose couragious resolution the Cittie had easily fallen into the hands of the English who watched for all occasions and made daylie incursions from Mante euen vnto the gates The Champian Countrie being abandoned wolues left the forests without feare and hauing made their pray vpon the remainder of this miserable people they came to the gates of Townes euen into the streets This horrible spectacle hath beene seene at Paris in the Theater of the world in the most populous Cittie of all others So one miserie drewe on an other and these afflictions continued two whole yeares vnto the yeare 1439. whilest the contention of Antipopes increased the fire of Schismes in Christendome as we shall shewe in due place Amedee or Amé Duke of Sauoie carried himselfe as we haue sayed during the calalamities of France The Duke of Sauoie becomes a monke in the ende of
countenance who at his first approche winnes the bridge vpon the riuer The English are amazed especially when they see Matago who was somewhat retired from the body of their armie to succour at all euents take the way to Bayeux The Constable makes his profit of this flight who without pursuing them chargeth their dismayed Armie The victorie of Fourmigny against the English Thomas Tirell puts himselfe in defence with the fauour of the riuer the Orchards Gardens but the Constable commands some of his horsemen to leaue their horses The Earle of Clermont inuirons the enemie on the other side the English being charged of all sides feeling the waight of their blowes giue way leaue their armes and suffer themselues to be slaine and taken to mercy The courtesie of the French spaâ—ed many in this ouerthrow The number of the dead there were more taken prisoners then wâ—re slaine They buried in three pits 3774. carcases by the report of the Heralds priests and good men that were there This losse did likewise bury all the conquests which the English had made in Normandy The commanders of the armie were prisoners Tirell Noâ—bery â—rient Kirqueby Warberton Arpel Alengour Vaquier Calleuile and a great number of English Nobilitie armed with coates of armes all are lead to Charles with their Ensignes An honorable spoile to his triumph but a perpetuall ignominie both to the runners away that saued themselues and to the cowards that were taken prisoners This absolute victorie cost France but eight men to the end they might doe homage to the great God of armes and victories who by this memorable ouerthrow made the way for the restauration I read with ioy the warrant of the Originall And therefore wise men do say that the grace of God was the cause of the Frenchmens victorie and so by his diuine power the English were ouercome This victory was giuen vs from heauen the 19. of Aprill in the yeare 1450. and thankes were giuen vnto God throughout the realme A solemne procession was made at Paris of foureteene thousand young children from the age of seuen to ten yeares carefully chosen ouâ— to the great content of the people going from S. Innocents to our Ladies Church All Normandie yeeldes to Câ—arles This notable victorie of Fourmigny did soone after cause the rest of Normandie to yeeld Vire yeelds by composition the which was granted to 400. Lances who might well haue contended for their liues Auranches stood the longer vpon termes through the resolution of fiue hundred voluntaries but in the end they departed with their liues onely and a whâ—te wand in their hands The strong Castell of Tombelaine garded by a hundred English yeelded two daies after Bayeux resolues to fight it out all prepare to armes After the ordinance had made a great breach and the mine ready to play Charles fearing the sacke of his subiects as well as of his enemies would not suffer his men to attempt so dangerous a matter and the souldiers on the other side crie out to be led vnto the breach But â—n the end they march without command and are twise repulsed yet Matago being amazed at the furie of these desperate men demands a parle the which â—s granted by Charles but he obtained life onely and a white wande for euery Souldier to some gentlemen of marke a horse and to poore families some carts to carry them A pitous spectacle to see foure hundred women carrying their children eyther in their armes or in their cradels leauing al their goods and mouables behind them and hardly carrying a poore clout for their greatest neede So Misery comes to him that spoiles for he shal be spoiled that makes an other weâ—pe for heeshall haue time to weepe Yet Charles caused this troupe of 900. men being disarmed to be safely conducted with the rest to Câ—â—â—â—bouâ—g a place which they had demanded for their retreate Bayeux being thus yeeâ—â—ed the Kings army marcheth to Saint Sauueur le Viconte the which yeelds without batterie They had a good composition for the number of men of waâ—re that were 〈◊〉 being fiue or six hundred they grant them their liues and goods retyring to Cheâ—eâ—ouâ—g Charles was loath to looose his men vnconstrayned â—or that there remained yet â—â—me pâ—â—ces of strength Caâ—n a goodly and populous Citty was beseeged with great preparation The composition at Caâ—n but to what ende should I consume time in the priuate report of assaults seeing we hast to the viâ—â—ory A great peece of the wall being beaten downe and our men burning with desire to 〈◊〉 to this hnorable breach Robert de Vere being gouernor demands a parle he hâ—ld the Castell being one of the goodlyest peeces in France with foure thousand soldiâ—rs So by the commandement of Charles the Earle of Dunois yeelded them 〈◊〉 honorable composition to depart with bag and baggage and their armes except the artiâ—leâ—â—e the prisoners were set at libertie and all that the Cittizens might owe vnto the English â—as discharged to the benefit of the debtâ—r All depart the fift of Iuly and are conducted in safety according to the accord and the King makes his entry two dayes after Falaize is beseeged in the meane time and yeelds the one and twentith of the same moneth Fifteene hundred English of their best soldiars obtayned a good composition to depart with bag and baggage Domfront garded by fiueteene hundred franke archers yeelds vpon the like composition the second of August following Cherebourg one of the strongest places of Europe in those dayes was the conclusion of that account and the crowning of this happie worke It was garded by .2000 desperat aduenturers who wonderfully greeued with so many misfortunes would be buried in the ashes of this last losse but Thomas Gomel gouernor of the place preuailed more tâ—â—n their obstinate resolution shewing that they had discharged their duties to their 〈◊〉 in being the last to fight But nature swayed most with Gomel for hauing his some prisoner with the King he would not loose himselfe with his sonne The accord was made absolute for his soldiars and his sonne and vpon this accord he leaues the 〈◊〉 and retires last into England to admonish Henry to prouide for Guienne â—here the whole burthen of the warre would fall So the 12 of August in the yeare .1450 Normandie one of the goodlyest and 〈◊〉 Prouinces belonging to this Crowne was reduced to the Kings obedience in a yeare and six dayes hauing remayned in the possession of the English thirty yeares and 〈◊〉 kept by them as it is a miraculous worke of God they were â—o easily dispossessed 〈…〉 Normandie let vs come to Guienne to finish the restoring of this Estate Guienne returnes to the Crowne of France GVienne had begon her last seats of armes by the taking of Cognac and Saint Maâ—grin as we haue sayed whereas the wane continued coldly during that of Normandie But Charles after the happie conquest of this Prouince The
Prouost of Marchants calles the Captaines of the quarters and chiefe of the Cittie to councell he commands them in the night to make fires at all the corners of the streets and to watch in armes euery man in his quarter The people stands vpon their garde ready to attempt some great action The King himselfe goes the round Paris in danger to be surprized he findes the gate of the Basâ—â—lle towards the fields open and the artillerie cloyed But oh the prouidence of God misfortune is good for some thing These vnexpected fires disappoint the conspirators practises they hinder the approch and entry of the enemie and saue the Cittie Moreouer Gisors is belegard the garrison abandons it But that which imports more the widow of the great Seneshall of Brezai gouerned by the Bishop of Bayeux then resident at Rouan with some other Partisans Rouan yeelded to the Confederates giues Iohn Duke of Bourbon entrie into the Castle and so into the Cittie The Cittie desiring long to haue a Duke remaining in the country consents to this change and sweares to the said Duke for the Duke of Berry In a manner all the Townes and places of the Prouince follow the example of their capitall Cittie The Bourguignons armie was now reduced to extreame necessitie of victuals and money so as all the Noblemen dreamed onely of a retrait And yet an admirable thing the price of victuals was not risen in the Cittie So many stormes caused Lewis to demand a second enteruiew The peace of Constans and the conditions before that the yeelding vp of Rouan should be knowne to the Earle He grants the Duchie of Normandie to his Brother restores the Townes vpon Somme to the Earle to the Britton his Countie of Montfort with promise to deâ—sâ—aâ—e his charges he giues the office of Constable to the Earle of S. Paul he promiseth vnto Iohn Duke of Calabria men and money to recouer his realme of Naples to pay what had beene promised for the marriage of his Sister to the Duke of Bourbon with the exâ—cutâ—on of other clauses conteined in the contract to restore vnto all otheâ—s theâ—r goods offices and dignities which they had enioyed vnder his father Charles He â—rants vnto the Princes that not any one should be bound to come in person at his summons but sâ—ould discharge their homage and duties in sending such forces as they were bound to furnish at nâ—ed To conclude all the publick good is turned to priuate interest The Earle of Charolois accepts these conditions so willingly as discoursing with the King the vehement desire he had to see the execution of this treatie carries him into the trench of the Bulwarke of franke-Archers by the which they entred the Cittie The Bouâ—guigâ—ons hauing lost him crie out that he was stayed The chiefe assembâ—e togâ—ther they tremble they condemne their Earle of rashnesse alleaging the inconueence happened to his grandfather at Montereau in the presence of Charles the 7. and they begin to talke of their safetie but as they walked into the field on horse-back behold they discouer about fiftie of the Kings horse conducting the Earle to his quaâ—ter Loyaltie in King Lewâ—â— So euery one reuiued his spirits and iointly commend the Kings loyaltâ—e Two dayes alter the treatie of peace was read and â—worne on either side at 〈◊〉 Vincennes Charles the Kings brother did homage for the Duchie of Normanâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Earle of Charolois for the Townes and land in Picardie and likewise the rest that 〈◊〉 homages to doe The Earle of S. Paul tooke his oath for the office of Constable 〈◊〉 rest for the most part receiue their goods and honours So the Duke of Normanâ—â—â— was conducted vnto Rouan by the Duke of Brittanie The Earle of Charolois tooke his way to Amiens and receiued homage of the inhabitants as also of other places that were restored vnto him by the peace Then he entred into the countrie of Liege that rebelled of late dayes against his father vpon the first brute of the ouerthrow of the Earle his sonne at Montlehery without attending the trueth He pacified the Countrie and returned into Brabâ—nt This was called the peace of Conflans which was but counterfeit the 28. of October 1465. the which the Burguignon had not so easily yeelded vnto if he had receiued sooner that refreshing of men and money which Philiâ— sent him by the Lord of Sauenze It was an act of great import for Lewis to disperse these Princes so cunningly he did well foresee Lewis a cunniâ—â— artisan of diuision that the Charolois being farre from them and busied in his owne Countries would hardly turne head in the Winter season Moreouer he knew well the meanes as he was an excellent plotter of partialities how to diuide the Dukes of Normandie and of Brittanie And in trueth they were scarce arriued in their new Duchie but all the Noblemen Gentlemen and Captaines expected some preferment from Charles Duke of Normandie so greatly aduanced by this peace and moreouer the Duke of Brittanie who had beene farthest ingaged in the charge was little amended by the treatie they all by a generall discontent shew a notable subiect of distrust of their new Duke The Duke of â—rittanâ—e discontented with 〈◊〉 Duke of Noâ—mandie so as there is spred abroad a still rumour That the Brittons would carry Charles into Brittanie Vpon this bruite the Dukes seruants and the Inhabitants troupe together they runne by heapes to Saint Katherins Mouaâ—e where Charles remained yet attending the preparatiues of his entrie they lead him into the Cittie without any other assistance but the Clergie in their ornaments The Duke of Brittanie fearing the mutinie of this people retires vnto his Countrie and in his way hee takes some Townes in Normandie wherein he leaueth diuerse garrisons Lewis imbraceth this occasion and vpon this diuision marcheth against his brother treates with the Duke of Brittanie at Argenton to win him from the alliance of the Duke of Normandie Lewis sets vpon his bâ—other he takes from him by the Duke of Bourbon newly reconciled Eâ—reux Vernon Louuiers Pont de Larche and other places and by Charles of Melun â—isâ—rs Cournay Chailly and consequently all base Normandie Caen held with some other places being in the hands of Lescut a trustie seruant to both the Dukes Charles abandoned by all men and set vpon by so mighty an armie resolues to retire into Flanders and seekes to the Earle of Charolois whom this dâ—uâ—sion did much greeue for he desired aboue all things to see a Duke in Normandie the which should gentlie weaken the King But the time was vnseasonable being busied against the Liegeois Yet for a proofe of his good hap he labours to put some troupes gathered vp in Picardie into Diepe but Lewis preuents him and compounds with the Gouernour Herevpon the two Dukes reconcile themselues The Dukes of Noâ—mandie â—riâ—tanie are reconciled considering but too late that as their
voiage of Liege and to giue vnto Charles his brother the Earldomes of Brâ—e and Champaigne the which the Bourguignons did A peace betwixt Lewis Charles of Bourgongne that at neede they might haue more meanes to succor one an other the treatie of Arras and peace of Charenton were reconfirmed and sworne vpon the crosse which Charlemaigne was wont to carrie called the crosse of victorie Truely experience hath alwayes testified that princes do more wisely pacifie their quarrells by graue and trusty seruants then by enteruewes from the which such as had neuer anie matter to deteâ—mine to gither do seldome part without mutuall dislikes and grudgings the seeds of diuisions ' and warre the which may bee long smothered but at length it breakes forth From henceforth you shall see vpon the theater a wretched people panting yet with the bastonadoes lately receyued but not yet vanquished and so much the more lamentable for that their owne calamities cannot make them wise who hauing obstinately rebelled against their naturall Prince and indiscretly imbraced our Kings quarrell run headlong to their totall ruine Lewis was ingaged by promise and suÌ„moned to performe it Besids the Scotts of his gard he sends for three hundred men at armes hauing with him Iohn Duke of Bourbon Charles Cardinall of Bourbon and Archebishop of Lions and the Earle of Beauieu brothers to the Bishop of Liege A Cittie then of the bignes of Rouan exceeding wel peopled seated in a mouÌ„taine couÌ„try Situation of Liege fertill watered with the riuer of Meuze which runs through it but by the last years check almost all dismanteled greatly weakened of men Liege beseeged so as the Marshal of Bourgongne the Lord of Himbercout leading the auantgard and gaping after spoile thought to haue entred at their first approch before the King or Duke were arriued Iohn of Vilette chiefe Tribune of these Liegeois They make a sallie and other Captaines seeing them lodge confusedlie in their suburbes they issue resolutely by the old breaches and kill aboue eight hundred men amongest the which were a hundred men at armes they hurt many amongest them the Prince of Orange All the people were ready to make a generall sally but some Canonadoes shot into the great steete kills very many and keepes in the rest The Tribune was hurt and died within two dayes after with some other Captaines whilest the two Commanders arriue take their lodgings Lewis in a great farme a quarter of a league from Liege Charles in the midest of the suburbes where the King went to lodge next day right against the Bourguignons lodging This approch breeds a great distrust for Charles doubted that Lewis would cast himselfe into the Towne or practise something against him Charles distrusts Lewis or at the least saue himself before the taking of the Towne To be the better satisfied the Duke doth lodge three hundred of his best men at armes in a barne betwixt his lodging and the Kings the better to obserue the Kings actions In the meanetime they make a good shew and keepe good gard vntill the nyne and twentith of October the day of the seege when as Charles and all his men disarme themselues to be the more readâ—e the next day for the assault During these eight dayes the beseeged gaue libertie to their Bishop to go to the Duke and to offer him their Towne and goods The Duke is inexorable at his subiects request desyring nothing but their liues But he had resolued a sharpe reuenge and retaynes the Bishop not accepting of any offer The Apostolike Legat had no more any credit with Charles neyther was he so happy as he expected The Ligeois abandoned by the French dispayring of all foraine succors and of all grace with their Prince behold a troupe of six hundred choise men of the Country of Franchemont issue forth hauing for their guides the masters of those two lodgings where the Generalls did lie The partie was well made but the enterprise was great and ill managed yet did they hardly faile in it The guides should lead them secretly through the hollow rocks neere vnto these Princes lodgings to surprise them kill theÌ„ The Ligeois dispayring hazard all or at the least to carry them away before their gards were in armes Moreouer all the people should issue forth by the gate and breaches right against the great streete of the suburbes and with their cryes and fighting discomfort the whole army or at the least sell their liues deere in dying gloriously They issue forth kill the sentinells and stayed at a pauilion in the which the Duke of Alençon and the Lord of Craon were lodged where they slue some seruants with their halberds and partuisans they charge euen vnto the grange wheras the three hundred men at armes were in their first sleepe the whole multitude runs thether and troubles both Nations some crying God saue the King others God saue the Duke of Bourgongne and some also crie God saue the King and kill to sowe diuision betwixt the French and Bourguignons They awake they arme defend the entrie In the meane time succors come froÌ„ al parts to the duke being charged by a squadron led by the master of the lodging He is slaine first and then all his company The King is no lesse amazed his host coÌ„passeth his house with an other band The Scotts are about him The King Duke in great danger of their liues they first kill the â—oste and then his followers and so the multitude recouers the Towne in disorder The two Princes talke togither and thanke God for their deliuerie and with a iust cause for if these desperate men had neyther linguered at the Pauilion nor at the grange without doubt they had had these two Princes at their discretioÌ„ but God would reserue ours for the restoring of his estate and increase of his reuenues with the Bourgnignons losse and the Bourguignon for a more tragicke ende Ouâ— Lewis grewe likewise pale with distrust foreseeing that if Charles did not take this Towne by assault Lewis distrusts the burthen might light on him that he was in danger to be stayed and taken being the weaker in the army There was no hope of retyring he was too well garded The miserable estate of two Princes and his honour likewise ingaged Thus he stood vpon thornes yet resolute in shewe and alwayes a perfect dissembler A miserable estate of these two Princes who of late had so solemnelie sworne a peace and yet one could not assure himselfe of an others faith This desperate sallie had amazed the Dukes men who euen by the Kings advice would willinglie haue delayed the assault for some dayes but Charles constant in his desseine lettes Lewis vnderstand that if he pleased hee might retyre to Namur vntill the Towne were taken as for himselfe hee would not part without seeing the issue the next morning but Lewis was ingaged in honor
the surety that mâ—ght be knowing well that it was dangerous to displease him beseeching his Maiestie to free her Lewis a better brother then she had bin a sister sends to deliuer her by Charles of Amboise Lord of Chaumont Lewis sets â—er at libertie gouernour of Champagne who brought her to Plessis by Tours whether the King was returned who hauing renounced the alliance of Bourgongne recouered her children of the King with the places Iewels and all things that belonged to her then coÌ„ducted her home at his own charge But Charles is he tired So many disgraces Charles in a desperate estate so many losses of men of warre places friends treasors haue all these so daunted him as he hath lo st all courage He is now solitary at Riuere sad mournfull grieued displeased in himselfe wayward to his seruants despised of his subiects abandoned of his friends and hatefull to all the world he seekes neither comfort or counsell of any man and his great austerity is the cause that no man dare giue it him And doubtlesse these incounters were sufficient to make him lay aside armes humbly to acknowledge that the scourge of God doth aduertise vs that we are straied from our duties and to lift vp our eies hands hearts to heauen there to seeke for consolation and not among men rather restoring that which we haue pulled from another vniustly then continuing obstinate in our reuenges But Nancy must be the place of his funerall it was wonderfull commodious for his passage to his other Signeuries but his armie being vtterly ouerthrowne it was not possible to leuie new troupes so speedily to succour the Lord of Beures of the house of Croy who defended it against the Lorraine Campobasso did diuert him shewing that the Citty was but flackly besieged that it was needfull to breath to refresh his spirits tired with the forepassed toiles in the meane time continues his practises with Duke René Beures pressed him still for succours yet could he not arriue vntil the day it was yeelded Nancy taken by René and besieged by Charles with such forces as he could get out of Flanders Luxembourg Bourgongne He besiegeth it before it could be fortified victualed and within few daies brings it to exceeding famine The Lorraine not yet strong inough attending such troupes as came to him out of Germanie Suisserland aduentures a company of souldiers carrying some victuals They crosse through the campe maynteining the skirmish whilest that such as carried meale entred the towne Cifron a gentleman of Prouence Steward to the Duke of Lorraine was taken priâ—â—ner amongst others Charles commands he should be hanged This gentleman had bin the actor betwixt Campobasso and the Duke René Seeing that he must of necessity die he desires Charles to heare him and that he would discouer a matter which concerned his person Charles answers in choller that they were but shifts and Campobasso fearing his tongue doth hasten both the Dâ—ke Prouost to this execution for said he by the law of armes euery one that seekes to releeue a place after the CanoÌ„ hath plaied is takeÌ„ deserues death Cifron makes a new request and the Duke sends to know what he would say He refuseth to reueale it but to the Duke himselfe and as they returned with this answer to the Duke Campobasso remaining at the chamber dore A notable vilanie of Caâ—pobasso where the Duke was writing with a Secretary makes them beleeue that the Dukes pleasure was they should dispatch him so Cifron was hanged He still continues his siege and neither shame losses the season of the yeare nor his weake armie neither the great succours which he sees coÌ„ming to the Lorraine nor the secret aide the King gaue vnto his enemy neither Alphonsus King of Portugall his cousin germaine who then attended some succours from the King at Paris against the Castilian and went expresly to him to mediate a peace to bee the sooner dispatched for the King excused himselfe vpon the issue he feared of this warre of Lorraine could moue him Nancy pressed with famine was ready to compound if Campobasso had not by secret intelligence reuiued their spirits Nancy releeued by Dukâ— Renâ— when as behold the Duke of Lorraine comes with an armie of fourteene or fifteene thousand men French Suisses Germaines and Lorraines lodgeth at S. Nicholas of Varengeuille Compobasso not able to doe the Bourguignon a greater dispight leaues him with nine score men at armes with him and the Lords of Ange Montfort with six score they go to René A great maime for the duke whose troupes were but bare and weake Notwithstanding vpon the Suisses protestation The intâ—grity of the Suissâ—â— in old time that they would not fight in the company of a traytor the Duke sends him to Condé a Castle vpon the riuer of Moselle a passage for victualls which came to Charles from the vallie of Luxembourg Metz. He takes this passage and stops it with trees and carts to stay the flight of such as should thinke to saue themselues foreseeing already the Bourguignons ouerthrow hoping by this means to haue a share of the booty prisoners as it happened indeed But the fowlest and most trecherous act of his tragedy is that he left men suborned to begin the flight at the first charge others to obserue the Duke and if he fled to kill him Charles vnderstanding these newes Good counsell not â—ollowed by Charles harkeneth thereto contrary to his custome yet he followes not the aduice of his counsell The most experienced counselled him to retyre to Pont a Mouson which he held yet to fortifie himselfe there suffering theÌ„ to victuall Nancy They told him that the Germaines loued the ayre of their hothouses too well that René would want money so all would disband without meanes to ioyne together againe in long time that their victualling could not be so plentifull but it would be spent before the middest of winter in the meane time he should refresh his army increase his troups furnish himselfe with all things necessary seeing that he had money which was the sinew of warre A wise counsel but Charles hasted to his ruine He had in his army but foure thousand men wherof not aboue 12. hundred were in case to fight yet by the aduice of some foolish people he will hazard a third battell exposing a handfull of men ill armed ill mounted panting yet with the first and second encounters against an army fresh lusty and glorious with two notable victories The 5. of Ianuary vpon twelfe Eue René puts his army into battel neere vnto a lake at Neuf-uille The Germanes Suisses diuide themselues into two bataillons the Earle of Abestein the Gouernours of Zurich and Fribourg lead the one The battailâ— of Nancy the Aduoyers of Berne and Lucerne the other the rest both French Lorraines
his dogs and nets he sent to pursue him as after a fugitiue and held him prisoner in the Castle S. Angelo A League betwixt Ferdinand and the Pope against the King And to win vnto him the Catholike King against the most Christian hee graunts him the inuesting of the Realme of Naples vppon condition to pay the same rent which the ancient Kings of Arrragon had payed and entertaynment for three hundred men at armes for the defence of the Church when it should be demanded But behold a strange vnquiet spirit who atttempting at one instant to assaile Ferrare Genes and Milan toiles himselfe infinitely to bring forth paine and confusion The Ferrarois offred to giue him the salt made at Comache and to bind himselfe there should be no more made yet proceeding against him as against a notorious 〈…〉 he sends his troupes led by the Duke of Vrbin into the territory of Ferrare who 〈◊〉 first arriuall and at the onely summons of a trumpet takes Cente Piâ—ue Bagnacaâ—â—â— and Lugo But as he camped before the Castell of Lugo Alphonso comming with his people and some French companies the Duke of Vrbin raised the seege leauing three peeces of Cannon behind him it is a dishonor for a CoÌ„mander to loose his artiâ—leryâ— and retired into Imola giuing Alphonso meanes to recouer that which they had taken from him in Romagnia But the army of the Church was no sooner refreshed but they take the same places and likewise Modene He sent eleuen Venetian gallies against Genes whereof Grille Contarin was general and one of the Popes in the which were Octuaian and Iohn Fregoses Ierome Dacie and many other banished men And by land Marc Anthonie Colonne with a hundred men at armes and seauen hundred foote About the same time six thousand Suisses in the beginning of September passing by Bellinzone campe at Varese where foure thousand more ioyne with them but this proues but fire of strawe Iulius hoped that Genes beiâ—g assayled both by sea and land it would breed some infallible alteration that the greatest part hating the French commande would easily mainteine the name of Fregose and that the French amazed with this alteration at Genes beeing likewise prest by the Suisses would recall into the Duchie of Milan all such companies as they had both with the Emperour and the Duke of Ferrare that by consequence the Venetians would recouer Verona and hee enioye Ferrare and then with their vnited forces invade the estate of MilaÌ„ But he reckoned without his host let vs now see the proceedings of these armes They shut those gates against him which he expected to find open Chaumont a the first bâ—nt of the enemies approch had manned Genes with some companies 〈◊〉 Prouençal was entred the port with six great gallies the sonne of Iohn Lewis of Fâ—â—sque with eight hundred men of the Country and a Nephew to the Cardinall of â—â—nall with no lesse number was come into the Towne for the King and these togither preuented all insurrections So the Pope and the banished men frustrate of their chiefe hope retire to Rapalle And Colonne foreseeing that hee should hardly recouer any place of safety by land for that the commons were risen he shipt himselfe in the gallies with three score of his best horse and sent the rest by land to Spetie who for the most part were spoiled vpon the Marches of the Genouois Luquois and Florentins On the other side the Suisses which camped at Varese vnder colour as they sayd to go to serue the Church found in the end to their harme that they did but serue the ambâ—tiâ—n of one priuate man Chaumont hauing manned all the passages with sufficient forces sends Triuulce to Mont Brianse that with his troupes the helpe of the couÌ„try men he might keepe the Suisses from seizing on that passage The Suisses retreat and he himselfe coasting along by them and stil skirmishing with them with his horse and foote and many field peeces cuts of their victualles and performing the duty of a good Captaine without hazarding of any thing he annoyed them at the passages of riuers To defeat a poore but a warlike nation there is nothing but blowes to be gotten and in loosing they hazard an estate In the end besides the continuall charges of the French army oppressed with want of victualls money they free our men who are not accustomed to spend much in spies of the doubt which troubled them that is whether they would passe to Ferrare by the Duchie of Milan The Suâ—sses retire or turne by the hilles vnder Come Leâ—que Bergamâ— and Bresse or els by the Guiaradadde through the territory of Mantoua for taking their way by the high places of Come they went to lodge at the bridge of Trese where brought to extremities for want of bread and money they retired by troupes to their houses Whilest the French were else where busied the Venetians making profit of their absence and of the Germains retreat recouer without toile Esté Monselice Moutagnagne Marosâ—ique Basciane and Vincenâ—e Legnague stayed theirvictories but Verona ouerthrewe them They beseege it with eight hundred men at armes three thousand light horse and ten thousand foote besides an infinit number of peasants and batter it from a mountaine opposite beeing counter-battered and wonderfully spoiled by the artillery from the Towne But the Venetians desire was great to conquer this Citty and the valour of the beseeged was no lesse to defend both their honors and liues They had foure hundred French Lances three hundred Spaniards a hundred Germains and Italians fiue hundred French foote and foure thousand Germains The Venetians repâ—â—â—ed retire from Verna which the Prince of Anhault dead some fewe daies before had left there A thousand foote with some Cornets of French issue forth in the night put them to the sword that kept the artillerie cloyed two peeces and carried them away when as Zitole of Perouse flying to the rescue and beeing slaine with almost all that followed Denis of Nalde arriued who recouering the prey repulsed and beate them within their walls But the Venetians daunted with this checke seeing no rising of the people as they expected aduertised of the Suisses retreat and that Chaumont came to succour them they retyred to S. Boniface The warres continued in Friul and Istria with the accustomed insolencies and cruelties on either side but more to the ruine of the Countrie and buildings then of the people At the same time the Marquis of Mâ—ntoua came out of prison at the Mantouans sute to Baiazet Prince of the Turkes in whose loue the Marquis had many yeares held himselfe The Pope was not growne wise neither by his owne nor other mens losses his vnfortunate attempts had nothing quencht his hopes and they found the prouerbe tâ—â—e to their cost He that hath a companion hath a maister A wit blinded with presumption who seeing his practises now discouered the port of Genes furnished
he wished him to appoint the field he would bring the armes the King protesting that if hereafter the Emperour shall write or speake any thing preiudiciall to his honour the shame of the delay should redound vppon himselfe seeing that the combat is the end of all writing Without doubt this proceeding had beene more seemely for Knights then for such Princes and no enterprises are commendable but so farre forth as they agree with the dignitie of their persons and States And for that Granuelle refused to take vppon him this charge the King dismissing him Henry King of England deâ—yâ—s thâ— Empâ—rouâ— puâ—s away his wiâ—e did accompany him with an Herald to present this writing vnto the Emperour Within few dayes after Henry King of England sent him the like defie and did put away Catherine his wife daughter to Ferdinand and Elizabeth Kings of Spaine whom he had married being widow to Arthur his elder brother A diuorce which Pope Clement graunted vppon promise that Henry should for his safetie maintaine him agard of foure thousand foote Lautrecs successe in the Realme of Naples In the meane time Lautrecs forces preuailed in the Realme of Naples with such applause of the people as whether for affection of the French or hatred of the Spaniard almost all the Townes sent to offer their keyes and gates Peter of Nauarre had chased the Prince of Melphe out of Aquile and reduced all Abruzze to the Kings obedience the whole estate of Naples was readie to set vp the banners of France when as the Prince of Orange hauing assembled within Troye and thereabouts fiue thousand Germaines fiue thousand Spaniards and fifteene hundred Italians he made Lautrec to vnite his forces which were dispersed and to turne head to the enemie with an intent to fight with him He wanted the siâ—ews of warre the Kings assignations failed so as he could not long maintaine the burthen of the warre The adauntage of men victuals and the field did inuite him hee must therefore attempt some great matter He goes to field with three thousand French whereof the Lord of Burie was Colonell foure thousand Gascons vnder the command of Peter of Nauarre and the Lord of Candale eight thousand Germaines commanded by the Earle of Vaudemont three thousand Suisses vnder the charge of the Earle of Tende with ten thousand Italians and approched neere the enemie but there was no meanes to draw him out of his fort Many dayes were spent in skirmishes and courses In one of them three hundred horses comming out of their battaillons which marched after the artillerie were charged by Moriac and Pomperant it is that faithfull Achates to the Duke of Bourbon whom the King had drawen to his seruice and honoured with a company of fiftie men at armes for the good seruice he had done him at his taking of Pauia hauing freed him from some souldiars that had inuironed him in and not knowne him were wholy defeated and their enseignes and guidons carried away Lautrec offered battaile yet well pleased not to fight in the absence of Horatio Baillon who brought thirteene enseignes of foote whome Iohn de Medicis had long before trayned in the exercise of armes But behold a heauie signe of a fatall desaster the winds were so violent and the skie so troubled as all the tents in the French campe were ouerthrâ—wne many men slaine Baillon arriues the enemie packs vp the baggage stops the bells of his moyles and marcheth through the woods directly to Naples without sound of drumme or trumpet It had beene a goodly thing to pursue these runawaies The French Captaines flewe after them in their hearts but Lautrec sayd I will haue them at my mercie and without losse of my men But the spirit of man is ignorant of future destinies The emeny retyres Don Hugues de Moncado and other chiefe seruants to the Emperour did so hate the Prince of Orange as without doubt they had shut the gates of Naples against him the which had giueÌ„ the French a great aduantage But the soueraigne Iudge of armes had otherwise decreed The Prince of Orange being dislodged Lautrec sent some troupes of French horâ—e and foote with the blacke bands which were those of Baillon to go before Melfe which might cut off the victualls from the army lying before Naples the Prince thereof defended it with three thousand men who by their continuall â—allies had much indomaged our troupes They made a small breach with two Cannons and the Gascons burning with heat offer themselues to the assault the blacke bands follow them without any commandement or direction from their Captaines A volley of shot makes them retire kiâ—â—es many Gascons and some threescore of the black bands At night they renue the batterie and make a second attempt but with like successe yet at length they carrie it The next day they haue a supplie of artillery wherewith they make two great baâ—â—eries The pesants which were in great numbers within Melphe mutine for feare they are in deed more fit to amaze then to serue at neede Melphe taken The â—oldiars terrefied with this tumult abandon the defenses and recouer the Castell they enter the Towne spoile it and kill of soldiars and Inhabitants six or seauen thousand they take the Castell by composition and the Prince with his wife and children prisoners Barleta Trant Venouse Ascoli with all the places there abouts except Mansfredonia yeeld to the victors fortune who prepared a great masse of victualls for the seege of Naples the Venetians 〈◊〉 hauing fortified the armie with about two thousand men Capoua Acerre Nolâ— Auerse and all places there abouts hauing voluntarilie opened their gates made the way easie for Lautrec who campes before the walles of Naples in the ende of Aprill the Imperialls were resolued onely to defend Naples and Caiette It was a great matter to haue chased the enemie out of the field and to keepe them coopt vp within the capitall Cittie But alas what shall become of so great a multitude of men our French must learne once more to their cost that all their strange enterprises attempted farre off haue beene mournfull graues vnto them The issues of death belong to the eternall God Lautrec imploies all his witts in the seege of Naples but who can hope for any happie successe The Cittie was full of men of defence Naples beseeged and the meane to famish it verie vncertaine for the galleies of Phillipin Nephew to Andrew Dorie being vnable to stoppe vp the port some shippes fraught with meale stoale in those of Venise came not the enemies light horse which were many cut off the victualls from our men the ordinarie grossenesse of the aire the continuall rayne the discomodities of the soldiars who for the most part lay open filled the campe full of diseases The discomodities of the sâ—ege the Kings â—lowe prouision and the negligence of the Treasorers were the cause that no money could passe the mountaynes
of the aduantage which he had ouer the said heretikes That for a present reformation of affaires and to preuent the feare the Catholikes had to fall vnder the commaund of heretikes he would call a Parlement of the three Estates of France and resolues presently to reuoke many impositions which oppresse the people As for the priuate complaints against the Duke of Espernon and his brother I will saith he alwaies make it knowne in all occasions that I am a iust Prince and will preferre the common profit of my Realme before any other consideration The duke of Espernons iustification But the two brethren Espernon and la Valette say To what ende should they make an enterprise at Paris to take the Duke of Espernon who was then in Normandie and why made they â—arricadoes euen to the gates of the Louure armed the people and seized vpon all the chiefe places of the Citty to chase la Vallete from Valence and other parts of Daulphiné where he remained And if the confusions of former ages haue kept other Kings from acknowledging our fathers seruices and he hath rewarded his merits in his children what bee those iealous and malicious heads that enuy our fauours with his maiestie What censure what rigour what lawe may keepe a King of France from aduancing to authority some fauourites who reuiue in them the vertues of their ancestors Moreouer the League makes mention in what places our fauour hath beene imploied the treaties of the Duke of Espernon in Guienne his being acquainted with Cleruauts negotiation for the Huguenots of Metz the enterprises hee hath made vppon Cambray his late fauour to the Reistres in their returne his secret conference with Chastillon the consultations of that tumult which hath lately happened in Paris the taking of Vallence Tallard Guilestre and other places from the Catholikes of Daulphiné and his practises to stay the yeelding of Aussone But we say would to God we had in like sort taken Chaalon Dijon Montrueil Cambray and all that are subiect vnto his Maiesty within the heart of France They tearme vs fauourers of Heretikes And yet we haue in sixe moneths taken from them by the sword all their conquests in Prouence the King since the death of Henry the bastard and Grandâ—Prior of France had giuen this gouernement to the Duke of Espernon which former Gouernours could not do in twenty years The taking of Sorgues in Daulphiné by vs two during the frozen time of winter and the ouerthrow of the Hugâ—enots Suisses by la Valette but especially the last disvnion of the Suisses from the Reistres which made the way for the Duke of Guise to defeat them at Auneau and the discontent wherein the Duke of Espernon left the King of Nauarre at his departure out off Guienne are not these sufficient testimonies that their accusations are as friuolous and malicious as the sale of offices wherewith foâ—ke chaâ—ge them for iustification whereof the Duke of Espernon offers to present his head at his Maiesties feete if it be proued that he had euer any such thought in his soule Contrariwise who hath during the reignes of Henry the second and Francis the second managed the treasure without controll but the house of Guise whereof the latter â—ollow the steppes of their Predecessors Who haue forced the King to exact vpon his subiects but the warre which they haue kindled and drawne his Maiesty into what house did euer from so small a beginning grow to so fearefull a greatnesse To conclude no man shal blame vs for being Pensionars to the King of Spaine to haue hindred our King from the recouery of the Seigneuries of the Lowe Countries nor to haue stollen away the reuenues of his generall receipts Wee will no wayes hinder this goodly reformation we are not in Court nor in the Kings presence Let vs see the first fruits of this so commendable a gouernement Haue you left Paris haue you yelded it to the King your Lord and naturall Prince Nothing lesse you haue reuolted Câ—rbeil Melun and Pontoise you haue with false perswasions withdrawne the best Citties of the realme But we will in protesting to bee ready to deliuer iâ—to his maiesties hands with our liues and honor all the offices â—harges gouernements and places which it hath pleased him to commit vnto vs inuite our accusers to doe the like And if they will pretend in quality of persons let them vnderstand that whatsoeuer eyther party holds it appertaines vnto the King neyther can they keepe it but at his pleasure Thus the two brethren iustified themselues whilest the Court of Parlement makes knowne vnto the King by their Deputies their griefe for this insolencie which had forced him to abandon Paris They appeale vnto his clemencie and bounty Deputies of the Parliament with the King They present for an humble excuse of his officers the weaknesse and feare which had forced them yeeld to so violent a reuolt beseching him to returne into his Citty and to giue rest and content to his Maiestie order to his affaires grace to their purple robes and authority to their offices and by his presence to disperse the mutinies which diuisions had bred For answer The Kings answer I doubt not said the King but you would willingly haue reformed this disorder if it had beene in your power neither of your persisting in the same affection and fidelity which you haue testified to my forefathers I am not the first that hath beene toucht with such afflictions neither will I leaue to be a good father to such as shall be good children I will alwayes intreat the Parisiens with the quality of a father as children that haue strayed from their duty not as seruants that haue conspired against their maister Continue in your offices and receiue from the Queene my mother the commandements and intentions of my will This answer was soft and colde but after dinner he addes a sharper part and calling back the Deputies I know saith he wherefore garrisons are set either to ruine a Towne or for distrust of the inhabitants But what cause had the Parisiens to presume that I would destroy a Towne wherevnto I haue brought so many commodities by my presence as ten or twelue townes would thinke themselues greatly benefited thereby and what distrust could I haue of a people whom I loued of a people in whom I trusted Haue they lost a loafe or any thing whatsoeuer by meanes of these pretended garrisons I sought the preseruation of my good Cittie of Paris and the safety of my subiects meaning by a strict search to put out a great number of strangers whom I knew to be secretly crept in They haue offended me yet am I not irreconciliable neither haue I any humour to ruine them But I will haue them confesse their faults and know that I am their King and maister If not I will make the markes of their offence remaine for euer I will reuoke my Court of Parliament my
but la Noue whome the King had especially commaunded to assist the Duke of Longuâ—uille with Councell in matters of warre did so wisely make choise of the houre and oportunitie to charge as the Duke of Aumale Balagni Gouernour of Cambray Of the Duke of Aumale and Balagni at Senliâ— and the rest puting in practise the vse of their long spurre rowels lately inuented as a mournfull prediction to the League saued their persons by the swiftnes of their horses and left the field died with the bloud of fifteene hundred slaine vppon the place in the â—light and poursuit verifying the saying He that flies betimes may fight againe Chamois Menneuille and diuers others could not runne fast inough The artillerie baggage and many prisoners remained at the victors discretion who by the Kings commaundement went to receiue the army of strangers which were come to the fronters The Kings meaning was to subdue Paris The greatest of the Hidraes heads being cut off did weaken the whole bodie and gaue hope to his Maiestie by that meanes to find what hee had lost the loue and obedience of his subiects To this end hee sends the Duke of Espernon to take from the Parisâ—ens the commodities aboue the riuer and assembles his forces to compasse them in beneath Thus the warre growes hot The Nobilitie goes to horse on all sides to reuenge the wrong done vnto the King but the more his troups increased the more bitter his subiects grew against him No prosperitie is so gâ—eat but it hath some crosses As the King attends the forces which the Prince of Dômbes now Duke of Montpensier brings him from Tours Losses for the King newes comes that the Earle of Soissons whome he had sent to commaund in Brittanie had beene defeated at Chasteaugiron three Leagues from Rennes and led prisoner with the Earle of Auaugour and many other Lords to Nantes That the Duke of Mayenne had taken Alenson That the Lord of Albigni a yonger brother to the house of Gordes and a partisan of the League had chased the Colonnel Alphonso out of Grenoble and seized on the Towne The taking of these Earles caused the King to send the Prince Dombes thither who more happily reduced many places to his Maiesties obedience The happie successe of the Kings affaires made men to iudge Towneâ— taken that the League would soone bee ruined the Kings armie increasing hourely Three hundred horse of la Chastre who presently after the Tragedie of Blois had made shew to iustifie himselfe vnto the King for the strict familiaritie hee had with the Duke of Guise were defeated by the Duke of Montâ—ason and the Marquis of Nesâ—e his Lieutenant and fiftie of his companie slaine the taking of Iargeau Pluuiers Ianuille and Estampes terrified the Parisiens They call backe the Duke of Mayenne and he finding the Duke of Longueuille farre off goes into Brie assures some places and takes Montreau-faut-yonne by composition from the Duke of Espernon but the Kings approch carried him sodenly to Paris where suffering his troupes to liue at discretion in the suburbs hee caused an ill impression to grow in some which could not well digest this confusion in the State An armie of about twentie thousand men gathered to gither by the Duke of Longueuille ioyning with the Suisses Lansquenets of Sansy Pontoise returned to the Kings obedience soone after the Kings arriuall all the Kings forces ioyned in one bodie being about fortie thousand men lodged about Paris and the taking of Saint Cloud made the Parisâ—â—ns readie to yeeld when as a deuilish monke an excrement of hell a Iacobin by profession Iames Clement of the age of two or three and twentie yeares Paris beseeged vowes said hee to kill the Tirant and to deliuer the holy Cittie beseeged by Sennacherib Thus resolued hee imparts his damnable proiect to Doctor Bourgoing Prior of his Couent to father Commolet and other Iesuits and to the heads of the League to the chiefe of the sixteene and to the fortie of Paris All encorrage him to this 〈◊〉 desseine they promise him Abbaies and Bishoprikes and if he chance to be made a Martir no lesse then a place in heauen aboue the Apostles They caused the Pâ—eachers to perswade the people to patience seauen or eight dayes for before the â—nde of the weeke they should see a notable accident which should set all the people at liberty The Preachers of Orleans Rouan and Amiens clatter out the like at the same time and in the same termes The first of August the Monke goes out of Paris and marcheth toward Saint Cloud vpon his departure they take aboue two hundred of the chiefe Cittizens and others prysoners whome they knewe to haue goods friends and credit with the Kings partie as a precaution to redeeme that cursed murtherer in case he were taken before or after the deed Being arriued at Gondyes house where the King lodged he goes to la Guesle the Kings Proctor generall in his Court of Parliament at Paris and saies that he had brought some matter of importance which might not be imparted to other but to his Maiesty and had letters of credit from the first President The King who for the reuerence he bare vnto Church men gaue free accesse vnto such as vnder the habit of religion made shew to bee deuoted vnto the seruice of God commands hee should bee brought into his Chamber willing the Lord of Bellegarde and the saied Proctor generall to retire who were then alone nere the King hoping both by the quality of the person whome he did counterfeit whose long imprisonment in the Bastille had giuen sufficient testimony of his faith and integrity to his Maiestie and the simple demonstration of the Wolfe disguised into a Lambe to learne some secret matter of importance and receiues this counterfet letter from him The King did no sooner begin to reade it but this wretch seeing himselfe alone growes resolute and drawing a Knife out of his sleeue made of purpose thrusts his Maiestie into the botome of the bellie and there leaues the knife in the wound The King drawes it forth and with some striuing of the Monke strikes him aboue the eye Many ranne in at this noyse and in the heate of choller killing this monster of men preuented the true discouery of this enterprise and the authors thereof worthie to be noted with a perpetuall blot of disloyaltie and treason The Physitians held the wound curable and the same day the King did write of this attempt The death of Henry the â— being murthered and of his hope of recouery to the gouernors oâ— Prouinces to forraine Princes and to his friends and confederates But fealing that the King of Kings had otherwise determined of his life hee did first comfort himselfe in foreseeing that the last houre of his crosses should be the first of his felicities then lamenting his good and faithfull seruants who suruiuing should finde no respect with those whose mindes