euen at that very instant they sent ambassadors to the Earle of Charolois desiring him for the honor of the virgin Mary whose euen that was to haue compassion vpon this poore people excusing their fault the best they could Yet this notwithstanding their army made shew as though they desired the battell their behauior seemed cleane contrary to their ambassadors request But after the said ambassadors had passed twise or thrise betweene them and vs they concluded to obserue the treatie made the yeere before and to giue the Duke a certaine sum of money for the performance of the which conditions better than the former they promised to deliuer to the Earle by eight of the clock the next morning three hundred hostages 6 named in a role by their Bishop and certaine of his seruants being in our campe This night our army was in great trouble and feare for our campe was neither fortified nor inclosed besides that we lay scattered heere and there and in a place much for the Liegeois aduantage who were all footemen and knew the countrey better then we Some of them desired to assaile vs and in mine opinion if they had so done they mought easely haue defeated vs but their ambassadors that intreated for peace brake off that enterprise By breake of day our army was come togither and our battailes stoode in very good order our force was great For we were three thousand men of armes good bad and twelue or thirteene thousand archers besides great force of footemen of the countries thereabout We marched straight vpon our enimies with intent either to receaue the hostages or giue them battell if they refused to deliuer them We found them seuered into small bands and in great disorder as a people obedient to no mans commandement None drew neere the hostages being yet vndeliuered Wherefore the Earle of Charolois asked the Marshall of Burgundy there present whether he should assaile them who answered yea alledging that they mought now be discomfited without danger and that no conscience was to be made in the matter seeing the fault was theirs The like aduise gaue also the Lord of Contay adding that he should neuer haue them at such aduantage and shewing him how they went scattering heere and there in small bands wherefore he councelled him without farther delay to inuade them But the Earle of Saint Paul constable of Fraunce being asked his aduise was of the contrary opinion saying that if he assailed them he should do against his honor and promise bicause such a number of people could not so soone agree vpon the deliuery of so many hostages Wherefore he held it best to sende againe to them to know what they would do The Earle of Charolois debated this matter long with himselfe On the one side he saw his ancient and mortall enimies defeated without all danger but on the other he feared the staying of his honor if he should inuade them In the end he sent a trumpeter to them who met with the hostages vpon the way whereupon the wars ended and euery man returned home but the soldiers were much offended with the Constables aduise for they sawe a goodly booty before them Incontinent ambassadors were sent to Liege to confirme the peace 7 but the people being inconstant and wauering vaunted that the Earle durst not fight with them and discharged harquebuses vpon his ambassadors and entreated them very ill But the Earle returned into Flaunders and this sommer died his father 8 for whom he made a great and solemne funeral at Burges and aduertised the King of his death The Notes 1 The peace made the 22. of Ianuary ann 1466. wherof mention is made in the 14. Chap. of the last booke about Iune the same yeere the Liegeois brake as heere is rehearsed and againe they hung vp the image of the Duke and his sonne vvith the most barbarous insolencie that euer vvas heard of Read Annal. Burgund pag. 911. and 912. and Meyer pag. 338. vvhere also their intollerable cruelty is described 2 The Dinandois durst not passe the riuer into the Dukes dominions wherefore they planted their artilery on their owne side of the riuer meaning onely to beate the tovvne not to make any breach 3 Dinand vvas taken in August Annal. Burgund the 25. of August saith Meyer and the Dukes army before the towne vvas thirty thousandmen Meyer 4 The eight hundred drowned before Bouuines vvere those that hanged vp the image of the Duke and his sonne with such reproches Annal. Burgund 5 Others say but fiftie hostages 6 The Liegeois army vvas of forty thousandmen Annal. Burg. but Meyer saith but six and thirty thousand 7 This peace was concluded the 1. of September an 1466. the conditions read in Meyer fo 339. pag. 2. and Annal. Burgund pag. 915. Farther about the middest of September the next yeere being 1467. they brake this peace againe 8 Duke Philip died the 15. of Iune 1467. Annal. Burgund Berlandus De la Marche Meyer saith the 16. of Iuly Gaguin in one place saith Iune and in another the 14. of Iuly he gourned 48. yeeres liued 71. Meyer Farther heere is to be noted that in this place our author beginneth the yeere 1467. for that yeere died the Duke as he saith before in this chapter and these words where he saith And this sommer died his father haue not relation to the same summer Dinand was taken and the peace made with the Liegeois for if the Duke had died that summer he could not haue beene at the taking of Dinand for Dinand was taken in August and then the Duke dying in Iune must haue beene dead before if he had died that summer but these words haue relation to the Earle of Charolois returne into Flanders which was in the beginning of the sommer anno 1467. for the peace was made 1. September 1466. and all that winter to the end he might make all sure at Liege he remained in those countries and in the beginning of the next sommer anno 1467. returned into Flanders and in Iune after died his father Thus much I haue beene forced to saie lest our author by slipping ouer that winter bicause nothing was done in it should seeme to write contrarieties How the Liegeois brake the peace with the Duke of Burgundie then Earle of Charolois and how he discomfited them in battell Chap. 2. DVring these wars and euer after many secret practises were entertained betweene these Princes The King was maruellously offended with the Dukes of Britaine and Burgundie by meanes whereof they could hardly heare one from another for oftentimes their messengers were staied and in time of war forced to go by sea out of Britaine into Flaunders at the least to passe out of Britaine into England and so to trauel by land to Douer and there to crosse ouer to Calice for they could not passe the next way through Fraunce without great danger But during all the space of twenty yeeres or more that these princes were
for he liued not long after Notwithstanding before his death he did his Master good seruice in the battell against the Liegeois wherof you shall now heare I haue made mention before how the Duke departing from Louuain laide his siege before Sainctron and bent his artillerie against it Within the towne were three thousand Liegeois vnder the charge of a valiant knight the selfe same that was their chiefe commissioner for peace when we met them in order of battell the yeere before But the third day after the Dukes arriuall before the towne the Liegeois with great force came to leuie his siege about ten of the clocke in the morning they were thirtie thousand men 2 and aboue good and bad all footmen saue fine hundred They were well furnished of artillerie and encamped within halfe a league of vs in a strong village called Breton part whereof was enuironed with a marish Farther Francois Royet Baillif of Lions and the Kings ambassador at that time to the saide Liegeois was with them in their armie 3 Our fourragers were the first that aduertised vs of their arriuall for we had no scoutes abroade which was a foule ouersight I neuer was in place with the Duke of Burgundie where I saw him giue good order of him selfe but this daie onely Incontinent he raunged all his battels in the fielde saue certeine bands appointed to lie still at the siege among the which were fiue or sixe hundred English men Farther he beset both the sides of the village with twelue hundred men of armes and placed him selfe with eight hundred men of armes directlie ouer against the village somewhat farther off then the rest he caused also a great companie of gentlemen and men of armes to light on foote with the archers then the L. of Rauastain with the vaward being all on foote as wel men of armes as archers marched forward with certeine peeces of artillerie euen hard to the Liegeois trenches which were broad deepe full of water yet notwithstanding with force of arrowes and cannot shot the enimies were repulsed and their trenches wonne and their artillerie also but when our shot failed vs the Liegeois recouered their spirits and with their long pikes gaue a charge vpon our archers and their Captaines of whom they slew in a moment foure or fiue hundred in such sort that all our ensignes begane to wauer as men halfe discomfited At which instant the Duke commanded the archers of his battell to march being led by Philip of Creuecoeur Lord of Cordes a wise gentleman and diuers other valiantmen who so couragiously assailed the enimies that with the turning of a hand they were put to flight But neither the horsemen aboue mentioned that stood on both sides of the village neither the Duke himselfe could follow the chase bicause of the marish for they were placed there onely to this end that if the Liegeois had broken the D. vawarde and issued foorth of their trenches into the plaine they might then haue giuen a charge vpon them The Liegeois fled along through the marish being pursued onely by our footmen notwithstanding the Duke sent part of the horsemen that accompanied himselfe to follow the chase but they were forced to ride two leagues about before they could finde any passage by meanes whereof they were benighted which saued many a Liegeois life The rest of his horsemen the Duke sent to his campe bicause they heard a great noise there and doubted the enimies sally and indeede they had issued foorth thrise but were alwaies repulsed especially through the valiantns of the English men that the Duke left there behind him a few of the Liegeois after they were put to flight relied themselues togither at their cariage but staied not long there In this battell were slaine 9000. men 4 which number I am sure shal seeme great to all that loue truth but I haue beene in my time in manie battels where for one that was slaine men made report of a hundred thinking thereby to please their Masters whom often they abuse with such vntruths Sure had we not beene benighted there had beene slaine aboue fifteene thousand the battell being ended 5 the Duke when it was darke night returned with the whole armie into his campe saue a thousand or twelue hundred horse that were gone two leagues about to follow the chase for otherwise they could not come neere their enimies bicause of a litle riuer that was to passe They did no great exploit bicause of the night notwithstanding some of their enimies they slew and some they tooke but the greatest part escaped into the citie The Lord of Contay did good seruice this day in giuing order in the battell died shortlie after in the town of Huz and made a good end he was a wise a valiant knight but liued not long after his cruel sentence pronounced against the hostages aboue mentioned The D. immediatlie after he was vnarmed called one of his secretaries and wrote a letter to the Constable and the other ambassadors departed from him at Louuain not aboue foure daies before wherein he aduertised them of his victorie and desired them to attempt nothing against the Bretons Within two daies after the battell the pride of this foolish people was cleane abated though their losse were not great whereby appeereth how dangerous a thing it is for any Prince to hazard his estate in battell if he may by anie other means make a good end for a smal losse in a battel changeth altereth the minds of his subiects that receiueth the ouerthrow more than any man would thinke causing them not only to stand in great feare of their enimies but also to despise contemn their Prince and those that are in authority about him yea to murmur and practise against him They demand boldlier than they were accustomed and storme if ought be denied them so that the Prince mought haue done more with one crowne before the battell than with three after it Wherefore if he that hath receaued the ouerthrowe be wise he will not aduenture a second battell in this estate with those that haue fled but onely defend his owne and seeke some small enterprise easie to be atchiued to the end thereby his subiects may recouer their former courage and remooue all feare To conclude the losse of a battell traineth with it a number of inconueniences to him that is vanquished Notwithstanding great conquerors haue iust cause to desire the battell to abridge their labours as haue also the Englishmen and Switzers both bicause they are better footemen then their neighbors as appeareth by the great victories they haue obteined which notwithstanding I write not to the dispraise of other nations and also bicause their men can not keepe the fields long without dooing some exploit as Frenchmen and Italians can who also are more full of practise and easier to be gouerned than they Now on the otherside he that obtaineth the victory increaseth his honor
enimies campe The King abode in the said place maruellous weakely accompanied for he had with him not a man more than one groome of his chamber called Anthonie des Ambus a little fellow and euill armed the rest were scattered heere and there as himselfe told me at night euen in the presence of those that were appointed to waite vpon him who deserued great reproche for leauing their Prince in such estate Notwithstanding they arriued in time for a certaine small broken troupe of Italian men of armes passing along vpon the plaine where they saw no man stirring came and assailed the King and this groome of his chamber but the King being mounted vpon the brauest horse in the world for a man of his stature remooued to and fro and desended himselfe valiantly and at that very instant certaine of the rest of his men being not far from him arriued whereupon the Italians fled and then the King followed good aduise and retired to his vaward which had neuer mooued out of their first place Thus the King with his battell had good successe and if his vaward had marched but one hundred paces farther our enimies whole armie had fled Some said they ought so to haue done but others held opinion that they did best to staie Our company that followed the chase pursued the enimies hard to their campe which lay in length almost as far as Fornoue and not one of vs receiued a blow saue Iulien Bourgneuf whom I saw fall dead to the ground with a stroke that an Italian gaue him as he passed by for he was euill armed whereupon certaine of vs staied sayieng let vs returne to the King and with that word all the whole troupe stood still to giue their horses breath which were very wearie bicause they had chased a great way and all vpon sharpe stones Hard by vs fled a troupe of thirty men of armes whom we let passe quietly fearing to assaile them When we had brethed our horses we rid foorth a fast trot towards the King not knowing what was become of him but after a while we descried him a far off Then caused we our seruants to light on foote and gather vp the launces wherewith the place lay strawed especially with Bourdonasses which were not much woorth for they were hollow and hardly so waightie as a iauelin but trimly painted and by this meanes we were better furnished of launces than in the morning Thus as we rid towards the King by the way we met a broken band of the enimies footemen crossing ouer the fielde being of those that had lien hid among the hils and had led the Marques of Mantua vpon the King backe many of them were slaine and the rest escaped and waded through the riuer and we staied not long about them Diuers of our men cried often during the whole conflict remember Guynegate which was a battel lost in Picardie in the time of K. Levvis the eleuenth against the K. of Romanies 6 through the folly of our men who fell to spoile the enimies carriage notwithstanding in that battell no whit of their carriage was taken nor spoiled but in this their Estradiots tooke all our carriage horses of which notwithstanding they led away but fiue and fifty being the best and best couered namely al the Kings and all his chamberlains They tooke also a groome of the Kings chamber called Gabriell who had about him the ancient iewels of the Kings of Fraunce which he then caried with him bicause the King was there in person True it is that a number of coffers were also lost but they were ouerthrowne and spoiled by our owne men for we had in our campe a great many varlets and harlots that stripped the dead bodies and spoiled all that they could come by but as touching the enimies they tooke onely those aboue rehearsed There were slaine on both sides as I haue been credibly enformed both by them and certaine of our owne men to this number We lost Iulian Bourgneuf the sergeant porter of the Kings house a gentleman of the Kings house and nine Scottish archers of horsemen of our vaward to the number of twenty and about our cariage three or fower score horse-keepers And they lost three hundred and fiftie men of armes slaine vpon the place but not one of them was taken prisoner which chance I thinke neuer hapned before in any battel Of their Estradiots few were slaine for they turned al to the spoile as you haue heard There died of them in all three thousand and fiue hundred men as diuers of the best of their army haue enformed me others haue told me more but sure they lost many gentlemen for I sawe my selfe a role wherein were the names of eighteene gentlemen of good houses and among them fower or fiue of the Marques owne name which was Gonzague besides the which the Marques lost also at the least three score gentlemen of his owne dominions all the which were horsemen and not one footeman among them It is strange that so many were slaine with hand strokes for as touching the artillerie I thinke it slew not ten on both sides The fight endured not a quarter of an hower for so soone as they had broken or throwne away their launces they fled all the chase continued about three quarters of an hower Their battels in Italy are not fought after this sort for they fight squadron after squadron so that a battell endureth there somtime a whole day neither party obteining victorie The flight on their side was great for three hundred of their men of armes and the greatest part of their Estradiots fled some to Rege 7 being far thence and others to Parma being about eight leagues off 8 In the morning the very same hower that the two armies ioined the Earle of Petillane the Lord Virgile Vrsin escaped from vs. The said Virgile went but to a gentlemans house thereby where he remained vpon his word but the Earle fled straight to our enimies and to say the truth we did them both great wrong to leade them with vs after this sort The Earle being a man well knowne among the soldiers for he had alwaies had charge both vnder the Florentines and vnder King Ferrand began to crie Petillane Petillane and ran after them that fled aboue three leagues saying that al was theirs and calling them to the spoile by the which meanes he brought backe the greatest part of them and put them out of all feare assuring them vpon his word that there was no danger so that had it not been for him alone their whole armie had fled for the word of such a man newly departed from vs was no small staie to them The said Earle as himselfe hath since told me gaue aduise to assaile vs again the same night but they would not harken thereunto The Marques hath also since communed with me of these affaires chalenging this aduise as his but to say the truth had it not been
castle of Naples was yeelded by those that the Lord of Montpensier left within it who were forced thereunto partly by famine and partly to recouer the hostages deliuered by the said Montpensier to King Ferrande whose names were Monseur d'Alegre one of the house de la Marche-d'Ardaine one called de la Capelle de Loudonnois 1 one named Iohn Roquebertin Catelan They that were within the castle returned by sea into Fraunce Another great dishonor and losse receiued the King also at the same time which was this Entragues who held the Citadelle of Pisa being the fort that keepeth the towne in subiection deliuered the said Citadelle to the Pisans contrarie to the Kings oth 2 who had twice sworne to the Florentines to restore vnto them the said Citadelle and their other places namely Serzane Serzanelle Pietresancte Librefacto and Mortron which they had lent him in his great necessitie at his first comming into Italy at which time they gaue him also sixescore thousand ducats whereof there remained vnpaid to vs but thirty thousand at our returne home as before you haue heard To be short all these the Florentines places aboue named were solde the Genuois bought Serzane and Serzanelle of a bastard of Saint Paul 3 Pietresancte Entragues solde to the Luquois 4 and Librefacto to the Venetians 5 to the great dishonor both of the King and all his subiects and to the vtter losse of the realme of Naples The first othe the King sware for the restitution of these places as before you haue heard was at Florence vpon the high aultar of the cathedrall Church of Saint Iohn the second in Ast at his returne at which time the Florentines lent him thirty thousand ducats in his great neede vnder condition that if Pisa were restored to them he should repaie no part nor parcell of this summe but they would make restitution of the iewels engaged to them for it and lend him 60000. ducats more which they promised to cause to be paid then presently in the realme of Naples to the Kings forces there They offered further to entertaine continually in the saide realme at their proper costs and charges three hundred men of armes to do the King seruice till the said conquest were fully atchieued of the which conditions none were performed bicause of this euill dealing aboue mentioned Besides that we were forced to restore the thirty thousand ducats that they lent vs all the which inconueniences happened through disobedience and priuy whispering in the Kings eare for some of those that were neerest about him encouraged Entragues to sell these places At the selfe same time within two moneths ouer or vnder in the beginning of this yeere 1496. the Lord of Montpensier the Lord Virgill Vrsin 6 M. Camille Vitelly and the rest of the French captaines seeing all thus lost put themselues into the field and tooke certaine small places But King Ferrande sonne of King Alphonse who was entred into religion as before you haue heard accompanied with the Marquesse of Mantua brother to the said Montpensiers wife and Generall of the Venetians marched against them They found the saide Montpensier lodged in a towne called Atelle a place very commodious for their prouision of victuals and seated on a hill vpon the which our enimies fortified their campe as men fearing the battell bicause the said King Ferrand and his forces had been discomfited in all places as was also the Marques of Mantua at Fornoua where we fought with him The said Marques the Venetians had lent to K. Ferrand with a certaine summe of money but of small value in respect of the places they had in gage for it which were these sixe townes in Pouille of great importance Brandis Trani Galipoli Crana Otrante and Monopoly the last of the which since the Kings departure they had woon from vs. Moreouer in the said summe of money they comprehended the wages of their soldiers that serued the said Ferrand so that they hold these places for two hundred thousand ducats yea and now they require the charges they haue been at in the fortification and defence of them so that I am fully perswaded they minde neuer to restore them for they vse not so to do when towns lie commodiously for them as these do being scituate vpon the Adriatike gulfe so that by meanes of them they are Lords of the said gulfe which is one of the things they chiefely desire and no maruell for it is from Otrante which is the verie point of the said gulfe to Venice at the least nine hundred miles And notwithstanding that the Pope held certaine places also vpon the said gulfe intermingled among these Venetian townes yet were all passengers forced to paie custome to Venice wherefore the possession of these places is more beneficiall to them than the world weeneth for they receiue yeerely from thence great plenty of corne and oile which are two necessarie things for their prouision At the said place of Atelle aboue mentioned our men fell at variance as well for their victuals which began now to diminish as also for their paie the soldiers were vnpaid for eighteene moneths and more by meanes wherof they had liued in great miserie To the Almains also much was due but not so much for all the money that Monseur de Montpensier could leuy in the realme was paied to them yet notwithstanding they were vnpaid for a yeere and more but they had spoiled diuers small townes whereby they were maruellously enriched If the fortie thousand ducats promised them had been sent in time or if they had knowne they should haue receiued them at Florence this variance had neuer hapned but now they remained altogither in despaire diuers of our captaines haue enformed me that if our men would haue agreed to fight they were like enough to haue obteined the victory and if they had been discomfited yet should not their losse haue been so great as by the shamefull composition they made Montpensier and Virgile Vrsin who were the best men of war among them would haue fought and euill hap it was to them that they did not for King Ferrand brake the composition and put them both in prison where they miserablie ended their liues They laid the blame that they fought not vpon Monseur de Persi a yoong gentleman of Auuergne whom they accused as a mutinous knight and disobedient to his captaine You shall vnderstand that in this armie were two sorts of Almaines the first were Swissers to the number of fifteene hundred whom the King left there at his departure from Naples the which serued faithfully euen til the hower of death so that it was impossible for men to serue more valiantly than they did The other sort were those whom we call commonly Launce knights that is to say seruants of the countrie the which hate naturally the Swissers They are of all parts of Germanie as for example of the countries lying vpon the Rhine and of Swobland some
sommer his attempts and enterprises were so high and difficult that onely God by his absolute power could haue atchiued them for they passed far mans reach The Notes 1 De la Marche calleth him that deliuered the Earle Robert Couterel or Coutereau a horseman of Bruxels his Phisitions sonne whom for that fact immediately he made knight and feudarie of Brabant Gaghin writeth that the Earle was twice in danger once in the hands of Geffery De S. Bealin and againe in the hands of Gilbert Grassaie 2 For the two places heere named be aboue three hundred English miles asunder 3 There were slaine at the battell of Montl'hery 2000. Annal. Burgund Meyer saith 3000. Gaguin 3600. How the Duke of Berry the Kings brother and the Duke of Britaine ioined with the Earle of Charolois against the King Chap. 5. THe next day being the third after the battell we remooued our campe and lodged at Montl'hery out of the which the people fled part into the Church steeple and part into the Castell but the Earle caused them to returne to their houses neither lost they the value of one penie for euery man paid his shot as truly as if he had been in Flaunders The castell helde for the King and was not assaulted by vs. The third day being passed the Earle of Charalois by the Lord of Contais aduise departed to Estampes a good and commodious lodging and a fruitfull soile meaning to preuent the Britains who came that way and before their ariuall to lodge his men that were sicke and hurt in the towne and the rest abroad in the fields This good lodging and the Earles long abode there saued many a mans life At the said town of Estampes arriued the Lord Charles of Fraunce then Duke of Berry and the Kings onely brother accompanied with the Duke of Britaine the Earle of Dunois the Lord of Dampmartin the Lord of Loheac the L. of Beueil the Lord of Chaumount and master Charles of Amboise his sonne who since hath caried great credit in this realme all the which the King at his first comming to the crown had displaced and put out of office notwithstanding the great seruices they had done the King his father and the realme both in the conquest of Normandie and in diuers other wars The Earle of Charolois and all the noble men that were with him went foorth to receiue them and lodged their persons in the towne where their lodgings were already made but their forces lay abroad in the fields They had with them eight hundred men of armes very well appointed a great number of the which were Britons who lately had forsaken the Kings pay and these made a gallant shew in their campe of archers and other soldiers armed with good Brigandines they had great force so that I suppose they were six thousand men on horsebacke all in very good order and sure this army shewed the Duke of Britaine to be a great Prince for they were all paid out of his coffer 1 The King being retired to Corbeil as you haue heard was not idle neither forgat what he had to do but went straight into Normandy partly to leuy men and partly bicause he feared rebellion in the countrey but a great part of his forces he left about Paris in those places that had most need of defence The first euening that all these Princes met at Estamps they told newes each to other the Britons had taken prisoners certaine of the Kings part that fled and if they had been but a litle neerer the place of the battell they had either taken or discomfited the third part of his army They had first giuen order to sende foorth certaine bands before them to vnderstand how neere the Kings army and the Earles were togither but they altered their mindes Notwithstanding master Charles of Amboise and certiane with him scoured the countrey before their army to see if they could meete any of their enimies and certaine prisoners as you haue heard they tooke and part also of the Kings artillerie These prisoners made report vnto them that vndoubtedly the King was slaine for so they supposed bicause they fled at the very beginning of the battell which newes the abouenamed master Charles of Amboise and they that were with him brought to the Britaines campe who reioiced maruellously thereat supposing it had been true and hoping for great rewards if the Lord Charles were King Further they debated in councell as a man of credit there present afterward aduertised me how they might rid the countrey of the Burgundians and send them home in the diuels name and were in maner all agreed to cut their throtes if they could but this their ioy soone ended wherby you may perceaue what sodaine alterations are in a realme in such troubles But to returne to the campe lying at Estampes when euery man had supped and a great number being walking in the streetes The Lord Charles of Fraunce and the Earle of Charolois withdrew themselues to a window where they entred into very earnest communication Now you shall vnderstand that there was among the Britaines one that tooke great pleasure in throwing squibs into the aire which when they fall to the ground run flaming among men his name was master Iohn Boutefeu or master Iohn de Serpens I wot not well whether This mery companion being secretly hidden in a house threw two or three squibs into the aire from a high place where he stood one of the which by chance strake against the bar of the window where these two Princes communed togither wherewithall both of them started sodainly vp being astonished at this accident and each beholding other suspecting this to be purposely done to hurt them then came the Lord of Contay to his master the Earle of Charolois and after he had told him a word or two in his eare went downe and caused all the men of armes of the Earles house and all the archers of his garde and a number of other to arme themselues Incontinent also the Earle of Charolois mooued the Duke of Berry to command the archers of his garde to do the like whereupon immediatly two or three hundred men of armes stood on foote in harneis before the gate with a great number of archers the which sought round about from whence this fire might come in the end the poore fellow that had done the deed fell downe vpon his knees before them confessing the fact and threw three or foure other squibs into the aire whereby he put diuers out of suspicion each of other thus the matter turned to a iest and euery man vnarmed himselfe and went to bed The next day in the morning they sat in councell to debate what was to be done all the Princes with their principall seruants being there present and as they were of diuers parts and not obedient to one head so were they also of diuers opinions as in such assemblies it cannot be otherwise chosen But among
with him few footmen but was well accompanied with horsemen and those in so good order that for their number I neuer sawe a goodlier company nor a more warlike for he had with him six score men of armes barded all Italians or trained vp in the Italian wars among whom were Iames Galiot the Earle of Campobache the L. of Baudricourt now gouernor of Burgundie and diuers others his men of armes were very expert soldiers and to say the truth the flower of our armie I meane number for number With him were also fower hundred crossebow men that the Palsgraue had lent him all very well mounted and very good soldiers Besides whom he had also in pay fiue hundred Switzers footemen which were the first that euer came into this realme and these so valiantly behaued themselues in all places where they came that they purchased great renowme to their whole nation which their countreymen that haue serned heere since haue well maintained This companie the next morning approached neer to vs and passed that day ouer our bridge which a man may boldly say conuaied ouer all the power of Fraunce saue onely the Kings armie And I assure you the force was so great of valiant men well appointed and in very good order that I wish all the friends and welwillers of the realme had seen it and likewise the enimies for by that meanes the former would haue esteemed of the realme as it deserueth and the later euer after the more haue feared it The Burgundians that accompanied the Duke of Calabria were led by the L. of Neuf-chastell Marshall of Burgundie who had with him his brother the L. of Montagu the Marquesse of Rotelin and a great number of knights and esquiers some of the which had been in Bourbonnois as I haue made mention in the beginning of this historie 3 but they all ioined for their more safetie with the Duke of Calabria who shewed himselfe to be as noble a Prince and as good a soldier as any in the companie whereupon great loue and amitie grew betweene him and the Earle of Charolois After this whole force being as I suppose to the number of an hundred thousand horse good bad was passed the riuer the Princes determined to shew themselues before Paris wherfore they put all their vawards togither The Burgundians vaward was led by the Earle of S. Paule and the vaward of the Dukes of Berry and Britaine by Oudet of Rie 4 afterward Earle of Comminges and the Marshall Loheac as I remember and in this order marched they but all the Princes remained in the battell The Earle of Charolois and the Duke of Calabria were very diligent in commanding and giuing good order in the armie and rode very well armed and shewed that they meant to do their dutie but the Dukes of Berry and Britaine were mounted vpon small ambling nags and armed with slight brigandines light and thin yea and some said they were not plated but studded onely with a few gilt nailes vpon the sattin for the lesse waight but I will not affirme it for a truth Thus marched this armie to Pont de Charenton two little leagues from Paris which was taken incontinent notwithstanding the resistance of certaine franke archers 5 that were within it ouer the said bridge of Charenton passed the whole force The Earle of Charolois lodged in his owne house called Conflans situate vpon the riuer not far from thence and inclosed a great peece of ground with his cariage and artillerie and lodged his campe within it and with him lay the Duke of Calabria but the Dukes of Berry and Britaine with part of their forces lodged at S. Mor-des-fosses and the rest they sent to S. Denis being also two leagues from Paris in the which places this whole companie lay eleuen weekes during the which space these things happened that now I will rehearse The next day in the morning began the skirmishes hard at Paris gates within the towne was the Lord of Nantoillet L. great Master of Fraunce who did the King good seruice there as before I haue said and the Marshal Ioachin The poore people of the towne were in great feare but of the better sort some wished the Burgundians and the other Princes within the towne bicause this enterprise seemed vnto them good and profitable for the realme others there were borne in the said Princes dominions wherefore they furthered their affaires hoping by their meanes to obtaine some good offices in the towne which are more hunted after there than in any other place and no maruell for those that are in office make of their offices what they can not what they ought which is the cause that some offices in the towne of no fee at all are sold for eight hundred crownes and other some of very small fee for more than the fee will amount to in fifteene yeeres Seldome is any man put out of office for the Court of parlament alloweth these sales of offices as lawfull the reason whereof is bicause it is a generall case Among the Councillors are alwaies a number both of vertuous and woorthy personages and also of lewd and euill conditioned persons as are also in all other estates The Notes 1 It is requisite that I should here set downe the particular quarrell that euery one of these princes had to the King some are mentioned by our author and others in other authors The D. of Berries quarell was for a larger partage The Earle of Charaloys demanded the restitution of the territories vpon the riuer of Somme The D. of Britaine had cause to be offended and afearde because the King had picked a quarell to him by demanding of him three things neuer before demanded of any D. of Britaine The first that he should no more write in his stile Dei gratia Britanniae Dux The second that he should pay to the King a yeerly tribute The third that all the spirituall liuings in Britaine should be left to the Kings disposing For these causes the D. of Britaine ioyned with the princes the D. of Calabria had cause of offence because being entred into Italy to recouer the Realme of Naples and the King hauing promised him aide after the said D. of Calabria was ouerthrowne at Troia in Apulia the King refused to send him the aide promised so that he was forced vtterly to abandon his enterprise The D. of Bourbon had maried the Kings sister and could not get hir mariage monie the Duke of Nemours Earles of Dunois Dalebret and the rest of the noble men and gentlemen were against the King some bicause they were put out of pension and office many bicause the King sought to depriue them of the roialties they had in their seniories touching Hunting and Hawking and sought to draw all to himselfe but all in generall were offended because he contemned his nobility and entertained none but men of base estate about him Thus much I have set downe bicause it might otherwise seeme
Bombards and the other great peeces which shot not the rest also they planted in other places where they might do best seruice and by this meanes the Princes had much more artillerie on their side than the King on his The trench that the French had made was of great length and they wrought continually vpon it aduancing it towards Paris and casting the earth towards vs thereby to saue themselues from our shot for they lay all in their trench neither durst one of them peepe out bicause the medow where they lodged was as plaine as a mans hand To conclude I neuer heard in so short space such a number of Canon shot for we on our side ment to remooue them thence by force of artillerie but vnto them ordinance came daily from Paris and they plied the matter diligently and spared no powder A great number in our army digged pits in the ground before their lodging many also were made to their hands for it was a place where men wrought for stone Thus euery man shifted for himselfe the best he could and three or fower daies we passed in this estate but the feare was greater on both sides than the losse for not one man of name was slaine But when the Princes sawe that their enimies dislodged not they accounted it a thing tending greatly to their dishonor and also very dangerous for the Parisians were thereby so greatly encouraged that one day of truce it seemed all the towne was come foorth to the trenches Wherefore the Princes concluded as they sate in councel to make a large bridge of great botes the noses whereof were coupled 1 togither and the rest couered with planks and the last couple nearest to the shore fastened to the ground with great anchors besides these a number of other great botes vpon the riuer of Seine were brought thither wherein they meant to passe ouer certaine bands to assaile the Kings forces The charge of this worke was committed to Master Giralde the Master gunner who said that our bands that passed the riuer should haue great aduantage ouer their enimies bicause their trenches would be far vnderneath vs considering that they had throwen the earth on the side toward vs alleaging farther that they durst not issue foorth of their trenches for feare of our shot which reasons much encouraged our men and made them the willinger to passe ouer Thus the bridge being finished all saue the last couple of botes which also were vpon the point to be fastened to the rest and all the other botes appointed for conueiance ouer of our men being likewise in a readines suddenly one of the Kings heralds arriued there who said to Monseur de Bonillet and others there present that we had broken the truce For bicause that day and the day before were daies of truce euery man that listed came to see what we did but that night the truce ended our bridge was so large that three men of armes with their staues readie to charge might haue passed ouer it vpon a front Farther there were fiue or sixe great boates euery one of the which would haue conueied ouer a thousand men at a time besides a number of lesse boates to passe ouer the artilerie that should serue in this enterprise The bands were also named and their names enroled that should go and the Earle of S. Paul and the Lord of Haultbourdin ordained to leade them After midnight they that were appointed to this enterprise began to arme themselues and before day were al in a readines Some also went heard masse and did as good Christians ought to do in such a case The same night I was my selfe in a great tent in the middest of the armie where the watch stood being also one of the watch for no man was excused The captaine of the watch was Monseur de Chastell Guyon 2 slaine afterward at the battell of Granson 3 And as we stood there waiting when this pastime should begin suddenly we heard the French as they lodged in their trenches cry alowd Farewell neighbors farewell immediately whereupon they set fire on their lodgings and retired their artillerie The day began to breake and they that were appointed to this enterprise were alreadie vpon the riuer at the least part of them when they saw the enimies afar off retiring to Paris whereupon they returned all and vnarmed themselues reioicing much bicause of their departure But you shall vnderstand that the King sent them thither onely to beate our campe with artillerie not to fight for he would put nothing in aduenture as before I haue said notwithstanding that his force were sufficient to haue encountred with all these Princes ioined togither but his onely desire was as he well declared to treate of peace and to seuer this company without hazarding his estate and the state of this large and noble realme of Fraunce in battell than the which nothing can be more vncertaine nor dangerous Euery day they practised on both sides to with draw men ech from other diuers daies of truce were made during the which Commissioners sat on both sides to treat of peace at La Grange aux Merciers hard by our campe For the King the Earle of Maine with diuers others came thither and for the Princes the Earle of S. Paul accompanied with diuers others in like maner These Commissioners met often but no good was done notwithstanding all that time the truce endured and a number of both the armies met and communed togither at a great ditch in the midway the one on the one side and the others on the other for neither partie might passe the ditch Notwitstanding the truce no day escaped by reason of this meeting and communication but that ten or twelue and somtime more came and yeelded to the Princes and another day as many went from vs to the King wherefore this place was afterward called the market place bicause such marchandise was bought and sold there Now to shew you mine opinion in this case me thinketh that such meeting and communing togither at such times and in such sort is very dangerous especially for him that is likest to take the foile for naturally most men desire to aduance themselues at the least to saue themselues wherefore they will easilie be wonne to turne to the strongest Some there are I confesse so faithfull and constant that none of these respects can alter them but few such are to be found Farther this danger is then specially to be feared when we deale with a Prince that will endeuor him selfe to winne men which sure is a great grace of God in any Prince that can frame him selfe thereunto for it is a token that he is not infected with the foule vice and sinne of pride which all men detest and abhor But to conclude this discourse when a Prince mindeth to treat of peace he ought to employ therein the faithfullest and trustiest seruants he hath being men of ripe yeeres lest
great as was thought neither any man of name slaine but a knight of Flaunders named Monseur de Sergine notwithstanding they sent him word that the valiant gentlemen and soldiers of his vaward were vtterly wearied and in great trouble and distresse for all that night they had stoode vpright in the mire by the towne gate Farther they told him that certaine of the footemen that fled were returned so discouraged that they seemed vnfit for any great exploit Wherefore they desired him for Gods loue to make haste to the end the citizens might be forced to retire euery man to the defence of his owne quarter and that it would please him to sende them some vittails for they had not one morsell of meat The D. foorthwith commanded two or three hundred to ride thither as fast as their horses could gallop to cōfort his soldiers and sent after them al the vittails he could come by and so was it high time for by the space of two daies almost and a night they had neither eaten nor drunke vnlesse it were some one that caried a draught of wine in a bottell Besides that the weather was maruelous foule neither could they possibly enter the town on that side they lay vnlesse the Duke embusied the enimie on the other side A great number of them were hurt and among the rest the Prince of Orenge whom I had forgotten to name before who behaued himselfe that day like a couragious gentleman for he neuer mooued foote off the place he first possessed The Lords of Lau and Vrfé did also very valiantly but the number of the footmen that fled the night of the skirmish was at the least ten thousand It was almost darke night when the Duke receaued this newes but after he had dispatched all his busines he returned to his ensigne and rehearsed the whole order of the skirmish to the King who reioiced to heare that all was so wel for the contrary might haue turned to his preiudice When they approched neere the towne a great number of gentlemen and men of armes lighted on foote with the archers to take the suburbes which were easely won and there the bastard of Burgundy who had great charge in this army vnder the Duke the Lord of Rauastaine the earle of Roucy the Constables sonne and diuers other gentlemen lodged euen hard by the gate which the enimies had also repaired as the former The Duke lodged in the midst of the suburbes but the King lay that night in a great grange a quarter of a league from the town where was very good lodging being accompanied with a great number of men as well of his owne as of ours This towne is situate vpon mountaines and vallies and in a maruellous fruitfull soile 1 the riuer of Maz runneth through it it is about the greatnes of Roan and was at that time a maruellous populous citie From the gate where we lodged to the other where our vaward lay the way was short through the towne but without it was at the least three leagues going so crooked and foule are the waies especially in winter in the midst whereof we came thither Their wals were all rased so that they might saly foorth where best liked them and their defence was onely a little rampire of earth for the towne was neuer ditched bicause the foundation is hard and sharpe rock The first night of the Dukes arriuall our vaward was much refreshed and eased for the force within the towne was then diuided into two parts About midnight they gaue vs a hot alarme whereupon the Duke issued foorthwith into the street and soone after arriued also the King and the Constable with great speede considering how far off they lay Some cried they saly out at such a gate others spake diuers discomfortable words the darke and rainie weather increased also their feare The Duke lacked no courage but failed somtime in good order giuing and to say the truth at this time he behaued not himselfe so aduisedly as many wished bicause of the Kings presence Wherefore the King tooke vpon him authoritie to command and said to the Constable Leade your men into such a quarter for if they salie that is their way and sure both his words and behauiour shewed him to be a Prince of great vertue and wisedome and well acquainted with such exploits notwithstanding this great alarme prooued nothing whereupon the King and the Duke returned to their lodging The next morning came the King and lodged also in the suburbs in a little house hard by the Dukes lodging accompanied with an hundred Scottish men of his garde and his men of armes lying in a little village hard by him which bred great suspicion in the Duke that he would either enter the citie or escape before it were taken 2 or peraduenture worke him some displeasure lying so neere him Wherefore he put into a great grange iust betweene their two lodgings three hundred men of armes being all the flower of his house who brake downe the panes of the wals to saly foorth the more speedily if neede so required and these had their eies continually vpon the Kings lodging which was hard by them The siege continued eight daies during which space neither the Duke nor any of the company vnarmed themselues But the euening before the towne was taken the Duke determined to assault it the next morning being Sonday the 30. of October the yeere 1468. and the token giuen to our vaward was this that when they heard one bombard and two great serpentines discharged one incontinent after another without more shot they should then couragiously go to the assault and the Duke on his side would do the like Farther the hower appointed for the enterprise was eight of the clocke in the morning the same night the assault was thus concluded the Duke vnarmed himselfe which since the beginning of the siege he had not done and commanded the whole armie especially those that lodged in the grange betweene his lodging and the Kings to do the like to the end they might refresh themselues but the selfesame night the citizens as though they had beene aduertised of this determination concluded to make a salie out of the towne on this side as they had before on the other The Notes 1 Of the seate of this towne read Guicci pag. 370. 2 Basinus vvriteth that the Duke for diuers considerations had rather haue lacked the Kings companie then haue had it but that the King to blinde the Duke vvith a pretence of good vvill offered himselfe to go vvith him which report all the circumstances considered seemeth vtterly repugnant to truth How the Liegeois made a desperate salie vpon the Duke of Burgundies men where he and the King were in great danger Chap. 12. I Will now rehearse an example whereby you shall perceiue how easely euen a few enimies may worke a great Prince displeasure and how much it importeth Princes throughly to waie their enterprises
a strong village at the least a strong house into the which no man could enter but by a draw bridge which was a happy chance for him the rest of his armie lay in other villages round about But as he sat at dinner suddenly one came running in and brought newes that the Marques of Montague the Earles brother and certaine other were mounted on horsebacke and had caused all their men to crie God saue King Henry Which message the King at the first beleeued not but in all haste sent other messengers foorth and armed himselfe and set men also at the barriers of his lodging to defend it He was accompanied with the Lord Hastings Lord Chamberlain of England a wise Knight and of the greatest authoritie about him who was maried to the Earle of Warwicks sister yet notwithstanding was true and faithfull to his Master and had three hundred horse vnder his charge in the Kings armie as himselfe told me With the King was also the Lord of Scales the Queene of Englands brother and diuers other valiant Knights and Esquires who all perceiued that this busines went not well for the messengers brought word that the report was true and that the enimies assembled to assault the King But God so prouided for the King that he lodged hard by the sea side neer a place where a little ship laden with victuals that followed his armie and two hulks of Holland fraughted with merchandise lay at anchor he had no other shift but to run to saue himselfe in one of them 1 The Lord Chamberlaine staied awhile behinde him and talked with the lieutenant of his band and diuers other particular men in the Kings armie willing them to go to the enimies but to beare true and faithfull harts to the King and him which talke ended he went aboord to the rest being ready to depart Now you shall vnderstand that the custome in England is after the victorie obtained neither to kill nor raunsome any man especially of the vulgar sort knowing all men then to be ready to obey them bicause of their good successe Wherfore these soldiers after the Kings departure receiued no harme Notwithstanding K. Edward himself told me that in albattels that he wan so soon as he had obtained victory he vsed to mount on horsebacke and cry too Saue the people and kil the nobles for of them few or none escaped Thus fled King Edward the yeere 1470. with two hulks and a little bote of his owne countrie accompanied with seuen or eight hundred persons hauing none other apparell than they ware in the wars vtterly vnfurnished of mony and hardly knowing whither they went Strange it was to see this poore King for so might he now well be called to flie after this sort pursued by his owne seruants and the rather for that he had by the space of twelue or thirteene yeeres liued in greater pleasures and delicacies than any Prince in his time for he had wholy giuen himselfe to dames hunting hawking and banketting in such sort that he vsed when he went a hunting in the sommer season to cause many pauilions to be pitched to solace himselfe there with the Ladies And to say the truth his personage serued aswel to make court as any mans that euer I knew for he was yong as goodly a gentleman as liued in our age I meane in this time of his aduersitie for afterward he grew maruellous grosse But behold now how he fel into the trobles aduersities of the world He sailed straight towards Holland and at that time the Easterlings were enimies both to the English men and the French and had many ships of war vpon the sea wherefore they were much feared of the English men and not without cause for they were very good soldiers and had done them great harme that yeere and taken many prises These Easterlings discried afar off the ships wherin the King fled and seuen or eight of them began to make saile after him but in vaine for he was far before them and fell vpon the coast of Holland or somwhat lower for he arriued in Freezland by a little towne called Alquemare 2 as neere the which as was possible his mariners cast anchor for bicause it was ebbing water they could not enter the hauen The Easterlings came in like maner and anchored hard by them minding to boord them the next tide Thus we see that one mischiefe neuer commeth without company King Edwards good successe was now cleane altered and his thoughts quite changed for not past fifteene daies before this misfortune he would little haue beleeued him that had told him that the Earle of Warwicke should chase him out of England and subdue the whole country in eleuen daies for in that smal space he brought it to due obedience Further he mocked the Duke of Burgundie for spending his treasure in defending the sea and wished that the Earle were already landed in England But what excuse could he make now for himselfe receiuing so great losse through his owne fault saue this that such a mishap was not to be doubted of which excuse a Prince growen to mans estate ought to be ashamed for it will not serue Wherefore let King Edwards example teach all Princes that thinke it shame to feare their enimies to be wise in time for notwithstanding that the greatest part of their seruants through flatterie vphold their sayings and that themselues also by such words suppose to purchase an opinion of great courage yet sure whatsoeuer is said to their face wise men account such language but meere folly for it is great honor to feare that which is to be feared and to prouide for it accordingly Further a wise man in a Princes companie is a great treasure and iewell if he may be beleeued and haue leaue to speake the truth By chance the Lord of Gruteuse the Duke of Burgundies lieutenant in Holland was at that present in the place where King Edward arriued who being aduertised by certaine that the King sent to land both of his arriuall and of the danger he was in of the Easterlings gaue commandement foorthwith to the said Easterlings not to touch him and went also himselfe into the Kings ship to welcome him And thus he landed 3 being accompanied with his brother the Duke of Glocester who afterward named himselfe King Richard and a traine of fifteen hundred persons The King had not one peny about him but gaue the Master of the ship for his passage a goodly gowne furred with martins promising one day to do him a good turne and as touching his traine neuer so poore a company was seen But the Lord of Gruteuse dealt very honorably with them for he gaue much apparel among them defraied the King to La Hay in Holland whither he himselfe also waited vpon him Afterward he aduertised the Duke of Burgundie of this aduenture who was maruellously abashed at the newes and had much rather haue heard of the
was their onely man of wisdome and experience in the countrey besides that generally the Britaines desire nothing more than peace with Fraunce bicause continually a great number of them haue good entertainment and be in good estimation in this realme not vnwoorthily for sure in times past they haue done great seruice heere Wherefore me thinke the King did very wisely in concluding this treaty notwithstanding that some not considering so deepely thereof as himselfe did thought otherwise of it He had a very good opinion of the Lord of Lescute knew there was no danger in putting those offices and places of charge that he did into his hands bicause he was a man of honor would neuer during these diuisions haue any intelligence with the English men nor consent that the townes in Normandie 2 should be yeelded to them but had beene the onely stay thereof which was the cause of all his preferment When the King had well debated this matter he commanded Sousplenuille to put in writing all that his Master required as well for the Duke as himselfe which done the King granted him all his demands being these A pension of 80000. franks for the Duke for his master the Lord of Lescute a pension of 6000. franks the gouernment of Guienne the two Seneschalships of Launes and Bordelois the captainship of one of the castels of Bordeaux the captainship of Blaye and of the two castels of Bayonne of Dax and of Saint Seuer 24000. crownes in ready mony the Kings order and the Earldome of Comminges All the which the King granted and agreed vnto saue that the Dukes pension was diminished by the one halfe and continued but two yeeres Further the King gaue the said Sousplenuille 6000. crownes which with the other 24. thousand giuen to his Master were to be paid in fower yeeres a pension of 1200. franks the Mayraltie of Bayonne the Bailywick of Montargis and certaine other small offices in Guienne All the which aboue rehearsed estates his Master and he enioied till the Kings death Philip d'Essars likewise was made Bailife of Meaux and lieutenant of the waters and forrests throughout the realme of Fraunce and had also a pension granted him of 1200. franks and 4000. crownes in ready money all the which offices and estates from that day till the King our Master his death they quietly enioied and the Lord of Comminges continued during his life his trustie and faithfull seruant The King hauing pacified all matters in Britaine marched straight toward Picardie for he and the Duke of Burgundie vsed alwaies when winter approched to make truce for sixe moneths or a yeere and some time more After the which their woonted maner they made truce at this present which the Chancellor of Burgundie with certaine others came to the King to conclude There the Kings Commissioners read the finall peace made with the Duke of Britaine whereby the said Duke renounced the league he was entred into with the English men and the D. of Burgundie wherfore the King required the Duke of Burgundies ambassadors not to comprehend the Duke of Britaine in the truce as their confederate whereunto they would not condiscend but agreed that the Duke of Britaine should be at his choise to declare himselfe within the time accustomed either the Kings confederate or theirs alleaging that heertofore also the said Duke had abandoned them by writing yet had not departed from their friendship Further adding that though he were a Prince wholy led and gouerned by others and doing little of himselfe yet in the end he euer yeelded to that which was best and most necessary for his estate All this was done in the yeere 1473. During this treatie they murmured on both sides against the Earle of Saint Paule Constable of Fraunce for the King and those that were neerest about him had conceiued maruellous hatred against him And the Duke of Burgundy hated him woorse than they as he had iust cause to do for I know the reasons that mooued them both to beare him ill will The Duke had not yet forgotten that he was the onely occasion of the losse of Amiens and Saint Quintin and perceiued well that he nourished this war betweene the King and him For in time of truce he spake him as faire as was possible but so soone as the war opened he shewed himselfe his mortall foe Further the Earle had sought to constraine him by force to marrie his daughter to the Duke of Guienne as before 〈◊〉 â—â—ue heard Besides all this there was yet another grudge for while the Duke lay before Amiens the Constable made a road into Henault and among other cruell exploits burned the castell of Seure belonging to a Knight named Master Baudouin of Launay before the which time they vsed on neither side to fire any place But in reuenge thereof the Duke this last sommer burned the countrie all the way his armie passed as before you haue heard Thus they began to practise the Constables destruction for the accomplishment whereof diuers of the Kings men conferred with such of the Dukes seruants as they knew to be his mortall enimies for the French had him in as great iealousie as the Duke of Burgundie had and accused him as the onely occasion of the war wherefore all his treaties and practises with both parties were ripped vp and discouered and they both sought his death Some man may peraduenture aske heerafter if the King alone were not of power sufficient to put him to death whereunto I answer that he was not For his lands lay iust in the middest betweene the King and the Duke further he held Saint Quintin a great and strong towne in Vermandois and of his owne Han Bohain and other very strong places neere to the said Saint Quintin the which he might man at all times with any nation at his owne pleasure He had charge vnder the King of fower hundred men of armes well paied of the which companie himselfe was controller and tooke the muster which was no small profit to him for his companies were not complete Besides all this he had a yeerely pension of 45000. franks and of euerie tunne of wine that passed through his countrie into Flaunders or Henault he receiued a crowne for impost He had also goodly seigniories and possessions of his owne inheritance and great intelligence as well in Fraunce as in the Dukes dominions where he had many kinsfolks and allies The truce betweene the King and the Duke continued a whole yeere all the which space this practise endured and the Kings men addressed themselues wholie to the Lord of Hymbercourt so often before named who of long time had beene the Constables enimy besides that their hatred was lately increased For in an assembly held at Roye where the Constable and others were commissioners for the King and the Chancellor of Burgundy and the Lord of Hymbercourt with diuers others for the Duke as they conferred togither of their affaires the
Nicholas But the King of Portugale excused himselfe saying that he was neither armed nor accompanied for such an enterprise and so returned to Paris where he remained a long time till in the ende he entered into ielousie that the King meant to take him prisoner and deliuer him to his enimie the King of Castile Wherupon he and two of his seruants disguised themselues purposing to go to Rome there to enter into religion But as he iourneied in this disguised attire he was taken by a Norman called Robinet le Beuf Of this his departure the King our Master was both sorie and ashamed and thereupon armed diuers ships vpon the coast of Normandie to conuey him into Portugale of the which fleete George Leger was appointed Admirall The occasion of his war vpon the King of Castile was for his sisters daughter For you shall vnderstand that his sister had been wife to Don Henry King of Castile that last died and had issue a goodly daughter which liueth yet in Portugale vnmaried This daughter Queene Isabell sister to the said King Henry 3 held from the crowne of Castile saying that she was illegitimate of the which opinion were also many others alleaging that King Henry was impotent to generation for a certaine impediment that I ouerpasse But whether it were so or no notwithstanding that the said daughter were borne vnder the vaile of mariage yet remained the crowne of Castile to Queene Isabell and hir husband the King of Arragon and Sicilie 4 now raigning This King of Portugale aboue mentioned labored to make a mariage betweene the said daughter his neece and King Charles the eight now raigning which was the cause of this his voiage into Fraunce that turned so greatly to his damage and greefe For soone after his returne into Portugale he died Wherefore as I said in the beginning of this history a Prince ought to beware what ambassadors he sendeth into a strange countrey For if they had been wise that came from the King of Portugale into Fraunce to conclude the league aboue mentioned whereat I my selfe was present as one in commission for the King they would haue informed themselues better of our affaires in these parts before they had counselled their Master to enter into this voiage which turned so much to his losse and damage The Notes 1 He meaneth a simple Prince of wit 2 How the King of Portugale and the Duke of Burgundy were cosin germans the Pedegree in the end of the worke will declare 3 The Pedegree in the end of the worke will make this plaine 4 Before he calleth Rene King of Sicilie but King Rene had but the title not the possession How the Duke of Burgundy refusing the good counsell of diuers of his men was discomfited and slaine in the battell fought betweene him and the Duke of Lorraine neere to Nancy Chap. 8. I Would haue passed ouer this discourse of the King of Portugale had it not been to shew that a Prince ought to beware how he put himselfe into another Princes hands or go in person to demaund aide But now to returne to the principall matter Within a day after the King of Portugales departure from the Duke of Burgundy the Duke of Lorraine and the Almains that serued him dislodged from Saint Nicholas and marched to fight with the said Duke and the selfe same day the Earle of Campobache to accomplish his enterprise departed from the Dukes campe 1 and reuolted to his enimies with eight score men of armes sorowing onely that he could do his Master no more harme They within Nancy had intelligence of this Earles practises which incouraged them to endure the siege Further one that leaped downe the ditches entered the towne and assured them of succors otherwise they were vpon the point to haue yeelded it And to say the truth had it not been for the said Earles treasons they could neuer haue held it so long but God was fully determined to bring the Duke to his end The Duke of Burgundy being aduertised of the Duke of Lorrains arriuall assembled his counsell contrary to his accustomed maner for he was neuer woont to aske any mans aduise but in all matters to follow his own sense Most of them counselled him to retire to Pont-à -musson being but fower leagues thence to man the places well which he held about Nancy alleaging that the Almains would depart so soone as they had victualed the towne and the Duke of Lorrains mony faile him so that he should not be able in long time to assemble the like force They said further that his enimies could not victuall the towne so well but that before winter were halfe expired it should be in as great distresse as at that present and in the meane time he might leuy men for I haue been informed by those that perfectly vnderstood it that he had not in all his army aboue fower thousand soldiers of the which hardly twelue hundred were able to fight Money he lacked not for in the castell of Luxembourg being not far thence were at the least 450000. crownes and men ynough he might haue recouered But God would not giue him grace to follow this wise aduise nor perceiue how many enimies lodged round about him on euery side so that he tooke the woorst course and by the aduise of certaine harebrained fooles determined to hazard the battell with these few terrified and hartlesse men notwithstanding all the reasons alleaged to him both of the great force of Almains the Duke of Lorraine had and also of the Kings army that lay hard by his campe When the Earle of Campobache was come to the Duke of Lorraine the Almains commanded him to depart saying that they would haue no traitor among them Wherefore he retired to Condé a castell and passage neere at hand 2 which he fortified with carts and other prouisions the best he could trusting that when the Duke of Burgundy and his men fled some of them would fall into his hands as indeed a great many did But this practise with the Duke of Lorraine was not his greatest treason for a little before his departure he conspired with diuers in the Dukes army resoluing with them bicause he sawe no hope of killing or taking his Master prisoner to reuolt to the enimies at the very instant that the two battels should ioine but sooner not to depart to the end their sudden reuolt might the more astonish and terrify the Dukes whole army Further he promised assuredly if the Duke fled that he should neuer escape aliue for he would leaue thirteene or fowerteene trusty fellows behinde him some to begin to flie at the very instant that the Almains should march and other some to haue an eie on the Duke to kill him if he fled which enterprise he made full account to execute and two or three I knew afterwards my selfe of those that were left behinde for that purpose After he had conspired these abhominable treasons he returned
Prince of Wales sonne to King Henry attempt to set vp againe the house of Lancaster passe with the said Prince into England discomfited in the field and slaine both he his brethren and kinsfolks and diuers other noble men of England who in times past had done the like to their enimies After all this the children of these when the world turned reuenged themselues and caused in like maner the others to die which plagues we may be assured hapned not but by the wrath of God But as before I said the realme of England hath this speciall grace aboue all other realmes and dominions that in ciuill wars the people is not destroied the towns be not burned nor razed but the lot of fortune falleth vpon the soldiers especially the gentlemen whom the people enuy to too beyond reason for nothing is perfect in this world After King Edvvard was quiet in his realme and receiued yeerely out of Fraunce fifty thousand crownes paid him in the tower of London and was growen so rich that richer he could not be he died suddenly as it were of melancholy bicause of our Kings mariage that now raigneth with the Lady Margaret the Duke of Austriches daughter For so soone as he was aduertised thereof he fell sicke and began then to perceiue how he had been abused touching the mariage of his daughter whom he made to be named the Lady Daulphinesse Then also was the pension which he receiued out of Fraunce taken from him which he called tribute although indeed it were neither the one nor the other as before I haue declared 10 K. Edward left by his wife two goodly sonnes one Prince of Wales the other D. of Yorke and two daughters The D. of Glocester his brother tooke vpon him the gouernment of his nephew the Prince of Wales being about ten yeeres of age and did homage to him as to his soueraigne Lord and lead him to London pretending that he would there crowne him King hoping by that meanes to get the other brother out of the Sanctuary at London where he was with his mother who began already to be iealous of his proceedings To be short by meanes of the Bishop of Bathe who hauing been somtime of K. Edwards Councell fell afterward into his disgrace and was put in prison and made to fine for his deliuerance the D. of Glocester executed this exploit which you shall now heare This Bishop aduertised the Duke that K. Edvvard being in loue with a certaine Lady promised hir mariage vpon condition that he might lie with hir wherunto she consented so far foorth that the said Bishop maried them togither none being present but they two and he himselfe Which matter this Bishop being a iolly courtier neuer disclosed during K. Edvvards life but caused also the said Lady to conceale it so that it was kept secret After this the said King falling againe in loue maried the daughter of an English knight called the Lord Riuers being a widow and mother of two sonnes But after K. Edvvards death this Bishop of Bathe reuealed this matter to the D. of Glocester whereby he egged him forward not a little to the executing of his mischieuous pretended enterprise For the said D. murthered his two nephewes crowned himselfe King by the name of Richard the third proclaimed his brothers two daughters bastards in open parlament tooke from them their armes and put to death all the faithull seruants of the late King his brother at the least as many as he could lay hands on But this cruelty remained not long vnpunished for when the said King Richard thought himselfe safest and liued in greater pride than any King of England did these hundred yeeres hauing put to death the Duke of Buckingham and hauing a great army in a readines God raised vp an enimy against him of no force I meane the Earle of Richmond then prisoner in Britaine but now King of England of the house of Lancaster though not This error of Commines touching K. Henry the 7. you shall finde controuled by the peâ—egree in the end of this booke the neerest to the crowne 11 whatsoeuer men say at the least so far as I can learne The said Earle told me a little before his departure out of this realme that from the fift yeere of his age he had liued continually like a prisoner a banished man And indeed he had been fifteene yeeres or therabout prisoner in Britaine to Duke Frances that last died into whose hands he fell by tempest of the sea as he fled into Fraunce accompanied with the Earle of Pembroke his vncle I my selfe saw them when they arriued for I was come of a message to the D. at the same time The Duke entreated them gently for prisoners after King Edwards death lent the said Earle great force of men a great nauie with the which he sent him hauing intelligence with the Duke of Buckingham who for this cause was afterward put to death to lande in England but the winde was against him and the seas so rough that he was forced to returne to Diepe and from thence by land into Britaine From whence soone after he departed with his band into Fraunce without taking leaue of the Duke partly bicause he feared to ouercharge the Duke for he had with him fiue hundred English men and partly bicause he doubted lest the Duke would agree with King Richard to his preiudice for he knew that King Richard practised with him to that ende Soone after the King that now is appointed three or fower thousand men to waft him ouer onely and deliuered those that accompanied him a good summe of money and certaine peeces of artillerie and thus passed he ouer in a ship of Normandie to land in Wales where he was borne King Richard foorthwith marched against him but a kinght of England called the Lord Stanley who was married to the Earles mother ioined himselfe with the Earle and brought vnto him at the least 26000. men 12 The battell was giuen King Richard slaine and the Earle crowned King in the field with the said Richards crowne Will you saie that this was fortune No no it was the iudgement of God and for further proofe thereof marke this also Immediately after the King had murthered his two nephews he lost his wife whom some say he murthered also Further he had but one onely sonne who died in like maner incontinent after this murther This example would haue serued better heereafter when I shall speake of King Edwards death for he was yet liuing at the time my former Chapter treateth of but I haue rehearsed it heere to continue my discourse which I am fallen into In like maner we haue seene of late the crowne of Spaine altered after the death of Dom Henry that last died For the said Dom Henry had to wife the King of Portugales sister last deceased by whom he had issue a goodly daughter which notwithstanding succeeded not hir father but was
successe this voiage was like to haue had if God alone had not guided the enterprise The King abode at Ast a certaine space 2 That yeere all the wines of Italie were sower which our men much misliked neither could they away with the great heate of the aire To Ast came the Lord Lodouic and his wife with a goodly traine to visite the King where they abode two daies and then the said Lodouic departed to a castell of the Duchie of Milan a league from Ast called Nom whither the Kings Councell repaired daily to him King Alphonse had two armies abrode in the countrie the one in Romaine 3 towards Ferrara vnder the leading of his sonne accompanied with the Lord Virgill Vrsin the Earle of Petilhane and the Lord Iohn Iames of Trenoul who is now become French Against these the King sent the Lord d'Aubigny 4 a valiant and wise Knight with two hundred men of armes French and fiue hundred men of armes Italians being in the Kings seruice vnder the leading of the Earle of Caiazze so often before mentioned who was there as the Lord Lodouics lieutenant and feared greatly the discomfiture of these forces which if it had happened we had repaired homewards incontinent and he should haue had his enimies vpon his necke whose intelligence was great in the Duchie of Milan The other armie was vpon the sea vnder the leading of Dom Frederike King Alphonses brother and lay at Ligorne and at Pise for the Florentines tooke part as yet with the house of Arragon and furnished them of certaine gallies Moreouer with the said Dom Frederike was Breto de Flisco and certaine other Genuois by whose intelligence he hoped to cause Genua to reuolt 5 And sure they had almost obtained their purpose at Specie and Rapalo neere to Genua where they landed a thousand of their faction by meanes whereof they had vndoubtedly atchieued their enterprise if they had not been very speedily assailed But the selfesame day or the next day Lewis Duke of Orleance arriued there with certaine ships and a good number of gallies and one great galliasse being mine the patrone whereof was one Master Albert Mely and it caried the said Duke and the principall of the armie and manie goodly peeces of artillerie for it was very strong and approched so neere the shore that the very artillery almost discomfited the enimies who before had neuer seene the like for artillerie was at that time strange and new to the Italian nation The soldiers landed also that were in the other ships and from Genua where the whole armie laie came a band of Swissers by land led by the Bailife of Digeon who had ioined with him certaine of the Duke of Milans forces vnder the leading of Master Iohn Lewis de Flisco brother to the forenamed Breto and of Master Iohn Adorne the which notwithstanding that they were not at the skirmish shewed themselues valiant soldiers in defending a straight against the enimies To be short bicause our men came to hand-strokes with the enimies they were discomfited and put to flight and a hundred or sixscore slaine and eight or ten taken prisoners among the which was one Fourgousin sonne to the Cardinall of Genua Those prisoners that were dismissed were all stripped to their shirts by the Duke of Milans bands and other harme had they none for such is the law of armes in Italie I saw all the letters that were sent both to the King and to the Duke of Milan making report of this skirmish Thus was the enimies Nauie repulsed which afterward approched no more so neer At our mens returne the Genuois thought to haue raised a tumult and slew certaine Almaines in the towne certaine also of them were slaine but the matter was soone pacified I must heere speake a word or two of the Florentines who had sent twise to the King before his departure out of Fraunce meaning onely to dissemble with him with their first ambassadors being the Bishop of Arese 6 and one named Peter Sonderin the King commanded me the Seneschall and the Generall to negotiate Our demands were onely these First to giue the King passage through their countrie and secondarily to serue him with a hundred men of armes paying them after the Italian intertainment which was but ten thousand ducats the yeere 7 These ambassadors depended wholie vpon Peter of Medicis a yoong man of small wisedome sonne to Laurence of Medicis who was dead and had beene one of the wisest men in his time and had gouerned this citie almost as prince as did also at this present his sonne for their house had continued thus already two mens ages namely Laurence the father of this Peter and Cosme of Medicis the first roote and founder of this house a man woorthie among the woorthiest And sure of their trade being merchandise I thinke it hath beene the greatest house that euer was in the world for their seruants and factors haue had so great credit vnder their name that it is woonderfull I my selfe haue seene the proofe thereof both in Flaunders and England For I knew one called Gerard Quanuese by whose onely helpe in a maner King Edward the fowerth kept the crowne on his head when ciuill wars were in the realme of England for he lent him at times more then sixscore thousand crownes little for his Masters profite notwithstanding he recouered his principall in the end Another also I knew named Thomas Portunay who was pledge at one time betweene the said King Edward and Duke Charles of Burgundie for fiftie thousand crownes and at an other time in another place for forwerscore thousand I commend not the wisedome of merchants in thus doing but I commend Princes that vse merchants well and keepe daie with them for they know not when they shall need their helpe and sometime a little money doth great seruice It seemeth that this house of the Medicis fel to ruine as mighty houses do in realms and Empires for the great authoritie of this Peter of Medicis predecessors did him harme notwithstanding the gouernment of Cosme the first of this house was milde and gentle such as was agreeable with a free state But Lavvrence this Peters father whom we now presently write of bicause of the great variance before mentioned in this historie that was betweene him and them of Pisa and others diuers of the Lib. 6. cap. 5. which at that time were hanged tooke a garde of 20. men for the defence of his person by the commandement and leaue of the Seniory who commanded nothing but at his pleasure notwithstanding he behaued himselfe in this great authoritie very discreetly and soberly for as I before said he was one of the wisest men in his time But this Peter who succeeded his father supposing the like authority to be due to him of right became terrible by meanes of this guard and vsed great violence in the night beating men as they went in the streetes and abusing their common treasure
to offend him but to defend themselues adding further that they aduertised me the day I departed from Padua by one of their prouisors who came with their army that they sent against vs that their force should not passe a certaine riuer in their dominions neere to Parma 4 called as I remember Olye vnlesse he inuaded the Duke of Milan The said Prouisor and I gaue secret tokens each to other by the which messengers might passe to and fro betweene vs if need should so require to treat of some good end for I would breake off no ouuerture of peace bicause I knew not what might happen to the King my Master At this our communication was present one Master Lewis Marcell who by the seniories appointment accompained me out of their dominions and gouerned for that yeere the Motz viere 5 which is a certaine treasure they haue in like maner certaine of the Marques of Mantuas men who caried money to their Master were also present at it but they heard not our talk From these or frō som others I brought the K. in writing the number of their horsemen footmen and Estradiots 6 and the names of their captaines but few of those that were neerest about him credited my words After the King had reposed himselfe two daies at Sene and well refreshed his horses and his company I earnestly pressed him to depart for his enimies were not yet assembled and I feared onely the Almaines arriuall of whom the King of Romaines mustered great force and leuied great summes of money for their paiement But notwithstanding all my solicitation the King put foorth two matters to his councell which were soone debated the one whether he should restore the Florentines places to them and accept the offers they made for the restitution of them being these to pay him the thirtie thousand ducats remaining yet vnpaide of the summe they gaue him 7 to lend him besides seauen tie thousand and to serue him as he passed out of Italie with three hundred men of armes and two thousand footemen vnder the leading of Master Frauncis Secco a valiant knight and in good credit with the King My selfe and diuers others were of opinion that he should accept these conditions retaining onely Ligorne in his hands till his returne to Ast And if he had so done he might haue paied his soldiers and reserued money ynough to haue withdrawen part of his enimies forces and then haue fought with them But this resolution tooke no place for Monseur de Ligny a yoong man cosin german to the King ouerthrew it not alleaging any reason to the contrarie but onely for pitie of the Pisans The other point debated was a matter that Monseur de Ligny himselfe caused to be propounded by Gaucher of Tinteuille by one of the factions of the Senois the which desired the said Monseur de Ligny for their captain For you shall vnderstand that these Senois are euer in diuision and gouerne their common wealth more fondly than anie other towne in Italie 8 I being first asked mine aduise said that I thought it best for the King to march forward not to busie himself with these foolish offers which could not stand him in steed one week to an end alleaging further that bicause this was an imperiall towne we should by this meanes prouoke the whole Empire against vs. All the rest were of the same opinion yet was the cleane contrarie done for the Senois receiued Monseur de Ligny for their Captaine and promised him yeerely a certaine summe of money whereof he neuer receiued peny This foolish matter staied the King there sixe or seauen daies during the which space he solaced himselfe with the Dames Further he left there three hundred of his men diminishing his force by so much and then remooued to Pisa passing by Poggibonzia a castle of the Florentines But they whom he left at Sene were chased thence within a moneth after I had forgotten to tell you how I being at Florence iourneying towards the King went with one of the stewards of his house named Iohn Francois a wise and discreet person to visite a Frier Iacobin called Frier Hieronime 9 a man of holie life as all men reported abiding in a reformed couent where he had remained fifteen yeeres The cause why I went to commune with him was for that he had euer preached very fauorablie on the Kings behalfe so far foorth that his words had staide the Florentines from reuolting from vs for neuer preacher caried so great credit in any citie he had euer assured them of the Kings comming whatsoeuer was said or written to the contrarie affirming that he was sent of God to chastice the tyrants of Italie and that no force should be able to withstand him He preached further that the King should come to Pisa and enter into the towne and that the selfe same daie the estate of Florence should be altered as also it happened for the same daie was Peter of Medicis banished the towne Diuers other things also foretold he long before they happened namely the death of Laurence of Medicis all the which he saide he vnderstood by reuelation He preached yet further that the estate of the church should be reformed by the sword This is not yet come to passe but was very neer and he auoweth still that it shall be Many found great fault with him bicause he saide that God reuealed these things to him but some beleeued him sure I for my part take him for a holie man I asked him whether the K. should passe out of Italie without danger of his person seeing the great preparatiō the Venetiās made against him whereof he discoursed perfectlier than my selfe that came from thence He answered me that the K. should haue som troble vpon the way but that the honor therof should be his though he were accompanied but with an hundred men and that God who had guided him at his comming would also protect him at his returne Adding notwithstanding that bicause he had not done his dutie in the reformation of the Church but had suffered his men to spoile and rob the people as well those that tooke his part voluntarily receiued him into their cities as his enimies God had pronounced sentence against him and would shortly scourge him Neuerthelesse he bad me tell him that if he would haue compassion one the poore people and endeuour himselfe to keepe his men from doing euill and punish the offenders as he was bound by his office to do that then God would reuoke his sentence at the least mittigate it adding thereunto that he ought not to thinke it a sufficient excuse that he in his owne person did no harme He said moreouer that himselfe would go and tel the King thus much and so indeed he did and perswaded with him to restore the Florentines places to them When he spake thus of Gods sentence the death of my Lord the Daulphin came suddenly to my minde for
and immediately after we were out of the valley we mounted vp such a maruellous steepe and vpright hill that our mules could hardly clime vp to it But these Almaines coupled themselues two and two togither with stronge cordes and drew a hundred or two at a time and when one companie was wearied a fresh succeeded Besides this all the horses appointed for conueiance of the artillery helped them and euery man of the Kings house that had any train lent a horse to conueigh it ouer with the more speed but had it not been for the Almaines the horses would neuer haue passed it ouer To say the truth they conueighed ouer not the artillerie onely but the whole army for had it not been for them there could not a man haue passed But it is no maruell if they drew with good courages bicause thereby they passed as well themselues as vs whereof they were no lesse desirous than we They did much harme I confesse but their good seruice far surmounted their euill deeds The greatest difficultie was not to draw vp the artillerie for when they were at the top of the mountaine they might behold a great deepe valley vnderneath for the way is such as nature hath made and by Arte it was neuer holpen Wherefore vndoubtedly the difficultie was much greater in conueighing the artillerie downe than in drawing it vp for both horses and men were forced to draw countermount at the taile of euery peece besides that carpenters or smiths were continually working vpon them for when a peece fell great trouble it was to hoise it vp againe Many gaue aduise to breake all the great artillerie but the King would in no wise agree thereunto The Marshal of Gie who lay with our vaward thirtie miles before vs pressed the King to make haste but it was three daies before we could ioine with him The enimies campe lay directly in his face within halfe a league of him who in mine opinion should haue had a good bootie if they had assailed him Afterward he lodged in the village of Fornoue to keepe them from assailing vs in the mountaines for the which purpose the village serued well bicause it is at the foote of the mountains and the very entry into the plaine Notwithstanding we had a better protector than him I meane God who put an other conceit into our enimies heads for so great was their couetousnes that they resolued to tarie vs in the plaine to the end none of vs should escape supposing if they had assailed vs in the mountaines that we would retire to Pisa and the Florentines places that we held But therein they were much deceiued for we were too far from those places besides that if our force and theirs had ioyned and fought they might haue pursued as fast as we could haue fled especially knowing the countrie better then we did hither to in all this voiage we had no war 1 but now it began For the Marshall of Gie aduertised the King that he was past the mountaines and had sent fortie light horse to giue an alarme to the enimies campe thereby to discouer their actions who were incontinent encountered by the Estradiots 2 the which slew a gentleman of ours named le Beuf and cut off his head and hung it at one of their launces and caried it to their prouisors to receiue a ducat for it These Estradiots are soldiers like to the Turkes Ianizaries and attired both on foote and horsebacke like to the Turks saue that they weare not vpon their head such a great roule of linnen as the Turkes do called Tolliban They are rough soldiers for both they and their horses keepe the fields winter and sommer They were all Greekes come from the places that the Venetians hold there some from Naples 3 in the countrie of Morea some out of Albain and some from Duras Their horses are excellent good for they are all Turkish The Venetians vse their seruice much and trust them well I saw them all when they landed at Venice and mustered in an I le wherein the Abbey of Saint Nicholas standeth they were to the number of fifteen hundred and are valiant men and trouble an army exceedingly with their alarmes when they are so disposed to do These Estradiots followed the chase euen to the Marshals lodging and entered into our Almaines campe of whom they slew three or fower and caried their heads away with them for such is their maner Bicause when the Venetians were in war with the Turke Mahomet Otthoman this Turkes father that now raigneth he commanded his men to take no prisoners but gaue them a ducat for euery head and the Venetians did the like which maner I thinke they now vsed the more to terrifie vs as indeed they did But the said Estradiots were no lesse daunted themselues with our artillerie for one faulken shot slew one of their horses whereupon they retired incontinent for they vnderstood not the feat of artillerie but in their retract they tooke a Captaine of our Almaines prisoner who was mounted on horsebacke to see if they retired He was stricken through the body with a launce for he was vnarmed He was a wise fellow and they led him to the Marques of Mantua Generall of the Venetians armie being then accompanied with his vncle the Lord Rodolphe of Mantua and the Earle of Caiazze Captaine of the Duke of Milans forces who knew this Captaine that was taken very well Now you shall vnderstand that our enimies whole force was abrode in order of battell 4 at the least all that was assembled for all their forces were not yet come togither notwithstanding that they had lien there eight daies making their musters so that the King had leasure ynough to haue returned into Fraunce without all danger had it not been for the long abode he made to no purpose in the places aboue rehearsed But God had otherwise disposed of this busines The said Marshall fearing to be assailed encamped vpon the mountaine hauing with him onely eight score men of armes and eight hundred Almaines as he told me himselfe and as touching vs we could not haue succoured him for it was a daie and a halfe after before we could ioine with him bicause of our artillerie 5 The King lodged by the way at two yoong Marquesses houses Our vaward laie vpon the hill in great feare waiting howerly when their enimies who stood in order of battell a pretie way from them in the plaine would assaile them But God who alwaies manifestly declared that he would preserue the company tooke away our enimies senses from them for the Earle of Caiazze asked our Almaine who it was that led this vaward and how great the force was for he knew our number as well as our selues bicause he had been with vs all the sommer The Almaine made the force great and reported them to be three hundred men of armes and fifteen hundred Swissers whereunto the Earle answered that he lied
nor so well placed to haue succoured it as the day before Further bicause the Marques of Mantua who was entred into the plaine and past the riuer was directly vpon our backe about a quarter of a league behinde our rereward marching with his force softly and close togither which was a maruellous pleasant sight to behold the King was forced to turne his backe to his vawarde and his face towards his enimies and so to approch neerer to his rereward and retire from his vaward I was then with the Cardinall attending an answer of our letter but I told him I perceiued it was no time to staie any longer there wherfore I departed being hard by the Swissers and went to the King But before I could come to him I lost a page who was my cosin germaine and a groome of my chamber and a lackey which followed a prety way behinde me so that I saw not when they were slaine I had not riden aboue a hundred paces when suddenly a cry began to arise in the selfe same place from whence I was departed or but little beyond For you shall vnderstand that their Estradiots at this very instant came to our carriage anâ— entred into the Kings lodging where were three or fower houses in the which they slew or hurt fower or fiue soldiers but the rest escaped they slew also about an hundred of our straglers and put our carriage in great disorder When I came to the King I found him dubbing of knights but bicause the enimies were at hand we caused him to cease and then I hard the bastard of Bourbon named Mathew who was in good credit with the King and one Philip de Moulin a poore gentleman but very valiant call the King saying passe foorth sir passe foorth whereupon he went into the forefront of his battell and placed himselfe before his standard so that the bastard of Bourbon excepted I sawe none neerer the enimies then himselfe Our enimies marched lustely forward in such sort that within lesse than a quarter of an hower after my arriuall they were come within a hundred paces of the King who was as euill garded as euil waited on as euer was Prince or noble maÌ„ but mauger the deuil he is wel defended whom God defends And sure the prophesie of the reuerend father frier Hierom prooued true who told me as before you haue heard that God led him by the hand His rereward stood vpon his right hand being recoiled somwhat from him the neerest companie to him on that side was the D. of Orleans companie being to the number of 80. launces led by Robinet of Frainezelles and Monseur de la Trimoilles company being about forty launces and the hundred Scottish archers of his garde who thrust themselues into the presse as men of armes I my selfe stood vpon the left hand with the gentlemen pensioners and seruants of the Kings house This rereward was led by the Earle of Foix but as touching the names of the other captaines I passe them ouer for breuitie Within a quarter of an hower after my arriuall the enimies being so neere the King as you haue heard charged their staues and began a soft gallop They were diuided into two troupes one of the which charged the two companies of our horsemen and the Scottish archers standing on the Kings right hand and the other the King himselfe so that both they and the King were charged almost at one instant we that stood vpon the left hand charged them vpon the flanke greatly to our aduantage and vndoubtedly it is impossible for men to meete roughlier than we met But the Estradiots that accompanied them seeing our mules and carriage flie towards our vaward and their companions 4 get all the bootie turned their horses that way and forsooke their men of armes who by meanes thereof were vnfollowed whereby it manifestly appeered that God meant to preserue vs for if these fifteene hundred light horsemen had broken in amongst vs with their Cimeterres which are terrible swords like to the Turks vndoubtedly we had beene defeated our number being so small The Italian men of armes immediately after they had broken their staues fled and their footemen or the greatest part shrunke aside and fled also At the selfesame time that they charged vs the Earle of Caiazze gaue a charge also vpon our vaward but they met not so roughly as we for at the very instant that they should haue couched their staues they began to faint and disordered themselues in such sort that fifteene or twenty of them being scattered amongst our bands were taken and slaine by our Almaines the rest were but easily pursued for the Marshall of Gie endeuored to keepe his forces togither bicause he saw yet a great troupe of enimies not far from him Notwithstanding part of his men followed the chase and part of the Earle of Caiazzes men that fled passed ouer the place where the Marques we had fought with their swords in their hands for they had throwne awaie their staues But they that assailed the King fled immediately after they had charged and were maruellous swiftly pursued for we all followed the chase part of them tooke â—way to the village from whence we were departed the rest fled the next way to their campe we all pursuing them saue the King who staid behinde with a few men and put himselfe in great danger bicause he followed not after them with vs. One of the first that was slaine of their side was the Lord Rodolph of Mantua vnckle to the Marques who should haue sent word to the aboue named Master Anthonie of Vrbin when he should march for they thought that this battell would haue endured as their battels in Italie do which their error serued the said Master Anthonie for a good excuse but to say the truth I thinke he saw ynough to stay him from marching We had a great number of straglers and seruants following vs all the which flocked about the Italian men of armes being ouerthrowen and slue the most of them For the greatest part of the said straglers had their hatchets in their hands wherewith they vsed to cut wood to make our lodgings with the which hatchets they brake the visards of their head peeces and then claue their heads for otherwise they could hardly haue beene slaine they were so surely armed so that there were euer three or fower about one of them Moreouer the long swords that our archers and seruants had did that day a great execution The King tarried vpon the place where the charge was giuen accompanied with seuen or eight yoong gentlemen whom he had appointed to attend vpon him for neither would he follow the chase neither retire to his vaward bicause it was somwhat farre off He escaped wel at the first encounter coÌ„sidering that he was one of the foremost for the bastard of Bourbon was taken within lesse then twenty paces of him 5 and led prisoner to the
for the Earle alone they had all fled the same night When we were come to the King we discouered a great number of men of armes and footemen standing yet in order of battell without their campe whose heads and launces onely we could descrie They had stood there all the day and neuer mooued from that place notwithstanding they were further from vs than they seemed for they and we could not haue ioined without passing the riuer which was risen and arose howerly bicause all the day it had thundered lightened and rained terribly especially during the battell and the chase The K. debated with his captaines whether we should assaile these new discouered enimies or not with him were three Italian knights one named Master Iohn Iames of Treuoul who is yet liuing and behaued himselfe that day like a woorthy gentleman another Master Francis Secco a valiant knight in pay with his Florentines and of the age of 72. yeeres and the third Master Camillo Vitelly who with his three brethren was in seruice with the King and came vnsent for from Ciuita de Castello as far as Serzane which is a great iourney to be at this battell but perceiuing that he could not ouertake the King with his companie he came himselfe alone These two latter gaue aduice to march against these enimies newly discouered but the Frenchmen were of a contrarie opinion saying that they had done ynough and that it was late and time to make their lodgings But the said Master Francis Secco maintained stoutly his opinion shewing people that passed to and fro vpon the high way that leadeth to Parma the neerest towne that the enimies could retire into whom he affirmed to be enimies flying thither or returning thence and indeede he said true as we vnderstood afterward and sure both his words and countenance shewed him to be a hardy and a wise knight For all their captaines confessed to me yea some of them before the Duke of Milan himselfe that if we had marched forward they had all fled by meanes wherof we should haue obtained the goodliest honorablest and profitablest victorie that happened in ten yeeres before for if a man could haue vsed it well haue made his profit of it haue behaued himselfe wisely and entreated the people gently the Duke of Milan by the space of eight daies after should not haue had any one place to hold for him in his countrie except the castell of Milan yea and I doubt of that too so desirous were his subiects to rebell The like would also haue happened to the Venetians so that the King should not haue needed to take care for Naples for the Venetians should not haue been able to leuie a man out of Venice Bressa and Cremone which is but a small towne bicause all the rest that they held in Italie would haue reuolted But God had performed that which Frier Ierom promised to wit that the honor of the field should be ours for considering our small experience and euill gouernment we were vnwoorthie of this good successe that God gaue vs bicause we could not then tell how to vse it but I thinke if at this present which is the yeere of our Lord 1497. the like victorie should happen to the King he could tell better how to make his profit thereof While we stood debating this matter the night approched and the band of our enimies which we saw before vs retired into their campe and we for our part went and lodged about a quarter of a league from the place of the battell The King himselfe lay in a farme house being an old beggerly thing notwithstanding the barnes about it were full of corne vnthreshed which I warrant you our army quickly found Certaine other old houses there were also which stood vs but in small stead euery man lodged himselfe as commodiously as he could for we had no lodgings made As touching my selfe I lay vpon the bare ground vnder a vine in a very straight roome hauing nothing vnder me no not my cloke for the K. had borrowed mine in the morning and my carriage was far off and it was too late to seeke it He that had meate ate it but few there were that had any vnlesse it were a morsell of bread snatched out of some of their seruants bosoms I waited vpon the King to his chamber where he found certaine that were hurt namely the Seneschall of Lyons and others whom he caused to be dressed Himselfe was merrie and made good cheere and each man thought himselfe happy that he was so well escaped neither were we puffed vp with pride and vaineglorie as before the battell bicause we sawe our enimies encamped so neere vs. The same night all our Almaines kept the watch and the King gaue them three hundred crownes whereupon they kept the watch very diligently and strake vp their drums brauely The Notes 2 Vicount of Narbonne Ferron 2 Rereward after the French corrector the leading whereof Iouius giueth to two that straue for it Ferron and our author to Narbonne otherwise called Earle of Foix alone Annal. Franc. to Monseur de la Trimoille Vicount de Touars and to Monseur de Guise but it appeereth lib. 7. cap. 13. when the K. thought to haue fought with Dom Ferrand at Saint Germain that Monseur de Guise led the vaward so that I know not how it is best heere to be read 3 Bourdonasses were holow horsemens staues vsed in Italy cunningly painted our author himselfe in this Chapter describeth them at large 4 By their companions he meaneth the Estradiots that had assailed the Kings corriage at the first 5 Annal. Franc. write that this bastard Mathew Monseur de Ligny and Monseur de Piennes were armed like to the King and continually about him 6 Of this battell he writeth lib. 6. cap. 6. 7 Vnderstand not Rege in Calabria but Rege neere to Parma called in Latin Regium Lepedi and I doubt me the vnskilfull corrector at the first printing of the worke chopped in this parenthesis supposing the author to meane Rege in Calabria wherefore I had rather leaue the parenthesis out 8 The French corrector supposeth this number to be also corrupted How the Lord of Argenton went himselfe alone to parle with the enimies when he saw that those that were appointed to go with him would not go and how the King returned safe and sound with his army to the towne of Ast Chap. 7. THe next morning I determined to continue our treatie of peace desiring nothing more than the Kings safe passage But I could get neuer a Trumpeter to go to the enimies campe partly bicause nine of theirs were slaine in the battell being vnknowen partly bicause they had taken one of ours and slaine another whom the King as you haue hard sent to them a little before the battell began notwithstanding in the end one went and caried the Kings safe conduct with him and brought me one from them to commune in the midway
hower before day a trumpeter sounded Bon guet but at our dislodging nothing was sounded neither needed it for euery man was in a readines Notwithstanding this was sufficient to haue put the whole army in feare at the least those that were acquainted with the wars for besides this we turned our backes to our enimies seeking wholie our owne saftety which is a dangerous matter in an armie Further the waies at our departure from our lodging were very cumbersome in such sort that we were forced to march ouer mountaines and through woods and by-waies for we had no guides to lead vs my selfe heard the soldiers aske the ensigne bearers and him that executed the office of Master of the horse where the guides were who answered that there were none To say the truth we needed none for as God alone had guided the armie at our going foorth euen so according to Frier Hieromes prophesie meant he to do at our returne otherwise it is not to be thought that such a prince would haue ridden in the night without a guide in a place where ynow might haue been had But God shewed yet a manifester token that he meant to preserue vs for our enimies vnderstood nothing of our departure till the afternoone but waited for this parlamenting I had begun besides that the riuer was risen so high that it was fower of the clocke at after noone before any man durst aduenture ouer to follow vs and then passed the Earle of Caiazze with two hundred Italian light horse in such danger bicause of the force of the water that one or two of his men were drowned as himselfe afterward confessed We trauelled ouer hils and through woods and were constrained by the space of sixe miles to marche one by one after another in the narrow waies and then came we to a goodly large plain where our vaward artillerie and carriage lay which seemed so great a band a far off that at the first we stood in feare of them bicause Master Iohn Iames of Trenoules ensigne was square and white like to the Marques of Mantuas the day of the battel The said vaward was in like maner afeard of our rereward which they saw a farre off forsake the high way to come the next way to them whereupon both they and we set our selues in order of battell but this feare soone ended for the scoutes issued foorth on both sides and discried one an other incontinent From thence we went to refresh vs at Bourg Saint Denis where we our selues made an alarme of purpose to retire our Almains out of the towne least they should haue spoiled it Thence we remooued and lodged all night at Florensole the second night we encamped neere to Plaisance and passed the riuer of Trebia leauing on the other side of the riuer two hundred launces all our Swissers and all the artillerie except sixe peeces which the King passed ouer with him For he had giuen this order to the end he might be the better and more commodiously lodged thinking to command them to passe at his pleasure bicause the riuer is commonly very shallow especially at that time of the yeere notwithstanding about ten of the clocke at night it arose so high that no man could passe ouer it neither on horsebacke nor on foote neither could the one company haue succoured the other which was a great danger considering how neer our enimies were to vs. Al that night both they and we sought to remedy this mischiefe but no helpe could be found till the water fell of it selfe which was about fiue of the clocke in the morning and then we stretched coardes from the one side to the other to helpe ouer the footemen who waded in the water vp to their necks immediately after them passed also our horsemen and our artillerie This was a sudden and dangerous aduenture considering the place where we were for our enimies lay hard by vs I meane the garrison of Plaisance the Earle of Caiazze who was entred in thither bicause certaine of the citizens practised to put the town into the Kings hands vnder the title of the yoong Duke sonne to Iohn Galeas Duke of Milan that last died as before you haue heard And vndoubtedly if the King would haue giuen eare to this practise a great number of townes and noble men would haue reuolted by Master Iohn Iames of Treuoules meanes but he refused so to do bicause of the fauour he bare the D. of Orleans his cosin who was already entred into Nouarre although to say the truth on the other side he desired not greatly to see his said cosin so mightie wherefore he was well content to let this matter passe as it came The third daie after our departure from the place of the battell the K. dined at the castle S. Iohn lodged all night in a wood The fourth day he dined at Voghera laie that night at Pontcuron The fift day he lodged neere to Tortone and passed the riuer of Scriuia which Fracasse defended with the garrison of Tortone being vnder his charge for the D. of Milan But when he vnderstood by those that made the K. lodging that he would onely passe without doing harme to any man he retired again into the town and sent vs word that we should haue as great plenty of victuals as we would which promise he also performed for all our armie passed hard by the gate of Tortone where the said Fracasse came forth to welcom the King being armed but accompanied onely with two men he excused himselfe very humbly to the King that he lodged him not in the towne sent out great store of victuals which refreshed well our army at night came also himselfe to the Kings lodging For you shal vnderstand that he was of the house of S. Seuerin brother to the Earle of Caiazze and Master Galeas and had not long before been in the Kings seruice in Romania as you haue heard From thence the King remooued to Nice de la Paille in the Marquisat of Montferrat whereof we were right glad bicause we were then in safetie and in our friends countrie For these light horsemen that the Earle of Caiazze led were continually at our backe and traueiled vs maruellously the three or fower first daies bicause our horsemen would not put themselues behinde to make resistance for the neerer we approched to the place of safetie the more vnwilling were our men to fight and some say such is the nature of vs French men Wherefore the Italians write in their histories that the French men at their arriuall are better than men but at their returne woorse than women The first point vndoubtedly is true for they are the roughest men to encounter with in the world I meane the horsemen but all men at their returne from an enterprise are lesse couragious than at their departure from their houses Now to proceede our backs were defended by three hundred Almaines hauing among
there were also of the countrie of Vaulx in Senonie 7 and some of Gelderland These were to the number of eight hundred newly sent thither with two moneths pay the which being spent before they came thither and at their arriuall there no new pay being found they seeing themselues in this distresse declared that they bare vs no such good will as the Swissers do for they practised with our enimies and turned to King Ferrande for the which cause partly and partly for the diuision that was among our captaines our men made a shamefull appointment with their enimies the which King Ferrande sware to keepe and obserue being forced so to do by the Marquesse of Mantua who thought thereby to assure the person of his brother in lawe Monseur de Montpensier yet notwithstanding the said Ferrande brake the treatie as afterward mention shall be made more at large By the said composition they yeelded both themselues and all the Kings artillerie to their enimies promising further to cause to be rendred all the places that the King held in the realme as well in Calabria where Monseur d'Aubigny was as in L'Abruzzo where Master Gracian des Guerres was togither with the townes of Caietta and Tarente vnder this condition that King Ferrande should send them by sea into Prouence with bag and baggage which was not much woorth but notwithstanding the composition King Ferrande commanded them all to be led to Naples being to the number of fiue or sixe thousand persons or more So shamefull a composition hath not beene made in our time neither do I remember that euer I read of the like saue that which the two consuls of Rome made as rehearseth Titus Liuius 8 with the Samnites whom I suppose to be those of Beneuent at a place called then Furculae Caudinae which is a certaine straight in the mountaines notwithstanding the Romanes would not agree to the composition but sent the two Consuls prisoners to their enimies If our force had fought and beene discomfited yet should not their losse haue been so great as by this composition for two parts of them died either of famine or of the plague in their ships in the yle of Prusse 9 whither they were sent from Naples by King Ferrande and namely there died Monseur de Montpensier himselfe some say of poyson others of an ague which I rather beleeue And I thinke verily that of all this companie neuer returned fifteene hundred for of the Swissers which were thirteene hundred returned but three hundred and fifty all extreme sicke Their faith and loyaltie was greatly to be commended for they all chose rather to die than to serue King Ferrande and so a number of them died in the said yle of Prusse some of heate some of sicknes and some of famine for they were held there a long time in their ships in such penurie and lacke of victuals as is almost incredible I saw them all that returned especially the Swissers who brought backe with theâ— all their ensignes and sure it well appeered that they had endured great miserie for they were all so extreme sicke that when they came foorth of their ships to take the aire they were faine to be staied vp from falling It was also agreed by the said composition that the Lord Virgill Vrsin should returne home to his countrie in safetie and his son all the Italians that serued the King yet notwithstanding the enimies detained him still and his said legitimate sonne also for he had but one and as touching his base sonne called the Lord Charles who was a very valiant gentleman certaine Italians of their companie spoiled him as he repaired homeward If this miserie had fallen but vpon them onely that made this composition they had notbeen greatly to be moned Immediately after King Ferrande had receiued this honor aboue mentioned and married King Ferrande his grandfathers daughter being a yoong maide of thirteene or fowerteene yeeres of age begotten of the King of Castiles sister that now raigneth so that his wife was sister to his owne father King Alfonse he fell into a continuall ague whereof soone after he died and the crowne of the realme descended to King Frederick the said King Ferrandes vncle now presently raigning It abhorreth me to write of such a marriage as this notwithstanding diuers such haue beene contracted in this house of Arragon within these thirtie yeeres King Ferrande died immediately after the composition aboue mentioned made in the towne of Ateâ—â—e the yeere of our Lord 1496. The said Ferrande during his life and Dom Frederick also after he came to the crowne excused the breach of this composition bicause Monseur de Montpensier had not performed the conditions thereof nor rendred the places promised which he could not to say the truth Caietta and diuers others being out of his power For notwithstanding that he were the Kings lieutenant yet were not they that held these places for the King bound to yeeld them at his commandement Although all things well considered the King should haue sustained no great losse if they had then beene yeelded for he spent afterward great treasure in defending and victualling them and yet lost them in the end I my selfe was present three or fower times at the dispatch of those that were sent to victuall and succour first the castels of Naples and thrise after the towne of Caietta And I thinke I should not lie if I said that these fower voiages cost the King aboue three hundred thousand franks and yet all to no purpose The Notes 1 Before cap. 8. he named him de la Chappelle d'Aniou but if Loudonnois be in Aniou the places be reconciled 2 The Venetians paid the monie for the Pisans were not able to redeeme it but after the Citadelle deliuered the Pisans put themselues into the Venetians protection who razed the Citadelle Guicciar 3 This bastards name was de Bienne Guicciar 4 Mutron was also sold to the Luquois Guicciar 5 Librefacto was sold to the Pisans but the Venetians paid the monie Guicciar 6 This Virgill Vrsin is he aboue mentioned who after the Coulonnois reuolt from King Charles turned to him and of his foe became his friend and seruant 7 The French corrector readeth it Sionnie meaning the countrie called in Latin Valesia Sedusiorum whereof Sedunum called in French Sion is the chiefe towne or else he supposeth it should be Vaulx in Sauoy whereof our author maketh mention lib. 5. cap. 1. 8 Decad. 1. lib. 9. 9 Procida it is named by Colleuntius other Italians name it Ponze I suppose it to be that which Plinie lib. 3. cap. 6. calleth Proclita or Prochita saying that it lieth in Sinu Puteolano not far from Naples nor from the yle of Ischia Boccace also Decame 2 nouell 6. reporteth both Procida and Ponze to be neere to Naples Guicciar hath Pozzuole How certaine practises entertained by diuers noble men of Italy on the Kings behalfe as well for the conquest
them a great band of harquebusiers on foote with whom also a number of harquebusiers on horsebacke were ioined these made their Estradiots being but few in number to retire Further notwithstanding that their whole armie which had fought with vs marched after vs as fast as they might yet could they not ouertake vs both bicause they were departed from the place of the battell a day after vs and also bicause of their barded horses so that we lost not one man vpon the way The said armie neuer came within a mile of vs wherefore seeing they could not ouertake vs and peraduenture not greatly desirous so to do they marched straight towards Nouarre whither both the Duke of Milan and the Venetians had already sent certaine bands as before you haue heard But if they could haue ouertaken vs neere to the places of our retrait peraduenture they might haue sped better than in the valley of Fornoue I haue shewed before sufficiently in diuers places how God guided this enterprise but yet for further proofe thereof a word or two more You shall vnderstand therefore that notwithstanding that from the day of the battell till our arriuall at the said place of Nice de la Paille the lodgings were vnorderly and vnequally made yet euery man lodged with patience as commodiously as he could without strife or contention Of victuals we had great lacke notwithstanding they of the countrey brought vs some who might easily haue poisoned vs if they would both in their meates and wines and also in their wels and waters which were dried vp sometimes in a moment bicause they were but small springs If they had minded to haue poisoned them they would sure haue done it but bicause they did it not it is to be thought that our Sauiour and redeemer Iesus Christ tooke from them all desire to do it I saw such thirst in our armie that a number of footemen dranke of stinking puddles in the villages through the which we passed Our iourneies were long and our drinke foule standing water which notwithstanding our men were so greedy of that they ran into the pooles vp to the girdlestead to drinke For you shall vnderstand that a number of people followed vs being no men of war bicause our carriage was maruellous great The King departed from his lodging euery morning before day and I remember not that euer he had guide Moreouer he rode till noone before he baited and euery man made prouision for himselfe and looked to his owne horse and was forced to prouide prouender for him and to beare it to him in his armes as my selfe did twise and two daies I ate nothing but naughty blacke bread yet was I none of those that stood in most neede Sure one thing was especially to be commended in this armie to wit that neuer man complained of necessitie yet was this the miserablest voiage that euer I saw notwithstanding that I haue been in diuers sharp hard voiages with Charles Duke of Burgundie We marched no faster than the great artillerie the mending whereof often troubled vs besides that we lacked horses to draw it but at all times when we stood in neede we borrowed of the gentlemen in our armie who willingly lent theirs so that there was not one peece nor one pound of powder lost And I thinke neuer man saw artillerie of such greatnes passe so speedily ouer such places as this did All this disorder both in our lodgings and all other things happened not for lacke of wise and expert men in the campe but it was their chaunce to haue least credit at that time for the King was yoong and wedded to his owne will as before you haue heard To conclude therefore it seemed that our Lord Iesus Christ would that the honor of this voiage should be attributed wholy to him The seuenth day after our departure from the place of the battell we marched from Nice de la Paille and encamped all togither hard by Alexandria our watch that night being very strong The next morning before day we departed and went to Ast the King and his houshold lodged in the towne but the soldiers encamped without we found the said towne of Ast furnished of all kinde of victuals wherwith the whole armie was well refreshed which vndoubtedly stood in great neede thereof bicause they had indured great hunger thirst and heate and lacked sleepe besides that their apparell was all tottered and torne Immediately after the Kings arriuall thither before I slept I sent a gentleman called Philip de la Coudre who somtime had been my seruant and serued then the Duke of Orleans to Nouarre where the said Duke was besieged by his enimies as you may vnderstand by that which is aboue rehearsed but the siege was not yet so straight but that men might passe in and out bicause the enimies onely endeuor was to famish the towne I aduertised the Duke by this gentleman of diuers treaties that were entertained betweene the King and the Duke of Milan in one of the which my selfe negotiated by the Duke of Ferraraes meanes wherefore I aduised him to repaire to the King hauing first assured his men whom he should leaue behinde him either shortly to returne or bring force to leuie the siege Within the said towne were with him to the number of 7500. soldiers both French and Swissers being as goodly a band so many for so many as euer was seene The King the next day after his arriuall was aduertised both by the said Duke of Orleans and others that the two armies were ioined togither before Nouarre wherefore the said Duke desired aide bicause his victuals daily diminished for the which they had giuen no order at their first entrie into the towne For they might then haue recouered ynow in the townes about especially corne and if their prouision had been made in time and well looked to they should neuer haue been forced to yeeld the towne for if they could haue held it but one moneth longer they had come foorth with honor and their enimies departed with shame How the King sent ships to the sea to succour the castels of Naples and why the said castels could not be succoured Chap. 8. AFter the King had reposed himselfe a fewe daies in Ast he remooued to Thurin dispatching at his departure from Ast one of the stewards of his house called Peron de Bache with a commission to arme certaine ships to the sea 1 to succour the castels of Naples which held yet for vs. The said Peron did as he was commanded and appointed monseur d'Arban Admirall of the Fleet which sailed as far as the citie of Pruce 2 where our men being within the view of our enimies a sudden tempest arose which would not suffer the two armies to ioine by meanes whereof this Nauie did no seruice for the said d' Arban returned to Ligorne 3 where the most part of his men fled to land and abandoned their ships But the
enimies many came to the hauen of Bougen 4 neere to Plambin whence it departed not the space of two moneths so that our men might without all danger haue succoured the said castels for the nature of this hauen of Bougen is such that a ship cannot come foorth of it but with one winde which bloweth seldome in winter The said Arban was a valiant soldier and a very good sea man 5 While the King lay at Thurin diuers treaties were entertained between him and the Duke of Milan in one of the which the Duches of Sauoy was a dealer she was daughter to the Marques of Montferratte and a widow and mother to the yoong Duke of Sauoy then liuing Others negotiated also as well as she and among the rest my selfe laboured for conclusion of the peace as before I haue made mention and the confederats that is to say the captaines that were in the enimies campe before Nouarre desired to deale with me and sent me a safe conduct But enuie euer raigneth in Princes courts for the Cardinall so often aboue named ouerthrew all that I did and would that the Duches of Sauois negotiation should go forward which was committed to the said Cardinals hoste who was Treasurer of Sauoy a wise man and a faithfull seruant to his Mistres This treatie endured so long without effect that in the end all hope of peace ceasing the Bailife of Digeon was sent ambassador into Swisserland to leuy there fiue thousand men I haue made mention already how the Kings Nauie that departed from Nice in prouence to succour the castels of Naples could not succour them for the reasons there rehearsed Wherefore the Lord of Montpensier and the other gentlemen that were with him in the castels vnderstanding of this misfortune espied a conuenient time when the army that the King left behinde him in diuers parts of the realme lay neere to the said castles and by helpe therof salied foorth leauing within force sufficient for their defence according to the proportion of their victuals which was very smal and departed themselues with two thousand and fiue hundred soldiers appointing Ognas and two other gentlemen captaines of the castles The said L. of Montpensier the Prince of Salerne the Seneschall of Beaucaire and the rest that were with them departed to Salerne for the which cause King Ferrand said that he might lawfully put to death the hostages deliuered to him a few daies before whose names were these the Lord of Alegre one called de la Marche-d ' Ardaine the Lord de la Chapelle d'Aniou one named Roquebertin Catelin and one Genly for you shall vnderstand that not past three moneths before the said King Ferrand was entred into Naples by intelligence or rather through the negligence of our men who vnderstood of all their practises in the towne and yet neuer sought to countermine them But heereof I will write no farther bicause I speake but vpon report for notwithstanding that I had mine intelligence from the principall of those that were there yet do I not willingly discourse long of any matter that I haue not been present at my selfe The said K. Ferrand being in Naples was aduertised that the King was slaine at the battell of Fornoue as were our men also within the castle by the Duke of Milans letters to the which credit was giuen notwithstanding that they reported no thing but lies And thereupon the Coulonnois whose maner is alwaies to turne with the strongest reuolted incontinent from vs though sundry waies bound to the King as before you haue heard Wherefore our men partlie through these vntrue reports but especially bicause a great number of them were retired into the castell being vtterly vnfurnished of victuals and partly also bicause they had lost their horses and all their goods within the towne made a composition the sixt day of October in the yeere 1495. after they had been besieged three moneths fowerteen daies promising if they were not succoured within a certaine space to depart into Prouence and yeeld the castels without making further war either by sea or land vpon the realme of Naples for the performance of which conditions they deliuered these hostages aboue named and yet within twentie daies after the composition departed as you haue heard for the which cause King Ferrand said that they had broken the composition in that they departed without leaue and notwithstanding that our men maintained the contrary yet were the hostages in great danger and not without cause For although I will not denie but that our men did wisely to depart notwithstanding the composition yet had they done much better if the day of their departure they had yeelded the castles for their hostages safetie and receiued again the said hostages For the castels held but twenty daies after they were departed partly for lacke of victuals and partly bicause they despaired of succours To conclude the losse of the castell of Naples was the losse of the whole realme The Notes 1 This Peron vvas sent to Nice being a hauen tovvne in Prouence to prepare this nauie 2 I suppose this to be some hauen tovvne not far from Naples or rather thinke it should be read the I le of Prusse vvhereof mention is made cap. 14. vvhich Guicciar calleth the I le of Poreze 3 To the I le of Elbe Guicciar 4 The place is corrupted for this hauen is aftervvard called Bengon vvherefore the French Corrector readeth it as Blondus and the description of Italy lead him Porto Barato pres Piombino 5 Guicciar saith Arban vvas vnskilfull on the sea and I doubt this place be corrupted heere Of the great famine and miserie the Duke of Orleans and his men were in at Nouarre of the Marchiones of Montferrats death and likewise of Monseur de Vendosmes and how after long deliberation the King enclined to peace to saue those that were besieged Chap. 9. THe King being at Thurin as you haue heard and at Quiers whither he went sometime to solace himselfe attended daily for newes of the Almains whom he had sent for and trauelled to recouer the Duke of Milan whose freindship he much desired neither cared he greatly for the Duke of Orleans successe who began now to be sore distressed for victuals and wrote daily for succours bicause the enimies were approched neerer the towne Besides that their force was increased with a thousand Almain horsemen and eleuen thousand footemen called launce Knights leuied in the King of Romaines dominions the horsemen being led by Master Frederic Capelare of the countie of Ferrette a valiant knight who long had been trained vp both in Fraunce and Italy and the footemen by a couragious knight of Austriche called Master George d'Abecfin 1 the selfe same that tooke Saint Omer for the King of Romaines The King therefore seeing his enimies forces daily to increase and that no honorable end could be made was aduised to remooue to Verceil there to deuise some way to saue the Duke of
with him We alleaged many reasons to perswade him thereunto saying that by this meanes the peace should be fully confirmed but he gaue foorth diuers reasons to the contrarie and refused so to do excusing himselfe vpon certaine speeches vttered by Monseur de Ligny who had aduised to take him prisoner when he was with the King at Pauia and likewise by the Cardinall who had all the credit with the King But notwithstanding that many foolish words were indeede spoken I know not by whom yet sure I am that at this present the King greatly desired his friendship He was in a place called Bolie and agreed to speake with the King so that a grate might be betweene them built vpon a bridge ouer a riuer Vpon receipt of which answer the King departed to Quiers where he staied but a night or two and then tooke his iourney to passe ouer the mountaines and sent me againe to Venice and others to Genua to cause the two ships to be manned 2 which the Duke of Milan was bound to lende him but he performed no whit of that he promised for after the King had beene at great charges in arming of men to the said ships the Duke would not let them depart but on the contrarie side sent two to our enimies The Notes 1 This treatie of Verceil was concluded the 9. of October 2 The Duke was bound to arme these ships but the King would haue manned them with his owne men How the King sent the Lord of Argenton to Venice with certaine conditions of peace which they refused and of the Duke of Milans false dealings Chap. 12. MY ambassage to the Venetians was to know whether they would accept the peace and agree to these three articles First to restore Monopoly to the King which they had lately woon from vs 1 Secondarily to reuoke the Marquesse of Mantua and the forces they had in the realme of Naples from King Ferrandes seruice Lastly to declare King Ferrande to be none of their confederates bicause none were comprehended in their league but the Pope the King of Romans the King of Spaine and the Duke of Milan When I arriued at Venice they receiued me very honorably though not so honorably as at my former being there and no maruell for then we were in peace but now in hostilitie I did my message to the Duke who welcommed me and told me that shortly I should receiue mine answer but that he would first consult with the Senate Three daies they commanded generall processions and publike sermons and dealt great almes desiring God of his grace to direct them into the wisest course which maner of proceeding as I was there informed they vse ordinarily in such like cases Wherefore I must needes confesse that this citie seemed to me the most deuout as touching matters of religion that euer I came in and their Churches the best decked and trimmed so that heerin I account them equall with the ancient Romanes and amfully perswaded that thereof springeth the greatnes of their Seniorie which sure is woorthie rather to increase than diminish But to returne to mine ambassage I abode there fifteene daies before I was dispatched The answer I receiued was a refusall of all my demaunds with this excuse that they were not in war with the King neither had done any thing but in defence of their confederate the Duke of Milan whom the King sought to destroy Afterward they caused the Duke to commune with me apart who offered me a good composition to wit that King Ferrande by the Popes consent should hold the realme of Naples of the King by homage and pay him yeerely fiftie thousand ducats for tribute and a certaine summe of monie presently the which they offered to lend meaning to haue in gage for it the places which they now hold in Pouille namely Brandis Otrante Trani and the rest And further that for performance of these conditions the said Dom Ferrande should deliuer to the King or leaue in his hands certaine towns in Pouille they meant Tarente which the King yet held and one or two more that the said Ferrande should haue deliuered which townes they offered vs on that side of Italie bicause it was the furthest from vs notwithstanding that they pretended the offer to be bicause they stood commodiously to inuade the Turke whereof the King had put men in great hope at his first entrie into Italie saying that he attempted this conquest of Naples to the end he might with the more expedition transport his forces against the said Turke which was a wicked deuice and a meere lie for he meant nothing lesse but from God no man can hide his thoughts Moreouer the Duke of Venice offered me that if the King would attempt any thing against the Turke he should haue free accesse to these places aboue named that all Italy should be contributors to the wars that the King of Romanes should inuade also on the other side and that the King and they would gouerne Italie in such sort that no man should refuse to pay that he should be rated at and further that they for their part would aide him vpon their owne proper costs and charges with an hundred gallies vpon the sea and fiue thousand horses vpon the land I tooke my leaue of the Duke and the Seniorie saying that I would make report of their answer to the King Then returned I to Milan and found the Duke at Vigesue and the Kings ambassador with him who was one of the Stewards of his house named Rigaut Dorelles The Duke came foorth himselfe to meete me vnder colour of going a hunting for they vse there to receiue ambassadors with great reuerence and lodged me in his castle very honorably I desired to commune with him apart and he promised that I should so do though halfe against his will as it seemed The castle of Naples held yet for the King wherefore I meant earnestly to presse him for the two ships promised vs by the treatie of Verceil the which were readie to depart he in outward apparance seeming-willing thereunto But Peron of Basche Steward of the Kings house and Stephen de Neues who were at Genua for the King so soone as they vnderstood of my arriuall at Vigesue wrote vnto me complaining of the Duke of Milans falshood who would not suffer the two ships to depart which he had promised vs but on the contrary side had sent two to aide our enimies They aduertised me further that one day the gouernor of Genua made them answere that he would not suffer the saide ships to be manned with any French men and another day that he would put into each of them but fiue and twentie at the most with diuers such like dissimulations dalliyng and delaying the time till the castle of Naples were yeelded which the Duke knew well to be victualled but for a moneth or little more And as touching the armie that the King leuied in Prouence it was not
able to succour the castle without these two ships for the enimies lay before it with a great Nauie as well of their owne as of the Venetians and the King of Spaines Three daies I abode with the Duke and one day he sate in counsell with me seeming to be discōtented that I misliked his answer touching the said ships and alleaged that by the treatie of Verceil he had promised to serue the King with two ships but not that they should be manned with French men Whereunto I answered that this seemed to me a verie slender excuse for if he should lend me a good mule to passe the mountaines withall and afterward make me lead hir in my hand and not to ride vpon hir but looke vpon hir onely what pleasure did he me After much debating he and I withdrew our selues into a gallery where I declared vnto him what great paines both I and others had taken to conclude this treatie of Verceil and into how great danger he brought vs by contrariyng thus his promise and causing the King by that meanes to lose these castles and consequently the whole realme whereby he should also ingender perpetuall hatred between the King and him Further I offered him the Princedome of Tarente and the Duchie of Bary the which Duchie he held already Lastly I shewed him the danger he put both himselfe and the whole estate of Italy into by suffering the Venetians to hold these places in Pouille 2 And he confessed I said true especially touching the Venetians but his last resolution was that he could finde no faith nor assurance with the King After this communication I tooke my leaue of him he accompaning me vpon the way about a league But euen at our very departure he deuised yet a cunningerly than all the rest if a man may vse such termes of a Prince for bicause I seemed to depart sad and Melancholick he said vnto me as a man suddenly altered that he would do me a friendly turne to the end the King might haue good cause to welcom me for the next day he would send Master Galeas to Genua more I could not wish when he named him to me to cause the two ships to depart and ioine with our armie by meanes whereof he would saue the King the castle of Naples and consequently the whole realme as he should indeed if he had done as he promised He said further that immediately after their departure he would aduertise me thereof with his owne hand to the end I might be the first man that should bring newes to the King of this great seruice that I had done him adding also that the Courrier should ouertake me with his letters before my arriuall at Lyons In this good hope departed I and tooke my iourney to passe the mountaines thinking euerie Poste that came after me to be the same that should haue brought me these letters Notwithstanding I doubted somewhat thereof knowing the nature of the man so well as I did But to proceed in my voiage I came to Chambery where I found the Duke of Sauoy who honorably entreated me and staied me with him a day Afterward I arriued at Lyons without my Courrier to make report to the King of all that I had done whom I found banketting and iusting and wholy giuen to sport and pastime Those that had misliked this treatie of Verceil were glad that the Duke of Milan had thus deluded vs for their credit increased thereby but me they potted at as in such cases is vsuall in Princes courts greatly to my griefe and discontentment I made report to the King by mouth and shewed him also in writing the Venetians offers aboue rehearsed whereof he made small account and the Cardinall who gouerned all much lesse But that notwithstanding I mooued it to him afterward againe for me thought it better to accept this offer then to lose all Besides that the King had no men about him able to deale in so waightie an enterprise 3 for those that were able and of experience they that had all the credit neuer or very seldome called to counsell in any matter The King would gladly they should oftner haue beene called but he feared to displease those that were of authority about him especially those that gouerned his treasure namely the said Cardinall and his brethren and kinsmen Wherefore let all other Princes learne by the example of this how fit and conuenient it is for themselues to take paines in the gouerning of their owne affaires at the least sometimes how requisite it is to call more than one or two to counsell according to the varietie of the matters that are debated and how necessarie it is to hold their counsellors almost in equall authority for if one of them be so great that the rest feare him as one was both then and euer since about King Charles he is King and Lord in effect and the Prince himselfe is euill serued as this King was by his gouernors who sought onely their owne profit and little regarded his whereby himselfe was the lesse esteemed and the worse thought of The Notes 1 The Venetians hauing sent aide to King Ferrand had won Monopoly and Pulignane Guicciar 2 For King Ferrand since King Charles his departure had in ingaged to the Venetians 6. townes in Pouille vnder certaine conditions which are rehearsed heerafter cap. 14. 3 He meaneth the enterprise of succouring the castle of Naples How the King after his returne into Fraunce forgot those that he left behinde him in the realme of Naples and how the Daulphin died whose death the King and Queen much lamented Chap. 13. I Returned to Lyons the yeere 1495. the twelfe of December where the King was already arriued with his army a yeere and two moneths after his departure out of his realme The castles of Naples held yet for him as before you haue heard and Monseur de Montpensier his lieutenant there was yet at Salerne in the realme of Naples with the Prince of Salerne likewise Monseur de Aubigny was yet in Calabria where he had done great seruice notwithstanding that he had been sicke almost euer since the Kings departure Master Gracien des Guerres was yet also in l' Abruzzo Dom Iulian at Montsaint-Ange and George of Suly at Tarente but they were all so distressed as a man would not beleeue Besides that they could hardly receiue any newes or letters out of Fraunce and those few they did receiue were but lies and faire promises without effect For the K. as you haue heard they dispatched nothing himselfe and if it had beene furnished in time but of the sixte part of the money that was spent afterward they had neuer lost the realme But in the end when all was yeelded they receiued forty thousand ducats onely for part of a yeeres pay already passed and yet if this small summe had come but a moneth sooner the miseries and diuisions they afterward fell into and the dishonor they receiued