he was freed from taxes Necessitie in whose schoole hee had learned great experience dispenst with him for the obseruations which are made in the choice of souldiers These were called Franke Archers who being well led did great seruices being able to indure all paine as beeing bred vp in discommodities and wants without cunning or malice They beganne their profession at the siege of Vernon The defects which are obserued in the life of this Prince as the griefes of Kings n The raignes of Princes doe not continue and end alwaies as they haue begdnne The first fiue yeares of Neroes raigne were iust Constant was good ten yeares cruell twelue and prodigall ten doe not alwaies incounter ends like vnto their beginnings His loues and his diuersions could not hinder it but that France hath giuen him the well deserued title of Victorious The end of the first Booke THE CONTENTS OF the Second BOOKE 1 KIng Lewis his going into France His entrie and Coronation at Rheims 2 The Duke of Bourgundy doth him homage and followes him at his entrie into Paris magnificence of the Parisians vpon this occasion 3 Estate of the Kings affaires with Pope Pius the second Reuocation of the Pragmatique Sanction 4 Discontent of the Noblemen of the Realme vpon the Kings first actions An obseruation of his Humors 5 His voyage and designes in Brittanny 6 Oppression of the people by new inuentions of Subsedies 7 Strange and furious reuolutions in England betwixt the houses of Lancaster and Yorke 8 Edward the fourth expels Henry the sixt King of England 9 Hee seeks to marry the Queene of France her Sister and takes a widdow in England 10 The King goes to Bourdeaux and there treates a marriage betwixt his Sister and the Earle of Foix. 11 Troubles betweene the Crownes of Castill and Arragon The Earledome of Rousilion engaged to the King 12 The Kings of Castille and Arragon referre their differences to the King 13 Enteruiew of the Kings of France and Castille vpon the Riuer of Vidaazo 14 The King returnes to Paris redeemes the Townes vpon the Riuer of Somme and visits the Frontiers 15 The Duke of Bourgundy comes to the King at Lisle to demaund his aduise touching a voyage which he pretended to make against the Turke 16 Ariuall of Lewis Duke of Sauoy at Paris 17 The King declareth his pretentions vpon the soueraigne rights of Brittany 18 The Earle of Charrolois stayes the Bastard of Rupembrâ— at the Haage 19 Ambassadors from the King to the Duke of Bourgundy vpon diuers complaints 20 The Duke of Bourbon first author of the league of the common weale Death of Charles Duke of Orleans 21 Charles Duke of Berry the Kings brother retires into Brittany 22 His Letters to the Duke of Bourgundy and his declaration vpon the taking of Armes 23 Death of Pope Pius the second to whom succeeded Paul the second a Venetian THE HISTORY of LEVVIS the XI THE SECOND BOOKE A Death which brings Scepters Crownes 1461 doth not alwaies meete with sorrow and teares When there is a question of the succession of the Realme An heyres teares are sone dried vppe a desire to raigne doth presently dry vp the teares which the law of Nature drawes from the eyes a There is no water whose spring is sooner dryed vp then that which flowes from a profitable mourning Lewis longed too much to be at home to be grieued when as they brought him newes that Charles the seuenth had quit him the lodging Hee had already spent two third parts of his age in obeying hee held the rest very short to command and to end at in great enterprises worthy of his qualitie b Life is very short for great entrriprises and inconstancie makes it much shorter Hee entertained the Iuie of his hopes in the ruines of this old building he did not hope for any light but by the ecclipse of this Sunne and his vowes were no let that his Father was not already among the God c The Romans held their Fathers dead in the number of the Gods and their Images were reuerenced as persons deysied Wherfore among the predictions which Antonin had of his adoption and successim to the Empire they note that In somrio saepe monitus suit penatibus suis Adriani simulacrum inserere Capitol Hee was often admonished in his sleepe that hee should place Adrians Image among his boushould Gods And what can a Kings eldest Son desire but to raigne euery obiect lesse theÌ„ a crown is vnworthy of his birth Lewis comes into France but the wishes are vnnaturall monstrous vpon vniust effects To desire for a crownes cause the death of him of whom he holds his life is ingratitude impiety The same day that Charles dyed Lewis was aduertised of his death d They that haue written that these newes were sent by Charles Duke of Aniou Father in lawe to Charles the seuenth are mistaken both in the name and matter for Lewis Duke of Anion liued since the yeare 1417. He went presently to horse to goe into France fearing least Charles his brother should make his profit of his absence The Duke of Bourgundy and the Earle of Chartolis accompany him with foure thousand horse chosen out of the flower of all the forces of their Estates and the Princes their friends He makes his entry into Rheims Hee entred into Rheims the fourteeene of August e The King arriued at Rheims the 14. August and caused himself to be annointed the next day A remarkable diligence They cannot goe too speedily to so great a Feast The Duke of Bourgundy being followed by the Earl of Charolois the Earle of Neuers the Earle of Estampes the Duke of Cleues the Earle of S t. Pol and many other Noblemen went out of Rheimes to the Abbcy of Saint Thierry to meet the King being attired in white and crimsin damask vpon a white courser caparonessed with the armes of France The next day he was anoynted and crowned The peeres of the Church were there in person The Duke of Burgundy Deane of the peeres The Duke of Burbon held the place of the Duke of Normandy The Earle of Angolesme for the Duke of Guienne The Earle of Eu for the Earle of Tholousa The Earle of Neuers for the Earle of Flaunders and the Earle of Vandosme for the Earle of Champagne The King is anoinâ—ed and Crowned The ceremony of his coronation was beautified with an other which they found very new and strange The King is anointed and Crowned The King drawing his sword presented it to the Duke of Bourgundy and intreates him to make him Knight He gaue this honour of Knight-hood to an hundred and seauenteene Gentlemen the first were the Lord of Beauieu Iames of Burbon the Earle of Geneua the Earle of Pontieu the Earle of Witembergh Iohn of Luxembergh and to the Marques of Saluces Sonne From the Coronation they went to the Royall feast whereas
many in their obedience and dutie who suffering themselues to be carried away with this torrent of the league Sedition must be bee smothered in the beginning had become fooles for company and by infection For the people is a sea which moues with the winde yet neuer followes if some one goes not before b This beast the people have so many beads that although it hath great terrible forces yet it is base cowardly if it bee not stirred vp and led vultus sine rectore praeceps pauidum socors Tacit. but the number seemed but too great and it had multiplied speedily if the Kings wisedome had not foreseene it Conspiracie in the beginning is like vnto raine which enters into a small cranny on the top of the house and beeing neglected in the end expels the master thereof The King did consider hereof for being aduertised of his brothers retreat he knew well that the partie was made against him if hee did not oppose himselfe That what appeared not might be greater then what was in show and that besides the Princes of his bloud many Catylines had drunke in the same cup the wine and bloud of this conspiracie c Euery conspiracie hath crueltie and bloud hath been taken for the seale oath that bind the conspirators Salust saith that Catylâ—n mingled wine with bloud in a cup and presented it to his associates Iâ—de 〈◊〉 post execrationem omnes degustauissent sieuti in solemnibus sacris fieri consueuit aperuit consiliuâ—â—â—â— His first resolution was to diuide that which hee could not breake Hee sent to the Duke of Bourbon to come vnto him Who for that hee would vse no dissembling a great and powerfull vertue in these corrupted ages would not disguise his intentions nor represent them otherwise in words then they were in his heart He was the first mouer of all these spheares he had first giuen his voice and vowes to this generall reuolt of France he had offered to hang a bell at the Cats necke d In great resolutions there is danger to giue the first voice and hazard to execute that wâ—ich is resolued It is more safe to follow then to leade Insiita mortalibus natura propere sequi quae piget inchoare Tacit. And if they bee reduced to the conduct of an other it must be wâ—th the restraint of his owne wisdome Ne consilâ—is alterius regi recuses Est illius atque esto tuus tuumque serua In poste tuo velle modum in velle alieno when as euery man expected who should dare to doe it and had more desire to end then to begin If hee had made any show of repentance or feare in this beginning the rest which had martcht in his steps would soone haue turned their backes He answered that he had the same designe with the other Princes for the good and profit of the publike weale intreating the King to excuse him if hee came not to Court and for a greater declaration of his will he ceazed vppon the reuenues of Bourbonois and stayed Iuuenall des Vrsines Lord of Traynill Peter of Oriola and the Lord of Crussoll prisoners making it knowne that Ambition hath no other Law then the fancie of the Ambitious and takes away the maske from all respect When the King saw that there was no meanes to reclaime these Princes and that the Duke of Bourgundy was in armes he aduertised all the chiefe noble men of his Realme and wrote vnto the Clergie to the gouernours of Prouinces Letters froÌ„ the K. to the gouernors of the Prouinces and townes to the Magistrates and townes who faint and lose their courage for a little e As a little feare makes the people to faint so a weake hope makes them returne by nature they are fearefull and do not think what they shall doe to indure but to flye the danger that they should not suffer themselues to bee carried away with the false showes of the enemies of the estate who had suborned his brother to ingage France in those desolations from the which it was but newly freed That if they which had suffered themselues to bee abused in this reuolt did not bethinke themselues there wilfulnes would make them vnworthy the clemencie which he offered them That with the grace of God and the fidelitie of his good subiects hee assured himselfe to abate and disperse these bad designes Then considering that this league did consist of those who had sometimes called the English into France f He that hath two enemies must agree with the one the better to preuaile ouer the other The RomaÌ„ns did neuer fight against two Hercules could not do it After the Parthian warre they began that of the Marcomanians They would not breake with Antlochus who had wronged them before they had ended â—ith Philip. to haue a share of the shipwracke The King seeks to the King of England that the old enemies fauouring the new he might fall betwixt the Anuile and the hammer hee sent to the King of England dissembling cunningly the wrong which hee had done him when as in demanding Bonnâ— of Sauoy k Richard Earle of Warwick was sent into France in the yeere 1464. to demand Bonna of Sauoy in mariage of King Lewis the eleuenth for K. Edward The King granted it but during this negotiatiâ—n the King of England fell in loue with a meane gentlewoman widdow to one Grey a Knight Daughter to Richard Riuers and â—aqueline eldest Daughter to Peter of Luxemburgh Earle of S t. Paul the Queenes sister for his wife he had married an other He intreates and coniures him not to assist this new rebellion the which like to a puffe of smoke would vanish as soone as it should begin to rise Edward beeing already engaged to the Duke of Bourgundy let the King vnderstand that he was a sharer with him Edward the fourth declares himselfe for the Burgundian Hee sent the same letters which the King had written vnto him to the Duke of Bourgundy promising to assist him as constantly as his forefathers l Edward the third King of England wâ—nne the battell of Cressy the 26. of August 1346. France lost 1500. Gentlemen all were not slaine but all were defeated The Prince of Wales his Sonne wonne the battell at Pâ—icters ten yeeres after the 9. of September 1356. had done This young Prince felt a boyling desire in his heart to performe that in France which other Kings of his name had done He was glad to finde without the Iland an exercise for turbulent spirits to entertaine and quench that furious heate of fighting m He that commands a warlike Nation must finde exeâ—cise for his soldiers abroad if hee will not suffer them to take it at home There is not saith Tit. Liu. in â—is thirteenth booke anâ— great and mighty Potentate that caâ— leâ—g continue in peace for if â—ee hath not sâ—me enemie abroad hee shall finde
hundred of the most apparent of the Citie are sent in their shirts bare-footed and bare-headed to craue pardon for the rest submitting the Towne vnto his discretion without any other reseruation then from fire and spoile The Duke who knew that a multitude is sooner vanquished by mildnes then by crueltie o Nothing is 〈◊〉 by force 〈◊〉 makes â—em wilde Pâ—â—icles woon the people by the eyes and eares and the belly by Playes Comedies and Feasts granted what they desired but when as he sent Imbercourt to enter into it he found refusall and iniutious words at the gates for the inhabitants were not yet well resolued and feared that the Duke whom they had so offended would not keepe his word and that the Towne should bee subiect to the miseries of fire and spoile He past the night in great perplexities and had much adoe to haue his life and the patience of this people continue vntill day Still these mad men came like violent waues vpon his lodging to cut all them in peeces that were within it and did negotiate this accord Imbercourt busied them with offers of new conditions vpon which they entred into new conferences p In tumultuarie Commotions of a multitude you must rather seeke to win time then to contradict and contest Wise men haue fit occasions to diuert and breake these furiâ—us waues and then suddenly they runne out of their Towne-house to the walles euaporating in iniuries and villanies the heate of their phrensie against their Prince Their rage being rather tired then past about two of the clocke after midnight they were content to yeeld so as they might bee assured from fire and spoile Imbercourt assures them that the composition should bee obserued vpon this assurance they receiue Imbercourt who seazed vpon the gates Walles of Liege beaten downe and set gards there The Duke enters in triumph they beate downe twenty fadomes of the wall to make a breach the Towers beaten downe the walles opened in diuers places new lawes new Impositions and a new world That q A speedy resolution to that which cannot be auoided molifies the paine and to obay voluntarily is to take away that which is rough troublesome in seruitude goodly statue set vp in the publike place as a marke of libertie was transported to Bruges for a fatall memory of this desolation which happened on S. Martins day 1467. vpon which were grauen these Verses Desine sublimes vultus attollere in auras Disce meo casu perpetuum esse nihil Nobilitatis ego Leodis venerabile signum Gentis et in victae gloria nuper eram Sum modo spectaculum ridentis turpe popelli Et testor Caroli me cecidisse manu They of Gand became wise at the cost of them of Liege Gantois profit by them of Liege and passing from a forced obedience to a voluntarie r The Earle of Flanders hauing besieged Gand and refused to take them to mercie if they came not all ioyntly together barefooted in their shirts to demand it made theÌ„ resolu to sally out vpoÌ„ him fiue thousand beeing led by Philip of Artauelle deâ—eated 40000. men and entred pel-mel with them into Bruges The Earle was hidden in a poore womans garret and led out of the Towne in a disguised habit they found the yoake more easie The Duke entred there with great pompe and the Gantois acknowledging their fault went as farre as Bruxelles to meete him presenting vnto him the seuenty two Banners of the trades for the which they had made that famous mutinie after the death of Duke Philip and which had beene formerly taken from them they submitted their priuiledges to his discretion payed 30000. Florins to the Duke and 6000. to them that were about him neither had they so good an issue of their reuolt as in the time of Arteuelle s Yet their priuiledges were confirmed except that which they call of the Law by the which of six and twentie Aldermen they had the election of two and twentie and the Duke of foure onely which caused such ordinarie mutinies and reuolts in the Towne calling none to publike charges but such as were of this furious and mutinous humor who held the hearts of the Citizens so diuided as one should sooner haue ioined together the peeces of a broken Christall then the designes of their mindes He sent the Banners to Bullen vpon the sea to accompanie those which his father had caused to bee layed there in remembrance of the like rebellion Hee made his entrie into Gand armed and victorious Entry of the D. of Buâ—â—gundy 〈◊〉 Gand. The Kings Embassadors came thither vnto him to intreat him not to meddle with the affaires of Brittanie nor Normandie winter was spend in these conferences but the King not able to temporize any longer nor to giue time vnto his enemies to ioyne together enters into Brittany and takes Chantoce with Ancenis The Duke of Bourgundy aduanced to S. Quentin to succour his Allies Treatie of the Duke of Berrie and Brittanie The King held them so short as he made them resolue to treat with him and laying aside their interest t It is certaine there is not any one of whome we may not obtaine what wee desire if he bee not thereby interessed howsoeuer the publike be interessed he drawes from them a renonciation of all Alliance with the Duke of Bourgundy Hee would not haue it said that he was armed to doe nothing for one enemie hee makes three He was wonderfully incensed against the King who alwaies prepared him such bankets and was discontented with the Dukes of Normandie and Brittanie who had made an accord without him terming them faint-hearted and without iudgement The King made him cease his Armes for sixscore thousand crownes which he gaue him the which he did accept the more willingly for that hee desired to enioy in quiet the first contents of his marriage with the Lady Margaret u Margaret Daughter to Rich of York Sister to the K. of England was married to Duke Charles in Iuly 1468. Shee made her entry into Bruges beeing conducted by six Knights Adolphe of Cleues Iames of Luxemburg Anthony Bastard of Bourgundy Peter of Baufremont Earle of Charny Philip Pot and Philip of Creuecoeur of Yorke Sister to King Edward who was come to Bruges The King sent Cardinal Balue and Taneguy of Chastell vnto him to haue his consent vnto an interuiew thinking that if hee might speake with him hee would wholly draw him from the Protection of the D. of Brittanie with whom he was discontented and would not regard that of the Duke of Normandie which was more hurtfull then profitable vnto him The Duke tooke no taste in this enteruiew beeing as he said well aduertised that the King had sent his Embassadors to them of Liege to sollicite them to a new reuolt Balue and du Chastell let the Duke vnderstand that the Liegeois had been so handled the last yeare
Queene being Imperious high minded proud sent him the choice either to go assaile her in her owne countrey where she would attend him or that he would stay in his owne and she would go vnto him to say vnto him If thou comest not I will goe that euery one followed the strangers fortune they sent a great Embassage vnto the king consisting of many Noble-men and of all the orders of the Countrey among which were William Hugonet her Chancellor and the Lord of Himbercourt the dukes chiefe seruants they found the king at Peronne where he had made his entry and present the Princesses letters vnto him who besought him to protect her rather then oppresse her as hauing the honour to come out of the House of France and rather consider the pittifull estate of her present Condition and Sexe the which besides was subiect to the Councels and Authority of passionate Men then the respects of his owne priuate Interest That all subiects of Hatred and Offence should bee buried in the Tombe of Duke Charles her Father z When 〈◊〉 the Supreame Authority lights vpon a woman she must of necessity bee supported with great and eminet vertues with a generous courage and a wise conduct to gouern her selfe vpon the first refusall discontētments grow and then factions Simon Rosgon Bishop of Agria demanded of Q. Elizabeth daughter to Sygismond and wise to Albert King of Hungary the Arch-bishoprick of Strigonia to whom shee answered Whilst I raigne you shall not haue it and he replied as long as I liue you shal not raign and they both kept their words That it was piety for a great Prince her Kinsman and Soueraigne to defend her in her Countries and Estates whereunto she succeeded according to the Lawes and Ordinances of Kings his Predecessors and in the end that she was resolued to referre her affaires to the good gouernment of foure persons of the Dowager her Mother Sister to King Edward of England of Rauasteen brother to the Duke of Cleues her neere kinsman of Hugonet her Chancellour and of the Lord of Himbercourt The King gaue them good words The King winnes the Princesses Embassadors and hauing entertained euery Deputy a part following the first precept not to force all at once but to pull of the horses taile haire by haire a To shew that perseuerance cōtinuance doth by little and little preuaile ouer all things Sertorious caused two horses to be brought the one leane feeble and old the other fat and strong behind the leaner he set a strong and mighty man and behind the other a slender weake one a signe being giuen the strong man tooke the leane horse by the taile and sought with all his force to pull it of but he laboured and sweate in vaine The weake man who was behind the great horse began to pull it haire by haire and soone stript it without any paine Plu. Hee drew the cheife of them to be at his deuotion vpon the assurance of the marrying of his sonne with their Mistresse Hugonet hauing all his lands in Picardy towards Amiens and Himbercourt in Bourgundy giue themselues vnto him and for the first proofe of their affection they dispose Phillip of Creuecoeur Lord of Cordes to open the gates of Arras vnto him holding him freed from his oath to the Princesse They thought that if this marriage tooke effect there were nothing to be diuided betwixt the house of France and Bourgundy Vpon the same opinion Townes yeelded to the King Hedin Therouenne and Monstreuill yeeld b That which the Ancients called Gessoriacum is at this day named by the French Bologne by the English Bollen and by the Flemings Beunen Beatus Rhenatus saith that he had seene an old Inscription where were these words Gessoriacum quod nune Bononia Bulloine did not beleeue so lightly it endured a Battry the King entred and finding this Towne fit for the fortification of the frontiers as it hath bene alwaies famous on either side the Sea he compounded with Bertrand de la Tour who was Lord in propriety and as the new Lord he did homage without Girdle or Spurres bare-head and on his knees to the Virgin Mary offering as a right and duty vnto her image a Hart of Massiue Gold weighing two thousand Crownes Boloigne vnder the Virgine Maries homage vpon condition that from thence-forth he and his successors Kings should hold the Earledome of Bulloine of the Virgine should do her homage and at euery change of a Vassall should pay a Hart of pure Gold of that weight Thus the Princesse of Flanders Arras besieged saw herselfe forced to quite that which she could not keepe c It is better to quite that which we cannot keepe then to loose it in keeping it Phillip of Macedon did willlingly abandon many places vnto the Romanes and a great continent of his Country which he saw he could not defend rather then to be seene to haue lost it vnwillingly So after the Battell of Cannes the Romanes refused to succour many of their Allies desiring rather to loose them then to be blamed for that they were not able to defend them T. Liu. Dec. 4. yet the King held nothing of Arras but the Citty which de Cordes had deliuered vnto him and wherein he remained Gouernour The Lord of Lude defeated the Horsemen which they of Doway had sent and in this Encounter Vergy was taken and remained a whole yeare prisoner in chaines for that he would not be sworne vnto the King protesting obstinately that he could not cease to be seruant to the house of Bourgundy nor begin to affect that of France d It is dishonorable rashly to fall from the duty which we owe vnto the Prince L. Maenius an Officer to Augustus being carried prisoner to M. Anthony he demāded of him What wilt thou shall bee done with thee that they strangle mee answered Maeniu◠forneither for grace nor punishmēt will I euer cease to be Caesars souldiour neither will I beginne to be yours They of the Towne seeing themselues prest demanded a Pasport of the Bastard of Bourbon Admirall of France for two or three and twenty Deputies vnder colour of going to Bollen to treat with the King They go forth with this pasport but being followed and surprised vpon the way to Flanders they were led to Hedin and by a sentence giuen by the Prouost condemned to loose their heads the King arriuing vpon the execution staid it Princes alwaies cause punishments to cease when they are in presence They told him that among them that were executed there was a Parisian called Oudard of Bussy to whom he had giuen the office of a Maister of Accompts in the chamber at Arras Hee caused his head to bee set vpon a stake in the Market-place wearing a scarlet hood furred with Meneuer Arras yeelded by composition A breach being made an assault valiantly giuen basely defended Arras yeelded by composition the
of all the other members The complaints of the Rigor d When as the people are opprest they dare not accuse the Princes rigor but cast their complaints vpoÌ„ that of the time of the time became murmurings against the seueritie of the Prince Euery one lamented the Raigne of Charles and desired rather the end then the continuance of that of Lewis Great men beganne to make it knowne that they could not liue long in that seruitude shewing themselues more sencible of the contempt e The nature of man is more sensible of contempt then of losse The Senators of Rome were more discontented for that Caesar entred into the Senate without saluting them then for the enterprise which hee made vpon their libertie which was done them then of the miseries which the meaner sort suffered yet they found no better pretext of their priuate interest then that of the publike The King did not attend the consent of the Realme to haue money hee tooke it without asking They were not tributes of Loue f Princes finde pleasing names for things which are bittâ—r and hard Edward the fourth in posed vpoÌ„ the Realme of England a tribute which hee called a Bâ—â—euolenâ—â— Euerie one did contribute as hee pleased and according to his gifts they did iudge of his Loue to the King He that gaue much loued much Edward made vse of this tribute against the French found great succors Polid. lib. 24. 26. but of Rigour and constraint thinking that France was a meadow which he might mowe at all seasons A great sedition troubled the citie of Rheimes against those which had raised customes The Commissaries were slaine and their Commissions cast into the fire The King sent Souldiers disguised like Marchants and labourers who entring by diuers ports ioined with the Lord of Mouy their commander who caused a hundreth of the most seditious to bee hanged suppressed the sedition g The most frequent and knowne causes of sedition and mutenâ— grâ—w from new charges and excessiue impositions reuenged the Kings seruice and setled his authoritie there the which had not beene impugned but for the naturall impatiencie of the people to endure that whereunto they were not accustomed All France was quiet Combustions in England and beheld as from the shore the tempests which were in England and Arragon The King was glad to entertaine the warre farre from him and to assist the house of Lancaster in England and the house of Arragon in Spaine whiles that the clouds and windes prepared to draw the storme vpon his owne head England for the diuision of the houses of Yorke Lancaster saw at that time such terrible changes and accidents as it is a wonder the Realme did not passe vnder some forraine command and that they did not cry quittance with him seeing there is no surer meanes to ruine an estate then ciuill discord h Ciuill Diuisions transport and change estates Spaine vnder the raigne of fourescore and twelue Kings hath beene torne in as many peeces as it hath had Realmes France hath changed thrice England hath been commanded by the English Danes Saxons and in the end by the Normans The Empire hath been past from the East vnto the West Naples hath been vnder the power of the French Germans Arragâ—nois and since of Castitians But France had yet so many bad humors in her body as her disposition was more dying then liuing When as the English ceast to afflict her they began to quarrell and to ruine one another The end of forraine warres was the spring and renewing of ciuil Henry of Lancaster sonne to Henry the fift found himselfe without a crowne notwithstanding that in his infancie he had been crowned with that of France and England Richard Duke of Yorke an Ambitious Prince and who had both credit courage i Good things and which are commendable of themselues applied to il are perâ—itions Sepius industria acvigilancia noxiae quoties parando Regno fingatur Tac. lib. An. lib. â— industrie and vigilancie qualities to bee suspected in an Ambitious spirit became head of a great faction the intentions whereof he couloured with the onely zeale of the publicke good to change the bad gouernement of the Realme to deliuer England from the insolencie of the Duke of Somerset who alone gouerned the helme of the affaires whilest that the King suffered his spirits to be transported not to delights and voluptuousnes but to carelesnes k An idle Prince is a waies contemned Three things saith Zeâ—ophon make him excell ouer his subiects 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His carelesse life incensed his subiects hearts and his idlenes distasted all men of his raigne The estate was like vnto a sicke body which is so prest with his infirmitie as he is forced to trust him that comes to let him bloud and cannot attend the Phisitions which are farre off l In violent diseases wee may not attend far fetcht remedies although they answere him that they will come and cure him Such as were discontented with the present Conspiracy against King Henry the sixt and desired to see some change applyed them-selues to the Duke of Yorks desseigns and intentions and among others Richard Neuell Earle of Salisbury and Richard Neuill Earle of Warwick his brother who had wisdome and courrage rare parties for a great desseigne and therewith such great credit among the people as it was thought that not any one in England durst doe that which these would vndertake The Duke of Yorke hauing cast his bell made the sound thereof to be generally heard hee strake such a terror into the Court and made the wicked so audacious as the King who had neuer tasted of Domesticke troubles his spirit beeing like vnto a ship m Courages tried in dangers are to bee commended A ship is neuer esteemed which hath neuer felt of a storme which had neuer sailed but in a calme was amazed and confounded and not holding himselfe safe in the Citie of London by reason of the inconstancie of the people and the great credit which this faction had gotten resolued to leaue it The Duke of Yorke besieged S t. Albons n The battell of S t. Albons began early in the morning and continued vntil 9. of the clock in the yere 1556 Edmund D. of Sommerset and Henry Earle of NorthumberlaÌ„d were slaine the two armies meet Henry the sixt defeated and the Kings is put to rout with the losse of their chiefe commanders Hee lamented greatly for the Death of the Duke of Sommerset After this victorie the Duke of Yorke who had made declaration thâ—t hee had no other intention then the publicke good of the Realme and that his armes were not to offend the Prince accompanies King Henry to London as a Conqueror and freed from the Rule of the Duke of Sommerset which shewes that he had not taken armes but to free the King and the Realme who was ready
which belonged vnto him The Parlament did then consider the iustice not the fortune and respected the Maiesty of the King though hee were a prisoner intreating the King to rest satisfyed with the Regency of the Realm and to assure the succession to his house after the death of Henry He accepted the declaration of the Parlament but considering that Queene Margaret had a great Army on foot to set her husband at liberty Battell at Wakefield he resolued to fight with her He gaue her battell at Wakefield against the aduise of his Councell who intreated him to stay vntill the troupes which his sonne Edward Earle of March brought him were arriued Presumption troubleth his spirits with a motion contrary to that of Reason which should haue diswaded him from fighting y The violence of courage is dangerous vppon the point of a battell for it darkens the clearenes of Iudgement doth easily change it to the trouble of reason and to that perturbation which the Philosoph call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â— Some haue written that the Queene caused the head of the Duke of York to bee cut off carrying a Crowne of paper others say it was the Lord Cliffords deed for their forces were not equall although in the courage of the Commanders there was no other difference but that of sexe No no it shall not be said that the Duke of York who had so often fought in France without any other trench or defence then his owne armes is shut vp that he attends a woman and doth not go forth to fight with her He spake this and went forth with 5000. men and met her The Combate in the beginning was terrible and furious The Queen cuts off the Earle of Salisburies head The Queene shewed her selfe among the troupes exhorting the Souldiers to honour glory Richard Duke of York was slaine Richard Earle of Salisbury whose head soon after the Commons who hated him cut off the which with many others of the same faction was set vpon the walles of York to bee a terror and an example to other Rebells After this victory the Queene whose courage was eleuated vppon the apprehension of all sorts of dangers 2. Battell at St. Albons and who held them lesse then the captiuity of her husband resolues to loose her life or to restore him to liberty She goes directly to London and comming to S. Albons she encounters the Earle of Warwick who aduanced to succour his generall with the same courage that she had defeated the Duke of Yorke shee chargeth the Earle of Warwick puts him to rout and frees the King a The excellency of courage shewes it selfe when as the soule is carried beyond all showes and apprehensions of dangers fortitudo contemptrix est timendorum Senec. Epi. 89. Edward Earle of March being aduertised of the death of the Duke of York his father refused not to tread in his steppes and to imbrace the toile Edward Earle of March succeeds the Duke of York his father in his authority from whence he expected his greatnes and glory He staid in the Prouince of Wales and expelled Iasper Earle of Pembrooke The Earle of Warwick ioyned with him and with all their forces he came to London where he was receiued with incredible ioy and acclamations He was one of the goodliest Princes of his time and in great reputation his bounty courage and liberality were powerfull charmes to winne mens hearts the English thinking that hauing him they had all and that their felicity was tyed to the long continuance of his Raigne b A Prince can desire no greater proofes of the affection of his people then when hee beleeues that nothing can saile him so as hee faile not them From thence are come these goodly acclamations Augusto Constantine Dâ—te nobis seruent vestra salus nostra salus â—od Theod lib. 7. tit 20. In te omnia per te omnia Antonine habemus A El. Lamprid Dion reports an excellent one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we haue all in hauing you He is proclaimed King and for that hee would haue no companion in his royalty hee resolues to fight with King Henry and marched directly to York lodging in a little village called Touton Henry being prepared to receiue him would not shew himselfe for that it was Palme sunday desiring to spend that day in the seruice of God but the souldiers seeing themselues so neere would not referre the partie vntill the next day They come to hands the combat continued tenne howers and the victory hauing beene long doubtfull and in ballance betwixt both Armies sodainely inclined to Edward The King and Queene seeing all their troopes put to flight they saued themselues in Scotland with their seruants c The Regent of Scotland led K. Iames the third to meet with King Henry the 6. and Q. Margaret The good reception with the succor which he receiued caused him to restore Barwick to the Realm of Scotland and from thence Margaret passed into France to her father to demand succors Henry the 6. flies into Scotland Edward returned triumphing to London and caused himselfe to be crowned King at Westminster the 28. of Iune 1461. he called a Parlement where all that had bene decreed by King Henry the sixt was reuoked After that Henry had gathered together some forces in Scotland he returnes into England being followed by a great number of his ould seruants The Iustice of his cause gaue him good hope d Hee that hath reason on his side is alwaies accompanied with good hope hee pursues his quarrell with more courage and assurance be exposeth himselfe to all dangers and his subiects serue and succour him more willingly and in all accidents the iustice of his cause doth comfort him but he was repulsed with great dishonor by Iohn Marques of Mountague King Edward beeing aduertised of the practises of Margaret both in France Scotland and England to restore her husband to his crowne he sets guards vpon the Ports and passages of Scotland to stop her entrie but as there is no miserie more insupportable then the remembrance of what we haue been King Henry bare this change of condition so impatiently as not apprehending the danger neither of his life nor of his first captiuitie and not considering that fortune had neuer done him so much good but might doe him more harme e Miseries doe but begin when as they seeme to end There is not any man but may haue more harme then hee hath had good Neminem eo Fortuna pronexit vt non tantum illi minaretur quantum permiserat Sen. Epi. 4. he returned into England in a disguised habite where hee was discouered taken and presented to Edward Hen. the sixt put into the Tower of London who lodged him in the Tower of London If he had thought that he had gone forth as hee did to get the crowne hee would haue giuen him one of copper made fast
reciued shall bee maâ—e ready and laid before the Kings sâ—at vppon a Carpet of Crimson Tâ—ffata or Saâ—ten hanging dâ—wne at either â—nd and the said coller â—obes shall bee perfumed with incense after that the Preest hath perfumed the Altar Art 82. of the amplifying the Statutes of the Order in the yeaar 1476. hauing his hands vpon the Crosse and the holy Euangill which done the said Knight newly chosen shall come reuerently before the Soueraigne The Kings words in giuing the Coller who taking the Coller of the Order shall put it about his necke saying or causing these words to bee said The Order receaues you into this amiable company 〈◊〉 token thereof giues you this present Coller God graunt you may carry it long to his glory and seruice aduancement of the holy Church and increase of the honor of the Order and of your merrits and good â—ame In the name of the Father the Sonne and holy Ghost whereunto the said Knight shall say Amen God giue mee the grace After which the eldest Knight shall lead the said Knight newly receiued vnto the Soueraigne who shall kisse him in signe of perpetuall loue and in like maner all the Knights that are present shall doe the same in order Bonds of Knights reciprocall Besides this the knights are bound to certaine respects one towards another They did promise at their entrie into the Order to serue the King as their head in all occasions both within and without the Realme and the King did promise to maintaine them in their goods Lewis the elâ—uenth bound himselfe not to vndertake any warre nor any other matter of importance without making iâ— knowne to the Knights of the order lands and estates as his Bretheren and companions and not to attempt any warre without their aduise Hee thought to hold those hearts which had been distracted fast bound vnto him but infidelity was so bold and so contagious as all the respects of honor and conscience were too weake to restraine her from drawing them from their dueties who say the lawes of their birth were most bound vnto it It was a difficult thing for good men to bridle themselues from running into ill so licentious was the time To doc well when as vertue raignes good men are honored is ordinary and easie but not to suffer himselfe to bee infected with the corruptians of the time but to haue a good intent to dare vndertake it and effect it in a bad season is the true signe of a generous spirit and so hard a matter it is to do well when as euery man glories in doing ill and that crimes become examples and customes Iohn Duke of Bourbon continued his intelligence with the Duke of Bourgondy and aduertised him of what the King practised vppon the Townes in Picardy The Constable vsed all his practises betwixt the two Princes Intelligences continued betwixt Bourgondy and Bourâ—on fearing that if the Kings Choller found not some subiect to worke vppon abroad it would fall vppon the neerest that were about him That a long peace would cut off the entertainment of his soldiers making him vnproffitable to the King and without reputation in the realme promising vnto himselfe that whilst the warre continued hee should gouerne all The perpetuity of his charge which could haue no other end but with his life held him not in those apprehensions wherewith their mindes are troubled which hold them as a Wolfe by the eare u Charges which are aboue others should be short least they should grow insupportable and insolâ—nt Those which are but temporary hold them that enioy them in ther duties and the perpetuall makes them forgetfull Peace alone makes a ciuill warre in his soule wherefore he assures the King that when he pleased hee would recouer him St. Quentin by the meanes of some places which he held about it and would speedily execute the intelligences which he had in Flanders and Brabant Warre beeing concluded by the Estates at Tours Wars proclaimed it was as soone begun as proclaimed The Duke being at Gand receiued the Citation to appeare in person at the Court of Parliament who caused the Vsher of the Court to be imprisoned hauing adiourned him as hee was going to Masse and beeing madde to see himselfe made equall to the meanest of the Realme he resolued to appeare with his sword in his hand and to transport the warre as neere his Iudges as hee could The Kings practises began then to breake forth many declared themselues French Baldwine Bastard of Bourgundy retired himselfe vnto the Kings seruice The Duke is surprised The Duke of Brittanie had made an accord with him x Accord of the D. of Brittanie with the King at Anceâ—is the 18. of September 1468. The Duke of Guienne was satisfied and if hee could not haue all that hee desired hee was content with that which did suffice him y The ease of great Princes must be considered by their coÌ„tent They haue but too much so as they thinke they haue enough One demanded of Zeleuchus what Reuenewes hee had to whom hee answered As much as I need Plut. The Constable sent word to the Duke of Bourgundy that all was lost that there was no reliefe for him in England being fallen into the same convulsions which had in a manner smothered it in the yeare 1461. Edward being bound to the Earle of Warwicks vertue for his fortune made him a sharer Troubles in England and gaue him goodly peeces depending of the Crowne and the continuation of the gouernment of Calice with fourescore thousand Crownes rent to increase his reuenues Yet the Earle of Warwick did not hold these recompences proportionable to his great seruices beeing moreouer discontented for that the King hauing sent him into France to seeke the Kings Alliance by the marriage of Bonna of Sauoy z The King of England sent the Earle of Warwicke into France to demand Bonna of Sauoy daughter to Lewis Duke of Sauoy the Queenes Sister in marriage had mockt him in marrying with Grayes widdow the which Lewis made sensible to the Earle of Warwicke to the end this complaint might bee as a thorne of discontent in his heart And as Princes take delight to pull them downe whom they haue raised and aduanced and doe not willingly suffer such high heads of Poppie to grow in their gardens Edward grew iealous and an enemie to this great authority which had cherished made speed vnder the shadow of his He brake quite with him and some say that hauing attempted against the honour of a Kinswoman of his a Of wrongs which make the greatest impression in the hart those which regard â—he honor of Lâ—dies are most sensible Polidore Virgil wâ—ites thus of this attempt Nec abhorret a veritate EduarduÌ„ tentasse vt aiunt nescio quid in domo Comitis quod ab honestatâ— omnino abesset cum homo esset qui
foundation and to raise it for it canâ—otlast vpoÌ„ light actions That of the E. of Warwiâ—k must needs be great hauing twise changâ—d the estate of EnglaÌ„d and as it were disposed of the Crowne sent vnto the King to receiue him The King seemed to haue a great desire to see him and succour him He landed at Diepe and was conducted with all his troupe to Amboise The people flockt vppon the high-wayes to see those mournefull relikes of Troy Euery man had heard speake of the desolation of the house of Lancaster they did regard them as Prodigies of fortune whom she had chosen to be pittifull examples of her inconstancie Within six monethes the King gaue them meanes to returne into England The K. giueâ— succors to K. Henry with such forces as Edward durst not affront them Hee was forced to quit the partie and seeing how dangerous it was to stay vntill the Earle of Warwick came vnto the gates of London hee retired into Holland to the Duke of Bourgundie carrying nothing with him but a hope to returne k It is a poore equipage for a Prince which goes out of his estate with hope to returne but a retreat of this sort against a Prince that is stronger is honorable Valentinean the second left Aquilea to Maximin and fled into Thessalonica with Iustina his mother where he obtained succors of the Emperour Theodosius who restored him to the Contrie Sigon Lib. 9. Imp. Occident Behold Henry the sixt drawne out of prison and set in the royall throne Henry the sixt 〈◊〉 it lâ—bertie and Edward expelled but he continued but six monethes for Edward being relieued with ships and men from the Duke of Bourgundy returned into England and presented himselfe before the gates of London where he entred victorious The Duke of Clarence left the Earle of VVarwick l The Duke of Clarence being in France was sollicited and wonne by a Gentlewoman which came out of England from the King his Brother and he 〈◊〉 that belong in England he would turne to his side side King Henry was murthered in the Tower his sonne was detained prisoner Death of King Henry the sixt and soone after slaine The Earle of VVarwicke was slaine vpon the place and the Queenâ— was a prisoner Thus the Realme which Edward had lost in eleuen dayes was recouered in one so true it is that Estates change in a moment m The euersions and conuersions of the estates are most commâ—â—ty 〈◊〉 Breui bus momentis suÌ„ma verti possunt Tac. lib. 8. An. that it is hard to make good vse of things ill 〈◊〉 During these Tragedies the King who wisht they had continued longer the more to weaken the Dukes designes and to humble his thoughts continued the warre which he had begun in Picardie The Constable who would needs be a necessarie euill n Hibrea a wise Cittizen of Messala a Towne in Caria said smiling to Eutidianus a man very profitable but difficult and insupportable in the gouerment of publike affairs that hee was a necessary euill to the Towne for that noâ— manâ— could indure him for his roughnes nor â—liue without him for his good gouermeÌ„t to these two Princes was glad to let the Duke vnderstand what he could doe Amiens S t. Quentin taken He took S t Quentin Amiens opened her gates vnto him Abbeuille the Cittadell of Picardy had entred into the same partie if Philip of Creuecaeur Lord of Cordes had not entred The Duke not holding himselfe safe in the middest of the Constables friends retyred to Dourlans and from thence to Arras Being there he receiued a letter from the Duke of Guienne containing these wordes Labour to content your subiects and then care not for you shall find friendes The Duke seeing himselfe thus surprised and dispossest of the Townes which he did so much esteeme intreated the Constable not to presse this warre so hotly nor to doe the worst he could and to consider that the King without any precedent offence had taken armes and broken the treaty of Peronne before that he had disclaimed his friendship o The Romans before they made war Renunciabant amicitiam Germanicus being wronged by Piso Gouernour of Soria sent him word that he was no more his friend The Constable beeing glad to see the pride of his first maister humbled Pollicy of the Constable of S t. Paul makes the danger greater then it was hee threatens him with an ineuitable ruine if he did not open his eyes to those expediments which he propounded vnto him letting him know that in the darknes of his infidelity he did alwaies reserue a good day for his seruice p I neuer knew saith Phil. de Commines that man haue a good end that sought to terrifie his Maister and keep him in Iealousie Yet will he not declare himselfe to be other then a good Frenchman for to mannage his busines with honour the leape was too dangerous from S t. Quintin to Brussels The passage from one contrary to another is neuer made without violence q MeÌ„s thoughts passe not sodainly from one extreame vnto an other they goe by degrees there must be a meane betwixt both to vnite the two extreames He promiseth to serue the Duke in effect in seruing the King in shew and to make knowne the fruites of his seruice by the bad intelligence and diuision which hee would still entertaine and was already framed betwixt the two brethren the King and Mounsire the only means for him to be in safety and his estate in peace r The hatred and discord of brethren is the ruine of States all well as of priuate families This mischeefe hath bin long in the world the examples are borne with it And if two brethren could not agree together in their mothers womb it is no wonder if two brethren being armed quarrell But to end this war which was begun and would continue with such cruell effects Hee councells the Duke to giue his daughter to the Kings Brother against him there was no other help but to win Monsieur in giuing him his daughter in marriage that all his desires should ayme at this marke as the true end of his contentment from the which he might wander by many waies s They say we may come to one end by diuers meanes But to hit one marke there is but one direction the straightest lines are the shortest we may misse by diuers meanes ayming too high or too low on the right hand or on the left It is euen so in the actions of men and could not attaine vnto it but by this Allyance that if he were so resolued hee would follow his party and bring his head to his seruice with the Towne of S t Quentin and a good number of his seruants In a word that he would doe any thing yea set fire of the Temple of peace t There are seruants â—ound sit for all assaies
house of Armagnac done to France against the English freed him from all suspition of intelligence with them being most certaine that they were neuer no good English men they haue alwaies resisted them they haue spent their liues and goods to expell them out of the realme and had detested them hauing slaine their Predecessors cruelly and inhumainly f Bernard E. of Armagnac Constable of France for maintayning the quarel of the Crowne was slaine at Paris and flead Hee serued the King so courragiously as all good Frenchmen were called Armagnacs But such was the misery of the Age as they must aduow that which was beleeued more by coniecture then by assistance He that is held of all men to be wicked is forced to doe wickedly All waters returne into the sea from whence they flow This goodly Prouince of Armagnac consisting in the lands which are called the Counties of Armagnac and Falensac base Armagnac Perdiac Biran and Baran in the Viconties of Lomagne Auuillar Fesensaguet and Brouliois In the Siegneuries of Lectoure Auzan the base riuer whereas Castellnau stands and Malbourquet Aure Magnoac Barrouce Nestes is wholly come to the crowne of Nauarre vnder the raigne of Henry of Albret King of Nauarre Earle of Foix and Armagnac FINIS THE CONTENTS OF of the sixth BOOKE 1 THe Duke of Bourgondies discontent for the death of the Duke of Guienne 2 Cruelties committed at Nesle in Vermandois 3 Memorable Seege of Beauuais 4 Spoile done by the Duke of Bourgondies Armie in Normandy 5 The King drawes the Duke of Brittaine from all intelligence with the Duke of Bourgondy 6 Ambitious desseines of the Duke of Bourgondy for the which hee goes to the Emperour Frederic to Treues 7 Assembly at Bouuines and the Resolution taken against the Constable 8 The King and Constable parle vppon a causey hauing a barre betwixt them 9 New desseignes of the Duke of Bourgondy in Germany 10 The King stirres vp the Arch Duke of Austria the Suisses and some Townes in Germany against the Duke 11 Peter of Hagembach the Duke of Bourgondies Lieftenant beheaded at Brissac 12 Army of the Duke of Bourgondies in the County of Ferrette and vppon the fronter of the County of Bourgondy 13 Places taken and burnt by the Kings troupes vppon the fronter of Picardy and in Artois 14 Ambassage sent by the King vnto the Emperour Frederic who makes answer by an Apologie 15 Continuation of the Siege of Nuze the Constables pollicy 16 Edward King of England passeth into France and sends Letters of defiance vnto the King 17 Wisdome of the King to auoid this storme 18 The Duke of Burgondy leaues the siege of Nuze 19 The Constable failes of his promis made to the King of England and the Duke of Burgundy 20 Ouerture of a peace betwixt the two Kings and conferences of their deputies 21 The King labours to make the Duke of Burgundy vnderstand the Constabels double dealing 22 Truce for nine yeares betwixt the two kinges where-with the Duke of Burgundy is discontented and the wordes he had vpon that subiect with the King of England 23 Good cheere made to the English at Amiens 24 Enteruiew of the two Kings vpon the Bridge of Pyquigny to sweare the peace 25 Wordes which escaped the King vpon the treatie of the peace THE HISTORY of LEVVIS the XI THE SIXTH BOOKE IF the death of the Duke of Guienne had not put this exception into the Kings mouth Matters are changed his word which was a The simple word of a Prince bindes him as much as othes doe priuaâ— persons AlfoÌ„so Panormi in his life as much as all the othes of his religion bound him to restore Amiens and S t Quentin to the Duke of Bourgundy The Duke who was then in Arâ—ues to recouer them seeing that the King had changed his minde resolued to loose all or to haue all Hee wrote vnto the Townes to rise against him and speakes more vnworthily of him Death of the Duke of Guienâ—e breakes the Treatie then Artaban K of Persia did of Tiberius b Suetonius writes that Artaban railed of Tyberius by his letters reproaching him with his muâ—thers Parricides cowardise veluptuousâ—esse Parricidia caedes ignauiam Luxuriam he exclaimes of him as a Tyrant ouer his subiects a Murtherer of his brother and periured of his promises and in this fury he begins to make war by fire which he had neuer done A kinde of hostilitie vnknowne to Christians and to those generous Nations which carry not their sword to kill but in fighting c To spoile the vanquâ—shed to put thâ—m toraÌ„some and to wast their countries is the iustice of warre but this was neuer allowâ—d â—fter a victorie wâ—en as an enemie yeelds It is a wicked thing saith Plato in his commonweale to burne spoile and make one an others countrie wholly desolate it sufficeth to carrie away their annuall fruiâ—s and who hold that the fewer they kill the more there remaine to honour their triumph He besieged Nesle in Vermandois Cruelties committed at the taking of Nesle into the which the King had put a Captaine called Pettie Picard with three hundred Archers of the Isle of France who defended the Bourguignons assaults valiantly but being prest by necessitie hee accepted of a composition for himselfe and his men to depart with their liues and Armes But the trecherie was strange beeing followed by an excesse of brutish cruelty As soone as the besieged were disarmed the Bourgundians â—lue them Euery man thought that the Church should haue been a Sanctuarie vnto him euery man ranne thither and the souldiers made such a slaughter as the bloud ranne in all places The Captaine and his companions were hanged The Duke was no lesse pleased with the bloud then the sacke of the Towne Entring into the Church he spake these words more fitting for a Busiris then for a Christian Prince and of the bloud of the most Christian Kings d In the Chronicle of Lewis the eleuenth these words are read vppon the desolation of Nesle On Friday the 12. of Iune 1472. the Duke of Bourgundy entred the church on horseback the which was halfe a foote deep with the bloud of poore Creatures which lay naked and dead there And when as the said Bourguignon saw them in this maner hee began to smile and said that he saw a goodly sight that he had with him many good butchers Behold this is goodly I haue good Butchers Inhumane words of the D. of Bourgundy The griefe for the death of Monsieur and for the losse of S. Quentin transported him to these outrages which then were noted by the Cassandras of those times to bee the chiefe cause which prouoked Gods Iustice to cut off the course of his daies in reuenge of innocent bloud e A cruel prince continues not long The Emperor Anastasius the fourth was so and had no religion In the end an old man with a sower countenance
mischiefe had bin greater if the Constable had not moderated it with an apparant falling from his duty and loyalty to his King who had commanded him that when as the Bastard of Bourbon should enter into Artois hee should beseege Auennes in Hainault He spent two or three daies in that seege very carelesly without watch or gard If there were courage and resolution in his troupes c Caesar said that he desired modesty and obedience as much in a soldiar as prowesse and courrage Caesar. lib. there was little order and obedience He retyred to Saint Quintin Intelligēce of the Constable with the Duke of Bourgondy fearing to loose that retreat he excused him-selfe vpon an enterprise which he said he had discouered d I heard his man my selfe by the Kings commandement who tould so many apparant signes as he was in a manner beleeued and that one of thē was suspected to haue said som thing vnto the Constable which he should haue concealed Phil. de Com. lib. 4. cap. 4. of two soldiers who brag'd that they had beene commanded and seed to kill him Hee remayned at Saint Quentin contynuing the traffick of his faith with the two Princes Hee sent the Duke word that he was very sorry the King made his profit of his absence and he did aduertise the King that the Dukes affaires were in good estate thinking hee should finde noe other safety then in the feares and alarumes which he gaue them But when as he saw that this Lyon e Aduersitie humbles great men and makes them mild as a quarte◠ague breaks the fury of a Lion notwithstanding any feuer or shaking that he had grew nothing more myld he thought that there was noe meanes for his safety but to keepe a loose and that his last refuge was to relie vpon his first maister to whome he had offered entry into S. Quintin thinking that his Brother Iames of Luxembourg would goe thether with some troupes and not carry Saint Andrewes crosse Hee made these bargaines when as feare prest him and that hee knew not whome to trust to diuert the Kings desseignes but when as the Danger was past he would noe more heare speake of his promises and keept both ware and siluer He abused the Duke of Bourgundy thrice with such fictions his brother being taken prisoner at Arras descouered it so freely vnto the King as it was a meanes to moderate the rigorous vsage f A gratious kind vsage maks the misery of a prison more easie and supportable Plut. in the life of Niceas which a prisoner of that condition might haue He was willing to shroud himselfe vnder the Duke of Bourgondies protection but he did foresee the storme would be so great as the leaues of the tree would drowne him that should creep vnder it Hee did apprehend nothing so much as the Kings quiet and peace of the realme He gaue aduise vnto the Duke to drawe in the English to his succor and to reuenge his Iniuries and vpon this aduise the English were sollicited very earnestly to passe the sea Edward King of England who was in his soundest yeares Edward K. of England passeth into France 1475 actiue and vigorous for a great designe layes hold of this occasion in the which he did hope to recouer the rights which his Predecessors had purchased for him vpon the crowne of France He was soone perswaded to passe the sea thinking he should haue no more paine to conquer a part of France then hee had to reduce all England vnder his obedience The remembrance of the succours which King Lewis the eleuenth had giuen vnto his enemie added to the old quarrels which haue made deluges of bloud in this Realme would not suffer him to pause and consider of the Iustice or iniustice g Traian said they should neuer enter into an vniust war He alone of all the Romane Emperors neuer lost Battell of his enterprise False Assurances giuen by the Duke a Constable The Duke of Bourgundy assured him to ioyne with his forces the Constable did represent vnto him the Kings weaknes and wants offring him S. Quentin to refresh him Behold a great Armie at Douer readie to passe It did consist of fiueteene hundred men at Armes fifteene thousand Archers on horseback and a great number of foote all good and resolute souldiours hauing once continued any time on this side the sea English very ready to passe into France It was in his owne will to make it greater h There are none more simple nor vnhandsome then the English when they passe first but in a short time they are very good soldiers wise and hardy Phil. de Com. l. 4. c. 5. for there is not any enterprise in England that is seconded with more vowes and voices then that which is made against France All the world runnes vnto it their purses are not tyed but with leaues of Leekes for the King cannot exact any thing of his subiects but with the common consent of his Parliament vnlesse it be when he makes warre in France True it is that hauing imployed some part of the money leuied for this warre about the affaires of his house and finding himselfe scanted he inuented a milde course to haue money calling together the richest of the Realme and representing vnto them the greatnes of his designe with the glorie and profit which the realme might hope for coniuring them to assist him with their meanes and that in this occasion he should know them that loued him although that hee should be but a dispenser or Stuard i A Prince is but a receiuer distributer of the publike money and they that giue it regard more the publike necessitie then the Princes priuate commodities Aristotle calles him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Custodem dispensatorem vt communium non vt propriorum Polit. lib. 1. cap. 11. A keeper or distributor of that which is common not proper of that which they should giue and he called this Tribute a Beneuolence some for shame others for vanitie and some through zeale filled his Coffers The Duke of Bourgundy sent ships out of Holland and Zeland to passe the Armie It made a number of fortie or fiftie thousand men and threatned to doe double effects The Constable gaue the King to vnderstand that this Armie of strangers should land in Normandie and his aduertisement seemed the more credible for that the King knew that the Duke of Brittanie had conspired with the King of Englands designes Herevpon there arriued a Herald who brought Letters of defiance from the King of England Letters of defiance frō the King of England Letters full of brauerie and boldnes and puft vp with the Duke of Bourgundies passion and the stile k Hee brought vnto the King a Letter of defiance from the K. of England in a gallat stile which I thinke was not done by any English man He required the King to restore him the
curiosity the King had of the markes of the greatnesse of the Maiesty of Kings when he saith that there was not a coate of armes to be found in all his campe and that they were forced to make one of the banner of a trompet to attyer this Herald Souueraigne powers were neuer without them f Princes haue alwaies had marks of greatnes maiesty The Senate ordained foure twenty Sargents to march before Augustus Before that the Roman Emperors had fire and a diademe for marks of maiesty they had maces and rods enuironed with boyes Excubiae arms cetera Anlae saith Tacit watching Armes and the rest of the Court. Being come into the army he was conducted to the king of Englands tent they demanded of him what he was whence he came and what he would His coate of armes made answer to the first demand and for the rest he said that he had commandement to speake vnto the King and to addresse himselfe to Haward and Stanley The King of England was then at diner in the meane time they made the Herald good cheere and then presented him vnto the King to deliuer his charge Instructed by the Signeur of Argenton Wee must stand to that which hee hath written that did instruct him and who hath reported it after this manner That the K. had long desired to be in friendship with him and that the two realmes might liue in peace and that neuer since hee was King of France The Heralds speech to the King of England he had not made warre nor attempted any thing against the King nor the Realme of England excusing him-selfe g These Prepositions seeme nothing generous they argue feare and ere vnworthy of a great Prince who should let his enemies know that he did not demand nor accord any thing by force But Phil. de Com. excuseth the K. and saith that If God had not disposed the King to choose so wise a party the Realme had been in great danger Then he addes Wee had then many secret matters among vs vvhence had sprung great inconueniences vnto the Realme and that sodainly if the accord had not been soon made as wel from Brittaine as other places And I verily beleeue by matters which I haue seene in my time that God had and hath a speciall care of this Realme for that he had formerly entertayned the Earle of Warwicke and said that it was onely against the Duke of Bourgundy and not against him Hee also let him vnderstand that the said Duke of Bourgundy had not called him but to make a better accord with the King vppon the occasion of his comming and if there were any other that had a hand in it it was but to repaire their errors tending to their priuate ends and touching the King of Englands interest they cared not what became thereof so as they might make their owne good Hee also layed before him the time and winter which approached and that he knew well he was at great charge and that there were many in England both of the Nobility and Marchants which desired to haue warre in France And if the King of England should doe his endeauour to harken to a treaty that the said king would doe the like so as he and his realme should remaine content And to the end he might be better informed of these things Hee demands a pasport for a Conference if he would giue a pasport for an hundred horse that the king would send Ambassadors vnto him well informed of his will or if the king of England desired it should rather be in some Village midway betwixt both Armies and that the Deputies of either side should meet there he would be well content and would send a safe conduct Many thought that King Edward would haue said vnto the Herald We will talke in Paris h Arsaces K. of the Parthians sent to tell Crassus that if he were sent by the Romans to make warre against him hee would haue no peace but if he came of his owne free will to possesse his Contry that then hee would suffer them to depart with their liues and goods wherevnto Crassus said brauely I will make you an ansvver in the Towne of Seleucia the Parthian Ambassador began to smile and shewing him the palme of his hand hee said Crassus thou shalt sooner see haire grow in this hollow of mine hand then the Citty of Seleucia in thine but this first ouerture was so pleasing Ouerture of a peace betwixt the two Kings as he granted pasports for the Deputies of the conference England had rather forced then perswaded him to the Chimeras of this war He had leuied great summes of money for his passage the warre drew them out of his cofers peace kept them there and added more Ciuill warre had so weakened and impouerished England as at need they could neither hope for men nor money Hee had caused some of the Deputies of the Commons of England to passe with him Reasons which perswaded the English to peace they were already weary of the warre and to lodge after the manner of Soldiers These men did allow of this proposition of Peace and said that it was iust and reasonable i It is a weakenes in a Prince to make it apparantly knowne that hee desires a peace It is indiscretion to refuse it when it is iust If a Peace bee iust and honest saith Polibius 4. it is in truth good and goodly yet must they not doe any thing that is vniust and vnreasonable nor suffer any shamefull thing to bee done to enioy it that it were indiscretion to refuse it and that they should be contented to haue reduced the French King to seeke a peace with the King of England for that a great King cannot humble himselfe more nor descend lower then to seeke his enemy for a peace Pasports were dispatcht of either part and the Deputies entred into conference in a Village neere vnto Amiens in view of both armies which were but fower leagues asunder The Bastard of Bourbon Admirall St. Pierre and Heberge Bishop of Ereux for Lewis Haward one Challenger and Morton who was afterwards Chancelor of England for Edward The Ouerture of the assembly was by a demand of the Realme of France which the English said did belong vnto them grounding their pretensions vppon those of Edward the third k Edward the third King of England sonne to Edward the second and to Marguerite or Elizabeth of France disputed the Regency and Royalty in the yeare 1328. who as sonne to Elizabeth daughter to Phillip the faire had first disputed the Regency and then the succession of the Crowne against Philip of Valois thinking to ouerthrow the ancient order of the Salike Law l The Salike law excludes woemen from the succession of the Crowne it carries these wordes Nulla portio hereditatis mulieri veniat sed ad virilem sexuâ—â— tota terrae hereditas perueniat Let
noe portion of the inheritance come vnto the woman but let all the inheritance of the land descend vnto the Male. The English from a Generall demand come vnto a particular and restraine it to the Dutchies of Normandy and Guienne It was answered that as Edward had no interest to the whole so his felony had depriued him of the parts m Edward the third did homage to Philip of Valois for the Dutchies of Guienne and Normandy calling him his deere Lord and Cousin in the Cathedrall Church of Amiens the 6. of Iune 1333. As the King was resolued not to giue them any land so would he not refuse whatsoeuer they reasonably demanded in money when there is no question but of money a Prince should not bee sparing nor difficult The safety and felicity of an estate is not measured by a certaine price n A Prince should not respect money to send away an enemy and rather then to giue him any part of his estate with the which hee may liue in feare to loose all he should hazard any thing Hee winkt at all that as well as at sundry other formalities which the maiesty of the Crown of France would not haue suffered to passe in another season for in all this negotiation Edward gaue him noe other stile but his Cousin Lewis of France Hee offers them threescore and fifteene thousand Crownes for the charges of the Army Articles of a peace betwixt FraÌ„ce and England the Crowne being 33. solz a peece the marriage of his Sonne the Dauphin with the Princesse of England and a Pension of fifty thousand Crownes yearely vntill the marriage be consummated These offers were accepted a Truce was concluded for nine yeares and Hostages giuen by the King of England for the retreat of his army There was also a Compromise vppon a penalty of three millions of Crownes to determine and compound their Controuersies within three yeares by the iudgement of foure Arbitrators Charles the seauenth had expelled the English out of France by the sword and Lewis hath sent them away with his penne o Wee come to one end by contrary meanes Charles the seuenth expelled the English by force and Lewis with store of crownes Hanniball by crueltie ruled Italy and Scipio by mildnes Spaine The Constable thought that these mists The Constable sends vnto the King entertained by the vapors of his pollicies would haue lasted longer and he was much greeued that the Sun-shine of peace had disperst them Hee sent Lewis Creâ—ille a Gentleman of his traine and Iohn Richer his Secretary vnto the King to let him vnderstand that he neuer had any designe but to serue him faithfully that the proofe or his seruice was the refusall he had made vnto his enemies of the entry into S t. Quentin The King descouers the Constables double dealing to the duke of Bourgondy but he was of opinion that they should find some meanes to send back this storme beyond the Seas The King who desired to haue the deceiuer deceiued p Deceiuers are alwaies deceiued They whom they deceiue watch to requite it and their owne deceit ruines them Hanniball after the death of Marcellus wrote to the Salapiens vnder Macellus name whose seale he had gotten that he would come vnto their Towne The next night Crispin Lieutenant to Marcellus who knew the deceits of Hanniball gaue notice of his death Hanniball came to the gates of Salapia the first ranks who could speake the Roman tongue demand entrance The gard being aduertised and making a good shew suffered six hundred to enter then letting downe the Port-cullis they cut them in peeces Plut. and that the Duke of Bourgondy should vnderstand how this man cosoned him with his double dealing he caused the Siegneur of Contay to be set behind a portall The Kin discouers the Constables double dealing to the Duke of Bourgondy he was an affectionate seruant to the Duke and then the Kings prisoner And with him stood Phillip de Commines to heare Creuilles charge which was nothing else but to yeeld him an accompt of the voyage which he had made vnto the Duke to withdraw him from the amity of the English and that he had so disposed him therevnto as hee was in a manner ready to charge them Creuille supposing by the Kings countenance and attention that he tooke delight in this discourse counterfeited the speech and gesture and reported the Dukes oath he stampt with his foot against the ground and sware by St. George calling Edward one-eyed white-liuer and the Sonne of an Archer who cairied that name If Contay had not seene and heard Creuille he would not haue beleeued that a man of any sence would haue spoke so vnworthily of his maister the King faining to be thick of hearing took delight in the repetition of the cheefe wordes of this tale and his heart seeming full of ioy gaue courage to Creuille to amplifie this discourse to the end that Contay might vnderstand it better Constables opinion to buy a truce and know that the Constable mockt his maister q Florence hath seene the like pollicy Peter de Medicis to make it knowne that Lewis Sforza Duke of Milan in counselling King Charles to passe the Alpes did not wish him any good successe He caused the Ambassador of France to stand behind a haâ—ging and saigning himself ill he sent for the Ambassador of Milan who entring into discourse of the designes of Lewis Sforza his Maister he told all â—e could to make it knâ—wâ— that the intentions of the French did not concurre with his maisters Guicciardin To conclude the Constable as Creuille said thought it fit they should purchase a truce of the English and that they should giue them some towne as Eu and St. Valery The King being content with that which hee had heard tould Creuille that the Constable should heare from him He set Contay at liberty to go and report vnto the Duke of Bourgondy what hee had heard behind the Portall of the Constables dissimulations who sent his Confessor vnto the King of England to aduise him not to trust vnto the Kings words nor to attend vntil he did willingly giue him Eu and St. Valery The Constable perswades K. Edward not to trust K. Lewis but to seaze thereon by force to winter his troopes in hope to lodge them better and more at large and hee offered fifty thousand Crownes to aid him to make warre Tell your Maister answered the King of England that he is a deceiuer that I repent me not of a peace seeing he hath repented him of that which he had promised me The King notwithstanding to let the Constable vnderstand that he did esteeme his Councells r There are some thinges wherein it is better to bee deceiued then to distrust The King was well informed of the Constables infidelities yet to entertaine him in good humor and not to giue him occasion to doe worse hee
commends his Councells gaue Eu and Saint Valery to the King of England onely to lodge in during the treaty of Peace But hee had giuen such order as the English in these townes were rather in prison then in Garrison The Constable by Edwards answer saw himselfe almost in dispair with more subiect to be amazed how hee liued then to reioyce that he was liuing apprehending on the one side seruitude and on the other punishment and seeing no other port in this torment of mind but death The Dukes of Bourgundy and Brittanie were comprehended in this truce if they would The Duke of Bourgundy being aduertised of this Treatie came from Luxembourg with sixteene horse to finde King Edward who discouered in his Cousins face the s It is an extreame misery to stand betwixt 2. great powers haue no meanes to maintaine himselfe A little nag betwixt 2. great horses is alwaies subiect to some stripe spleene he carried in his heart and seeming amazed at this sodaine arriuall he demanded of him what brought him I came said the Duke to speake with you will you said Edward that it be in priuate or publike wherevpon the Duke who could not containe his choller and who came to speake what he would not considering that he might he are what he would not t demanded of the King of England if hee had made a Peace No said Edward but a Truce for nine yeares in the which you are comprehended with the Duke of Brittanie I pray you accommodate your selfe vnto it The Duke replyed in English which hee vnderstood and spake That his Armie should not haue past the sea for that this Treatie ruined the reputation of the Kings of England and that he had need of that Lyons heart interred at Rouen u Richard the first King of England was called Coeur de Lion he dyed at Osneyâ— and his heart was interred at Rouen a reasonable good Poet for these times made him this Epitaph * Then he addes I had procured you a good occasion to doe your busines which you shall neuer recouer to get that which belongs vnto you It was not for mine owne interest for I could well passe without it and to let you know how little I regard your Truce Words betwixt the K. of England and the Duke of Bourgondy By S t George I will not treat with the King before that you are returned into England and haue stayed there three monethes Edward taking no delight in these words full of choller left him there He went to horseback and so returned as he came being well content to haue said that which hee would say to him who had not done that which he would doe and carrying in his heart a wonderfull discontent that this Treatie tooke from him the meanes to purchase glorie x To loose the occasion of any great matter by the meane of Armes is a very sensible griefe to a great courage Epaminondas did shew it in causing his sonnes head to be cut off who had won a Battell coÌ„plaining that he had depriued him of part of his glory at the Kings charge and once againe to giue him a Battell * Viscera Carceolum corpus fons serâ—â—t Ebrardi Et cor Rhotomagum magne Richarde tuum In tria diuiditur vnus qui plus fuit vno Nec superest vna gloria tanta viro And this other Hic Richarde Iaces sed mors si cederet Armis Victa timore tui cederet ipsa tuis The King fearing that the Duke of Bourgundies choller and the Constables practises would cause Edward repent or make him distrust the expectation of that which had been promised would make his proceedings free from all suspition Confidence is the true cyment of friendship Good cheer made to the English at Amiens The English entred continually in what troupes they would into Amiens There were long Tables at the gates furnished with good meate and delicate wines and good companions attended to entertaine all that came All the Tauerns and Innes were full The Marshall of Gié hauing charge to obserue how the English liued came one morning into a Tauerne where they told him they had alreadie made a hundred and eleuen reckonings Gran favores comery no escotar and it was not yet nine of the clock Among other commodities the souldiour found it sweet to dine well and not to pay any thing It was in the Kings power to cut the throats of nine or ten thousand who could neither goe on their legges nor finde the gates to returne vnto their quarters they were so full They were content to see them drunke with wine who would haue been drunke with bloud But when they came and told him that it was dangerous to suffer so many men to enter he left his howers which he was saying and the ceremony of Innocents y The Romans did obserue good daies to assaile but all were good to defend Macrob l. Satur. cap. 16. All daies are good and fit to care for defence and safety We must beleeue that which he saies that saw it and hath written it The King being vp and saying his howers one came and told him that there were at the least nine thousand English in the Towne I resolued to aduenture to tell him and entring into his retiring place I said vnto him Sir although it be S. Innocents day yet is it necessarie that I tell you that which hath been deliuered vnto mee and so acquainted him at large with the numbers that were entred and still came all armed and that no man durst refuse them the gates least they should be discontented The King was not obstinate but soone left his deuotion and told me that they must not keep the ceremonie of Innocents z The Christian religion holdes the obseruation of daies superstitious Eas culpat saith S t Aug. qui dicunt non proficiscat hodie quia praeposterus dies est It blames them that say I will not goe forth this day because it is ominious whereby wee may gather that the day whereon the Feast of Innocents fell was for all the rest of the yeare following superstitiously ceremonious to this Prince on which hee would not haue them speake vnto him of any affaires Phil. de Commines hauing been in danger of a disgrace vpon that occasion Yet he receiued this aduice in such an humor as he beleeued that he might referre his deuotion to another time and dispence with it to the end that he might prouide that this troupe should retire quietly The King dines at the gate of Amiens He caused his dinner to bee carried to the Porters house not to shew his distrust but to make much of the English which came in and out He stayed some to eate at his table and made others drinke and withall prouided for the safety of the Towne hauing caused three hundred men to be armed in their Captaines houses and appointed some vpon the Portall to
obserue the entrie of the souldiers The King of England being aduertised of this disorder sent to intreat the King not to suffer them to enter That shall not be answered the King but if it please him to send some Archers of his gard to the Port they shall let in whom they will This was done the King hauing by his dissembling obtained that which some greater brute had made difficult But Lewis had no money in his Coffers to pay the summes that were agreed vpon He found how difficult it is to draw money from a multitude in an vrgent necessitie a Although they say that a Prince should haue no other treasure then in subiects purses yet there may fall out such vrgent occasions as if behaue it not in his owne Coffers he is in dangerous estate His Treasurers refused him Paris furnisht this summe vpon assurance to bee repayed within three monethes There remained nothing but to choose a place for the enteruiew of the two Kings Piquigny noted by the Predictions of England This was at Piquigny a towne which the Sibilles of England had long before noted for so great and happie an action They made a barre vppon the bridge of the riuer of Somme in such sort as they might passe their Armes freely yet without any wicket for their bodies the King remembring that he had heard say b That which is past teacheth the present In the like occasion Duke Iohn was slaine at Monter eaufaut Yonne whether he was come vnto the Dauphin who since was Charles the seuenth to treat an accord that the doore which was left at the Barre at Montereau Faut-Yonne did serue to aduance the execution which caused so many calamities in France For Duke Iohn being inuited to passe with three more not two paces off receiued the mortall blow from Taneguy of Chastell The 29. of August 1478. the King came first vnto the Barre for that he was in his owne house Enteruiew of the two Kings at Piquigny and receiued a strange Prince c Many take this ceremonie otherwise and that it is for the greater Prince not to come first vnto the place but to be stayed for He was accompanied by the Duke of Bourbon and the Cardinall of Bourbon his Brother In these actions of shew hee tooke delight to haue some one attired like himselfe Phil. de Commines was so that day He had eight hundred men Edward came thither after being aduertised by a Gentleman of the Kings arriuall The Duke of Clarence his Brother did accompanie him thither The Duke of Glocester would not bee there for this Truce discontented him he had behinde him all his Armie in Battell either of them had twelue Noblemen d Princes shold neuer meet at a Parle but with equall assurances of either side Philip K. of Macedon would not goe to land but did parle from the prow of his galley with I. F. who was vpon the shore and beeing demanded by him of whom he stood in feare I feare not any man answered Philip but the immortall Gods but I trust not them I see with you Tit. Liu. lib. 32. to accompanie him There were foure English Lords on Lewis side and as many French of Edwards to see if there were any practise to the preiudice of their master Edward ware a Cap of blacke Veluet Edward a goodly Prince with a great Iewell of stones made like a Flower-de-Luce a goodly Prince and of a gallant stature but began to grow grosse e Phil. de Cō saith that Edward was one of the goodliest Princes of that age but at this enteruiew hee began to grow grosse Beauty is a qualitie which doth adorne the rest which are necessarie in a Prince But this is vaine without the rest it is more fitting for a woman and serues but to please Maximin son to the Emperor Maximin was so fair as the women desired to be beloued of him and that hee would make them mothers Iul. Cap. Comming within two or three paces of the Barre he put off his Cap and made two or three low reuerences before hee came vnto the King who attended him leaning vpon the barre after very kinde imbracings to make the heart speake by these demonstrations of loue and affection the Peace was sworne vpon the Masse-booke and the Crosse. The King who knew Edwards humor fitted his Discourse to entertaine him with a content which cost him nothing entermixing still some merry speech among their most serious affaires And for that Edward had youth beauty and loue in him hee intreated him not to returne into England before he had seene the Ladies of Paris and that the Cardinall of Bourbon who was their present should giue him absolution Edward shewed by his eyes and his silence that this Sumons was pleasing vnto him The King prest him no farther The King offers that which hee would not haue accepted remembring that his Predecessors had beene too familiar there These two Princes were so cunning as it was hard for the one to haue any aduantage of the other the policy of the one appeared outward and the other kept his close within f Some shew their Art at the first incounter others hold it secret and there the deceit is not discouered before one is deceiued Heerevnto is applyed the controuersie which was betwixt the Foxe and the Leopard for the variety of their skinnes The Leopard bragd that his was fairest without being marked with diuers spots that is nothing said the Foxe my variety is within They conferred long together to open their hearts one vnto an other or rather for Lewis to discouer Edwards thoughts who for that he was not like vnto him in iudgement and experience was not so warie The King found that hee had an extreme desire to assist and defend the Duke of Brittany and that hee held himselfe bound vnto it saying that hee had neuer found a better friend at need As for the Duke of Bourgundy hee did not seeme to bee so carefull of his fortune for when as the King said vnto him What shall wee doe if my Brother of Bourgundy will not enter into the Truce The King of England answered Lewis soūds K. Edwards thoughts I will summon him againe and if he will not hearken to it I referre my selfe to you two The Constables fortune remained In the first conference of the Treatie the King of England being highly offended that hee had fayled of his word had said that hee could let the King know his bad seruants and how to conuict them of treason towards his Maiestie The Deputies had not much regarded it holding it to be a pollicie to terrifie the King with such practises and Intelligences and although there had been some thing yet the estate of the Kings affaires did not allow of too curious a search of the fidelity of his subiects g There are seasons when as it is not good to discouer all diseases
to moue humours not to purge the bodie It was told Pompey that there were amoÌ„g Stertorius papers many Senators Letters who exhorted him to come into Italy and to attempt against Rome but Pompey did an Act not of a yong man but of a graue setled inâ—gement causing all his Letters to be burnt and not suffring one to be read Plut. but the King who contemned not any thing thought that it was an Arrow shot against the Constable therefore he desired to be satisfied from Edward who dissembling not his great discontentment against the Constable related vnto him the whole History of his preuatications and for proofe thereof deliuered two Letters into his hands After a long discourse accompanied with infinite shews of loue honor and respect the two Kings parted Edward past by the Sea leauing Hostages in the delights and feasts of Paris and the chiefe Noble men of his Court talked of nothing but the Kings bountie The Heralds and trumpets of England at their parting cryed out A largesse a largesse h Liberalitie is like the Sunne amoÌ„g the other lights of a royaltie It is the myâ—rhe which preserues the reputation of Kings incorruptible for the most noble and mightie King of France A largesse a largesse The King went to lie at Amiens by the way he entertained himselfe with that which he had obserued in this Action speaking these words to Phil. de Commines confidently A wise obseruation of the king I found the King of England so willing to come to Paris as it did not please me Hee is a goodly King and loues women much hee might finde some Mignion at Paris who would tell him so many goodly tales as he might haue a desire to returne His Predecessors haue beene too much in Paris and Normandie His company auailes me nothing on this side the Sea but on the other side he is my good brother and friend Being come to Amiens and ready to set downe to meate Haward one of the Hostages thinking to doe him a great pleasure came and told him in his eare that if he pleased he would draw the King of England vno Amiens and it might bee to Patis to make good cheere there with his Maiestie The King who hauing saued the Capitoll i It is good to see an enemies back The Gauls demanded boats to passe the Riuer of Tyber and the Senate commanded to giue them some beeing put to rout they assured them the way to saue them Poliâ—nus Lib. 2. had no care but to make a large way for the Gaules to passe receiued this speech with a good countenance although it did not please him and as if he had thought of other matters he began to wash and to speake of other things Haward remembred him after supper hauing not obserued the Kings intention by the first euasion The King being prest by his importunity said that he was then ready to goe to horse to see what the Duke of Bourgundy would doe and to make him runne the hazard of Armes seeing he had contemned the opportunitie of an accord They that past the Sea vnwillingly would haue beene glad to haue found some occasion to haue stayed longer in France they had some reason for the good of their estate and that Paris might be to London as Carthage had been to Rome k Estates maintaine theÌ„selues by the common feares and iealousies they haue one of an other And therfore Scipâ—o Nasiâ—a did aduise theÌ„ to preserue Carthage notwithstanding that she had put the 〈◊〉 of Rome to comprimise Ne metu ablato aemula vrbis luxuriarâ— felicitas vrbis inciperâ—t Least being freed froÌ„ the feare of a Citie that was enemy the Citie in her prosperitie should fall to â—yot Flor. Lib 2. de Bello Punice They had such hot spirits among them as if they had not some imploiment without the Iland they were capable to beginne the Earle of Warwicks game During the Kings abode at Amiens he was visited by the English especially by those that would not returne without some present The King giues preâ—â—mâ—s to the English The Duke of Glocester who seemed much discontented with this Truce found it good after that the King had giuen him plate and horses This Prince did sow euen in barren groundes the feare of ingratitude did not stay his handes from giuing vnto them who being gone neuer gaue him thankes l They doe not forbeare to sow after an â—â—n fertill haruest hee must not leaue to binde one after ingratitude although the benâ—fit perish with the other he must not suffer it to perish with himselfe He was very well pleased with that day but he was greeued that the King of England had shewed so much passion for the Duke of Brittaine for his desire was not to suffer him in peace Edward declares the Duke of Brittanâ— to be his friend Hee caused him to bee sounded againe by the Lords of Bouchage and St. Pierre but they brought nothing back but rough wordes sweating that he would repasse the sea againe if they quarreled with the Britton m Besides the bond which K. Edward had to the D. of Brittany for that hee had assisted him in his greatest necessiâ—y he feared to discoÌ„tent him least he should set Henry whom he held prisoner at libertie The King seeing that he could not diuide them thought to make him a good friend whom he could not declare a iust enemy Peace betwixt the King and the Du of Brittany seing that he was comprehended in the Truce Wherefore there was a Treaty of peace betwixt them signed and concluded in the Abbey of Senlis the 16. of October 1475. published in the Parliament of Paris and at the estates of Brittaine The King of England was not more content to see his realme againe then the King seemed ioyfull to haue sent him out of his Princes somtimes let slip free speeches in their Cabinets which are obserued and reported againe The King being some dayes after King Edwards departure with his seruants reioyced at the happy successe of his affaires saying that there was nothing to be compared to vanquish without fighting n The victorie which costs least bloud is mâ—st glorious said Alphonso K. of 〈◊〉 Panorm in his life and that they which returned from the place whether they came to make warre without doing any thing were vanquished Words escaped the K. vpon the Treatie of Peace He iested that with wine and money he had sent away the English This flowing of words with more truth then wisedome came to the hearing of a Gascon Marchant remaining in England who was come into the Cabinet to craue leaue to transport a certaine number of pipes of wine Impost free Heard by a Gascon Marchant The King would haue been glad that this man hauing seene the Palace of his Councels bare and vncouered had been blind deafe but he made no shew of it acknowledging
notwithstanding that discretion had not beene arbitrator betwixt his tongue and heart that the Marchant had seene and heard too much o There haue beene Princes which haue put their seruants to death hauing heard wordes the report whereof was dangerous Alexander dealt therein more discrectly for finding that Ephestion had seen in his letter an aduice of importance he only toucht his lippes with his seale without any word speaking and Lewis deâ—lt more royally who bought them at a deer rate which might haue carried words that had escaped him inconsiderately and that Edward might cause this first flower of Peace which was but in the bud to wither Cause not foreseene of a good fortune if these words were reported vnto him He therefore resolued to buy this Marchant vpon some pretext of seruice He imployed Philip de Commines who wonne him offering him an office in the towne where hee was borne the transport of the wines which he demanded and a hundred pounds starling to send for his family but vpon condition that he should not goe into England the King condemning himselfe willingly in the penaltie for that he had spoken too freely The most couragious but especially the French which were retired into England blamed this peace Many held it for a worke of heauen saying that it had accomplished the Prophesies which the holy Ghost had made p Men draw great Predictions from small matters In the Conclaâ—e held for the election of a Pope after the death of Paul the fourth a Doue flying rested vpon the Cell of Cardinal Iohn Ange Mediguin who was named Pius the fourth and it was taken for an assurance of his election that a white Doue the day of the enteruiew of the two Kings had sat vpon King Edwards tent and that all the noise of the Armie could not driue her away A Gentleman Gascon called Bretailles who serued the King of England was discontented at the Peace and mockt at his iest He said that this Doue being beaten with the raine had fallen vpon this tent as the highest to dry her selfe in the Sunne He talked with Phillip de Commines who knew him and said You had reason to laugh at vs. To whom Commines but not touching that said How many Battels hath your King woon Wisedome of Phil. de Com. to auoid a needlesse discourse Nine answered Bretailles q K. Edward the fourth was in nine Battels fighting on feet to assure the Crown of EnglaÌ„d on his head and to ruine the house of Lancaster And how many hath he lost one onely which is that vvhich hee might haue woon in France so great a losse as it hath blemished the honour of nine which hee hath wonne for this tenth vvas the crowning of all the rest They came and told the King that this Gascon was a free spoken man and that in the libertie of his speech he might make his masters thoughts knowne and alter the mindes of many The King sent for him caused him to dine at his table and by his purse stopt his mouth and made him say as the rest that the holy Ghost had made the Peace In one houre Bretailles setled an assured reuenue for euer vpon the timiditie of this Prince r We may say of King Lewis as Plutark did of Nicias he gaue not lesse to theÌ„ that might doe ill then to those that deserued well who were worthy to taste of his bounty so as his feare was a reuenue rent vnto the wicked as well as his bounty was vnto good men The Duke of Bourgundy seeing that the King of England was farre off began to bethinke himselfe He had seene the inconstancie of the English Contay had represented vnto him that of the Constable and the discourse which hee had heard behind the Portall All this would not suffer him to grow obstinate against reason and moreouer the King is armed against the frontier of Hainault who demands it and offers to doe it and he hath a liuely impression of the great perplexitie which an irresolute soule doth suffer that liues in suspence betwixt hope and feare s Whilst our soules are in suspence betwixt hope and feare wee doe not enioy the present and the future torments vs. Hugonet the Dukes Chancellor sent the King word that if it pleased him to send his Deputies vnto the bridge Treatie of Peace betwixt the King the D. of Bourgundie mid-way betwixt Auennes and Veruins the Dukes should be there to resolue vpon that which was presented The King would be present notwithstanding that his Councell disswaded him and hee led with him Haward and Cheney Hostages which the King of England had left One of them being sorrie for the Peace seeing the Deputies for the Duke of Bourgundy accompanied with a great number of soldiers well mounted and armed said that if the Duke of Bourgundy had shewed many such to the King of England hee had not so suddenly repast the Sea Philip de Commines to whom these words were spoken answered not any thing he had so great patience in hearing and such stay in his speech as it was no paine for him to hold his peace in occasions where the tongue sometimes escapes t He that is not patient to hold his peace can not be discreet in speaking The Vicont of Narbonne who had heard them said that without doubt the Duke of Bourgundy had a good number but the English had so great a desire to returne into England as they were contented with six hundred pipes of wine and a pension which the King gaue them This English man who was much altered with this Peace found his griefe doubled with this flout and all fuming with choller hee said It is true that was told vs that you would iest at vs call you the money which the King giues vs a Pension u Euery man giues what names hee pleaseth to things That which in effect was a pension the English call tribute An insupportable word to a free Nation Saluian lameÌ„ting the condition of the Empire of Rome which payed Tribute vnto the FreÌ„ch who had newly seazed vpon Gâ—ul saith Aurâ—m quod peÌ„dimus munera vocamus dicimus donum esse quod pretium et quidam coÌ„diâ—onis miserimae The gold we bestow we cal reward we terme that a gift which is a price and of a most wreâ—ched condition It is a Tribute and by S t George you may speake so much as we shall returne Philip de Commines O the wise man brake off this Discourse and from serious and biting as it was and might haue been worse for the French would neuer haue endured that they should haue termed France tributarie to England turned it to a Iest. But the Englishman was discontented and complained to the King who was much offended with the Vicont of Narbonne who had not considered that to bad demands good answeres cost little and profit much and that a small matter cals back
the one had beene depriued of his benifice the other two saw their Sisters dishonoured by the voluptuousnes of this Prince y Galeas Duke of Milan defloured the Sister of Charls Viscount master of his ward robe and then gaue her to one of his Mignons to abuse Paul Iou. The conspiracie being resolued and they furnished with courage and armes for the execution they go to him being at the doore of St. Stephens Church in Milan approching neere him He is slaine at the Church doore making shew to salute him Iohn Andrew Lampognano strook him in the windpipe z They write that Lampognano to accustome and incourage himselfe to this execution did euery day stabbe the Dukes picture with a dagger and after his cruell meditations executed his desseigne Ierosme Olgiato in the throat and stomacke and Charles Viscount wounded him in the belly It was impossible to escape presently the Dukes Seruants seazed of them The first being content to die seeing that Galeas was dead cried out as they cut him in peeces After this manner I desire to die Ierosme was taken aliue and being condemned to be fleied and quartered vpon a scaffold aliue he saied making no other repentance for this crime that of so cruell a death the reputation would be perpetuall a Ierosme Olgiati beeing strecht out vpon the scaffold to be quartered said Mors acerba fama perpetua stabit vetus memoria facti Burt. Lib. 5. Hist. Florent A bitter death but a perpetual fame the memory of the fact shall remaine old The King was not so much greeued for the death of Galeas as he had beene for that of Francis Sforce Lewis xi a friend to Francis Sforce the best of his good friendes froÌ„ whom he receiued 500. men at armes and 3000. foot led by Galeas against the league of the Commonweale and to whom he was resolued to retire if he might not haue entred into Paris When as the King saw himselfe freed of one enemy Lewis sends an Ambassador into Scotland he studied what he should do to be reuenged of another and remembring that K. Edward had past the seas for the D. of Bourgundies passions hee desired to cry quittance with him and therfore he sent Robert of Ireland a Scottishman and a Sorbonist with two French Gentlemen to perswade Iames 3. King of Scotland to make warre against England but the Estate of Scotland was so full of bad humours as they could not stir this bodie without danger of an incurable disease b Whilist that a body is found it feeles not the putrified and corrupted humors which are disperced into diuers mebeâ—s but as soone as one part is grieued all gather together run thither It is euen so of states whilst they are in peace but vpon the first trouble any thing that is wicked seditious and rebellious discouers it selfe The King was but seauen yeares old when he succeded to his Father ContentioÌ„ in Scotland for the Regency and the diuision was great to know who should haue the Regencie and Gouernment of the Realme Some were for Queene Marie his Mother Others were for Iames Kenneth and George Douglas Earle of Anguse The Queene caused her selfe to be declared that which she would be they that were for her saied that if they regarded Proximitie there was not any neerer vnto the Sonne then the mother If they did consider the good of the childe not any one could haue more care then she If they could not contend with her in the degree of Proximitie it were indiscretion to call her affection and fidelitie in doubt hauing therein nature for her Caution If they respect the common good the condition of her birth was considerable for that being a stranger no way possest with loue nor passion they should not finde that she would support the one to the preiudice of the other as they might doe which had Alliances Kinsmen and Intelligences within the Realme who carried their dessignes beyond the Kinges life and might builde vpon his toombe As for her the death of her Son could bring her no other fruits but a perpetuall sorrow and therefore she was bound to desire his health and preseruation Kenneth seeing this ScottishmeÌ„ hate the commaund of women stirs vp the people to apprehend the iniurie which was done vnto the Lawes of a Realme which had alwaies detested the rule of Women as contrary to that of nature c Gynecoratis or the gouernment of women is directly against the laws of nature which hath giuen vnto men seâ—ce wisedom arms and commaundment and hath taken it from womeÌ„ and the law of God hath wisely decreed that the woman should bee subiect vnto the man not onely in the gouernment of realms and Empires but also in euery mans priuate family Bodin Lib. 6 cap. 5. and which had seen the raigne of an hundred Kings and not any one of their Daughters that succeeded Shall wee not finde saied hee among so many thousands of men one man that is capaple to commaund men must a Nation which hath no other experience but armes beforced to subiect their swords to the lawes of a distaffe and suffer themselues to be gouerned at the discretion of a woman and of a strange woman d The first woman which opened the waie for the rule of women in Scotland was Mary Stuard and Mary the Daughter of Henry the 8. in England To pacifie this discord they resolued to leaue all matters as they were for a moneth during the which the passions of both parties were but the more enflamed Many within the Realme desired rather to obey the Queene then any other that should be of an equall condition or superior vnto them But as in such occasions a man of credit and authority workes wonders drawing the hearts and opinions of men as he pleaseth Iames Kenneth Archbishop of St. Andrew giuing the Parlament to vnderstand e Cato desirous to let the Romans vnderstand that the commandemeÌ„t of women was shameful spake these wordes vnto them All men coÌ„mand women wee coÌ„mand men and women command vs. Plut. that to giue the authority to the Queene was to contradict the auncient Lawes of the Realme to expose Scotland to dangers and Scottishmen to the scorn of a shamefull gouernment and who should iustifie the reproach which might be made vnto them to commaund men and to be commaunded by women That Scotland neuer knew what the gouernment of women was they found no names in their language to expresse it they had neuer seene woman preside in their Councels nor Parliaments nor to dispose of Iustice nor of the Treasure and that which other Nations call Queene Scotland cals the Kings Wife f The history of ScotlaÌ„d reports the wordes of Iames Kenneth Mairoes nostri adeo erant a cura publica muliaeribus mandanda alieni vt si omnia reruÌ„ vocabula excutias ne mulâ—ebus quidem imperii nomen opud eas
haue relinquished our owne right and thought good to surcease The Embassadours of Venice and Florence fall to an examination of the Articles They finde not any pleasing vnto them they make new demands wil haue all restored which had ben taken during the war they passe ouer the Popes interests respects highly and say plainely that the affaires are changed being no more in the estate they were in before they had made a peace with the Turke the which they declared they would maintain constantly and fully ConditioÌ„s of Peace refused As for demanding absolution after the forme of the Church there was no such meaning d Pia insuper sanctaque impiè nefandissimè occisorum Christianorum Domini suffragià Cardinalis legati detensioneÌ„ ambagibus quibusdam praetereunt Qui vero monumentuÌ„ declinandum existiment si nostram eam infamiam putant aequo animo per Deum superflui officij curam deponant Nam conscientia pluris est nobis quam omniuÌ„ sermo benefactis quorum testis est Deus maloruÌ„ calumnias veras nobis laudes adscribimus Discrimen iniustae criminationis malumus subire quam tot defunctorum animas refrigerio iusto carere Qui si ad seipsos eam infamiam referunt imièque factoruÌ„ delere de ciuitaâ—e memoriaÌ„ cupiunt sunt haud dubiè in seipsos mortuos duri Ad iterandam enim contritionem proximisque praebendum exemplum subleu andumque imprimis extinctorum animas stare ante oculos peccatum volunt durae nimirum recusationis suae culpa haec est non misericordis postulati nostri They thinke it would be no honour for them to entertaine an odious remembrance of things past causing Anniuersaries to be said for the soules of the dead to giue new assurance of their affection toward the Church there was no mention When as the Pope saw this Popes coÌ„plaint against the League he assembled the Consistory with the Embassadors e Vertimur ad vos Itali CoÌ„federati Oratores quoruÌ„ causa haec agimus lamentamur primo 〈◊〉 Deo fratribus nostris ceterisque Legatis in hoc loco presentibê° vocem patris plena salutis coÌ„silia ad hunc diem non audita esse Clementia nostra vestâ—os Principes pie non vsos plus apud eos armorum belli fiduciam quam Matris vestrae Apostolici Sedis charitateÌ„ obseruantiam valuisse Angimur quoque tam longinquam missionem amicissi Regis curamque eius vigilias pro viribus susceptas sanctumque pro fide proposituÌ„ successum per vos non habuisse of the Emperour Frederick of Lewis the French King of Edward King of England of Ferdinand King of Arragon of Maximilian Arch-Duke of Austria and of the Confederates He complained of the contempt of his authority and told the Embassadors of the league that he lamented the obstinacy of their Princes who would not hearken to the voyce and wholesome counsell of their father whose bounty they did abuse and had more confidence in their owne Armes then affection to the Church their mother That he was exceeding sorry that the Kings Embassage and the good Offices which he had done to the holy Sea should remaine without effect that for his part his conscience should neuer accuse him to haue contemned any thing for the good of the Church that his armes were alwayes open to receiue them that would repent And for that the Embassadors of Venice Florence and Millan demanded leaue to depart he declared that they were free that he would not force the necessity of their returne but if they would stay they might with all safety that it might be time and their presence might make those things easie which seemed difficult IntelligeÌ„ces of the Duke of Brittaine discouered and that sometimes Treaties were broken off to be vnited againe more firmely But it is more time to repasse the mountaines and see how the King makes his profite of these last accidents Estates are like vnto ships all things are not so well but there is still some disorder It seemed that the Duke of Bourgundies death had brought France to that estate as she could not desire any thing else to make her felicity perfect But there is yet another Duke which hinders this perfection It is he of Brittany who since the Treaty made at Victoire neere vnto Senlis hath not discontinued his practises in England forgetting that the English had alwayes reserued this Prouince for the exercise of their Armes when they should be weary of peace f Edward the third King of England would not haue the Duke of Brittaine compreheÌ„ded in the Treaty of Bretigny to the end he might haue meanes to vent in this prouince the boiling humours of his Realme haue where to discharge himselfe of his Souldiers and that they haue taken delight to see him in bad tearmes with the King The Duke was more earnest and carefull hereof when he saw that he had lost the Duke of Bourgundy assuring himselfe that the King would fall vpon him and that it would be verified of him what the Fable sayes of the Larke in the Hawkes tallants g The weake receiues from one that is more strong what Law he pleaseth The Larke saith Hesiodus demanded of the Spar-hawke why he offered him violence Miserable answered the Spar-hawke why dost thou complaine a stronger hath thee in his power Wherefore he sent often to visit the King to entertain him in a good opinion of his pains and the fidelity of his promises and yet he continued his practises with the King of England The secret of this practise depended of Peter Landays Disposition of Peter Landais Superintendant of the Dukes affaires and Treasure an able and sufficient man to manage such Monopolies He had Flattery for great men arrogancy and brauery for Inferiors and he was difficult and seuere to them that were his equals h These three qualities attributed to Landays haue been giuen to Cutius Râ—fus a man whom Tiberius to â—â—de the bâ—sâ—nesse of his extraction said to be borne of himselfe Curtius Rufus videtur mihi ex se nâ—tus Curtius Ruâ—us seemes to me to be borne of himselfe Tacitus addes that hee was Aduâ—rsus superiores tristi adulati ne arroâ—aâ—â—s minoribus inter pares difficilis To his superiours a sowre flatterer arrogant to his inferiors and difficult to his equals Tacit. Animal Lib. 11. He imployed and called Maurice Bromell who carried and recarried the Packets The King who had spies euery where discouers the messenger and wins Bromell who by meanes of a Norman that could counterfeit the King of Englands hand the Duke of Brittaines and their Secretaries sent the originall letters vnto the King and carried the counterfeit Copies into England The Duke of Brittaine who thought he had no other witnesse in this action then the Sunne and that the king could haue no knowledge therof i In Actions which
habes à currente flumine quantâ—m hauris ita ex aâ—nis semper euntibus nihil accipis nisi quod in res duraturas collocaris Thou hast so much of a running streame as thou drawest forth so of yeares which still slide away thou retainest nothing but what thou dost employ in durable things for his successors giue him the honour to haue freed them from subiection and France is bound vnto him to haue beautefied it with the Crownes of Dukes and Earles The death of Charles the last Duke of Bourgundy restored vnto him the Dutchy and County of Bourgundy but his good title must be so assisted by force as his Prouinces were rather conquered then restored He vnited also vnto the Crowne the Dutchies of Anjou and Mayne which had beene separated for the portion of Charles the first King of Sicile x The returnes of the Counties of Anjou and Maine which had beene very remote from the Crowne was drawne 〈…〉 â—arriage of Charles of Valois who married the daughter of Charles the second King of Sicile vpon condâ—tion that he should renounce the rights and hopes of the Crowne of Valencia and Arragon and giuen for a Dowry to the Lady Margaret of Sicile who married with Charles of France Earle of Vallois This marriage restored that hope vnto France which she had in a manner lost to revnite those Prouinces for that contrary to the Law of the Realme they had beene giuen in marriage to a daughter France is also bound vnto him for the acquisition of the County of Prouence by the meanes which haue beene formerly mentioned The peece was not entire for the Principallity of Orange was seperated yet in the yeare one thousand foure hundred three score and fifteene he had purchased the homage and iurisdiction of William of Chalon Prince of Orange and made it subiect to that of Dauphine y Lewis of Chalon Prince of Orange bought of René King of Sicile the â—omage and Soneraignty of the Principallâ—ty of Orange which was held of the County of Prouence and William of Chaloâ— sold it to King Lewis the 11. Hee past the three score and third yeare of his age the which he had alwaies apprehended for that the Kings of this branch had neuer attained vnto it Age of Lewis the eleuenth And as it is the nature of man to desire to liue and to repent to haue liued when he had attained vnto it he would willingly haue kept backe that tearme in the which nature by the great infirmities wherewith hee was brought low chased him out of this life not as from a Ship-wracke but as out of an Inne where hee had made good cheere z Themistius compares the death of old meÌ„ to the going out of an Inne and that of yong men to a Shipwracke In like manner Princes and they that haue liued in pleasure feare not death for want of courage as many thinke but for the long continuance of their delights and contents Hee arriued not at this port without stormes and great perils in the which hee was preserued by the same hand which had diuerted many damnable attempts against his person The most doubtfull of these accidents was at Peronne the greatest at the battle of Montlehery the most vnexpected vnder the port of the Castle of Alençon Dangers which hee did escape a This accident happened on Sunday the 8 th of August 1473. Edward the 2. King of England playing at Chesse ended his game so fitly as a great stone fâ—ll vpon the place as soone as he was vp and had slaine him if hee had stayed Thomas Walsingham when as a great stone falling from the Vault did but touch his sleeue An accident which shewes that no man knowes where death shall surprise him and that a wise man should alwaies attend it resolutely in all places This Raigne was rough difficult and tossed with strange reuolutions Such as liued in those times said that the world had neuer beene more wicked Opinion which like vnto Orpheus Harpe doth alwaies moue the lesser and weaker spirits hath made this beleefe common among them that the world doth daily impaire that the Golden Age is changed into Siluer then into Copper and in the end into Iron and Brasse That our b It is true that the older the world growes the more remote it shall bee from the innocency and simplicity of the first Age. Aetas parentum peior auis tulit Nos nequiores mox daturos Prolem vitiosiorem But in all ages men haue beene corrupted and disordered Seneca saith that his coâ—plained and that such as should come after would make the like complaint Grand-fathers times were better then that of our fathers that ours hath increased in wickednesse and that they which shall succeed shall be more wicked Paradox that the world growth not worse But I find in this Princes time as famous villanies as haue bene since His Chronicle doth produce many besides those great distractions which the History hath obserued in publicke actions as rebellions Infidelities Attempts Treasons and Conspiracies not discouering many other excesses which haue remained smothered in the consciences of two or three I haue collected the examples which it setteth downe as a lumpe of many poysons to make a Treacle against vice The first in shewing a great liberty discouereth a great bounty The yeare that the King made his entry into Paris a yong woman left her husband to follow her owne disordered lusts and after her husband beeing well aduised these are his very words tooke her againe Wise men hold the sower and sweete of marriage secret That age as well as those which haue gone before and haue followed after doth furnish examples of men who in fauour of Mecanas c Galba hauing inâ—â—ted Mecâ—â—nas to supper seeing his wife and him to court is by lookes and signes hee 〈◊〉 downe vpon his Câ—shâ—â—a fâ—yning to be vâ—â—y sleepy to giue way vnto their leues The which hee maintained with a good grace for his man being ready to take away the dishes which stood vpon his Table hee cryed out vnto him how now Knaue dost thou not see that I sleepe not but for Mecaenas haue shut their eies whilst they courted their wiues In the warre of the Common-weale Examples of diuers disorders there were seene passe through Paris two hundred Archers on horse-backe after them eight Strumpets with a blacke Monke their Confessor In the yeare one thousand foure hundred three score and fiue the sixt of Iune a Capper in Saint Dennis Streete strangled his wife in his owne house and a Labouring man of Clignancourt cut his Throate Another Gentle-woman of Paris was accused of Adultery and poysoning by her owne husband A father had long abused his owne daughter and had many children by her and as the wicked are neuer content with one wickednesse hee fell from Incest to Parricide d When as the minde of man hath once subiected
month a Porter a Pastry man a Baker two Carters to either of them sixe pounds a yeare To a Groome of the Stable and two to assist him eight and forty shillings a month A Farrier twelue pounds The Maister of the Chamber of the Kings Treasor had sixe score pounds and the Comptrouler fifty i King Lewis the 11. gaue thirty pounds of increase to Martin Barthelot Maister of the Chamber of his Treasure but the chamber of Accompts would not allow of it without a speciall command the which was dispatched at Paray le Moinat the sixt of Aprill 1481. They gaue but fiue shillings for the Groomes Liuery and foure and twenty shillings for Cloakes for the Clarkes Notaries and Secretaries of the house and Crowne of France His expence was not all in one place many did profite by it and did draw their commodities out of the liuely Springs of the Princes Magnificence Lewis remained little at Paris but most at Plessis I haue obserued in the Accomps of the Chamber of the Treasure k By the Accompts of the Kings house which were made monthly we find that in twelue yeares they were made but twice at Paris the one in the Kings house and the other in that of Maister Iohn of Popin court that there past not any yeare but hee made many voiages and that Paris saw him but seldome In the meane time he kept not his Chamber to liue at his ease neither did hee imitate the first Kings who did not shew themselues vnto their subiects but like the Images of the Gods which they drew once a yeare out of their gilded boxes He did visite his Prouinces hee spent not the twelue monthes in one sole lodging of the Zodiake Neither did hee send his affaires to the Maior of the Pallace l Clouis the 2. the 12. King of France beganne to giue to his successours vntill Charlemaigne the name of idle They were seene but once a yeare Magnificence doth not alwaies consist in the priuate expences of a Princes house Magnificence how farre it extends in numbers of Horses and Dogs nor in the shew of Lyons Tygers Leopards or Elephants it should appeare in Receiuing Lodging Feasting and defraying forraine Princes and their Embassadours This Prince in such occasions made it knowne that Magnificence doth not dwell but in Kings houses and that Frances was the Theater Hee receiued in this manner the King of Portugall the Queene of England and the Prince of Wales her sonne René of Aniou King of Sicile the Duke of Sauoy and the Princesses of Sauoy Anne Louyse and Mary m The expence of these three Princesses came to forty two pounds eleuen shillings and a peny from the 28 of October to the 24 of Nouember By the same respects of Magnificence which will that a Prince labour to content the eyes and minds of others as himselfe n A Prince doth many things wherewith hee might dispence if hee had none to content but his owne s◠lf Magnum est personam in Repubtueri principis qui non animis solum sed occulis ciuiū seruire debet It is a great matter to maintaine the person of Prince in a state who is not onely bound to serue the Cittizens minds but also their eyes Cic. hee made many other expences which were esteemed and commended both by his Subiects and Strangers He did often and for many daies feast and defray the Embassadours of England Hungary Arragon and Naples In the yeare 1477. in March the king of England sent the Lord Howard to visite him being followed by three score and tenne persons whom he defrayed all the time of his abode in France The good cheere hee made vnto the English at Amiens after the Treaty of Pyquigny and the twelue pipes of wine of the growth of Fay Monjan which hee caused to be conueyed to Deipe to giue to Edward King of England bound the English to those cries of ioy which were heard in their Army and at their departure A largesse for the Noble King of France But as there is one kind of Magnificence which is all in shew and doth purchase great applause among the people so there is another which is not so glorious and hath much fruite It is that which giues pensions to strangers and doth bind them to serue the Prince o He doth gratefie his memory in binding learned men vnto him who haue credit with posterity Senec. which doth nourish aduance and recompence good wits entertaines excellent Artists fauours good inuentions and all those that haue any credite with posterity There is also an other which is Religious Religious Magnificence and which hath not beene knowne but by the most Christian Kings who without wronging the greatnesse of their Maiesty made their houses a refuge for the miserable Robert sonne to Hugh Capet had commonly a thousand poore men in his traine hee gaue them horses to follow him and to pray for him p Lewis the 9. was founder of 28. Colledges in France who dying commanded his sonne to bee deuout to God and charitable to the poore Lewis the eleuenth had ordinarily sixe score and in Lent two hundred and forty whom he fed with meate from his Table And yet this is not the whole extent of Magnificence it goes farther and will be seene in Plaies Shewes and Iousts and in things which are rare and not common q In publicke calamities the Greeks and the Romans did vow Hecatombs they did sacrifice a hundred beastes vpon so many piles of wood Si verò Imperatorum votum esset centū Leones centumque Aquilae vnà mactabantur If it were the Emperours vow then were there a hundred Lyons and a hundred Eagles slaine together when as the people did vow Hecatombes of hundred Oxen and a hundred Sheepe the Emperours did offer a hundred Eagles and a hundred Lions But the expence which is wholy employed for sight entertaines the people but till they thinke of the belly A remembrance which dispenceth with all other things and hath no share in publicke cares but that which doth prouide meanes to content it r The multitude cares not for the conduct and good successe of affaires so they find corne at Market Vulgo vna ex republica Annonae curae The common people haue no care of the Common-weale but for Corne. when it endures any want all Sights all Plaies all Sports are tedious and makes them say that the Feast is made at their charge The Princes Magnificence must therefore shew her effects in things whereas the pleasure incounters with profite and which passe not with the contentment which the spirit takes in admiring them like vnto the daughter of Maruell which inamels her halfe circle vnprofitably in the Aire The Prince must not imitate the pride of the Pharaohs of Egypt who employed the sweate of their Subiects and the treasure of their Cofers in workes of Ostentation s They say that
His Humour disposition 105. Is constrained to grant the Gantois their demand 107. Is forced to raise the siege of Nuz and comes to Callice to the King of England 180. His profite and blame by the death of the Constable 205. His iourney against the Suisses 207. c. He looseth the battell but not his courage 211. Hee seizeth vpon the Dutchesse of Sauoy and her children 214. His affliction after the Battell of Morat 220. His defeat and death 224. An example of his Iustice 227. 227. Charles Prince of Nauarre makes warre against his father 151. Chastity and Beauty are rare companions 27. Choler and Praecipitation are two blind guides 67. Combustions in England 53. Complaints against Lewis the Dauphin 30. Complaints for the Pragmaticall Sanction 135. Confidence is the true cyment of friendship 187. Considerations of the King to haue a peace 179. Conspiracy against King Henry the sixt 54. Constantinople taken 123. Consultation taken to put the Hostages of Leige to death 108. Contention in Scotland for the Regency 230. Contentment of priuatemeÌ„ makes them forget the publicke 96. Councell of Basile seekes an accord with the Dauphin 24. Counsels in perplexity 85. counsels sauor of the passions of counsellours 173. counsell contemned drawes on destiny 223. Courage of the women at the siege of Beauuais 165. Courtesy proffered but not meant 189. Crosse of S. Laud. 179. Croysado published against the Turke 64. Cruelties makes Princes odious 125. cruelties committed at the taking of Nesle 163. cruelty base and villanous 227. D Death of Charles Duke of Orleance 2. Death of the Signior of Contay 108. Death is sweete when it is the end and not the punishment of life 204. Declaration of the house of Bourgundy 36. Delight in publicke miseries for profite sake 24. Desire of rule sets father and son at variance 60. Desire to haue things as we wold makes vs oftentimes accept appearances for the things themselues 87. Dignities change the Maximes of conscience 48. Disability supplyed by Deputy 216. Disobedience rightly punished 81 Displeasure of the Duke of Bourgundy against his sonne 34. Disposition of the Earle of Charolois 33. Distraction of Charles the sixt 1. Dutchesse of Bourgundy drawsher husband to the treaty of Arras 8 Duke of Bourgundy flies into Flanders 2. and is slaine by Taneguy Du Chastel 4. E Earle of S. Paul is made constable of France 97. His naturall affection Ibid. His bad conduct 98. His pollicy 143. His dissimulation to creepe againe into the Kings fauour 168. the manner of his comming to the King 169. His double dealing with the King of England 181 Is abandoned of all his friends 196. His grieuous perplexities 198. Is deliuered prisoner to the King 200. His confessions Arraignement sentence and execution 201. 202. c. Ease found in conference of troubles and afflictions 27. Education is as another nature 16 Edward 4. proclaimed King of England 57. He declares himselfe for the Bourgundian 77. Hee sends the Garter to the Earle of Charolois 88. Is defeated taken prisoner 141. His passage into FraÌ„ce 177. His repentance for his passage 182. Eloqueâ—ce naturall in Lewis the eleuenth 133. Embassage from the Frenâ—h King to the Emperor Frederick 176. Enemies that are ambitious must haue more work made theÌ„ then they can compasse 173. English well entertained at Amiens 187. Enterveiw of the Kings of France and Cistile 62. Enterveiw of the French King and Earle of Charolois 93. Enter veiw of the French King and King of England â—89 Estates assembled at Clâ—rmont 13 Exploits done by captain Salezard at the siege of Beauuais 165. F Faction of the Orleanoâ—s and Bourgonians 1. Famine extreame in Nancy 222. Fatality of names 6. Feare and the strange operation thereof 93. Ferdinand King of Naples seeks the alliance of the Queene of Cyprus 127. Fidelity deuotion of the French towards their Kings 5. France the Sanctuary of Popes 47 G Galeas Duke of Milan his death 229. His cruelties and whooredomes 230. Gantois profite by the Ligeois 110 George Castriot circumcised called Scanderbeg 120. Hee leaues the Turk ioynes with Iohn Huniades 121. Hee demands succors of the Pope 123 his death 124. His force and dexterity Ibid. Gyles of Brittany his Tragicall end 151. Good of a peace and necessity of affaires respect not formalities 9. Gouernement of Venice commended 129 Guienne giuen to the Kings brother 135. H Heirs teares are soon dryed vp 41 Henry the sixt King of England is crowned King of France at Paris 4. Hee flies into Scotland 57. Is imprisoned in the Tower of London 58. Is set at liberty againe 143. Henry King of Castile degraded 217. I Iames the first King of Scotland murdered 7. Iests should end when they begin to moue laughter 28. Iewes probationâ—waters 146. Impatience of the Earle of Charolois 67. Importance of the Office of the Constable of France 205. Indignities and insolences of people reuolted 103. Inequality of recompence after the battell of Montlehery 84. Inhumanity of the Duke of Bourgundy 164. Iniuries done to faith and reputation are not easily repaired nor recompenced 100. Insolence in victory punished 23. Institution of the order of Saint Michael 136. Intelligences continued betwixt Bourgundy BourboÌ„ 139. IntelligeÌ„ces of the Constable with the Duke of Bourgundy 177. Iohn Earle of Armagnac expelled his Country 154. accused by a Welchman 155. Desires a safe conduct to iustifie himselfe 156 Is reconciled to the King 157. And is afterwards slaine vnder the assurance of a Treaty 158. His incest 159. His superstition in holding it a bad presage to meete an Englishman with a Red Crosse. 160. Isabella of Cstaile marries Ferdinand of Arragon 218. K Katherine Cornari adopted by the Venetians 126. King Lewis in danger to be taken or slaine 116. His letters to the Lord of Lude 152. King and Queene of Cyprus driueÌ„ out of their owne Realme 126. King of Scotland giuen to Sorcery 234. and is slaine in fight by his Nobility 235. Knights habite of the Order of S t. Michael and the marke of the Order 137. Knowledge better how to die then to kill is the best and onely part of vallour 17. L League of Armagnac 2. Learning is silent when warre speakes 26. Letters from Amurath to Scanderbeg 121. And the answer ot it 122. Letters of the Soldaâ— to the King of Cyprus 125. Letters of defiance from Edward 4. to the French King 178 Lewis excited against his father by bad counsell 10. He soliciteth the good Townes of France to ioyne with him 12. Is reconciled to his father 14. He desireth rather to be held a bad son then a bad master 15. He takes Deipe 20. Is too true in his threats promises of reuenge 29. auoyding one danger he fals into another 31. Is dispossest of his reuenewes in Dauphiné 32 His wandring being in Hunting 34. His coronation 42. His voyage into Brittany 52. Is made Arbitrator betweene the Kings of Castile and Arragon 62. Is receiued
with great pompe into Tournay 64. His message to the Duke of Britany 65. Hee separates the heads of the League 107. Two errours which he cōmitted in the assurance of his person 111. 112 His politick dissimulation with the Constable 170. His iudgement to distinguish spirits 183 His message to the King of England Ibid. He discouers the Constables double dealing to the Bourgundian 186. His iests vpon the peace made with Edward 4 th and his feare to haue them related againe 191. Learning disalowed by the Turke 219. Liberty the ancient coulour for innouation 80. Lie especially in a Gentleman how to be punished 169. Leige reuolts against the Duke of Bourgundy 103. Is supported by the French king 107. Submits it selfe and demands pardon 109 Hath her wals beaten downe 110. Is againe besieged by the Bourgundian 114. Loue without regard of honour or profite 58. Loue continued towards children for their fathers sake 76. M Marriage of Lewis the 11 th 6. Misery of imprisonment mittigated by kind vsage 177. miseries of France for 70. yeares 5. Modesty of Blanch daughter to Iohn King of Nauarre 6. Mony leuied vnder the pretext of warre and ill employed 46. Multiplicity of Popes 38. Murder iustified by the Duke of Bourgundy 2. N Nauigation contemned by the French 180. Neutrality in a subiect is meere Treason 98. Normandy yeelded to the King 99 O Obedience in a Souldier is as much commendable as courage 177. Obseruations of the Duke of Guiennes life 150. Occasion which caused an ouerture of peace betwixt the French and English 182. Opinion causeth terrible motions in the soule 15. Opportunity of fight neglected 81 Ostentation of Maiesty not suteable with misery 6. P Paris reduced to the French Kings obedience 9. Famisheth the Army which would haue famished it 91. Almost vnpeopled 99. Parpignan besieged and wonne by famine 154. Parts which frame a Prince 16. Peace of Bourges 3. Peter Hagembach his crimes iniustice and death 174. Phillip Duke of Bourgundy wins Dinan by force and ruines it 104. His death the greatnes of his house Ibid. His bounty courage and moderation 105. Pius 2 presseth the abolition of the Pragmaticall sanction 44. His affection to the house of Arragō and his threat against France 45. He disauowes his own writings 48. His death birth fortune and dignities 72. Plurallity of chiefes is for the most part ruinous vnprofitable 88 Pontoise taken by assault 18. Power which is not feared by strāgers is not well obeyed by Subiects 32. Pragmaticke Sanction abolished and dragged through the streets of Rome 51. Praecipitation is a shelfe couered with the shipwrackes which she hath caused in great occasions 78. Princes are especially to provide that great houses vnder their gouernment ally not themselues against their liking 19 Princes seeme very weake or very fearefull which giue an Enemy-army leasure to make a bridg 89 Princes in marrying regard not their pleasure but the necessity and profit of their affaires 144. They are no lesse bound by simple words then priuate persons are by Oathes 163 Q Quality of Cardinals 50 R Reasons which perswaded the English to peace 184 Reformations of the disorders of the Realme 95 Reception of the King of Portugall into Paris 219 Representations ridiculous 43 Reputation of a generous Father makes a valiant sonne lesse remarkeable 20 Rigor of Lewis in the beginning of his reigne 53 Royalty endures no equall 8 Rubempre staid at the Hage by the Earle of Charalois 66 Ruine and desolation of the Legeois 118 S Sedition ought to be smothered in the beginning 76 Sedition cloked by Religion 106 Siege of Pontoise 17 Siege of Saintron 109 Siege of Nancy 221 Seuerity of discipline is hardly obseruable in ciuill warres 80 Son-in-law against father-in-law 3 Succours of Men and Money sent to the Earle of Charalois 94 Suisses before Zurich 21. defeated 23. they send succours to the Duke of Lorraine 222 Summe of the Pragmaticke Sanction 49 T Talbot relieues Pontoise 17 Temporising profitable 149 Thornes and Roses of Marriage 44 Trechery most damnable 158 Treaty made without Liberty bindes not 119 Treaty of peace between the Frēch King and the Bourgondian 192 Trifles want not their moment and serue many times to driue weightier matters out of the heads of the people 132 Troubles in England 140 Truce betweene France and England prolonged 24 Truth not to be found in an enemies tongue 25 Tumults in Cyprus 127 Turkes make their profit of the diuision of Christendome 46 V Valour and bounty of Lewis the Dauphin 9 Valour and fidelity of the Scottishmen 117 W Water not to bee digged for in a neighbours house before we haue sought for it in our owne 148 Wisedome and temporising surmount all difficulties Words of S. Bernard 49 Words of the Duke of Bourgondy 79 Words of K. Lewis at his departure from the Duke of Bourgondy 119 Words betwixt the King of England and the Duke of Bourgondy 187 Y Youth and Inconstancy are Sisters of one Mother 78 A Table of the principall Matters contained in the last foure Bookes ADmonition made by the king to the Dauphin 70 Age becomes couetous when it hath not any need of goods 64 Alponso King of Castille his death 87 Anaxagoras his speech of the Sunne 11 Andrew Archbishop of Krane preacheth against the Pope 58. and persisteth in his proposition 60 Armies are not to bee entertained without tribute 42. Arras yeelded to the French King by composition 14 Artillery inuented 43 Audiences of Henry the third at his returne from Poland 159 Authority of the King is an Ocean 135 B Balue the Cardinall his policy to get out of prison 66 Barbarisme in the time of Lewis the eleuenth 190 Basnesse aduanced forgets it selfe the fauor which raised it 10. Basill excommunicated by the Pope 58 Beginnings of the diminution of Flanders 76. Bishop of Liege trecherously slaine being abandoned of his owne people 37. 38 Boloigne vnder the virgin Maries homage 13 Bosio's errour in the History of Malta 137 C Changes of gouernment at Florence 2 Charlemaine founder of the Vniversity at Paris 124 Chauvin Chancellor of Brittanie his lamentable end 10 Chronicles often follow toyes and leaue out most famous actions 88 Claudius Seissel his hard iudgement 121. Comandements extraordinary of the King 110 Confession of the fault is the best rethorick to appease iust choler 9 Conspiracy against the life of the French King miraculously discouered 31. 32. c. Contempt is the fore-runer of sedition 65 Contempt of discipline in Souldiers 184 Controuersie for the Lands of Berne Foix and Bigorre 84 Cosmo de Medicis his great riches and bounty 167. his exile and returne 168 Credit of Astrologians 188 Cruelties of Mahomet at the taking of Constantinople 46 Curing of the kings euill 123 D Danger in employing forraigne Souldiers 39 Death of the Lord of Nantoillet 199 Desolation is the house of Bourgondy 161 Discourse of a powerfull charme 127 Discommodities of prouision for Horse-men 39
of the Dauphins wife Death of Margaret Stuard and his heauines was so apparent as the whole Court did participate thereof But there was more then teares to witnesse that hee loued this Princesse and that the remembrance of her should not end with weeping k Affection is not tryed by teares onely To ceace to weepe is not to forget the remembrance is too short which lasteth no longer them teares for he receiued the Princesses of Scotland her Sisters with all kindes of honor whom she had greatly desired to see They came at the time of her Funerals and finding themselues as it were vnknowne in a country whereas that which should make them to be knowne and respected was wanting they dyed for griefe All consolations made their greefes comfortles l We must giue time and ayre to sorrow to euaporate it In those which are extremâ— it is a part of the griefe to heare of consolations and made them desire that the Queene their sister being in the bosome of the earth had them vpon hers But the King to witnes that the affection which he bare vnto their Sister was not dead made them to feele the effects He married the one to Francis Duke of Brittaine and the other to Sigismond Archduke of Austria m Iohn Duke of Brittanie sent Ambassadors into Scotland to treat the marriage of his Sonne with Isabel daughter to the King of Scotland at whose returne he enquired what the Princesse was Who made report That shee had beautie sufficient a bodie well disposed to beare children but shee had no ready speech To whom he answered That she was as he demanded and that he held a woman learned enough if she could make a difference betwixt her husbands doublet and shirt Annal. of Aquitaine It is impossible to finde truth in an enemies tongue The iudgement of two Historians of England Hony how sweet soeuer it be is sharpe and offensiue to a mouth vlcered with passion and slander Edward Hall and Grafton two writers of England seeing that their imposture would take no hold vpon the manners and actions of this Princesse haue indiscreetly written that she was vnpleasing to her husband n Buchanan in the tenth booke of the Historie of Scotland saith that two Historians of England hauing as little sufficiencie as modestie haue beene so Impudent as not finding any thing wherewith to slander this Princes haue said Ob oris graueolentiam marito fuisse ingratam But there are records yet to be seene both in France and Scotland of the griefe which Charles the seuenth and the Dauphin his Sonne had for her death and Monstrelet speakes as of a Princesse who excelled in beautie both of minde and bodie She fauoured the good wits of her age Alain Charretier was held at that time one of the first of the Court and this Princes did esteeme him so rare as shee honoured him with a singular fauour for passing by a Chamber whereas he slept vpon a forme she kist him and to satisfie the amazement of the Ladyes of her traine she added I kisse not the man I kisse the mouth from whence haue come so many goodly Discourses Yet it was one of those mouthes which haue learned to talke and not to bee silent o There is no such itching of the spirit as a desire to write It is not cured but by silence Eusenius demanded of Apolonius Thianeus why hee did not settle himselfe to write for that said hee I haue not yet learned to hold my peace This warlike and Marshall season was debarred both of learning and learned men For whereas warre speakes learning is silent The Prouinces troubled by armes neither teach nor are taught and the money which should serue for the stipend of publicke Readers is imployed for the musters of souldiers p The Emperor Leon made an answere to one that counselled him to imploy his treasure in the entertainement of souldiers vtinaÌ„ meis temporibus eueniat stipendia militum in doctores artium absumi I would it might happen in my time that the stipends of souldiers might bee imployed vpon Doctors of Arts. The yeares of Truce being expired The warre renues the warre was renued with all violence against the English The Historie speakes nothing of the actions of Lewis vntill his retreat into Dauphine neither are the causes thereof well exprest Shee hath well obserued his discontents His Father held him somewhat short and his actions were not so temperate The wretched life of a great King but they gaue him some cause of suspition that he had a desire to be master q The opinions of children should be limitted in that sort as it is not lawfull for them once to thinke to aduance the time they must suffer heauen the order of nature to work The King being come to an end of his affayres would recompence the troublesome nights which hee had past r A troubled youth requires a quiet age he that hath liued in the waues desires to dye in the Port. when as melancholly had dryed vp his bones that all his demeanes were engaged the chiefe forts of the Realme in the power of the English that his table often fayled and that hee liued in such frugalitie as hee had no need of excellent Cookes such as those of the Romans were 1446 for they found him not with three or foure Dishes like vnto Charlemaine but with a messe of Pottage made with a rumpe of Mutton and a couple of Chickens rosted for his whole seruice s The sobrietie of Charlemaine hath beene commended he had but foure dishes hee dranke but thrice and neuer betwixt meales he did eate some fruits after dinner Eghinard The great toyles which hee had past deserued some good daies but he sought them not in his family nor in his children t Rest after their trauels is iust and lawfull but it is most sweet in his owne house And therefore Hercules was represented playing with a little Child The familie hath consâ—iations Bella planè accinctis obeunda sed reuertentibus post laborem quid honestius quam vxorium leuamentum TAC. His spirit plunged it selfe in delights He giues himselfe to delights and to Ladies for the which like vnto another Iupiter he transformed himselfe into diuers shapes vnworthy of his Maiestie and although he was impatient of seruitude as all Kings be yet he vowed himselfe to the seruice of Ladies which followed the Queeene Aboue all their appeared the fayre Agnes beautifull in the flower of her age and as louely as worthily to bee beloued u The Obiect of Loue is Beauty and Beautie is the marke of many desires It is for blind men to demaund why Kings loue fayre things She stole the Kings heart who made her Mistris of the Castle of beautie as she was Queene of all the beauties but beauty was in her a bad Hostes in a goodly lodging The Historie which
to his head with foure nayles f The Emperor Henry the sixt beeing in Sicile discouerâ—d some conspiracie against him and his estate He caused the chief of them to bee apprehended to punish his ambition he set a crowne of copper vpon his head caused it to be fastened with foure nayles Nic. li. 2. Queene Margaret to effect her designe had drawne some succours from Rene King of Cicile her Father The King lent her sonne two thousand pound sterling at Chinon vpon condition that as soone as King Henry should recouer Callice hee should deliuer the gouernment thereof to Iasper Earle of Pembroke or to Iohn of Foys Earle of Candalles paying him moreouer fortie thousand crownes But all this preuailed nothing the King remained a prisoner and the Queene had much adoe to saue her selfe with the Prince of Wales her Sonne g Monstrellet saith that Queene Margaret her Son La Varenne were met by theeues that she said vnto a theefe that met her bold my friend saue the son of thy King that shee went to Scluce and from thence to Bourges and that the Duke of Bourgundy caused her to be coÌ„ducted to her Father The Princes of the house of Lancaster retired themselues whether their feete and dispaire carried them Some were seene in the Duke of Burgundies Court in miserie Misery of the house of Lancaster begging their bread Fortune how cruell soeuer can doe no worse vnto a Prince then to reduce him to the apprehensions of hunger h Ph. de Commines saith hee had seene a Prince of this house of Lancaster follow the D. of Bourgundyes traine and without hose begging his bread from house to house and that being knowne they gaue him a small pention to liue on The beasts are freed from it The fishes pay no tribute to passe from Riuers into the sea Swallowes flying through so many regions dyed not of Hunger It is a pittifull thing that men and the chiefe among men haue difficultie to liue and to finde what to eate and drinke and wherewith to cloth themselues i Nature comprehends all the necessities of the world in these three words Non esurire Non sitire Non algere not to be hungry thirstie and cold all the rest is superfluous Edward in this great prosperitie of affayres troubles not his iudgement but considers that the house of Lancaster was ruined without hope of recouerie and the Red Rose withered That it was impossible euer to rise againe if it were not assisted with the forces of France Wherefore he desired to make his alliance with the king and sent the Earle of Warwicke to demand Bonna of Sauoye the Queenes sister in marriage Edward fals in loue with a Widdow But during this negotiation Loue which may be held a kinde of furie k Loue is put in the ranke of Melancholly diseases and kindes of fury it peruerts the iudgement and confounds the good with the euill for that it troubles the iudgement carried the affections of this Prince to the seruice of a Ladie who would haue held her selfe much honoured to haue serued the Queene of England and yet she had the ambition to be so Fortune agreed with her beauty Being widdow to Sir Iohn Grey her age bound her to follow rather the life of the Doue then of the Turtle l The Empresse Barba wife to Sigismond the Emperor being told after the death of her husband that she should imitate the Turtle If I must said shee initate beasts why rather the Turtle then the Doue or the sparrow Aeneas Sil. de dict Sigismondi et Frederici Imper. for her first marriage had scarce touched the flowers of her beauty nor of her youth Edward did not liue but for her his heart receiued no law but from her eyes to whom he did submit the full disposition of his fortunes She being powerfull in the charmes of loue let him presently vnderstand that she did not accept of the sacrifice of the hearts of Kings but of the Altar of honour that he might not hope to haue her for a Mistris if he would not assure her to make her his Queene They that loue ardently are easie and tractable m Hee that loues refuseth not any thing In loue there is force and pleasure force constraines the will and pleasure deceiues the iudgement they spare neither wordes nor oathes Edward transported with this fury forgets the sute which he made in France and changeth all his wills into the obedience of this Lady who seeing her selfe to command ouer the Kinges heart assures her selfe to raigne soone in his Realme He is not capable to refuse her any thing The wind of her disdaines and the couldnes of so faire a mistris may well quence the fire in the beginning but being once kindled it giues it nourishment and increase In the end Edward promised to make her Queene and his promise was presently followed with the consumation of the marriage to the great amazement of the Nobility of England who thought the King was bewitcht n Beauty and grace are the mighty charmes of loue said Olimpias the mother of Alexander Loue which growes from amorous drinckes continues not Plutarch gueth these Epithites 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 short toublesome changeable And he saith it doth easily change into hatred and disdaine and wisht him a more honorable alliance Lewis tooke it ill and the Earle of Warwick was so greeued as from that time he was wholly the French Kings who by his counsell plotted a reuenge which shall shew it selfe in the yeare one thousand foure hundred seauenty one Marriages and alliances vnworthy of the greatnes of Princes cause murmurings and discontentments in the people o The people which loue their Princes reioyce at their victories and prosperities They are aflicted at their losses especially if they do any thing which may impaire their honor as when they treat of alliances vnworthy the greatnes of their houses Tot luctibus funesta ciuitate pâ—rs maeroâ—is fuâ—t quod Iulia Drusi filia quondam Neronis vxor dempsit in domum Rubelliâ— Blandi cuius Auum Tiburtem equitem Romanum plerique meminerant Rome did mourne generally when as Iulia daughter to Drusus the sonne of Tiberius and widdow to Nero son of Germanicus married with Rubellius Blandus whose Grandfather had carried no other title then of a Knight The great Calme which was in France King Lewis goes into Guienne did notwithstanding presage a great storme and gaue the King meanes to visit some of the prouinces of his realme he went to Burdeaux whereas he treated of a marriage betweene the Lady Margret his sister and Gaston of Foix who was sonne to Elenor of Aragon daughter to Iohn King of Aragon and Blanch Queene of Nauarre He accepted this Alliance for that this yong Prince was valiant and coragious and that the successions of the Crowne of Nauarre Foyx Berne Bygorre and other Lands lying in
Duke of Berry to the King his brother wherefore he sent vnto the King of England although he were his enemy for that he had fauoured the house of Lancaster he accepted the Order of the Garter which he ware all his life and sought his sister in marriage although hee had noe will to marry her but being ingaged in this proposition he was taken at his word that which in the beginning was but a meere will became necessity William of Cluny a Prothonotary was imployed in this treaty as in many other great occasions to recompence the which the Duke of Bourgundy demanded a Cardinalls hat for him and sent Philibert Hugonet Bishop of Mascon to Pope Sixtus the fourth who seeing the great oppositions which Cardinall Latin of Vrsins made he fell into some hope to attayne vnto that dignity the which he demanded and obtayned A resolution was taken to goe directly to Paris k He that will doe any great effect in an enemies estate must go directly to the hart and not busie him-selfe vpon the fronter the Army leaues Estampes passeth by Saint Mathurin of Larchant and Moret in Gastionis These two smale townes were appointed for the Dukes of Berry and Brittaine The Earle of Charolois was lodged at Piguet in a large medow fast vpon the riuer of Seine The Marshall Ioachin and Saleâ—art could not stop their l If there bee any thing that doth import in the conduct of an army and binds a generall to be carefull it is the passage of riuers which may not be waded through in the which there are a thousand incâ—nueniences Among many meanes which Vegâ—tius sets downe hee aduiseth to carry smale boates of one peece and plankes to â—ay vpon them Vege lib. 3. cap. 7. passage for they had much Ordinance to make their way and there were none but some few horses on the other side to hinder them In all this he was assisted by the wise councel and experience of the Earle of Dunois who was an Vlisses in pollicy and an Achilles in valour Hee caused small boats and wine pipes to be carried in cartes In the midest of the riuer of Seine there was an Iland in the which he lodged through the fauor of his Canon remayning there all night with fifty men at armes Passage of the army into the Isle of France and the next day he finished his bridge vnto the other banke The building of this bridge brought reputation to the army for that Prince seemes either very weake or very fearefull which giues an army leysure to make a bridge As there is shame not to hinder it so there is glory to finish it The Romans who were rightly borne for the conquest of the world were so Iealous of their honor at the passage of riuers as they neuer passed ouer their Legions but vpon bridges m To passe riuers without a bridge was held vnworthy the greatnesse and Maiesty of the Roman people Caesar Nisi poÌ„tibus presidiisque impofitis dare in discrimen legiones haud Imperatorium ratusâ— and after that they had planted gards vpon the approches At this passage the army was fortified by nine hundred horses led by Iohn Duke of Calabria Sonne to Rene King of Sicile foure hundred Crosbow-men Germans and fiue hundred Swisses n The first Swisses which carried armes came to serue the league of the common-weale Phil. de Commines saith that they wan credit for them that came after for they behaued themselues most valiantly in all places where they came They hold that their were an hundred thousand horse in this army They tooke Pont Charanton whereas the quarters were giuen vnto the troupes to besiege Paris The Earle of Charolois and the Duke of Calabria held all the banke of Seine from Charanton to Conflans Disposition of the leagues Armie The Campe was inclosed with a number of carts The Dukes of Berry and Brittaine were lodged at S. Maur and all the rest towards S. Denis The Princes did presently let the Parisiens vnderstand why they were in Armes for the which they gaue such plausible pretexts and offered so many offices o Offers made to a multitude must be of 〈◊〉 things as please them They offer offices to the inhabitants of Paris Phil de Comines giues the reasoâ— That offices are more desired in that Citty then in any other in the world for such as haue them make of them what they can and not what they ought and there are offices without wages which are sold for eight hundred crownes and others which haue final vvages are sold for more then their wages can amount vnto in fifteen yeares and preferments to them that fauoured their designes as hauing let them know that they desired to conferre together to consult of the meanes to reforme the disorders of the Realme the Citie sent her Deputies whereof VVilliam Chartier Bishop of Paris was the chiefe There was some Ceremonie vsed in it The Princes assembled at S t. Maur. Assembly of the league and Deputies of Paris The Duke of Berry was set in a chaire the Duke of Brittanie and Calabria on the one side and the Earle of Charolois on the other with his Cuirasse and a rich mantle ouer it and these three stood p. If this conuersation had beene suffered saith Phil. de Com. the Princes might haue said the Towne had beene won for the people would soone haue turned to their partie for many reasons by coÌ„sequence the whole realme Iohn Bastard of Orleans Earle of Dunois propounded in the behalfe of the Princes that the designe of their league tended onely to the publike good and that it was necessarie to vnderstand one an other and to haue free entrie into Paris to treat and conferre together that the fittest meanes depended of that Conuocation of the Estates intreating them not to bee amazed if they presented themselues before their Citie in Armes hauing no other intent but to cause the King to giue eare q Marc Anthonie saith that although all sedicious bee dangerous yet that is iust and necessary when the people being opprest demaÌ„ss reliese from the whole congregation of citizens lawfully assembled to the good and wise counsell which they would giue him for the publike good of the Realme the which they said was ill gouerned laying many imputations vpon the King If the King Conference broken by the Kings presence who was gone into Normandie to raise his troupes had not come as a Prince should come to fortifie a people amazed and wauering this first conference had giuen the Princes of the league a great aduantage for the Citie yeelded to receiue them and their men paying and liuing without excesse but being arriued no man durst once speake of a conference or an accord and such as delt in it repented themselues beeing forced to depart the Realme The Bishop of Paris liued in disgrace with the King It was not a cloud r When
done any great exploits by sea although that their coast be greater then that of their neighbors and that it is hard for a Prince that is not strong at Sea r To bee strong at sea is much more auaileable the â—t land for the getting and keeping of a great estate The realme of Portugall is growne mighty by Nauigation The Common-weale of Genouâ— had extended her limits farre is ciuill dissâ—ntions had not stayed their designes by Sea euer to ecrease or maintaine his Empire If France had tooke delight at sea she had made the Flower-de-Luce to flourish farre off The French haue contemned Nauigation but this contempt of nauall expeditions hath clipt her wings with the which she should haue flowne so high as all the world had been amazed They did beleeue in those daies that who so was valiant at Land could not be so at Sea A verie preiudiciall errour for a Captaine that hath been accustomed to fight with the windes sea and men will sooner become a Captaine at Land where they fight onely with men then a land souldior will become a good Sea-man When as the King of England was landed at Calice The D. of Bourgundy is prest by the English and found not the Duke of Bourgundy he held it for a scorne and euen then he discouered his weaknes and sent him word that if he did not aduance he would force him to thinke of that which hee did not desire Behold this Prince reduced betwixt two extremes all the wisedome of man could not shew him a meane He found it dishonorable to dislodge from before Nuz and hee found it dangerous not to ioyne with the English God had stroken him with an amazement for the good of France for if hee had attended the English at their passage and not vndertaken the voyage of Germanie those two Armies ioyned together had been able to doe that which diuided was impossible When as the King of England prest him to come with speede the Emperor offered him battell to make him raise his seege from before Nuz At the same time when as both Armies were in view and that Albert Duke of Saxonie who carried the Standard of the Empire and Albert Marquis of Brandebourg prest the Emperor to command a chargr the Trumpets whom they attended to giue the signe sounded the publication of a peace He is forced to raise the siege of Nuz the last day of May. The secret Article carried this condition that the Duke should giue his Daughter to Maximilian and declare her heyre of al his Estates if he dyed without any sonne Munster saith that the Emperor for the desire he had of this mariage did not all the harme he could unto the Duke and that hee gaue him ten thousand florins The Duke said that he did not retire but to obay the admonition which the Pope gaue him by his Legate to whom the place was deliuered to coulour his dislodging with some shew the which was the more troublesome vnto the Duke s It is a disgrace to dislodg after a long coÌ„tinuance which alone should force Townes But he gaue the Duke this contentment that his enemies were not comprehended in this Treatie A conditionibus Pacis exclusi sunt Lud. Franc. Rex Sigismundus Exarch Austriae Out of the conditions of peace were excluded Lewis the French King Sigismond Archduke of Austria Rene Duke of Lorraine and the Suisses for that he knew the towne was reduced to extremities hauing neither patience not bread for aboue ten dayes hauing endured a whole yeare all the attempts of the assailant and all necessities which doe afflict and make desperate Townes which are sharply besieged He came posting with a small traine to Calice He comes to Calice to the King of England being loth to let the King of England see into what estate his wilfulnes at this siege had brought his Armie t The Duke of Burgundies armie had beene weakned at the siege of Nuz with the losse of foure thousand men the remainders did ouerrunne the countries of Lorraine and Bar whilest with a small traine he went to K. Edward to Calice The Constable who had presented a planke to passe the English into France now drawes it back He had promised that as soone as the Armies were ioyned hee would open the gates of S. Quentin and hee shootes at them that approch by the Dukes commandement And yet to giue a goodly name to a deformed thing u It is a great pittie said Cato 〈◊〉 his opinion against Catelyue that wee are come vnto those times where they doe attribute the name of wicked things to good Salust in Catel he seekes to make him beleeue by Lewis of Creuille whom he sent vnto him expressely that he had shewed reason and discretion in the fayling of his word that if he had receiued his men without some kinde of resistance he should make himselfe vnprofitable for his seruice loose the credit which he had with the French and the opinion esteeme which the King made of his fidelitie The Constable assures the Duke of his seruice That nothing could change his affection whereof he would giue him such infallible proofes against all men and without any exception beseeching the Duke that the Letter which he sent him might serue for an assurance of the same intention to the King of England These words vowed and sworne with vehemencie held the spirits of these two Princes in ballance notwithstanding that they doubted the contrarie x There is nothing difficult to beleeue when it is affirmed constantly and boldly sworne by any one although he were held a deceiuer The efficacy of an oath if it do not beget credit in the mind at the least it breedes a suspension and doubt of the contrary Guiceiardin saies in his first booke â—o non credo puâ— quasi â—ssere quâ—llo che multo eâ—â—icacimentes afferma non faccia 〈…〉 negli animi de terminati a credere ill contrarie I do scarce beleeue it can be but that which is 〈◊〉 with great efficacy will breed some doubt and ambiguity even in those mindes that were resolued to beleâ—ue the contrary Charles assured Edward that if they did aduance S t. Quentin was theirs They that presented themselues first with an opinion to enter The Constable failes of his promise to the K. of England and Duke of Bourgundy were forced to returne their backs with speed and retire to the Armie which followed The King of England cryed out of treason and euen then resolued to be mindfull of reuenge y A failing in 〈◊〉 and faith is 〈◊〉 forgotten and the remembrance hath alwaies for assessors Choller and Reuenge Darius for that he would not forget the wrong which the 〈…〉 done him had alwaies a Page 〈◊〉 â—â—uld him in his care when he sale downe to meat Sir remember the Athenians The Duke of Bourgundy gaue excuses and said that the Constable had a good
intent and that the place deserued some ceremonies that he would not purchase that reproch to haue yeelded at the first sight of the enemy and that he knew his humor not to attempt any thing but when he may doe it safely profitably and honorably He thought otherwise in his heart and Edward knowing well that the Constable deceiued them The K of England repents that he beleeued did not conceale it that the duke had done him wrong to imbarke him vpon his assurances The Duke take his leaue vnder a pretext to goe fetch his forces and retired into Brabant to passe at Mezieres into the Dutchie of Bar. The King of England did not like of the reason of his sodaine departure knowing well that the Dukes affaires were in no good estate and might impaire The English were amazed and discouraged as they are commonly which ground their enterprises vpon the promises and passions of strangers z They that haue needs of forraine succors promise wonders to ingage them and doe not commonly performe halfe their promises Their wils wauered betwixt hope and repentance For all the Townes whereof they promised themselues the conquest and which they had sometimes held they had onely Perronne and that was but by way of passage to refresh them The season was incommodious The Duke of Brittanie remained quiet to see the game and who should win He had incensed the King too much who had new drawne from a Secretarie of England two Letters written by Vrse a The Duke of Brittanie promised to loyne his forces with those of England and to receiue 3000. English This designe was discouered by two letters written by Vrse who then serued the D. of Brittany the one vnto the King of England and the other to Hastings his Lord Chamberlaine which discouer his practises and the promise which he had made to ioyne with the English All these reasons make Edward incline to a peace he hath some about him would gladly haue re-past the sea His chiefe seruants were not very eager of warre and remembring the entertainment at S. Quentin they found that the English were too blame to trust in the French against the French and to beleeue that Rauens will pick out one anothers eyes The Ceremonie was who should speake first there was not any one betwixt these two Princes that would attempt this mediation they thought that hee which should first demand a Peace had confest himselfe vanquished There is a great disparitie betwixt the affaire of Princes and priuate men their rules and Maximes are very different like to the Kings of Thrace whose Gods which they serue are not the Gods of the common people b The dissemblance of the affaires of great men shâ—wes it selfe in many respects and ceremonies which are not considered among priuate persons The King of Thrace is distinguished from his suâ—iects by the difference of the sâ—ruice of his Gods he hath his apart which his subiects are not suffred to worship Haward and Stanley Occasion which caused an ouerture of a Peace who were neerest about the King of England offred an occasion to breake this Ice They had taken a Groome of the Kings Armie who was sent back without ransome as the first prisoner of the English Being at libertie and readie to depart Haward and Stanley said vnto him Recommend vs to the good grace of the King your Master if you may speake vnto him He failed not and the King remembring what Garter had said vnto him found that his veluet had wrought These salutations draue him into a great perplexitie Whatsoeuer comes from an enemie is to be suspect He caused the messenger to be put in Irons fearing that he was a spie he is sounded into and curiously examined by his most confident seruants hee himselfe speakes vnto him and findes him constant without varying This perturbation of minde held him vntill the next day with the which he sate downe pensiue to his meate Posture of Lewis the eleuenth when hee was pensiue When as he was in his deepest cogitations the minde did so neglect the actions of the bodie and left them in such disorder as no man would haue taken him for a wise man c Phil. de CoÌ„ represents in these world 's the grace of K. Lewis when hee had any fantasie in his head As soon as he was set at the table and had studied a little as you know he did in such sort as it was very strange to them that did not know him for without knowledge of him they would haue held him vnwise but his deeds witnes the contrary After that he had been a while pensiue hee told Philip de Commines that hee should take away the table and went to dine in his chamber causing the seruant of the Siegneur of Halles to come vnto him of whom he demanded if hee would goe into the King of Englands Armie in the habite of a Herauld He had bethought himselfe of this man to whom hee had neuer spoke but once and notwithstanding that Phil. de Commines told him that in his opinion hee had neither stature nor grace yet would hee not any other Iudgement of the King to distinguish spirits He had made choise of him as of a man of good vnderstanding and who had as the Historie saith a sweet and pleasing voice He considered that if the charge hee gaue him did not succeed he should quit in disauowing him and make it knowne that he was but in a disguised habite like vnto Comediens d They demanded of Polistratidas Embassador of Sparta if he came in the behalfe of the commonweale or of himselfe hee answered eloquently 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If you grant me that which I demand said Polistratidas I will cause my selfe to be aduowed if not I let you vnderstand that I haue no charge He would not accept this charge for any thing that Philip de Comines could say or promise him he fell vpon his Knees as if hee had beene condemned to die e When as the King thought this man was in a good humour he sent the master of his horse for the banner of a trumpet to make him a coate of Armes for the K. was not curious nor accompanied with Heralds and Trumpets as many princes be Phil. de Com. l. 4. c. 7. The King came and spake with him and wonne him at the first word A Herald sent to the King of England promising him mony and the office of an Esleu in the I le of Rez Hee must be attired and there was some trouble to make him a coate of armes and more to send him away secretly and not to seene but most of all to instruct him in that which he should say His coate of armes was in a bouget behind his saddle hauing commandement not to put it on vntill hee did enter into the English army Philip de Comines obserues in this place the little care and
which did to belong knowledge and they might say that France was betrayed by Asses as Troy had bene by a horse s That age was in the thicke darkenesse of ignorance the which doth weaken all resolutions of wel-doing Diogenes said that Troy had beene betrayed by horses and the common-weale of Athens was lost by Asses petty-fogging did triumph in the Pallace and did plunge them that came for iustice into gulfes of confusion It became insupportable by long and tedious delayes and therefore he vndertooke to cut off the proceedings of the instructions of suites and those long formalities which made iustice like vnto a Vine which not being cut brings forth much wood and little fruit Lawes are made for publike infirmities and yet when there were most lawes the Common-weale was most corrupted and weakest t To shorten tedious sutes and to cut off that which is vnprofitable and superflous in laws hath beene the enterprises of great Princes of Theodosius Iustinian Châ—rlemaigne and Frederick Emperours But such good thoughts came to late they say that the Moule opens her eyes when shee is ready to dye The functions of his soule were languishing and deiected It was no more that great Spirit which gaue life and motion to all the spirits of his Realme that first mouer which made all the spheares of Christendome to work and who remaining in his Cabinet u Wisedome workes great effects without mouing from one place Edward of England seeing that Charles the fift did so much annoy him and yâ—t neuer went out of one place said I neuer knew king that did Arme lesse He doth crosse me mâ—re with his letters then euer his Father and Grand-father did with their great forces Armies kept all his neighbours in awe The remainder of his life was at the discretion of all kindes of languishings This cold Melancholy could finde no heate it was chill in the hottest dayes of the yeare His waywardnesse melancholy and did plunge him into a perpetuall waywardnesse insupportable to his followers and much more vnto himselfe Melancholly and sicknesse drew him by one and the same way vnto death They sought all meanes to cheere him and caused Musitians to play before him they brought many sheepheards of the Countrey of Poictou to sing to make him merry and to keepe him from slumber which drew him to a perpetuall sleepe But as the flame is smothered by smoke so this great desire of life and this base feare of death blemisht the beauty of the goodliest actions of his age x We must drink this cup ioyfully when God presents it He that hath a firme hope of enternall life should not feare a temporall death This careful desire of life retaines nothing of the generosity of the minde Maroboduus non excessit Italia per duodeviginti annos consenuitque multum imminuta claritate ob nimiam viuendi cupidinem Maroboduus went not out of Italy for the space of two and twenty yeares and hee grew old hauing much blemished his glorry by his too great desire to liue Tacit. Annal. lib. 2. A yeare after hee fell into a relapse of his sicknesse at Tours where as he was taken with a more violent convulsion then at the first Relapse of the Kings sicknesse at Tours so as he was held for dead and remained some two houres laid vpon a mattresse The Signior of Bouchage and Philip de Commines made a vow for him to S. Claude and he writes that presently after he recouers his speech A change which the minde of man should consider as all other meruailes of the hand of God by the humility of his zeale and not by the subtilty of his iudgement y The reason of that which is done miraculously depends onely of his power that hath done it S. Gregory saith that miracles debent considerari per studium non discuti per intellectum He went to Argenton to change the aire and remained there a moneth very sicke then hee returned to Tours and from thence past to S. Claude to performe his vow where hee left an euerlasting memory of his piety and deuotion z The Chronicle saith that in this voyage for the safety of his person he led eight hundred Launces and sixe thousand foott At his returne hee past by Salins A Parliament erected at Salins where hee erected the Parliament of Bourgondy which the ruines and extreame fury of the warre had chased from Dole He made ordonances for the gouernment of Iustice the which are yet obserued in the Franch-County Being at Beaujeu in Beaujolois he was aduertised of the death of Mary Dutches of Bourgondy who had fallen from her horse going a hunting and had left two children Margaret and Philip for the which hee was not sorry foreseeing that this death would breed some alteration in Maximilians affaires for the Gantois could not suffer the command of Maximilian nor Maximilian endure the humors of the Gantois a When as Manlius was chosen Consull he said vnto the people Seeke another to whom you may giue this honour for I cannot indure your maners nor you my commaundements Liv. At this returne from this voyage he would see his sonne the Dauphin in the Castle of Ambois The King goâ—s to see his sonne at Ambois where he had remained since his birth and had not seene him neither did he suffer him to be seene by all sorts of men for remembring that at the same age the great men of the Realme had seized on him against his father Charles the seuenth he feared the like attempt b Clauâ— Seissel saith That the King would not haue his sonne seene by the Nobility and men of Estate so as many doubted whether hee were liuing or dead And I thinke it is one of the reasons which made him write that Charles the 8. was supposed One of the greatest griefes and discontents which he might haue at the end of his life was the apprehension of blame which France would giue him to haue neglected the breeding and Instruction of this Prince and to haue so late sought to repaire those defects he would that the admonitions which he gaue him in the presence of his most confident seruants should bee published in forme of an Edict and enrolled in soueraigne Courts to the end his subiects might know that if his sonnes reigne were not answerable to his hopes the cause should not be imputed to his fathers Instructions Lewis Admonition made by the king to the Dauphin by the grace of God King of France Dauphin of Viennois Earle of Valentinois and Dioys to all those to whom these Presents shall come greeting Wee let you vnderstand that considering the beginning of all things and the end thereof euen of humane Nature whose dayes are short And that God our Creator hath giuen vs such great graces as it hath pleased him to make vs the head Gouernour and Prince of the Noblest Region and Nation
sometimes in sachirresolution as not daring to make warre heâ— doth things preiudiciall to peace Phillip de Commines saith His Exercises and pleasures that hee had no thought but of Ladies and more then was fit of Hunting and to entreate his owne person well When hee went a Hunting hee caused many Pauillions to be carried for Ladies and in this sort made great feasts for hee had a body as fit for it as any that euer I saw being yong and as beautifull as any man that liued in his time q Edward was held in his youth to excell all the Princes of his age in beauty and stature but when as hee came into France in the yeare one thousand foure hundred three score and fifteene He was growne grosse Fâ—w men become so but by their owne meanes Entring into the Realme hee saw himselfe surprized with a storme and expelled by him who had assisted him to conquer it Hee retired into Holland with two Hulkes a little Ship and many men without mony seeing himselfe to giue a gowne furred with â—ables to satisfie the Marriner who had transported him At the end of sixe monthes he re-entred into London when as his enemies had held him to be lost In eleuen daies the Earle of Warwicke had wonne the whole Realme for Henry the sixth Edward recouers it in twenty daies with the hazard of two great battles The strongest carried it r They are sometimes bound to fortune and sometimes to pollicy for the happy euents of great enterprises but most coÌ„monly the stronger is the Maister 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Occurrat forti qui mage fortis erat and remained peaceable King yet with some remorse to haue beene bound for the quiet possession of his Realme to the cruelties and inhumanities which he committed against his owne bloud For he put to death King Henry the sixth and Edward Prince of Wales his sonne with the Duke of Clarence his brother The cause of this brothers death is not very certaine The most common opinion is that hee would haue armed to succour the Princesse of Bourgundy contrary to his brothers liking Polydore Virgil saith that enforming himselfe he learned of them that liued in those times that King Edward being aduertised by a Coniurer s All the answeres of Sorcerers are doubtfull and deceiue them that trust in them They spake truely meaning the Duke of Glocester and the King deceiued himselfe vnderstanding it of his brother of Clarence that his name that should succeed him beganne with a G. had a conceit that George Duke of Clarence his brother should take the Crowne from his children Death of the Duke of Clarence the Kings brother and vpon this apprehension hee put him to death in a But of Malmesey Others haue written that hee sought the Alliance of the Princesse of Bourgundy and that the Dutchesse Margaret sister to Edward fauoured his Designes which the King not wishing so great a fortune to his brother hindred That at the same time one of the Dukes seruants hauing beene condemned to dye for poyson the Duke of Clarence was offended and spake in such sort as the King taking his words for threates of some great trouble caused him to die in pryson t George Duke of Clarence brother to the King of England made choice to dye in a But of Malmeâ—cy to die with some content which an 〈◊〉 disolution of the soule is wont to cause as Seneca saith or to make himselfe drunke and to free himselfe from the horrour end feeling of death Drusus meaning to dye of hunger would not cate any thing in nine daies but the flockes of his bed Tacit. l. 6. Annal. An act notwithstanding which did afflict him with such griefe and repentance as remembring the great precipitation of his iudgement procured by his brothers enemies when as any came to sue for a pardon for any one that was condemned to dye u Repentance doth vndoubtedly follow cruell and rash actions Caracalla hauing put his brother Getâ— to death hee did neuer thinke of him or looke vpon his stature but hee wept Hee caused Loetus who had perswaded him to this paracide to be imprisoned and did all kindes of honour vnto his Funerall Funus Gerae accuratius fuisse dicitur quam eius qui à fratre videretur occisus Getas Funerall was performed with more then his that seemed to bee murthered by his brother AELIVS SPARTIANVS he alwaies said My poore brother had not any to sue for him He left two children Margaret who was married to Richard Poole and Edward whom the King made Earle of Warwicke All the crosses which Edward had suffred did not so much afflict him as he receiued contentment at his returne from the warres of France for the peace which he had brought backe and the Treatie of marriage which he had made of his daughter with the Dauphin of France and the pension of fifty thousand Crownes So when he saw the Dauphin married vnto the Lady Margaret of Austria he was so grieued as hee resolued to returne into France to reuenge this iniury Choller and griefe were so violent in his soule as he dyed the tenth of Aprill at Westminster whereas the Parliament was assembled to resolue vpon the warre of France His body was carried to the Castle of Windsor and interred in S. Georges Chappell He had tenne children by Elizabeth his wife and left Edward Prince of Wales and Richard Duke of Yorke liuing All his life hee had beene liberall and dyed coueâ—ous Hee recommended his wife His brother murthers his children children and Realme to Richard Duke of Glocester who to haue the Crowne put Edward who had raigned but two monthes and Richard his Nephewes to death x Edward had a base sonne called Arthur his daughters were married to diuers Princes Brigit the last was a religious woman The daughters were declared Bastards by the Parliament for that a Bishop affirmed that hee had married Edward vnto a Lady of England before that hee was married to the Lady Elizabeth Riuers Hee caused himselfe to bee Crowned King in Iuly following The parricide of his two Nephewes caused so great scandall and horrour in all the orders of the Realme and the mother who had fledde into the Sanctuary at Westminster y This trust and recommendation of such precious Iewels bound the Duke of Glocester to haue a care of them IS DIGERDES King of Persia seeing that ARCADIVS the Emperour his enemy had recommended his some THEODOSIVS vnto him found himselfe bound to preserue his Estates and laying aside all passions of precedent hatred hee proclaimed warre against any one that should molest his pupill hauing fore-seene the rage of this Tiger filled the Citty of London with very pittifull and strange complaints as euery man found this greedy and vnsatiate desire to raigne inhumane and tyrannous hauing forced him brutishly to teare in peecees the Lawes of Nature and to pollute his hands with