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A68075 An epitome of Frossard: or, A summarie collection of the most memorable histories contained in his chronicle, chiefly concerning the state of England and France Wherin the famous warres and conquests of king Edward the third, with the honorable atchieuements of the Blacke Prince, and other his sonnes, both in Fraunce, Spaine, and Portugall, are compendiously described. ... Compiled in Latine by Iohn Sleydane, and translated into English, by P. Golding.; Chroniques. English. Abridgments Froissart, Jean, 1338?-1410?.; Sleidanus, Johannes, 1506-1556.; Golding, Arthur, 1536-1606.; Golding, Per., attributed name. 1608 (1608) STC 11399; ESTC S105661 150,748 216

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AN Epitome of Frossard OR A Summarie Collection of the most memorable Histories contained in his Chronicle chiefly concerning the State of England and France Wherin the famous Warres and Conquests of king Edward the third with the honorable atchieuements of the Blacke Prince and other his sonnes both in Fraunce Spaine and Portugall are compendiously described Entermixed with other historicall occurrents of those times very worthy and profitable to be had in remembrance Compiled in Latine by Iohn Sleydane and translated into English By P. Golding AT LONDON ❧ Printed by Tho Purfoot for Per Golding 1608. ¶ Cum Priuilegio An Epitome of Frossard OR A summarie collection of the most memorable histories contained in his Chronicle chiefly concerning the state of England and Fraunce The first Booke PHillip surnamed the faire King of Fraunce had three Sonnes Lewis Phillip and Charles and one daughter The two eldest succeeding one another and deceasing without issue left the kingdome by descent to their brother Charles This Charles had a Sonne but he dyed very young during the life of his Father The daughter of King Phillip and sister to Charles was married to Edward the second King of England who begat of her a Sonne named Edward of whose most noble disposition stout courage and princely vertues honourable mention is made in many places of this worke There is a saying in Homer that Children for the most part prooue worse then their parents seldome any better but in this King it fell out otherwise For his father was a man of euill disposition much giuen to ryot and excesse and greatly led by sicophants and flatterers of which sort the principall were twoo Noble men of the house of the Spencers These so bewitched the Kings minde that by their counsell and instigation hee put to death some twoo and twenty of the chiefest Barons of England and not so contented banished also his Wife and her Son wholy out of the Realme But the Queene at length through the assistance of her faithfull friends beeing brought backe with her Sonne into England not onlye exacted most seuere punishment vppon those flatterers the Father and the Son but further for diuers graue and weighty considerations by authority of Parliament remooued her husband from ruling the state as a person vnfit for gouernment and restrained him to safe custodie Which done the worthy Prince Edward a most vertuous Son of a most vitious Father who before had liued in exile with his Mother as is already declared was crowned King of England at London by the name of Edward the Third in the Sixteenth yeare of his age and the yeare of our Lord 1326. He tooke to Wife Phillip the daughter of William Earle of Henault and Holland whome he had formerly begun to fancy amongst the rest of her Sisters at such time as he came with his mother as a banished person out of England into Henault But the Peeres of Fraunce after the death of King Charles would in no wise admit his Sister matched to the King of England to the succession of the crowne because it was now of old receiued as a custome in that country not to leaue the charge of so great a Kingdome to bee mannaged by the discretion of women Wherevppon they likewise renounced Edward the Third her Sonne and Grand-childe to King Phillip as descending of the female line and so with one consent they gaue the scepter and soueraignty to Phillip of Valoys cousen germain to King Phillip deceased Vppon this occasion ensued most cruell warres and bitter enmity Edward the Third presuming that he had more rightfull interest and a better title to the kingdome of Fraunce then Phillip of Valoys And to further this quarrell it so fell out that a certain Noble man of great account called Robert of Artoys one who had been long of singuler respect and estimation with King Phillip at length falling in his disfauor was banished the Court and could be suffered to rest in no place by reason of the kings displeasure This man after many wandrings at last arriued in England where hee found quiet harbour and abiding and being by the King entertained as a counsellor ceased not by his perswasions to prouoke and stirre him vp to armes against the French King King Edward purposing to warre vppon Phillip sollicited the frendshippe of the Flemmings at that time remaining scarce in due obedience of their Lord whereof the French King hauing intelligence by the helpe of the Earle of Flanders thē soiourning in his Court he procured certain places of Flaunders to bee fortified where the English men must of necessity passe when they should come into Fraunce The King of England sent his forces against them and in a pitched field the Flemmings were ouer throwne and chased And further for the better dispatch of his affaires and to compasse the fauour of the Germaine Princes the King of England came himselfe to Antwerpe where he entred into a league of amitie with the Dukes of Gelders and Iuliers the Archbishop of Colen and diuers others And that the Emperour should take no offence thereat it was concluded the Duke of Iuliers should be addressed vnto him in the name of the King of England and the rest to acquainte him with these proceedings The Emperour was so farre from dislike of the matter that he also created the King of England Lievetenant Generall of the Romaine Empire The chiefe cause why Lewis of Bauier the Emperour so highly honoured the King of England was for that he hoped during the tumults of the warres hee might happily take some opportunity to recouer againe the Citie of Cambray which being indeed a Citie imperiall was notwithstanding with-holden from him by the French men The French King in the meane while contracted a league with Dauid King of Scottes who for the same purpose came with his Wife to Paris Hee sent also a power into Scotland to molest the English at home that thereby their forces might be more weakened and the King of Englands puissance abated The King of England proceeding in his purpose with the power of his confederates besieged Cambray to recouer it againe to the Empire But the Citie was so well prouided both of munition and victuall that hee attempted it in vaine wherefore abandoning the siege hee passed with his forces into Fraunce Assoone as the English army was entred into Fraunce the Earle of Henault who of late succeeded in the roome of his deceased Father and had been present at the siege of Cambray as a matter of dutye in regard it concerned the Empire refused now any longer to serue the King of England for feare of displeasing the French King because hee thought that in this warre the King of England rather intended his own busines then the affaires of the Empire The French King at such time as his enemies forces were aduanced against him and that the armyes on both sides stoode ready raunged in order of battell
noble man of so small account which will bestowe his daughter with you in marriage you haue so spent consumed your means and set your selfe so exceedingly in debt But there is a rich merchant Bertold of Machline which you know hath but one only daughter to whome in expectation of her large dowry many great Lords haue beene suters You cannot make a better match for your selfe than to seize vpon such a booty You shall do well therefore to make this offer to her father that if hee will vndertake with his mony to redeeme those townes and castles which you haue pawned to your creditors and withall be contēted to release such bonds of debt as he hath of yours already in consideration hereof you will take his daughter to wife This counsell was well accepted of the Earle and so he sent one to make the motion When Bertold had receiued the message his answere was this that he should hold it a great honour both to himselfe and all his house if his daughter might seem worthy to be matched with such a husband the respects which he thought moued the Earle to desire it were that he might be discharged frō the danger of his creditors and possesse his owne without controlment Therefore he was well content to proceede with the marriage and dislikte not of the conditions profered so as these likewise for his part might be added that if it fortuned the Earle to dye first leauing no issue then all his possessions to remaine entirely to his wife during her life And if it happened her to die first leauing issue by the Earle that then her children should be admitted to their fathers inheritance and not be debarred of their fortune though he should afterward marry a woman of more honourable birth and haue issue by her also These conditions being accepted Marie the daughter of Bertold was marryed to the Earle of Gelders and the fourth yeere after deceased leauing issue by her husband one daughter named Isabell After her decease the Earle married againe Isabell sister to that most worthy prudent Prince Edward King of England by whom he had two sonnes Reignold and Edward and one daughter called Ioane It fortuned both the Reignolds as wel the father as the son deceased Edward tooke to wife a daughter of Albert Duke of Bauier and afterwards in a battell against Wenceslaus Duke of Braband was wounded to death and departed without issue Ioane therefore after the death of her brothers presumed the inheritance should be hers but Isabell which was descended of the first marriage maintained the contrary affirming that herselfe only had rightfull interest in the succession This Isabell was ioyned in marriage to Iohn of Bloys who had much alteration with his aduersaries about the inheritance and great contention was like to haue growne betweene them so farre forth as the matter had surely come to tryall of the sword but that by his wiues departure in the mean season the controuersie was decided Then Ioane which was now the onely and vndoubted heyre of her father being married to William Marques of Iuliers bare to him a son called after his fathers name William This William made Duke of Gelders in the right of his mother tooke to wife the daughter of Albert Duke of Bauier the same which had beene formerly espoused to Edward of Gelders his vnele but by reason of her tender yeeres remaining still a mayden widdowe Reignold Earle of Gelders which marryed the king of Englands sister in regard of his great league and allyance with King Edward was highly fauoured by Lewis of Bauier then Emperour in so much that he aduanced both him and the Marquesse of Iuliers to a higher degree of honour and created them both Dukes Now the occasion why this William the young Duke of Gelders made defiance to the French King was both because he bare good affection to the king of Engand to whō he was alyed be faith and homage and also for that Wenceslaus Duke of Braband whom he exceedingly hated was confederate with the French men The cause of his hatred against the Duke of Braband was this Reignold which marryed first Mary of Machline and afterward king Edwards sister being a man beyond all measure prodigall morgaged three Castles to the Earle of Morse a rich Lord in Germany for a great sum of money ●he Earle a long while after seeing his debter vnable to redeeme his pledge solde the castles to Wenceslaus Duke of Braband After the death of Reignold Edward his sonne addressing letters to Wenceslaus requested to haue the Castles againe and he would repay him all the money that he had disbursed Which when Wenceslaus absolutely refused preparation was made for waries which doubtles should haue bene the conclusion but that by intreatie of the Duke of Iuliers and Albert of Bauier the matter for that time was compounded The same yeere Charles the Emperour appointed his brother Wenceslaus as publik protectour of the high waies for the punishment of theeues and robbers that people might passe quietly from one place to another Now it fortuned that certaine merchants of Flaunders and Braband as they trauelled about their affaires into Germany were robbed of their money spoyled of all their goods in the country of Iuliers through which they made their journey It was reported that the offenders were receiued and fostered by the Duke of Iuliers who as many more besides himselfe was thought to repine at the giuing of so great an honour to Duke Wenceslaus The poore merchants that sustained the losse made grieuous complaint to him which had the charge of redressing such enormities who thereuppon directing friendly letters to the Duke of Iuliers preuailed so little that he might plainly perceiue he rather desired warre then peace Wenceslaus therefore least the suffering of such disorders to escape vnpunished should bring the authority of his office in contempt leuyed an army The Duke of Iuliers did the like was ayded by Edward Duke of G●lders The battell was fought in Iuliers with great fiercenesse on both sides but the Brabanders were discōfited and put to flight and amongst others the Duke himselfe also taken prisoner Edward Duke of Gelders was likewise mortally wounded and dyed of the same When the Dutchesse of Braband heard tidings of her husbands captiuity by aduise of the French King she resorted to the Emperour at Confluence who vppon her complaint being moued with his brothers misfortune prepared sharp warres against the Duke of Iuliers intending to haue made a notable spoile and destruction of his country had he not bene pacifyed by the Princes electors who thought it would be an ill president that a fellowe of the Empire should be so oppressed The Duke therefore being by their meanes brought before the Emperors presence when he had voluntarily discharged his prisoner after sharpe reprehension he was againe reconciled and restored to the Emperours fauour Within fewe yeeres after dyed Wenceslaus
he fell sicke and died at London His body was conueied ouer into Fraunce and buried in the towne of Saint Dennise the King of Ciprus being present at his funeralles The King of Navarre thinking that occasion was now fitlie offered him to make warre collected forces from all partes where he could raise them and in Normandy a battell was fought with great fiercenesse and little advantage on both sides After the death of king Iohn his sonne Charles who was before stiled Duke of Normandy succeeded in the inheritance of the kingdome and was the same yeere crowned at Reames together with his wife the daughter of Peter Duke of Burbon At his coronation were present the King of Ciprus Wenslaus King of Bohemia and the Dukes of Lutzemburge and Brabant When the solemnities were finished and the new King returned to Paris he proclaimed his younger brother Phillip who had beene prisoner with his father in England Duke of Burgundy the same being formerly promised him by King Iohn before his last going ouer into England Charles the fift AS yet Fraunce was not throughly purged from the remnant of those rauinous cutthroates before mentioned and in Normandy and the places thereabout many taking part with the Navarrois much afflicted the countrey The ringleader of these warres was Lewis of Navarre King Charles appointed his brother Phillip lately created Duke of Burgundy to go against them by whome all for the most part was againe recouered About the same time the Earle of Mountpeliarde ayded by certaine Germaines his friends entered into Burgundy not farre from Besanson Incontinently the Duke repaired thither with his armie but his enemies were retyred before his comming Amongst the Articles of peace betweene the kings of England and Fraunce whereof we haue giuen you a breefe abstract before the matters of Britaine were excepted and the kings had both promised to employ their mutuall endeauours that the controuersie might be indifferently decyded But the matter was very slightly handled and it happened that King Iohn dyed as is already declared By meanes whereof the warres brake forth afresh and the french King sent a thousand horse to the ayde of Charles of Bloys who vppon the delivery of his Sons in hostage was now released out of prison On the other side Iohn Earle of Mountfort obtained succour partly from others but principally from the Englishmen who at that time held the possession of Aquitaine When their armies were both come into the field and ready to ioyne battell a cerraine nobleman of Britaine for whome it was not lawfull to beare armes because he was a prisoner vndertooke to be a mediatour betwixt them exhorting and humbly intreating them that they would accord friendly amongst themselues and not suffer the matter to come to tryall of the sword It was possible he might haue preuailed but that certaine gentlemen secretly perswaded the Earle of Mountfort their generall that he should not by any meanes come to composition with his enemy For these men having already consumed the greatest part of their meanes now set vp their rest either to recouer themselves againe by the wars or to lose what remayned in the adventure of their fortunes Thus battell was giuen with much bloudshed on both sides but the Englishmens valour put their enemies to flight Charles himselfe was slaine in the field which many thought to be a matter plotted of purpose because there was no other meanes to bring those warres to conclusion The Earle of Mountfort beholding his body depriued of life could not refraine from teares notwithstanding he was his enemie When Mountfort had thus chased his enemies and gotten the victory in short space after he recouered many townes of Britaine The French King being advertised of the state of these affaires sent his brother the Duke of Aniow as well to comfort the late wife now widdowe of Charles which remained exceeding sorrowfull and pensiue as also to animate and encourage their mindes which in her behalfe still maintained their garrisons But a great part of Britaine being by this time brought vnder the subiection of Mountfort the French King vppon further deliberation with his counsell sent ambassadours to him to treate of agreement Mountfort referred his cause to the King of England who not disliking the matter he accepted the conditions profered which in substance were these That Mountfort should hold all the Dukedome of Britaine during his life and if it fortuned him to dye without issue then the inheritance should againe returne to the Sonnes of Charles which as we told you were thē kept hostages in England Item that he should assure vnto the widdow of Charles some Earledome in those parts whose yeerely revenue should amount to twentie thousand frankes Item that at a time prescribed being summoned by the french King he should present himself in persō before him to be by him invested in his Dukedome and to performe all ceremonies vsually incident to that solemnitie And finally of his owne voluntary motion he promised to employ his endeauour for the ransōming of his kinsmen that remayned pledges in England About this time Lewis of Navarre went into Italy to be affianced to the Queene of Naples daughter The French King lent him threescore thousand frankes for the furniture of his iourney receyuing certaine Castles of his in pawne for the repayment of his money When he had almost brought his matters to effect at Naples shortly after he ended his life After the warres of Britaine and Navarre were finished euery place still swarmed with such cutthrote souldiers as were accustomed to liue vppon pillage and these mightilie plagued the countrey The French King well considered that they must be either wholy subverted or by some other meanes remooued out of the Realme Therefore the King of Hungary hauing wars at that time with the Turke he would gladly haue conveyed them over to him as he requested but the old souldiers to whome that countrey was not vnknowne disswaded their fellowes from vndertaking that voyage Then another devise was contrived and Pope Vrbane lying at Avinion furthered the french King in his purpose For he also out of his good affection to Fraunce would willingly haue had that mischievous multitude dispatched out of the kingdome There ragyned at that time in Castile a King called Don Pietro a wicked person and a notable tyrant For he not onely put to death diuerse good and vertuous persons but murthered many also with his owne hands and amongst others his owne wife discended of the honourable house of Burbon He cast the gouernors of the church in prison and seased all their goods into his owne possession It was reported by his own familiar freinds that he had conspired with the King of Granado the generall enemy of christendome His father was King Alphonso who falling in affection with another woman besides his wife had by her three sonnes the eldest whereof named Henrie was a man both of valiant courage and vertuous disposition
This tyrant in regard of the manifold crimes whereof he was often accused before the Pope had already prouoked all mens hatred against him Pope Vrbane therefore vppon good consideration sent for this bastard Henrie and Peter King of Arragon who was at continuall enmity with the tyrant as one that had bereft him of diuers Lordships to come before him at Avinion There Henrie the bastard was made legittimate and denounced King of Castile the tyrant being first excommunicate after desposed The King of Arragon promised free passage through his country and prouision of victualles to such armies as should be conducted into Castile against the tyrant intending also by the helpe of those forces to recouer his owne losses To this expedition resorted many honourable personages and by this meanes those souldiers that had so long annoyed the realme of Fraunce were conveyed into Castile The tyrant having intelligence of the armie that was comming against him betooke himselfe to flight with his wife his two daughters and one noble man onlie For he was so hated of the commons that not one of them would take armes in his defence so he was forsaken and left destitute of all men And Henrie the bastard arriving in Castile with great ioye and generall applause of the people tooke vppon him the administration of the kingdome After his coronation when he had received the othe of allegeance from the most part of the Nobilitie and Cities of the realme the noble men by whose ayde he had obtained the crowne tooke their leaues and departed for now all semed to be accomplished But he had not yet discharged those french make-shiftes because he purposed to make warre against the King of Granado The tyrant remaining in these perplexities by the aduise of that one noble man which attended him addressed letters to the Prince of Wales full of lamentable complaints concerning his misfortunes beseeching him to commiserate his estate and to releleeue him with succor Shortly after he himselfe not daring to trust his owne subiects repayred to Bayon The Princes counsell were of opinion that he ought not to be succoured in regard of his abhominable wickednesse and vngodly disposition nor that any daungerous enterprise should be vndertaken for his sake Contrarily the Prince iudged it an vnworthy thing that a bastard Sonne should vsurpe the inheritance of the crowne which was a very ill president and extended to the preiudice of other kings and princes Therefore when the tyrant came he receiued him courteously into the town of Burdeaux and promised him his assistance Neuerthelesse he sent in●… England to the King his Father declaring to him the wh●… circumstance of the matter and requiring his cou●… and direction concerning his proceedings The King of England in regard th●● of long time before there had beene a league between 〈…〉 Spaniard and him encouraged his Sonne in the answ●… of his letters to go forward with his purpose for the 〈…〉 him to his ●ing do 〈…〉 And so the iourney was 〈…〉 vppon betweene th●… But one thing was 〈…〉 in the wa●… Their ●…assage lay through the King oSpan● varres country who had lately contracted amity with Henrie the newe King of Spaine Howbeit matters were so handled that a meeting was had at Bayon and vppon certaine conditions the King of Navarre was ●o well satisfyed that he promised all curtesy frendship and peace King Henrie being aduertised of these proceedings sent to the King of Fraunce forayd The Prince practised with the Captaines of those souldiers which before had been so troublesome to Fraunce now tooke paye of the Spaniard that they should forsake King Henries seruice and follow him There was about twelue thousand of them and as they were marching towards Gas●oine in the kingdome of Arragon they endured great distresse the wayes and passages being on all sides soreclosed and fortified Nevertheles they made way through all inconveniences and holding on their iourney till they came almost at Tholous they were receiued into Mount Albane a towne pertayning to the territory of Guyen The french men vnderstanding thereof besette the wayes rounde about that they might not issue foorth into Tholous or the places adioyning In conclusion it came to hand-strokes and the French men fought valiantly insomuch that they chased their enemies euen vnto the towne but by reason of the fresh supplies comming continually to their rescue in the end the French men were ouerthrowne and the greater part of them eyther slaine or taken prisoners In which number was the Earle of Provence who came at that time to ayde the men of Tholons and besides him diuerse others of great account both of Provence and Fraunce Hauing thus cleared their passage by the sword they proceeded to the end of their iourney The prince of Wales because he was loth to burden the people of Aquitaine with exactions for the maintenance of his soldiers borrowed no small some of money of his father besides that conuerted all his plate both gold and siluer into coyne Many prisoners as the custome is were discharged vpon their worde so was the Earle of Provence But Pope Vrbane for hatred he bare to those mutinous soldiers took vppon him to acquite the Earle of Provence and others that were set at liberty after the same manner from their ransoms so that they payd not one farthing but had a cleare dispensation from him of all bonds and obligations whatsoever Whilst the Prince was making preparation for the warres there arived at Burdeaux the King of Maiorica who made grievous complaint of the King of Arragon which had slain his father in prison at Barcelone and withheld all his possessions from him by force towards the reuenge of which iniuries and the recouerie of his inheritance he humbly implored the Princes ayd He had to wife the Queene of Naples The Prince vpon hearing of his complaint promised that so soone as he had finished this enterprise for Spaine he would vndertake his affaires and so bring to passe that either vppon reasonable conditions or by force of armes he should be restored to his kingdome Before the Prince set out from Burdeaux he had a sonne borne to whom the banished King of Maiorica was godfather He was named Richard and afterward came to be king of England Edward the Princes elder sonne being dead before his father In the beginning of Februarie the Prince departed from Burdeaux and within a little while after an vncertaine rumor was bruted abroad concerning the King of Navarre as if he had entred into a newe league with King Henry of Castile and that therevpon the Ptince and his Army shold be denyed passage through his country Herevpon letters were addressed to the King of Navarre who aduisedly alleadging the reasons that moued him withall declared his good affection to the Prince and the banished Tyrant The Prince marched with his army in three battels one following another the vauntgard was conducted by the Duke of
it should come to the push to haue warres for the matter Flaunders was able to withstand the vttermost that Fraunce could doe Neuertheles the duke of Britaine shortly after of his owne accord departed into England and the minds and affections of his people began to incline more fauourably towardes him then in former times they had done It is declared before how the Cardinals after the death of Pope Gregorie to pacify the tumult of the Romanes had through feare and compulsion chosen Vrbane the sixt Now because this Vrbane by reason of his pride and insolency was misliked of all men the Cardinals by generall consent proceeded to a new election and chose Robert bishop of Cambrey called afterwards by the name of Clement There remained at that time in the territory of the Romanes one Robert Budaeus a m●n honourably descended in the country of Britaine and a stout warriour hauing twoo thousand of his country men vnder his command Him did Pope Clement sollicite for the maintenance of his quarrell who nothing misliking the motion was secretly conveyed with his men into the Castle from thence to worke disturbance to the Romanes On the other side the Romanes oftentimes sent the Germane and Italian souldiers whome they had waged in their defence against these Britons and they handled the matter in such sort that their enemies wearied with their often and continuall assaultes were at length constrained to yeeld vp the Castle vppon no other conditions but only the sauing of their liues Robert their captaine who was not present at the dooing hereof but lay encamped without the Citie when he heard these tydings waighted oportunitie till such time as he vnderstood by his espialles that the Romanes should assemble together in the Castle to consult of their affaires then taking his way through secret passages and vnder the euenings couert entring closely into the Citie euen at the fittest time that could be wished for his purpose he assayled the Romanes as they came out of the counsell house vnarmed and suspecting no such matter of whome he made a terrible slaughter and killed many of the principall men and cheefe Citizens amongst them After the accomplishment of which misch●efe he returned againe to his campe at leysure When the French King vnderstood that a newe Pope was created he called a conuocation of certaine estates chiefly of diuines demaunding their opinion whether of the two Popes ought in this diuersitie to be acknowledged Their censures for the most part as happeneth in such cases were variable and different The Lords of the spiritualty with the Kings brothers and many of the diuines were of opinion that Cleoment ought to be receiued This determination pleased the King well and was immediately proclaymed through the whole kingdom that a certainty might generally be knowne for his subiects to trust vnto Of the same iudgement were the King of Spaine the Earle of Savoy the Duke of Millaine and the Queene of Naples Charles of Boheme the Emperour dissembled his minde notwithstanding the greater parte of the Empire tooke parte with Pope Vrbane The Scottish King also inclined to Clement Lewis Earle of Flaunders affirmed boldly that open iniurie was offered to Vrbane the Henaulters stood newter adhering neither to the one nor the other Pope Clement the better to confirme his cause directed the Cardinall of Poytiers into Fraunce and the countries adioyning to publish in all places where he came how Vrbane had beene by force and violence vtterly against the willes of the Cardinalles intruded into the papacie It was an easie matter to perswade the French men who had already giuen sentence on his side The Earles of Henault and Barband omitted not to giue him all honourable and curteous entertainment but for aught else there was nothing to be obtayned at their handes The Earle of Flaunders had sent him word long before that he had no desire to talke with him for he accounted Vrbane as chiefe shepheard of the Lords flock and intended neuer to forsake him Moreouer Pope Clement sent to Avinion to haue his Court prepared and furnished with all things necessary against his comming About this time the Queene of Naples resorted to the Pope to treate with him of very important affaires and thus stood the case Lewis of Sicill Duke of Apulia and Calabria lying vpon his death bed caused this his daughter to come before him addressed his speech to her in this manner Thou art now my deare daughter to enter vpon the inheritance of a most flourishing estate I doubt not but many princes will be forward to desire thee in marriage in respect of this thy goodly and glorious heritage Therefore if thou wilt follow thy fathers counsell match thy selfe to a Prince that is rich and powerfull whose puissance may be able to defend both thee and thy possessions And if it happen that thou haste no issue then make conueyance of all thy patrimony according to the direction of the Pope then being This my father Robert enioyned me at his death and this to discharge my selfe of that duetie I likewise giue in charge to thee againe When the father had discoursed much more to this effect the daughter deuoutly promised in the presence of many that she would not faile in her duety for the performance of his commaund After her fathers deceasse she was marryed to Andrew the brother of Lewis the King of Hungary but of this marriage proceeded no issue be reason that her husband dyed very young Afterward she matcht her selfe to Charles prince of Tarent and by him had only one daughter Against this Charles the King of Hungary moued warres and subdewed from him the countries of Apulia and Calabria Charles himselfe being likewise taken prisoner in battell and carryed away into Hungary where he ended his life After him she marryed to the King of Maiorica and sent Ambassadours into Fraunce to Lewis of Navarre of whome we haue formerly made mention for the concluding of a match betweene him and her daughter Who taking his iourney for the same intent deceassed by the way before he could attaine the accomplishment of his purpose The King of Maiorica in hope to recover his fathers inheritance prepared to make sharp warres vpon the King of Arragon by whome it was with-holden from him His wife desirous to retaine him still at home disswaded him all she could from his intended enterprise alleadging how he already enioyed a kingdom large and flourishing sufficient of it selfe to maintaine plēty euen with superfluitie but she could not preuaile Therefore giving place to his resolution at his departure she earnestly exhorted him that he should open all his estate to Charles King of Fraunce who was a wise and prudent prince and declaring to him his iniuries receiued dispose all his proceedings according to his direction But the King of Maiorica expecting I know not what greater helpes otherwhere required ayde of Prince Edward the king of Englands sonne who
mony belongs all to you as your husbands debt in lieu of your dowry and since it is now come to my handes I will in no wise suffer it to passe from me againe Then beganne she to intreate and earnestly to beseech him that hee would alter his purpose in that behalfe shewing how great occasion it would minister of perpetuall hatred and contention betweene them how she durst neuer returne home to her husband vnlesse she brought the mony with her for hee was by nature wrathfull and would neuer be pleased with her againe if he sawe himselfe deceitfully dealt with considering how she was the onely meanes which mooued him to accept that assurance and to deliuer his prisoner neither of which he would haue done but vpon hir intreatie and therefore the whole blame would be imputed to her by her husband When she had oftentimes thus expostulated in vaine and sawe his obstinate minde would be nothing changed not daring to goe backe into her owne country she abode still in Nauarre with her brother During the time she soiorned there her sonne which bare his fathers name a youth of some fifteene yeares of age came thither to visite her and after certaine moneths tar●iance when he prepared to depart he would faine haue perswaded her to returne with him to his father but she would by no meanes be intreated So he tooke his leaue and went from thence to Pampelone to doe the like to his vncle who not onely vsed him with all honourable and kinde respect but also at his departure gaue him many rich giftes and amongst the rest a purse with a little box in it full of a certaine confection in fine powlder the force whereof was such that whosoeuer had tasted of it in neuer so smal quantity should incontinently haue died In presenting this amiable gift to his yong kinseman he vtterd these speeches You see sweet nephew how great displeasure your father hath conceiued against your mother yet not so great but that there is possibility they may be againe reconciled No man will imagine how much I am grieued for the discontentment betweene them and no lesse in duty ought you to be also But for remedy of this inconuenience when you are returned to your father you shall find the meanes to cast alittle of this powlder vpon the meate which shal be set before him but you must do it very closely for it will come to passe that whereas now he vtterly abhorreth her as soone as he hath eaten of that meate he shall desire her aboue all things insomuch as he shall scarcely at any time endure her out of his company so great shall be his loue so ardent his affection Vndoubtedly you haue much reason to wish it were so but in any wise beware you make no man of your counsell for then you loose your labour The yong gentleman as yet vnacquainted with the world thinking his vncle of whom he would neuer haue suspected ill had intended good faith and spoken as he thought receiued the gift thākfully promised to do according to his direction When he came home his father gently welcōmed him inquiring of diuers circumstances concerning his iourney and other nouelties and amongst the rest whether his vncle had giuen him any at his parting or no. He answered yes and shewed him all his gifts the box only excepted But it so fell out that a bastard son of the Earles who kept familiar company with his brother I know not by what occasion lighted vppon his garment and found the purse hanging at it wherein he perceiued some speciall thing whatsoeuer it were was contained Wherevppon questioning with his brother what it should be that he carryed so continually about him in his bosome he would giue him no answere but changed colour and seemed angry that he had been so inquisitiue Within few dayes after they fell at variance playing at tennice and the young Lord buffetted his bastard brother with his fists who hauing no other meanes to make his party good ranne straight to the Earle with a lamentable complaint shewing what iniury was donne to him by his brother who indeed deserued to be beaten himselfe and well chastized with a whip And for what cause quoth the Earle doest thou thinke him worthy to be whipt because quoth the bastard euer since he ruturned from his mother he hath carryed about him at his breast a thing with a ranke sauour to what purpose I know not but that he told me it would not be long before his mother and you were reconciled With that the Earle began to haue some suspition and commaunded the boy to keepe all secret Next meale as he sat at dinner and his sonne after his ordinary custome seruing him with assay he espyed the purstrings hanging at his bosome wherevppon he harkened him to him as if he wou●ld haue whispe●ed in his eare and when he came nigh tooke hold of his dublet and vnbuttoned it and cutting of the purse made a proose of the confection vppon a dog who assoone as he had reciued it fell downe dead immediatly Then the Earle enraged with anger and trembling all ouer his body rose vp against his sonne intending doubtlesse to haue slaine him but that the Gentlemen which were about him abhorring the cruelty of such a fact and amazed at the strangenes of the accident withheld him When he saw he could be suffered to vse no other violence with bitter execrations he cursed his sonne that had gone about so vnnaturally and with so horrible kind of death to haue murthered his owne father who had oftentimes sustained great warres against mighty and puissant Princes only to enlarge his seigniorie and to leaue him the richer inheritance All that were presēt did what they could to appease his wrath but he commaunded his sonne forth with to prison and to be sure he should not escape gaue in charge that he should be streyghtly watched threatning this keeper with extreame punishment if he shewed him any fauour Moreouer he put to death with most cruell torments about fifteen persons all gentlemen of good worth because that being conuersant and familiar with his so●ne they had not discouered this damnable practise Afterwards in an assembly of all the states of his country whome he had summoned to be present at a day appointed when he had declared at large the most wicked and vnnaturall treason which his sonne had practised against him amplifying the matter with diuers circumstances to make it appeare more haynous he gaue sentence vppon him that he should be put to death Intercession was made of all hands humbly entreating him that he would not shew so cruell an example neyther would they depart from thence before hee had faithfully assured them that his sonnes life should be saued He performed his promise but detayned him still in prison When report of this matter came to Pope Gregory the xi he sent certaine Cardinals from Avinion whome he had giuen
thousand and marched directly against them When the French men had intelligence thereof they practised a deuise as the time then serued not vnfitting for their purpose Entring all into a wood they sent about some hundreth horsemen to entice the Turkes out of their strength where they lay at the defence of a certaine passage to come foorth and skirmish with them The Turkes supposing there had bin no more of their ennemies than they sawe issued presently out against them and the French men purposely retired vntill such time as they had drawne them to the wood within compasse of their ambush which sodainely brake foorth and inuaded them on all sides By this meanes the Turkes being intercepted and cut off as well by those that freshly assailed them as by the other which before made countenaunce to flie but now turned furiously vppon them were slaine to the number of fifteene thousand and the rest hardly saued themselues by flight Basan the Turkish king howsoeuer hee seemed slacke in his affaires yet had he perfect intelligence of all his enemies proceedings For hee was continually certified thereof by Galeas Duke of Millaine with whome he had great entercourse of friendship Therefore hee assembled a huge army the Souldan of Babylon the Medes and the King of Persia sending great forces to aide him Concerning the Duke of Millaine ye shall vnderstand that there were sometimes three brothers Manfred Galeas and Barnabas The vncle of these was Archbishop of Millaine Lewis of Bauier being elected Emperour when he could not obtaine his confirmation from the Pope went to Rome and there of his owne authority creating another Pope and certaine Cardinalles was by him inuested in his imperiall dignity and afterward permitted his souldiers to take the payment of their wages out of the spoyle of the Citty Charles King of Bohemia the Sonne of Henry of Lutzemburge was created Emperour against this Lewis Which Charles cōming newly into Italy from Aquisgraue where he had receiued his cōsecratiō of the Pope this Archbishop of Millaine entertayned him with great curtesie and did him all the honour he could lending him mony also at his departure to the sum of an hundred thousand crownes The Emperour in consideration hereof and to shew his gratefull mind created the Archbishop Vicount of Millaine and gaue to him and to his nephews after him all that seigniory to hold and enioy the same till such time as the Emperour should redeeme it againe by repaiment of the whole sum which he had borrowed After the Archbishops death Manfred his eldest nephew by the Emperours consentand good liking succeeded in the seigniory of Millaine But his brothers for enuy dispatched him out of the way concluding with themselues to seize vppon his estate and afterward to confirme their authority by alliance in marriage with other Princes So when they had ●idde their elder brother of his life they made equall partitiō between them and rayned puissantly by force and policy Galeas in regard he was the elder had tenne townes and Barnabas had nine Millaine it selfe was indifferently allotted to them both the one to haue it one yeare and the other another by turnes They leuyed subsidies and taxes of their people from time to time by most vniust and violent meanes Such fortresses as either of them held they furninished with Garrisons of forraine souldiers of all nations but their own whome they principally distrusted Through compulsion and rigour they kept the people in great awe and subiection exacting most cruell punishment vpon such as stirred neuer so little against them to the intent to terrify others by their example They purchased the alliance of Princes with great summes of mony Galeas paid to the Earle of Sauoy whose sister he married an 100000 crowns This Galeas had like wise a sonne of his own name that marryed the daughter of Iohn King of Fraunce who in consideration hereof departed with six hundred thousand frankes towards the payment of his father in lawes ransome to the King of England Valentine the daughter of this younger Galeas was marryed to Lewis Duke of Orleans brother to the French King Charles the sixt but her father first paied to him that should be his sonne in law tenne hundred thousand franks surely a wonderfull summe of mony with part whereof the Earledome of Bloys was purchased as we haue heretofore declared Betweene the two brothers there was no contention as long as they liued together But the younger Galeas after his fathers deceasse surprised his vncle Barnabas by treason and slew him One of this Barnabas daughters was married to Stephon Duke of Bauier and brought forth a daughter named Isabell who afterward became the wife of Charles King of Fraunce as is mentioned in this history already Galeas hauing thus trecherously slaine his vncle was not so contented but persecuted euen his childrens children and all their generation seizing into his hands all their goods and possessions Also he burthened the people with grieuous and continuall exactions Besides this he held a wicked and vnreuerent opinion concerning the Godhead So he might enrich himselfe and aduance his authority he regarded not by what means it were effected Amongst other precepts of good doctrine wherewith he was plentifully instructed he was also mis-led in this opinion and tooke it as hereditary from his ancestors vtterly ro despise the Popes authority and to reioyce exceedingly when any dissention happened in the church Now the Duke of Orleance wife being a very ambitious woman was not a little faine and desirous that her husband might attaine to the Crowne by what meanes shee did not greatly regard Herevppon many suspected that the kings mind had beene all this while enchaunted by her witch-craft The ground of the suspition grew vppon this occasion Shee had a Sonne by her husband a fayre young child much about the age of the Dolphin As these two children were sporting together in a chamber a poysoned appell was cast in amongst them on that side where the kings sonne was but the child which may seeme a wonder refused to meddle withall Then the other when no body perceiued him caught it vp and within a little while after he had eaten of it through the violent operation of the poyson yeelded vp the ghost The report hereof was presently carried to the Court and soone dispersed ouer all the country This also was another thing which encreased the suspition that during all the time of the Kings sicknes he would endure neyther the Queene nor any other woman to come about him but only this Duchesse of Orleans By these occasions mens minds being meruailously incensed shee was conueyed from the Court to a certaine castle not farre from Paris and there restrayned of her liberty Besides her husband conceiued great displeasure against her about the death of his sonne When Galeas of Millaine vnderstood how his daughter was entreated he was highly offended and sent ambassadours forthwith into Fraunce where they found nothing