Normandy the Earle of 〈◊〉 by the yeelding vp of Melun as they assembled their friends seruants on al siâ—es The Normand calls his farthest friends to his succors Logman king of Sueden and Olane King of Norwaye his kinsmen But Robert pacified this quarrell in time by his wisedome shewing by the effect how much authority imployed in time may preuaile and that wee must speedily quench a small fire the which neglected burns a whole forest There were great personages in all prouinces with hereditary power according to the grant made by Hugh Capet In Normandy Richard the third in Aniou Geoffrâ—y Grisegonelle in Guienne William of the race of Pepin sonne to Lewis the Gentle in Languedoâ— Cont Mathew in Champagne and Touraine Odo all great and valiant men with other worthy personages throughout the Realme al which were rash men of high atteÌ„pts but the name and royall authority of Robert conteyned all these great and couragious spirits with in the bounds of their duty and publike respect And so this raigne passed quietly without any great tumults Leauing a lesson for Princes A notablâ— raigne to ioyne wisedome with authority and valour with mildnes it being as great a conquest to preserue his owne as to get an other mans and to vanquish mens minds by reason as by force A patterne in these two raignes of the meanes to restore an Estate dismembred by the disorders of ciuill warres HENRY the first the 38. King of France HENRY I. KING OF FRANCE XXXVIII HENRY 1031. being in possession of the realme during the life of his father succeeded him in the yeare 1031. and raigned 33. yeares Henryes raignâ— He had two sons Philip and Hugh by Anne the daughter of George or Gautier the Sclauon King of the Russians and one daughter the which was married to Robert Duke of Normandy sonne to that Richard of whom we haue discoursed The beginniâ—g of his raigne was â—ough and vnquiet and the ende more milde and profirable But Henry in the preseruation of his Estate did nothing degenerate from the wisedome and dexterity of his father The cause of this hard entrye was the brothers portion apparently vnequall and preiudiciall although a wise father had so decreed it Queene Constance mother to these two Princes brethren nourished this dislike supporting Robert against Henry that is to say the elder against the younger Contentioâ— betwixâ— the brethren as oftentimes mothers haue the like humours to loue one more then an other The cause was plausible 1037 that it was against the lawe vse customes of France that the yonger should be preferred before the elder in a royalty The partyes were great for Robert Constance mother to the King Bauldwin Earle of Flanders and Odâ— Earle of Champagne a busie man and rash For the King the royall maiesty the will of his father Robert yeelds vnto his brother the forces of the Realme and amongest all those of Robert Duke of Normandy The armies approach ready to fight when as behold Robert for whose interest the question was being a Prince of a milde and quiet disposition giues his mother and friends who had brought forces to his ayde to vnderstand that he would not be the cause to shed Frenchmens bloud and that Bourgongne should suffice him seeing his father had so decreed Vpon this declaration of Robert Queene Constance changeth her mind and sends backe her troupes imbracing peace with her children The armies were dismissed and agreement ratified betwixt Henry and Robert who liued like brethren and good friends That Bourgongne should remaine to Robert and his successors with the title of a fealty to France which they call Peere to be Deane among the Peeres Thus Robert of France enioyed Bourgongne and left it hereditary to his heire successiuely vntill the raigne of Iohn in the yeare 1360. But the County of Bourgongne and Normandy were the cause of much trouble in those times during the which he kept the stakes not onely as a spectator but as an vsurper This Odo Earle of Champagne who had incensed his brother against him lookt for a good part in Bourgongne and had already won Robert to promise him Sens who euen vpon the accord making had seized thereon but being easily expelled by the Kings authority he runnes an other course to loose both himselfe and what hee had supposing to vsurpe an other mans estate He held vnder the Crowne Champagne Touraine and the Country of Chartres Hee had two sonnes Stephen and Thibauld yet he sought to ioyne Bourgongne to his other Estates which was the cause of great troubles We haue before made mention of Boson the husband of Hermingrade daughter to Lewis the sonne of Lewis the Gentle who had the Realme of Bourgongne and Italy He had two sonnes Raphe and Lewis Lewis was ouerthrowne by Beranger Duke of Friul who easily seized on that which remained in Italy of Prouence as lying neere and of easie accesse Raph had the rest of Bourgongne the CouÌ„tie Sauoie Daulphiné for the Duchie of Bourgongne remained to the Crowne of France From this Raph sprong Lewis and from Lewis another Raph who liued during the raigne of Henry being old without children and ill obeied of his subiects He had two sisters the one married to Conrade surnamed the Salique Duke of Francony who was Emperour and an other to the Earle of Champagne father to this Odo who seekes to perswade Raph his vncle to make him his heyre as sonne to his eldest sister and imployes the fauour of many subiects who desired rather a neighbour then a stranger to be their Prince But Raph preferred Conrade before Otho and sent him his testament his crowne and Scepter instituting Henry his son and his Nephew his heire general Conrad made war in Hongary Odo imbraceth this occasion seeing him thus busied he enters into Bourgongne Odo Earle of Champaigne seeks to seize vpon the County of Bourgongne where he takes certaine citties the rest hold at Conrades deuotion being called to the inheritance but these desseines were soone cut off For behold the Emperour Conrad returnes with a goodly and victorious armye who not onely recouers againe the cittyes of Bourgongne that were lost but also takes some in Champagne so as Odo doth with great difficulty hold Troyes hee is forced to seeke by humble petitions to his Vncle who giues him his owne and forbids him to take from another The Earle being thus suppressed Conrad parlees with King Henrie and ratifies the ancient accords for the diuiding of Bourgongne whereof wee haue spoken From that time the Germaine Emperours challenged the right and title of the realme of Arles which the Emperour Charles the fift shall alienate and shal be soone diuided into sundry principalyties as we shall shew in their places Thus the Realme of Bourgongne had an ende in the posterity of Boson The Emperour Conrade beeing forced to go into Italy after all these treaties to
Realme of Sicilia giuen him by authoritie of the holy Sea as a holy gage of the Church Peter answeares That Charles is the vniust vsurper hauing violently rauished the Lands of the Empire from Manfroy the lawfull heire That hee could not bee ignorant of his right hauing married Constance his daughter by whom hee had Sonnes to whome he could not denie the dutie of a Father without wronging of Nature Thus he opposeth the authoritie of Nature to the Popes power right to wrong and reason to passion Moreouer to this law of nature he ioynes faith the ground of humane societie being called and desired by a people vniustly wronged in their goods liues and honors Should hee then contemne their teares being bound to succour them He hath therefore done what he ought 1282. a lawfull heire against an vsurper and a tyrant for poore people oppressed resolute to continue so great a worke worthie of a Châ—istian King perswading himselfe that God who had giuen him a good beginning would send him a happy ending leauing Sicilia free and peaceable to his posteritie And thus one for an other The Pope supports Charles against Peter Hereunto Pope Martin the fourth did add his thundrings supporting Charles his cause with as great vehemencie as his Predecessor Nicholas had laboured to plot his practise against him He sends a Legat to the Sicilians to let them vnderstand that they were excommunicated and their goods confiscate The Legat deliuers his Commission freely and cites all the people to Rome with an expresse inhibition to all Preests not to communicate any Sacraments vnto them vnder great paines So all the Churches in Sicilia were shut vp by the Popes authority The same thunderboult is cast against Peter he is Excommunicated Degraded and his realme of Arragon accursed but from words they fell to blowes Charles resolute to hazard all intreats Philip his nephew to succour him with his best meanes in this his great necessitie And the better to ingage him he giues Catherin the daughter of his son Charles the lame in marriage to Charles the yongest sonne of Philip and in consideration of this marriage giues him the Duchie of Aniou Of this marriage shall issue Philip of Vallois who shall be King of France Philip succors his vncle Charles fortie three yeares after All France armes for this warre Philip imployes all his meanes Peter Earle of Alanson the Kings brother Robert Earle of Artois his nephew the Duke of Bourgongne the Earles of Bologne Dampmartin Ioygny with an infinite number of the Nobilitie repaire from all parts of the Realme Charles sending men expresly with priuate letters to all his friends to inuite them to this war And to keepe Paleologus in Constantinople hee workes with the Christians of Asia and with the Ilands of Cipres Malta Rhodes and others to make warre against him and likewise he fought to disquiet Arragon by meanes of the Nauarrois Philip remayning at Tolouse for that purpose Behold the Arragonots in great perplexitie charged on all sides both with spiritual and temporall armes but that which troubled him most the Sicilians excommunicated by the Pope and amazed at so great forces as came to Charles from all parts not not onely grew cold The Sicilians seeke to make their peâ—ce with Charles but also sought to make their peace with Charles To this end they goe to Rome to Pope Martin of whome they craue pardon with an extraordinarie humilitie for the Historie noates that their Deputies being on their knees cryed to the Pope Qui tollis peccata mundi miserere nostri A title belonging onely to Iesus Christ. This deuout respect had in a manner drawne the Sicilians to Charles his obedience wherein Doubtles he had preuailed if he would haue imbraced the occasion for Pope Martin had perswaded them to yeeld but without a French garrison Whereunto Charles would not coÌ„discend seeking to haue them at his discretion Peter was not quiet in mind amidst al these difficulties hauing the Pope in front the people readie to reuolt Philip watching ouer his Realme of Arragon and an armie in the Port of Naples redie to land Peter doth pollâ—tikly auoyd all dangers Hee findes an expedient for all these difficulties to stay all these forces to quiet this storme of Sicilia and to escape all dangers after a manner in shew worthy of commendation for the reputation valour and bountie of so great a Prince Hee giues Charles to vnderstand that hee lamented the common miserie of so much people whome he did see in danger for their priuat quarrels that it were much better to end it betwixt themselues by the sword That if hee were an honest man a souldiar and a King hee was redie to fight with him and Sicilia should remaine to the Conqueror They were both old and broken but both equall Peter had onely the aduantage in one thing he was more cunning then Charles and his intent was to circumuent him as indeed he did A Combat appointed betwixt two Kings Charles willingly accepts the combat The manner is determined by a common consent â—hat either King should take a hundred choise horse and that the conquering troupe should purchase Sicilia to his King Bourdeaux is chosen for the place of combat the day is appointed All Europe flies to this Theater to see an end of so notable a quarrel by such an extraordinary meanes Charles comes to the place at the prefixed day with his troupe chosen out of the brauest Gentlemen of the Armie Peter appeares not nor any one for him 1283. he is called he is summoned they protest against him but there is no newes of him So after all these soâ—lemne protestations euery one retires with laughter Peter fortifies himselfe in Sicilia but Peter was otherwise imployed he assured Sicilia by his wiues meanes whom he sent thether prouiding to fortifie the weaker places both of Sicilia and Naples equally threatned The heate of the French is cooled by this intermission of time by the hope of an accord and by the departure of so great a multitude disbanded to see this sight the Sicilians had taken breath and Peter stood firme to choose his best aduantage The French being out of hope to see this controuersie ended by combate returne to armes but with lesse courage To make warre in Sicilia they must approach and they must land Roger of Lore a banished man of Apulia Admirall of the Arragon Fleete had the garde of the landing Charles the Lame sonne to King Charles offers to land but his Fleete is defeated and he taken prisoner Charles wonderfully perplexed with this losse runnes from Cittie to Cittie in his Realme of Naples seeking to raise new forces when as death calls him to his rest Charles the Lame the sonne of Charles taken prisoner the which in his life time he would neuer enioy hauing giuen to many and receiued himselfe infinite troubles without any fruite In his youth his
giues him the offiâ—â— of Loâ—d Steward and marâ—ies his eldest sonne to the sister of the Lord of Albert his Constable although Montagu were but of a meane calling The shew of his trayne exceeded Princes houses and made him odious to all in generall so as they accused him to haue robbed his Prince and the publike Treasure The Bourguignon beginnes with him in the reformation of the State The Princes of the bloud were easily drawne to allow of his proceeding Montagu put to death so as Montagu was taken examined condemned speedily beheaded Whether this were done by commissioners or iudicially as it was said to be iustified after his death it is not certaine This is a good lesson for meane men that growe rich by the publike treasure not to abuse their wealth by excessiue pompe to keepe their credit in Court and to flie the fury of great men vnder his protection that hath power of life and death arming themselues with a good conscience and vnreproueable in their charges But the Bourguignon had a farther reach then Montagu for vnder colour of the publike good he reuenged himselfe of him who else might haue crost his desseines Hâ—s meaning was not to reforme the State but to gouerne it absolutely Thus he seekes to vsurpe all and in the ruine of Montagu he will haue all men knowe that he hath power to hurt and helpe This first insolencie furthered his enemies beeing in a manner forsaken of all men euen of their owne bloud for Iohn Duâ—e of Berry carried away with the vent of this newe fauour had subiected himselfe to the Bouâ—guignon But finding himselfe contemned by him who tooke all to himselfe and reiected such as had serued him to â—ise Iohn resolues to ioyne with the house of Orleans and to oppose themselues against the Duke of Bourgongnes greatnesse This is the bâ—ginning of the tâ—o factions of Orleans and Bourgongne which troubled all France during this raigâ—e This league wherof the house of Orleans bare the name as the first and most interessed was concluded at Gyen in the yeare 1410. the tenth of March beeing defensiue and offensiue against the house of Bourgongne The chefe were Charles Duke of Orleans and his bretheren Iohn Duke of Berry Lewis Duke of Bourbon The League of Armagâ—aâ—s and Iohn Earle of Alencon Francis Earle of Clermont Bernard Lord of Armâ—gnâ—â— and Charles Lâ—rd of Albreâ— Constable of France with their friends and followeâ—s â—n gâ—eat numbers Of the Bourguignon faction were Iohn Duke of Bourgongne with his brethren Charles King of Nauarre sonne to that wicked of whom we haue made mention the Dukes of Lorraine Bourgâ—iâ—nons Brabant and Brittain the Marquis of â—ont the Earls of Neuers Vaudemont S. Pol. Ponthieure and many others This mournefull diuision continued vnto the yeare 1419. in the which Iohn was slaine but it endes not so During these eight yeares wee shal see diuers changes one in and an other out as they could enable themselues with the Kings authority which is the strongest battery of ciuill warres Now the Duke of Bourgongne is in quarter and plants his ordinance against the Orleanois as guilty of hightreason but shortly hee shal be dispossessed and they of Orleans shall take their turne The 〈…〉 Orleans complaines 1410. that they are not respected according to their 〈…〉 to be admitted to the priuileges due to Princes of the bloud The house of Oâ—lâ—anâ— coâ—plains of their wrongs and that â—he Dâ—ke 〈◊〉 â—oâ—râ—orgne should not command absoluâ—ly holding as they saied both the bodies aâ—d wâ—â—es of the King Queene and Daulphin in captiuitie They assemble in great â—roupes fiâ—st at Chartres and after to manage their affaires with greater shewe neer vnto tâ—e capitall Cittie of Paris they lodged at the Castell oâ— Wincester then called Bicâ—stre buâ— now ruined The Duke of Burgongne accuâ—ed the Duke of Orleans for practâ—siâ—g to take the Crowne from the King and Daulphin in forcing the King to what he plâ—asâ—d against them as against rebels and disturbeâ—s of the publicke quiet This fire câ—â—â—â—nued but seuen or eight moneths wherein there chanced no memorable accident buâ— only the death of Lewis the good Duke of Bourbon who died for greefe in the beâ—â—â—ning of thâ—s warre being accused as the motiue of these troubles Qâ—eene â—sâ—bell labored to reconcile these Princes but she preuayled not being suspected by the Orleans faction whom she had left without cause to ioyne with the Bourgâ—â—gâ—â—n Afâ—er some Edicts of confiscation not executed like Canon shot spent in the 〈◊〉 a peace was made by meanes of the Duke of Berry vpon condition that he and â—he Duke of Bourgongne should ioyntly haue the Daulphin in gard and the house of Orleans shâ—uâ—d be respected in their degree and that Peter of Essards a sworne enemy to theiâ— parâ—e and a most passionate seruant to the Duke of Bourgongne should be no more Prouost of marchants This was concluded at Wincester The peace of VVincâ—sâ—er whereoâ— it bears the name â—he twentith day of Nouember in the same yeare hauing contended this sommer abâ—ut Pâ—ris only to the hurt of the poore people discontented cheefely with the Gâ—sâ—oâ—s that came out of Armagnac who gaue their name to the troupes of the Orlean â—action called for this occasion Armagnacs wearing for their colours a white scarfe the which they haue vsed in our last troubles This first peace continued not long neither were al promises performed The Burgâ—â—gnon did eate the â—ake alone and yet he complayned first as hauing to doe with 〈◊〉 He sends the Lords of Croy and Douries to the Duke of Berry to disioyne him 〈◊〉 the Duke of Orleans his Nephew who hauing intelligence of their negotiation and pasâ—age caused them to be suâ—prised in Sologne and brought prisoners to Blois But 〈…〉 backe Douries and deteyned Croy as suspected to be guiltie of his fathers death and by conâ—â—â—uence punishable by the treatie of peace The King commands him to set 〈…〉 and he demands iustice of his fathers murtherers Here vpon they go al to 〈◊〉 They cauâ—e the King to summon him by his Edicts wherevnto Charles Duke of 〈◊〉 answers by a challenge to the Duke of Bourgongne as the murtherer of his father and â—he author of all the miseries which then rained in France Beginning of the sâ—cond Waâ—â—â— Thuâ— beâ—an this second warre the twentith of Iuly the yeare following 1411. 〈…〉 passions giuing the poore people scarce seuen monethes respit to breath in so many calamities which they suffered through their voluntary dâ—uisions The Orleâ—◠〈◊〉 assembles at Gâ—rgeau vpoÌ„ the riuer of Loire to resolue of the meanes to make 〈◊〉 against Iohn Duke of Bourgongne whome they challenge by a publike cartel as â—he murâ—heâ—er of a Prince of the bloud the Kings only brother and as vsurper of the â—â—â—all authoâ—iâ—y holding the persons and wills of the King and Daulphin Captiue Ioâ—n Duke of Bouâ—gongne had great aduantages the Kings
who would neuer giue the least suspitition of couardise he therefore answers that he would take his part of the sport The day being come euery one repayres to his colours the signe is giuen by a field peece and two shot of a serpentine to the ende the vantgard lodged on the otherside should charge at the same instant The trompetts and drums sound the ensigns approch all march resolutely But when they thought to ioyne they found no resistance Their chiefe commanders were dead the most apparent being slipt out of the Towne some one way some an other the coÌ„mon people were gone to diner thinking that Sondaie would be a day of rest So the whole army consisting of about fortie thousand men enter at both ends finde the cloth layed they kil at the first incouÌ„ter two hundred meÌ„ The Towne taken and ruined women children and religious indifferently they rauish women maids and nunnes spoile the Cittie and holy places the Duke saues the great church of S. Lambert with great difficulty the people fly ouer the Meuze and so saue themselues in the forest of Ardennes and other places there abouts where to increase their misery some gentlemen who till then had held their party strip them kill a number and take the best prisoners and by this treachery piteous stratagem make their peace with the Duke Many died of hungar cold and sleepe the historie makes mention of a gentleman that had the palsie in one legge and a page that had two fingars on one hand falne off The misery of the Liegeoâ—s The wine was frosen in the pipes and for three dayes was cut out with hatchets And for the last act of this tragedie the Duke doth place foure thousand men about the quarters of the Câ—ttie to beate downe the bridge vpon the Meuze to defend the houses of the Clergie about the great Church to preserue the other Churches from ruine whilest that others set fire on the Towne ouerthrowe the walles and fill vp the ditches Wrath and victory do neuer forget any kinde of reuenge And if we shall beleeue some writers there perished aboue fifty thousand soules in this warre The Dukes cruell reuenge vpon the Lâ—egeois most cruell beyond all bounds of humanity Learne O yee nations to containe your selues in the obedience of your Soueraignes and not to imbarke your selues rashlie in Princes quarrells who retire themselues easily out of the mire where they leaue you ingaged Liege is a president vnto you wherein you may obserue the iust iudgement of God vpon a cruel rebellious people enemy to all soueraigntie both spiritual and temporall of long time subiect to daylie rebellions vntill their generall ruine As wee haue brought our Lewis to Liege so let vs returne him into France Charles exceeding proud with the happie successe of his desseins suffers himselfe to be sought vnto by mediators from the King for his departure and afterwards hee himselfe mooues him as desiryng to go cause their accord to be proclaymed inregistred in his Court of Parliament at Paris which else were of no moment and the next yeare to meete in Bourgongne and to feast one an other mutually for a monethes space Charles hauing drawen a promise form the King to confirme all he had sworne at Peronne yeelds but not without grudging and hauing accompained him halfe a league he causeth him to be conducted to the frontiers by the Lord of Cordes and Murs great Bayliffe of Hainault Lewis pretends a colour to get leaue to depart without trouble A pitious spectacle to see a Soueraigne reduced to that extremity as to humble himselfe before his vassall but wee must haue patience for seauen yeares and then shall wee see a strange alteration of fortune and yet seauen yeares after an other Catastrophe no lesse tragicall in this house of Bourgongne and the vniting of the sayd Duchie to the Crowne of France After the Kings departure Charles enters the Country of Franchemont hee killes spoiles burnes and makes all desolate then glutted with reuenge hee retires into Brabant Lewis taking his leaue of the Duke demanded of him captiously In case his brother who was in Brittaine would not accept the portion hee had giuen him howe hee would aduise him to gouerne himselfe and the Duke answered that if hee were content it should please him whatsoeuer they did Lewis his policy This speech was cunningly construed by the King for hauing inrouled the sayd vnion in the Court of Parliament and proclaimed it throughout all the streets of Paris hee offers Charles Guienne for Brie and Champaigne his brothers neighbour-hoode with the Bourguignon beeing suspected vnto him Charles refuseth it fearing to displease the Duke of Bourgongne who by Ambassages and admonition exhorts him not to change for if happilie the King should annoye him he might daylie haue succors out of Bourgongne Charles was in all things gouerned by an other namely by Odet de Rye Lord of Leseut and afterwards Earle of Cominges 1469. Lewis subornes him and by means wins Charles to accept of Guienne as more plentifull and rich with mutuall assurances to liue like bretheren and good friends For confirmation whereof they meet at Charrou and feast together then they depart Lewis into Touraine and Charles into Guienne The Duke of Bourgongne greeued with this exchange imploies the Cardinall Balue a turbulent and pernicious member in a State a dissembler and taking pleasure as they say comonlie to put his finger betwixt the barke and the tree A bad disposition of a Cardinall whome Niâ— Gâ—l calls a deuill incarnate An vnkinde man The trust which Lewis reposed in this man caused to procure him a Cardinalls hat to that end the King had sent an Ambassage to Paul the 2. and sends Fumee also one of his most trustie seruants to perswade the Pope to desiste from the refusal he had made therof being aduertised of many things that did disswade him at whose vrgent perswasion a Cardinalls hat was granted him yet behold he writes to the Duke of Guienn in fauour of the Bourguignon That this change tended but to deceiue diuiding him by this meanes from his friends and confederats and by other messengers he aduertiseth the Bourguigâ—on That the peace concluded betwixt the two bretheren was a baite to surprise him the which the King deferred only vntil his brother had visited his newe Duchie and set an order in his house Let him therfore arme begin first Cardinal Balue comitted to prison These letters are surprised with other instructioÌ„s so as the Cardinal is arrested and carried prisoner to Montbason where he shal contynue eleuen yeares Lewis hauing thus plastred this peace with the Bourguignon comprehended the Britton therein gaue the Duchie of Guienne to his brother Charles for his portion He had now no more so mighty enemies against whom he should imploy his forces yet would he not dismisse his troups for there
An other meanes did greatly ease the beseeged the diuision in the Dukes campe and the aduertisements they receiued from their friends following the armie So the ende of this seege beeing of exceeding charge and the graue of aboue twentie thousand men slaine in skirmishes encounters surprises assaults and dead of hurts hungar and diâ—eases caused the King to make great desseins for the repayâ—ing of many errors into the which the priuate ambition of some abusing the youth and the violent passions of this Prince had drawne him But too late for him for hee sees his Realme inflamed with the same fire which they perswaded him should haue beene wholie quenched with the bloud that was shed at Saint Bartlemewes and the warres of ciuill diuision vtterally extinct So the fealing hee had in himselfe of these actions whereinto they had drawne him shall soone lodge him in the sepulchre of his Predecessors The other exploits of warre done else where in diuers Prouinces of the Realme Warre in diuers Prouinces require some place in our historie The Baron of Serignac a wiseman vertuous and louing martiall discipline with some others of Quercy Foix and the neighbour Prouinces hauing caused Montauban to resolue to armes go to field with their troupes put garrison into Terride whereof Serignac named himselfe Baron tooke Buzet vpon Tar three Leagues from Tholouse by scaldo assure themselues of Villemur seize vpon many other places fortifie those they had held during all the former troubles warrant the passages then at an assemblie held at Realmont in Albigâ—â—is they made a diuision of their charges and gouernments The Vicounte of Goâ—rdon had a part of Quercy towards Cadenac and Serignac the other towards Montauban and Gasconie the Vicounte of Paulin Lauragais the Vicounte of Panas and his brother Rouergue the Vicounte of Caumont the Countie of Foix and the mountaine Countrie They were equall in their Commands but to auoide â—ealousie they decreed that one of them wanting succour the other commanders should succour him with all their forces and be commanded by him So they all retire to their gouernments In Languedoâ— euery one giues order for the preseruation of their estates Serignac occupies some neighbour places then hee campes with two thousand shot and some horse before Monricou makes a breach giues three assaults and one scaldoe is repulsed with losse Viouâ—e and Realuille make him receiue the like disgrace and kill many of his men But hâ— is reuenged to the benefit of one of his Captains beseeged in a village with foure score men he slue aboue two hundred men and put the rest to flight The Earle of Villars In Quercy Admirall of France and Lieutenant for the King against the Protestants in Quercy and the Countries there abouts gathers togither his troupes dispersed into garrisons beseegeth and takes Saint Geniez in high Quercy carries away the Lord of the place notwithstanding the coÌ„position made to depart with their liues and goods who was sent prisoner to Cahors It is better to hunt a farre off then nere at home The pursute of many against whome he had made cruell warre brought him to a scaffold as a spectacle and triumph to his enemies Brifenell in high Rouergue had a capitulation better obserued but the Admirall lost in counterchange in the moneth of May Soreze Montesquiou two Leagues from Tholouse Lodeue a Bishoprike and riche in the mountaines of Languedoc and Mas Saintes Puelles nere to Castelnaudarry The Marshall d' Anuille did likewise arme against the Protestants sixe Cornets of horse and ten thousand foote with foureteene peeces of battery pretending to beseeâ—e Nismes and then Vzez but the surprise of Sommieres nere to Bezieres and Montpellier called him from his enterprise He beseegeth it makes a breach and giues two assaults which were defended to the losse of the beseegers The Earle of Candale brother in Lawe to the Marshall arriues with a hundred horse and twelue companies of Gascons who desire to haue the forward at the third assault but with the losse of three hundred of the most resolute This checke amazeth the Earle What fooles are wee The seege of Sommecres saieth hee to the Marshall his brother in Lawe to cause our selues to bee thus beaten murthered and slaine for their pleasure who haue murthered our kinsmen friends and allies and will one day paie vs with the same money He had reason and the issue will teach vs soone the effect of this true deuinatio◠〈◊〉 if the Marshall of Montmorency had beene present this fatall 24. day o◠〈◊〉 the same furie had interred him with all his house vnder this common ruine as â—anie others yea Catholikes suffred the like violence by the practises of their priuâ—â—â—â—nemies to whome the time and force gaue meanes to reuenge their priuate 〈◊〉 vnder an other pretext There were foure moneths alreadie spent at this seege aboue fiue thousand Cannon shot had beaten the walles of Sommiers to powder victualls fayled and the beseeged demanded nothing but composition But the Marshall would haue it by force He exhorts his brother in Lawe to reuenge the death of his Captaines and soâ—diars who suffers him selfe to be perswaded but as he goes resolutely to the breach pâ—rfoâ—ming the dutie of a braue Commander and a resolute soldiar hee sees the place couered with a great number of his men and himselfe in the ende ouerthowne dead vpon the carcases This hens roust might haue beene the sepulcher of many more but Greâ—â—â—n to whome the honour of the taking and keping of Sommiers is chiefely due after they had performed the duties of valiant men accepted the composition was offred by the Marshall To depart their droms sounding Enseignes displayed their marches light in their cockes with seauen daies libertie to carrie away their bagage and to retire where they pleased So the Marshall seeing the resolution of them of Nismes and hauing lost two thousand fiue huÌ„dred of his best men dismissed his troupes and proceeded afterwards against the Protestants by seisures and sale of their goods within his gouernâ—ent The Admiralls army had an other successe Terride Flaignac and generally all which the Protestants held beyond the riuer of Garonne In Gasconic recompenced the losses he had receiued But Caussade stayed the course of his victories and made him vnable to do any thing worthie of fame La Motte-Puiols kept the Towne with sixe hundred â—arguebuziers and the repulse the Admirall receiued after a long wasting of his forces caused in the end the ruine of his army the which the Viconte of Gourdon shortned of a companie at the passage of Dordonne chasing the rest which marched to the seege of Rochelle The King of Nauarre had lately inuited his subiects of Berne to returne into the bosome of the Catholike Church They answered their Prince with excuses thinking it proceeded from an other motion then his owne and protest to other Churches of that partie to perseuer and maintaine themâ—elues
wherevnto he added a complaint of their bounds in the diuision whereof he would resolutely haue the aduantage But to giue a better colour to this quarrell of State hee ioynes religion For saith he to his people to what end should these Arrians haue so good a paâ—t among the Christians Yet before he would come to open force Warre against the 〈◊〉 he talkes of a friendâ—y conference The two Kings appoint a day and a place for an enterview to parlee of their affaires But this meeting increased their hatred for being both vpon the place some confident seruants to Clouis gaue him notice that Alaric had laide an Ambuscadoe to surprize him in their parle Clouis was much moued with this and resolues to make warre against Alaric hee raiseth an armie and beeing ready to marche towards Guyenne behold a new occasion which makes him turne his forces towards Bourgongne We haue shewed how that Gondebault King of Bourgongne Warres in Bourgongne and why slue his brother Chilperic father to Clotilde vpon the first diuision of their portions after their fathers death Hee had two bretheren remaining Gondemar and Gondegesil of whom he desired infinitely to bee freed hauing too many bretheren and too little land according to his vnsatiable desire Their debate was for Prouence and Daulphiné which they demanded for their portions Gondebault enioyed the chiefe Citties except Vienne which the brethren held Clouis his Armie ouercomes that of Gondebault marching victoriously through the Countrie of Venaison where the battell was fought Gondebault saues himselfe with great difficultie in Auignon and is presently besieged by Clouis who yee grants him an honourable composition and labours to reconcile him with his bretheren which done he returnes into France and Gondemar and Gondegesil retire into Vienne dreaming of nothing lesse then to haue their elder brother for an enemy But Vienne must be the pitte-fall of their misery to swallow them both vp one after an other for behold Gondebault is with a strong armie at the gates of Vienne and his bretheren are reduced to that extremitie as hauing no meanes to defend themsâ—luâ—â— nor to get reliefe from their friends the Citty is easily taken and euery mâ—n seekeâ— to saue himselfe as he can Gondemar flyes into a Tower where he is besieged assaâ—â—ed and burnt with all his troupe Gondegesil is taken aliue after this tragick feare but being alone he slippes a way and flyes to Clouis whome hee found in Armes ready to march vpon this new accident Clouis takes new aduise The ancient hatred he bare to Gondebault who had crossed him in his mariage the iniustice and more then barbarous crueltie the complaint of this poore Prince his ally who cast himselfe into his armes had much power to perswade him to the voyage of Bourgongne But that which made him resolue was for that Gondebault prepared to succour Alaric against whom Clouis did now march with his forces Thus the iust iudgement of God prouided a scourge for this murtherer who addes rashnesse and insolencie to his first disorders Clouis enters with an armiâ— into Bourgongne Feare doth not onely surprise the countrie but also the peoples iust hatred of this tyrant being infamous with so many parricides so as in few dayes the principall Citties yeeld vnto Clouis and the rest are ready to submit themselues into his hands as to their deliuerer Gondebault pursued by God and men faintes being insolent in prosperitie and daunted in aduersitie 507. All things conspired to his ruine But as God doth not alwaies take sinners at the rebound Clouis conquestes in Bourgongne hee stayed the blow by meanes of Clotilde who grieuing to see her house decay to the ouerthrowe of the state of Bourgongne makes intercession to her husband for her vncle and his Countrie and preuailes so with him through her intercession as shee perswades him to passe no further but to leaue the rest to her vncle Gondebault with a reasonable peace whereof she drew the articles Thus Clouis dismisseth his armie hauing onely prouided for the gard of Vienne Mascon Chaalon and other Townes taken from Gondebault and hee giues the charge of them to Gondegesil This is all that Gondebault could hope for in so great a danger but he would needes perish A treacherous attempt of Gondebault when as he sees himselfe without any enemie By Clouis departure he marceth so secretly with his forces as in one night he surpriseth Vienne by the Conduit heads guided by him that had them in charge being cast out ofâ— the Citie with the scumme of vnprofitable people Vienne must bee the Sepulchre of Gondegesil as it was of Gondemar for in this vnexpected surprise as 〈◊〉 and the Bishop sought meanes to saue themselues in the temple of Saint Mory amazement giues an easie entrie vnto Gondebault who being maâ—ster thereof doth massâ—cre both Gondegesil his brother and the Bishop without any reâ—pect Clouis moued with this treacâ—erous attâ—mpt returnes with his armie and beseegeth Gondebault who vnable to resâ—st escapâ—â— by night and saues himselfe in Italie with Thierry King of the Ostrogoths his friend and confederate They being tormented in conscience A iust punishment oâ— the murtherer Gondebault without all 〈◊〉 of releefe hee falls into horrible dispaire and dyes hatefull euen to those that had receiued him leauing a notable example to all men that man is the cause of his â—wâ—e miserie that hee deceiueth himselfe when as ouerruled by his owne passion hee thinkes to mocke God freely who sleepes not when as men are most secure in their wickednesse But after a long patience God payes both the principall and the interest and hee that seekes an other mans goods doth often loose his owâ—e the halfe being better then the whole for to liue quietly with content This was the end of Gondebault and the beginning of the title which the Kings oâ— France pretended to Bourgongne The fast winning 〈…〉 â—nd Prouâ—nce The States of Prouence Daulphiné and Saâ—oye were dependances on this Crowne Clouis reteyning Daulphiné and the Countries adioyning vnto Bourgogne he left Sauoy and Prouence to Sigismond and Gondemar the children of Gondebault ioyning equitie and mildnes to his iust victorie Hauing thus setled the affaires of Bourgongne he marcheth presently with his victoâ—ious armie into Languedoc against Alaric King of the Visigoths who held not onely that goodly Prouince but 〈◊〉 the Countrie from the Pirence mountaines euen to the bankes of Rosne and Loire as wee haue sayd Clouis hauing assembled his armie at Tours marcheth into Poictou where Alaric attends him with his forces meaning to fight with him at his entrie The battaile is giuen and much blood shed on either side but the absolute victorie remaines to Clouis as the bodies the held and the head of Alaric whome hee slew with his owne hand an accident very remarkable 〈◊〉 slaine by the hand o◠〈◊〉 that one Prince should kill another with his sword in hand in the
of the Church and state in breaking the sacred Lawes of God and nature hee dismembers himselfe by peece-meale loosing his goods honour and quiet for assuâ—ed gages of the horrible torments which attend him in the euerlasting prisons appointed to tame the vntamed and to make them suffer the infinit paines of their infiâ—it wickednesse Charles and Lewis were well satisfied to haue preuented their brothers desseins not making any further pursuite of their victory An â—accord betwâ—xt Câ—aâ—lâ—s and Lewis They seeke to confirme tâ—ue concord by the settling of their Estates Hauing stayed sometime vpon the place where the battaile was fought buried the dead released prisoners and proclaimed a generall pardon to all that would followe their armes they call the Bishops to take their aduice vpon ocurrents who beeing sollemnly assembled exhort them vnto concord laying plainely before them the iust iudgement of God against their brother Lothaire least they should drawe the people againe into these extremities by their dissentions The Brethren beleeuing their good aduice part good friends but when as Lothaire sought to renue the quarrell they met againe but this striuing was in vaine they assemble in the Citty of Strasbourg then belonging to this Crowne and there make a sollomne alliance for theÌ„ their subiects to liue togither in peace concord The forme is double one in the Romain tongue the other in Dutch that is to say the Germaine As for the Romaine it seemes to be that of Languedoc and Prouence by the Language although there bee some words which are not at this day in vse with vs as the reader curious of this antiquity may see in their proper places excusing my stile which suffers me not to dilate any further but onely to note what may be found in the originalls touching this subiect This allyance made they come to the diuiding of their parts and to this end they appoint twelue deputies whereof Nitard saies he was one who without respect of fertility or quantity regard that onely which was most conuenient for the nerenesse and commodity of their â—states I know this partition is diuersly set downe by many and who sees not in so obscure antiquity that it is impossible to make a true dessignation seeing that in small successions there is so great diuersity But in all this varietie of opinions it remaynes for certaine that Charles the onely sonne of the second bed who had beâ—ne so much persecuted by the Children of the first wife remayned sole King of France that the territories of the Empire were much decayed nothing remayning in effect but the name of those which lie on this side the Rhin especially in the dependances of the Realme of Bourgongne as Daulphiné and Prouence The portionâ— of Charles and Lewis Daulphiné doth yet carry the ancient name of the Empire in respect of the riuer of Rosne which doth seperate it from Viuaretz a Country opposite called by an expresse name the Realme as also for this cause Charles was called by expresse words in the designaâ—â—â—n of his portion King of France it confines at the one end with Lionnois at the oâ—â—er with Vzege which extends from Saint Esprit to Ville-neuue of Auignon along the Rosne all the sayd limits beeing of his portion bee called by a particular name the Realme vnto this day especially in their Leases which retayne more plainly the traces of the ancient tongue An obseruation which I ought vnto my Country for the which I keepe a ranke in the Theater whereon I meane to represent the Estate of our goodly Prouinces of Gaule Narbonoise in old time honored with the name of a second Italy and at this day so grosly vnknowne to strangers as in the Theater of the world they leaue a blanke for it like to the deserts of Affricke although it yeelds not to any Prouince of this great and goodly Kingdome whereof it is one of the cheefe parts and worthiest memâ—ers So Daulphiné and Prouence were left to Lewis in his partage for the comâ—odity of Italy the which was giuen him notwithstanding the pretensions of Bernards Children But Lewis enioyed not long these great possessions for the which he had so much troubled his poore father 829. his miserable subiects and himselfe for he die◠〈◊〉 â—â—ter Lewis dies without any issue male his great Estates 847. Behold the last rebellious sonne of the father and one of his scourges dead without any great memory the which was like-wise extinguished in his daughter anâ—â—n the diuers changes happened in these Estates Thus the Children impatient â—oâ—â—e their poore father liue died after many fruitlesse toyles the one in a monastery the other without heire to carry his name although the imagination of a famous race and of an extraordinary raigne had made them forget the holy Lawes of nature against their father Charles and Lewis had made profession of more then brotherly loue as their familiarities carefully obserued by Nitard in eating lying and playing togither do tesâ—ifie leauing to the wise reader to iudge howe vncertain the loue of brethren is when as Couetousnes and ambition creepes into their councells Charles married his Neece Hermingrade daughter to his brother Lewis to Boson Earle of Ardennes brother to his wife Richilde His colour was to match his Neece with a Prince of a good house Hermingrade daughter to Lewâ—s married to Boson King of Aâ—les and of more vertue and thereby to binde Boson vnto him but his intent was other as we shall hereafter see Boson tooke possession of the Countries belonging to his wife as her dowry calls himselfe King of Arles A point very remarkable to vnfold many difficulties that shall followe in the foresayd Countries and especially in Prouence where haue happened many changes the which wee will endeauour to represent in their proper places This was the Estate of the heires of great Charlemagne but his posterity did worse where the most famous memory of our Kings shal be noted by their vices eyther of body or minde one being called the stuttering an other the bald the simple the cruell the Barren and all mâ—sfortunes to shewe as it were in a goodly table that all the greatnes of this world is but meere vanity CHARLES surnamed the bald sonne to Lewis the gentle the 26. King and Emperour CHARLES .2 KING OF FRANCE XXVI · CHARLES called the bald King of France beganne to raigne the the yeare 841. and raigned thirty eight yeares 841 He caused himselfe to be proclaimed Emperour after the death of Lewis who suruiued Lothaire without contradiction The greatest part of his raigne passed in the confusions before mentioned or in the hatred and dissentions of brethren or in combustions and open warâ—es But why â—â—ould I encrease mine owne trouble and the readers with the report of these particularities vnworthy of brethren and worthy of eternall forgetfullnes A raigne of small fame but onely to note the confusion from whence
the Reader to the whole Historie to the which we leaue him THE FIRST PARCELL OF THE THIRD ROYAL RACE CALLED CAPETS Conteining thirteene kings from Hugh Capet to Charles the fourth called the Faire The names of thirteene Kings of the first royall branch of Capets placing HVGH CAPET For the stemme and foundation of the third royall race which raigne at this day ROBERT PHILIP the 1. LEWIS the 7. called the long LEWIS the 8. PHILIP the 3. called the hardie LEWIS the 10. called HVTIN HENRY LEWIS the 6. called the grosse PHILIP the 2. called AVGVSTVS LEWIS the 9. called S. LEWIS PHILIP the 4. called the faire PHILIP the 5. surnamed the long CHARLES the 4. called the faire the last of this first branch From the yeare nine hundred ninetie six vnto a thousand three hundred twentie and eight ROBERT alone of that name 37. King of France ROBERT KING OF FRANCE XXXVII ROBERT began to raigne alone The raigne of Robert â—â—ng and happy in the yeare 996. and raigned 33. yeares Hee had three sonnes Hugh Robert and Henry by his wife Constance the Daughter of William Earle of Aâ—les Following the example of his father Hugh he desired to assure the Crowne in his house installing his heire in the right purchased to him and his by a decree of the States So he crowned Hugh his eldest sonne at Compiegne in the yeare 1028. But God who was wiser then Robert determined to call Hugh to a better Crowne for soone after he dyed being dead Robert continued in the same desseigne to assure his estate in his house and obseruing a more royall disposition in the younger then in the elder Robert prefers Henry his yonger sonne to the crowne before the elder he preferred vertue before the prerogatiue of eldership causing Henry the younger to be crowned in his life time decreeing by his will that Robert should content himselfe with the Duchie of Bourgongne doing homage for it to the Crowne of France So hauing happily disposed of his affaires and raigned with the generall content of his sâ—biects he dyed in the yeare 1031. being three score yeares old Robert dyes hi disposiâ—on A Prince very fiâ—te for the time being wise resolute peaceable and continent But Pietie was the Crowne of all his vertues and the knowledge of Diuinitie seasoned with learning one of the flowers of this goodly crowne for he is commended to haue beene very deuout and to haue loued both diuinity and humanitie They sing Hymnes of his inuention and namely that which is to the honour of holy martyrs which begins O constantia martyrum mirabilis the which bearing resemblance with the name of his wife Constance he was wonderfully pleased with the humour she had to be honoured with his writings being then greatly esteemed throughout the world 1010. There is nothing more dangerous in an Estate than the change of diuers masters 〈◊〉 experience hath taught in former raignes Wile Kings and of long life happy for an estate So God who ment to confirme the Mâ—narchie in this Race gaue a long and a happie life to these first Kings issued from Capet without any sudden change from raigne to raigne For Robert raigned 33. yeares Henry his sonne as much Philip his sonne 49. yeares Lewis the 7. forty four Lewis the 9. called Saint Lewis as much All wise Princes moderate valiant peaceable and happy As good houses are setled euen so Kingdomes are confirmed As when one good hus band succeeds an other adding welth to welth newe vpon olde houses then growe great euen so the long life of these good and wise Princes was continued with much happy successe as we shall see in euery raigne This in particular is remarkable in the raigne of Robert We haue sayd the realme was diuided as it were to many masters As there is small respect among equalls who seeth not what should haue succeeded betwixt so many great lords being equalls and especially in France but Robert did so firmely gouerne the helme of this great barke in the midest of the tempestuous seas of French humors as hee controulled all such as sought to free themselues from the Crowne whose authority by this meanes was great Robert maintaines his royall authoâ—y by the obedience which hee forced all them to yeeld that would plaie the mutines He enterrayned the amity his father had with Richard Duke of Normandie confirmed by allyance and for that there was iealousie betwixt him and Otho Earle of Chartres he could wisely make his profit of them both In the beginning of his raigne one Gautier gouernour of Melâ—n sold the place to the Earle of Chartres aboue named according to the manner of confused times At the complaint of Bouchard to whome the towne belonged He suppresseth the seditiouâ— the King commaunded Otho to restore it vnto him who refused to obey Robert sets the Normand against him who handles him in such sort as in the ende the Earle humbles himselfe vnto the King and deliuers vp both the place and marchant who was hanged Henry brother to Hugh Capet was Duke of Bourgongne by the decease of his brother Otho Henry then died and so Bourgongne returned to the Crowne But passion perswading Landry Earle of Neuers to make a benefit of his right of neighbourhood and time inuiting him to imbrace this occasion to fish in a troubled water hee seized on Auxerre by intelligence But hee was deceiued to thinke this a time wherein all things were lawfull for Robert goes presently to field with his army and beseegeth Auxerre where this ill aduised Landry was but the Inhabitants open their gates to the King and deliuer Landry into his hands All the Auxerrois obeye except Auallon who after a fewe daies yeelds and in the ende all Bourgongne Landry guilty of treason â—â—â—â—ers an easie punishement for his rashenes Hauing confessed his fault he obtaynes pardon of Robert promising all future obedience 〈◊〉 giuâ—s Bouâ—gongne to Robert his eldest sonne Thus Robert being master of Bourgongne hee giues it to Robert his eldest sonne But Robert doubly interested his younger beeing preferred and hee hauing a very small part in the State was not pleased with this portion Bourgongne was then distinguished into Duchie and Countie whereof the Countie belonged to the Empire and the Duchie to the Realme according to the diuision made by the Children of Lewis the gentle At that time Henry the 2. Duke of Bauiere surnamed the holy held the Empire Lorraine was the ordinary cause of debate betwixt France and Germany Robert to ende this controuersie meetes with Henry at a place called Enol Agreement with the Emperour for Lorraine vpon the riuer of Cher and made an accord with him the which continues to this day At that time Gothelon brother to the Earle of Ardenne held Lorraine Herevpon the hatred betwixt the Duke of Normandy and the Earle of Chartres kindled in such sort Robert reconciles the Duke of
these butchers attending their misery Lewis King of France punisheth the rebells shut themselues into the great Tower of S. Donas Lewis doth first bury the body of this good Earle honourably the which had lien without sepulchre and then doth punish the murtherers and their complices rigourously But this is not all He must prouide for the Earledome remayning without a Lord by the death of Count Charles deceassed without children Pretendants for the Earledome of Flanders There wanted no pretendants William of Ypre sonne to Philip of Flanders the second sonne of Robert the Frison King Henry of England who desired greatly to ioyne this goodly Country with his Normandy Stephen of Blois Earle of Montreuill and Bologne Baldwin Earle of Hainault and William the sonne of Robert called Court-house brother to the King of England but his sworne enemy hauing vsed his father ill and kept him prisoner Lewis was soueraigne Iudge of this controuersy Flanders depending on the crowne of France He assigned all the pretendants of the Citty of Arras signifiyng that his intent was to do him iustice but in effect he inclined to fauour adiudging the Earledome of Flanders to the last that is to William of Normandy to binde him with more strict bounds against his â—â—nsman On the other side the Flemings assemble at Ypre and chose William of Loâ— Lord of Ypre The King aduanceth with his forces to Ypre to preuent this popular election where he enters the stonger and forceth William to renownce it VVilliam of Normandy made Earle of Flanders From thence he goes to all other good Citties where by his authority he causeth William of Normandy to be receiued for lawfull Earle and puts him in solemne possession by a publike act But his fauour had ill bestowed this goodly inheritance of an vnworthy man whose fury depriued him presently Lewis hauing installed him He oppresseth his newe subiects returnes into France William insteed of winning his newe subiects by equity and mildnesse begins to oppresse them after a rigorous and imperious manner by infringing of their preuileges ostentations of his authority taxes subsidies newe impositions and by all other meanes which Princes that seeke to loose their Estates hold to torment their subiects He had so far exceeded as the Citties without any wauering resolue to prouide a better Earle and to this intent they seeke a head The memorie of their good Earle makes them to cast their eyes vpon him that hath most right to this inheritance as the neerest kinsman which is Thierri son to the Duke of Alsatia and of Gertrude daughter to Robert the Frison The Flemings intreat him to come into their country The Flemings chooâ—e them a new Earle promising him all assistance to conquer the State He comes and is receiued with an extraordinary ioy by all the people All the Citties assemble to acknowledge him by order and dismisse William of Normandy who seeing a flat repulse by this people thus freed repayres to Lewis for succour in this extremity Lewis fayles him not his army marcheth with great speed hee himselfe comes in person and is receiued into Arras from thence he adiornes Thierry to come and answer before him as his soueraigne by what warrant hee carries himselfe for Earle this sommons is made vnto him at Ypre whether he had retired himselfe Hauing condemned him by default Thierrithe new Earle of Flanders defeated he approcheth his army to Ypre to vexe the inhibâ—bitants Thierri sallies forth with a notable troupe of men they ioyne the fight is fierce but the check falles vpon Thierries forces who with much a doe saues himselfe in Alost William pursues him and approcheth the towne sommoning the Inhabitants to obey and to deliuer vp Thierri as an Vsurper VVilliam of Normandy stâ—â—â—e in Flanders But he was not aduised that one with a Crossebow shot an arrow at him and pierced him through the arme Behold hee is wounded and within two dayes he dies Thierri and the Flemings send presently to Lewis to beseech him to receiue them into fauour whereby he may be assured of theyr faithfull seruice Lewis consents and confirmes him and hauing caused him to take the oath of fidelity and receiued his homage after the manner of his Ancestors 1121. he returnes into France But Flanders continued not long in quiet as we shall see hereafter To these stirres of Flanders were added some garboyles in Bourbonois and Auuergne Archibauld Earle of Bourbon was deceassed leauing one sonne of the same name Troubles in Bourbonois but a young man and a brother called Haman who abusing the time in the weake minoritie of his Nephew would make himselfe Maister of Bourbonois pretending the Earledome to appertaine vnto him by the death of his elder brother to whom hee must succeed in order as the yongest of the house The mother and friends of Archibauld opposed against Hamon the right of representation inuiolable in France in great houses which is that the sonne of the eldest brother represeâ—ts the Father and without doubt succeeds in all his rights to enioy them as if he himselfe liued for that the Father reuiues in the Sonne Hamon building his chiefe interest vpon force would not admit any reason that made for his Nephew so as the matter was brought before the King who by the aduise of his Councell declares Archibauld the lawfull heire and puts Haman from his pretensions commanding him to leaue the possession of Bourbonois free to his Nephew 1123. This Archibauld did afterwards marrie his daughter Beatrix to Robert Earle of Clermont in Beauuoisis sonne to the King S. Lewis The stâ—â—ke of the house of Bourbon and of this marriage by the royall stemme is discended the most famous race of Bourbon the which at this day doth happily enioy the Crowne and realme of France But Haman who held some places in Burbonois would not leaue the possession refusing to obey the Kings commandement relying vpon the fauour of Eustache Earle of Auuergne who sought to free himselfe There was a priuate subiect of complaint against him hauing displaced the Bishop of Clermont against the Kings will These occasions drew the King into Bourbonois where hauing besieged Haman he ended this controuersie in fauour of Archibauld The affaires of Auuergne were more difficult by reason of William Duke of Guienne who imbraced the cause for the Earle of Auuergne pretending that he was his vassall This quarrell seemed to take a long course but it was pacified by this meanes Lewis had six sonnes Philip Lewis Henry another Philip Peter Robert and one Daughter Constance He had crowned his eldest sonne Philip who dyed by a strange accident going to take the aire on horseback Philip eldest sonne to Lewis died by a strange accident a Hog passed vnder the bellie of his horse the which being feared did shake this young King so violently as he threw him downe and so brused him as within few dayes after hee
as are aduanced to these dignities our Kings hauing right to be soueraigne ouer-seers of the Church The King would not allow of Peter thus aduanced to this dignity The Pope king of France at 〈◊〉 although the Chapter of Bourges had giuen their consent to the Popes decree Peter being reiected had recourse to Thibaud Earle of Champagne to the Earle of Blois men discontented with the King and onely fit to be opposed But to this difficultie there was added a greater at the same instant Raoul Earle of Vermandois had put away his wife Gilibert the daughter of Roger Lord of Chasteau-briant vpon suspition that she had beene prodigall of her honour without any proofes to conuince her But iealousie made him to see that plainly which was concealed to others so as he put her away and tooke Peronnelle the Bastard Daughter of William Duke of Guienne in her place being aduowed sister to Queene Elenor and her deere friend Gilibert complaines to the Pope being reiected as shee pretended without cause and demands Iustice. The Pope commands Raoul to receiue his wife againe and to put away Peronelle as vnlawfull and for not obeying doth excommunicate him The King intreates the Pope for Peronelle but he preuailes not for hee sends Yues into France as his Legat to reuiue the first censure 1143. not onely against the Earle but also against the Bishops which had consented to the diuorce of Gilibert forbidding them any more to exercise their charges The Earle Thibaud had vndertaken to haue the Pope obeyed to the great dislike of the King as it were attempting it of purpose to offend him Lewis moued with this affront went against Thibaud And at the first takes Vitry and not onely sackes the Towne but in disdaine of the Pope caused the Churches to bee spoiled and many being fled out of the villages to saue themselues from the furie of the disordred troupes A horrible massacre committed by the soldiars of Lewis and by his consent had retired themselues into a Temple as to a place of safetie Lewis giues such libertie to his Souldiars as they set fire of the place and burne fifteene hundred persons men and women The horror of this Massacre offended all good men but especially Lewis who was so much grieued as hee could not bee comforted Misfortune is good for some thing Lewis loathing the voyage to the East for the foresayd occasions was easily confirmed by Saint Bernard who had perswaded him to yeeld all succours to the afflicted Christians for a reparation of so execrable a fact committed by his commandement vpon so many poore innocents And likewise he imbarked Conrad the Emperour and the Germaines These two great Princes carried with one zeale and vnited in one will to this worke make great preparations for the voyage Conrad armes three score thousand horse and an infinite number of foote and hee himselfe is chiefe of this goodly Armie taking the way of Hongarie to Constantinople through the Countrie of Alexis his brother in lawe Emperour of Greece The Emperor and Lewis go into the East hee arriued some moneths before Lewis for the Emperour parted in Februarie and Lewis went to field in Maye and takes the same course the Emperour had done The Kings Armie was nothing inferiour to the Emperours and so much the more remarkeable for that Queene Elenor desired to accompany her husband in the voyage so as after the King and Queenes example all France thought to flie into the East They sent a Distaffe and a Spindle to all those that were fit for Armes if they marched not with this tâ—oupe of braue Warriors Conrad arriued first at Constantinople And so he returned much sooner into Germanie Hauing passed into Asia by the Bosphorus of Thrace it was likely that all should yeeld to so mightie an Armie but it fell out otherwise then he had desseigned All the Cittie 's wonne at the fiâ—st voyage were almost lost and the Christians ill gouernment was so well knowne as the Turkes made head in all places The Emperour measuring his triumph by the number of his men contemned the enemie and was negligent in his proceedings Hauing referred the prouision to Alexis Emperour of the East The Emperors voyage to no profit his brother in lawe he found little Bread and store of enemies in all places So as what by Hunger and the Sword scarce the tenth part of his men come to his friends in the Holy Land where hee found them all amazed Lewis warned by Conrads example did somwhat better in the beginning for being refreshed at Constantinople and other Citties of Greece he passed the Chanell into Asia happily where hauing beaten the enemie hee came without losse to Athalia and hauing caused his Fleete which was at Rhodes to come to the friends Ports of Palestina he arriued by land safe with all his troupes at Antioche where hee was honourablie recâ—iued by â—aimond Earle of Saint Gilles his brother in lawe In the meane time the Emperour besiegeth Ascalon alone but preuailes not Lewis arriues at Ierusalem whether Conrad comes likewise After they had visited the places of deuotion they resolue to besiege Damas in Siria a Cittie very important for the commerce of Iudea but after a long and fâ—uitlesse siege all are dispersed The Emperor who came first The Emperor of Greece deales â—â—â—acherously with the Emperor King returnes first The King stayed not long after him There were foure yeares spent in this fruitlesse voyage with much paine and cost and not onely without fruite but it also tooke away the terror of Christian armies in these miscreants and left the affaires of Asia in farre worse estate then when they came There was yet another inconuenience The Emperor Alexis a friend at their entrie shewed himselfe an enemie to them both at their departure Conrad saued himselfe as well as he could more fearing the treacherie of the Greekes then the crueltie of the Turkes 1146. Lewis prouides in time to haue the Fleete of Sicile come for his conuoy else had he lost both himselfe and his treasure The Emperor and King of France make a shamefull returne from the East the which had beene a meanes for the Greekes to make their peace with the Turkes and open warre against the other Christians being better then themselues This shamefull and preiudiciall departure was hurtfull to the whole Christian Church But there was a greater losse for Lewis very troublesome to himselfe and preiudiciall to all France for Queene Elenor his wife who made profession to go visit the holy places suffered her eyes to be abused with an vnchaste and filthy lust which tainted her honour and the King her husbands heart with an outragious iealousie This woman accustomed to the liberties of Time and Place had so abandoned her selfe to the pleasures of the East as the stenche of her incontinencie was publike to the whole world before her husband had any notice thereof
Constable of Armagnâ—c should besiâ—ge Senlis and the better to countâ—nance his armes the King himselfe goes with the armie The Towne beeing preâ—â— they take a day to yeeld The siege of Senâ—â—s if by the 17. of Aprill they be not releeued Iohn of Luxembourg whome the Bourguignon had left in Picardy for the surety of those places gathers together what troupes hee can and comes at the day prefixed at which time the townsemen made a great sally vppon the Kâ—ngs Câ—mpe fyring their tents aâ—d pauillions The Constable moued with this affront cuts of the heads of fowre of their hostages and they kill six and forty of his men that were prisoners In the meane time Iohn of Luxembourg approcheth towards Creill meaning to fight 〈◊〉 the Constâ—ble vrging him by sundry skirmishes hauing sent Charlot Daillâ— towards Dampmartin with a good troupe to stoppe the passage The Constable fearing tâ—e euent of a battaile being loth to hazard the King worâ—d not ioyne but desirous to finde some honest colour to auoide the fight hee send 〈◊〉 trumpet The Constable retires with dishoâ—oâ—r to know who commanded these troâ—pes And vnderstanding it was 〈◊〉 Luxembourg hee answered in a brauery Seeing it is neither the Duke of â—ourgongne nor his sonne they aâ—e not for vs let vs go to Paris So he retuâ—â—es wâ—thout fighting whether the cheeâ—e of his affaires drew him not fore seeing the mischeefe which attended him by reason of this retreat being to preiudiciall to his honor for the Parisiens who hated him and yet feared him for the reputation of his vallour beganne nowe to contemne him nothing in this retreat a kinde of couardise as hauing refused to incounter Iohn of Luxembourg who had so brauely offered him the battaile The brute of this shamefull departure was publeshed by the Bourguignon faction to their masters aduantage 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 They imbrace this occasioÌ„ being â—oth the peoples heat shold growe cold by any better successe obseruing likewise that the King Daulphin Counstable Chancellor and all the cheefe of that partie were at Paris to be all surpâ—ised together The Duke of Bourgongne was vpon his returne from Sauois but he depaâ—ted not with out good instructions from the Empire But leauing the Bourguignons aâ—my in field let vs note the estate of that great Citty of Paris Perrinet Clerc a smith The 〈…〉 Iohn Thiebert a brother Perrin Bourdichon a Cooper such were they whome the Bourguignon had made his Colenells at Paris hauing practised all their frends with great secrecie and ingaged many they aduertise the Seignor of Lisâ—e Adam who was gouernour of Ponthoise for the Bourguignon of their enterprise the which was to deliuer him a gate and a good troupe of the Inhabitants within the hart of the Cittie so as they might haue soldiars to second there attempt Lisâ—e Adam accepts thereof and the euent was answerable to the desseine for these vnder-takers assigne him Saint Germains gate Perrinet hath the Keyes Lisle Adam presents himselfe at midnight being the houre appointed with eight hundred armed men He finds the gate open and Berrinet attending him Then he putts his men in battaile least he should be taken in disorder Perrinet shutts the gate and casts the Keyes into the ditch and then without any noise he marcheth with this troupe to the lesser Chastelet where he had left a squadron of fower hundred men vnder the great vault to lie more couerâ—lâ—e Lisâ—e Adam hauing wined his troupe with the Cittizens so as the one might assist the other he sends forth diuers troupes to giue the alarum in diuers quarters of the Cittie with charge to moue the people to armes Euery troupe marcheth spedely to his quarter as he is commanded crying out with a terrible voice in the dead of the night Rise good people peacâ— peace God saue the King and the good Duke of â—ourgongne At this noâ—â—e all rise some to hide themselues others to arme so as in short time a great multitude being armed wandeâ— vp and downe the streets readie to fight Their Captaines appoint them what houses of the Armâ—gnaâ—s they should force Thâ— Kiâ—â— tâ—ken The fiâ—st â—roupe must seaze vpon the King but before all was ready the alarâ—m was generall Such as had most interest are soonest vp Tannâ—guy of Chastell Prouost of Paris a very trustie seruant to the Daulphin wrapps him in a sheet and carries him into the Battaile The 〈…〉 himâ—â—â—â—e A good Leuiane which shall one day raise the dow and the hand of him that kneds it Some others also retired themselues thether which shall serue in thâ—s Scene Iohn Louuet Robâ—rt Masson the Vicont of Narbone Bouâ—i-quaut The Constable â—rmagâ—â—c in a disgused weed saues himselfe in a neighbours house But all this troupe flies to the Kings lodging at Saint Pol. These tribunes cause this poore sicke Prince to rise with out any respect they force him to promise what they â—lease and to ride through the Citty crying God saue the King and peace thinking by his presence to increase their troupe and to countenance their confusion This done euery troupe seekes his quarter and manie are taken The Chancelâ—o◠〈◊〉 The chancellor of Marle is surprised in his lodging and Raimonet De la Guerre whome were good supportters of the Armagnac faction many presidents Councellors and masters of the Accowmpâ—s were taken with out any respect of persons The Cardinalls of Bar and Saint Marc the Archâ—bishop of Rheims the Bishops of Senlis Bayeux Constanâ—â— were carried away and imprisoned all the prisons are filled with honorable persons But what is become of the Daulplin and Constable they serch they hunt in all places yet finding nothing they commande by sound of trompet that euery man should presently vpon paine of death discouer the Armagnacs The Daulphin was safe but the Constable discouered by his host is taken carried away by one of these Tribuneâ— and imprisoned hee was in danger as he past through the streets riding behind him that had him in gard Thus was the night spent vntill day yet without any murther and it seemes this was by commandement This happened in the yeare 1418. the 25. of May a pleasant day The Constable taken the forerunner of a mournfull winter The Daulphin hauing escaped this danger miraculously by the good aduice of Tannegâ—y of Chastell he resolues to do his best in retyring himselfe else where and not to hazard his person with this furious and murtherous people By the faithfull meanes of this good seruant he goes forth secretly in the night and slipps into Melun leaping from place to place like a bird that flies from bough to bough From Melun he goes to Nemours whether hee sends for his most â—â—ustâ—e seruants of whose helpes he had neuer greater neede The Marshall of Rieux comes vnto him with many of the Nobility they consult of the meanes to recouer Paris before it be supplied with soldiars So they
forty Lances to draw forth the Townsemen who sallying out as an assured victorie are compassed in like partriges in a net defeated chased and slaine to the number of foureteene or fifeteene hundred many are taken prisoners and of the better sort Iames of S. Paul the Constables brother the Lords of Centay Carency and others At that time the King did set the Prince of Orange at liberty being of the house and bearing the armes of Chalon taken in warre being set at thirty thousand Crownes ransome the which the King did moderate to ten thousand and caused it to be presently payed to the gentleman that held him by meanes whereof he became the Kâ—ngs Liege man and did him homage for the sayd Principality So as the King gaue him power to intitle himâ—eâ—fe by the grace of God Prince of Orange Priuileges granted to the Prince of Orange by Lewis and to coyne money of gold and siluer of as high a standard as that of Daulphiné to grant all graces remissions and pardons but for heresie and treason This transaction with the former prises did wonderfully discontent the Constable iealous of the Kings good successe and fearing likewise some checke by so mightie an army which the Admirall and the Earle of Dammartin had at his gate The Constables malice For the auoyding whereof he giues the King a false intelligence that the English were at sea reâ—die land at Calais he perswades the King to prouide for the places of Normandie he promiseth faithfully to defend the marches of Picardie and in his Masters absence to reduce Abbeuille and Peronne to his obedience But let vs heare an other notable part of trechery hee seekes by all meanes to weaken the King 1475. and yet would he not fortifie the Bourguignon but that the English should crosse both their Estats that his owne might stand firme in the miâ—est of their confusions With this desseine he procures the Duke of Bourgongne to send Philip Bouton and Philip Pot Knights to the Duke of Bourbon and he for his part sends Hector of Escluse The Constable seekâ—s to suborne the Duke of Bourbon to signifie vnto him that the English would soone land that the Duke of Bourgongne and he the Constable ioyning all their powers togither would easily conquer the Realme exhorâ—iâ—g him for the auoiding of his owne ruine and his Countries to ioyne with them the which if he refuse and that it fall out ill for him he was not to be pittied The Duke of Bourbon sends the King two letters of this tenor brought to him at diuers times by Escluse who makes answer to the Duke and Constable that neyther promises nor threats should drawe him from the obedience and faithfull seruice hee did owe vnto his maiesty Lewis will produce these letters to the Constables confusion in the end of the next yeare For the present hee must assure his frontiers There is no newes yet of the English Lewis markes well this chase and will cause the Constable who supposed himselfe to haue the aduantage of the game to loose the partie Poore Nobleman Mournâ—ul presages to the Constable howe many misfortunes foretell they approching ruine Thy Brother prisoner Thy wife dead at the same instant one of the chiefest pillers of thy house who as sister to the Queene might at neede haue preserued thy head Thy Nephewe Scales prisoner with the instructions he brought from England to the Bourguignon And to fill vp the measure thy sonne the Earle of Roussy defeated at Grey in Bourgongne and prisoner with the Duke of Bourbon who shall not leaue him vntill the end of the yeare for fortie thousand Crownes ransom with the losse of two hundred men at armes Lombards the Baron of Couches and many others The Marshall of Bourgongne sonne to the Earle of Saint Martin two sonnes of the house of Viteaux whereof the one was Earle of Ioâ—gny the Lords of Longey Lisle Digoine Montmartin Ragny Chaligny the Bayliffe of Auxerre the Enseigne bearer to the Lord of Beauchamp and many others escaped death but not imprisonment Sufficient warrnings to amaze a resolute minde Hereafter the Constable is afflicted with strange distemperatures fed with the neighbourhood of the Earle of Dammartin being lodged neere S. Quentin whome he knewe to be none of his friends And fearing least the King should assault him he sends to take assurance of the Duke of Bourgongne intreating him to send him his brother Iames of Saint Paul the Lord of Fiennes and some other his kinsmen and friends to put them into Saint Quentin and to keepe the Towne at the Dukes deuotoÌ„i without bearing the Saint Andrewes crosse the which he promised to restore vnto him within a prefixed time They come they present themselues within viewe of Saint Quentin once twise and thrice The Constable seekes to the Duke of Bourgongne deceiues him but the Constable suspects them and sends them backe They came still eyther too soone or too late so as at the bruit of these forces the Admirall casts himselfe into Arras whereof followed the taking of Iames of Saint Paul who being brought before the King hauing liberty to speake he confessed that at the two first iourneyes hee came onely with an intent to comfort his brother but at the third time seeing the Constable had deceyued both his Master and him if he had beene the stronger hee would haue kept the place for his Master without offering any violence to his brother wherevpon his maiestie set him at libertie very well appointed seruing him vnto his death Lewis dissemâ—les with the Constable And although the Constable had lately done a notable disgrace vnto the King yet his maiesty dissembled it wisely and to take from him all cause of iealousie he willes him to go and make warre in Hainault and to beseege Auennes whilest that the Admirall was busied in Artois He goes but very loath and with exceeding feare and staies but little he retyres betimes being aduertised as he informed the King of two men in his army whome he described by apparent signes suborned to kill him He accuseth 〈◊〉 that he â—ought to kill him This newe feare accompained with distrust bred a terrible distemperature in the Constables head who hauing lost his credit both with the King and Duke will yet entertayne himselfe by both and perswade them that he is seruant but to one He sent often to the Bourguignons campe to drawe him from the seege of Nuz that he might ioyne fitly with the English at coÌ„ming on land then vpon the returne of his messengers he gaue the King some plausible intelligence to cause him to like of his conference with the Duke sometimes disgracing his affaires to winne the credit of an affectionate seruant with Lewis sometimes extolling the Duke to terrifie the King But oh policie simply shadowed On the other side hee knewe well that he had greatly offended the King by his last action He sees
what did concerne him And at the same instâ—â—t hee dispatcheth Contay to the Duke his maister with letters of credit of the Kings owne hand and somewhat to satisfie the Constable he giues the English Eu and S. Vallery to lodge in during the treaty of peace In the meane time oh notable trechery behold one of the Constables ordinarie trickes hee sends his confessor to the King of England with letters of credit The Constables trechery and intâ—eats him earnestly not to trust to the Kings promises but rather to seize vpon Eu and Saint Valery and there to passe some part of the winter That within two monethes hee would lodge him better Yet he giues him no other security but much hope and an offer to lend him fiftie thousand crownes with many other goodly shewes Edward reiects the Constables counterfeit offers to drawe him from so profitable an accord Edward answers that the truce is concluded and that he will not alter any thing That if he had kept his word he would haue accepted it Thus our Constable dispaires on all sides The King foreseeing that the CoÌ„stable wold thrust Edward into iealousie resolued by his bounty to take away all cause of suspect 1465. for the effecting whereof he sends Edward three hundred carts laden with the best wine he could get Lewis his policie to preuent the Constables practises and within halfe a League within Amiens Edward lod ging within halfe a league for confirmation of the truce he causeth two long tables to be set vp at the entry of the Towne couered with exquisite meats and all kindes of prouocations to drink with men to attend all comeâ—s and goers at the table At euery table were fiue or six men of reputation fatt and big the better to incourage the Drinkers amongest others were the Lords of Craon Briquebeâ— Bresme and Villiers gentlemen of a pleasant humour and wheresoeuer the English tooke any lodging they might not spend any thing This bounty coÌ„tinued three or foure daies during the which if Lewis had ment treacherously he had good means they entâ—cing into Amiens confusedly to the number of nine thousand for of this great multitude some did sing some slept ouercome with wine and drousines But contrarywise he comitted the gard of the gate to English Archers whome Edward at Lewis his request had sent to take in and put out whome they pleased It was then concluded to appoint a place for an entervewe of these two Kings It is done with lesse confusion and hazard in a smal place Picqugny vpon Somme was held conuenient an antient prophesie which the English obserued described this very place To this effect they build vpon the bridge two pentises of wood An entervewe of the Kings the one for Lewis the other for Edward either of them capable of ten or twelue men Betwixt both was a partition with grates to put through ones armes going ouerthwart the bridge that no man might go from the one to the other Lewis made his profit of fore-passed euents he knew that if the barre at Montereau had had no more passage then this Iohn Duke of Bourgongne had not ended his dayes so lamentablie in the narrowe bounds thereof The 28. of August Lewis comes fiâ—st to the barre accompanied with Iohn Duke of Bourbon the Cardinall his brother and followed only with about eight hundred men at armes Edward comes after hauing with him the Duke of Clarence his brother the Earle of Northumberland his Chamberlain Hastings His Chancellor others and behind him all his army in battaile Either King had twelue men about him foure of the which went from one part to an other to search if there were nothing practised to the preiudice of their maisters They imbrace each other through the grate and sweare vpon the holy Bible to obserue the articles agreeed vpon The othe taken Lewis mingling his serious discours with some mirth inuites Edward to come to Paris that he would feast him with the Ladies and giue him the Cardinall of Bourbon for his Confessor a pleasant man and of free life who willingly would giue him absolution if happily he should sinne in that case Then they conferre together a while without any witnesses And vpon the Kings demand whether the Duke of Bourgongne would not accept of the truce men take an oxe by the horne and a man by his word a nd with the like policie the Duke of Bourgongne might haue bin surprised at his departure from Liege Edward answered that he might doe as he pleased I will summon him againe he saith if he will not harken to it I will referre my selfe to you two This accord being made Lewis begins to play vpon an other string makes the like demande touching the Duke of Brittain for whome he cheefely made the motion But he findes the English resolute in his protection The politike proceding of Lewis as hauing found no friend so kinde in his affliction Lewis surceaseth and with a wonderfull curtesie takes leaue of the King of England contents all his folowers with some kinde words and giues presents to some priuate Noblemen the Heralds trompets who to shew their thankfull mindes began to cry Alargesse for the most noble and mighty King of France a largesse 〈◊〉 largesse He hath alwayes made it manifest that he was exceeding suspitious and that from an antecedent he could cunningly draw a good consequence He is no sooner on his way to Amiens but he studies of Edwards facility to harken to the going to Paris that he was a very goodly Prince and of an amorous complexion and that some nice Parisien might stay him longer then his estate required 1475. or at the the least drawe him to passe the sea an other time that his Predecessors had loued Paris and Normandie but too well He therefore desires to see their backes and must by some meanes bring him from this desire wishing rather to haue him his good brother friend beyond the seas then here The necessitie which forced the King against the Burguignon serued for an excuse Moreouer the King was grieued to see the English so resolute to defend the Brittons quarrell he would gladly haue obtained that freedome to make warre in Brittaine the which hee wonderfully affected and made a second motion vnto him by Bousâ—hâ—ge S. Fierre who returned with this answere That whosouer doth attempt saith he against the Duke of Brittaine I will passe the seas in person and succour him So hee was no more importuned The reason why King Edward protects the duke of Brittanie Edward had an especial cause to entertain the loue of the Duke of Brittanie for at the defeat of Henry King of England as wee haue heard Henry Earle of Richmont and neerest kinsman to the said Henry after the death of his sonne the Prince of Wales saued himselfe with his vncle the Earle of Pembroke and hauing entred a barke in hast they
come out of Albe and Quieras he forceth the passage of Suze against Cesar of Naples who kept it with ten thousand men chaseth them two miles wins all their baggage makes the Marquis to retyre all his forces to Riuole and Montcallier leauing Pignerol at libertie opens a way by the taking of Villane from two hundred Spaniards which were cut in peeces addes to his conquests Riuola abandoned by the Marquis turnes head to the enemie incamped on this side the riuer of Po right against Montcallier but hauing the bridge to fauour him to retyre when he pleased he begins the skirmish with his light horsemen against theirs kills many takes some and looseth few he chaseth all their troupes beyond the bridge who breaks it after them but with the hazard of their liues that remayned behind Those of Montcallier come with a great shew of affection and repaire it and then receiue into their Towne all the souldiars which the Daulphin had left to guard the riuer whilest the armie passed at Carignan The Marquis dislodging still left in Quiers Don Anthonie of Arragon his brother in law with foure thousand men and himselfe recouered the Countrie of Ast. Thus our men being at libertie on all sides become masters of Poirien Riue de Quiers Villeneufue d' Ast Montafié Antignan and of all other forts vnto the gates of Ast of Quieras Albe and Fossan whether they retyred all the Corne of the Country which did serue for the victualing of the Campe and places of conquest About thirtie thousand sacks of corne which the Marquis had gathered togither but had not leysure to bring from Montcalier and much other munition found in diuers places supplyed Turin for a yeare During these actions the King comes accompanied with the Earle of Saint Paul the Cardinall of Lorraine and many other great personages And as his Maiestie tooke councell at Carignan with the Daulphin and the Lord Steward newes comes vnto him that the garrison of Vulpian kept the valley of Suze The King comes into Piedmont and for that Riuole nor Villare had any horsemen to stay their incursions they did wonderfully annoy those that followed the Campe. Hee presently sent away Martin du Bellay and very happily They had newly seized vppon six moyles laden with money for the payment of the armie driuing the moyles and the treasorers in the midest of them Du Bellay passeth the riuer of Doüaire intercepts their way and ouertakes them three miles from Vulpian he makes them to leaue the moyles and only with the losse of the Treasorers which they carried away brings them safe to Riuole The conclusion of this Councell was to beseege Quiers where the King would imploy the first fruits of his last forces But the great commander of battailes 〈◊〉 him a more fauorable issue Truce betwixt the two Princes The truce of Picardie had giuen libertie to the 〈◊〉 of Hongarie and likewise to the King to send some gentlemen into Spaine to 〈◊〉 a peace or a generall truce and the deputies had so well performed their 〈◊〉 as a suspension of armes was concluded on either side from the eight and 〈…〉 of Nouember vntill the two and twentith of February following whereby euery oâ—e enioying that whereof hee should bee found seized at the time of the pubâ—â—cation the garrisons of Turin Vorlin Sauillan Montdeuis and other frontier places were no t slacke to inlarge their limits as farre as they could nor to put men in the Kings name into all the small places and castles there about Three dayes after the truce was proclaymed the Marquis of Guast came to â—â—sse the Kings hand whome he receiued very gratiously and the king making the Lord of Saint Montiean gouernour of Piedmont he left William of Bellay his Lieutenant generall in Turin Francis Earle of Pontreme at Pignerol the Baron of Castell-pâ—â—s 〈◊〉 Sâ—uillan Charles of Dros a Piedmentois at Montdeuis hee had surprised and kept the place from the Imperials when they were the strongest in field Lodowike of â—â—rague at Vorlin and Nicholas of Rusticis at Carmagnole he dismissed his Suisses and taking his way to France he sent the Cardinall of Lorraine from Lions with Montmorency the Lord Steward to Locate where the Emperours deputies should meet concerning a peace betwixt their Maiesties The confusions had bin great their splene not easily to bee pacified which made them to prolong the truce for sixe moneths more After all these toyles and painfull endeuours the loyall seruice of the most worthy deserued reward which make the King being at Molins to aduance Anne of Montmorency to bee Constable of France the place being void by the reuolt of the Duke of Bourbon he gaue his place of Marshall to Montiean and that of the Marshal la Marke deceased to Claude of Annebault It was now time to suppresse these infernall furies An enteruew at Nice which had so long troubled the quiet of Christendome with such fatall combustions and that the Pope doing the office of a common father should therein imploy his authoritie Hee procures an enteruew of these two great Princes at Nice and himselfe assists being about threescore and fifteene yeares of age in the beginning of Iune Their mutuall hatreds had taken too deepe roots in their hearts and that fatall and bloudie checke which his brother Ferdinand King of Hongarie had lately receiued from the Turke had nothing mollified the Emperour Time doth pacifie discontents Ten yeares were sufficient or neuer â—o dispose both the one and the other to a generall peace A truce foâ— ten yeares The Pope therefore seeing that by the full deciding of their quarrels he could not confirme a finall peace he propounded a truce for tenne yeares the which they concluded betwixt their Countries and subiects and then euery one returned home But Charles was borne to bee a perpetuall scourge to this realme and many yeares shall not passe before â—e put vs in alarum with an vnworthy and base motiue of new confusions Let vs now see how he worketh like a foxe to produce effects for his owne benefit The Emperors polâ—icy The Gantois being opprest with many extraordinarie tributs had spoyled the Emperours officers who growing desperate and seeking to fortifie themselues against the reuenging wrath of Charles they secretly offer obedience to the King as to their Soueraine Lord. The King performing the dutie of a good brother and faithfull friend giues the Emperour intelligence thereof The Emperour deuiseth by some notable examples to suppresse the Gantois insolencies But the passages thither were not very certaine By Germanie the protestants might somewhat hinder him By sea a storme might as well cast him vpon the coast of England as vpon Flanders the diuisions he had with the King of England by reason of the diuorce of Queene Katherine his Aunt would not suffer him to take any assurance from him France was very comodious for him to this end he demaunds the Kings word for his
expell the customers sack many good houses vnder colour to seeke for these exactors the commons enter to the towne massacre all that follow not their party Moneins lieutenant for the King within Bourdeaux sends a number of shot out of the Castle of Ha thinking to terrifie this inraged multitude But all this increased their popular furie They forced the Councellors of the Parliament Cruelties comitted in Bourdeaux by the rebels to lay aside their gowns to put on Mariners caps to carry pikes to follow their Ensignes the maisâ—ers of Saulx bretheren the one Captaine of the towne the otheâ— of Castle Trompet to be their leaders to assist at the sacking of many houses and to see their friends fellow cittizens massacred before their eyes They spoile the Towne-house a goodly store-house for armes to increase their villanies they murther Moneths most cruelly being come amongst them thinking with courteous words to pacifie the fuâ—ie of these muâ—mes Hauing wrought their wils and being laden with booâ—y they disband some one way some another the parliament fortified with men of honor and resuming their authority punish by exemplary iustice La Vergne one of the chiefe Tribunes of this rebellion La Vergne drawne with â—oure horses and some other of the most apparent The King was no lesse ready to reuenge this outragious and rashe rebellion then the commons were actiue in the execution The Constable had the commission for Guienne Francis of Lorraine Duke of Aumale whom we shall afterwards see Duke of Guise so famous vnder Francis the 2. and Charles the 9. that of Xaintonge with foure thousand Lansquenets many French horse This man seeking to win the reputation of a mild mercifull Prince pacified the CouÌ„try without punishment of what had passed The other marched after another maner for ioyning both armies togither he entered into Bourdeaux disarmed the people tooke and burnt all the records registers rights priuileges of the Câ—ttizens of al the country of Bourdelois he caused the Court of Parliament to cease beats downe their bells forced 7. score of the chiefe to go vnto the Carmes they had three daies after the mutiny in the night takeÌ„ vp this poore dismeÌ„berd carcase lying filâ—â—ly vpon the ground with a gentleman of his named Montâ—lieu to fetch the â—odie of Mâ—neins and to conduct it in mournful sort vnto S. Andrews Church by the punishmeÌ„t of the two Saulx Estonnac an other Tribune who had seized vpon the Castel Trompâ—t many others he purged their offence Talemagne and Galaffie Colonnels of the coÌ„mons were afterwards broken vpon the wheele either of them carrying a Crowne of burning iron for a marke of the soueraignty which they had vsurped The end of this yeare was more comicall Anthony of Bourbon Duke of Vendosme married Ioane of Albreâ— daughter to Henry of Albret King of Nauarre and of Marguerit sister to King Francâ—s the 1. and the Duke of Aumale the daughter of Hercules of Esâ—é Duke of Ferrare of Renâ—è of France Daughter to king Lewis the 12. And during these sports in Court that extraordinary chamber against them whoÌ„ they call Lutherans was erected who persisting constaÌ„tly in the profession of their faith suffred their bodies to be consumed to ashes The birth of Lewis the Kings yonger son the 3. of February at S. Germaine in Laye his baptisme the 19. of May the coronation of Queene Katherine at S. Denis the x. of Iâ—ne the stately entry of their Maiesties at Paris the 6. of the same moneth and the great â—ournoy at the Tournells made in fauor of the Ladies continued the sports in Court which finished the King sitting in his seat of Iustice the 2. of Iuly would giue sentence in his Court of Parliament at Paris according to the ancient custome of his predecessors The presence of the Prince giues authority to the Magistrate and the eye of the king saith the wise man scatters il counsells Troubles in England At that time the nobility of England weâ—e at iarre with the CoÌ„mons The people required restitutioÌ„ of religion The nobles who by their change of religion enioyed the Clergy lyuings would not yeeld So the people rise the nobility takes armes Thomas Semer Admirall of the realme Vncle to yoâ—g King Edward the 6. by the mother is accused to haue supported their party which folowed the Romish church by coÌ„sequence to haue conspired against the king his own brother the Dâ—ke of Somerset caused his head to be publickly cut off Edward 〈◊〉 for those forces which he had prepared beyond the seas against our Henry Cleâ—eâ—s Gueldrois Bourguignons and Germains a means to reconcile the Nobles with the Câ—mmons During these tumults in England the King sent Paul Lord of Termes to continue the war in Scotland begon by Essé who hauing lately defeated the English before Hedingâ—on and taken the Isle of horses resigned his charge to his successor In the moneâ—h of Iune Iames of Coucy Lord of Veruein was beheaded at Paris Oudard of â—â—ez Marshall of â—rance degraded after a long imprisonment the one for that he had incoâ—sideratly comitted the gard of Boullen to his son in Law the other for that he had so lightly yeelded vp a strong and well fortified place vnto the enemy Yet in the yeare 1575 â—he heire son of Veruein shal restore the memory of his father grandfather by the mother side to their former honor dignity and renowne There falls out an other suâ—e since the yeare 1540. the Parliament of Prouence had for matter of religion condemned 17. persons of Merindol to be burnt the village to be razed and the trees to be cut downe withi◠〈◊〉 huÌ„dred paces The Clergy pursued it but some gentlemen and others lesse bloudy staied the execution of this decreee and King Francis fiue monâ—thes after sent â— pardon to these Vaudois of Merindol other places vpon 〈…〉 within three monethes they should abiure their errors They appeere in 〈◊〉 protest that 〈◊〉 â—â—ue not maintayned nor published any erroneus thing ofâ—â—ag to 〈…〉 the word of God they can shew them any sounder doctrine they 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 in writing with an answer to the reproches wherewith 〈◊〉 were taxed and require to be allowed or iudicially heard in their defences Foure yeares passe away 1549. during the which being onely threatned with 〈…〉 subsist But the President Chassané being dead Iohn Menier his successor a violen◠〈◊〉 became a mortall enemie to those of Cabrieres and Merindol amongst whome◠〈◊〉 dwelt certain subiects of his Oppede whose lands he possessed to ioine theÌ„ to â—is 〈◊〉 Through the perswasions of Menier the Cardinall of Tournon obteines letters paâ—e its from King Francis to the Court of Parliament for the execution of the first sentence according to the which Menier terming himselfe Lieutenant of the Lord of Grignan gouernour of Prouence accompanied with the Baron of la Garde and a great
fauour may for a time fill your sayles and carrye your desseignes violentlye to Sea but they are inconstant light and disloyall And if they haue shaken off the yoake of dutifull obedience and loue to their King what shall they doe to a Prince to whome they shall not bee bound but as to the Protector of their mutinie They spake truly for after the tryall of all sorts of gouernments France must in the end returne to a royaltie and the Duke by a commendable resolution might haue vnited the mindes which his brother had diuided But when as others represent vnto him the aduantage hee should haue to succeed in the fauour credit and authoritie of his brother and by consequence his owne hopes he reiects the integriâ—â—e of the first councell coniures all the friends of his house to reuenge parts from Lion on Christmas day in his passage hee assures himselfe of Mascon Chaalon and â—ijon The Court of Parliament there refused to consent to this rebellion and therefore the châ—efe were driuen away and some imprisoned others apprehending the losse of their commodities Letters from the King to the Duâ—e of Mayâ—nnâ—â— did easily submit their neckes to the yoake of a new Democratiâ— At Dijon hee receiued Letters from the King promising to surcease the punishment of forepassed faults with the death of his bretheren whom sayd he I haue caused to dye to saue my life from the danger whereof you did aduertise me The Duâ—e attributing the Kings clemency to some weake abiect affection proceeding froÌ„â—eare either to haue him his enemy or to loose his friendship grows obstinate in â—is resolution reiects the Kings officers giues coÌ„mission to Rosne S. Paul and others to coÌ„mand in Champagne Brie and to seize vpon the best places he comes to Troyes where the Towne long before corrupted by the infected humâ—rs of the 〈…〉 receiued him with as great honor as they could haue done tâ—eir King 1588 and in 〈◊〉 where he passed they were easily drawne into rebellion euery Towne 〈◊〉 themselues after the modell of Paris and Orleans Three thousand men sent from Paris to succour the Chenalier d' Aumale 〈◊〉 in Orleans by the Marshal of Aumont with the â—obilitie of the Court 〈…〉 of foot and horse and the Kings gards had beene defeated neere vnto Estâ—mâ—â—s by Fargis and Montigni but the Marshall vnderstanding of the Duke of Mayennes â—â—proch rayseth the seege and retyres to â—oisgency In the meane time the King â—â—mselfe in person did vew and examine the conclusions of the Estates but this 〈◊〉 enterprise of the Dukes made him to leaue the worke imperfect to prouide 〈◊〉 the safetie of his person and for a conclusion the fiâ—teenth and sixteenth of Ianuary â—ee heard the Deputies greefes and complaints vppon the disoâ—ders which 〈◊〉 France The Estates diâ—â—olued The Archbishop of Bourgâ—â— speech The Arch-Bâ—shop of Bourges President for the Clergie after the Cardinals death imputed the cause of our miseries to contempt of religion which breaking the bâ—â—ds that tie vs vnto God had in like sort diuided the hearts and willes of families and Comonalties Hee greatly commended the Kings zeale to religion insisted long vppon the abuses of the Church which the corruption of the time had bred the vnâ—ortâ—y promotion of Prelats the nomination to Abbaies and other spirituall dignities of all sorts of persons souldiars ignorant men suborned men gardiens simoniaks â—omen children touching the alienation of the Clergie lands pluralitie of benefiâ—eâ— vâ—urpation of the reuenues of hospitalls deprauation of that goodly ancient order whereby none might come vnto Commanderies of the oâ—der of the Knights of Saint Iohn of Ierusalem vnlesse hee were a gentleman of three descents disorders of vniuersiâ—ies and monasteries in former times the nurceâ—ies of holy fathers Then hee tuâ—ned his discourse to the disorders noted in the Nobilitie of France who were in former ages the terrour of all nations and from whome neighbour nations confesse to â—â—ue leâ—rned the exercise and profession of cheualrie vpon the excesse of men of wa◠〈◊〉 the â—astâ—ng of the treasor other disorders which spring from these first headâ—â—â—â—ally hee beseecheth the King to make a good refoâ—mation whereby his people 〈◊〉 multiplie Iâ—stice should daily flourish and peace should bee setled iâ— the â—â—â—lme Câ—arlâ—s of Cosse Earle of Brissâ—c chief Pantler chief Fawconer of France newly restoâ—â—◠〈◊〉 fauour PresideÌ„t for the Nobility The Eâ—â—le of 〈◊〉 shewes that they be not the hands of â—ortune â—hich â—â—uiâ—oned his Maâ—esties forehead with this double diademe It is God who hath 〈◊〉 him our King who had before chosen him King of a more remate 〈◊〉 for the pietie faith clemencie and magnanimitie wherewith hee hath beeâ—e endued from his tender age That heresie schisme and discord which are crept into the peoples hearts haue not taken their beginning vnder his raigne whom God hath râ—â—sed 〈◊〉 amidest the furies and afflictions of France to bee reuenged by him and aduâ—â—ced aboue all the nations of Christendome who draw their firmestsupport from the stabiâ—â—tâ—e of his Crowne That â—he wished victories in France ouer heresie shall be vnto the King but a continuance of the route and defeate of that fearefull armie of Râ—isâ—res Lansquenets Suisses and French Huguenots which like so many trompets proâ—laime to all places the honours prayses and victories of his Maiestie That now those vowes fastings teares and toyles of the ancient French are heard who seemed to demaund â—engance against the fire furie and rage of those who after so many religious ages haue violated the sepulchres of their fathers and ours and would take from amongst â—s that onely religion which the holy fathers haue planted in old time throughout the world Then hauing represented the zeale and affection of the Nobilitie to assist the King to restore religion and the State to their former beautie following the example and the hereditarie vertue of their Ancestors who had chased and vanquished the Gothes Vandales Arriens Albigeois Lombards Sarrazins Turkes and Pagans 1589. and continuing the defence of the faith and the victories of the Kings of France haue leâ—t no other limits to the reputation of their valour then those which the Sunne takes in making of his course about the earth He beseecheth his Maiesty to fauour the auncient priuileges of the Nobility to recompence in them the seruices of their Pâ—edecesâ—ors to confirme the military discipline of Kings his forerunners not to suffer any by â—auour or purchase to chalenge the title of Gentlemen to mainteyne the priuileges of the Knights of S. Iohn of Ierusalem to cut off the superfluities in Iustice to moderate the subsidies order the treasure establish the Magistrate plant discipline among souldiars reâ—orme the Church and to punish the enemies thereof Finally he wished a thousand happines to the King and peace to his people But this braue and commendable humour shal not hold him long but he shal returne to his
by the Dukes commandement The Earle of Brandix who seemed also to haue desired to fight sâ—nt word to Diguâ—eres General of the army This challenge of the Eaâ—le of Brandix was held very â—ash that if he had any mind to see the Combat betwixt D. Philipin and Crequy his sonne in Law hee should not returne without his part of the sport but hee should find one to exchange a thrust with him Hereuppon Crequy was taken prisoner going to succour Charbonniers During his imprisonment the quarrel grew to that point as if hee had beene at libertie it had beene then ended at Tuâ—in After that the treatie of peace had sent him home into Daulphiné D. Philippin sent to challenge him at Grenoble and they met neere vnto the fort of Barrault where the appellant was thrust through the thighe This combat One writes that he was thrust through the bodie and that he begged his life of Crequy which had beene sufficient to haue ended this quarrell was the cause of an other for it was told the Duke that Crequy had â—anted that hee had of the bloud of Saâ—â—ie Wherewith hee was offended and gaue D. Philippin to vnderstand that he would esteeme him no more as he had done nor euer see him more if he were not reuenged of those words Whereupon another challenge was sent the which was accepted as cheerefully as the fiâ—st The prohibition which the King had made of single combats The second Combat vppon paines not onely preiudiciall to their Estates but shamefull to their reputations would not suffer them to fight in Daulphiné that the example of the Gouernours Sonne in Law should not draw others to the contempt of the Law It was therefore resolued that they should fight in the Duke of Sauoies Countrie vnder Saint Andrew a place belonging vnto the Countesse of Antremont The conditioâ—s of the Combat vpon the banke of the riuer of Rhosâ—e on foot and in their shirts which is the most couragious kind of Combat That they should fight with rapier and dagger That the Baron of Attignac should second D. Philippin and la Buisse should second Crequy That none but they should come into the field and they should not part the Combaters vntill that one of their deaths had ended the Combate That there should be twelue Gentlemen on Daulphiné and as many on that of Sauoy who should be ready to receiue the body of the vanquished or to resist any violence that should be offered vnto the victor That the twelue of Sauoy should bee so farre from the place of Combat as they of Daulphiné might passe the water and come at the same instant to the place of fight It was long disputed whither the Seconds should fight for la Buisse sayd that he would not be one vnles he might giue or take and that he which goes in such occasions to be a simple Spectator wants affectioÌ„ or courage But the Combatants thought it good that the SecoÌ„ds should not medle with the decision of their fortunes The day appointed being come all came vnto the place De Morges passed the Rhosne and scoured vp and downe the fields to see if there were no ambush nor greater assemblie then was set downe in the Accord The Seconds visited the armies of the two ChampioÌ„s searched them if they had any Charmes or Inchantments about them La Buisse did importune D. Philippin much to part saying that he had a desire either to driue it off til night or to deferre the tryal vntil the next day The difficulties which D. Philâ—ppin sound in the Conditions stayed them two or three houres He tolde D. Philippin by the way al the braueries he could of Crequies valour to the end he might appalle him and seeing Crequy a farre off in the medow he cryed vnto him he is ours but Philippin carrying an Eye without trouble and a Heart without feare sayd vnto him why haue you so bad an opinion of mee Not so replyed La Buisse I know you are braue and Generous but you haue to do with one of the most furious men at armes in France and that makes me to foretell your losse La Buisse forgot nothing in this action that might shew the office of a friend And it is well knowne that if Crequi had not returned La Buisse would haue stayed to haue slaine D. Philipin and D. Attignac or to haue beene slaine by them Du Belier his Brother knowing his humor and that he had too much Courage and Honour to returne without his Fâ—iend was vpon the banke of Rhosne attending the issue of the Combat meaning to passe through the riuer on horseback Râ—solution of two brethren and to haue had his part of the Glory or Perill of this action When as D. Philippin entred the field he had his iudgement so cleere as obseruing his enemies gard and the aduantage which he had turning his backe to the Sunne he sayd Monsieur de la Buisse diuide the Sun and seeking himselfe to make the partition he thrust at Crequy with such violence as the lookers on dâ—ubted of the issue of the combate The second Combat betwixt D. Philippin Bastard of Sauoye and Crequy the 2. of Iune 1599. Attignac demands D. Philippin life seeing him still in his danger This first fury did but thrust Crequy out of the Medow and Philippin out of Breath Crequy beeing resolued to thrust not according vnto the iudgement of Choller but of occasion attended vâ—tâ—ll this fury were past thrusting him into the body with such force as he ouerthrewe â—im and nayled him to the ground He willed him to aske his life of him but he was not in case to humble himselfe to that demand neither was it in Crequeys power to 〈◊〉 it him for his wounds were mortall and all those that were of his side cried to him Dispatch him neither did Attignacs request preuaile any thing Crequy repassed the Rhosne with the twelue gentlemen which came to fetch him leauing D. Philippin vpon the place The Duke repented him of the commandement which he had giuen or it may be his Religion by the aduice of his Confessor councelled him to reuoke a commandement in the execution whereof there was hazard of two Liues and the losse of two Soules He sent a post to forbid them to fight but he arriued two houres to late Crequy thanked God for his victory and would not suffer his friends to vse their accustomed congratulations intreating theÌ„ to speake no more of it although the glory were great to haue vanguished his enemy in a Forraine Country D. Philippin was carried to his Lodging The Religious of Pierre-Chastel refused to bury him according to the Holy CoÌ„stitutions of the Church gouernmeÌ„t which holds theÌ„ that die in this sort Desperate and Murtherers of themselues and makes the paine to continue afâ—er Death that the shame which followes them to the graue might diuert them from this lâ—berty As the Kings enemies at
his authority as a Friend to both parties for the auoyding of all scandall The Prince of Brandebourg named Bishop of Strausbourg was come into France some monethes before And they say hee remayned some daies at Troyes vntill his Maiesty had assigned him a time and place to haue the Honor to come kisse his hands the which was done at Loges neere to Saint Germain in Laye where the King gaue him audience and so the sayd Prince was dispacht with promise of all fauour to compound the Controuersie betwixt him and the Cardinall During the Kings aboade at Metz the sayd Prince of Brandebourg came accompanied with the Lantgraue of Hesse the Duke of Deux Ponts and a Deputy from the Arch-bishop of Treues Elector of the Empire and by their aduice it was determined that the Cardinall should haue a portion out of the sayd Bishop-pricke and the rest should remaine vnto the Prince and by that meanes they should continue frinds as before Thus a Peace was made betwixt them the which might elâ—e haue beene preiudiciall to the whole Empire and to all Christendome The King went from Metz to Nancy to see the Duchesse of Bar his sister and the Duke of Lorraine At that time a marriage was concluded betwixt the Duke of Deux Ponts and the Ladie Katherine of Rohan The King returnes to Paris remayning then with the Kings sister and so hauing prouided for all things necessary for the frontier hee tooke his way to Paris the 7. of Aprill It is a signe of a happy Raigne when the subiect reioyceth to see his King Prouence had been possest with this desire fifteene yeares The King resolued to go into Prouence beeing the onely Prouince of all France that had not yet seene the King He was expected there with great Impatiency hauing promised after his returne from Metz to go thether As it was reasonable to giue comfort to that Prouince so was it necessary to fortefie that Coast and to haue an eye to the desseignes of the Sea Army of Spaine which vnder collour of attempting some-thing vppon Algier This Iourney oâ— Algier managed by a Francâ—scan Friar might fall vpon that Coast by which the Emperour Charles the fift held it the easiest to inuade France The Honour of Christendome made all men to wish that this enterprise had beene more happy then the rest But as oftentimes bad desseignes prosper better then good the successe depending much vpon blinde fortune this enterprise of Algier had no better successe then the two former It was managed by a Franciscan Friar who promised vnto him selfe as great Glory in expelling these petty Kings of Affrike as Aratus receiued hauing purged Sicyonia from Tyrants Hee had a promise from the King of Cucco not onely to fauour it but also to declare himselfe openly and to reduce Algier to what extremity they would Vpon this assurance the Vice-roye of Maiorque approched with foure Galleies Hee landed foure score men to deliuer forty thousand Crownes vnto the Moores vpon the bargaine and to put their desseigne in execution but they were eyther by hazard or for that they wanted courage to do as they had sayd taken and deliuered vnto the enemies Many thought it was a crosse Treason The Princes of Piedmont go into Spaine Treachery is as inseperable to a Moores Heart as blackenesse is to his Body It was wisely done of the Vice-roye to retire himselfe without bragging This disappointed the Kings pretended voiage into Prouence It is true that the passage of the three Princes of Sauoy into Spaine wherof the Duke gaue the King intelligence by the Count of Viesque reuiued many Iealousies The Duke was at Nice with them expecting the commodity of their imbarking the Princesse Marguerite his eldest Daughter commanding in Piedmont They attended the Kings commandements at Barcellona and were there receiued with all the Honours that might bee done to Princes so allyed The King of Spaine sent D. Henriquez Guzman vnto them to congratulate their arriuall and to aduise them to make small iorneys for the heate of the season He gaue vnto Prince Victor the Dukes second Sonne the Vice-royes place of Portugall the Portugalls reioycing much to see the fruites of D. Beatrix of Portugall his great Grandmother At the same time report which carries all things abroad without distinction or iudgement did publish throughout Europe Brute of the Kings sicknes a Newes happily false which was that the King had beene extremely sicke Hee was indeede sicke but not so extremely as they should so iudge of him Hee was soone restored to his naturall health and returned to his ordinary manner of Lyuing The actions of Princes must be alwayes great not busiyng themselues in making of Lanthornes like to that King of Macedonia The exerciâ—es of â— Prince They mâ—st alwaâ—es hold their Subiects in this opinion that in doing nothing they doe some great worke It was a great precept which the Emperor Charles the fift gaue to King Philip his Sonne alwayes to exercise himselfe in some vertue agreeing with the dâ—tie of a King to hold the subiects as it were in admiration of his effects and not to giue their thoughts any time to full them with other affections When occasions of Warre cease they must applie themselues to those of Peace as to the administring of Iustice and ordring of his Realme To conclude all the actions oâ— a Prince must tend to the good and helth of his people for whome hee liues more then for himselfe as the Sonne doth not shine and giue heate but for Men and the Elements During the Warre no man enquired what the King did his great affaireâ— prouided store of worke the ende of one enterprise was the beginning of an otâ—er Nowe that these seditious stormes are appeased that the waues are smooth and the Sea câ—lme â—hat Peace giues him a rest worthie of his labours that so many paines past make his pleasures more â—weete and that the rewarde of vertue makes his Triumphes seeme more glorious their passeth no day but some one asketh what doth the King They neede not studie for an answere hee is alwaies in action â—arre from Idenesse The cheefe action is neuer to bee without action hee hath beene so bred vp from his Cradle hee cannot be other wise Bees neuer become droanes great spirits doe neuer degenerate wee shall see him on Horse-backe at the age of Massanissa hee wil be fearefull to his enemâ—es at that of Agesilans hee will shewe himselfe in the head of his Armies at the age of foure score yeares like vnto Phocion his valour will neuer growe olde no more then his memorie Hee contents himselfe notwithstanding to inioye the fruits of Peace and not to thinke any more of Warre vnlesse he be wronged Oâ—e of the greatest contentments the Peace doth yeeld him is that of his buildings Building iâ— a worâ—e worthâ— of ◠〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 at Peace and there is no exercise more worthie of
storme The cause grewe from a decree of the Court giuen against Solyciters and by the Kings authority and expresse commandement who before hee parted from Paris to passe the Easter at Fontainbleau sent for the cheefe of the Court of Parliament and of all the other Courtes to recommend their charges vnto them From whose owne mouth they vnderstoode howe much hee desired that all the Iustice might bee administred with lesse charge and lesse losse of time The Spices is 〈◊〉 vnto Iudges vpon euery 〈◊〉 that is iudged dâ—â—iniâ—iuely in France That there was no Iustice for them that had no money so excessiue were the Iudges Spices and the Soliciters fees The Court of Parliament desiring that according to the Kings minde intention and last comâ—â—unde the excesse whereof they complayned against the Soliciters might bee reduced to a meane and iust temper assembled to redresse those disorders The opinions beeing heard and numbred against Aduocates the first President sheweing that a reformation was as necessary in Iudges as in Soliciters The 〈◊〉 deâ—â—â—â— against 〈◊〉 In the ende 2 decree was made by the which it was ordeyned and apointed that euer Soliciter should set downe vnder his hande in the ende of his writtings what hee had taken for his owne fees to the ende that in case of excesse it might bee moderated when as the Court should proceede to iudgement of the processe Moreouer they should giue a certificate what they had taken for the pleading of causes to be set downe in the taxe of charges all vpon paine of extorsion The Law was not made against the good but onely to restraine the auarice of others who preferre the oportunitie of taking before all reprehension All notwithstanding did oppose themselues against the execution of this Law saying that they would rather leaue their places then subiect themselues to the rigour of the Decree and do so great a wrong to the Dignity and Liberty of their profession The Court made an other Law whereby it was decreed that such as would not pleade should deliuer their names vnto the Register A second decree against Soliciters after the which they were forbidden to practise as Soliciters vppon paine of falshood This second decree was pronounced in open Assembly in the house of the Kings Attornie generall The next day there went out of the Chambers of Consultation by two and two to the number of three hundred and seuen they past through the Pallace hall went to the Register to giue vp their hoods and to declare that they obeyed the second decree seeing they could not obey the first From that time the Pallace was without pleading the Soliciters being busied to defend themselues setting downe al the reasoÌ„s they could for their iustification yet could they not mooue the Court to reuoake or change the Decree they were forced to haue recourse vnto the King who to reconcile this diuision which happened vpon a day which reuiued the memorie of a greater trouble hee sent his letters to the Parliament in tearmes conformable to his Iustice and the wisedome of his Councell By the which it was lawfull for Soliciters to exercise their functions as they had done before the sayd Decree inioyning them notwithstanding to obserue the ordinance made at Blois in that behalfe in the 161. Article The parties which had sutes did languish in expectation of this declaration As they complayned of the corruption so they suffered the inconueniencie of the remedie The Court which had made many iust and seuere Lawes against Combats An â—idict against Combats confirmed the Edict which the King made at Blois Before his Maiesties departure from Fontainbleau hee had commanded the Constable Chancellor Marshalls of France and the cheefe of his Councell to deuise some meanes to suppresse the libertie of Combats being so iniurious and preiudiciall to his estate By their aduise an Edict was made by the which they that call or are called or which assist or seconds him that calls or is called are declared guiltie of high Treason and to bee punished according to the rigour of the Lawes Commanding the Constable Marshals of France Gouernours and Lieutenants generall of Prouinces to preuent Combats and to forbid them vpon paine of death to iudge absolutly as they shall thinke good of all that concernes the reparation of wronges and to force them that are condemned to satisfie by imprisonment The King effected his busines happely in Poâ—tou The King his voyage into Poâ—â—ou in three weâ—kes hee found so great an obedience and affection in them to please him as hee remained very well satisfied His Maiestie left so many testimonies in all places of his bounty as all had cause to prayse him and to blame their practises which sought to trouble the peace The Duke of Biron did not thinke the King should haue found so great obedience and loue among his subiects of that Prouince He had sent some of his seruants to Court to learne how the market went and to shew the discontent he had foâ— the iealousie which was conceiued of his Faith and Dutie The King sends for the Duke of Biron The King who was well informed of his intelligences with the Count of Fuentes reâ—olued to see him and to keepe him from his enemies Hee sent Descures vnto him with charge to say that hauing intelligence of the great Leuies of souldiars made in Italie he had resolued to maintaine the body of an army vpon the froÌ„ter to giue the charge vnto him and to that end he had coÌ„manded DeVic his Ambassador in Suisse to demand a speedy leuy of 6000. men to cause theÌ„ to march wher he should haue directioÌ„s that therein hee followed the Councell of the Constable his gossip whose aduice he sent him in writing and desired to haue his by mouth conâ—uring him to come with speede He stirres not for al that excusing himselfe sometimes vpon the holding of the Estates sometimes that the enemy being so neere it were an act vnworthy of his reputation to turne his backe abandon the Frontier The King sent the PresideÌ„t â—anin a man powerfull in perswasion The President 〈◊〉 sent vnto him who comming to Dijon gaue the Duke to vnderstand howe much the King desired to see him and how necessary this sight was and among many discourses applyed fitly to his humour hee let him knowe the Kings strength and the length of his Arme. This was not able to mooue him He considered that the Duke of Biron must bee perswaded to this voyage by him that was all of his Councell â—home he assured that as he should haue all the Honour of this perswasion Diuers aduises 〈◊〉 to the Duke of Biâ—on so he could expeâ—t nothing but disgrace and ruine of a contrary councell His friends notwithstanding did conâ—ure him not to come one of his best friends sent him word by his Brother that his Gouernment was disposed of and that for his last hope he
aduised him to retire â—â—to the Franche Conté An other friend sent him worde that hee should distrust aâ— he sawe and all that should bee sayed vnto him to mooue him to come that the Kiâ—gâ— letters were Golden pilles that la Fins assurances were but deceites and to consiceâ— that the voiage which the Vidame of Chartres had made to Autun to assure him that his Vncle had sayd nothing was made at the Kings charge But an other friend sent him a contrary aduice to come and that his onely presence would disperce all these bad reports There was danger in either The King sware hee would go fetch him He should haue seene him selfe beseeged with the Kings forces and farre from the strangers which had charge to passe into Flanders In going the foulenesse of his offence could giue him no hope of returne He takes that aduice which he thinkes lesse perilous nothing doth so much aduance the execution as the assurance he takes of that which la Fin had written vnto him He receiued many messages to turne him bacâ— whom hee sees returned to his house contented and freed from all distrust So the Duke promiseth to come vnto the King about the midest of Iune to some of his houses neere vnto Paris It was a signe of distrust which the King dissembled as being indifferent vnto him The President Ianin goes before the Duke of Biron with Descures followe after by easie iorneys Vpon the way hee had an aduice sent him to come no further and beeing at Montargis hee was in great suspence but hee had so great a confidence of himselfe and of the opinion which all the Couâ—t had of his valour as hee did not beleeue there was any man so hardy as to laâ—e hold of him and that if he might haue but meanes to drawe his sword hee would free himselfe from his enemies Hee flattred himselfe in his vanity and pleased himselfe as Pigmalion did in his Image and Narcissus in his shadowe The Councell which they gaue him to humble himselfe vnto the King was the last Anchor of his helth He found no man that spake for his pride but euery man would haue sayd for his humility But his courrage was too great to stoope Presumption had filled his eares with so much vanity as the voice of Truth could not enter Many reasons were giuen to stay him in his iorney But it is impossible to auoide the prouidence of Heauen The Duke of Biron wil needes carry his head to the Kings Iustice. The discours of Reason or the iudgements of Truth preuaile not with a spirit transported with passions There were many badde presages of the Dukes voyages Bid signes of the Duke of Birons voâ—ge A Ducke came into his Cabinet and no man knewe howe hee commanded it should bee carefully kept but as soone as hee was parted it died Presently after the Horse which the Arch-duke gaue him called Pastrana fell madde and killed himselfe The like happened to a Horse which he had from the great Duke An other Horse which the Duke of Lorraine gaue him pined to death He came to Fontainbleau when as they had no more hope of his comming and the King had resolued within two or three daies after to go into Bourgongne Hee comes to 〈◊〉 the 13. of Iune His Maiesty walking in the great gardin about sixe of the clocke in the morning was herd-say vnto the Lord of Souuray He will not come He had scarce spoken these words but he sees him enter with seauen or eight with him The King sayd he comes fiâ—ly to conduct him to his house Hee aduanceth and makes three great courtesies a good distance off The King imbraced him and sayd That he was come in good time to conduct him to his House which words were diuersly vnderstood by the hearers The first wordes he had vnto the King was vpon the occasion of his comming He excuseth his stay beginning to excuse his long stay The King gaue eare to fewe words but tooke him by the Hand to walke and to 〈…〉 the plot of his building Passing from one Garden to another the Duke of Espernoâ— saluting the Dâ—ke of Biron told him in his eare that in comming he had giuen more credit to his owne Courage then to the counsell of his Friends In all the discourse which he had with the King The Kings fauouâ— to him grâ—wne cold as there appeared Coldnes in the countenance of the one so there was some signe of Perturbation in the others words The Kâ—ng talked vnto him of the bad course he had taken the which had no other issue then Ruine Râ—pentance and Dispayre The Duke of Biron answered That hee was not come eyther to â—ustifie himselfe or to demand Pardon or to accuse his Friends He let scape many other Words which his Maiesties presence and the Lawe of Duty should haue restrayned Dinner time being come he desired to dine with the Duke of Espernon for that his own Traine was not yet come After Dinner they came to see the King who hauing walked a little in the Hall retired into his Cabinet coÌ„manding two or three to enter and sayd nothing to the Duke of Biron The Duke of Biron not respected who stayd at the corner of the Bed towards the Chayre obseruing that he was not respected as he had wont to be that he was no more in Opinion and Admiration as he had bin The Marquis of Rhosny entred into the Cabinet hauing staid there almost halfe an hower he came forth and saluted the Duke of Biron telling him that the King asked for him There he was perswaded not to conceale that which time could not long keepe hidden whereof the King was so well informed that what he desired to know froÌ„ the Dukes owne mouth was but to let him see that none but himself should haue knowledge therof The Duke of Biron who thought that la Fin had not discouered any thing coÌ„tinued stil firme The Duke of Biron â—ustifies himselfâ— vpon the Protestatioâ—s of his innocency beseeching the King to do him Iustice against theÌ„ that sought to oppresse him by Slanders insupportable to a Conscience so cleare as his was or to suffer him to take his reuenge by the Sword The King led him to the Tenis-court hee would make the match saying That the Duke of Espernon and hee would play against his Maiesty and the Count of Soissons The Duke of Espernon answered presentâ—y You play well but you make your matches ill At night he supped with the Lord Steward It appeared he was not content He eate nothing no man spake to him and they held him for a man abandoned to misfortune Yet he thought no man would lay hand on him trusting too much in his own courage The King in the meane time walked in his chaÌ„ber deuising of some great resolutioÌ„ he was heard speak these words He must bend or breake He gaue him time