the Piramides were vnprofitable workes but the structure was profitable for the Prince who by this meanes made his subiects to labor whom idlenesse had corrupted and drawne to reuolt and sedition and studied more for vanity then profite Wherefore Princes haue caused their Magnificence to be renowned in publicke works Workes of vanity and ostentation and in the bâ—autifying of Townes which seemed not to haue bene ruined but to be re-edified more stately and which haue purchased the honour to haue left them to their Successours much fairer then they had receiued them from their Predecessours t The Citty of Romewas bound to the Emperor Augustus for her decoration and most glorious ornaments therfore he said Roman lateritiam accepi marmoreaÌ„ relinquo I receiued Rome built of Brick I leaue it of Marble Wee do not see that he did any great workes in Buildings for it is a hard matter for a Prince to hold a Sword in one hand and a Trowell in another Hee caused the Church of our Lady of Clery to be built and repaired that of Victory neere to Senlis he did enrich and beautify by his bounty the High Altar with 16. Lampes of Siluer His Statue stands on the right hand wee see it also on the Portall with that of Queene Charlot and their Armes round about with those of the Dauphin Phillip Augustus had caused this Church to be built in remembrance of the happy victory which he had against the Flemmings u The battell of Bovines in Iuly 1214. wonne by Phillip Augustus against Otho of Saxony and Iohn King of England Ferdinand Earle of Flanders was takeÌ„ prisoner there and carried to the uure and the Earle of Salisbury an Englishman to Saint Quentin There remaines nothing of the ancient building but the Body and the Cloister the Inclosure of the Church all the Quire and the Portall are new and carry a remarkable difference of the Architecture of these two raignes The first is plaine and low the other is stately and more raysed then those times did beare He hath not left in France any other marke of this publicke care and although that Phillip de Commines giues him the honour to haue done more then his Predecessours in the fortification of his Realme yet it was so little as neither the memory nor the fruite hath remained to his successours x The Romane Emperours haue preserued their memory by the reparatioÌ„ of publicke ruines Augustus restored the Theater of P. Emilius Tiberius that of Pompey Caligula the walles of Syracusa Vespasian the Capitoll Titus the Theaters Antonyn that of Adrian and Alexander Seuerus Traians Bridges This glory which hath beautified the Bayes of victorious Princes and which hath giuen a dumbe eloquence to Marbles to eternise their names did belong to Henry the fourth the restorer of ruines whereof France imputed the cause as well to the liberty of the French and carlessenes of her Kings as to the iniury of times the designes of her enemies As wee may giue him the glory to haue restored life order liberty to France so we may say that he hath giuen her a new face new force and new beauty The Fortresses of France which did tremble and humble themselues at the first approach of any enemy are become inexpugnable The Kings houses which seemed desart had felt with the rest the fury and liberty of troubles do now cary vpon their Frontespice the glorious markes of the felicity of his Raigne Barren and inhabitable places are become fertile and frequented Townes are added to Townes and Riuers ioyned vnto Riuers for the facillity of the Commerce All Bridges Ports Passages and High-waies are honoured with the eternall Monuments of this Princes care for the greatnesse of his estate and the necessities of his people who besides his part of these publicke workes retires with one hand for the reward of his toyles that which he paies with the other for the tribute of his duty for the Treasury of France which hath a continuall ebbing of that which it receiues doth not resemble that of some Emperours which neuer restores any thing of that which it takes and therefore it hath beene compared to Charibdis y The treasure of a couetous Prince is compared by Latinus Pacatius to the Gulph of Charybdus Noster ille pirata quicquid vndecunque coÌ„uenerat id nobis sibique periturum in illaÌ„ specus sui Caribdim congerebat Boni nostra ad aerariunâ— vna perpetua via ibaÌ„t nullas eorum reliquias nulla fragmenta vel sero victa fastidio illa coÌ„munis vorago reuomebat That our Pirate whatsoeuer came from any place that did hee thrust into his Carybdis to perish both for vs and himselfe Our goods went one way continually to his treasure and that common Gulphe and being glutted did not vomite forth againe any relickes or fragments but with this difference that this Gulph casts to shore whatsoeuer it hath deuoured but nothing comes out of that bottomelesse pit Thus the profite made the toyle pleasing and they which labour so profitably complaine during the Solstice of Summer that the day passeth away too fast Thus the poore cannot excuse their misery whilst they haue armes left them z A Prince should entertain publike workes least that idlenesse bred sedition and that the poore may haue no excuse that they want meanes to get their liuings for where there is idlenesse they alwaies find Mutines and Theeues Thus idlenesse the plague of States is banisht and finds no retreat but among idle hands which steales the fruits from them which labour The structure of these great and incomparable workes whereas we see the marueiles of the industry of Mirons of Phidies Appelles and Lysippus and which are worthy to be accounted the eighth wonder of the world if it bee true that there were seuen could not be effected but by that great Augustus and most victorious Prince the best of the Kings of France and Nauarre a The most glorious Title of a Prince is that which the Senate ordained for Traiane Nee videri potest optimis in sua cuiusque laude praestantior Minus est enim Imperatorem Caesarem Augustum quam omnibus Imperatoribus Caesaribus Augustis esse meliorem Hee cannot seeme the best that doth not excel them all in their own vertues It is lesse to be an Emperour a Caesar and an Augustus then to be better then all Emperours Caesars and Augustus Plin. Panegeric None but the Duke of Suilly great Surueiour of France could execute his Commandements with more order courage and care France is bound vnto him for her decoration the enriching of her Crowne the restoring of her rights and the recouery of her first beauty and felicity For her he hath first put in practise that great Maxime of polliticke knowledge To mainetaine fertile places by commerce and barren by handy Trades This Eloge is not mine owne I receiued it from the
THE HISTORY OF LEWIS THE ELEVENTH VVITH THE MOST MEMORABLE accidents which happened in Europe during the two and twenty yeares of his Raigne Enricht with many Obseruations which serue as Commentaries Diuided into eleuen Bookes Written in French by P. MATHIEV Historiographer to the French King And Translated into English by EDVV GRIMESTON Sergeant at Armes †LEWIS ✚ THE ✚ XI ✚ FRENCH ✚ KING ✚ At London printed by GEORGE ELD 1614. SEMPER · EADEM TO THE MOST NOBLE AND WORTHY OF ALL HONORS THOMAS Earle of Suffolke Lord Chamberlain to his Maiestie WHO begins my most Noble Lord and not ends the Race receiues no Crowne I haue begunne to submit to your Patronage my former endeauours And therefore thus continue their grace with prescription of your honorable name Your most Noble disposition neuer giuing ouer free and honest seruices T' were inconstancie respectlesse and rude to relinquish or not euer to celebrate you Or to an encreasing Nobilitie and merit to decrease in obseruance and Tribute I haue chosen now to present your Lordship with the Life of one of those Kings which my former French disfranchisements and makings free in our English haue in other sort toucht at Now selected augmented and more particularly illustrated by the neerer and more labor'd insight of one of their learned'st and most profit-making Obseruers All obiections to his labours he hath answered himselfe in Sequell my paines being onely to render him truely and with as much grace of our English representation as I might Nought rests but your Lordships leasurable perusall and examination of both Together with my zealous desire of your honorable conceit that all Offices performed on my part in this or any other worthy subiect shall euer be particularly confined to your chosen seruice and noble acceptance So euer remaining in all things Your LL. most deuoted EDVV GRIMESTON AN ADVERTISEMENT ALthough that all Bookes which are presented vnto the King proceed not from those excellent pens which haue taken life vnder his raigne to aduance the French eloquence to the height of glory no more then all Statues which were dedicated to Apollo in Creet Rhodes and Cypres were not made by the hands of Zeuxis or of Phidias nor the wine which was offered to Iupiter in his sacrifice did not alwaies come out of the cup nor grew in those Vines which he desired yet this History being but in her Infancy hath merited the fauour of his iudgement and of the greatest of his Court who haue taken delight to see as in an Astroâ—ab the rising and fall of those which are on earth as the Sunne is in Heauen This is the rampier wherein shee fortifies her selfe against so many affronts wherewith she hath been threatned for curious spirits are not pleased with all kinds of writing no more then the Planets feed vpon all sorts of vapours The most difficult to please will obiect against her and mee thinkes I vnderstand these words proceeding out of their mouthes or from their thoughts why the History of Lewis the eleuenth more then of any other can they giue vs a better then that of Philip de Commines to all these exceptions she hath but one answere What though I giue not all humors content A worke that 's great cannot please eu'ry taster But of so many tasts so different Let it suffice me that it likes my Master I haue not affected in this worke the glory of mine owne wit I haue contented my selfe with that of obedience I haue made it such as you see it his commandement carries his reasons and staies the curiositie of such as desires others This great Prince who entertained himselfe and slept sometimes vpon the actions of this King as Alexander did vpon those of Achilles and who made no lesse esteeme of Phil. de Com. then the Emperor Charles the fift had done would haue his History beautified and illustrated in the same manner that I present it vnto you to the end that being compared with his Iudgement might make the difference and that of two they might frame a liuely Image of that which might serue for the conduct of a Prince The brightnes of truth appeares by the opposition of her contrary and shadowes giue grace to liuely coulours examples are of more force then precepts Cowards instruct the Couragious and lyars make Men speake the truth He that turnes from vice encounters vertue Ismenias mingled both good and bad Flute-players together to the end that the diuersitie of their musick might be a lesson to imitate the one and leaue the other and that comparison might make the difference There is nothing so difficult as to paralel Princes if there be any conformitie in their fortunes it is found in their vertues if they haue attained to one end it hath not been by the same course and therefore they say there are a hundreth yeares required to breed a great Prince or a great Captaine Lewis hath carried and Henry doth yet carry the glorious Title of the most renowned and magnanimous Princes of their ages but they haue not purchased it by the selfe same meanes the difference hath beene great in their humours and in their kinde of gouernement Both had one kinde of beginning the one of the house of Valois the other of that of Bourbon two branches of S. Lewis There was some conformitie in their first fortunes being both retired from Court and both instructed in patience in the schoole of necessitie The beginning of their reignes had some resemblance for both had seene a great and mighty faction raised against them vnder two goodly pretexts the one of the Common-weale the other of Religion both haue been in paine to expell forraine enemies to pacifie domestique and to diuide their humors but what the one hath done by policie and force the other hath effected by the iustnes of his armes and the mildnes of his clemencie Both were troubled to moderate those spirits which had yet a feeling of ciuill diuisions they haue tried the infidelitie of their seruants and haue made themselues to bee feared and redoubted but the one hath maintained the respect of his Maiestie by feare and seueritie and the other by wisedome and loue The raigne of the one was a Sea of stoâ—mes and tempest the other a calme milde and cleare hauen Lewis of much did little Henry of nothing did wonders Lewis thrust himselfe into apparant dangers to reap doubtfull fruits Henry was neuer seene in any place but fortunate and victorious Lewis medled with all things and would see and know all Henry is a Prince of all howers and for all affaires Lewis feared the fat of his people Henry beleeues that the felicitie of the subiect is the glory of the Prince Lewis the eleuenth had royall vertues but they were not all pure his wisedome had a touch of ounâ—ing his iustice of seueritie his valour of rashnes his clemencie of feare his liberalitiâ— of profusion and his pietie of dissimulation Henry takes
seene more plainly in a cleerre water then in mire so the diuine light shines more in spirits that are cleansed from worldly affaires then in those that are alwayes troubled with the cares thereof made him speake words if not altogether Diuine yet at the least Flatterers pleasing to Princes free from pleasing and flattery which in these extremities doe alwayes abuse Princes making them beleeue that they are farre from death although it hang vpon their lippes There are many which assure them that they should hope for more good then they euer had but there are fewe which let them know that they should feare greater torments then they haue euer endured It is lawfull for the Physitian of the body to s Plato in the third Bookâ— of his Common-weale giues physitians leaue to lye and to promise health vnto the sicke even in their extreâ—â—t to 〈◊〉 the comfort lye vnto his Patient but he that hath the cure of Soules neither may nor ought God did much fauour this Prince to send him a man of this condition to helpe him to dye who among many great qualities necessary to this Office euen towards such a King might speake freely vnto him without dissembling or flattery For Princes in these extreamities haue need of men which should not bee like vnto the sonnes of Zebedee who spake of Scepters and Honours when as Christ discoursed of the Crosse They must let them know that the world and all that is great and admirable in the world is vnworthy of the soule which is not made for the world but the world is made for it t The health of the body depends of the soule The soule saith Chrysostome was not made for the body but the body for the soule who so neglects the first and is too carefull of the second looseth both That beeing of a substance exempt from corruption and by consequence from death cannot haue an obiect disproportionable to her power nor can delight in mortall and corruptible things and being the Image u As a Tryangle is not fillâ—a with a Tryangle s nothing is able to fill the heart but God Caeteris omnibus occupart potest replâ—ti autem non potest capacem enim Dei quicquid Deo minus est non implebit It may well be busied with other things but it cannot 〈◊〉 filled whatsoeuer is capable of God nothing can fill it that is 〈◊〉 then God of God there is not any thing hath reference to her eternall essence but her Immortality God had no beginning and it hath hath no ending God is for euer and man desires nothing more then to continue his being The forme of his vnderstanding is Truth and there is no other Truth but God The great world hath but one sunne the lesser but one soule and both haue but one God This good man vndertooke to make this Prince capable of two things the hearing whereof is difficult to men and Kings are very hardly taught to loue God and to contemne the world The world entertaines their minde with so many things which men think worthy of loue as they cannot lodge any other affection in their hearts and do not thinke of the loue wherewith the Angels liue and burne being the fire of the Intellectuall world as the Sun is of the coelestiall and the Elementary of ours Princes in stead of louing God loue themselues they finde that all is made for them they dispose so absolutely of all the beauties and pleasures of the world as they desire no other they haue vnder their powers so many great and goodly spirits as they haue no will to change their abode to see them of the other world One demaunded of Cercidas the Megapolitaine if hee dyed willingly Why not said hee For after my death I shall see those great men Pythagoras among the Phylosophers Hecateus among the Historians Homer among the Poets and Olympus among the Musitians Ael lib. 13. de Var. Hist. all is made for them nothing is spoken against them for them the fish cut the waues the birds beate the aire beasts march vpon the earth and men runne toyle sweat and kill themselues wherefore when in the end conscience commands them to raise their thoughts towards the place whither their face is turned to mount towards their beginning to breathe nothing but eternity to contemne the fumes of the world and to admire the light of Heauen they haue their heads so heauy and their eyes so dazled as they cannot vnderstand that Hee that loueth the world the loue of God is not in him They eye cannot at one instant bohold both heauen and earth The exhortations of Francis de Paulo did cast some seeds of the loue of God into this Princes heart but the cares of the world were the birds which carried it away and did smother it in the thornes of affaires The fruits of a slow piety which doth flourish but in the Winter of mans life doe neuer ripe well It must bee manured in due time y That piety comes late when it hath not recourse to God but at need Byon had vanquished Athens had poysoned many spirits with the impiety of Theodorus his maister being reduced in the end to languish of a great infirmity hee began to acknowledge that there were Gods but it was to cure him A mad man said be that writ his life not to beleeue that there were Gods but wheÌ„ he had need of their helpe Diog. Laert. lib. 4. the same God which would haue fire burning alwayes vpon his Altar will that fire burne continually in a Princes Heart It was sometime kindled well in that of Lewis but the first winde of worldly affaires blew it away His heart had good inclinations when as necessity and afflictions prest it but hee suffered them to wither at the first Sunne-shine of prosperity A mischiefe which is naturall to the fragilitie of men who doe no good but for the feare of euill and make themselues voluntary slaues to things whereunto they should command and which are made for them There is not any man but would blush at the reproach which his owne conscience may giue him that if hee had giuen him the tenth part of the time which he hath imployed for his flesh it should bee much better z This reproch is like vnto that of Marcus Varro in his Satyrs Si quantum operae sumpsisti vt tuus pistor bonum faceret panem eius duodecimam Philosophiae dedisse tempore bonus iampridem esses factus If thou hadst spent but the twelfth part of that time in philosophy which thou didst to haue thy Baker make good bread thou hadst in time been made a good man Lewis then following the first traine of his life seemed to haue more Deuotion then Conscience more trembling with superstition then constant in Piety a Alexander was strooke with this infirmity who hauing liued impiously dyed superstitiously A. his death there was none seene
the Bastard was excluded and that they pretended not to change any thing of the rights which he had ouer the Crowne of Cypres as Protector o After that the Christians affaires were ruined in Soria and the East the Kings of Cypres of the house of Lusignan put themselues vnder the protection of the Souldiers of Egypt This reason had pacified him being resolued to quit the Protection of the Bastard But Mahomet sent him word that it was a thing worthy of his greatnes and profitable to their common religion to restore this Prince to his Estates exhorting him to remember the iniuries which they of that Nation and those of Lewis his house had done vnto the Mahometans protesting that if hee had a desire to haue peace with Christians he should be sure to haue warre with him The assistance which the Souldan of Egypt gaue vnto the Bastard was the cause that he was presently acknowledged by them who could not oppose against his power He coÌ„manded ouer their bodies more then their hearts which being full of feare were also so of wishes and desires of his death who made them feare p Feare is a bad gard for them that command For they that feare studie still how they may be rid of him that keepes them in feare Quem metuunt oderunt queÌ„ quisque odiit periisque expedit Lewis was forced to quit the field and to retyre himselfe into the Castle of Cerines where he was besieged by the Bastard who seeing it impossible to take this place and that all the Princes of Christendome were offended at this vsurpation he sent his Embassadors â—ope Pius the second to yeeld him obedience and to beseech him to hold him in the ranke of Catholike Kings The Pope would not see them but sent them away with bitter words Hereupon Lewis saw himselfe forced to retire to the Duke his Father King and Queene of Cypres driuen out of their owne Realme and the Queene Charlotte to Rome to seeke succors but the diuisions of Italy hindred that which they desired and stayed her there during the time of Pius the second of Paul the second and of Sixtus the fourth and Lewis remained at Ripaille Pope Pius the second q It was tâ—oght that Lewis D. of Saucy had some secret spleene against Pope Pius the second for that he had been Secretarie to his father when he was but in base condition and had abandoned him to follow Eugenius his enemie said that hee had beene chased out of Cypres for that his father had failed of his promise at the assembly at Mantoua for the holy warre and that the same Lewis his Sonne being then neere vnto Mantoua and hauing not vouchsafed to see him and demand his blessing hee had saied by prediction vnto the Embassadors of Sauoy that it would happen his Sonne would loose the Realme of Cypres for a punishment of that the father did and that one day hee would demand those succors in vaine from others which his father had denied vnto the Church The Bastard seeing himselfe in quiet possession of the Crowne of Cypres remembred that Marc Cornaro a Gentleman of Venice had assisted him in his necessitie with ships r Good deedes neuer dye in great courages others forget the good remember the ill Quid autem est eo miserius cui beneficia excidunt hereÌ„t iniuriae Sen. money and Councell Catherine Carnaro adopted by the Venetians and had giuen him meanes to goe vnto the Souldan of Egypt hee resolued to marry his Daughter named Catherine whom the Senate of Venice after the death of Marc Cornaro her Father had adopted as their Daughter The mariage was treated with the consent of the Siegneurie who gaue her a great dowrie this marriage was made in the yeare 1466. Iames King of Cypres fell sicke of a bloudy Flix and seeing that his cure was desperate hee had not the trouble which great Princes as well as priuate men haue when they die to know to whom hee should recommend his realme hauing the Senate of Venice wholly at his deuotion but it troubled him what his successor should be which was yet in the mothers wombe s Princes haue no lesse need then mean persons of strong consolations to help them to depart the world to leaue their affaires in some safety Mocenigo assured him that neither the Venetians forces nor his priuate seruice should neuer faile him After his death Charlotte demanded succors of the Venetians the Duke answered that the Siegneurie was bound to defend her who was her adopted Daughter and that King Iames had instituted her heyre with the fruit in her womb That moreouer he wondred that she vnderstood not that rights of Realmes were debated rather by Armes then by Lawes t In former times wheÌ„ they haue demanded of conquerors of Prouinces the titles of their CoÌ„quests some haue shewed them their Canons and others their swords and that the Realme of Cypres had not been solely to her but also to the Geneuois who at that time held a great part The widdow of King Iames was presently troubled with new Combustions within the Realme A Bishop of the house of the Gotholans Tumults in Cypres who had great authoritie and credit in the Iland being Embassador to Ferdinand King of Naples when as King Iames dyed propounded to marry the Bastard of the deceased King of Cypres Many were of his partie but the wiser sort were contented to passe these rockes with open eyes and deafeeares u There are some things which are good to be seene but dangerous to be harkened vnto They saw the ruines whereinto they did runne and did not giue eare to the promises inchantments that were made them The designe of marriage tooke effect x The Cipriòts seazed vpon the Kings Palace and made his base daughter beeing but six yeares old sure to King Ferdinands base son and gaue him the title of Prince of Galilee but that of the royalty was preuented by the Venetians who sent Mocenigo thither The courage of the conspirators quailed their iudgement failed them at his arriuall their last refuge was flight The soueraigne Authoritie remained peaceably in the Queene who in acknowledgement of the succours she had receiued from Venice Presents of the Queene of Cypres to Mocenigo presented Mocenigo with a Target richly wrought and a standard of the same Shee was brought in bed of a Sonne who dyed at the end of the yeare By this death shee remained Queene alone vnder the Protection and defence of the Siegneurie of Venice Ferdinand King of Naples seeing that his first designe did not succeed for the marriage of the Bastard hee sought the Queene widdow for his Sonne imploying in this Treatie Riccius Marineus a Neapolitaine Ferdinand K. of Naples seeke the alliance of the Queene of Cypres a very deere friend to the deceased King and Tristan Cybellet a Cypriot who had a Sister
in gold which hong downe vpon his brest all amounting to the value of two hundred Crownes in gould without any enamell or inriching with stones which coller should be carried daily about their necks vncouered vpon paine to cause a masse to bee said and to giue seauen souz sixe deniers for Gods sake In armies voiages and in their priuat houses it was sufficient to weare the image of Saint Michel at a little chaine of gould or a silke ryband The officers were a chancellor k No man might be Chancellor of this Order if he were not an Ecclesiasticall Prelate as an Archbishop Bishop or some notable dignitie in a Cathedrall or Collegiall Church or a Doctor of Diuinitie or Canon Law to keep the seale of the order Officers of the order to carry messages to make propositions in chapters and Assemblies to informe of the Actions of Knights to admonish and correct to gather the voyces in elections and the proofes of Nobility A register to write and inrowle the acts of the Order all the commendable prowesses worthy deeds of the head and knights their faults Iustifications corrections and punishments A Treasorer l The Treasurer must keep a Register of the guifts and good deeds which the Knights shall doe vnto the Order which shall haue in his custody the titles Relicks Iewells Ornaments Tapistry and Lybrary of the Order A King at armes called Mont Saint Michel who shall haue sixe score pound starling a yeare pension to carry the letters and commandements of the Order to informe of the prowesses of Knights and to make his report The reception and the oth After the decease of a Knight verified of his worthy deeds and merits They proceed to the election of an other to supply his place the voyces are giuen and receyued by writting in open chapter m The voices for the Election of a Knight are giuen in scroules and put into a basen of siluer which the Chancellor holds and the Chancellor declares who hath the greatest number if the rigour of such informations had lasted alwaies time which blemisheth the goodliest actions and weakens the strongest lawes had not altered any thing of the beauty and integrity of this Order They had not called it in contempt a hood for all heads for Nobility and vertue could not desier a quallity which brought them more honor and greatnesse when as he that merits to be chosen is aduertised of his election he presents him-selfe vnto the Chapter and addressing him-selfe vnto the King speakes these words Sir or my Lord if he bee of the bloud I haue seene your letters that by your fauour and of your most honored Bretheren and Champions of the worthy and honorable order of my Lord Saint Michel Bond of a Knight receiuing the Order I haue beene chosen n When the Knight chosen is absent the King sends the Herald of the Order vnto him with letters which carry the common consent of the order for his Election with a Coppy of the Statutes of the order to aduise if he will enter and bind himselfe by oath to the soueraigne and members of that body into the order and louing company where-with I thinke my selfe much honored and doe reuerently and thankefully accept it and doe thanke you as much as I may offering my selfe ready to obay and to doe all that I ought and may touching the said order Where-vnto shal be answered by the said Soueraigne being accompanied by the greatest number of Knights that may be Wee and our Bretheren Companions of the order for the good renown we haue heard of your worthy deeds vertues and merits hoping you will perseuere and augment them to the honour of the order and commendation of your selfe To defend the rights of the Crowne haue chosen you to be perpetually if it pleaseth God a brother and companion of the said order and louing company wherefore you must take the othe which followeth That withall your loyall power you shall helpe to keepe sustaine and defend o The Knights oweâ— personall seruice vnto the King in all his enterprises but wher there is some vrgent â—et the dignity and rights of the crowne and royall Maiesty and the authority of the soueraigne of the order and of his successors Soueraignes so long as you shall liue and be of the order You shall imploy your selfe with all your power to maintain the said order in state and honour and shall labour to augment it The affairs of the Order and not suffer it to decaie so long as you may preuent it If it should happen which God forbid that any fault should be found in you for the which according to the customes of the order p A Knight conuicted of any reprochfull act is depriued of the order and the Choller taken froÌ„ him The causes for which be may be degraded ar heresie treason and flight on day of Battell The Knight which is vniustly wronged by the King from whom he can obtaine no iustice Hee must deliuer vp his coller leaue the order not offending it in any sort but taking his leaue honorably you were to bee depriued sommoned and required to yeeld vp the said coller in that case you send it to the said Soueraigne or to the treasuror of the Order Degradation in Case of offence and shall neuer after the said Somation carry the said Coller and all other paines and corrections which may bee inioyned you for other lesse offences you shall beare and fulfill patiently and not beare by reason of the said things any hatred against the Soueraigne Companions and Officers of the Order You shall come and appeare in all Chapters q The day after St. Michaells â—east the Chapter of the order should be held there the Knights are inioyned to keepe the Councellls and corrections secret All the Knights are commanded to goe forth one after another the last come going first and the Soueraigne last An the Chancellor informes himselfe in taking the other of all the Knightes and of the Soueraigne himselfe of the wordes and actions of the Knight that is gone forth to know if he hath done any thing Against the honor renowne estate and duty of Knighthood Conuentions and Assemblies of the Orders Assistance at Chapters and obseruation of Orders or shall send according to the Statutes and Ordinances of the said Order and shall obey the Soueraigne and his Deputies in all reasoâ—able things concerning the duety and affaires of the same Order and shall with your loyall power accomplish all the Statutes Poynts Articles and Ordinances of the Order which you haue seene in writting and heard read and doe promise and sweare in generall as if you had taken an oath vppon euery poynt in particular Which things the said Knight shall promise and sweare in the hands of the said Soueraigne vpon his faith and honor The Coller habit cloke of him that is to be
facile puellas oculis adiiceret easque deperiret the Earle of Warwick being wounded in so sensible and tender a part began to distaste the seruice which he did him and repenting him of that which he had formerly done hee retired from Court into his Earldome of Warwicke The Earle of Warwick reuolts whereas his hard fortune made him know the difference of his friends b In the disgrace and crosses of fortune friends are knowne Namertes answered him that required a rule to know them by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plut. and where he shews that a great courage had rather die reuenged then liue with the reproch of a wrong or an affront The Duke of Clarence the Kings Brother the Archbishop of Yorke and the Marquis of Montague came vnto him Euery one brought his complaint with him and the vlcer he had in his heart against Edward The Earle of Warwick represented vnto them the miserable estate they ranne into if they did not labour to restore King Henry to his Fathers throne and themselues to libertie To binde the Duke of Clarence to this designe hee giues him his Daughter He makes a league with the Duâ— of Clarence Proximitie of bloud did sufficiently binde the other two being his Brethren whose friendship he might account among the sweet fruits of his felicitie c It is a part of the sweetnes felicitie of life to see Telemachus recounting his miseries amoÌ„g which he reports that he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without a broâ—â—er Plut. The partie was made and the resolution taken vpon the consideration of things present to come was that he should goe to Calice and in his absence they should make some stirres in the Prouince of Yorke to the end hee might haue a subiect to come thither and to arme The pretext of rising was for the deniall of some Corne which they of the Earle of Warwicks faction refused to pay for the entertainment of St Leonards Hospitall in Yorke and there were others which did murmure giuing it out that what should serue the poore was spent by great men d Sedition can haue no iust causes but the most apparant are wheâ— as priuate men make their profit of that which belongs to the publike In a word it is inequalitie and Iniustice This refusall did so incense the people Commotion in Yorkshire as in a short time there were fifteene thousand men in armes which marched directly to Yorke to haue reason of them which refused to pay what they ought vnto the Hospitall But when as they found themselues too weake An Armie at the gaâ—es of London being a multitude of seditious and mutenous fellowes who are naturally cowards and hauing no Canon to force an entrie they past to London to demand Iustice of the King with torches of rebellion in their fists e Seâ—ition is alwaies saint and cowardly and cowards are euer most seditioâ—s QuantuÌ„â—abes ad â—ustinendum laboreÌ„ miles tanto ad discordias proÌ„ptior Tac. Hist. Lib. 2. The Earle of Warwick was no sooner aduertised of these broiles but he parted from Calice with the Duke of Clarence and came and ioined with this multitude who wanted not any thing but a head King Henries presence and the Earles did countenance the faction and increase it with a greater number with the which he resolued to giue Battell to recompence the errors ruines and occasion past f Hee that knowes how to giue a Battell recouers â—is reputation if it were blemished it restores him if he be ruined excuseth all errors which he hath coÌ„mitted in warre for a Battell won defaceth all misfortunes reproch of other precedent actions The Earle of Pembroke whom the King of England had sent not to fight but to punish those rebels was put to route and they had the victory Richard Lord Riuers father to Queene Elizabeth and his sonne Iohn Wooduille with some other Gentlemen lost their heads The King sought to make some accord with the Earle of Warwicke and vpon the assurance which he gaue him neglected to keep good gard in his Campe the which should not bee omitted euen among friends Loue goes naked by day and armed by night g Crates said that loue went al day naked but at night hee caried a Cuirasse that a prince which trusts in the loue of his subiects may by day goe in safety and without feare but by night he should haue his gard The Earle of Warwicke hauing obserued this carelesse guard by his spies he vndertooke to charge him by night â—dward defeated and taken prisoner with so great aduantage as killing all he found in the trenches hee came without any resistance to the place where the King was whom he tooke prisoner and led away But for that they could not make good vse of this fortune they ruined themselues and vndid King Henry for whom they had taken Armes God who hath a speciall care of Kings depriued them of Iudgement for although they knew well that it was impossible to settle King Henry peaceably in the Realme during Edwards life yet could they not keep him so well but hee escaped hauing corrupted his gards with hopes and goodly promises whereof great men are no nigards when they haue need of their inferiors Edward being at libertie recouers Yorke where he was receiued with ioy which was as great as it was vnexpected From thence he went to London to confirme their wils whom his captiuitie had made to wauer and considering that victory doth alwaies fauour them which haue the aduantage both of Councell and force h A prince hath a great aduantage ouer his enemie when he exceeds him in Armes and that hee hath the CouÌ„cels executions sooner readie then he he raised a might Armie and went to seeke out the Earle of Warwicke Earle of Warwick defeated whom he put to rout and returned triumphantly the victorie was made famous by the death of ten thousand men Queene Margaret Prince Edward her Sonne the Duke of Clarence and his wife the Earle of Warwick with their children and friends were forced to flye They came to Calice but the Earle of Warwicks Lieutenant would not receiue them nor scarce suffer them to carrie two bottels of Wine for the Duchesse of Clarence who was deliuered of a Sonne whilest the ship rode at an Anchor This rudenes and indiscretion did so please King Edward and the Duke of Bourgundy as the one sent him authoritie to command as Gouernor of Calais and the other a good pension to increase his entertainement The Earle of Warwicke who was much esteemed in France and in great credit with the King for his worthy deeds which had made his reputation great and not easie to bee shaken i ReputatioÌ„ is a Colosse which is hardly raised by reason of its waight buy wheÌ„ it is vp it staÌ„ds firme and supports it selfe by his owne heauines It is hard to lay the
notwithstanding that discretion had not beene arbitrator betwixt his tongue and heart that the Marchant had seene and heard too much o There haue beene Princes which haue put their seruants to death hauing heard wordes the report whereof was dangerous Alexander dealt therein more discrectly for finding that Ephestion had seen in his letter an aduice of importance he only toucht his lippes with his seale without any word speaking and Lewis deâ—lt more royally who bought them at a deer rate which might haue carried words that had escaped him inconsiderately and that Edward might cause this first flower of Peace which was but in the bud to wither Cause not foreseene of a good fortune if these words were reported vnto him He therefore resolued to buy this Marchant vpon some pretext of seruice He imployed Philip de Commines who wonne him offering him an office in the towne where hee was borne the transport of the wines which he demanded and a hundred pounds starling to send for his family but vpon condition that he should not goe into England the King condemning himselfe willingly in the penaltie for that he had spoken too freely The most couragious but especially the French which were retired into England blamed this peace Many held it for a worke of heauen saying that it had accomplished the Prophesies which the holy Ghost had made p Men draw great Predictions from small matters In the Conclaâ—e held for the election of a Pope after the death of Paul the fourth a Doue flying rested vpon the Cell of Cardinal Iohn Ange Mediguin who was named Pius the fourth and it was taken for an assurance of his election that a white Doue the day of the enteruiew of the two Kings had sat vpon King Edwards tent and that all the noise of the Armie could not driue her away A Gentleman Gascon called Bretailles who serued the King of England was discontented at the Peace and mockt at his iest He said that this Doue being beaten with the raine had fallen vpon this tent as the highest to dry her selfe in the Sunne He talked with Phillip de Commines who knew him and said You had reason to laugh at vs. To whom Commines but not touching that said How many Battels hath your King woon Wisedome of Phil. de Com. to auoid a needlesse discourse Nine answered Bretailles q K. Edward the fourth was in nine Battels fighting on feet to assure the Crown of EnglaÌ„d on his head and to ruine the house of Lancaster And how many hath he lost one onely which is that vvhich hee might haue woon in France so great a losse as it hath blemished the honour of nine which hee hath wonne for this tenth vvas the crowning of all the rest They came and told the King that this Gascon was a free spoken man and that in the libertie of his speech he might make his masters thoughts knowne and alter the mindes of many The King sent for him caused him to dine at his table and by his purse stopt his mouth and made him say as the rest that the holy Ghost had made the Peace In one houre Bretailles setled an assured reuenue for euer vpon the timiditie of this Prince r We may say of King Lewis as Plutark did of Nicias he gaue not lesse to theÌ„ that might doe ill then to those that deserued well who were worthy to taste of his bounty so as his feare was a reuenue rent vnto the wicked as well as his bounty was vnto good men The Duke of Bourgundy seeing that the King of England was farre off began to bethinke himselfe He had seene the inconstancie of the English Contay had represented vnto him that of the Constable and the discourse which hee had heard behind the Portall All this would not suffer him to grow obstinate against reason and moreouer the King is armed against the frontier of Hainault who demands it and offers to doe it and he hath a liuely impression of the great perplexitie which an irresolute soule doth suffer that liues in suspence betwixt hope and feare s Whilst our soules are in suspence betwixt hope and feare wee doe not enioy the present and the future torments vs. Hugonet the Dukes Chancellor sent the King word that if it pleased him to send his Deputies vnto the bridge Treatie of Peace betwixt the King the D. of Bourgundie mid-way betwixt Auennes and Veruins the Dukes should be there to resolue vpon that which was presented The King would be present notwithstanding that his Councell disswaded him and hee led with him Haward and Cheney Hostages which the King of England had left One of them being sorrie for the Peace seeing the Deputies for the Duke of Bourgundy accompanied with a great number of soldiers well mounted and armed said that if the Duke of Bourgundy had shewed many such to the King of England hee had not so suddenly repast the Sea Philip de Commines to whom these words were spoken answered not any thing he had so great patience in hearing and such stay in his speech as it was no paine for him to hold his peace in occasions where the tongue sometimes escapes t He that is not patient to hold his peace can not be discreet in speaking The Vicont of Narbonne who had heard them said that without doubt the Duke of Bourgundy had a good number but the English had so great a desire to returne into England as they were contented with six hundred pipes of wine and a pension which the King gaue them This English man who was much altered with this Peace found his griefe doubled with this flout and all fuming with choller hee said It is true that was told vs that you would iest at vs call you the money which the King giues vs a Pension u Euery man giues what names hee pleaseth to things That which in effect was a pension the English call tribute An insupportable word to a free Nation Saluian lameÌ„ting the condition of the Empire of Rome which payed Tribute vnto the FreÌ„ch who had newly seazed vpon Gâ—ul saith Aurâ—m quod peÌ„dimus munera vocamus dicimus donum esse quod pretium et quidam coÌ„diâ—onis miserimae The gold we bestow we cal reward we terme that a gift which is a price and of a most wreâ—ched condition It is a Tribute and by S t George you may speake so much as we shall returne Philip de Commines O the wise man brake off this Discourse and from serious and biting as it was and might haue been worse for the French would neuer haue endured that they should haue termed France tributarie to England turned it to a Iest. But the Englishman was discontented and complained to the King who was much offended with the Vicont of Narbonne who had not considered that to bad demands good answeres cost little and profit much and that a small matter cals back
shall seldome see a great spirit without some medley of fâ—lly wherof the purest comâ—s froÌ„ the finest wisdom and therefore Thucidides will not haue the choose high aspiring spiriits into the Counceller of Princes nor to the maâ—naging of affâ—ires but those that are meane who are lesse obstinate Hee thought to make a perpetuall warre betwixt the King of France the King of England and the duke of Bourgundy behold he is amazed to see them reconcyled and against him He hath made him-selfe vnworthy of grace with the first of succors and defence with the second and of all hope with the third and in opinion with all three that hee would play the companion b As it is dangerous to contend with ones equall so is it madaâ—sto quarrell with his superior and to seeke to go hand in hand with him with them raise his reputation and merits vpon the ruine of their affaires mingle his ashes with those of their Estates and eternize his memory not in burning one Temple alone Ill with the King but the Estates of them all three The King had done him good not in respect of his person but of the seruices which he might doe him and when as he saw his affections altered his will also grew could making it knowne that great hatred proceeded from great friendship c The fauors benefits of Princes are not for the respect of the persons but in consideration of seruices and merits which they find in their seruants when these qualities change it is not strange if in like manner their fauors and affections alter Hee could not forget the practises which hee had made to keepe France in trouble and combustion nor the arrogant and insolent shew of armes vpon the Causey of Compiegneâ— nor the letters written to the King at the sight whereof he sware his great oath which hee did neuer violate that he should die Nor so many acts of a spirit which made it selfe miserable for that he could not beare his felicity The Duke had neuer pardoned him the taking againe of Amiens and Abbeuille Ill with the Duke the desire of his reuenge was a riuer d Reuenge runnes on still although it appeares not Plutarque compares it to riuers which runne vnder the earth and afterwards hurst forth with more violence which had his course through the rockes of the difficulties of his affaires He could not forget his cunning practise to marry his daughter to the Duke of Guienne nor his refusall to receiue his men into Saint Quentin after that he had caused them to come Moreouer he was incensed e Offences often renewed end with immortall paynes for that he had first made warre in his country by fire the rest being contented to vse the sword for whilest he lay incamped before Amiens the Constable had made a roade into the country of Haynault and burnt the Castell of Seurre belonging vnto Baldwin of Lannoy whome the Duke loued Ill with the King of England The King of EnglaÌ„d was offended with him for that hauing councelled and perswaded him to come into France to tryumph there hee had returned without tryumph All three would rather haue made an other hell then haue suffered such trecheries vnpunished All things seemed to bandie and conspire his ruine hee could not keepe himselfe vp firme seeing so many persons about him ouerthrowne The Constables perplexity after the peace f It is no wonder not to bee mooued in traÌ„quillity but we may be amazed to see a man rise when as all others shrinke and to stand firme amongst them that stuÌ„ble Sen. Epist. 73. The disgraces which fortune hath done him in the publike ruines are augmented by many other priuate crosses His wife the only support of his greatnes is dead Iames of S. Paul his brother prisoner la Scala his nephewe returning out of England was taken by the Kings men and found seazed of daungerous Instructions the Earle of Roucey his Sonne in the duke of Burbons hands The Earle of Dammartin his enemy with the Kings forces neere vnto S. Quentin And the Prince of Orange at liberty carrying the title of Prince by the grace of God g Ielousie and enuy worke strange diâ—â—emperatures in their mindes which martch hand in hand The Constable of S â— Paul could not indure the prosperity of some greate men in court He is grieued that the prince of Orange is set at liberty for thirty thousand Crownes and that the king hath suffered him to carry the title of Prince by the grace of God to coyne money and to pardon all offences except heresie and treason All these things were so many thornes in his bed to keepe him from sleepe he doth not dreame wake nor thinke but how to stand firme against all these violent stormes of fortunes but he seekes to cure his harmes h A pernitious remedy to cure one mischiefe with another and to think to be cured by disorders which caused diseases the intemperance of the Patienâ— causeth the cruelty of the Phisition by other mischefes He is like vnto an earthen vessell which must needes breake if it fall vppon a stone or a stone fall vppon it The nedle of his Compas turnes toward the Kings Clemencie as to his north He sends Rapin his secretary vnto him with silken words humble and milde beseeching him to beleeue that the King of England and the Duke of Bourgundy desired nothing more then to draw him to the extremitie of dispayre The Constable seeks the Kings fauor and to seeke his safty of them beeing that he could not finde it with the King That a desire to bee reuenged of him who had not offended theÌ„ but in that he had not offended his maiestie had giuen way vnto the slanders which had bin published against him and fauoured by the il will of his enemies which were about his maiestie namely by the Lord of Dammartin and Lude who did not loue him and that his heart could not bend vnto that diuine rule to loue his enemies i To loue ones enemies is a diuine Action to loue his friendes humane but to hate his friendes is bruitish But men are of that disposition especially great men they cannot indure the prosperity of their enemies Good workemasters know one anothers worke one line makes them iudge by whome the picture was made The King his craftsmaster in dissembling did iudg that whatsoeuer the Constable pretended to doe was but couÌ„terfeit Aristotle speakes of a rock which burnes hauing oyle cast vppon it that an ambitious spirit dissembles as he list k It is dangerous to giue credit to the wordes and actions of those that haue any designe 〈◊〉 a desire to attaine vnto it makes them to faigne any thing that a wicked man is neuer worse then when hee will counterfeit to be good wherfore all the oyle of his goodly l words doe not allwayes serue to open but to couer the
his life Hee liued six yeares eleuen monthes Philip Earle of Bresse sonne to Lewis and great Grandfather to Charles Emanuel who had been prisoner at Loches succeeded him a great Prince as all they haue been whose fortunes haue been tost and crost z They whom a variable vnconstaÌ„t fortune hath exercised and tryed gouerne theÌ„selues better then others Tacitus speaks it of Caractatus QueÌ„ multa ambigua multa prospeta extâ—lerant vt câ—teros Britannorum Imperato resprâ—mineret Whom many crosses and many good fortunes had raised vp that he might exceed the rest of the Brittish commanders After that Iustus Lipsius to confirme this truth hath spoken of Charles the fiâ—t and Lewis the eleuenth he addes Emanuel Philibert Duke of Sauoy and concludes that the Greeke word is true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I haue learned of them that haue hurt me Miseria brudentiae bona mater Misery iâ— a good mother of wisedome At the Kings returne from Lyon Alfonso K. of Portugal comes to demand succors in France Alfonso King of Portugall came to salute him being at Tours hee came vnto him as to his last refuge being no longer able to resist the power of King Ferdinand and Isabelta The cause of their contention is well worthy the knowing and to vnderstand it wee must remember that it was formerly said that by the peace made betwixt Iohn King of Castille and Iohn of Nauarre Blanche the eldest Daughter of Nauarre was married to Henry of Castille Prince of the Asturies and that the marriage was not consummated by reason of the disabilitie and coldnes of the husband a Pope Eugenius the third gaue a dispensation for the degree of proximitie that was betwixt the married couple and the marriage was celebrated at Madrid in the yeare 1440. The bashfulnes and modestie of this Princesse made her dissemble her misfortune Disabilitie of Henry K. of Castillâ— whereof no man might inconsiderately grow in doubt for the Prince was of a manlike and braue aspect but his actions were faint and languishing They were but fiue and twentie yeares old when they were married At one and thirty he succeeded to his father who died in the yeare 1454 of a quartaine Ague after that he had put Aluaro de Luna b Dom Aluato de Luna abusing the greatnes of his charge and the great loue the King bare him was hated of the Princes Noblemen of Castille they forced the King to banish him six yeares from the Court His faction won the Prince D. Henry who armed against his father wroght so as he was restored to fauor and made Master of the Order of S. Iames but seeking to be reuenged of his enemies and making many enterprises against them Queene Isabel fauoring them made the King resclue to put him in prison to haue him exâ—cuted at Vaile dosâ—t The King did forfeit al his goods they did set a siluer Basin whereas his head was to receiu that which passers by would giue for his entertainment A remarkable example of the inconstancy of Kings and fortunes fauours Al sin 〈…〉 vita a la tarde loa el dia. The life is commended by the end and the day by the Euening his Constable to death and had raigned nine and forty yeares and six monethes Henry succeeded him and Alfonso his second sonne was great Master of the Order of St. Iames hee would willingly haue giuen him his Crowne for the griefe he had conceiued for Henries disobedience His Daughter Isabella was but three yeares old to whom he gaue the Towne of Cuellar and a great summe of money for her mariage All things succeeded otherwise then he had proiected The eternall prouidence which hath written in his tables of Diamond the aduentures of things which are haue been and shall be had disposed after another manner But as the most constant patience is tired at length this Princesse The Pope dissolues the mariage for sterilitie hauing for a long time endured her husbands disabilitie began to murmure and he preuented her complaints presenting a request vnto the Pope to bee seperated from her and shewed that she was barren and could not be a mother and that the affaires of Castille required an heire The Pope dissolued the first marriage and suffered him to marry againe with Ione Infanta of Portugall Sister to King Alfonso and Daughter to King Edward a Princesse exceeding faire who more desirous to bee a Queene then a wife consented to this marriage notwithstanding that shee was fully aduertised of the disabilitie of the husband which she tooke who although he were a great Prince could not haue found a woman where as euery one may haue for his money But shee made it knowne that a politick woman neuer dyes without an heyre On the other side the King held the blemish of disabilitie to be so dishonourable as to make the contrarie knowne and to haue children to succeed vnto his Crowne he consented that Bernard de la Cueua one of his fauourites c Some write that D. Ioane consented therevnto by force but when she had once made this leape she had more need of a bridle then a spurre A wonderfull incontinency and impudency Being at it were confined to the Castell of Alacaes vnder the custody of the Archbishop of Seuelle she had by D. Pedro the Archbishops Nephew two children D. Ferdinand and D. Apostol should lye with the Queene who presently conceiued with child and to the end it should not bee thought to be done by supposition he would haue her deliuered in the presence of Henry Earle of Alba de Lista the Archbishop of Toledo and the Marquis of Vellena It was a Daughter which had for her Godfather the Earle of Armagnaâ— who was at that time Embassador in Castille to King Lewis the eleuenth Wisedome and discretion might haue made this deceit more fortunate then it was Henry the king of Castille degraded for all Spaine made demonstration of incredible Ioy for the birth of this Daughter but there was follie and indiscretion of all sides The King who would confirme this opinion that he was a gallant man sought the loue of other women who soone discouered the deceit The Queene made shew to be iealous entertained her loue securely with D. Bernard so as the great familiaritie he had with her made the world doubt of her chastitie and when as they saw that the King honored him with the chiefe charges of the Realme making him master of the order of St Iames and then Duke of Albuquergue they did imagine that he made him play his part in this Comedie which ended with cruel tragicall effects for the Great men of the realme made a league to seaze vpon D. Alfonso and D. Isabella brother Sister to the end that this Bastard should not depriue them of their rights Alfonso being about twelue yeeres old was proclaimed K. of Castille by them and then did D. Henry shew
waxt by which hole we did looke into the Castle-yard Hee saith also that Margaret of Clisson Mother to the Earle of Ponthieure came scoft at him vsing these words Deposuit potentes de sede He hath put the Mighty from their seate Hist. of Brit. Lib. 11. it had felt the ruines and desolations which the Iustice of God brings vpon Principalities for the sinnes of the Princes and People The diuision betwixt the Houses of Montfort and Blois had brought it to the last extremity and it had seene an Act of wonderfull presumption of a vassaile against his Lord Duke Iohn hauing beene prisoner to Oliuer of Blois with such vnworthy vsage as hee was in a manner depriued of the aire which all the powers of the world cannot take from Man there beeing nothing but death that can depriue him of breath This poore Prince had no Aire at all but was in darkenesse p When as God saith Epictetes takes from thee necessary things as food raiment and thy sences he sounds a retreat hee opens the doore and commands thee to come and in a little Chamber where hee could not see but by a hoale made with a Pinne the Sunne for the which many haue beleeued they were in the world Anaxagoras said that hee was in the world to admire the Sunne A more tedious kinde of life then death it selfe and hee that is reduced vnto it hath a strong resolution if he doth not murmure that God suffers him to liue so long One of the wise Stoickes thought that hee gaue man leaue to depart this life when as he gaue him no meanes to liue But let vs returne vnto the King Townes vpon the riuer of Somme recouered by the king Before the newes of Duke Charles his death was assured hee brake the Truce which should haue continued seuen yeares longer and seized vpon Abbeuille Dourlans Monstreuil Montdidier Peronne Han Bohain Saint Quintin and the Townes vpon the Riuer of Somme which by the death of Charles the last Male of the House of Bourgondy returned vnto the King Hee wisht hee might haue done as much to all the Low Countreyes and by some iuster meanes then by Armes in marrying his sonne to the heire of Bourgondy Lewis desires to marry his sonne to the heire of Brittain But beside the great inequality of their ages hee had promised him to the Princesse of England and he desired to giue him the heire of Brittaine for she was more sutable to his sonnes age and this Princesse was a Rampart against the fury of the English who being seconded by the Dukes of Brittaine haue entred that way and come into the heart of the Realme He perswaded himselfe to preuaile by other meanes he had good seruants at Gand who had made shew that this kinde of gouernement was against their mindes and that they affected new Maisters q The day after that the Ganto is receiued newes of the Dukes death they put to death 25 men of their Lawe The pretex was for that they had executed a man before they were confirmed in their charge He thought that in taking some of the chiefe Townes of the Countrey the rest in this confusion of Councels and weakenesse of forces would yeeld of themselues and as if there had beene no other difficulty he disposed already of places and gouernments of Prouinces His humor was to imploy meane men in great affaires and to handle great works with small engines He sent Robinet of Odenfort to S. Omer and Oliuer le Dain his Barber to Gand who was of such power and authority euen with the King as the French going out of the Realme they demaunded of them in mockery among other newes of Court Presumption of Oliuer le Daine if Lewis were in good tearmes with Oliuer r StraÌ„gers mock at princes which depend vpon 〈◊〉 companions and giue themseles as it were in a prey to their conduct This man for that hee was borne in a village neere vnto Gand was so presumptuous as hee thought he could make this Towne subiect to the Kings will and tooke this charge vpon him to goe thither vnder colour to carry some message to the Princesse who had called an Assembly of the Estates at Gand s Estates in the Law Countries held at Gand. The Oath of fidelity was renued to the Princesse for it had in already taken by Guy of Roâ—â—fort Lord of PluvaÌ„t her Chamberlain by Guy Perrot her Secretary of state and vnder hand practised men to what he had intended he stiled himselfe Earle of Melun This purple-hue did nothing at all beautifie the Ape but made him more ridiculous to them that knew the basenesse of his breeding t Basenesse of birth is a reproach which is giuen to them that gloriously forget theÌ„selues Iphicrates Tully and Marius endured it Yet the King perswaded himselfe that hee would doe wonders in this Citty telling the chiefe Noble-men of his Court that they whom he had sent to Gand and Saint Omer were able to get the keyes of the Towne and to draw in his Troopes He made account of the one as Augustus did of Mecenas u Augustus Caesar loued 2. men aboue all others Agrâ—ppa for his patience and Mecenas for his secresie and discretion Being in Councell with them after the war of Actium how hee should gouerne himselfe Agrippa aduised him to liue a priuate life but Mecenas wisht him to think of a monarchy Dion Plut. Suet. and of the other as Agrippa Oliuer hauing demanded audience of the Princesse Affront done to Oliuer at his audience with the Princesse and refusing to speake vnto her but in priuate hee caused himselfe to bee scorned and this disgrace concerned him that had sent him who had not considered that such Commissions did properly belong to men of birth or of great merit and that it seemes they contemne the Prince to whom they send Embassadours of base condition x They that carry the Title of Embassadours should be men of credit reputation Caesar said that the Suisses sent Embassadors vnto him the chiefe wherof was Deuico he who in the Cassian warre had bin their Generall The Gantois hauing discouered Negotiation of Oliuer le Dain at Gand and taking of Tournay that hee had some secret practises in their Towne hee was in danger to haue beene cast into the Riuer whereupon hee retired to Tournay and practised thirty or forty men by whose meanes hee brought in Mony with his Company which hee had at Saint Quintin and seized of the Towne sending seuen or eight of the Gouernors to Paris The Princesse Councell seeing that her subiects fidelity was shaken and the Townes of Picardy deliuered vnto the King that she had to deale with a Cyrus Embassage sent from the Princesse of Bourgundy to the King and that she was no Tomyris y Cyrus hauing attempted against the Massagets a people of Scythia Tomyris their
that of Arragon We heare often in their pleadings Id quod nostrum est sinâ— causa nostra à nobis aufeâ—ri non potest and to fill vp the measure of his sorrow hee saw the first Branch of this Powerfull and Royall house of Aniou wither in his sonne and grand-childe René surviuing his sonne and grand-childe dyed in the yeare 1480. A Prince who had great and eminent qualities worthy of a better fortune hee was a great Iusticer and an enemy to long dispatches He said sometimes when as they presented him any thing to signe being a hunting or at the warre that the Pen was a kinde of Armes which a Prince should vse at all seasons u K. René although he were in Armes did not forbeare to doe iustice to them that demanded it saying That the pen of Princes should neuer be idle that long expeditions made them to loose the loue of their subiects They write that he drank not any wine and when as the Noble-men of Naples demaÌ„ded the reason he answered that it had made Tit. Liuius to ly who had said that the good wines caused the French to passe the Alpes The reigne of so good a Prince was much lamented for he intreated his subiects like a Pastor and Father Commendation of René of Aniou They say that when as his Treasurers brought vnto him the Royall taxe which was sixteene Florins for euery fire wherof Prouence might haue about three thousand fiue hundred hee enformed himselfe of the aboundance or barenesse of the season and when as they told him that a * The Northeast wind Mestrall winde had reigned long he remitted the moity and sometimes the whole taxe Hee contented himselfe with his reuenues and did not charge his people with new tributes Hee x Michael de Montagne in the 2 d booke of his Essaies C. 17. of presumption saith that being at Bar-le-Duc he saw presented vnto K. Francis the 2 d. a portrait which René K. of Sicile had made of himselfe spent his time in painting the which were so excellent as they are yet to be seene in the Citty of Aix he was drawing of a partridge when as they brought him newes of the losse of the Realme of Naples yet he would not draw his hand from the worke such pleasure hee tooke therein He liued long A President of Prouence making an Oration before King Charles the ninth in the yeare 1573. said that hee had beene seene by some that were then liuing Hee instituted an Order which hee called of the Cressant The Knights carried a Cressant or halfe Moone vpon their right arme with this Motto l'Os en Croissant encouraging them thereby to seeke and desire the encrease of their valour and reputation Hee dyed at Aix his wife caused his body to bee transported into France and by a witty pollicie deceiued the Prouençals who would haue had it His death made no other change in Prouencae but of the person Charles Nephew to René succeeds him Charles his Nephew sonne to the Earle of Mayne was acknowledged Earle of Prouence but his time was very short for hee dyed before he could finish the second yeare of his reigne Some few dayes before his death on the tenth of December 1481. he made the King his heire and after his decease Charles his sonne and the other Kings his Successors y The institution of the heire is set down in thâ—se tearmes in his Testament Et quia haeredis institutio est caput fundamentâ—Ì„ cuiuslibet testamenti dictus Serenissimâ—s Domiâ—uâ— noster rex in omnibusâ— regnâ—s commitatibus Vicecomitatibus c. fecit instituit ordinauit ac ore suo proprio nominauit sibi haeredem suuÌ„ vniuersalem insoliduÌ„ Christianissimum excellentissimum principem ac dominum Ludouicum Dei gratia Francorum Regem eiusdem consobrinum Dominum chariffimum atque reuerendissimum post eius obitum illustrissimun clarissimum D. Delphinum c. beseeching him with all his heart to suffer his subiects of Prouence to enioy the graces liberties and priuiledges which they held of King René Prouence giuen to K. Lewis recommending vnto him his Cousen Francis Lord of Luxembourg to keepe him in his Court and to maintaine him in the lands of Martigues which he gaue him he did not recommend him vnto any one of his seruants in particular but one Archer of his guard called the great Pickard There was little difference betwixt his Testament and his death K. Lewis takes possession of Prouence and lesse betwixt his death and the taking of possession for on the nineteenth of the same moneth of December one thousand foure hundred eighty one the King sent a Commission to Palamedes Forbin a Knight Lord of Sollier Chamberlaine to the Earle of Prouence to take possession and to command in the Countrey in quality Lieuetenant generall with absolute power to dispose of Offices to place and displace Officers to remit and abolish crimes yea high Treason to confirme or reuoke ancient Priuiledges and to grant new to assemble the Estates to impose Tributes and to leuy Souldiers for to force obedience z This commission was dated at Thouars the 29. of December 1481. in the presence of the Earle of Marâ—e Marshall of of France and of Estellan Bailiffe of Rouen The quality of this Commission was a great Testimony of the seruice which he had done the King hauing solely disposed his Maister to make this goodly present vnto France But as all changes cause amazement there was some trouble to execute this Donation some holding the party of Lorraine and others of France René René duke of Lorraine discontented Duke of Lorraine finding his friends feeble and his power weake against the King was not willing to grow obstinate in Prouence a Hee that encounters one that is more mighty doth but vndoe himselfe More mighty is to be vnderstood in dominions subiects force and treasure A wise Italian saith to this purpurpose Si tu truoui vna machina cresciuta per la felicita disciplina d'ottocento anni discostati da essa che è cosa impossibile quando pur ella cadesse che tu non rouini sotto If thou findest a worke grown by the felicity and dâ—scipline of 800 yeares auoyd it being impossible if it falles but thou shalt bee ruined vnder it He passed the Alpes with an hundred men at Armes and a regiment of a thousand foote The King sent a garrison of Scottish men vnto Bar vnder the command of the Lord of Aubigny hee caused the Walles to bee repaired and the Armes of France to be set vpon the gate such as are yet to be seene Hee remained in Italy till after the Kings death which day hee held to be the rising of his hopes the which were onely supported by the assurance which the Duke of Bourbon b This hope was not vaine for in the first yeare of the reigne
whole posterity but onely to them which descend from the Males There are two houses which bee so great and famous of themselues as they honour the titles which are giuen them King Charles the seuenth his Father hauing made the Earledome of Foix a Pairie for Gaston of Foix hee confirmed this erection but hee made not any new This house of Foix was in those times one of the most famous in Christendome and compare with Soueraigne Princes o We find that in great ceremonies the Earles of Foix are named before the Princes and had precedence of the Earles of Vendosme There is no other reason but that the eldest of Princes houses precede the yonger of other houses and therfore at the Estates held at Tours the Earles of Neuers Eu and Foix had precedence of the Earle of Vendosme Gaston of Foix who liued in the time of King Charles the fifth went equall with Kings when as King Charles the sixth was at Tholousa he sent the Earle of Sancerre Marshall of France and the Signior of Riuiere one of the chiefe of his Councell to the Earle of Foix who was then at Mazere to intreate him to come vnto him or else he would goe to see him He did not excuse himselfe vpon the Indispositions of his great Age and being sorry that hee had not preuented this summons he parted from Mazere with six hundred horse and came to the King to Tholousa Traine of the Earle of Foix. The History saith that presenting himselfe vnto the king hee was followed by two hundred Gentlemen all cloathed in silkes among them there was noted the Vicount of Bruniquet and his brethren Roger of Spaine Lord of Montespan issued from the bloud of Arragon and head of the house of Montespan p Espagno let of Spaine sonne to Roger of Spaine sonne to Leon of Spaine and the Lord of Corras who first raised the honour of the Earles of Caramain a great and rich family Beginning of the houses of MoÌ„tespan Caramain allied to that of Foix and who seeing that Houses and Families haue their periods like to all other worldly things could not desire a more glorious fall then into the house of Monluc where it begins to reuiue King Charles the sixth requited this visite at New-yeares tide in the yeare 1390. q At this voyage the Earle did institute King Charles the sixth his heire the which hee would not accept for that he would not defraud the Vicount of Chastellan his lawfull Heire He fauoured the house of Lauall with the like declarations of honour House of Lauall the which was long before held for one of the worthiest of France hauing neuer wanted children nor the first dignities and alliances of France hauing for their stemme the House of Montmorency r They drawe the beginning of the first house of Montmorency to the time of Saint Denis by whom the first that was conuerted among the French Knights was a Lord of Montmorency and therefore the ancient Deuice of this house is God helpe the first Christians the first Christian of France and there is no difference in their Armes but fiue Cockle-shels Argent to the Crosse. Wherefore he would that Francis of Lauall Lord of Gaure sonne of a daughter of king Charles the seuenths sister should go in rank with the Earles of Vendosme as well in Councell as in Parliament and in all other publike actions and caused his letters to be dispatcht at Mans the nine and twentith day of Nouember 1467. to serue for a speciall and perpetuall priuiledge to his posteritie He had much contemned the glorious and honourable markes of Maiesty s Princes had alwayes men appointed to serue in time of peace and warre for the ornament of their maiesty and royall greatnesse Heralds were instituted in France for that respect in time of peace they carried mayles vpon their breasts and in times of warre their Coat of Armes powdred with Flowers de Luce. I haue obserued in the Church and Cloister of Saint Catherine du Val of the Schollers twenty of their Tombes which shew the forme of their Maces and Scutchions Bodin writes that hauing chased away almost all the Gentlemen of his house hee imployed his Taylor for a Herald at Armes and his Barber for an Embassador and his Physitian for a Chancellor as an ancient king of Syria did Apolophanes his Physitian whom he made the president of his Councell Philip de Commines obserues it when hee shewes how much hee was troubled to furnish out a Herald which he sent to the King of England Heralds were necessary for the Maiesty of a Prince in actions of war and in the most solemne dayes of peace They had diuers names and diuers charges and they either carried the Titles of the Soueraignes Prouinces or of some other famous occasion as in France the Heralds are diuersly named and wee finde often in the History of France these names giuen to Heralds Bosios error in the History of Malta Monjoy e Saint Denis Mont Saint Michel t This word of Monjoy Saint Denis was sometimes the warlicke cry of the French They say it grew vpon that which Clouis said in the battell neere to Colleyn when as fearing to loose it hee promised to beleeue in Iesus Christ worshipped by Clotilde his wife and to hold him for his Ioue Since that time they cryed in their battels Monjoye Saint Denis as if they would say Christ whom Saint Denis hath preached in Gaule is my Ioue that is to say my Iupiter The word of Ioue beeing turned into that of Ioye The Antiquities of Gaule wriâ—ten by the President Fauchet wherein a great man of Italy hath erred and moues them that obserue it to laugh for hauing found in our Histories that King Lewis the eleuenth had sent two Heralds to Bajazeth to complaine that hee had broken the peace with the Venetians hee sets downe their names after this manner Monsieur Gaudio de Saint Denis Monsieur de Saint Michel whereas hee should haue saide The Herald Monjoy Saint Denis and Mont Saint Michel They were created at great and solemne Feasts and when they presented Wine vnto the Prince hauing drunke he gaue the cup to him whom he made Herald wherwith he should make his Scutchion Oliuer of la Marche saith that Philip Duke of Bourgondy did somtimes giue them the name of that Country whereas the Wine which hee then dranke did grow which done the other Heralds gaue him the Coate of Armes charged with the Princes Armes There were more Ceremonies at the Creation of a King at Armes for his sufficiency was to bee testified by all the Kings at Armes Creation of Heralds and Heralds that might bee found and they were distinguished from others by a Crowne croslet which they carried on their heads Their chiefe charge was to make a distinction of the Armes of Families to preserue the ancient and preuent the vsurpation of new
est à Domino potestas vobis virtus ab Altissimo qui interrogabit opera vestra cogitationes quoniam cum effetis Ministri regni illius nō recte iudicastis nec custodistis legem Iustitiae◠neque secum dū voluntatē Dei ambulastis Heare ◠yee Iudges of the earth vnderstand c. To demaund Iustice of a King is to do him a kind of homage which doth not belong to any other and to confesse that he holds the ranke ouer men that God doth ouer Kings But for that they cannot participate with euery thing see all heare all not bee euery where Princes relye vpō their Ministers they relye vpon the dilligence and fidelity of their seruants whereof some assist them with their wits counsell and tongues and others with their hands swords and fortune France hath alwaies beene seconded by men of this quality it brings more forth daily and is not weary of so many Childe-birthes Princes are like worke-men their Officers are the Iustruments with the which they may cut and fashion as they please And although all charges bee distinguished and haue their bounds that the Trowell may not do the office of the Hammer yet they tend all to one end the seruice of the Prince whereon depends the publick safety which is the perfection of the worke The Princes eare is like vnto the Temple of the Goddesse Horta which was alwaies open but the prayers must be short and guided by reuerence and humility for Iupiter of Crete hath eares at his feete Those which are vniust are dead towards the King and mortall towards God for him that makes them Wee must speake vnto the King as if God vnderstood it and none must speake vnto God as if we were vnderstood by men There are some which demand things of Kings which they would not giue to them that aske them and others that would blush if the prayers which they make vnto God were knowne Wherefore a Prince sends such petitions to whom hee pleaseth to see if they bee iust and ciuill It were impossible for him to heare them and determine them without doing wrong to those affaires which require no delay to resolue on The greatnesse of his Maiesty is wronged when as they make him discend into the care of base things d It is importunity to a Prince to giue him an account of base things When as Pliny wrote to Traian De seruis damnatis quise Ministerijs publicis immiscuerunt Of slaues condemned who had wrought in the publike workes Hee addes this Preface to his Letter Salua magnitudine tua Domine descendas oportet ad meas curas cùm ius mihi dederis referendi ad te de quibus dubito My Lord sauing your Greatnesse you must descend vnto my cares hauing giuen me leaue to impart my doubts vnto you Wisedome which is the light of his actions and the Serpent which shadowes his fore-head e Bochoris King of Egipt being by nature rough sowre and violent the Goddesse Isis sent him a Serpent which wrething about his head did make a shadow to the end his iudgement should bee seasoned with Prudence and Iustice. forbids them to trouble their heads for all sorts of affaires the which are often represented by men which neither see farre off nor much behind them who confounds their discourses in the beginning and speaking without reason would be heard with patience Wee must beautify this discourse with the same authority which gaue lustre vnto the precedent The discourses which are held at the Table of the Chancellours of France are alwaies vpon some goodly Subiect pleasing to learne and profitable and necessary to vnderstand and wee may say that delicacy of wits findes that there which excesse did furnish to the appetite of men for foure monthes to deliuer into his hands the foure chiefe Townes of Brabant Brussels Antwerpe Macklin and Louan and to leaue him the Country of Flanders in Soueraignety without homage if he could conquer it These offers proceeding rather from the necessity of affaires then from the Kings intention who desired nothing but to aduance his affaires in Bourgundy and Artois and to diuide and weaken his enemies forces were well and wisely weyed by the King of England y The lesse which is profitable and certaine is to be preferred before the more which is vnprofitable and vncertaine The King of England desires rather the Countries of Bullen in effect then Brabant Flāders in hope neither could the English consent vnto a warre which did interrupt their Trafficke with the Low Countries who answered that if the King were so well minded to make him a sharer of his conquest he had rather haue some of those which were already conquered in Picardy and that in deliuering him Bulloine hee would declare himselfe for him against the Princesse of Bourgundy The King then hauing contemned the way of mildenesse and reason to follow that of force and fortune neglected also the occasion which this first amazement of the Princesse and her people put into his hands and leauing her the liberty to marry her selfe and to carry those goodly Prouinces to a strange house all things became impossible Maximilian hauing married the Princesse raysed with great solemnity the order of the Golden Fleece z Oliuer dela-March reports the ceremony which was made at the raising of this Order and saith that they wondered the King had not preuented the Arch-Duke to shew that he would also restore the affaires of that house Yet for all this they do not leaue to giue him the honour of the wisest of his age Partes of wisedome He made his wisedome appeare in that he could consult and deliberate well he could iudge and resolue well and he could leade and execute wel This wisedome was wholy his and depended not of the motion or discourse of any other Wherefore when as he demanded of Brezay Seneschall of Normandy the reason why he said that his horse was great and strong being but little and of a weake stature For that answered Brezay hee carries you and all your Counsell It is a very singular grace of heauen when as the actions of Princes vnfurnished of Councell succeede happily For as a Prince hath need of a soule to liue by so is it necessary for him to haue counsell to raigne a Euery Prince hath two Councels one interior and the other exterior The interior is that which growes in his head from his owne knowledge and vnderstanding The exterior is of those that assist him in the managing of affaires It is weake councell which consists onely of yong heads Yong men may well haue some good points but they are like vnto those of the eares of corne The force of councell consists in wisedome which is not gotten but by experience and experience comes not but with time A man may be borne capable of wisedome but onely time makes the wise Yong Vines carry Grapes aboundantly but the
Priuiledges of the Parisians and the profit which it feeles by the ordinary presence of their Maiesties he gaue leaue to euery Burgesse to take yearely a certaine measure of salt for their prouision paying the Marchants right onely and to be freed of the forraigne imposition paying six deniers vpon the Liuer in Paris and twelue vpon the furthest parts of the Realme not being bound to giue caution for the sale of it That they should not bee forced by any harbinger to lodge the kings Officers nor any Souldiers but at their owne pleasures f These priuiledges were amplâ—fied and confirmed during the warre of the Common-weale and for that the people did apprehend that they might bee reuoked when it did cease the Chronicle saith that he declared in a great Assembly that hee desired rather to augment them then to cut off any thing Not to be bound to plead any where but in Paris for what cause soeuer To be freed from all duties and seruices for the fees they held yet vpon condition to haue sufficient and defencible Armes according to the value of their fees for the guard and defence of the Citty In like manner the Citty of Lyon that mighty Bulwarke of the State is bound vnto him for the establishment of the Faires Commerce is a great meanes to drawe forraigne commodities into a State but it may cause a dangerous transport of gold and siluer if it bee not entertained by the exchange of Wares And as it should not bee lawfull to transport those that bee necessary and whereof the Subiects may haue need g One of the iustest and most ancient meanes to augment a kings tributes is vpon the entry going forth and passage of Merchandise It is the forraigne Imposition an ancient right to Soueraignes and it is called Portorium quod mercium quae importantur exportanâ—urve nomine penditur neither those which are vn-wrought so the permission should be easie and free for those which are needfull for strangers that the subiects may thereby gaine the profit of their hands This Prince being giuen to vnderstand that the Faires at Geneua did draw a great quantitie of Money out of France he erected foure Faires at Lyon h The Estates of Tours after the death of King Lewis the eleuenth required to haue these Faires â—ept but twice a yeare at Easter and at the Feast of All-Saints and in some other Towne then Lyon for that it was too 〈…〉 â—â—â—thest bounds of the Realme and gaue them his letters patents at Saint Michael vpon Loire the 20 th of October 1462. Trafficke cannot receiue a more sencible iniury then by the calling downe or raising of Money which wrongs the Law of Nations If there bee any thing in an estate which should bee immutable it is the certainty of their valour Wisedome is not commended but for the constancy of that which she resolues i A Prince who is the warrant of publicke Iustice subiect to the law of Nations should not suffer the course of Money to bee variable vncertaine to the preiudice of his subiects strangers which treat traffick with them Wherfore the Kings of Arragon comming to the Crowne tooke an Oath not to alter the Coines which were allowed she learnes fit accidents which are mutable and immutable to reason which is constant and one and not reason to accidents When as the course of Money is disordered and vncertaine all is in confusion Lewis the eleuenth changed the course of coins in the yeare 1473. hee ordained that the great Blankes should goe currant for eleuen Deniers Turnois which before were worth but ten he reduced another coine called Targes Orders for Coins to eleuen Deniers which past for twelue The Crowne at thirty Souls three Deniers Turnois and after this proportion all other peeces Then considering that one of the causes of the weakning of Coines grew for that the Officers tooke their Fees and entertainements from the rights of the Mint which should bee vnknowne in great Estates k The Ancients knew not what the right of Minting meant and the Coines were not imparted for the fees of officers which were taken froÌ„ other kindes of mony to the end that the coyning of money should be free from all suspition of deceit it was done in publicke places as at Rome in Iuno's Temple and Charlemain did forbid any to bee coined but in his Palace and are not seemely but in petty ones where they draw profite from euery thing and augment their Reuenues by the coining of money In the yeare 1475. he displaced the Generals and Maisters of the Mint and set foure Commissioners in their places Germaine de Merle Nicholas Potier Denis the Britton and Simon Ausorran and ordained that the Kings crownes of Gold which before had course for foure and twenty Souls Parisis and three Turnois should goe for fiue and thirty peeces of eleuen being worth fiue and twenty Souls eight Deniers Parisis and they should make other Crowns which should haue a Halfe-moone in stead of a Crowne which was on the rest and should be worth thirty six peeces of eleuen of the value of twenty six Souls six Deniers and new Dozains at 12 Turnois a peece Liberality Wee should lye in calling this Prince couetous as well as in saying he was liberall Liberality he neuer knew what it was to spare no not in his age when as couetousnesse doth most trouble the mind when it hath least need of it l Couetousnesse which comes in the end of mans life is inexcusable What auails it to prouide so many things for so smal a iourny Auaritia senilis maxime est vituperanda Potest enim quicquaÌ„ esse absurdius quam quo minus viae restat eo plus viatici quaerere Couetousnesse in age is much to be blamed Can there bee any thing more obsurd then when there is least way to go to make most prouision Cat. Mâ—i One thinking that there was nothing so honest as to demand and receiue demanded of King Archelaus being at supper a cup of gold wherein he dranke The King commanded his Page to go and giue it to Euripides who was at the table and turning towards him that had beg'd it â—e said As for thee thou art worthy to demand and to be refused for that thou dost begge but Euripides is worthy to be rewarded although he demands not he knew not what it was to giue with reason and discretion to whom how much and when Hee gaue not with a refusing countenance but cheerefully and freely No man holds himselfe bound for that which is giuen by importunity and which is rather wrested away then receiued Slow graces are as troublesome as the swift are sweete Bounty should preuent demands sometimes hopes and neuer merit Shee doth not consider who receiues how farre the greatnesse of his courage and fortune goes that giues and doth fore-warne him that there are some that deserue to bee refused when
His Humour disposition 105. Is constrained to grant the Gantois their demand 107. Is forced to raise the siege of Nuz and comes to Callice to the King of England 180. His profite and blame by the death of the Constable 205. His iourney against the Suisses 207. c. He looseth the battell but not his courage 211. Hee seizeth vpon the Dutchesse of Sauoy and her children 214. His affliction after the Battell of Morat 220. His defeat and death 224. An example of his Iustice 227. 227. Charles Prince of Nauarre makes warre against his father 151. Chastity and Beauty are rare companions 27. Choler and Praecipitation are two blind guides 67. Combustions in England 53. Complaints against Lewis the Dauphin 30. Complaints for the Pragmaticall Sanction 135. Confidence is the true cyment of friendship 187. Considerations of the King to haue a peace 179. Conspiracy against King Henry the sixt 54. Constantinople taken 123. Consultation taken to put the Hostages of Leige to death 108. Contention in Scotland for the Regency 230. Contentment of priuatemeÌ„ makes them forget the publicke 96. Councell of Basile seekes an accord with the Dauphin 24. Counsels in perplexity 85. counsels sauor of the passions of counsellours 173. counsell contemned drawes on destiny 223. Courage of the women at the siege of Beauuais 165. Courtesy proffered but not meant 189. Crosse of S. Laud. 179. Croysado published against the Turke 64. Cruelties makes Princes odious 125. cruelties committed at the taking of Nesle 163. cruelty base and villanous 227. D Death of Charles Duke of Orleance 2. Death of the Signior of Contay 108. Death is sweete when it is the end and not the punishment of life 204. Declaration of the house of Bourgundy 36. Delight in publicke miseries for profite sake 24. Desire of rule sets father and son at variance 60. Desire to haue things as we wold makes vs oftentimes accept appearances for the things themselues 87. Dignities change the Maximes of conscience 48. Disability supplyed by Deputy 216. Disobedience rightly punished 81 Displeasure of the Duke of Bourgundy against his sonne 34. Disposition of the Earle of Charolois 33. Distraction of Charles the sixt 1. Dutchesse of Bourgundy drawsher husband to the treaty of Arras 8 Duke of Bourgundy flies into Flanders 2. and is slaine by Taneguy Du Chastel 4. E Earle of S. Paul is made constable of France 97. His naturall affection Ibid. His bad conduct 98. His pollicy 143. His dissimulation to creepe againe into the Kings fauour 168. the manner of his comming to the King 169. His double dealing with the King of England 181 Is abandoned of all his friends 196. His grieuous perplexities 198. Is deliuered prisoner to the King 200. His confessions Arraignement sentence and execution 201. 202. c. Ease found in conference of troubles and afflictions 27. Education is as another nature 16 Edward 4. proclaimed King of England 57. He declares himselfe for the Bourgundian 77. Hee sends the Garter to the Earle of Charolois 88. Is defeated taken prisoner 141. His passage into FraÌ„ce 177. His repentance for his passage 182. Eloqueâ—ce naturall in Lewis the eleuenth 133. Embassage from the Frenâ—h King to the Emperor Frederick 176. Enemies that are ambitious must haue more work made theÌ„ then they can compasse 173. English well entertained at Amiens 187. Enterveiw of the Kings of France and Cistile 62. Enterveiw of the French King and Earle of Charolois 93. Enter veiw of the French King and King of England â—89 Estates assembled at Clâ—rmont 13 Exploits done by captain Salezard at the siege of Beauuais 165. F Faction of the Orleanoâ—s and Bourgonians 1. Famine extreame in Nancy 222. Fatality of names 6. Feare and the strange operation thereof 93. Ferdinand King of Naples seeks the alliance of the Queene of Cyprus 127. Fidelity deuotion of the French towards their Kings 5. France the Sanctuary of Popes 47 G Galeas Duke of Milan his death 229. His cruelties and whooredomes 230. Gantois profite by the Ligeois 110 George Castriot circumcised called Scanderbeg 120. Hee leaues the Turk ioynes with Iohn Huniades 121. Hee demands succors of the Pope 123 his death 124. His force and dexterity Ibid. Gyles of Brittany his Tragicall end 151. Good of a peace and necessity of affaires respect not formalities 9. Gouernement of Venice commended 129 Guienne giuen to the Kings brother 135. H Heirs teares are soon dryed vp 41 Henry the sixt King of England is crowned King of France at Paris 4. Hee flies into Scotland 57. Is imprisoned in the Tower of London 58. Is set at liberty againe 143. Henry King of Castile degraded 217. I Iames the first King of Scotland murdered 7. Iests should end when they begin to moue laughter 28. Iewes probationâ—waters 146. Impatience of the Earle of Charolois 67. Importance of the Office of the Constable of France 205. Indignities and insolences of people reuolted 103. Inequality of recompence after the battell of Montlehery 84. Inhumanity of the Duke of Bourgundy 164. Iniuries done to faith and reputation are not easily repaired nor recompenced 100. Insolence in victory punished 23. Institution of the order of Saint Michael 136. Intelligences continued betwixt Bourgundy BourboÌ„ 139. IntelligeÌ„ces of the Constable with the Duke of Bourgundy 177. Iohn Earle of Armagnac expelled his Country 154. accused by a Welchman 155. Desires a safe conduct to iustifie himselfe 156 Is reconciled to the King 157. And is afterwards slaine vnder the assurance of a Treaty 158. His incest 159. His superstition in holding it a bad presage to meete an Englishman with a Red Crosse. 160. Isabella of Cstaile marries Ferdinand of Arragon 218. K Katherine Cornari adopted by the Venetians 126. King Lewis in danger to be taken or slaine 116. His letters to the Lord of Lude 152. King and Queene of Cyprus driueÌ„ out of their owne Realme 126. King of Scotland giuen to Sorcery 234. and is slaine in fight by his Nobility 235. Knights habite of the Order of S t. Michael and the marke of the Order 137. Knowledge better how to die then to kill is the best and onely part of vallour 17. L League of Armagnac 2. Learning is silent when warre speakes 26. Letters from Amurath to Scanderbeg 121. And the answer ot it 122. Letters of the Soldaâ— to the King of Cyprus 125. Letters of defiance from Edward 4. to the French King 178 Lewis excited against his father by bad counsell 10. He soliciteth the good Townes of France to ioyne with him 12. Is reconciled to his father 14. He desireth rather to be held a bad son then a bad master 15. He takes Deipe 20. Is too true in his threats promises of reuenge 29. auoyding one danger he fals into another 31. Is dispossest of his reuenewes in Dauphiné 32 His wandring being in Hunting 34. His coronation 42. His voyage into Brittany 52. Is made Arbitrator betweene the Kings of Castile and Arragon 62. Is receiued
Disposition of Charles the 8 th 117 Dispute of the Authority of the Pope and Councell 61 Dissimulation of the Duke of Brittanie 9 E Edict to reforme Souldiers 185 Edward the fourth his death 81 Embassadours of France make Ouerture for a peace 5 Embassages ambitiously affected neuer succed happily 185. Error of learned men not to communicate 194 Estate of Lorraine 49 Estate of the Low-countries at the discretion of the Gantois 75 Estates that are popular haue alwayes some one priuat man more eminent then all the rest 2 Estates vnhappy which are forced to seeke strange Maisters 30 Example is a cleare light in doubtfull things 154 Examples of diuers disorders 114 Excesse esteems nothing but what is rare and chargeable 158 Expences ruled by occasions 176 F Fauours of Princes last not 148 Ferdinando base son to Alphonso of Arragon crowned King of Naples by Pope Pius the 2 d. 52. is ouerthrowne by Iohn Duke of Calabria Ibid. and restored by Scanderbeg 53 Flatterers pleasing to Princes 106 Florence in one hundred yeares changed estate seuen times 3 Formes of warre changed 43 France cannot bee disarmed of foot-men 40. it sends Spaine to the Indies 177 Francisco de Paulo an Hermit of admirable holinesse 105 G Garniers Oke 178 Generosity of a yong Boy of Sparta 47 God the Iudge of hearts 122 Grauity ridiculous 133 Griefe of Pope Sixtus for the peace betweene the Venetians and Ferrarois 57 H Henry the fourth the last French King his worthy commendations 143 Heralds creation 137 History should be free from loue or hatred 89 Hugonet and Imbercourt condemned to dye 15 I Iames of Luxemburg his generous answer to the King 172 Ignorance and Weaknesse feare any encounter 67 Impiety ouertaken by Iustice. 10 Ingratitude and Impiety of Adolph of Guelders 16 Inhumanity of Mahomet 45 Intelligences of the Duke of Brittanie discouered 8 Inuentions are not perfect in the beginning 44 Iudgement transported with choler is like a shippe without a Pilot. 67 Iudgements are free after death 120 Iudgement vpon the recompence of seruices 187 Iustice is the felicity of Empires 154 K Katherine of Foix Queene of Nauarre 84 Kings haue long hands and many snares to entrap their enemies 51 L Lewis counselled to make his profit of the diuision in Italy 1. He declares himselfe for the Florentines 3. Hee seeketh a peace of Maximilian 38. His designes vpon Lorraine and Prouence 48 Hetakes possession of Prouēce 54 He neglects the calling of a councell 57. His waywardnesse and melancholy 69. his visitation of his son at Ambois 70. he fals into new apprehēsions of death 95. his distrust 104. his deuotion 107. his curiosity 108. his last actions 109. he could not indure to heare of death 111. his superstition Ibid. his death 112. his children 115. his pilgrimages 122. the Latine which he would haue his sonne to learne 130. his custome at Ceremonies 134. his contempt of the markes of Maiesty 136. hee knew not how to pardon 144. his rigorus prisons 145. his feare of the reuenge of women 150. he was neither liberall nor couetous 171. his meane borrowings 175. his proper Science 185. his letters pattents wherby he gaue Armes to his base daughter 193. his great popularity 196. his delight in hunting 197. his fauorites and Contemporaries Ibid. c. Lightnesse Choler and Facility do not well become a Prince 37 Loyalty of the Earle of Vandosme 89 Loue of God and contempt of the world 106 M Magistrates should not quit their charge for any respect 153 Magnificence of the house of Burgondy 137 Magnificence of Lewis 11 th 140 Magnificence how far it extends 141. Religious Magnificence 142 Mahomet dies for griefe after the losse at Belgrade 48 Maiesty compared to Moses rod. 133 Mariages of France Sauoy 164 Mathias Coruinus his resolute answere to the Turkes Embassadors 28. his commendation 98. is chosen king of Hungary 100. his valor and conduct with other worthy acts 101. his war against the Emperour 103. his death Ib. Maxime of Machiuel 122 Miscounting in the History 74 Misery of the Duke of Brittanie 11 N Necessity of Horse-men 41 Neighbour-estates haue alwayes some disputes 38 New discipline for Souldiers Ib. Nobility of Hungary discontented 102 O Oath of the gouernment of Florence 3. an Oath should haue three conditions Truth Iudgement and Iustice. 32 Obedience is the Science of Princes 130 Obseruations of the aduantages of foot-men ouer horse-men 39 Offers of Bajazet to the King 95 Office of Heralds at Armes 137 Offices that are great should not be hereditary 138 Offices are to bee maintained if they be good 139 Oppression of the people 68 P Philip Earle of Bresse his marriages and children 165 Policie to bring an enemy into suspition of his owne people 2 Policie in England for the Titles of families 135 Popes bound to the Crowne of France 125 Pouerty of France in the time of King Iohn 176 Practise against the life of an enemy by any other meanes then by Armes is vnworthy of of a Prince 35 Predictions vpon the Life of Lewis the eleuenth 189 Presumption of Oliuer le Daine 12 Pride troden vnder foot 47 Princes rely vpon their Ministers 157 Priuiledges of the Parisians 170 R Relapse of the Kings sicknesse at Tours 69 René of Anjou his commmendation 53 Reputation grounded vpon great and eminent vertues 155 Reuenge taken by a woman 46 Rhodes besieged by Mahomet 25 S Sacke and desolation of Dole 166 Science of Treasure 179 Sentence against the Duke of Alençon 146 Sentence very rigorous 150 Sermons of sedition 126 Silence the soule of great actions 163 Simplicity of the eloquence in old time 129 Sleping for a Benefice 173 Stablishment of Posts 169 Sterrility of Suisserland 180 Suspension of Armes not alwayes necessary to make a peace 7 T Temperance wherein it consists 193. the fruits thereof 195 Treaty of peace and marriage between France Bourgondy 75 Tributes by which the meanes to make war are maintained may not be touched 42 Tristan his barbarous behauiour 145 V Valour is naturall to the French Kings 183 Vanity of iuditiary Astrology 189 Venetians contempt of the Popes fulminations 4. their Accord with the great Turke 6. They proclaime warre against the Duke of Ferrara and soone after conclude a peace with him 56 Vertue enuied for the lustre thereof 10 Vision miraculous 27 W Wisedome of the Lord Hastings 167 Witnesses of our faults and imperfections wee seldome desire to see 65. Workes of vanity and ostentation Z Zizimi reuolts against Bajazet 95. his letter to Bajazet 96. he repaireth to Rhodes and is conducted into France 97 FINIS