should do no good vnlesse he wan those that were in credit with his brother fell in communication of this matter with Oudet of Rie Lord of Lescut afterwards Earle of Comminges who was borne and maried in the countrey of Guienne desiring him to perswade his master to accept this partage being much better than that he demanded that they mought be friends and liue togither like brethren adding also that this partage should be much more beneficiall both for his brother and his seruants especially for the saide Oudet than the other and farther assuring him that without faile he would deliuer his brother quiet possession of the said countrey By this means was the Lord Charles won to accept this partage of Guienne to the Duke of Burgundies great discontentation and his ambassadors there present And the cause why cardinall Balue bishop of Angiers 1 and the bishop of Verdun were imprisoned was for that the said Cardinal writ to the Lord Charles aduising him to accept none other partage than that the Duke of Burgundy had procured him by the treaty of Peronne which also the King had sworne and promised laying his hand within the said Cardinals to deliuer him alledging withall such reasons to perswade him thereunto as he thought necessary wherein he did cleane contrary to the Kings purpose Thus the Lord Charles was made Duke of Guienne the yeere 1469. and the possession of the countrey togither with the gouernment of Rochell deliuered him and than the King and he sawe one another and were togither a long time The Notes 1 The Cardinals imprisonment was bicause he perswaded the King to go to Peronne and aduised the Duke of Guienne to beware of poison and not to take the partage of Guienne Meyer and for disclosing the Kings secrets by letters to the Duke of Burgundie Gaguin But if the Duke of Guienne had been wise he would of himselfe without perswasion haue refused this partage For when a mans enimie offereth him that that hath an apparance of good let him euer refuse it nam latet anguis in herba as the sequele of this matter well declared for the accepting of this partage which the King alleaged and that truly to be better than the other the Duke demanded cost the Duke of Guienne his life as heer after shall appeere THE THIRD BOOKE How the King tooke occasion to make war anew vpon the Duke of Burgundy and how he sent a purseuant of the parlament of Gaunt to sommon him to appeere at Paris Chap. 1. THe yeere 1470. the King determined to be reuenged of the Duke of Burgundie supposing he had now found a time conuenient so to do for he priuily sollicited and caused also others to sollicite the towns situate vpon the riuer of Somme namely Amiens Saint Quintine and Abbeuille to rebell against the Duke and to send for succours into France and to receiue them into their towns 1 For all great Princes if they be wise will seeke euer some collour for their doings And to the ende you may perceiue what cunnig is vsed in Fraunce I will shew you how this matter was managed for the King and the Duke were both abused whereof arose whot and sharpe war which endured thirteen or foureteen yeeres The King desired greatly to mooue these townes aboue named to rebellion pretending to the end he might haue the better means to practise with them that the Duke aduanced his limits farther then the treatie would beare whereupon ambassadors ran to and fro who vnder colour of their ambassage practised continually as they passed through these townes to the end aboue mentioned In the said townes were no garrisons but all was quiet both in the realme in Burgundie and in Britaine And the Duke of Guien liued to all mens iudgments in great amitie with the King his brother Notwithstanding when the King first mooued this war his meaning was not to take one or two of these towns onely but sought to stir all the Duke of Burgundies subiects to rebellion trusting to atchieue his enterprise by this means Diuers to obtaine his fauor entertained these practises and reported their intelligence to be far greater then it was for one promised to take this towne an other that and yet indeed all was nothing Wherefore notwithstanding that the King had iust cause to be displeased for his euill vsage at Peronne yet if he had thought this enterprise would haue fallen none otherwise out then it did he would not haue broken the treatie nor mooued war for he had made the peace to be proclaimed at Paris three months after his returne into his realme and began this war with some feare but the great hope he had conceiued of it pricked him forward and marke I pray you what cunning was vsed to further it The Earle of Saint Paule Constable of Fraunce a very wise man and certaine of the Duke of Guien his seruants with diuers others desired rather war then peace betweene these two great Princes for two respects The one they feared least their great offices and pensions should be diminished if peace continued For you shal vnderstand that the Constable had vnder his charge 4. hundred men of armes or launces paied by his owne hands euery muster without controuler farther besides the fee and profits of his office he had a yeerely pension of thirty thousand frankes and better and receiued also the reuenews of many goodly places that he kept The other respect was this they sought to perswade the King and talked also to the like purpose among themselues that his disposition was such that his head could neuer be idle wherefore vnlesse he were busied with great Princes abroad he would be in hand with his seruants and officers at home For these two reasons therefore they sought to intangle him with wars whereunto the better to perswade him the Constable promised to take Saint Quintine at all times when him listed bicause his lands lay round about it vaunting further that he had great intelligence in Flanders and Brabant so far foorth that he would make a number of townes to reuolt from the Duke The Duke of Guienne also being there present and all their principall seruants offered very earnestly and promised very faithfully to serue the King in this quarrell and to leade with them fower or fiue hundred men of armes that the said Duke held in ordinary pay but their drift was other than the King supposed as heerafter you shall heare The King bicause he would seeme to proceede with due aduise and deepe consideration called a Parlament of the three estates of his realme at Tours in the moneths of March and Aprill in the yeere 1470. which was the first and last Parlament that euer he assembled But to this Parlament came onely such as were purposely named and such as the King knew would not gainsay him in any point There he caused diuers enterprises to be discouered that the Duke of Burgundie had attempted against the crowne and made the Earle of Eu openly to complaine of him saying that the Duke detained from him contrarie to all lawe and
Kings death for he feared the Earle of Warwicke who was his mortall enimie and bare now the whole sway in England The said Earle soone after he was landed found infinite numbers of men to take his part For the armie that King Edward left behinde him what for loue what for feare yeelded to him in such sort that euery day his forces encreased And in this estate went he to London where a great number of Knights and Esquires who afterward did King Edward good seruice tooke sanctuarie as also did the Queene his wife who was there deliuered of a sonne in very poore estate The Notes 1 The King embarked at Lyn. 2 Alquemare Meyer nameth Tessela 3 King Edward landed in Holland the 9. of October Meyer How the Earle of Warwick tooke out of prison King Henry of England Chap. 6. THe E. immediatly after his arriuall at London went foorthwith to the tower tooke K. Henry out of prison whom himselfe many yeres before had lead thither crying before him Traitor Traitor but now he called him his soueraigne Lord and conueighed him to his palace at Westminster where he sat him vnder the cloth of estate in the Duke of Clarences presence who litle liked that sight Farther he sent foorthwith three or foure hundred men to Calais to spoile and forray the countrey of Boulenois whom the Lord of Vaucler so often aboue mentioned friendly receiued and made then open declaration of the good will he had alwaies borne the Earle his Master The same day that the Duke receiued newes of the Kings arriuall in Holland I was come from Calais to Bulen where the Duke then lay vnderstanding nothing of this aduenture nor of the Kings flight The Duke was first aduertised that he was dead whereof he forced not greatly for he loued the house of Lancaster much better then the house of Yorke Besides that he had with him the Dukes of Excester and Sommerset and diuers others of King Henries faction by whose meanes he thought himselfe assured of peace with the house of Lancaster But he feared the Earle of Warwicke neither knew he how to entertaine him that was come to him 1 I meane King Edward who was his brother in lawe and of the same order for the King ware the golden Fleese and the Duke the Garter The Duke foorthwith sent me backe againe to Calais accompanied with a gentleman or two of this newe King Henries faction and gaue me instructions how to deale with this new world pressing me earnestly to go bicause it stood him vpon to be well serued in this busines I went as far as Tournehan a castell neere to Guiens and further durst not passe bicause I found the people flying for feare of the English men who were abroad and spoiled all the countrey But I sent foorthwith to the Lord of Vaucler desiring a safe conduct for before I was accustomed to go without any and was alwaies honorably receiued for the English men are verie curteous and honorable in their entertainment Al this seemed strange to me for I neuer had seen such sudden alterations in the world I aduertised the Duke the same night of the danger I should be in if I passed further making no mention of the safe conduct I had sent for bicause I doubted what answer I should receiue thereof The Duke sent me a ring from his finger bidding me go forward and if I were taken prisoner he would redeeme me for he cared not greatly to endanger one of his seruants at his neede But I had prouided well for my selfe for I receiued a safe conduct with very curteous letters from the Lord of Vaucler Wherein he sent me word that I might go and come after my woonted maner Whereupon I went to Guisnes and founde the captaine at the castell gate who offred me a cup of wine without that he led me into the castel as he was accustomed but he feasted and entertained honorably these gentlemen of King Henries faction that accompanied me From thence I went to Calais where no man came foorth to receiue me after their woonted sort but al men ware the Earle of Warwicks liuery Further vpon the gate of my lodging they made aboue an hundred white crosses and rimes signifying that the King of Fraunce and the Earle of Warwick were all one all the which seemed strange to me Soone after my comming to Calais I sent to Graueling being but fiue leagues thence commanding all English merchants and merchandises to be staied bicause the Englishmen had so spoiled the countrey The Lord of Vaucler sent for me to diner being well accompanied and wearing on his cap a white ragged staffe of gold enamiled 2 being the Earles cognisance which all the rest that were with him ware likewise and he that could not haue it of gold had if of cloth It was told me there at diner that within lesse than a quarter of an hower after these newes came out of England euery man ware the said cognisance so speedy and sudden was the change This was the first time that I began to consider how vnstable and vncertaine all worldly things are The said Vaucler gaue me very curteous language and made certaine excuses in the Earle his captaines behalfe rehearsing also what great benefits he had receiued at his hands But as touching the rest that were with him I neuer saw men so far out of frame for those that I tooke to haue bin the Kings trustiest seruants were they that most threatned him some I thinke for feare but others in good earnest Those household seruants of the Earles whom I had required the Lord of Vaucler heeretofore to put out of the towne were now in great credit Notwithstanding they neuer vnderstood that I had mooued the said Vaucler to any such purpose In all communication that passed betweene them and me I euer told them that King Edvvard was dead wherof I said I was well assured notwithstanding that I knew the contrary adding further that though it were not so yet was the league betweene the Duke of Burgundy and the King and realme of England such that this accident could not infringe it for we would account him King whom they did I said moreouer that bicause of the alterations that had hapned in times past these words VVith the King and the Realme were inserted into the league for performance also whereof fower of the best townes in England were in pledge to the Duke The merchants required in any wise to haue me staied bicause their goods were taken at Grauelin by my commandement as they said In the end peace was thus concluded between them me that they should pay for al the cattell they had taken or restore it again for by agreement betweene the house of Burgundy them they might go into certain pastures thereabout and take cattel for the prouision of the towne at a price which they now paide and prisoners they had taken none Thus it was agreed that the
towne of Gaunt namely for a sute in law which of late the said towne had obtained by their sentence pronounced by the said Chauncellor against a particular man whom they had in sute But of all this matter of briberie they acquited themselues very honorably and as concerning that particular point where they of Gaunt charged them that they had sold iustice and taken monie of them to pronounce sentence on their behalfe they answered that the towne of Gaunt obtained their sute bicause their cause was good and as touching the monie they tooke they neuer demanded it nor caused it to be demanded but receiued it being offered The second point was that during the time they were with the late Duke Charles their Master and also being his lieutenants in his absence they had done diuers things against the priuileges and state of their towne and that whosoeuer doth against the priuileges of Gaunt ought to die But this point touched them no whit for they were neither their subiects nor citizens neither able to infringe their priuileges and if the Duke or his father tooke any of their priuileges from them they did it by the treatie made betweene them after their long wars and diuisions but the others that were left them being more than was requisite for their profit were neuer broken but kept and obserued Well notwithstanding the answers these two notable men made to these two points for of the principall matter first obiected against them no word was spoken yet the Senate of the towne condemned them to die as they stood at the barre bicause as they said they had broken their priuileges and receiued bribes after iudgement giuen vpon the matter in law aboue mentioned These two woorthie personages hearing this cruell sentence were not a little astonished and no maruell for they saw no way how to escape being in their enimies hands notwithstanding they appealed to the King and his court of Parlament trusting by this meanes to delay their death to the end their friends in the meane time might deuise some way to saue them Before their arrainment they racked them extremely against all order of law Their processe endured but sixe daies and notwithstanding their appeale after sentence pronounced they gaue them but three howers respite to confesse them and bethinke them of their soules health Which time expired they led them into their market place and set them vpon a scaffold The Ladie of Burgundie afterward Duchesse of Austrich being aduertised of their condemnation went to the townehouse to make request and supplication for their liues but perceiuing that she could do no good there she went to the market place where all the people were assembled togither in armes and there saw the two noble men aboue named standing vpon the scaffold The said Lady was in hir mourning apparell hauing nothing on hir head but a kerchiefe which was an humble and simple attire and ought of right to haue mooued them to pitie There she desired the people with weeping eies and hir haire loose about hir shoulders to haue pitie vpon these hir two seruants and to restore them vnto hir A great part of the people were willing that hir pleasure should be done and that they should not die but others would in no wise giue eare vnto hir whereupon they bent their pikes the one against the other But those that desired their death were the stronger and cried to them that stood vpon the scaffold to dispatch them immediately whereupon both their heads were striken off and in this estate returned this poore Lady to hir court sorrowfull and comfortlesse for these two were the principall persons in whom she had reposed hir whole confidence After they of Gaunt had done this exploit they remooued from about the said Lady the Lord of Rauastain and the Dowager Duke Charles widow hir mother in law bicause they had also written part of the letter aboue mentioned which Himbercourt and the Chauncellor deliuered to the King and they of Gaunt redeliuered to their Princesse after their returne as before you haue heard Further they vsurped all power and authoritie ouer this poore yoong Lady for so might she now well be called both bicause of the great dammage she had already receiued by the losse of so many notable townes irrecouerable by force considering his power in whose hands they were although by fauor friendship or composition some hope yet remained and also bicause she was in the hands of the ancient enimies and persecutors of hir house which was a great misfortune to hir Notwithstanding these citizens of Gaunt in all their publike actions haue euer shewed more grosse folly than cunning and no maruell for they that carrie credit and authoritie among them are for the most part wealthie men of occupation vnacquainted with waightie affaires and little vnderstanding what belongeth to the gouernment of a state Their cunning consisteth but in two points the one that they studie by all meanes possible how to weaken and impouerish their Prince the other that when they haue made a fault and finde the partie offended too strong for them they craue pardon with greater humilitie and buie peace with larger gifts than any people in the world yea and know what instruments to worke by and what persons to labour for obtaining of peace better than any towne that euer I knew After they of Gaunt had taken by force the gouernment of their Princesse put the two aboue mentioned to death and remooued from about hir those that misliked them they began euery where to place and displace officers at their pleasure and to banish and spoile all those that had best serued this house of Burgundy not regarding their good or euill desert but aboue all other men they hated the Burgundians especially so far foorth that they banished them all and trauelled to make them the Kings seruants and subiects as much as the King himselfe did who sollicited them thereunto by faire words wise perswasions large gifts and promises and sought also to constraine them by great force which he had in their countrey Moreouer these men of Gaunt meaning to begin their gouernment with some case of noueltie tooke out of prison as alreadie is mentioned the Duke of Gueldres who of long time by Duke Charles his commandement had been held prisoner for the causes aboue rehearsed and him they made generall of an army which they among themselues namely the townes of Bruges Gaunt and Ypre leuied and sent to Tournay to set fire on the subburbes thereof which was little for their Princesse profit For 200. soldiers sent in time to Arras or ten thousand franks to haue entertained men to put into it when the siege came before it would haue done both hir and them much more seruice than ten such armies as this For this army could do no good but fire a fewe houses in a place whereof the King made small account for he leuied neither taskes nor subsidies there but
spend both goods and liues in the wars wherefore it is reason they should vnderstand the cause of them before they begun Their subiects they poule in such sort that they leaue them nothing for notwithstanding that they pay them taskes and subsidies aboue their abilitie yet seeke they not to redresse the disorder of their men of armes which liue continually vpon their people without paiement dooing besides infinite mischiefes and iniuries as all the world knoweth For they are not contented with such cheere as they finde in the husband mans house and is set before them but beat also the poore men and constraine them to go foorth to buie them wine bread and victuals and if the good man haue a faire wife or a daughter he shall do wisely to keepe hir out of their sight Notwithstanding seeing these men of armes are duly paied this inconuenience might easily be redressed and order giuen that their paie should be made at euery two moneths ende at the furthest so should they not be able to alleage any pretence of their mischieuous dooings vnder colour that they want paie for the money is leuied and at the yeeres ende there is not one penie owing them I speake this for our realme which is more afflicted and plagued with these men of armes than any other countrey that I knowe But none can redresse this matter but a wise Prince other realmes bordering vpon vs haue other scourges Wherefore to continue this discourse is there any King or Prince that hath power to leuy one penie vpon his subiects besides his demaines without leaue and consent of those that must paie it vnlesse it be by tyrannie and violence A man will say that somtime the Prince can not tarie to assemble his estates bicause it would require too long time Whereunto I answer that if he mooue a war offensiue there needeth no such haste for he may haue leasure inough at his owne pleasure to make preparation And further he shall be much stronger and much more feared of his enimies when he mooueth war with the consent of his subiects than otherwise Now as touching a war defensiue that cloud is seene long before the tempest fall especially when it is forraine war and in this case good subiects ought not to complaine nor refuse any thing that is laid vpon them Notwithstanding such inuasion cannot happen so suddenly but that the Prince may haue leasure at the least to call togither certaine wise personages to whom he may open the causes of the war vsing no collusion therein neither seeking to maintaine a trifling war vpon no necessitie thereby to haue some colour to leuy money Money is also necessarie in time of peace to fortifie the frontiers for defence of those that dwell vpon them least they be taken vnprouided but this must be done measurably In all these matters the wisedome of a sage King sufficeth for if he be a iust Prince he knoweth what he may do and not do both by Gods law and mans To be short in mine opinion of all Seniories in the world that I know the realme of England is the countrey where the common wealth is best gouerned the people least oppressed and the fewest buildings and houses destroied in ciuill wars and alwaies the lot of misfortune falleth vpon them that be authors of the war Our King is the Prince in the whole world that hath least cause to alleage that he hath priuileges to leuy what him listeth vpon his subiects considering that neither he nor any other Prince hath power so to do And those that say he hath do him no honor neither make him to be esteemed any whit the mightier Prince thereby but cause him to be hated and feared of his neighbors who for nothing woulde liue vnder such a gouernment But if our King or those that seeke to magnifie and extol him should say I haue so faithfull and obedient subiects that they deny me nothing I demand and I am more feared better obeied and better serued of my subiects than any other Prince liuing they endure patiently whatsoeuer I lay vpō them and soonest forget all charges past This me thinke yea I am sure were greater honor to the King than to say I leuy what me listeth and haue priuileges so to do which I will stoutly maintaine King Charles the fift vsed no such termes neither did I euer heare such language proceede from any King but from diuers of their seruants who thought they did their Masters great seruice in vttring such speeches but in mine opinion they misbehaued themselues towards their Prince and vsed such language partly bicause they would seeme to be good seruants and partly bicause they knew not what they said But for a manifest proofe of the French mens loialty and obedience to their Prince we neede alleage none other example than that we our selues haue seene of late by experience when the three estates were assembled at Tours after the death of our Master King Lewis the eleuenth which was in the yeere of our Lord 1483. A man might then haue thought that this good assembly was dangerous for the Kings estate yea and diuers there were of meane calling and lesse honesty that said then and haue often said since that it is treason to make mention of assembling the estates and a thing tending to the diminishing of the Kings authority but they themselues are those that worke treason against God the King and the common wealth neither do any vse these speeches but either such as are in authority without desert and vnwoorthy thereof or such as are common tale-carriers and accustomed to talke of trifling matters or such as feare great assemblies least their doings should there be ripped vp and reprehended At this assembly I now speake of all men of what estate soeuer they were thought the realme much weakned and impouerished bicause it had paied by the space of 20. yeeres or more great and excessiue subsidies yea so great that they surmounted yeerely by the summe almost of three millions of francks all subsidies that euer were leuied in Fraunce For King Charles the seuenth leuied yeerely but eighteene hundred thousand franks 7 but King Levvis his sonne leuied at his death seauen and fortie hundred thousand 8 besides the charges of the artillerie and such like expences And sure it was a pitifull thing to behold the miserable estate of the poore people But one good propertie had the King our Master that he hoorded vp no treasure he tooke all and spent all and bestowed more vpon fortification of towns and places for the defence of his realme than all his predecessors ioined togither He gaue also much to churches but in some respects he had done better to haue giuen lesse for he tooke from the poore to giue to them that had no need But there is no man perfect in the whole world Well to proceed Notwithstanding that this realme were so impouerished and oppressed diuers waies did the people
THE HISTORIE OF PHILIP DE Commines Knight Lord of Argenton Jmprinted at London by Ar. Hatfield for I. Norton 1596 TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE MY VERY GOOD LORD THE LORD Burghley Lord Treasurer of England Knight of the honorable order of the garter and Master of hir Maiesties Court of Wardes and Liueries IT is now R. Honorable thirty yeeres since I presented to your L. and the late Earle of Leicester my Lord and Master the historie of COMMINES rudely translated into our vulgar toong the which of later times at the request of the late Lord Chauncellor sir Christopher Hatton I perused anew and enlarged with such notes pedegrees as seemed necessarie as well for explanation as in some few places for correction of the historie Since his death certaine gentlemen to whose hands the booke happened to come tooke so great pleasure and delight therein that they determined to put it to the presse supposing it a great dishonor to our nation that so woorthy an historie being extant in all languages almost in Christendome should be suppressed in ours Notwithstanding their resolution they forbare of curtesie to put in execution till their purpose should be made knowen to me And albeit that I alleaged many reasons why in my conceit bookes of this nature treating of Princes secrets were vnfit to be published to the vulgare sort the rather bicause the Author in some places seemeth to be of that opinion himselfe yet none of my reasons could preuaile but they continued in their former determination adding thereunto that others besides my selfe had taken paines in this historie and though I of peeuishnes would suppresse my labors yet they would not suppresse theirs So that would I nould I to the presse the booke must go being already warranted by publike authoritie thereunto I seeing the matter aduaunced thus far thought it no time to draw backe any longer but in the end tooke the burthen vpon my selfe doubting if I had done otherwise both the blemishing of the historie wherein I may boldly say that I haue more trauelled than any man that hath entermedled therewith and also that the worke should be presented to some patrone that had no interest therein Wherefore hauing againe examined it and freed it from some faults that me thought fit to be reformed I haue presumed to publish it vnder the protection of your Lorships honorable name to whom of right it appertaineth in many respects First bicause the author thereof was a noble man one of your owne cote the wisest and the best acquainted with all matters of state of any man in his time Whereunto I adde that he continued a Counsellor successiuely to so many French Kings that he was reputed one of the ancientest Counsellors in Christendome at his death wherein your Lordships fortune is not onely correspondent but hath also surmounted his Secondarily your Lordship hath the aisne title to it and lastly the right of suruiuor casteth it vpon you by course of common lawe Wherefore all these circumstances well considered my particular duties also notforgotten I thought it a kinde of sacrilege to suffer your Lordship to be robbed of your right May it therefore please you to receiue this historic into your honorable protection as your owne as well in regard of the Author being a man of such condition as aboue is rehearsed as also of the worke treating of that subiect wherewith your Lordship at this day is better acquainted than any man liuing and lastly in respect of your owne title thereunto Which no whit doubting but that your Lordship will most willingly vouchsafe to do beseeching the Almightie long to preserue you to the great stay of this flourishing estate most humbly I take my leaue this first of Nouember 1596. Your L. most humble and obedient to commaund Thomas Danett The life of Philip de Commines knight Lord of Argenton gathered out of diuers good authors togither with a briefe answer on his behalfe to certaine accusations wherewith IACOBVS MEYERVS a Flemming in his Annales of Flaunders chargeth verie vniustlie both Commines history and his life PHILIP DE COMMINES author of this present history was borne at Commines a towne in Flaunders being a gentleman of a very ancient house and ioined by blood and alliance to the best of that nation His surname was Clytus his father vncle had been both of them vnder D. Philip of Burgundy chiefe gouernours of Flaunders called by Meyer Summi pretores Flandriae and to them he giueth this title Domini Ruscurii Buscurii VVatenenses whereby appeereth of how great Nobilitie and goodly reuenewes Commines was not onely in Flaunders but also in Haynault In his youth namely from the nineteenth yeere of his age and the yeere of our Lord 1464. till the 27. of his age and the yeere 1472. he serued Charles Duke of Burgundie and afterward Lewis the eleuenth of that name King of Fraunce who emploied him in his weightiest and secretest affaires He was of tall stature faire complexion and goodly personage The French toong he spake perfectly and eloquently the Italian Duche and Spanish reasonably well He had read ouer verie diligently all histories written in French especially of the Romaines and bare them all in memorie He much acquainted himselfe with strangers thereby to increase his knowledge He had great regard to the spending of his time and abhorred all idlenes He was of an excellent yea an incredible memorie for he often indited at one time to fower Secretaries seuerall letters of waightie affaires appertaining to the state with as great facilitie and readines as if he had had but one matter in hand A vertue so rare that I haue not read the like of any but of Iulius Caesar and him Nothing more greeued him than that in his youth he was not trained vp in the Latin toong which his misfortune he often bewailed After he was entered into the seruice of King Lewis he was highly in his fauour and during his raigne bare great sway in the realme The said King also greatly aduanced him for he made him first one of his priuy chamber then of his priuy Counsell Seneschall of Poictu and Lord of Argenton He married being of good yeeres a gentlewoman of the house of Montsoreau vpon the borders of Aniou named Helena But after King Lewis his death he fell into great troubles for bicause he was a stranger many enuied his prosperitie so far foorth that at the length his enimies caused him to be imprisoned in the castle of Loches in the Duchie of Berry a place appointed onely for those that are attached of high treason where he was verie extremely handled as himselfe in his historie reporteth Notwithstanding his wife by earnest and continuall sute in the end obtained so much fauour that he was remooued thence and brought to Paris where when he had remained a certaine space he was led to the parlament house to be arraigned He had many enimies those mightie and of so
but lent him during his fathers life Wherfore minding now to preuent him he said thus Chide me not I acknowledge my great follie but I was hard by the bulwarke before I wist But this notwithstanding the marshal said more to his face then he had spoken behinde his backe and sure he was a faithfull and a trustie knight The Earle answered nothing but held downe his hed and entred into this campe where they were all glad of his returne and commended the Kings faith and sure it is to be thought that both the King and the Earle had great regard of their honor considering that each of them putting himselfe into others hands Yet neither of them receiued harme notwithstanding the Earle neuer after returned vnder the Kings power The Notes 1 That is 118750. pounds sterling How the treatie of peace was concluded betweene the the King and the Earle of Charolois and his confederates Chap. 14. IN the end all matters were fully concluded and the next day as the E. of Charolois was making his musters to know what number he had lost suddenly the King accompanied with thirty or forty horse came thither without warning giuen and rid about to view all the bandes one after another saue the marshals of Burgundy who loued him not bicause not long before the King hauing once giuen him Pinal in Loraine tooke it afterward again from him to bestow vpon Iohn Duke of Calabria greatlie to the said marshals damage The King acknowledging his error by little and little reconciled him selfe to the wise and valiant knights that serued the King his father whom he at his first comming to the crowne displaced wherefore they were with the Princes in armes against him Farther it was agreed that the next day the King should come to the Castell of Vincennes and likewise al the Princes that were to do him homage for whose safety the said Castell should be put into the Earle of Charolois hands according to which agreement the next morning thither came the King and likewise all the princes none being absent the porche and the gate being manned with Burgundians well armed there the treatie of peace was concluded 1 The Lord Charles did the King homage for the Duchie of Normandie and the Earle of Charolois for the townes in Picardie aboue mentioned as did also all the rest that had homage to do and the Earle of Saint Paul tooke his othe for the office of Constable but according to the common prouerbe neuer was so plentifull a marriage feast but some departed vndined for heere some had what them lusted and others nothing The King receiued into his seruice certaine gentlemen that were with his brother and also certaine meane persons but the greatest part remained still with his said brother the new Duke of Normandie the D. of Britain who went to Roan to take possession At their departure from the castell of Vincennes they tooke their leaue each of other and returned to their lodgings farther all letters pardons and other writings seruing for the confirmation of the peace were made On one day departed all these three Princes the Duke of Normandy and Britaine first into Normandy and the Duke of Britaine from thence into his owne countrie and the Earle of Charolois into Flaunders But when the Earle was ready to take horse the King meaning effectually to shew how greatly he desired his friendship came to him and accompanied him to Villiers-le-bell a village fower leagues from Paris where both these Princes lodged that night The Kings traine was very small but he commanded two hundred men of armes to follow him to conuey him backe whereof the Earle of Charolois being aduertised as he went to bed fell into great suspicion therof and commanded a great number of his seruants to be in armes Thus you see how impossible it is for two great Princes to agree bicause of the suspicious tales and reports that are daily and howerly beaten into their heads Wherefore two Princes that desire to continue in friendship ought neuer to come togither but to imploy vertuous and wise men betweene them who will encrease their amitie and repaire all such breaches as shall happen The next morning the two Princes tooke their leaue each of other with much courteous and wise talke and the King returned to Paris accompanied with the men of armes aboue mentioned called thither for that purpose whereby he remooued all suspicion the Earle had conceiued of their comming The said Earle rode towards Compiengne and Noyon being receiued by the Kings commandement into all the townes he passed by From thence he marched to Amiens where they did him homage as did also all the other townes vpon the riuer of Somme the territories in Picardy restored to him by this treaty which the King not past nine moneths before had redeemed for the summe of fower hundred thousand crownes as before you haue heard This done he marched incontinent into the countrie of Liege bicause they had by the space of fiue or sixe moneths made war vpon his father in his absence in the countries of Namur Brabant where also they had slain certaine of his subiects 2 but bicause the winter approched he could do no great exploit notwithstanding a number of villages were burnt and diuers small ouerthrowes giuen to the said Liegeois whereupon they made a treatie with the Duke of Burgundie and for performance thereof stood bound to him in a great summe of mony This done the Earle of Charolois returned into Brabant The Notes 1 The treatie was sworne the fift of October the conditions whereof reade in Meyer fol. 337. where he saith that by this treatie Flaunders was exempt from the Kings soueraigntie which saith Degrassalius cap. 1. pag. 6. the King could not grant Quia vltimus resortus alienari aut remitti non potest which also may well appeere to be lawe bicause we reade lib. 5. cap. 17. of our author that notwithstanding this treatie the Chauncellor of Burgundie and Himbercourt being imprisoned and condemned by the citizens of Gaunt appealed to the Parlament of Paris vvhich appeale notvvithstanding vvhether it vvere lavvfull or vnlavvfull or vvhether they appealed to delay the time for safetie of their liues hoping their friends vvould deliuer them or the King happily thereby to recouer his former soueraigntie I leaue heere to discusse Notvvithstanding if any such condition vvere in the treatie of Conflans as Meyer reporteth in my simple iudgement these tvvo vvise men vvould not haue appealed contrary to it and thereby haue made the cause of their death iust though before vniust by violating this priuilege and so infringing the liberties of the state of Flaunders obtained by this treatie of the King 2 The King persvvaded the Liegeois to rebell in Iune 1465. vvhich vvas the same sommer the Earle of Charolois vvas in Fraunce thereby to vvithdravv the Earle of Charolois out of Fraunce home vvhereupon the Liegeois about mid August defied the Duke of
the Earle and his brother with a great number of gentlemen and the slaughter of the poore people was also great For King Edward at his departure out of Flaunders resolued to cry no more to saue the people and kill the nobles but he had conceiued extreeme hatred against the communalty of England both for the great fauor they bare the Earle of Warwick and for other respects also wherefore at this battell he spared them not Of the Kings side died about fifteene hundred and the field was valiantly fought At the time of this battell the Duke of Burgundie lay before Amiens where he receiued letters from the Duches his wife that King Edward hir brother was not a little discontented with him alleaging that the aide he gaue him was giuen in euil sort and with euill will so far foorth that he was almost vtterly forsaken of him and to say the truth the King and he after this neuer loued one an other Notwithstanding the Duke supposing that this victory would greatly further his affaires caused the newes to be published in all places I had forgotten to tell you how King Edward finding King Henry at London lead him with him into the battell aboue mentioned This King Henry was a very simple man and almost an innocent and if I haue not heard a lie incontinent after the battell the Duke of Glocester K. Edwards brother who afterward named himselfe K. Richard slue this holy man K. Henry with his own hands or caused him to be slaine in his presence in some secret place 2 The Prince of Wales was landed in England when this battell aboue mentioned was fought hauing in his company the Dukes of Excester and Sommerset with diuers others of his kinsfolkes and ancient folowers of his house His army was to the number of forty thousand as I haue been informed by diuers that were with him and if the Earle of Warwicke would haue staied for him it is very like the victory would haue been theirs But the Earle feared both the Duke of Sommerset whose father and brother he had slaine and also Queene Margaret the Princes mother wherefore he fought alone and would not tarie for them 3 Marke heere by this example how long ancient factions and partialities endure how much they are to be feared and what great damage ensueth thereof So soone as King Edward had obteined this victory he marched incontinent against the Prince of Wales where another cruell battell was fought for the Princes force was greater than the Kings notwithstanding the lot of victory fell to the King and the Prince was slaine vpon the place 4 with diuers other great Lords and a maruellous number of common soldiers The Duke of Sommerset was taken and the next day beheaded In eleuen daies the Earle of Warwicke subdued the whole realme of England at the least brought it to obedience and in one and twenty King Edvvard recouered it hauing fought two great and cruell battels Thus you see what sudden mutations haue been in England K. Edvvard caused many of the people to be put to death in many places especially such as had made assemblies against him And from that day forward raigned peaceably in England till his death though not without great trouble and vexation of minde I will heere end my discourse of these English affaires till time and occasion serue in some other place only adding this that of all the nations in the world the English men are most desirous to try their quarrels by dint of sword The Notes 1 Our Chronicles report that the Duke turned on the Kings side at Couentrie before the Kings comming to London and they vary also in other circumstances from our author 2 Our histories report otherwise of King Henries death for he was slain in the Tower and not so soone after the battell 3 Our Chronicles report that the Duke of Sommer set was at Barnet field with the Earle of VVarvvicke and repaired afterward to the Queene and was taken in the second battell and then be he aded 4 Our histories write that the Prince was not slaine in the battell but soone after hauing had communication with King Edward How the wars reuiued betweene King Lewis and Charles Duke of Burgundy by the sollicitation of the Dukes of Guienne and Britaine Chap. 8. I Wil now return to our affairs on this side the sea wherof I haue made no mention since the Duke of Burgundies departure from before Amiens the Kings returne into the country of Touraine and the Duke of Guienne his brother into Guienne The saide Duke of Guienne continued still his sute aboue mentioned for his mariage with the Duke of Burgundies daughter whereunto the said Duke in word euer shewed himselfe willing but in deede meant nothing lesse both bicause he purposed to vse hir as an instrument whereby to entertaine all the world and a marchandise to put euery man in hope of and also for that he stomacked the euill practises they had contriued to constraine him to this mariage perforce The Earle of Saint Paul Constable of Fraunce busied himselfe in this treaty very earnestly desiring that the mariage might seeme to be effected by his onely meanes and procurement On the other side the Duke of Britaine traueled therein to the end the whole honor thereof might redound to him The King was as busie as the best to breake it off though needlesly as well for the two reasons aboue alleaged as also bicause the Duke of Burgundy was not desirous of so great a sonne in lawe wherefore in vaine the King troubled himselfe but he could not see another mans thoughts And sure he had iust cause of feare for if this mariage had taken effect his brother should haue beene so mighty that he and the Duke of Britaine ioined togither might haue put the Kings estate and his childrens in great danger In the meane time about these affaires many ambassadors passed to and fro as well secretly as openly This often passing to and fro of ambassadors is a thing very dangerous for vnder colour thereof many times euill practises are set abroch yet notwithstanding ambassadors must of force both be sent and receiued They that shall reade this historie will aske peraduenture what remedie I can deuise against this inconuenience bicause it seemeth almost remedilesse For answere whereunto I will shew mine aduise notwithstanding that I know a number far better able to discourse heerof than my selfe Ambassadors that come from perfect friends with whom no occasion of quarrell can arise must be well intertained and permitted to come often to the Princes presence I meane if the Prince be wise and of comely personage otherwise the lesse he be seene the better Notwithstanding when he must of necessitie be seene let him be well apparelled and well instructed what to say and vse short speech according to Princes amitie which vsually is but short But if ambassadors be sent openly or secretly betweene Princes that are in continuall
of captiuitie apprehended their Senators being to the number of sixe and twenty and put them all or the greatest part to death pretending that they did it bicause the said Senators the day before had commanded one to be beheaded though not without desert yet without authority as they said their commission being determined with the Dukes death by whom they were chosen into that office They slew also diuers honest men of the towne that had beene the Dukes freinds amongst whom were some that when I serued him disswaded him in my presence from destroying a great parte of the towne of Gaunt which he was fullie resolued to haue done Further they constrained their Princes to confirm al their ancient priuileges both those they lost in the time of Duke Philip by the treatie of Gauures those also that Duke Charles tooke from them The said priuileges serued them onely for firebrands of rebellion against their Princes whom aboue all things they desire to see weake and feeble Moreouer during their Princes minoritie and before they begin to gouerne they are maruellous tender ouer them but when they are come to the gouernment they cannot away with them as appeereth by this Ladie whom they loued deerely and much tendered before hir comming to the state Further you shall vnderstand that if after the Dukes death these men of Gaunt had raised no troubles but had sought to defend the countrey they might easily haue put men into Arras and peraduenture into Peronne but they minded onely these domesticall broiles Notwithstanding while the King laie before the towne of Arras certaine ambassadors came to him from the three estates of the said Ladies countries For at Gaunt were certaine deputies for the three estates but they of the towne ordered all at their pleasure bicause they held their Princesse in their hands The King gaue these ambassadors audience who among other things said that they made no ouerture of peace but with consent of their Princesse who was determined in all matters to follow the aduise and counsell of the three estates of hir countrie Further they required the King to end his war in Burgundie and Artois and to appoint a day when they might meete to treate friendly togither of peace and in the meane time that he would cause a surcease of armes The King had now in a maner obtained all he desired and hoped well of the rest For he was certainly informed that most of the men of war in the countrie were dead and slaine and knew well that a great manie others had forsaken the said Ladies seruice especiallie Monseur de Cordes of whom he made great reckoning and not without cause for he could not haue taken by force in long time that which by his intelligence he obtained in few daies as before you haue heard wherefore he made small account of these ambassadors demaunds Further he perceiued these men of Gaunt to be such seditious persons and so inclined to trouble the state of their countrie that his enimies by meanes thereof should not be able to aduise nor giue order how to resist him For of those that were wise and had been in credit with their former Princes none were called to the debating of any matter of state but persecuted and in danger of death especially the Burgundians whom they hated extremely bicause of their great authoritie in times past Moreouer the King who sawe further into these affaires than any man in his realme knew well what affection the citizens of Gaunt had euer borne to their Princes and how much they desired to see them affeebled so that they in their countrie felt no smart thereof Wherefore he thought it best to nourish their domesticall contentions and to set them further by the eares togither which was soone done for these whom he had to do with were but beasts most part of them townes men vnacquainted with those subtill practises wherein he had been trained vp and could vse for his purpose better than any man liuing The King laide hold vpon these words of the ambassadors that their Princesse would do nothing without the consent and aduise of the three estates of their countrie and answered that they were euill informed of hir pleasure and of certaine particular men about hir for he knew very perfectly that she meant to gouerne all hir affaires by the aduise of certaine particular persons who desired nothing lesse than peace and as touching them and their actions he was well assured they should be disaduowed Whereunto the ambassadors being not a little mooued as men vnacquainted with great affaires made a hot answer that they were well assured of that they said and would shew their instructions if neede so required Whereunto answer was made that they should see a letter if it so pleased the King written by parties woorthie of credit wherein the King was aduertised that the said Lady would gouerne hir affaires by fower persons onely Whereunto the others replied that they were sure of the contrarie Then the King commanded a letter to be brought foorth which the Chauncellor of Burgundie and the Lord of Himbercourt deliuered him at their last being with him at Peronne The said letter was written partly with the yoong Ladies owne hand partly by the Dowager of Burgundie Duke Charles his widow and sister to King Edward of England and partly by the Lord of Rauastain brother to the Duke of Cleues and the said yoong Ladies neerest kinsman so that it was written with three seuerall hands but signed with the name of the yoong Lady alone for the other twaine set to their hands onely to giue it the greater credit The contents of the letter were to desire the King to giue credit to those things whereof the Chauncellor and Himbercourt should aduertise him And further it was therein signified vnto him that she was resolued to gouerne all hir affaires by fower persons namely the Dowager hir mother in law the Lord of Rauastain the aboue named Chauncellor and Himbercourt by whom onely and none others she humbly besought him to negotiate with hir bicause vpon them she would repose the whole gouernment of hir affaires When these citizens of Gaunt and the other ambassadors had seene this letter it heated them throughly and I warrant you those that negotiated with them failed not to blowe the fire In the end the letter was deliuered them and no other dispatch of importance had they neither passed they greatly of any other for they thought onely vpon their domesticall diuisions and how to make a new world neuer looking further into this busines notwithstanding that the losse of Arras ought to haue greeued them much more than this letter but they were townes men as I said before vnacquainted with these affaires They returned straight to Gaunt where they found their Princesse accompanied with the Duke of Cleues hir neerest kinsman and of hir blood by his mother 1 he was an ancient man brought vp continually in
before and appointed me also to be his bedfellow notwithstanding that I were vnwoorthy of that honor and that diuers others were fitter for that place than my selfe but he was so wise that no man could faile to please him if he executed his commandements without adding ought thereto of his owne braine The Notes 1 This Archbishops name was Francis Saluiat and this vprore was the 27. of Aprill anno 1478. Of Monseur d'Argentons returne out of Italie into Fraunce and of the battell of Guinegate Chap. 6. AT my returne the King our Master looked somwhat aged and his body was disposed to sicknes but his disease brake not foorth as yet His affaires he gouerned with great wisedome and the war endured still in Picardie wherewith he was not a little discontented as were his enimies also in the said countrie but they could not remedie it The Duke of Austriche now King of Romans hauing the Flemmings this yeere at his deuotion laid the siege before Therouenne but Monseur de Cordes the Kings lieutenant in Picardie leuied all the forces the King had in that countrie and the frontiers thereabout to the number of eight thousand franke archers and went to succour the place Whom when the Duke of Austriche perceiued to approch he leuied his siege and marched against him the two armies met at a place called Guinegate The Duke had of Flemmings to the number of twenty thousand or better and certaine Almaines togither with three hundred English men led by an English Knight that had serued Charles Duke of Burgundie called sir Thomas Abrigan The Kings horsemen being much stronger than their enimies brake the Dukes horsemen and pursued them and Master Philip of Rauastain their captaine as far as Ayre whereupon the Duke ioined himselfe with his footemen The King had in this armie at the least 1100. men of armes of his ordinarie retinue 1 all the which followed not the chase but Monseur de Cordes who was generall did and Monseur de Torcy with him which was a valiant deede but against the law of armes for the captaines of the vaward and rereward ought not to follow the chase Some of the Dukes horsemen retired vnder colour of defending the strong places but others fled in good earnest The Dukes footmen fled not yet were they vpon the point so to do but they had with them on foote two hundred valiant gentlemen their leaders among whom were the Lord of Romont of the house of Sauoye the Earle of Nassaw and diuers others yet liuing The courage of these gentlemen staied the footemen which was a woonder considering they saw their horsemen broken The Kings franke archers fell to spoile the Dukes carriage and the straglers that followed it as victuallers and such like but certaine of the Dukes footmen set vpon them discomfited them and slue some of them The Dukes losse was greater than ours for more of his men were taken and more slaine 2 but the honor of the field was his And I thinke verily if he had returned to Therouenne he had not found a man neither in it nor in Arras and it was greatly to his losse that he durst not attempt so to do But in such cases men are not alwaies informed of the best and to say the truth great cause he had to feare that enterprise I speake of this battell but by hearsay for I was not present at it notwithstanding to continue the order of my historie somwhat I was forced to write thereof I was with the King when these newes were brought him which vndoubtedly nipped him at the verie hart for he was not accustomed to lose but had such successe in all his attempts that fortune seemed to be at his commandement which vndoubtedly his wisedome greatly furthered For he would hazard nothing neither feared any thing more than a battel and as touching this now mentioned it was fought without his knowledge His armies he made so strong that few Princes were able to encounter them he was better furnished of artillerie than any King that euer raigned in Fraunce he attempted alwaies to take places vpon a sudden especially such as he perceiued to be euill fortified which after he had once gotten he furnished so well both of men and artillerie that it was impossible for his enimies to recouer them Further if the captain of any strong place or any other within it would practise to yeeld it for monie he was sure of a copes mate neither would he shrinke were the summe neuer so great that was demanded but liberally giue it He was afeard at the first when newes was brought him of this battell supposing the truth had not been told him but that his whole force had beene ouerthrowen knowing if it were so all to be lost that he had conquered ouer this house of Burgundie in those parts and the rest in great danger but when he vnderstood the truth he tooke the matter patiently and was well ynough contented with Monseur de Cordes Notwithstanding he purposed to giue order that no more such enterprises should be attempted without his knowledge From this day forward he resolued to treate of peace with the Duke of Austriche so that it might be wholy to his owne aduantage and that he might thereby so bridle the said Duke by meanes of his owne proper subiects whom he knew to be inclined to practise against their Prince that he should neuer be able to do him harme Moreouer he was very desirous to redresse all disorders in his realme especially the long delaies of processes and sutes in law which thing the better to compas he minded to bridle the Court of parlament not by diminishing their number or authoritie but many things were done there against his minde for the which he hated it He was also desirous to reduce his whole realme to one custome and one kinde of waight and measure and further that all the lawes and customs should be written in the French toong in a faire booke to auoid the pillings and pollings of the Counsellors in law which are more excessiue in this realme than in any other as the nobilitie hath good cause to knowe And vndoubtedly if God had spared him life and health fiue or sixe yeeres longer he would haue done much good in the realme as great cause he had to do for he had more oppressed it than euer had any of his predecessors but neither authoritie nor perswasions could haue woon him to vnburden his people till it had come of himselfe as in his latter daies sure it would if God had preserued him from sicknes Wherefore it is requisite to do good while a man hath leisure health and vnderstanding The treatie the King desired to make with the Duke and Duchesse of Austrich and their dominions was this he meant by meanes of the citizens of Gaunt to treate of a marriage betweene the Daulphin his sonne now our King and the daughter of the said Duke and Duchesse vnder
Glocester who had vsurped the crowne of England signing his letters by the name of Richard cruelly murthered the King his brothers two children This King Richard sought the Kings friendship was desirous as I suppose to haue this pension paid also vnto him But the K. would make no answer to his letters neither giue his messenger audience but esteemed him a wicked cruell tyrant For after K. Edvvards death the said Duke of Glocester had done homage to his nephew as to his soueraigne Lord and King and yet immediately thereupon committed this murther and caused in open parlament the said King Edvvards two daughters to be degraded proclaimed bastards vnder colour of a certaine matter which he prooued by the testimonie of a bishop of Bathe who somtime had been in great credit with King Edvvard but afterward fell into his disgrace and was laid in prison and made to fine for his deliuerance This Bishop affirmed that King Edvvard being in loue with a certaine gentlewoman in England whom he named promised hir marriage to haue his pleasure of hir which promise he said was made in his presence and thereupon the King lay with hir minding onely to abuse hir Such pastimes are very dangerous especially when such poofe may be brought foorth But I haue knowne many a courtier that would not haue lost a good aduenture that liked him in such a case for want of promise This wicked Bishop buried reuenge in his hart the space of twenty yeeres But God plagued him for his wickednes for he had a sonne whom he loued entirely and whom King Richard so much fauored that he meant to giue him to wife one of these two daughters degraded from their dignitie at this present Queene of England and mother of two goodly children The said sonne being in a ship of war by King Richard his Masters commandement was taken vpon the coast of Normandie and bicause of the contention that fell betweene those that tooke him led to the court parlament of Paris and there put in prison in the petit Chastellet where in the end he starued for hunger and pouertie As touching King Richard he liued not long vnpunished for God raised vp an enimy against him euen at This error you are admonished of before that very instant being poore hauing no right to the crowne of England as I suppose and of no estimation saue that as touching his owne person he was well conditioned and had endured many troubles For the greatest part of his life he had been prisoner in Britaine to Duke Francis who entertained him well for a prisoner from the eighteenth yeere of his age This Earle of Richmond being furnished by the King with a small summe of money and three thousand men leuied in Normandie of the vnthriftiest persons in the countrey passed ouer into Wales where his father in lawe the Lord Stanley met him with sixe and twenty thousand men at the least And within three or fower daies after he encountred this cruell King Richard who was slaine in the field and the Earle crowned King and raigneth yet at this day in England Of this matter I haue made mention before but it was not amisse to rehearse it heere againe to shew thereby how God hath plagued in our time such crueltie almost immediately after the fault committed Diuers other such like punishments hath he shewed also in this our age if a man would stand to rehearse them all How the King behaued himselfe towards his neighbors and subiects during the time of his sicknes and how diuers things were sent him from diuers places for the recouerie of his health Chap. 10. THis mariage of Flaunders so much desired by the King was thus accomplished as you haue heard by meanes wherof he had the Flemmings at his commandement Britaine which he so much hated was in peace with him but liued in continuall ielousie bicause of the great number of soldiers he had in garrison vpon their frontiers Spaine was quiet and the King and Queene thereof desired nothing more then his amity and friendship for he kept them in feare and continuall charge bicause of the countrey of Roussillon which he held from the house of Arragon being engaged to him by Iohn King of Arragon father to the King of Castile now raigning vnder certaine conditions yet vnperformed As touching the Princes Seniories of Italy they desired to haue him their friend and were in league with him and sent often their ambassadors to him In Almaine he had the Swissers as obedient to him as his owne subiects The King of Scotland and Portugale were his confederates part of the realme of Nauarre was wholie at his deuotion his subiects trembled before him and his commandements were executed incontinent without delay or excuse As touching those things that were thought necessarie for his health they were sent him out of all parts of the world Pope Sixtus that last died being informed that the King of deuotion desired to haue the corporall vpon the which Saint Peter song masse sent it him incontinent with diuers other relickes which were conueied backe againe to Rome The holie viole which is at Reims and neuer had been remooued thence was brought into his chamber to Plessis and stood vpon his cupboord at the hower of his death he was determined to be annointed therwith as at his coronation But many supposed that he wold haue anointed all his body with it which is vnlikely for the said holy viole is very small and containeth not much oile I saw it both at the time I now speake of and also when the King was buried at Nostre-dame-de-Clery The Turke that now raigneth sent an ambassador to him who came as far as Rhiue in Prouence 1 but the King would not heare his message neither permit him to passe any further The said ambassador brought him a great role of relickes remaining yet at Constantinople in the Turks hands all the which he offered him togither with a great summe of money if he would keepe in safe custodie the said Turks brother who was then in this realme in the hands of the knights of the Rhodes and is now at Rome in the Popes keeping By all this aboue rehearsed a man may perceiue how great the King our Masters wisdome and authority was how he was esteemed through the whole world and how all things 2 as well spirituall of deuotion and religion as also temporall were imploied for the prolonging of his life But all would not helpe there was no remedy needes he must go the way his predecessors went before him one great grace God shewed him that as he created him wiser liberaller and more vertuous in all things than the Princes that raigned in his time being his enimies and neighbors and as he surmounted them in all good things so did he also passe them in long life though not much For Duke Charles of Burgundy the Duchesse his daughter King Edvvard Duke Galeas of
on no day but saturday and that our Lady in whom he had euer put his confidence and alwaies deuoutly serued had purchased him this grace and sure so it happened for he ended his life vpon saturday the 30. of August in the yeere 1483. at eight of the clocke at night in the said castell of Plessis where he fell sicke the monday before His soule I trust is with God and resteth in his blessed realme of paradise A discourse vpon the miserie of mans life by the examples of those Princes that liued in the authors time and first of King Lewis Chap. 13. SMall hope may meane and poore men haue in worldly honors seeing this mightie King after so long trouble and trauell about them forsooke them al could not prolong his life one hower for all that he could do I knew him serued him in the flower of his age in his great prosperitie yet neuer saw I himfree from toile of body and trouble of minde Aboue al pastimes he loued hunting hauking in their seasons hunting especially As touching women he was free from that vice all the time that I serued him for a little before my comming to him he lost one of his sonnes whose death he much lamented and soone after made a solemne vow to God in my presence neuer to accompanie with any woman but the Queene his wife Whereunto notwithstanding that he were bound by the lawes of marriage yet was it much that he had such stay of himselfe especially the Queene being none of those in whose beautie a man could take great delight but otherwise a very vertuous Lady In this pastime of hunting he tooke almost as much paine as pleasure for the toile was great bicause he ran the Hart to death by force Besides that he arose very early in the morning and oftentimes went far neither could any weather make him leaue his sport Somtime also he returned very wearie and in maner euer displeased with one or other for this game is not alwaies made as they wish that haue the ordering thereof notwithstanding in all mens opinions he for his part vnderstood it better than any man in his time In this pastime he exercised himselfe continually lodging about in the villages till wars began For almost euery sommer there was somewhat to do betweene Duke Charles of Burgundie and him but when winter approched they vsed to make truce He had great wars also for the countie of Roussillion with King Iohn of Arragon the King of Spaines father that now liueth For notwithstanding that they were very poore and in war with their subiects namely them of Barselonne and others and that the sonne were of no force for he expected the inheritance of King Friderike 1 of Castile his wiues brother which afterward fell to him yet bicause they had the harts of the subiects of the saide countrie of Roussillion they made great resistance against him which cost the King and his realme full deere for many a good man died and was slaine there and infinite treasure was consumed in those wars for they endured long Thus you see that the pleasure the King had was but one small time in the yeere and that ioined with great toile and trauell of his person when his body was at rest his minde was occupied for he had to do in many places and busied himselfe as much with his neighbors affaires as with his own seeking to place men in their houses 2 and to bestow the offices therin at his pleasure When he was in war he desired peace or truce which notwithstanding when he had obtained he could not long away with He medled with many trifling matters in his realme which he might well haue passed ouer but such was his disposition and life And to say the truth his memory was so excellent that he forgat nothing but knew all the world all countries and all men of estimation round about him so that he seemed a Prince woorthier to gouern the whole world than one realm alone Of his youth I am able to say nothing for I was not with him at that time notwithstanding what I haue heard that I will report Being but eleuen yeeres of age he was busied by certaine Princes and others of the realme in a war against K. Charles his father called la Praguerie which endured not long And when he was growen to mans estate he married the King of Scotlands daughter 3 and during hir life neuer ioied with hir 4 after hir death bicause of the factions and troubles that were in the King his fathers court he retired into his owne countrey of Daulphine whither a great number of gentlemen accompanied him yea many mo than he was able to maintaine While he was in Daulphine he married the Duke of Sauoies daughter and soone after fel at variance with his father in law so that sharpe war arose betweene them King Charles seeing his sonne so well accompanied with gentlemen and men of armes determined to go against him in person with great force and to chase him out of the countrey by strong hand wherefore he put himselfe vpon the way and endeuored to withdraw his sonnes men from him commanding them as his subiects vnder paine of his displeasure to repaire vnto him Whereunto diuers obeied to the King our Masters great griefe who seeing his fathers indignation against him determined notwithstanding that his force were great to depart thence and leaue the countrey to his fathers disposing And in this estate trauelled he through Burgundy with a small traine to Duke Philip who receiued him very honorably furnished him with money to maintaine his estate and gaue yeerely pensions to his principall seruants namely to the Earle of Cominges the Lord of Montauban others and bestowed also during his being there diuers large gifts vpon his other seruants Notwithstanding bicause he entertained such a number his mony failed often to his great griefe so that he was forced to borow som where or other otherwise his men would haue forsaken him which vndoubtedly is a great trouble to a Prince vnaccustomed thereunto Thus you see that he was not without vexation and anguish of minde during his abode in this house of Burgundy for he was forced to faune both vpon the Duke and his principall seruants least they should waxe weary of him for he was there a long time to wit the space of sixe yeeres Besides that his father sent ambassadors continually to the Duke requiring him either to put him foorth of his dominions or send him backe to him Wherefore it is to be thought that he was not idle nor without great vexation of minde All these things considered when may a man say that he liued in ioy and pleasure Sure in mine opinion from his childhood till his death he was in continuall toile and trouble so that if all his pleasant and ioyfull daies were numbred I thinke they should be found but fewe yea I am fully
noble houses came out of Persia vvith their captaines and armies the Otthomans Assembecs Scandelors or Candelors and the Caramans All these fovver houses subdued euery one of them some region the Otthomans vvan Bithynia Phrygia Galatia The Assembecs Syria Armenia Cappadocia Paphlagonia The Scandelors held the greatest part of Pontus and the Caramans Cilicia Lycia Lycaonia Pamphylia But the house of Otthoman in the end deuoured all the other three The Assembecs vvere vanquished by this Mahomet ann 1459. For you shall vnderstand that Vsumcassanes King of the Assembecs fought three great battels vvith this Mahomet In the tvvo first he ouerthrevv him but in the third he vvas vtterly ouerthrovven by reason that Mahomet had great artillerie in his campe vvhich noueltie vnknovven before to the easterly nations discomfited Vsumcassanes armie vvho in this battell lost also his sonne Zeinalde After this battell Mahomet vvan all Cappadocia Paphlagonia and tooke Trapezonde the seate of the Assembecs empire vvith the greatest part of Armenia and Syria as mention is heere made Further after this battell Mahomet tooke from Pyramitus Prince of the Caramans the greatest part of Cilicia and after this Mahomets death Baiazet his sonne slue in battell Abraham the last Prince of the Caramans and vtterly destroied that house As touching the Scandelors after the Assembecs and Caramans vvere destroied the Prince of the Scandelors yeelded his countrie to Baiazet and in exchange thereof had certaine reuenues giuen him in Natolia And thus vvere all the three houses subdued by the house of Otthoman vvhich discourse for the better vnderstanding of this place I haue been forced to vvrite somvvhat at large 26 Others vvrite 58. and others 56. but sure our author reporteth his age truliâ—â—â— for he vvas borne ann 1430. the 24. of March and died of the collicke 1481. the thirde of May so that he vvas entred into his tvvo and fiftith yeere A SVPPLY OF THE HISTORIE OF PHILIP DE COMMINES FROM THE death of King LEWIS the II. till the beginning of the wars of Naples to wit from 1483. till 1493. of all the vvhich time Commines vvriteth nothing Of King Charles his comming to the crowne of the death of Oliuer King Lewis his Barber and others and of the reuoking of King Lewis his superfluous gifts Chap. 1. AFter the death of Lewis the eleuenth Charles the 8. his onely sonne being 13. yeeres of age and two moneths succeeded to the crowne notwithstanding his coronation was deferred till the moneth of Iune in the next yeere to the end he might be full fowerteen when he should be crowned The King his father had brought him vp at Amboise in such solitarines that none besides his ordinarie seruants could haue accesse vnto him neither permitted he him to learne any more Latine than this one sentence He that cannot dissemble cannot raigne which he did not for that he hated learning but bicause he feared that studie would hurt the tender and delicate complexion of the childe Notwithstanding King Charles after he was come to the crowne grew verie studious of learning aod gaue himseife to the reading of stories and bookes of humanitie written in the French toong and attempted to vnderstand Latine Before the Kings coronation the Princes of the blood and the nobles of the realme who so often had beene iniuried in the late King Levvis his time by Oliuer le Dain his barber by Daniell a Flemming the said Oliuers seruant and by Iohn D'oyac which three had wholie gouerned the said King Levvis caused informations secretly to be exhibited against them for diuers murthers rapines and other heinous crimes that they had committed in King Levvis his time yea and some of them by his commandement the which informations being seene by the court Parlament they were foorthwith apprehended their processe made and in the end all three condemned and the next yeere being 1484. the said Oliuer and Daniell his man were hanged at Paris and D'oyac had his eares cut off and his toong bored through with a hot iron One of the crimes committed by Oliuer and Daniell for the which they were executed was this A gentleman was committed to prison by King Levvis his commandement whose wife being yoong and beutifull was contented to abandon hir selfe to the lust of this Oliuer vpon promise that he should deliuer hir husband out of prison to hir but the next day he caused Daniell his man to put him into a sacke and to throwe him into the riuer where he was miserably drowned This Oliuer was a Flemming borne and had been barber to King Levvis and of greater credit with him than any man in all Fraunce which his credit grew by vile and slauish offices that he did about the King so far foorth that he ordinarily sucked the Kings hemorrhoides wherewith he was often troubled which base seruice he did not for good will that he bare the King but onely for couetousnes and to maintaine his credit which ended soone after the King his Masters death as you haue heard notwithstanding the great charge that the King vpon his death-bed had giuen his sonne to loue the said Oliuer and not to suffer him to be spoiled of that which he had bestowed vpon him bicause his seruice had long preserued his life But howsoeuer Princes maintaine such lewd ministers in their liues and how ready soeuer such seruants be to execute their Masters vnlawfull and wilfull commandements supposing that they shall neuer be called to account therefore yet in the end they finde that credit in Court is no inheritance and that God who leaueth nothing vnpunished findeth a time to reward them according to their deserts Further soone after King Lewis his death consultation was had of the superfluous superstitious gifts made by him in his life all the which were reuoked and all that was giuen reunited to the crowne Of the assemblie of the States held at Touars of the Duke of Orleance pursute for the regencie of the mad war raised by him and of his departure into Britaine Chap. 2. THe King in the moneth of Iuly after his coronation being the yeere 1484. held a generall and free assembly of the States of 1484 his realme at Touars far otherwise than had beene vsed in his fathers daies for none came to these generall assemblies in his time but such as were of his owne denomination neither durst any man speake his minde freely but was forced in all matters to yeeld to the Kings will which was for the most part vnreasonable and violent But at this assemblie the presence was great the voices free the complaints lamentable the Nobilitie Commons and Clergie euery one of them presented their griefes complaining of the burdens that the late King contrary to the lawes of the realme and customes of their ancestors had laid vpon them In this assembly it was enacted that there should be no Regent in Fraunce but that Anne Lady of Beauieu the Kings eldest sister should haue the
vpon a sudden as the Romaines did for their bodies cannot endure such labor and trauell as theirs could bicause they are vnaccustomed therunto by reason that none of them go into their wars vpon the firme land 16 as the Romaines did saue their prouisors and paimasters which accompanied their generall 17 assist him with their counsell and prouide all things necessary for their armie True it is that their armies vpon the sea are led 18 by their gentlemen who are captaines of their gallies and ships and consist wholy of their owne subiects Moreouer another good order haue they as touching these prouisors whom they send in person with their armies vpon the land whichis that they imploie in that seruice no man of such courage and vertue as may seeme woorthy to be their Prince as the Romaines did whereby they auoid all factions in the citie which sure is a great point of wisedome And vndoubtedly against ciuill contention they haue maruellously well prouided diuers and sundry other waies for they haue no Tribunes of the people as they had in Rome which partly were cause of their ruine But the people at Venice beare no swaie neither are called to counsell in any matter 19 for all their officers 20 be gentlemen saue their secretaries 21 And the greatest part of their people be strangers Moreouer they vnderstand by T. Liuius what imperfections were in the state of Rome for they haue his historie and his body lieth buried in their palace at Padua For these reasons and diuers others which I could alleage I say yet once againe that they are in the way to be great Lords in time to come I must now declare the cause of mine ambassage to them which was to thanke them for the good answers they had made to two ambassadors sent thither by the King and for the good comfort they had giuen him in willing him vpon their word to proceede with his enterprise All the which was done before he departed out of Ast At my arriuall I discoursed vnto them of the ancient league that had beene betweene the Kings of Fraunce and them And further I offered them Brandis and the towne of Orante vnder this condition that when we deliuered them better townes in Greece they should be bound to restore these They vsed very honorable termes both of the King and his affaires supposing that he could not enter far into Italie And as touching the offer I made they answered that they were his friends and seruants and would not sell him their friendship and in deede as yet we had not the places offered Further they said that they had force sufficient in a readines to moue war against him if they were so disposed but they would not so do notwithstanding that the ambassador of Naples daily sollicited them thereunto and offered them in consideration thereof whatsoeuer they would demaund Moreouer King Alphonse who then raigned confessed that he had many waies misbehaued himselfe towards them and declared vnto them the great danger themselues should be in if the King obtained his purpose The Turke on the other side sent an ambassador to them with all speede whom I my selfe saw diuers times the which at the Popes request threatened them vnlesse they declared themselues the Kings enimies They gaue euery one of these good answers notwithstanding at the first they stood in no feare of vs but laughed at our voiage and the rather bicause the Duke of Milan sent them word by his ambassador that they should not trouble themselues about this enterprise for he would finde meanes to send the King home with emptie hands The like message sent he also to Peter of Medicis as himselfe told me But when both they and the Duke of Milan sawe all the Florentines places especially Pisa in the Kings hands they began to feare to consult how to stop him from passing further but their matters were long in debating and in the meane time while ambassadors passed to and fro betweene them the King marched forward The King of Spaine in like maner began to feare bicause of the yles of Sicilie and Sardinia And the King of Romaines enuied our Kings good successe for diuers there were that put him in doubt of the crowne imperiall saying that the King would take it and had required the Pope to giue him leaue so to do but this was most vntrue Notwithstanding for these doubts these two Kings sent honorable ambassages to Venice I being there as you haue heard The King of Romaines bicause he was their neighbor sent first the principall of his ambassage was the Bishop of Trente accompanied with two knights and a doctor of the law they were very honorably and solemnly receiued and their lodgings made and furnished as mine Moreouer they had ten ducats a day allowed them for their diet and their horses which they had left behinde them at Treuis were kept vpon the Seniories charge Soone after arriued also a worshipfull knight of Spaine 22 well accompanied and well apparelled who was in like maner honorably receiued and his charges defraied The Duke of Milan besides his ambassador there resident sent thither the bishop of Come and Master Francis Bernardin Viscount all the which began at the first to negotiate togither couertly and in the night by their Secretaries for they durst not as yet openly discouer themselues against the King especially the Duke of Milan and the Venetians bicause they doubted what successe the league which was in communication should haue These ambassadors of Milan came to visite me and brought me letters from their Master pretending that they were come bicause the Venetians had sent two ambassadors to Milan whereas they were woont to haue but one resident there no more had they in the end and this was but a colour of their lying deceit and false dealing for they were all assembled togither to conclude a league against the good King but so many strings could not be tuned on a sudden They desired me afterward if I could to informe them what the cause was of the King of Spaines and the King of Romanes ambassadors arriuall to the end they might aduertise their Master thereof But I had intelligence already from diuers places both by the said ambassadors seruants and others that the ambassador of Spaine had passed through Milan disguised that the Almaines gouerned their affaires wholy by the Duke of Milans counsell and aduice and that the ambassador of Naples deliuered howerly packets of letters from his Master For you must vnderstand that the treatie of their league was begun before the King departed from Florence and I spent monie largely to haue intelligence of all their doings and wrought by good instruments so that I knew already all their articles which were propounded but not agreed vpon for the Venetians are very long in their resolutions For these causes I seeing the league in such forwardnes would no longer pretend ignorance therein but answered these ambassadors
vse to do vpō Corpus Christi day it was richly hanged and reached from the palace to the end of the market place of Saint Marke Vpon this scaffold after the Popes ambassador had soong masse and giuen full absolution to all men that should be present at the said proclamation they went on procession the Senators and the ambassadors being all very well apparelled for vnto diuers of the said ambassadors the seniorie had giuen crimosin veluet gowns especially to the Almaines and new gownes also to all their seruants but they were very short After their returne from procession a great number of pageants and deuises were shewed representing first Italy and then all these Kings and Princes and the Queene of Spaine And as they returned from beholding the said pageants at a Porphire stone where all their proclamations are made they proclaimed the said league and the Turks ambassador hard it standing close at a window and hauing his dispatch saue that they staied him to behold this triumph At night he came to talke with me by meanes of a certaine Greeke and was with me fower howers in my chamber being very desirous that his Prince and the King my Master might enter togither into amitie I was twise inuited to this feast but I excused my selfe I remained in the towne about a moneth after this proclamation being aswell entertained as at my first arriuall Afterward the King sent for me and I tooke my leaue and departed being safely conueied by them and vpon their charges to Ferrara where the Duke came foorth and receiued me and feasted me two daies and defraied me The like did Master Iohn de Bentiuole at Bolonia whither the Florentines sent for me Wherfore I departed thence and went to Florence there to abide the Kings comming of whom I will now returne to speake The Notes 1 Liccia or Lizafusina Italians 2 The riuer is called Brenta 3 I thinke he meaneth not the Confrairiez des Sainctz which be but fiue as Contaren writeth lib. 5. but rather I suppose bicause our author saith many Confrairies that euery companie in Venice hath a chappell as in London they haue hals 4 I suppose it to be that which they call Riuo alto 5 There are in Venice 200. palaces able to lodge Kings 6 A kinde of red marble full of white spots called Leucosticos or Porphyrites it is knowen to euery man 7 A greene stone I suppose it to be also a kinde of marble which is greene as Porphire is red and spotted also with white for the most part as that is it is called Ophytes 8 Of the Dukes office reade Contaren lib. 2. 9 This Dukes name was Augustinus Barbaricus or Barbadicus he was chosen anno 1486. and was after some the 77. after others the 74. Duke 10 Reckon these twelue yeeres not at the time that the author was at Venice but at the time that he wrote this historie for at his being there he had beene Duke but eight yeeres 11 Saint Marks church is described by Contaren in the very end of the fourth booke 12 Mousaique or Marqueterie Musaea Musaica or Musina in Latine works wrought of stones of diuers colours and diuers mettels into knots and deuises so curiously that they seeme all one and not to be wrought in togither by art 13 Forum Iulii 14 This Arsenall is described by Contaren lib. 4. 15 He meaneth bicause they vnderstood not the feate of artillerie 16 The Venetians armies vpon the land are all strangers Contaren lib. 5. 17 Their Generall vpon the land is also a stranger 18 Contaren ibidem 19 Vnderstand any matter of waight 20 Vnderstand their principall officers 21 Their Chauncellor also is no gentleman neither may a gentleman be Chauncellor or Secretarie Contaren lib. 5. 22 The King of Spaine vsed this colour for breach of his league with King Charles bicause there vvas a clause that they should not be bound to any thing preiudiciall to the Church and the realme of Naples vvas held of the Church Further another clause there vvas that he should not resist King Charles his conquest if it appeered by law the crowne of Naples to appertaine to him vvhich he sought not to prooue but proceeded by force 23 This is added bicause the realme of Naples vvas held of the Church 24 He meaneth bicause they dealt plainly vvith him but they of Milan had dissembled Notvvithstanding the French had it thus They shewed greater honor to me than to them of Milan but in mine opinion it vvas the Printers fault vvho for que ceulx de Milan had put qu'a ceulx de Milan for sure the sence is much better thus 25 Their league vvas concluded in Aprill Guicciar THE EIGHT BOOKE CONTINVING THE DISCOVRSE OF THE PRINCIPALL ACTS OF KING CHARLES THE EIGHT Of the order and prouision the King left in the realme of Naples at his returne into Fraunce Chap. 1. TO continue the better this my historie and to informe you of all that happened I must now returne to speake of the King who from the time he entred into Naples till his departure thence thought onely vpon sports and pleasures those that were about him vpon their owne priuate profit and gain notwithstanding his yong yeers excused him but on their behalfe no iust excuse can be made for he committed all his affaires to their gouernment And if they had aduised him to leaue well furnished in the countrie at his departure but three or fower castels onely namely that of Caietta and one or two more yea but the castell of Naples alone the prouision whereof he had giuen away as already you haue heard the realme had neuer been lost for if the castell of Naples had been kept the towne had neuer reuolted So soone as he vnderstood the league aboue mentioned to be concluded he commanded his whole forces to repaire to him and appointed fiue hundred men of armes French and 2500. Swissers 1 and a few French footemen for the defence of the realme determining with the rest to returne home the same way he came but the confederates made preparation to stop his passage The King of Spaine had sent and daily did send certaine Carauels 2 into Sicilie the which notwithstanding that they were but slenderly manned had before the Kings departure put men into Reges in Calabria neere to Sicilie I had eftsoones aduertised the King that there they would land for the ambassador of Naples had so informed me himselfe supposing they had already been landed but if the King had sent thither in time he had taken the castell for the towne held for him Out of Sicilie came certaine bands also to Mantia and to Turpia all through our owne fault bicause we had sent no forces thither In like maner the towne of Otrante in Pouille which had once set vp the armes of Fraunce seeing the league concluded and themselues seated neere to Brandis and Gallipoli and no meanes possible to leuie men to put into
that the King writ to the Duke of Orleans this enterprise of Nouarre which is but ten leagues from Milan liked him so wel that he was contented to giue eare thereunto and was receiued into the citie in great triumph both of the Guelphes and Gibelines which his exploit the Marchionesse of Monferrat greatly furthered The castle held two or three daies and then yeelded also But if in the meane time the Duke had gone or sent to Milan where he had good intelligence he had been receiued into the towne with greater ioy than euer he was into his castle of Blois as diuers of the noblest men of the countrey haue enformed me And the three first daies he might haue gone thither in safetie for when Nouarre was taken the Duke of Milans whole force lay yet at Nom neere to Ast and returned not to Milan till the fourth day after But I suppose the Duke beleeued not all the intelligence he receiued thence The Notes 1 The French corrector supposeth it should be Motron but the author himselfe aftervvard chap. 14. calleth it againe Mortron Guicciar hath it Mutron 2 The Duke of Orleans immediately after the skirmish vpon the sea at Rapalo fell sicke of an ague and returned to Ast and passed no further vvith the King tvvo gentlemen called Opizins brought the Duke of Orleans into Nouarre Guicci How King Charles passed diuers dangerous straights in the mountains between Pisa and Serzane how the towne of Pontreme was burned by his Almaines and how the Duke of Orleans behaued himselfe in the meane time at Nouarre Chap. 4. YOu haue heard already of the Kings departure from Sene to Pisa and of al that he did at Pisa Thence he remoued to Luques where the citizens honorably receiued him and there he abode two daies Afterward he marched to Petrosancte which Entragues held making no account of his enimies neither himselfe nor those that carried all the credit with him He passed maruellous straights in the mountaines betweene Luques and Petrosancte which a handfull of footemen might easily haue defended against him but our enimies were not yet assembled Neere to the said Petrosancte is the straight of Seire on the one side and the straight of Roctaille on the other being great deepe salt marshes where we were forced to passe ouer a narrow way like to a causey in a standing poole and this was the straight that betweene Pisa and Pontreme I most feared and which was reported to be most dangerous for one cart set ouerthwart the way with two good peeces of artillerie and but a handfull of men might haue stopped our passage had our force beene neuer so great From Petrosancte the King remooued to Serzane where the Cardinall Saint Peter ad vincula offered to make Genua reuolt and desired to haue some part of the Kings forces sent thither The matter was debated by the Kings Councell my selfe being present at it in the companie of a great many wise men and good captaines all the which concluded that no eare should be giuen to this enterprise bicause if the King obtained the victorie Genua would yeeld of it selfe and if he were ouerthrowen it could do him no seruice and this was the first time that I perceiued any of them to doubt the battell Report was made to the King of our resolution yet notwithstanding thither he sent the Lord of Bresse afterward Duke of Sauoy the Lord of Beaumont the Lord of Polignac my brother in lawe and the Lord of Ambeiou of the house of Amboise with sixe score men of armes and fiue hundred crossebowe men newly come out of Fraunce by sea But I woondred that so yoong a Prince had no trustie seruants about him that durst boldly tell him into how great danger he put himselfe by diminishing his force after this sort for as touching me me thought he beleeued not all that I said We had a small armie vpon the sea returning from Naples vnder the leading of the Lord of Myolens gouernor of Daulphin and one Stephan de Neues of Montpellier They were in all about eight gallies and sailed to Specie and Repalo where at this present they were all defeated and led prisoners to Genua in the selfesame place where we had vanquished King Alphonses forces at the beginning of this voiage and by the selfesame men that tooke part with vs at that battell namely Master Iohn Lewis de Flisco and Master Iohn Adorne but if the matter had been well ordred they should haue been with the King and all little ynough The Lord of Bresse and the Cardinall aboue mentioned went and lodged in the suburbes of Genua thinking that their faction within the towne would haue risen in their fauor But the Duke of Milan and the Adornes that gouerned the towne and Master Iohn Lewis de Flisco a wise knight had giuen so good order to preuent this mischiefe that our men were in great danger to be defeated heere also as the others were before vpon the sea for their number was small and had it not been bicause the faction that ruled at Genua durst not issue foorth of the towne for feare least the Fourgouses should rebell and shut the gates vpon them vndoubtedly they had all been slaine for this notwithstanding they were in great distresse vpon the way as they retired to Ast besides that they were not at the battel with the King where their seruice might haue stood him in good stead From Serzane the King marched to Pontreme through the which he was forced to passe bicause it is the very entrie into the mountaines The towne and castell were well fortified and the seate of them maruellous strong but within them were not past three or fower hundred footemen for if they had beene well manned they had beene impregnable Wherefore Frier Ieroms prophesie prooued true which was that God would leade the King by the hand till he were out of danger for it seemed that his enimies were blinded and bereft of their wits in that they defended not this straight To the said place of Pontreme the King sent his vaward led by the Marshall Gie accompanied with Master Iohn Iames of Treuoul whom the King had receiued into his seruice at Naples after King Ferrandes departure thence with whom he was them in pay he was a gentleman of Milan of a good house a good captaine a very valiant man and a great enimie to the Duke of Milan for he was banished by him when King Ferrande receiued him into his seruice By the said Master Iohn Iames his meanes the place yeelded immediately without batterie and the garrison that was within it departed But a great inconuenience happened there for as before is mentioned when the Duke of Milan passed last that way they of the towne and certaine of our Swissers fell at variance of whom about forty at that time were slaine for reuenge whereof the said Swissers at this present notwithstanding the composition slue all the men they found
there were also of the countrie of Vaulx in Senonie 7 and some of Gelderland These were to the number of eight hundred newly sent thither with two moneths pay the which being spent before they came thither and at their arriuall there no new pay being found they seeing themselues in this distresse declared that they bare vs no such good will as the Swissers do for they practised with our enimies and turned to King Ferrande for the which cause partly and partly for the diuision that was among our captaines our men made a shamefull appointment with their enimies the which King Ferrande sware to keepe and obserue being forced so to do by the Marquesse of Mantua who thought thereby to assure the person of his brother in lawe Monseur de Montpensier yet notwithstanding the said Ferrande brake the treatie as afterward mention shall be made more at large By the said composition they yeelded both themselues and all the Kings artillerie to their enimies promising further to cause to be rendred all the places that the King held in the realme as well in Calabria where Monseur d'Aubigny was as in L'Abruzzo where Master Gracian des Guerres was togither with the townes of Caietta and Tarente vnder this condition that King Ferrande should send them by sea into Prouence with bag and baggage which was not much woorth but notwithstanding the composition King Ferrande commanded them all to be led to Naples being to the number of fiue or sixe thousand persons or more So shamefull a composition hath not beene made in our time neither do I remember that euer I read of the like saue that which the two consuls of Rome made as rehearseth Titus Liuius 8 with the Samnites whom I suppose to be those of Beneuent at a place called then Furculae Caudinae which is a certaine straight in the mountaines notwithstanding the Romanes would not agree to the composition but sent the two Consuls prisoners to their enimies If our force had fought and beene discomfited yet should not their losse haue been so great as by this composition for two parts of them died either of famine or of the plague in their ships in the yle of Prusse 9 whither they were sent from Naples by King Ferrande and namely there died Monseur de Montpensier himselfe some say of poyson others of an ague which I rather beleeue And I thinke verily that of all this companie neuer returned fifteene hundred for of the Swissers which were thirteene hundred returned but three hundred and fifty all extreme sicke Their faith and loyaltie was greatly to be commended for they all chose rather to die than to serue King Ferrande and so a number of them died in the said yle of Prusse some of heate some of sicknes and some of famine for they were held there a long time in their ships in such penurie and lacke of victuals as is almost incredible I saw them all that returned especially the Swissers who brought backe with theâ— all their ensignes and sure it well appeered that they had endured great miserie for they were all so extreme sicke that when they came foorth of their ships to take the aire they were faine to be staied vp from falling It was also agreed by the said composition that the Lord Virgill Vrsin should returne home to his countrie in safetie and his son all the Italians that serued the King yet notwithstanding the enimies detained him still and his said legitimate sonne also for he had but one and as touching his base sonne called the Lord Charles who was a very valiant gentleman certaine Italians of their companie spoiled him as he repaired homeward If this miserie had fallen but vpon them onely that made this composition they had notbeen greatly to be moned Immediately after King Ferrande had receiued this honor aboue mentioned and married King Ferrande his grandfathers daughter being a yoong maide of thirteene or fowerteene yeeres of age begotten of the King of Castiles sister that now raigneth so that his wife was sister to his owne father King Alfonse he fell into a continuall ague whereof soone after he died and the crowne of the realme descended to King Frederick the said King Ferrandes vncle now presently raigning It abhorreth me to write of such a marriage as this notwithstanding diuers such haue beene contracted in this house of Arragon within these thirtie yeeres King Ferrande died immediately after the composition aboue mentioned made in the towne of Ateâ—â—e the yeere of our Lord 1496. The said Ferrande during his life and Dom Frederick also after he came to the crowne excused the breach of this composition bicause Monseur de Montpensier had not performed the conditions thereof nor rendred the places promised which he could not to say the truth Caietta and diuers others being out of his power For notwithstanding that he were the Kings lieutenant yet were not they that held these places for the King bound to yeeld them at his commandement Although all things well considered the King should haue sustained no great losse if they had then beene yeelded for he spent afterward great treasure in defending and victualling them and yet lost them in the end I my selfe was present three or fower times at the dispatch of those that were sent to victuall and succour first the castels of Naples and thrise after the towne of Caietta And I thinke I should not lie if I said that these fower voiages cost the King aboue three hundred thousand franks and yet all to no purpose The Notes 1 Before cap. 8. he named him de la Chappelle d'Aniou but if Loudonnois be in Aniou the places be reconciled 2 The Venetians paid the monie for the Pisans were not able to redeeme it but after the Citadelle deliuered the Pisans put themselues into the Venetians protection who razed the Citadelle Guicciar 3 This bastards name was de Bienne Guicciar 4 Mutron was also sold to the Luquois Guicciar 5 Librefacto was sold to the Pisans but the Venetians paid the monie Guicciar 6 This Virgill Vrsin is he aboue mentioned who after the Coulonnois reuolt from King Charles turned to him and of his foe became his friend and seruant 7 The French corrector readeth it Sionnie meaning the countrie called in Latin Valesia Sedusiorum whereof Sedunum called in French Sion is the chiefe towne or else he supposeth it should be Vaulx in Sauoy whereof our author maketh mention lib. 5. cap. 1. 8 Decad. 1. lib. 9. 9 Procida it is named by Colleuntius other Italians name it Ponze I suppose it to be that which Plinie lib. 3. cap. 6. calleth Proclita or Prochita saying that it lieth in Sinu Puteolano not far from Naples nor from the yle of Ischia Boccace also Decame 2 nouell 6. reporteth both Procida and Ponze to be neere to Naples Guicciar hath Pozzuole How certaine practises entertained by diuers noble men of Italy on the Kings behalfe as well for the conquest
ended so that none sought to endammage other but each partie to defend their own They sent to King Charles a gentleman accompanied with certaine Monks of Montferrat for all their affaires they gouerned by such men either to saue charges thereby or to dissemble by such instruments with the lesse suspition as for example they did by Iohn de Mauleon the Frier Franciscan aboue named who perswaded the King to restore vnto them the countrey of Roussillon These ambassadors at their first audience besought the King to forget the great wrong the King and the Queene had done him I name alwaies the Queene bicause the crowne of Castile mooued by hir and bicause hir authority was greater there than hir husbands and vndoubtedly this was a very honorable mariage betweene the King hir husband and hir Then these ambassadors began to treat of truce desiring to haue all their league comprehended therein The ouuertures they made were these that the King should keepe the possession of Caietta and the other places he yet held in the realme of Naples and that during the truce he might victuall them at his pleasure Further that there should be a place assigned whither all the Princes of the league should send their ambassadors at the least as many as would to treat of peace the which being concluded the said King and Queene meant to continue their conquest or enterprise against the Moores and to passe the sea out of Granado into Africk there to inuade the King of Fessa who was their next neighbour on that side Notwithstanding some were of opinion that they meant rather to hold themselues contented with that they had already conquered I meane the realme of Granado which vndoubtedly was the greatest and honorablest conquest that hath been obteined in our time 8 yea such as their predecessors were neuer able to atchieue And I wish with all my hart for the honor I beare them that they had neuer mooued other war than this but had faithfully performed their promise to the King The King sent the Lord of Clerieux in Daulphine backe into Castile with their ambassadors and sought to conclude a peace or truce wherein their confederates should not be comprehended notwithstanding if he had accepted their offer made by these their ambassadors he had saued Caietta which had been sufficient for the recouerie of the whole realme of Naples considering the great fauour he had there The said de Clerieux at his returne brought a new ouuerture for Caietta was lost before he entred into Castile which was that the King and they should renew their former ancient league and attempt betweene them at equall charges the conquest of all Italie wherat the two Kings should be togither in person but they said they would first conclude a generall truce wherein all their league should be comprehended and then assigne a diet at some place in Piemont whither euery of their confederates should send their ambassadors to the end they might honorably depart from their said league All this ouuerture as we suspected then and vnderstood perfectly afterward was but meere dissimulation to win time to the end King Ferrand while he liued and afterward Dom Frederic newly crowned King might repose themselues notwithstanding I thinke they wished with all their harts the said realme of Naples to be their owne and sure they had better title to it than they that possessed it9. But vndoubtedly the house of Anious right which the King had was the best although to say the truth considering both the seate of the countrey and the disposition of the people that inhabite it me thinke he hath best right to it that can get it for they desire nothing but alteration The King afterward sent the aboue named de Clericux back againe into Castile one Michaell of Grammont with him with certaine other ouertures This de Clerieux bare some affection to these Princes of Arragon and hoped to obtaine of them the Marquisat of Cotron in Calabria which the King of Spaine conquered in the last voiage that his men made thither The said de Clerieux pretended title to it and he is a good plaine dealing man and one that will easily giue credit especially to such personages as these were At his second returne he brought with him an ambassador from the King and Queene and made his report to the King which was that they would hold themselues contented with that part of the realme of Naples that lies next to Sicilie to wit Calabria for the right that they pretended to the said realme and that the King should hold the rest and farther that the said King of Castile would be in person at this conquest and beare equall charges in all things with the King and indeed he held then and yet holdeth fower or fiue strong places in Calabria whereof Cotron is one which is a good and a well fortified citie I was present at this report which seemed vnto most of vs but meere abuse and dissimulation Wherefore it was determined that some wise man should be sent to them to sound the bottom of this ouuerture and thereupon the Lord of Bouchage was ioined in commission with the former ambassadors he was a man of deepe iudgement and one that had been in great credit with King Levvis and so is he also at this present with King Charles his sonne The Spanish ambassador that came with de Clerieux would neuer auow his report but answered that he thought the said de Clerieux would not make the report if the King his Master and the Queene had not willed him so to do which answer caused vs so much the more to suspect their dissimulation besides that no man would beleeue that the King of Castile would go in person into Italy or that he either would or could beare equall charges with the King After the said Lords of Bouchage Clerieux and Michaell of Grammont with the rest of their collegues were come to the K. and Queene of Castiles court they lodged them in a place where no man could com to commune with them for the which purpose also certaine were appointed to watch their lodgings But they themselues spake thrise with them when the said du Bouchage aduertised them of the report aboue mentioned made to the King by de Clerieux and Michaell of Grammont they answered that they would willingly endeuor themselues to conclude a peace for the Kings honor and profit And as touching the said report they confessed that indeed such speech had passed them by way of communication but not otherwise with the which answer de Clerieux being discontented and not without cause aduowed his report to be true before them both in the presence of the said Lord of Bouchage who with the rest of his companions concluded a truce the King hauing two moneths respit to accept it or refuse it wherin their confederates were not comprehended but their sonnes in lawe and the fathers of their sonnes in lawe namely the
Kings of Romanes and England 10 for the Prince of Wales was at that time very yoong were comprehended therein they had fower daughters the eldest of the which was a widow and had been married to the King of Portugales sonne that last died who brake his necke before hir as he passed a carrier vpon a ginnet within three moneths after their marriage The second and the third were married the one in Flaunders and the other in England and the fourth is yet to marrie After the Lord of Bouchage was returned and had made his report the King perceiued that de Clerieux had beene too credulous and that he had done wisely in sending du Bouchage thither bicause he was now assured of that which before he stood in doubt of The said de Bouchage aduertised him further that he could effect nothing but the conclusion of the truce the which he had libertie either to accept or refuse at his pleasure The King accepted it and sure it serued him to good purpose for it was the breach of their league which so much had troubled his affaires and which hitherto he could by no means dissolue notwithstanding that he had attempted all waies possible Thirdly the said de Bouchage informed the King that the King and Queene of Castile had promised him at his departure to send ambassadors immediately after him cause of their attainture was for that they had attempted to make him King of Portugale that now raigneth These Lords therefore and gentlemen were by meanes of this marriage recompensed in Castile by the King and Queene and their lands which they had forfaited in Portugale by attainture assigned to the Queene of Portugale now mentioned daughter to the said K. and Queene of Castile But notwithstanding all these considerations the said K. Queene repented them of this marriage for you shall vnderstand that there is no nation in the world that the Spaniards hate more than the Portugales so far foorth that they disdaine scorne them wherfore the said King Queene lamented much that they had bestowed their daughter vpon a man that should not be beloued in the realm of Castile their other dominions if the marriage had been then vnmade they would neuer haue made it which vndoubtedly was a great corrosiue to them yet nothing so great as this that she should depart from them Notwithstanding after all their sorrowes ended they led their said daughter and sonne in law through all the chiefe cities of their realme and made the said King of Portugale to be receiued for Prince and their daughter for Princesse and proclaimed them their successors after their death Some comfort they receiued after all these sorrowes for they were aduertised that the said Lady Princesse of Castile and Queene of Portugale was great with childe but this ioy prooued in the end double greefe so that I thinke they wished themselues out of the world for this Lady whom they so tenderly loued and so much esteemed died in trauell of the said childe not past a moneth agone and we are now in October in the yeere 1498. but the childe liueth 4 and is called Emanuell after his fathers name All these greatmisfortunes hapned to them in the space of three moneths Now to returne to the estate of Fraunce You shall vnderstand that about fower or fiue moneths before the said Ladies death a great misfortune happened also in this realme I meane the death of King Charles the eight whereof heereafter you shall heare at large It seemed therefore that God beheld both these houses with an angrie countenance and would not that the one realme should scorne the other For although the death of a Prince seeme but a trifle to many yet is it sure far otherwise for change of the Prince neuer happeneth in any realme but it traineth with it great sorrowes and troubles and notwithstanding that some gaine by it yet an hundred fold more lose bicause at an alteration men are forced to change their maner and forme of liuing for that that pleaseth one Prince displeaseth another Wherefore as before I haue said if a man well consider the sharpe and sudden punishments that God hath laide vpon great Princes within these thirty yeeres in Fraunce Castile Portugale England Naples Flaunders and Britaine he shall finde that they haue beene heauier and greeuouser than happened in two hundred yeeres before and whosoeuer would take in hand to discourse vpon all the particular misfortunes that I my selfe haue seene and in a maner knowen all the persons as well men as women to whom they happened should make thereof a huge volume and that of great admiration yea though it contained onely such as haue chanced within these ten yeeres By these punishments the power of God ought to be the better knowen for the plagues he powreth downe vpon great personages are sharper grieuouser and endure longer than those he sendeth to the poorer sort To conclude therefore me thinke all things well waied that Princes are in no better estate in this world than other men if they consider by the miseries they see happen to their neighbours what may happen to themselues For as touching them they chastice their subiects at their pleasures and God disposeth of them at his pleasure bicause other than him they haue none ouer them but happie is the realme that is gouerned by a Prince that is wise and feareth God and his commandements I haue briefly rehearsed the misfortunes that happened in three moneths space to these two great and mightie realmes which not long before were so inflamed the one against the other so busied in enlarging their dominions and so little contented with that they already possessed And notwithstanding that alwaies some as before I said reioice at changes and gaine by them yet at the first euen to them the death especially the sudden death of their Prince is very dreadfull and dangerous The Notes 1 This he seemeth to adde bicause the empire was greater but it was not the Emperors inheritance 2 Vnderstand the two first murthers of his wiues father and brother for his sonne was dead before he slue his owne brother 3 Vnderstand hir dowrie for hir first marriage 4 But the childe died also afterward and the crowne of Spaine descended to Iane the second daughter wife to Philip Duke of Austrich and mother to the Emperor Charles the fift Further you shall vnderstand that our authors memorie failed him heere for this Princes name was not Emanuel as Commines heere writeth but Michael according to all good authors and pedegrees both of Spaine and Portugale Of the sumptuous building King Charles began a little before his death of the great desire he had to reforme the Church and himselfe to diminish his reuenues and to redresse the processes of the law and how he died suddenly in this good minde in his castel of Amboise Chap. 18. I Will heere cease further to discourse of the affaires of Italie and Castile
and returne to our owne particular sorrowes and troubles in Fraunce which notwithstanding were pleasant newes happily to those that gained by them I will write of the sudden death of King Charles the 8. who being in his castel of Amboise had begun the sumptuousest building both in the castell and the towne that any King tooke in hand these hundred yeeres as appeereth by the towers vp to the which men ride on horsebacke and by the foundātion laid in the towne the platformes whereof were drawen of such exquisitenes that they well declared it to be a worke of maruellous charge and that could not haue beene finished in long time For you shall vnderstand that the King had brought with him from Naples many excellent workmen in all kinde of arts especially grauers and painters and sure it seemed by the foundation an enterprise of a yoong King that thought not to die but hoped of long life for he ioined togither all the goodly things that were commended to him were they in Fraunce Italie or Flaunders Further he continued still desirous to returne into Italie and confessed that he had committed many errors in his voiage thither and oftentimes rehearsed them determining if his fortune were to returne againe and recouer his losses to giue better order for the defence of the countrie The recouerie also wherof bicause he had great intelligence in all places he purposed to attempt and to send thither fifteene hundred men of armes Italians vnder the leading of the Marquesse of Mantua the Vrsins the Vitellies and the Prefect of Rome brother to the Cardinall Saint Peter ad Vincula Moreouer Monseur d' Aubigny who had done him so great seruice in Calabria was ready to take his iourney towards Florence for the Florentines offered to beare the halfe of these charges for sixe moneths to the end the King with these forces aboue mentioned might first take Pisa 1 at the least the small places about it and then all togither enter into the realme of Naples from whence messengers came daily to him Alexander the Pope that now is practised with him and offered to become his perfect friend for there was a breach betweene him and the Venetians so far foorth that he sent a secret messenger into Fraunce whom myselfe conueied into the Kings chamber a little before his death The Venetians were ready to practise against Milan as touching Spaine you haue heard how it was affected to him The King of Romanes desired nothing so much as his friendship and that they two might ioine their forces togither to recouer that which appertained to them in Italie for the said Maximilian was great enimie to the Venetians bicause they withhold diuers things both from the house of Austrich whereof he is heire and also from the empire 2 Moreouer the King was wel disposed a little before his death to lead his life according to the commandements of God to reforme al abuses in the law the Church and to diminish his receits reuenues purposing to leuy of his people onely twelue hundred thousand franks ouer and aboue his demains which sum the three estates granted him by way of subsidie at Towers at his first comming to the crowne and this money he meant to employ vpon the defence of the realme But as touching himselfe he would haue liued vpon his demaines according to the maner of the ancient Kings of Fraunce and so might he well haue done for the demaines are great yea so great if they were well ordered that they surmount a million of franks certaine customes and subsidies being annexed to them If this his determination had taken effect he should thereby much haue eased his people who pay at this present aboue two millions and a halfe of franks by way of subsidie Moreouer he tooke great pains in reforming the abuses of the order of Saint Benet and other orders of religion he called neere about him holy religious men and often heard them preach he would willingly haue brought to passe if he could that a Bishop should haue had but one bishopricke and a Cardinall but two and that the clergie should haue beene resident vpon their benefices but it had been a hard matter to reforme the church men He gaue great almes to poore people a little before his death as his confessor the Bishop of Anger 's who was a woorthie prelate enformed me Lastly he had built a publike audience where himselfe heard the sutes of all men especially of the poore and dispatched many matters I my selfe sawe him in this place two houres togither but eight daies before his death which was the last time that euer I sawe him no matters of great importance were dispatched there but by this meanes he held men in feare especially his officers some also of the which he displaced for extortion and briberie But the eight day of Aprill the yeere 1498. vpon Palme sunday euen the King being in this glory as touching the world and in this good minde towards God departed out of the chamber of Queene Anne Duches of Britaine his wife leading hir with him to see the tennice plaiers in the trenches of the castle whither he had neuer led hir before and they two entred togither into a gallery called Haquelebacs gallerie bicause the said Haquelebac had in times past held watch and warde in it It was the vncleanest place about the castell for euery man made water there and the entrie into it was broken downe moreouer the King as he entred knocked his browe against the doore notwithstanding that he were of very small stature Afterward he beheld a great while the tennice playing talking familiarly with al men I my selfe was not present there but his said confessor the Bishop of Anger 's and those of his chamber that were neerest about him haue enformed me of this I write for as touching my selfe I was gone home eight daies before to my house The last word he spake being in health was that he hoped neuer after to commit deadly sin nor veniall if he could in vttering the which words he fell backeward and lost his speech about two of the clocke at afternoone and abode in this gallerie till eleuen of the clock at night Thrise he recouered his speech but it continued not with him as the said confessor told me who had shriuen him twise that weeke once of ordinarie and once for those that came to be cured of the Kings euill Euery man that listed entred into the gallerie where he laie vpon an old mattresse of strawe from the which he neuer arose till he gaue vp the ghost so that nine howers he continued vppon it The said confessor who was continually by him tolde me that all the three times he recouered his speech he cried My God and the glorious virgin Marie Saint Claude and Saint Blase helpe me Thus departed out of this world this mightie puissant Prince in this miserable place not being able to recouer one poore