the Duke of Burgundy where he remained till the yeere of his coronation which was in the yeere 1461. Annal. Burgund De la Marche Meyer How the Burgundians lying neere to Paris and looking for the battell supposed great thistles to haue been launces held vpright Chap. 11. I Haue been long in this discourse but it serueth to so good purpose that sooner I could not end it Now to returne to the wars you haue heard how these archers that lay in the trench along vpon the riuer of Seine dislodged at the very instant that we should haue assailed them The truce neuer endured past a day or two and when it ended sharpe war began againe and the skirmishes continued from morning till night but no great force issued foorth of the towne notwithstanding they beat backe our scoutes oftentimes whom we euer releeued with new supplies There passed no day without some skirmish great or small and I thinke the King would haue had them greater had it not been bicause he was ielous of diuers though needlesly I haue heard him say that one night he found the posterne of Saint Anthonies bastile towards the fields wide open which put him in suspicion of Master Charles of Melun whose father kept the place yet sure a faithfuller seruant than the said Charles that yeere the King had none One day they within Paris determined to issue foorth to fight with vs of the which enterprise I suppose the King vnderstood nothing but it was onely his captaines resolution they meant to assaile vs three seuerall waies their greatest band should haue come from Paris another from Pont de Charenton which two could not greatly haue endamaged vs and the third appointed to be two hundred men of armes from Bois-de-Vincennes Of this resolution we were aduertised about midnight by a Page that told vs this newes as lowd as he could crie from the other side of the riuer by the commandement of the Princes friends within the towne some of the which also he named and so departed By breake of day issued foorth Master Poncet of Riuiere before Pont de Charenton and the Lord of Lauon the other side from Bois-de-Vincennes euen hard to our artillerie where they slue one of our gunners The alarme was great in our campe for we supposed this to be the enterprise whereof the Page aduertised vs ouer night The Earle of Charolois was soone armed yet not so soone as Iohn Duke of Calabria for at all alarmes he was the first man armed and that at all points and his horse euer barded Moreouer he ware such a garment as the famous men of war vse in Italy and shewed himselfe both a noble Prince and a woorthy Captaine he rode straight to the barriars of our campe to staie our men fom issuing foorth where he was as well obeyed as the Earle of Charolois him selfe yea the whole armie obeied him more willingly than any man in the companie of the which honor vndoubtedly he was woorthie Incontinent our whole force was in armes stood in order of battell within our cariage all saue two hundred horse that kept our watch abroad To be short this day we looked assuredly for the battell but neuer before nor neuer after Soone after the Earle of Charolois and the Duke of Calabria arriued the Dukes of Berry and Britaine whom I neuer saw armed but this day onely The Duke of Berry was armed at all points notwithstanding they were but weakely accompanied in the which estate they passed through the campe and rode foorth to the Lords of Charolois and Calabria where they communed togither Our scoutes being renforced rode as neere Paris as they could and discouered a great number of our enimies scouts comming to learne what noise this was in our army Our artillerie shot terriblie when Monseur De Lau approched so neere vs the King also had good peeces vpon Paris wals that shot into our campe which was strange for we lay two leagues from the town but I thinke the peeces were mounted to the most aduantage This thundering of the artillerie caused both the parties to thinke some great enterprise to be towards The day was very darke and cloudy and our scouts approching neer to Paris discouered many enimies abroad in the field and a good way beyond them a number of launces held vpright as they supposed which they iudged to be the Kings whole force and all the people of Paris issued foorth of the towne in order of battel which imagination the darknes of the heauens put into their head They returned foorthwith to the Princes being yet without our campe aduertised them of this news assuring them of the battell The scoutes that were issued foorth of Paris approched still neerer and neerer to our campe bicause they saw ours retire which thing so much the more increased in our scoutes their former imagination Then came the Duke of Calabria to the place where a great number of the Earle of Charolois houshold seruants stood to accompanie his standard and his banner readie to be displaied and the guidon of his armes according to the custome of the house of Burgundy and there the said Duke of Calabria spake thus to vs all We haue now our desire for the King is issued foorth with his whole force and marcheth forward as our scouts tell vs. Wherefore let vs determine to play the men So soone as they be out of the towne we will enter and measure with the long ell 1 and with such like words rode he about encouraging the companie our scouts at the length perceiuing the enimies to be but weake recouered their spirits rode againe towards Paris where they discouered these battels in the selfe-same place they left them whereupon they entred into a new cogitation what they might be but when they approched neere to them the day being broken vp and cleere they perceiued them to be high thistles whereupon they rode hard to the towne gates and found not a man abroad whereof incontinent they aduertised the Princes who vpon this newes went to masse and afterward to dinner but our scoutes were ashamed of their first aduertisement notwithstanding the darknes of the day togither with the message of the Page brought vnto vs ouernight somwhat excused them The Notes 1 By the long ell he meaneth the pike wherewith souldiers at the sacke of a towne vse to measure veluets silks and cloths How the King and the Earle of Charolois met togither to treat of peace Chap. 12. THe treatie of peace continued still betweene the King and the Earle of Charolois especially bicause the principall force of both the armies was theirs The Princes demands were great namely the Duke of Berries who required all Normandy for his partage which the King would by no means condescend vnto The Earle of Charolois demanded the townes situate vpon the riuer of Somme namely Abbeuille Amiens Saint Quintin Peronne and the rest that King Charles the 7. had engaged
was deputy of Calice and had diuers other great offices so that I haue heard his yeerely reuenewes valued at fower score thousand crownes besides his owne inheritance But in the end he fell at variance with the King his master about a yeere as I gesse before the Duke of Burgundies comming before Amiens which breach the said Duke furthered to the vttermost of his power For the Earles great authority in England much discontented him besides that they two were not friends for the Earle had continuall intelligence with the King our master To be short about this present or not long before the Earle of Warwickes force was so great that he seased the King his master into his hands and put to death diuers personages that he highly fauored namely the Lord of Scales the Queenes father 3 and two of his sonnes the third being also in great danger with them diuers other knights He entertained the King his master for a season very honorably and placed new seruants about him supposing that through simplicity he would soone forget the old The Duke of Burgundy being not a little troubled with this aduenture practised secretly how King Edvvard might escape and they two commune togither which enterprise had so good successe that the King escaped indeede and leuied men and defeated certaine of the Earles bands He was a fortunate Prince in the field for he wan at the least nine great battels fighting himselfe on foote in euery one of them The Earle of Warwicke vnable to make resistance aduertised his friends what they should do and embarked at leisure accompanied with the Duke of Clarence who had married his daughter and tooke part with him notwithstanding that he were King Edwards brother They transported with them both wiues and children and a great band of men and sailed straight towards Calais within the which was the Earles lieutenant named the Lord of Vaucler 4 and diuers of the said Earles houshold seruants who in stead of receiuing their Master presented him the canon Further you shall vnderstand that as they lay at anchor before the towne the Duchesse of Clarence daughter to the Earle of Warwicke was deliuered of a sonne and great intreatie was made before Vaucler and the rest of the towne would suffer two flaggons of wine to be brought foorth to hir which was great extremitie of the seruant towards the master For it is to be supposed that the Earle thought himselfe well assured of this place which is they very key of England and the goodliest captainship in mine opinion in the world at the least in Christendome which I dare boldly auow bicause I was there diuers times during these wars and heard also the Maior of the staple report that he would willingly farme yeerely the deputyship of Calais of the King of England for fifteene thousand crownes For the deputie receiueth the profits of all that they haue on this side the sea and of all safe conducts and placeth also the greatest part of the garrison at his pleasure The King of England fauoured highly the Lord of Vaucler for this refusall made to his Captaine and granted him by his letters patents the office of Deputie which the Earle his master before held for he was a wise and an ancient knight and one of the order of the garter The Duke of Burgundie also who then lay at Saint Omer conceiued a maruellous good opinion of him so far foorth that he sent me to him granting him a yeerely pension of a thousand crownes and desiring him to continue a true and faithfull seruant to the King his Master as he had begun which at my comming thither I found him fully determined to do so that he sware in Staple Inne in Calais laying his hand within mine to be faithfull and true to King Edward and to serue him against all men The like oth all the towne and all the garrison sware also Farther I was by the space of two months almost continually resident at Calais at the least posting daiely betweene Calais and Bullen to entertaine the said Vaucler for you shall vnderstand that during these English troubles the Duke of Burgundie came to Bullen where he prepared a great army by sea against the Earle of Warwick who at his departure from Calais tooke many ships of the Dukes subiects which aduanced forward the war betweene the King of Fraunce and vs. For the Earles men sould the bootie in Normandie whereupon the Duke of Burgundie arrested all the French Marchants that came to the Mart at Andwerp Now bicause it is meete to vnderstand as well the cunning and subtill as the iust and vpright dealings of the world not to practise them but to know how to avoide them I will rehearse vnto you a sleight or subtilitie terme it as you list that was cunningly conueighed Farther I would that men should vnderstand the practises as well of our neighbors as our selues to the end it may appeere that in all places are both good and bad When the Earle of Warwick came before Calais thinking to enter into it as his onely refuge the Lord of Vaucler being a very wise gentleman sent him word that if he entred the towne he should cast away himselfe considering that all England the Duke of Burgundie the people of the towne and a great part of the garrison namely the Lord of Duras Marshall there for the King of England and diuers others that had men in the towne were his enimies wherefore his best way should be to retire into Fraunce and as touching the towne of Calais he willed him not to trouble himselfe for he would yeeld him good account thereof when time and occasion should serue He did his Captaine good seruice by giuing him this aduise but shewed himselfe thereby a very Iudas to his Master For vndoubtedly a more traiterous part was neuer plaied considering both that the King of England had made him Deputie of the towne of Calais and the Duke of Burgundy giuen him so large a pension The Notes 1 Philippa daughter to Iohn Duke of Lancaster was married to Iohn King of Portugale and had issue by him Isabell mother to Duke Charles 2 This was Henry Holland Duke of Exceter whose wife was Anne sister to King Edward the fourth and his grandmother was Elizabeth daughter to Iohn Duke of Lancaster by his first wife but he died without issue 3 Our chronicles name the Queenes father Earle of Riuers and so doth afterward also our Author lib. 5. cap. 15. 4 This Vaucler was a Gascoine borne How by King Lewis his aide the Earle of Warwicke chased King Edward out of England to the Duke of Burgundies great greefe who receiued him into his countries Chap. 5. THe Earle of Warwicke followed Vauclers aduise and landed in Normandie where the King honorably receiued him and furnished him largely of mony for his mens expences and appointed also the bastard of Bourbon Admirall of Fraunce being well accompanied to defend the
to Venice with certaine conditions of peace which they refused and of the D. of Milans false dealings page 353 Chap. 13 How the king after his returne into Fraunce forgot those that he left behind him in the realme of Naples and how the Daulphin died whose death the king and Queene much lamented page 356 Chap. 14 How the king was aduertised of the losse of the castell of Naples and how the Florentines places were sold to diuers men of the treatie of Atelle in Pouille to the great dammage of the French and of the death of king Ferrand of Naples page 358 Chap. 15 How certaine practises-entertained by diuers noble men of Italy on the kings behalfe as well for the conquest of Naples as of the Duchie of Milan failed for lacke of sending thither and how an other enterprise against Genua sped euill also page 362 Chap. 16 Of certaine controuersies betweene king Charles and Ferrand king of Castile and of the ambassadors that were sent too and fro to pacifie them page 366 Chap. 17 A discourse of the misfortunes that hapned to the house of Castile in the Lord of Argentons time page 370 Chap. 18 Of the sumptuous buildings K. Charles began a little before his death of the great desire he had to reforme the church himselfe to diminish his reuenues to redresse the processes of the law and how he died suddenly in this good minde in his castell of Amboise page 373 Chap. 19 How the holy man frier Hierom was burned at Florence by the procurement of the pope and of diuers Florentines and Venetians his enimies page 375 Chap. 20 Of the obsequies and funerals of king Charles the 8. and of the coronation of king Lewis the 12. his successor with the genealogies of the kings of Fraunce continuing to the saide Lewis page 377 The pedegree of Charles D. of Burgundy page 379 How Elizabeth wife to king Edward the fourth was neece to the Constable of Fraunce page 380 How Brabant Lambourg Luxembourg Namurs c. came to Charles D. of Burgundy 381. page 382 How Margaret of Flaunders was heire of Flaunders c. page 383 How Arthois and the county of Burgundy descended to the said Lady Margaret c. page 384 How the King of Portugale was cosin germaue to the D. of Burgundy page 385 How the D. of Cleues was the Lady of Burgundies neerest kinsman by his mother page 386 How King Henry the 7. was right heire of the house of Lancaster page 387 The title the D. of Lorraine had to the realme of Sicilie c. page 388 Why the Venetians had no right to the realme of Naples page 390 The house of Medices page 391 How Lewis D. of Orleans pretended title to the Duchie of Milan page 392 The pedegree of Hercules D. of Ferrara page 394 The pedegree of Francis Marques of Mantua page 395 How Ferdinand King of Arragon had more right to the realme of Naples than the Kings of the house of Arragon that possessed it page 396 FINIS THE PREFACE OF THE AVTHOR TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF VIENNA in Fraunce TO satisfie your request so often mooued vnto me right reuerend father in God I send you heere a memoriall as agreeable to truth as I can possibly call to minde of all the acts and doings that I haue been priuy vnto of king Levvis the eleuenth our master and benefactor and a prince woorthy of perpetuall memory Of his youth I can say nothing but by his owne report But from the time I entred into his seruice till the hower of his death whereat I was present I was more continually resident with him than any man of my estate that serued him being euer either of his priuy chamber or employed in his weightie affaires I found in him as in all other princes that I haue knowne or serued both good and bad For men they are as we be perfection is proper to God onely But sure that prince whose vertues and good parts surmount his vices deserueth great commendation the rather bicause commonly noble personages are more prone to al kind of wantonnes than other men partly for that in their childhood they are brought vp without due chastisement correction partly bicause when they are grown to mans estate ech man seeketh to seed their humors sooth them in all they say or do But for mine own part bicause I loue not to flatter nor misreport the truth somwhat may happily be found in this historie not tending altogither to the kings praise but I trust the readers will weigh the reasons aboue alledged Sure thus much I dare boldly say in his commendation that in mine opinion he was the prince in his age all things considered least subiect to vice Yet haue I knowne and been conuersant with as many great princes both spirituall and temporall as any man in Fraunce of my time as well the princes of this realme as those also that haue liued in Britaine Flaunders Almayne Englande Spayne Portugall and Italy Diuers others also whom I haue not seene yet haue I knowne partly by conference with their ambassadors and partly by their letters and instructions which are meanes sufficient to enforme men of their natures and inclinations Notwithstanding I minde not by setting foorth his commendation in this worke to detract from the honor and good renowne of others but send you penned in haste all that I could call to minde trusting that you haue required it of me to turne it into some worke that you purpose to publish in Latine to the perfection of which toong you haue atteined whereby may appeere both the woorthines of the prince I now write of and also the excellencie of your owne wit Farther sir if I happen to faile in any point you haue my L. of Bouchage and others who are better able to enforme you of these affaires than my selfe and to couch their words in much eloquenter language Although to say the truth considering how honorablie the king entertained me how great familiaritie it pleased him to vse towards me and how liberally he bestowed vpon me neuer intermitting one of the three till the houre of his death no man hath iuster cause to remember those times then my selfe whereunto I also adde the losses I haue susteined and dangers I haue been in sithence his decease which are sufficient I thinke to put me in minde of the great benefits I receiued at his hands during his life Notwithstanding that I know it to be a matter of course that after the death of great and mightie princes great alterations ensue to the losse of some and gain of others for riches and honors folow not alwaies their expectation that hunt after them To conclude sir the better to enforme you of the time sithence I entred into the kings familiarity which is your desire I am forced first to rehearse what hapned before I came to his seruice and so orderly to proceede from the time I
of the Duke of Guiennes death and that the K. had alreadie recouered a great part of his countrie The like aduertisements receiued he also incontinent from others but reporting diuersly of the said Dukes death Soone after returned Simon of Quinchy from the King with a cold answer for he refused to sweare the treatie which the Duke tooke very disdainfully as a matter tending to his contempt and dishonor His men also in time of war as well for this as other causes spake very villanous and opprobrious words of the King and I warrant you the French requited them with the like The Duke of Burgundie being almost out of his wits bicause of these newes by the perswasion of certaine no lesse sorie for this accident than himselfe writ letters to diuers townes of the realme charging the King with his brothers death but little it auailed for no man stirred 1 Notwithstanding if the Duke of Guienne had liued vndoubtedly the King should haue had ynough to do for the Britons were in a readines to inuade him hauing greater intelligences in the realme than euer before all the which failed by the Dukes death The Duke of Burgundy in this fury put himselfe into the field and marched towards Nesle in Vermandois making foule and cruell war contrary to his accustomed maner for he spoiled and burned all the countrey as he passed His vaward marched before him and besieged the said towne of Nesle being of no force but the Duke himselfe lodged three leagues from it Within the towne were certaine franke archers that slew a herald of the Dukes comming to summon them Further their captaine came foorth to parle vnder surety thinking to bring the matter to composition but could not and as he returned into the towne the truce yet continuing bicause of his saly they within the towne notwithstanding that themselues stood open vpon the wall no man seeking to hurt them slew yet two other of the Dukes men wherfore the truce was disauowed word sent to the Lady of Nesle being within the towne to come foorth with all hir household stuffe which she did accordingly and immediately after the place was assaulted and taken and the greatest part of them that were within it slaine all that were taken aliue were hanged saue a few whom the soldiers for very pity let go a number also had their hands cut off It lotheth me to make mention of this cruelty but bicause I was present somewhat I am forced to write therof And sure either the Duke was maruellously passioned in that he committed so cruell an act or some great caused mooued him thereunto He alleaged two the one the Duke of Guiennes death wherof he spake very strangely vpon other mens report the other the griefe he had conceiued for the losse of Amiens and Saint Quintin aboue rehearsed Some that shall read this that foloweth will thinke happily that there was small faith in these two Princes or that I misreport them I would be loth to misreport either of them And to the King our Master how much I am bound all the world knoweth But to continue my history right reuerend father in God in such sort as you haue required I am forced to vtter that I know howsoeuer it passed And I doubt not but these two being compared with other Princes shall seeme noble woorthy and honorable and the King our Master wise aboue all the rest who left his realme enlarged and in peace with all his enimies Wherefore let vs now consider whether of these two Princes sought to deceiue the other to the end that if heereafter this history happen to fall into the hands of some yoong Prince that hath to negotiate in such like affaires he may by reading thereof be the better instructed how to looke to himselfe For notwithstanding that neither Princes nor enimies be alwaies alike nor deale alike in like affaires yet is it good to know the histories of times past To speake therefore vprightly I thinke both these Princes were fully bent each to deceiue other and tended both to one end as you shall heare Both of them had their armies abroad in a readines The King had already taken diuers places and during the treaty made sharpe war vpon his brother whom the Lords of Courton Patris Foucart and diuers others had already relinquished were receiued into the Kings seruice Further his army lay about Rochell hauing great intelligence in the towne for the citizens practised continually as well bicause of the rumor of this treaty as also bicause of the Dukes sicknes And I thinke the Kings resolution was if he could atchieue his enterprise there or his brother hapned to die not to sweare the treaty but if he found great resistance to sweare it and performe his promise thereby to auoid all danger And sure he lost no time but vsed great diligence delaying also very cunningly Simon of Quingy the space of eight daies during the which delay his brother died further he knew well the Duke of Burgundy so greatly to desire the restitution of these two townes aboue named that he durst not flatly fall out with him Wherefore he meant to delay him and feed him foorth with faire words fifteen or twenty daies as he did accordingly to see in the meane time what would happen Now that I haue spoken of the King and shewed how he was purposed to deale with the Duke it is fit I should also declare how the Duke was minded towards him and thought to delude him had not the Duke of Guiennes death happened Simon of Quinchy by the Kings request had a commission from the Duke his Master commanding him immediately after the treatie sworne and writings deliuered for the confirmation thereof to go into Britaine to informe the Duke of Britaine of the conditions of the peace and in like maner the Duke of Guiennes ambassadors resident in Britaine to the end they might aduertise their Master thereof at Bordeaux whereby the King meant to put the Britons into the greater feare when they should see themselues abandoned of him that was their chiefe anchor hold Now you shall vnderstand that Simon of Quinchy had in his company a rider of the Dukes Escuirie called Henry a Parisian borne a wise fellow and of good experience who had a letter of credit to the said Simon written with the Dukes owne hand but his commission was not to deliuer it till the said Simons departure from the King and his arriuall to the Duke of Britaine at Nantes where his charge was to deliuer him the letter and this message withall That he should will the Duke of Britaine not to thinke that his Master would abandon the Duke of Guienne and him for he would succour them both with body and goods and that he had concluded this treatie to none other end but to auoid war and recouer the townes of Saint Quintine and Amiens which the King in time of peace contrary to his promise
was their onely man of wisdome and experience in the countrey besides that generally the Britaines desire nothing more than peace with Fraunce bicause continually a great number of them haue good entertainment and be in good estimation in this realme not vnwoorthily for sure in times past they haue done great seruice heere Wherefore me thinke the King did very wisely in concluding this treaty notwithstanding that some not considering so deepely thereof as himselfe did thought otherwise of it He had a very good opinion of the Lord of Lescute knew there was no danger in putting those offices and places of charge that he did into his hands bicause he was a man of honor would neuer during these diuisions haue any intelligence with the English men nor consent that the townes in Normandie 2 should be yeelded to them but had beene the onely stay thereof which was the cause of all his preferment When the King had well debated this matter he commanded Sousplenuille to put in writing all that his Master required as well for the Duke as himselfe which done the King granted him all his demands being these A pension of 80000. franks for the Duke for his master the Lord of Lescute a pension of 6000. franks the gouernment of Guienne the two Seneschalships of Launes and Bordelois the captainship of one of the castels of Bordeaux the captainship of Blaye and of the two castels of Bayonne of Dax and of Saint Seuer 24000. crownes in ready mony the Kings order and the Earldome of Comminges All the which the King granted and agreed vnto saue that the Dukes pension was diminished by the one halfe and continued but two yeeres Further the King gaue the said Sousplenuille 6000. crownes which with the other 24. thousand giuen to his Master were to be paid in fower yeeres a pension of 1200. franks the Mayraltie of Bayonne the Bailywick of Montargis and certaine other small offices in Guienne All the which aboue rehearsed estates his Master and he enioied till the Kings death Philip d'Essars likewise was made Bailife of Meaux and lieutenant of the waters and forrests throughout the realme of Fraunce and had also a pension granted him of 1200. franks and 4000. crownes in ready money all the which offices and estates from that day till the King our Master his death they quietly enioied and the Lord of Comminges continued during his life his trustie and faithfull seruant The King hauing pacified all matters in Britaine marched straight toward Picardie for he and the Duke of Burgundie vsed alwaies when winter approched to make truce for sixe moneths or a yeere and some time more After the which their woonted maner they made truce at this present which the Chancellor of Burgundie with certaine others came to the King to conclude There the Kings Commissioners read the finall peace made with the Duke of Britaine whereby the said Duke renounced the league he was entred into with the English men and the D. of Burgundie wherfore the King required the Duke of Burgundies ambassadors not to comprehend the Duke of Britaine in the truce as their confederate whereunto they would not condiscend but agreed that the Duke of Britaine should be at his choise to declare himselfe within the time accustomed either the Kings confederate or theirs alleaging that heertofore also the said Duke had abandoned them by writing yet had not departed from their friendship Further adding that though he were a Prince wholy led and gouerned by others and doing little of himselfe yet in the end he euer yeelded to that which was best and most necessary for his estate All this was done in the yeere 1473. During this treatie they murmured on both sides against the Earle of Saint Paule Constable of Fraunce for the King and those that were neerest about him had conceiued maruellous hatred against him And the Duke of Burgundy hated him woorse than they as he had iust cause to do for I know the reasons that mooued them both to beare him ill will The Duke had not yet forgotten that he was the onely occasion of the losse of Amiens and Saint Quintin and perceiued well that he nourished this war betweene the King and him For in time of truce he spake him as faire as was possible but so soone as the war opened he shewed himselfe his mortall foe Further the Earle had sought to constraine him by force to marrie his daughter to the Duke of Guienne as before 〈◊〉 â—â—ue heard Besides all this there was yet another grudge for while the Duke lay before Amiens the Constable made a road into Henault and among other cruell exploits burned the castell of Seure belonging to a Knight named Master Baudouin of Launay before the which time they vsed on neither side to fire any place But in reuenge thereof the Duke this last sommer burned the countrie all the way his armie passed as before you haue heard Thus they began to practise the Constables destruction for the accomplishment whereof diuers of the Kings men conferred with such of the Dukes seruants as they knew to be his mortall enimies for the French had him in as great iealousie as the Duke of Burgundie had and accused him as the onely occasion of the war wherefore all his treaties and practises with both parties were ripped vp and discouered and they both sought his death Some man may peraduenture aske heerafter if the King alone were not of power sufficient to put him to death whereunto I answer that he was not For his lands lay iust in the middest betweene the King and the Duke further he held Saint Quintin a great and strong towne in Vermandois and of his owne Han Bohain and other very strong places neere to the said Saint Quintin the which he might man at all times with any nation at his owne pleasure He had charge vnder the King of fower hundred men of armes well paied of the which companie himselfe was controller and tooke the muster which was no small profit to him for his companies were not complete Besides all this he had a yeerely pension of 45000. franks and of euerie tunne of wine that passed through his countrie into Flaunders or Henault he receiued a crowne for impost He had also goodly seigniories and possessions of his owne inheritance and great intelligence as well in Fraunce as in the Dukes dominions where he had many kinsfolks and allies The truce betweene the King and the Duke continued a whole yeere all the which space this practise endured and the Kings men addressed themselues wholie to the Lord of Hymbercourt so often before named who of long time had beene the Constables enimy besides that their hatred was lately increased For in an assembly held at Roye where the Constable and others were commissioners for the King and the Chancellor of Burgundy and the Lord of Hymbercourt with diuers others for the Duke as they conferred togither of their affaires the
Constable gaue the lie very shamefully to the said Hymbercourt who answered thereunto that he would not beare this reproch at his hands were it not in respect of the Kings honor vnder whose safe conduct he was come thither as ambassador and of the Duke his Master whose person he represented and to whom he would make report of this iniurie done vnto him This onely villanie and outrage so soone done cost the Constable both lands and life as heereafter shall be declared more at large Wherefore those that are in authority yea and Princes themselues ought to take great heed how they iniurie any man by word or deed and whom they iniurie for the greater they are the greater greefe and sorrowe is conceiued of their words bicause they that are iniuried thinke that the great authority of the person that iniurieth them will cause them the more to be marked and noted And if he be their Master or Prince they vtterly dispaire of benefite or good turne at his hands and most men serue rather for the good they hope to haue than for that they haue already receiued But to returne to the point the Kings men practised continually with Hymbercourt and likewise with the Chancellor as well bicause the words spoken at Roye touched him in part as also bicause of the neere friendship that was between Hymbercourt and him And the matter was so earnestly pressed that an assembly was held about it at Bouuines a towne neere to Namur whither the King sent the Lord of Courton gouernor of Lymosin and Master Iohn Heberge afterward Bishop of Eureux and the Duke the said Chancellor and Hymbercourt being the yeere 1474. The Constable being informed that they practised at Bouuines to his cost sent with all speede to both the Princes aduertising them he vnderstood of all their doings and so cunningly he wrought that he perswaded the King that the Duke meant nothing but deceit onely to allure the said Constable to his friendship whereupon with all speed the King sent to his ambassadors at Bouuines commanding them to conclude nothing against the Constable for certain reasons he would declare vnto them but to prolong the truce according to their instructions for a yeere or sixe moneths I wot not well whether But when the messenger arriued he found the treatie already concluded and the writings sealed and deliuered the night before Notwithstanding the ambassadors had so good intelligence togither and were so great friends each to other that they deliuered the writtings backe againe the contents whereof were that the Constable for the reasons therein rehearsed was declared enimie and traitor to both the Princes who promised and sware each to other that whether of them could first lay hands on him should either put him to death within eight daies or deliuer him to the other to do with him at his pleasure It was also therein concluded that he should be proclaimed by sound of trumpet enimy to both the Princes and likewise all that should serue helpe aide or fauour him Further the King promised to deliuer to the Duke the towne of Saint Quintin so often before mentioned and to giue him all the Constables treasure and moouables that should be found in the realme of Fraunce with all such seigniories and lordships as were held of the said Duke and among the rest Han and Bohain which are two very strong places Lastly a day was appointed when both the King and the Duke should send their forces to besiege him in Han. Notwithstanding for the reasons aboue rehearsed this conclusion was cleane broken off and a day and place assigned where the Constable should come to commune with the King vnder safe conduct for he stood in doubt of his person bicause of the late treatie held at Bouuines The place assigned was three leagues from Noyon neere to the towne of La Fere vpon a pretie riuer which no man could passe bicause the Constables men had taken vp all the bridges In the said place was a narrow causey ouerthwart the which a strong grate was built whither the Constable came first accompanied with all his men of armes or the greatest part for he had with him aboue three hundred gentlemen all men of armes and he himselfe ware his quirace vnder a short gowne vngirt The King came accompanied with the Earle of Dampmartine Lord great Master of Fraunce the Constables mortall enimie and with sixe hundred men of armes and better and sent me before him to make his excuse to the Constable of his long stay and soone after arriued himselfe and they communed togither at which their communication were present fiue or sixe of the Kings seruants and as many of the Constables who excused his comming thither in armes bicause he stood in feare of the Earle of Dampmartin as he said To be short in the end it was agreed that all offences past should be forgiuen and forgotten and the Constable passed through the grate to our side of the riuer where the Earle of Dampmartin and he were made friends That night he lodged with the King at Noyon and the next morning returned to Saint Quintin throughly reconciled as he said But when the King had well weighed this matter and heard the murmuring of the people he accused himselfe of great folly in going after this sort to commune with his seruant stomaked not a little that he found the grate shut between them considering that all the Constables men of armes were his subiects and paide out of his coffers wherfore if his hatred against the Constable were great before sure this meeting much increased it and as touching the Constable his proud stomack was no whit abated The Notes 1 This Confessor was the Abbot of S. Iohn d'Angely who died prisoner at Nantes in Britaine in the great tower du Buffoy where he confessed maruellous matters and died very strangely Annal. Aquit 2 These places were those that remained in the Lord of Lescuts hands by the treaty of Caen mentioned lib. 1. cap. 15. A discourse very fit for this place of the wisdome of the King and the Constable with good aduertisements to such as are in credit with Princes Chap. 12. IF a man consider well this action of the Kings he cannot but iudge it to proceede of great wisdome for I am of opinion that the Duke of Burgundy to recouer Saint Quintin would easily haue pardoned the Constable all his offences notwithstanding any promise made to the King of the contrary Further as touching the Constable though he were a gentleman of great wisedome and vnderstanding yet did he very vnaduisedly and it appeered that God had vtterly bereft him of all good aduise in that he came thus disguised before the King his Master whose subiects all the men of armes were that accompanied him and to say the truth his very countenance shewed him to be astonished and abashed thereat for when he came in person to the place and found the grate shut betweene
haue the Duchy of Guienne for hir maintenance or 50000. crownes yeerely to be paied in the Tower of London by the space of nine yeeres which terme expired the King that now is and his wife should peaceably enioy the reuenues of the whole Duchie of Guienne and then the King our Master to be cleerely discharged of all paiments to the King of England Diuers other trifling articles there were touching matter of trafike which I ouerpasse Lastlie this truce was to endure nine yeeres betweene the two realmes all the confederates of both parties being comprehended therin and namely on the King of Englands behalfe the Dukes of Burgundie and Britaine if they themselues would Further the King of England made a maruellous strange offer which was to name in writing certaine noble men who he said were traitors to the King and his crowne The King reioiced maruellously at the report that his Commissioners made at their returne sat in counsell about these ouertures of peace where among others I my selfe was present Some supposed all this treatie to be meere deceit and cunning of the English men but the King was of a contrarie opinion for he alleaged first the time of the yeere saying that winter now approched and that they had not one place to lodge in secondarily he declared the euill turns the Duke of Burgundie had done them who was also departed from them And as touching the Constable he did in maner assure himselfe that he would put no places into their hands bicause he sent howerly to him to entertaine him to asswage his malice and to keepe him from doing harme lastly he alleaged the King of Englands disposition whom he knew well to be a Prince wholy giuen to his pleasures delights Wherfore he seemed to discourse wiselier than any man of the companie and better to vnderstand than any other the matters there debated He concluded therefore with all speed to pay this summe of mony and deuised order how to leuie it and in the end commanded that euery man should lend a portion the sooner to furnish it for the King cared not what he did to rid the King of England out of his realme saue onely that he would in no wise consent to put any places into the English mens hands for rather than he would suffer that he was fully determined to hazard all The Constable who began to smel these practises was stricken with sudden feare bicause he had offended all the three Princes Further he doubted much the treatie almost concluded against him at Bouuines Wherefore he sent often to the King and euen at this present arriued at the Court one of his gentlemen named Levvis of Creuille with one of his Secretaries called Iohn Richer who are both yet liuing They deliuered their message to the Lord of Bouchage and me before they spake with the King as his pleasure was they should The newes they brought liked the King well bicause he meant to vse them to good purpose as you shall heare The Lord of Contay seruant to the Duke of Burgundie lately taken prisoner before Arras as you haue heard went to and fro vpon his word betweene the Duke and the King and the King had promised to release him his raunsome and to giue him a great summe of money if he could perswade his Master to peace By chance he returned to the King the selfesame day that these two seruants of the Constables arriued Wherefore the King made him and me to stand in a great old presse in his chamber to the end he might heare and make report to his Master of the language the Constable and his seruants vsed of him We being there placed the King sate downe on a forme hard by the presse to the end we might the better heare Lewis of Creuilles and his companions message Who began thus that of late being by their Masters commandement with the Duke of Burgundie to perswade him to depart from the English mens friendship they found him in such a rage against the King of England that they had almost woon him not onely to abandon the English men but also to helpe to spoile and destroy them in their returne home And in vttering these words the better to please the King the said Lewis of Creuille counterfetting the Duke of Burgundies gesture by stamping vpon the ground and swearing Saint George rehearsed many reprochfull speeches that as they said the Duke vsed of the King of England To be short they vttered as many scofs and mocks of the D. as was possible The King made great sport with this matter bad the said Lewis of Creuille to speake alowd faining himselfe to be growen somwhat deafe and to tel him this tale againe which the other making no bones thereat did with a good will The said Contay who stood with me in the presse was maruellously astonished at this talke neither would haue beleeued it vnlesse himselfe had heard it The Constables mens conclusion was this They counselled the King for auoiding of all these great dangers he sawe hang ouer his head to conclude a truce for the which the said Constable offered to trauell to the vttermost of his power and to put into the English mens hands the better to content them some small towne or two to lodge them in this winter saying that were they neuer so bad yet the English men would holde themselues contented with them And it seemed by their talke though they named no place that they ment Eu and Saint Valery By this meanes the Constable trusted to recouer the King of Englands fauor which he had lost bicause of the refusall made him of his places But the King who thought it sufficient to haue plaied his part by bringing the Lord of Contay to heare what language the Constable and his men vsed of the Duke his Master gaue them no euill answer but said that he would send to his brother 2 to aduertise him of such newes as he knew and so licensed them to depart Notwithstanding one of them before his departure sware to reueale vnto him whatsoeuer he could learne touching him or his estate The King had much adoo to dissemble any longer when he heard them counsell him to put townes into the English mens hands Notwithstanding he gaue them no such answer whereby they might gather their counsell to be taken in euill part bicause he feared that would the more increase the Constables malice but sent one backe with them to their Master it was not far betweene him and vs for a man might go and come in very short space When the others were departed the L. of Contay I came out of the presse the K. laughed maruellously and was very mery with this pageant But the said Contay was so far out of patience to heare such petit companions thus flout and scoffe his Master especially the Constable pretending so great friendship to his Master and treating with him of so many matters that
he thought euery hower ten til he were on horsebacke to aduertise the Duke his Master thereof Wherefore he was dispatched with all speede and wrote his instructions himselfe he caried also with him a letter of credit written with the Kings owne hand and so departed The peace with the English men was already concluded as aboue is mentioned and all these practises were abroch in one instant The Kings Commissioners had made report of their negotiation as you haue heard and the King of Englands were also returned to him Further it was concluded and agreed on both sides by the ambassadors that passed betweene them that the two Princes should meete togither and after they had seene one another and sworne the treaty the King of England should returne home into his countrey hauing first receiued the sum aboue mentioned of 720000. crownes and leauing in hostage behinde him till he were passed the seas the Lord Hovvard and the Master of his horse called sir Iohn Cheinie Lastly a pension of 16000. crownes was promised to be diuided among the King of Englands principall seruants of the which sum the Lord Hastings had two thousand The rest had the Lord Howard the Master of the horse Master Chalanger Master Montgomerie and others besides this great sums of money and goodly presents of siluer plate were giuen to King Edvvards seruants The Duke of Burgundy hearing these newes came in great haste from Luxembourg where he lay to the King of England accompanied onely with sixteene horse The King being much astonished at this his so sudden arriuall asked him what winde draue him thither perceiuing by his countenance that he was displeased The Duke answered that he was come to talke with him The King demanded whether he would speake with him priuately or publikely Then said the Duke haue you concluded peace I haue quoth the King made truce for nine yeeres wherein both you and the Duke of Britaine are comprehended and I pray you agree thereunto But the Duke grew maruellous hot and spake in English for he could the language rehearsing what noble acts diuers Kings of England had done in Fraunce and what great trauell they had sustained to purchase honor and renowme Afterward he inueighed vehemently against this truce saying that he had not desired the English men to passe the seas for any neede he had of their helpe but to the end they might recouer their owne right And to the intent they might perceiue that he stood in no need of their comming he protested that he would not make truce with the King till the King of England had been three moneths at home in his realme which talke ended he departed and returned from whence he came The King of England and his Councell tooke these words in euill part but they that misliked the peace commended much the Dukes speech The Notes 1 Meyer saith thus Quinquaginta millia aureorum pro tributo Aquitaniae Septuaginta quinque millia praeterea soluta prae manibus Edwardo à Gallorum Rege Annal. Aquit say 65000. our chronicles and Gaguin 75000. But the truce saith Gaguin vvas concluded but for seuen yeeres Introduction de la Marche saith 60000. crovvnes the yeerely tribut but in the second booke cap. 1. the same author saith but 36000. 2 The King calleth the Constable brother bicause the King and he had married tvvo sisters as our author maketh mention in this booke cap. 4. How the King feasted the English men in Amiens and how there was a place assigned for the enteruiew of the two Kings Chap. 9. THe King of England to the end the peace might be fully concluded came and encamped within halfe a league of Amiens The King was at the gate from whence he might behold the English men a far off as they came To say the truth they seemed but yong soldiers for they rode in very euill order The King sent to the King of England 300. carts laden with the best wines that might be gotten the which carriage seemed a far off almost as great as the King of Englands armie Many English men bicause of the truce repaired to the towne where they behaued themselues very vndiscreetly and without all regard of their Princes honor They came all in armes and in great troupes and if the King our Master would haue dealt falsly with them so great a number might neuer so easily haue beene destroied Notwithstanding he meant nothing lesse but studied to make them good cheere and to conclude a sure peace with them for his time He had caused to be set at the entrie of the towne gate two long tables on each side of the street one furnished with all kindes of delicate meats that prouoke drinke and with the best wines that might be gotten and men to wait vpon them of water there was no mention At each of these tables he had placed fiue or sixe great fat gentlemen of good houses thereby the better to content those that desired to drinke The gentlemens names were these Monseur de Cran de Briqueber de Bresmes de Villiers and others So soone as the English men drew neere the gate they might behold this good cheere Besides this men purposely appointed tooke their horses by the bridles saying that they would breake a staffe with them and so led them to the table where they were feasted according to the varietie of the meats which they tooke in very good part After they were within the towne what house soeuer they entred into they paid nothing Further nine or ten tauerns were well furnished at the Kings charge of all things necessarie whither they went to eate and drinke and called for what they would but the King defraied all and this cheere endured three or fower daies You haue heard how the Duke of Burgundie misliked the peace which howsoeuer it displeased him troubled the Constable much more bicause he saw he had failed of his enterprise and purchased himselfe hatred on all sides wherefore he sent his Confessor to the King of England with a letter of credit desiring him for Gods loue to haue no affiance in the Kings words and promises but to accept the townes of Eu and S. Valerie and there to lodge himselfe part of the winter adding that within two moneths he would finde meanes to lodge him more commodiously Other assurance heerof gaue he him none for his onely meaning was to feede him foorth with these faire words Last of all to the end he should not conclude a dishonorable treatie for greedines of a little money he promised to lend him fiftie thousand crownes with diuers other large offers But the King had already caused the two places aboue mentioned to be burned bicause he knew the King of England had intelligence that the Constable had perswaded him to put them into the English mens hands King Edwards answer was that the truce was alreadie concluded and that he would alter nothing therein but if he had performed his promises he
harme to be good seruice to God The spoiles of his campe enriched maruellously these poore Swissers who at the first knew not what treasures were fallen into their hands especially those of the ruder sort one of the goodliest richest pauilions in the world was torne al to peeces There were that sold a number of siluer plates and dishes for two souse a peece supposing them to be pewter The Dukes great diamond being the goodliest iewell in Christendome at the which hung a great orient pearle was taken vp by a Swisser who put it againe into the boxe where it was kept and threw it vnder a cart but after returned to seeke it and sold it to a Priest for a guldon who sent it to the Lords of their countrey of whom he receiued three franks for it They wan also three goodly ballais rubies called the three brethren bicause they were in all points like and another great ballais rubie called La hotte with a goodly stone called the round ball of Flaunders the greatest and fairest stones in the world Other infinite treasures they gained also which since hath taught them to know what is money woorth Further the victories they obtained the account the King made of them euer after and the summes of money he bestowed vpon them haue maruellously enriched them Euery ambassador of theirs that came to him at the beginning of these wars receiued goodly presents of him either in money or plate wherby he asswaged the displeasure they had conceiued against him for not declaring himselfe the Duke of Burgundies enimy for he sent them home well contented with full purses and clothed in silkes and veluets Then began he also to promise them a yeerely pension of 40000. guldons which afterward he truly paied but the second battell was past first Of this pension twenty thousand guldons were for the townes and the other twenty thousand for the gouernors of the townes And I thinke verily I should not lie if I said that betweene the first battell of Granson and the King our Masters death these townes and gouernors of the Swissers receiued out of Fraunce aboue a million of florens When I name townes I meane but these fower Berne Lucerne Friburge and Zurich togither with their cantons situate in the mountaines Swisse also is one of their cantons though but a village Yet haue I seene an ambassador of that village clothed in very simple apparell giue his aduise in euery matter as well as any of the rest The other two cantons are called Soleurre and Vnderwalde The Notes 1. For Prouence was held of the crowne of Fraunce and therefore the King would not suffer his enimie the Duke of Burgundy to possesse it How the Swissers vanquished the Duke of Burgundy in battell neere to the towne of Morat Chap. 3. NOw to returne to the Duke of Burgundie he leuied men on all sides so that within three weeks he had assembled a mighty armie for a great number of his soldiers that fled the day of the battell repaired againe to his campe He lay at Losanna 1 in Sauoy where you my Lord of Vienna assisted him with your counsell in a dangerous sicknes he was fallen into for sorow and griefe of the dishonor he had receiued which so much altered him that I thinke after this battell of Granson his wits were neuer so fresh nor so good as before 2 Of this new army he now leuied I speake vpon the Prince of Tarentes report who made relation thereof to the King in my presence For you shall vnderstand that the said Prince about a yeere before the battell was come to the Duke of Burgundy with a goodly traine in hope to marrie his daughter and heir And notwithstanding that his behauiour apparell and traine shewed him indeed to be a Kings sonne and his father the King of Naples to haue spared no cost in setting him foorth yet did the Duke but dissemble with him and fed at the selfe same time with faire promises the Duches of Sauoye putting her in hope of this marriage for hir sonne Wherefore the Prince of Tarente called Don Frederick of Arragon and his Counsell misliking these delaies sent to the King our Master a herault of armes a wise fellow who humbly besought him to grant the Prince his safe conduct to passe through his realme to the King his father who had sent for him which he easily obtained of the King bicause it seemed to tende to the Duke of Burgundies dishonor and discredit Notwithstanding before the Princes messenger was returned to his Master a great number of these confederated townes were assembled and encamped hard by the Duke of Burgundie The said Prince obeying the King his fathers commandement tooke his leaue of the Duke the night before the second battell was fought for at the first he was present and behaued himselfe like a valiant gentleman Some say my Lord of Vienna that he vsed your aduise heerein for when he was heere with the King I haue heard both him and the Duke of Ascoly commonly called the Earle Iulio and diuers others affirme that you wrote in Italy of the first and second battell and told what should ensue therof long before they were fought At the Princes departure great forces of these confederate townes were incamped as I haue said hard by the Duke of Burgundy and came to giue him battell meaning to leuie the siege he held before Morat 3 a little towne neere to Berne belonging to the Earle of Romont The said townes had in their army as some that were at the battell haue informed me 35000. men whereof fower thousand were horsemen the rest footemen well chosen and well armed that is to say 11000. pikes 10000. halberds and ten thousand harquebusiers Their whole force was not yet assembled and these onely fought the battell neither needed any more helpe The Duke of Lorraine arriued at their campe a little before the battell with a very small traine which his comming turned afterward to his great profit for the Duke of Burgundy helde then all his countrey and a happy turne it was for him that they waxed weary of him in our Court as al those that maintaine a noble man ouerthrowen vsually do notwithstanding he neuer vnderstood thus much The King gaue him a smal summe of money and sent a good troupe of men of armes to conueigh him safe through Lorraine who brought him to the frontiers of Almaine and then returned home This Duke of Lorraine had not onely lost his Duchy of Lorraine the County of Vaudemont and the greatest part of Barrois the rest being withheld from him by the King so that he had nothing left but his subiects also yea his household seruants had voluntarie done homage to the Duke of Burgundy so that his estate seemed almost irrecouerable Notwithstanding God remaineth alwaies iudge to determine such causes at his pleasure After the Duke of Lorraine was passed through Lorraine into Almaine and had iourneied a
with him it might haue turned them to displeasure During this sixe weekes space or thereabout that he soiorned at La Riuiere with small force which was no maruell hauing lost two so great battels many new enimies arose against him his friends fell from him his subiects being defeated and discomfited began to murmur and despise him which is a thing vsuall as before I haue said in such aduersities Further many places in Lorraine were either razed or woon from him namely Vaudemont Espinall and diuers others and on euery side enimies prepared to inuade him and the miserablest slaues were the hardiest In this hurliburly the Duke of Lorraine assembled a small force came before Nancy of the little townes thereabout he held the greatest part notwithstanding the Burgundians kept still Pont-Ã -mousson being fower leagues distant from Nancy Among those that were besieged within the said towne of Nancy was a worshipfull knight called Monseur de Beures of the house of Croy who had vnder him certaine harquebusiers within the towne was also an English captaine though but of meane parentage yet very valiant called Colpin 2 whom I my selfe preferred with certaine others of the garrison of Guisnes to the Dukes seruice This Colpin had within the towne vnder his charge a band of three hundred English men the which grew wearie of the siege though they were troubled neither with batterie nor approches bicause the Duke made no more haste to succour them And to say the truth he committed a foule ouersight in that he approched no neere to Lorraine but lay thus in a place far off where he could do no seruice sith it stood him more vpon to defend that he had already gotten than to inuade the Swissers in hope to reuenge his losses But his obstinacie turned him to great inconuenience in that he would aske no mans aduise but trusted wholy to his owne braine for notwithstanding that they that were besieged continually and earnestly sollicited him to succour the place yet lay he still vpon no necessitie at the said towne of Riuiere sixe weekes or thereabout whereas if he had done otherwise he might easily haue releeued the towne For the Duke of Lorraine had no force before it and by defending the countrie of Lorraine the passage from his other seniories into Burgundy should euer haue been open through Luxembourg and Lorraine Wherefore if his wits had been such then as before time I had knowen them he would sure haue vsed greater diligence During the time that they within Nancy looked daily for succours Colpin aboue mentioned Captaine of the English band within the towne was slaine with a canon shot greatly to the Duke of Burgundies losse For the presence of one man alone endued with vertue and wisedome though but of base race and parentage oftentimes deliuereth his Master from great incoueniences As touching the which point I commend aboue all others the wisedome of the King our Master for neuer Prince feared so much the Losse of his men as he did Colpin being thus slaine the English men within the towne began to mutine and despaire of succours for neither knew they of how small power the Duke of Lorraine was nor what goodly meanes the Duke of Burgundie had to leuie new forces Further bicause of long time the English men had made no wars out of their owne realme they vnderstood not what the siege of a towne meant Wherefore they resolued in the end to parlament and told Monseur de Beures captaine of the towne that if he would not fall to composition with the Duke of Lorraine they would compound without him He notwithstanding that he were a trustie Knight lacked courage and fell to intreaties and perswasions whereas in mine opinion stouter language would better haue preuailed but God had already disposed heerof If the towne had been held but three daies longer it had been releeued To conclude the said de Beures agreed to the English men and yeelded the place to the Duke of Lorraine 3 and so departed he and all that were within it with bag and baggage The next day or at the furthest within two daies after the towne was yeelded the Duke of Burgundie arriued there well accompanied considering his estate for certaine bands were come to him from Luxembourg which had beene leuied in his other seniories Before Nancy the Duke of Lorraine and he met but no great exploit was done bicause the Duke of Lorrains force was small The said Duke of Burgundie continuing still his former enterprise determined to lay his siege againe before Nancy wherefore better it had beene for him not to haue delaide so long vpon selfewill the succouring of the towne But God giueth such extraordinarie mindes to Princes when he is purposed to alter their good successe If the Duke would haue followed good aduise and manned well the small places about the towne he might easily in short space haue recouered it for it was vnfurnished of victuals and he had men ynow yea too many to haue held it in greater distresse In the meane time he might commodiously haue refreshed and repaired his army but he tooke the contrary course The Notes 1 Cardanus giueth three natural remedies or purgations of sorrow fasting weeping sighing 2 This Colpin the new copy calleth throughout Cohin but the old Colpin and La Marche Iehannin Collepin wherefore I haue been bould to amend it according to the old copie 3 Nancy vvas yeelded the 6. of October Meyer Of the Earle of Campobaches great treasons and how he kept the Duke of Burgundy from hearing a gentleman that would haue reuealed them to him before he was put to death and how the said Duke made no account of the aduertisement the King sent him Chap. 6. DVring the time the Duke of Burgundy held before Nancy this siege vnfortunate to himselfe to all his subiects and to many others whom this quarrell in no wise concerned diuers of his men began to practise his destruction For as you haue heard many enimies were now risen against him on all sides and among others Nicholas Earle of Campobache in the realm of Naples whence he was banished for the house of Anious faction This Earle after the death of Nicholas Duke of Calabria whom he serued hauing as I said before neither lands nor liuing was receiued with diuers others of the said Duke of Calabrias seruants into the Duke of Burgundies house who at his first comming deliuered him 40000. ducats in prest to go into Italy to leuy therewith fower hundred launces that were vnder the said Earles charge and paied by himselfe From the which day forward euen till this present he euer sought his Masters destruction and now seeing him in this aduersitie began to practise a fresh against him both with the Duke of Lorraine and also with certaine of the Kings captaines and seruants that lay in Champaigne neere to the Dukes campe To the Duke of Lorraine he promised so to order the
Princes namely Mathias King of Hungarie and Mahomet Ottoman Emperor of Turkie This King Mathias was sonne to a valiant knight called the white knight of Vallachie 8 a gentleman of great wisdome and vertue who gouerned long the realme of Hungarie and obtained many goodly victories against the Turks 9 who border vpon the said realme by reason of the Seniories they haue vsurped in Greece and Slauonie 10 Soone after his death King Lancelot came to mans estate 11 who was right heire not onely of the realme of Hungary but also of Bohemia and Polonia He by the counsell of certaine caused the white knights two sonnes to be apprehended alleaging that their father had vsurped too great rule and authoritie in the realme and that the sonnes being gentlemen of great courage might peraduenture attempt the like Wherefore the said King Launcelot resolued to lay them both in prison and incontinent put the elder to death 12 and sent the said Mathias prisoner to Bude the chiefe towne of Hungary where he remained not long And I suppose that God tooke in good part the great seruices his father had done For soone after King Launcelot was poisoned at Prage in Bohemia 13 by a gentlewoman of a good house whose brother my selfe haue seene of whom he was enamored she likewise of him so far foorth that she being displeased with his mariage with the daughter of Charles the seuenth King of Fraunce now called Princesse of Vienna against his promise made to hir poisoned him in a bathe as she gaue him a peece of apple to eate hauing conueighed the poison into the haft of hir knife Incontinently after King Lancelots death the Barons and Nobles of the realme assembled to choose a new King for the custome of the countrey is when the King dieth without issue that the Nobles may proceed to an election And while they were there in great diuision about their chose the white Knights widow mother to Mathias came into the towne with a goodly traine for bicause she had great treasure left hir by hir husband she was soone able to leuie great forces and further I thinke she had good intelligence both in the towne and also among the Nobilitie bicause of the great sway hir husband had borne in the realme She rode straight to the prison and tooke hir sonne out of it 14 Whereupon part of the Barons and Prelats there assembled for the election fled for feare the rest chose the said Mathias King who raigned in the realme with as great prosperitie as any King these many yeeres and hath been as highly praised and commended yea more in some points than any of his predecessors He was one of the valiantest men that liued in his time and obtained great victories against the Turks without all damage to his owne realme the which he inlarged on all sides aswell towards Bohemia the greatest part whereof he held as also towards Valachie where he was borne and towards Sclauonie In like maner vpon the frontiers of Almaine he wan the greatest part of Austrich from the Emperor Frederic now raigning and possessed it till his death which hapned in the yeere 1491. in Vienna the chiefe towne of Austrich This King gouerned his affaires with great wisdome aswell in peace as war but a little before his death perceiuing himselfe to be feared of his enimies he grew maruellous pompous and sumptuous in his Court and amassed an infinite quantitie of goodly stuffe iewels and plate for the furniture of his house All his affaires were dispatched by himselfe or by his direction Before his death his subiects stood in great feare of him for he waxed cruell and soone after fell into a greeuous and vncurable disease being but yoong to wit eight and twenty yeeres of age 15 or thereabout He died hauing spent his life in much more labor and trauell than pleasure The Turke aboue mentioned 16 was a wise and noble Prince but vsing wiles and subtiltie more than courage and valor True it is that his father left him great for he had been a hardy Prince and wan Adrianople 17 which is as much to say as the citie of Adrian This Turke that I now write of tooke in the three and twentith yeere of his age the citie of Constantinople 18 I haue seene his pourtraiture when he was of those yeeres the lineaments whereof made shew of an excellent wit It was a shame for all Christendome to suffer the towne so to be lost for he tooke it by assault and the Emperor of the East whom we call Emperor of Constantinople was slaine himselfe at the breach 19 with a number of valiant men diuers women of great estate and noble houses rauished to be short no crueltie was omitted This was his first exploit but not his last for he continued till his death in atchieuing great enterprises so that I heard once an ambassador of Venice tell Duke Charles of Burgundy that he had conquered two Empires fower realmes and two hundred cities He meant the Empires of Constantinople Trapezonde 20 the realmes of Bosne 21 Syria Armenia and I thinke Morea 22 was the fowerth in the which the Venetians held two places He conquered also diuers goodly Iles in the sea called Archipell 23 neere to the said Morea with the Iles of Nigrepont 24 and Mitilene he subdued in like maner the greatest part of Albanie and Sclauonie And as his conquests were great against the Christians so were they also against them of his owne law of whom he destroied many a great Prince as the Caraman 25 and diuers others The greatest part of his affaires he gouerned by his owne wisdome as did our King and the King of Hungarie also who were three of the greatest Princes that raigned these hundred yeers But the curtesie and course of life of the King our Master and his good vsage both of his owne seruants and strangers far passed both the others and no maruell for he was the most Christian King As touching worldly pleasures this Turke had his fill for he spent the greatest part of his life in them and had he not been so much addicted to them vndoubtedly he would haue done much more mischiefe There was no fleshly vice that he was free from but in gluttony he passed and according to his diet diseases fell vpon him for euery spring as I haue heard those report that haue seene him his legs swelled as big as a mans body notwithstanding they brake not but the swelling asswaged of it self No surgeon could tell the cause of this disease saue onely that it proceeded of gluttonie and it may be that it was some speciall punishment of God His said disease was the cause he came so seldome abroad and kept himselfe so close in his chariot fearing that the miserable estate he was in would cause his subiects to despise him He died being two and fifty yeeres of age 26 or there about in maner suddenly notwithstanding he made his
in the towne spoiled it and burnt both victuals and all that was within it and aboue ten also of themselues being drunke neither could the Marshall Gie by any meanes make them to retire They besieged the castel also meaning to haue done the like to those that were within it being the said Master Iohn Iames of Treuoules seruants whom he had put into it when the garrison of the enimies yeelded it neither would the said Almaines depart thence till the King himselfe sent to them It was great pitie that the towne was thus destroied both bicause of the dishonor we receiued thereby and also bicause there was great plentie of victuals within it whereof we were already in great distresse 1 notwithstanding that the people were no where against vs saue onely the people of the countrie neere to Pontreme bicause of the harmes we did there Now to proceede if the King would haue followed the said Master Iohn Iames his aduise diuers places of the Duchie of Milan would haue yeelded and diuers gentlemen of the countrie haue reuolted to him for he gaue him counsell to reare vp in euery place the yoong Dukes armes whom the Lord Lodouic held in his hands being sonne to Iohn Galeas the Duke that last died at Pauia as before you haue heard But the King refused so to do for the fauor he bare to the Duke of Orleans who pretended and doth yet pretend title to the said Duchie Thus marched the King beyond Pontreme and lodged in a little valley neere to a village that had not ten houses in it the name whereof I know not There he abode fiue daies vpon no occasion his armie being almost famished and his battell lying thirty miles behinde his vaward in the middest of huge and sharpe mountaines ouer the which such great cannons and culuerins passed then as neuer had passed before For Duke Galeas in his time conueied ouer but fower faulcons waying not past fiue hundred pound a peece which was a great woonder in those daies I must now returne to the Duke of Orleans who after he had taken the castell of Nouarre staid there a few daies to no purpose and then went to Vigesue neere to the which were two little townes that sent vnto him offering to receiue him but by wise aduise he refused their offer They of Pauia sent also twise to him to the same end and them he should not haue refused Moreouer he marched in order of battell before the said towne of Vigesne where the Duke of Milans whole force lay being led by the two brethren of Saint Seuerin so often aboue named The town is hardly so good as Saint Martin-de-Candé which is not woorth sixe pence I my selfe arriued there not long after at which time the Duke of Milan being there with certaine of his captaines shewed me the place where both the armies had stood in order of battell hard by the towne and within the towne And if the Duke of Orleans had marched but an hundred paces further they had retired beyond the riuer of Thesin for they stood hard by the riuer side and had built a great bridge of boates ouer it Moreouer I saw them at my being there beat downe a great bulwark of earth which they had made on the other side of the riuer to defend the passage whereby it appeered that they were fully minded if the Duke had marched forward to abandon both the towne and castle which had been much to their disaduantage This is the place where the Duke of Milan vseth most to be resident and sure it is scituate in the pleasantest countrey for all kinde of pastimes especially hauking and hunting that euer I sawe But peraduenture the Duke of Orleans thought the place strong where his enimies lodged and himselfe to haue passed far ynough wherefore he retired to Trecas the Lord whereof who had charge vnder the Duke of Milan and my selfe communed togither of these affaires a fewe daies after To the said towne of Trecas certaine of the principal of Milan sent to the Duke of Orleans promising to receiue him into the towne and offering for performance thereof to deliuer their children in hostage Which their enterprise they might easily haue executed as diuers of great authority being then within the towne and acquainted with all their practises haue aduertised me saying that the Duke of Milan could not haue found men ynow to haue defended the castell of Milan for him bicause both nobles people desired the destruction of this house of Sforce The Duke of Orleans also and his men haue enformed me of these practises aboue mentioned but they had no great affiance in those that negotiated with them and they lacked a man that vnderstood these affaires better than themselues whereunto I also adde that the said Dukes captaines were not all of one opinion as touching this enterprise With the Duke of Milans forces ioined two thousand Almains whom the King of Romanes sent thither and a thousand Dutch horsemen vnder the leading of master Frederic Capelare borne in the countie of Ferrette Their arriuall so much encouraged Master Galeas and his companie that they went before Trecas to present the battell to the Duke of Orleans who refused it notwithstanding that his force were greater then theirs bicause his captaines as I suppose would not hazard the battell fearing least the losse therof should be the Kings destruction of whom they could heare no newes bicause the passages were all stopped wherefore they retired to Nouarre giuing no order for their prouision of victuals no not for the preseruation of the store they had within the towne already much lesse for any new supplie whereof notwithstanding they might plentifully haue been furnished at that time in the countrey about without money whereas afterward they were greatly distressed through their owne follie To conclude their enimies came and lodged within halfe a league of them The Notes 1 The cause of their lacke vvas the barrennes of the countrey How the Kings great artillerie passed the mounts Appenines by the Almains helpe of the danger the Marshall of Gie was in with his vaward and how the King arriued at Fornoue Chap. 5. YOu haue heard how the King vpon no occasion laie in a valley on this side Pontreme fiue daies togither in great distresse of victuals Our Almains did there one great peece of seruice for those that committed this foule fault at Pontreme fearing that they had thereby procured themselues the Kings indignation for euer came and offered to passe the artillerie ouer these monstrous waies in the mountaines for so may I well terme them bicause they were so high and steepe that there lay no beaten way ouer them I haue seene all the highest mountaines both of Italy and Spaine which vndoubtedly are not comparable to these The Almains made this offer vpon condition that the K would pardon their fault which he promised to do We had fowerteene great and massy peeces of artillery
somtime had led certaine bands and ought of right to haue led the vaward 2 as all men said I answered the King that I would do his commandement but that I neuer saw two so great forces so neere togither depart without battell Our whole armie marched foorth vpon the plaine in good order the one battell neere to the other as the day before but as touching the force it seemed but a handfull to that I had seene with Duke Charles of Burgundie and King Lewis this Kings father Vpon the said plaine the Cardinall and I withdrew our selues aside and endited a letter to the two Prouisors aboue named the which was written by one Master Robertet a Secretarie of the Kings and in good credit The contents of our letter were that it appertained to the estate and office of the Cardinall to procure peace and vnto me also hauing so lately been ambassador at Venice for the which cause I might as yet take vpon me the office of mediator betweene the King and them We signified further to them on the Kings behalfe that he would but passe foorth his way without doing harme to any man wherefore if they minded to parlament according to the order taken the day before we for our parts were willing thereunto and would imploy our selues to do all the good we could The skirmishes were already begun round about vs and after our armie had marched awhile softly passing along before them the riuer running betweene them and vs as you haue heard we approched so neer to them that we came within a quarter of a league of their camp within the which they stood all in martiall aray for their maner is to make their campe so large that they may all stand in order of battell within it They sent foorth incontinent part of their Estradiots and crossebowe men on horsebacke and certaine men of armes the which came along vpon the way almost vnder couert towards the village of Fornoue out of the which we were departed meaning there to passe this little riuer and to assaile our carriage which was so great that I thinke it laded aboue 6000. mules horses and asses They had set their battels in such order many daies before they fought that better they could not be ordered for they were so placed that their great number halfe assured them of the victory bicause they assailed the K. his army on euery side in such sort that not one of vs could haue escaped if we had been broken considering the straight we were in Those aboue mentioned came and assailed our carriage and on the left hand came the Marquesse of Mantua the Lord Rodolph his vncle and the Earle Bernardin of Dalmouton with all the flower of their armie being to the number of sixe hundred men of armes as they themselues afterward confessed all the which entred into the plaine directly behinde vs. Their men of armes were all barded and furnished with braue plumes and goodly bourdonasses 3 and well accompanied with crossebowe men on horsebacke Estradiots and footemen Against the Marshall of Gie and our vaward marched the Earle of Caiazze with fower hundred men of armes accompanied as the others aboue mentioned and with a great band of footemen with him also was another companie of two hundred men of armes led by Master Iohn de Bentiuoille of Bolonia his sonne a yoong man who before had neuer seen the wars for they were as slenderly prouided of good captaines as we This yoong Bentiuoille was placed there to giue a new charge vpon our vaward immediately after the Earle of Caiazze With the Marquesse of Mantua was also a like companie of men of armes for the same purpose vnder the leading of Master Anthony of Vrbin bastard to the late Duke of Vrbin Besides these there remained yet in their campe two great troupes of men of armes as I vnderstood the next day by themselues when they and I communed togither and I saw them also with mine eies And this they did bicause the Venâ—tians would not hazard all at once nor vnfurnish their campe Notwithwanding in mine opinion it had beene better for them to haue aduentured their whole force seeing they meant to fight I will now tell you what became of the letter the Cardinall and I sent to their campe by a trumpeter The Prouisors receiued it and immediately after they had read it brast foorth the first peece of our artillerie then shot theirs which was not so good as ours The said Prouisors incontinent sent backe our trumpeter accompanied with a trumpeter of the Marquesses who brought word that they were content to parlament if we would cause our artillerie to cease saying that they on their side would do the like I was then a great way from the King who rid about heere and there and sent backe these two trumpeters with answere that he would make the artillerie to cease and gaue commandement to the Master of the ordinance to stay the shot and so all ceased awhile on both sides But soone after vpon a sudden they discharged one of their peeces and then shot ours againe freshlier than before and we approched three of our peeces neerer to them After the two trumpeters were arriued at their campe they tooke ours and sent him to the Marquesses pauilion resoluing to fight For the Earle of Caiazze as those that were present haue informed me said that it was now no time to parlament seeing that we were halfe vanquished already and one of their Prouisors was of his opinion and agreed to fight as I haue heard himselfe report but the other would not consent thereunto The Marquesse in like maner desired the battell but his vncle who was a vertuous and a wise gentleman and loued vs well and bare armes against vs with an euill will withstood it to the vttermost of his power but in the end they agreed all to fight Now you shal vnderstand that the King had put his whole force into his vaward in the which were three hundred and fiftie men of armes and three thousand Swissers the onely hope of our army with whom he commanded three hundred archers of his garde to ioine themselues on foote and likewise certaine crossebowe men on horsebacke of the two hundreth that were also of his garde which was a great diminishing of the safety of his person In our army were but few footemen besides these for all that we had were placed in the vaward On foote with our Almaines were the Lord Engelbert brother to the Duke of Cleues Lornay and the bailife of Digeon the said Almains captain and before them marched our artillerie Heere they whom we left in the Florentines places and those that were sent to Genua would haue don good seruice contrary to the opinion of all men Our vaward had now marched almost as far as their campe so that all men thought they should haue begun the battell but our two other battels were not so neere it
between both the armies which me thought was a hard matter to be brought to passe but I would not seeme to draw backe nor make difficultie therin The King named the Cardinall of Saint Malo the Lord of Gie Marshall of Fraunce and the Lord of Piennes his Chamberlaine to accompany me and they named for them the Marques of Mantua Generall of the Venetians army the Earle of Caiazze who not long before had taken part with vs and was captaine of the forces the Duke of Milan had there and Master Luques Pisan and Master Melchior Treuisan prouisors of the seniorie of Venice We approched so neere them that we might easily descry them fower vpon the plaine The riuer ran between vs and them which was risen exceedingly since the day before on their side there was not one man without their campe but themselues onely neither any on ours but onely we our watch which stood ouer against them We sent a herault to them to know whether they would passe the riuer whereunto me thought it a hard matter to perswade either partie for I supposed both parties would make difficulty therein as well appeered by them for they answered that the place of communication was appointed in the midway betweene both the armies and that they were come already more than the halfe way wherefore they would not passe the riuer nor put themselues in such danger being all the principall of their armie They also of our side alleaged the like doubts making no lesse account of their persons than the others Wherfore they willed me to go to them giuing me no instructions for my direction I answered that I would not go alone but would haue some body with me to testifie of all that should be done Wherfore being accompanied with one Master Robertet the Kings Secretarie and a seruant of mine owne and an herault I passed the riuer for notwithstanding that I wel perceiued I should do no good yet thought I by this means to acquite my selfe towards them being come thither by my procurement When I came to them I told them they were not come halfe the way according to their promise wherefore I desired them at the least to come to the riuers side assuring my selfe that if we were once so high togither we should not depart without communication They answered that the riuer was so brode and ran with so great violence and noise that no talke could be heard from the one side to the other wherefore they would go no neerer to parlament neither could I by any meanes bring them one foote further but they willed me to make some ouerture which I had no commission to do Wherefore I answered that alone I could do nothing but if they would propound any conditions of peace I would make report thereof to the King While we were in this communication one of our heraults arriued who brought me word that the Lords aboue named that had accompanied me were ready to depart and willed me to make what ouerture I thought good which I refused to do bicause they vnderstood further of the Kings pleasure than I did for they were neerer him than I was and had also talked with him in his eare at our departure notwithstanding as touching these affaires which I now speake of I vnderstood what was to be done in them as well as the best of them The Marquesse of Mantua entred into great communication with me of the battell asked me if he had been taken whether the King would haue slaine him I answered no but haue entertained him well alleaging that he had good cause to loue him seeing the honor he had woon by his assailing him Then he recommended vnto me the prisoners we had especially his vncle the Lord Rodolph whom he supposed to be yet liuing but I knew well the contrarie notwithstanding I answered that all the prisoners should be well intreated and recommended in like maner to him the bastard of Bourbon whom they had taken Small entertainment would serue all the prisoners we had for we had none which I suppose neuer happened before in any battell But the said Marquesse lost there of his kinsmen to the number of seuen or eight and of his owne companie at the least sixscore men of armes This talke being ended I tooke my leaue of them saying that before night I would returne againe whereupon we made truce till night At my returne to the King with the said Secretarie they asked me what newes and the King sate in counsel in a poore chamber where nothing was concluded but each man beheld other The King talked with the Cardinall in his eare and afterward bad me returne againe to the enimies to see what they would say But bicause this communication of peace proceeded of me the enimies looked that I should make some ouerture and not they Afterward the Cardinall bad me conclude nothing but that speech was needlesse for I was not like to conclude any thing bicause they gaue me no direction notwithstanding I would not replie to the Kings commandement nor breake off my iourney for besides that I was sure to do no harme I was in some hope to gather somwhat by our enimies countenances who vndoubtedly were more afraid than we and happily might passe some speeches that would turne both the parties to good Wherefore I tooke my iorney thitherward and came to the riuers side almost at night where one of their trumpeters met me and aduertised me that the fower aboue named sent me word to passe no further that night bicause their watch was already set being altogither of Estradiots who knew not one man from another wherefore I might happily endanger my selfe if I passed further notwithstanding the trumpeter offered to tarry with me all night to the end he might conuey me thither the next morning but I sent him backe againe saying that the next morning I would returne to the riuers side where I willed him to tarie me or if the K. should otherwise determine I promised to send thither a herald to aduertise them therof for I would not bring this trumpeter into our campe partly bicause I would not haue him priuy to our actions there that night and partly bicause I knew not what the King meant to do for I sawe whispering in his eare which put me in some doubt wherefore I returned to aduertise the King what I had done Euery man supped with that he could get and slept vpon the ground Soone after midnight I repaired to the Kings chamber where I found his chamberlaines readie to mount on horsebacke who told me that the King would depart with all speed towards Ast and the Marchionesse of Montferrates territories willing me to stay behinde to hold the Parlament according to my promise but I made my excuse saying that I would not willingly kill my selfe but be on horsebacke with the foremost Soone after the King arose and heard masse and mounted on horsebacke Not past an
as these were especially neither party inclining to reason But some there are so blinded with vaine glorie that they thinke themselues able to deale in matters that oftentimes they vnderstand not for their Masters do not alwaies discouer to them the bottom of their thoughts To such it often happeneth that they go but to furnish the feast yea many times to their owne cost for euer one by-fellow or other accompanieth them that hath some secret practise apart at the least thus haue I seene the matter ordered at all times and in all places where I haue been Wherefore as I said before that Princes ought to be circumspect whom they imploy in their affaires so say I now that those that are imploied ought to take heede how they negotiate in Princes businesses And who so can shift off the charge vnlesse he vnderstand it throughly well and perceiue his Master to be well affected thereunto is to be accounted wise for I haue knowen many a good man in a pecke of troubles with such affaires Princes also I haue seene of two contrarie dispositions the one so subtill and suspicious that a man can neuer be acquainted with their humor for they thinke all the world bent to deceiue them the other trust their seruants well ynough but they themselues are so grosse and vnderstand so little of their owne affaires that they know not who doth them good seruice or bad whereby they alter their mindes in a moment from loue to hatred and from hatred to loue And notwithstanding that of either sort few are good and constant yet I for my part had rather liue vnder the wise than the foolish bicause there are more waies to auoid their displeasure and recouer their fauour lost but with the ignorant a man can deuise no shift for no man dealeth with themselues in any matter but altogither with their seruants whom also they change as oft as the winde Notwithstanding in those countries where such Princes raigne all men are of dutie bound to serue and obey them Wherfore all things considered our onely hope ought to be in God for he alone is constant he onely is good but this lesson we learne too late yea neuer before we neede his helpe notwithstanding it is better late than neuer THE SECOND BOOKE Of the wars betweene the Burgundians and Liegeois and how the towne of Dinand was taken sacked and rased Chap. 1. IMmediately after these troubles aboue mentioned ended in France the Duke of Burgundie yeere by yeere had war with the Liegeois against whom when the King sawe him busied he vsually attempted some enterprise against the Britons sending also some small aide to the said Liegeois whereupon the Duke foorthwith either turned his force against the King to succour his confederates or they concluded some treatie or truce Now you shall vnderstand that in the yeere 1466. Dinand was taken by the Duke of Burgundie 1 being a towne in the country of Liege strong and rich for the bignes thereof by reason of their great trade of copper works commonly called Dinandrie being pots pans and such like implements Philip Duke of Burgundie who died in the moneth of Iune in the yeere 1467 in his extreme age was borne thither in a litter so much hated he the said towne bicause of their great crueltie vsed against his subiects in the countie of Namur especially against a little towne called Bouuines situate within a quarter of a league of Dinand and seuered onely with the riuer of Maze For not long before the time I now write of they of Dinand besieged the said towne of Bouuines the riuer running betweene 2 the space of eight moneths committed many cruell murthers in the countrie thereabout and shot all that space continually with two bombards and other great peeces of artillerie into the towne so that the poore people were constrained to saue themselues in their sellers and there to abide It is almost incredible the great hatred that was betweene these two towns notwithstanding that their children vsually married togither bicause there was no other good towne neere them The yeere before the destruction of Dinand being the same sommer the Earle of Charolois came before Paris with the Princes of Fraunce as you before haue hard they made a treatie with the Duke of Burgundie whereby they agreed to giue him a certaine summe of money to abandon their league with the citie of Liege and to gouerne their estate apart a manifest token of imminent destruction when they that ought to continue togither in amitie seuer themselues and forsake each other which I speake as well to great Princes in league togither as to townes and commonalties But bicause I suppose euerie man to haue seene and read a number of examples to this purpose I will lightlie passe ouer this discourse onely noting by the way that King Lewis our Master was the finest and cunningest Prince in dissoluing freindship betweene men that euer I knew for he spared neither money goods nor traueill but labored as well the seruants as the masters Now to returne to the historie they of Dinand soone repented them of the treatie aboue mentioned for they cruelly put to death foure of their best citizens that had beene the chiefe perswaders of them thereunto and began war a newe in the countie of Namur wherefore partlie for these considerations partlie bicause of the earnest sollicitation of the citizens of Bouuines D. Philip laid the siege before the towne but the charge of the whole army was committed to his son Thither came also from his own house the Earle of S. Paul Counstable of France to aide the Duke not by the Kings commandement nor with the men of armes that were vnder his charge but with such force onely as he had leuied in the marches of Picardie Once they of Dinand made a proud sallie and were repulsed to their great losse and the eight day after the towne being maruellouslie beaten with canon was taken by assault 3 so that their freinds had not leisure to bethinke them whether they should aide them or not The towne was burnt and rased and the prisoners being to the number of eight hundred drowned before Bouuines 4 Sure the reuenge was cruell vpon them but I thinke God had so ordeined it bicause of their great wickednes The next day after the towne was taken the Liegeois came thither with great force 5 to succour it contrary to their promise for by the treatie aboue mentioned they and the towne of Dinand had abandoned each other Duke Philip bicause of his old age returned home but his sonne with the whole armie marched against the Liegeois whom we met sooner than we looked for For by chance our vaward missed the way for lacke of guides by meanes wherof our battell met first with them wherin were the principall Captaines of our armie It was almost night when we arriued at the place where they lodged yet notwithstanding we marched against them but
acquainting vs with ages past and the other by teaching vs more in a booke in three monthes than twenty men liuing successiuely can learne by experience so if a man lack wit to put that which he readeth in practise his reading serueth to no purpose Wherfore to end this discourse me think the greatest plague that God can lay vpon a realme is to giue them an vnwise Prince the roote and fountaine of all mischiefe for first diuision and ciuill wars arise thereof among his subiects bicause he giueth his authority to others which especially aboue all things he ought to reserue to himselfe After diuision ensueth famine and mortality and all other euils that accompany the wars wherefore heereby we may consider how much a Princes subiects ought to lament when they see his children wantonly brought vp and gouerned by euill conditioned persons The Notes 1 Of treasons in treaty we haue numbers of examples First of Iugurtha taken by his father in law Boccus and deliuered to the Romaines Sertorius slaine at a banquet by Perpenna In England we haue the treason of Hengist to Vortiger In Scotland we reade of William Earle of Douglasse slaine by Iames King of Scots in treaty In Germanie Albert Earle of Franconia betraied in treaty by Ottho Bishop of Mentz Iohn of Angieu slaine by Albertus Bauarus Earle of Henault and Flanders notwithstanding his safe conduct In Fraunce Iohn Duke of Burgundie slaine by Charles the 7. William Duke of Normandie by Arnulph Earle of Flanders Lewis King of Fraunce taken prisoner by the Normans and Danes at Roan Iohn Duke of Britaine taken at a banquet and imprisoned by Margaret Countisse of Pontibera Guido Earle of Flanders twice taken prisoner vnder safeconduct by Philip le Bell King of Fraunce Charles the simple slaine by the Earle of Vermandoys VVhat should I speake of the tresons of Ferrande and Alfonse Kings of Naples or of Christiern King of Denmarke with numbers of others recorded in histories as our author heere very truly reporteth 2 Others be of a contrarie opinion that our life is as long as in Dauids time appeereth by the 90. Psalme where he sheweth the vsuall age of man in his time to haue beene 70. and sometime 80. yeers which men reche to at this day also and if mans life be as long now as then it is a good consequent that his body is as strong as is to be prooued by manie reasons too long to reherse Now that our faith is as good as theirs appeereth also by the ancient histories for if this be a true saying Regis ad exemplum totus componitur orbis And the Princes in times past were so euill as none could be worse as who so list to reade without partiality shal be forced to confesse I see no reason that the world should be worse now then in times past although it seeme so to many bicause we see the worst of our owne age yea and feele too many times but commonly the histories deliuer to vs but the best of times past and burie the worst and though they did yet the euill seene with our eie is more liuely imprinted in minde then the euill we conceiue by our eare which is the cause men euer thinke better of the times past then the present estate 3 Imaruell if King Lewis were learned he would haue his sonne to learne onely this lesson Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare How and for what cause the King was staied and held prisoner in the castell of Peronne by the Duke of Burgundies commandement Chap. 7. YOu haue heard how the King and this army of Burgundie arriued at Peronne both in one istant for the Duke could not countermand them in time bicause they were well forward vpon the way when the Kings comming was first communed of Their arriuall troubled the feast bicause of diuers doubts that sprang thereof Notwithstanding these two Princes appointed certeine of their seruants to negotiate togither about their affaires in most louing and freindly sort But after three or foure daies communication these strange newes came from Liege which I will now reherse The K. comming to Peronne had cleane forgotten the two ambassadors sent to Liege to sollicite them to rebell against the Duke who so diligently executed their charge that before the Kings arriuall at Peronne the Liegeois had leuied great force and were gone to surprise the towne of Tongres where the Bishop of Liege and the Lord of Hymbercourt lodged accompanied with two thousand men and better and the said Bishop and Hymbercourt they tooke with certein other of the Bishops familiar friends but few they slew neither was the number of the prisoners great the rest fled as men discomfited leauing bag and bagage behinde them This done the Liegeois returned towards their citie not far distant from Tongres and vpon the way thitherward the Lord of Hymbercourt compounded for his ransome with a knight called Master VVilliam de Ville named by the French Le Sauuage who fearing lest this furious people should kill him suffered him to depart vpon his word which notwithstanding he neuer chalenged for soon after himselfe was slaine the people reioiced much for the taking of their Bishop Farther you shall vnderstand that they hated extremely certaine chanons of the Church taken prisoners that day of whom for the first repast they slew fiue or sixe one of the which was named Master Robert the Bishops speciall friend whom I my selfe haue often seene armed at all peeces waiting vpon his Master for such is the maner of the Alemaigne Prelates 1 The said Master Robert they slew in the Bishops presence and hewed him into a number of small gobbets which they threw one at another in dirision To be short before their returne to Liege which was but eight leagues from Tongres they slew sixteen chanons and others all in maner the Bishops seruants This done they receiued aduertisement that the treatie betweene the King and the Duke was alreadie begun wherefore they dismissed certaine Burgundians supposing to excuse their fault by seeming to haue attempted nothing against the Duke but only against their Bishop whom they led prisoner into the citie Those that escaped put all the countrie in an vprore as they went by means whereof this newes came soone to the Duke some said all were slaine others the contrarie for such aduertisements are neuer reported after one sort At the length certaine arriued that saw these chanons slaine who supposing the Bishop and Hymbercourt to be of the number auowed constantly that all were murthered and farther that they saw the Kings ambassadors in the companie whom also they named All this was told the Duke who foorthwith beleeued it and fell into an extreme furie saying that the King was come thither to abuse him and gaue commandement to shut the gates of the castell and the towne spreading a fond rumor that he did it bicause of a budget with iewels and monie that was lost The King
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 the Duke of Burgundies onely daughter and heire for sonne he had none which matter they had often mooued to the Duke who in words shewed himselfe not vnwilling thereunto yet notwithstanding would neuer conclude it but entertained others also in hope thereof Now marke how these men sought to atchieue their enterprise by constraining the Duke of Burgundy to this marriage Immediately after these two towns were taken and the Duke gon to Arras to leuy forces with al speed the Duke of Guienne sent a secret messenger to him who brought him three lines written with the said Dukes owne hand foulded vp in a small lumpe of waxe and conteining these words Endeuor your selfe to appease your subiects and you shall not faile of friends Farther the Duke of Burgundy being at the first in exceeding great feare sent to the Cōstable desiring him to shew himself fauorable not to presse forward this war begun without any defiance made At the which message the Constable greatly reioiced supposing that he now held the Duke in such feare as he desired which to increase he sent him a speedy discomfortable answere the effect wherof was that his state stoode in maruellous danger so far foorth that he saw no way for him to winde himselfe out of these troubles but one Namely by giuing his daughter in mariage to the D. of Guienne which if he would do he should than be succoured with great forces for both the Duke of Guienne and diuers others Lords would declare themselues for him against the King and he also would restore him Saint Quintine and take his part otherwise he said he durst do nothing considering how strong the K. was hauing both his army very wel appointed also great intelligence in the Dukes dominions This was the answer he sent with diuers other fearefull messages But I neuer knew man in my life come to good end that sought to put in feare and hold in subiection his master or any other great Prince with whom he had to do as in the end the Constables example shall well declare For notwithstanding that the King were then his master and that the greatest part of his reuenues lay and all his children were resident in the Duke of Burgundies dominions yet continued he these practises against both these Princes with intent to hold them both in feare each by other which cost him deere in the end and no maruel For notwithstanding that euery man desire to liue out of subiection and feare and that all men naturally hate these that hold them in awe yet none so extremely as Princes For I neuer knew Prince that hated not mortally all those that sought to put him feare After the D. of Burgundy had receaued the Constables answer he perceaued wel no friendship to be in him farther that he was the only author of this war Wherupon he conceaued so extreme hatred against him that after this he could neuer brooke him especially bicause by these fearfull messages he fought to constraine him to mary his daughter at his pleasure a vaine attempt For before the returne of the Constables answer the Duke had recouered his spirits and had a great army with him You may easely perceaue both by the message sent by the Duke of Guienne first and the Constables answer afterwarn that this was a compact matter between them and the rather for that the like message or a more dreadfull came soone after from the Duke of Britaine who sent also to the Kings seruice a hundred Britons all men of armes vnder the leading of the Lord of Lescut Wherefore we may boldly say that this war was mooued onely to constraine the Duke of Burgundy to conclude this mariage and that they did but abuse the King in perswading him to begin war for they were all in maner lies that they told him of their intelligences in the Dukes dominions Notwithstanding in this voiage the Constable did the King great seruice and shewed extreme malice against the Duke of Burgundy knowing that the Duke had conceaued mortal hatred against him The Duke of Guienne also serued the King in these wars very well accompanied so that the Duke of Burgundy stood vpon hard tearmes But if at the first he would haue assured his daughter to the Duke of Guienne both the said Duke of Guienne the Constable and diuers other noble men with all their adherents would haue reuolted to him against the King and done their endeuor to haue pulled him vpon his knees But whatsoeuer man purposeth in such cases God disposeth afterward of them at his pleasure How the Duke of Burgundie tooke Piquigny and afterward found meanes to make truce with the King for a yeere to the Constables great griefe Chap. 3. YOu haue heard at large the cause of this war at the beginning whereof both the Princes were blinded inuading each other and neither of them knowing the cause why which was a maruellous cunning of the contriuers of this enterprise For a man might haue pronounced the old Prouerbe of these two Princes that the one part of the world was not acquainted with the others maners nor actions All these affaires aboue rehersed since the beginning of these wars chanced in very short space for within lesse then fifteene daies after the taking of Amiens the Duke put himselfe into the field neere to Arras for farther he retired not and from thence marched toward the riuer of Somme and so straight to Piquigny but vpon the waie thither he met with a messenger of the Duke of Britaine on foote who aduertised him from the Duke his Master that the King had giuen his said Master to vnderstand of diuers secrets and among others of intelligences he had in many great towns of his dominions namely Andwerp Bruges and Bruxelles adding also that the King was determined to come and besiege him into what towne soeuer he should retire were it euen into Gaunt All the which aduertisements I suppose the Duke of Britain sent in fauour of the Duke of Guienne hoping thereby to further much the marriage aboue mentioned But the Duke of Burgundie tooke this message in euill part and foorthwith dispatched the messenger willing him to tell his master that he was misinformed by some euill seruants about him who put these feares and doubts into his head to the end he should not aide him as he was bound by their league And farther that he knew not what townes Gaunt and the other cities were in the which he said the King would come to besiege him for they were too great to be besieged He bad him farther to informe his Master in what sort he found him accompanied and to aduertise him that the world went otherwise with him then he supposed for he was determined to passe the riuer of Somme and to fight with the King if he would come to stop him vpon the way Laste of all he willed him to desire his Master on his behalfe to ioine with
the King and him he caused it foorthwith to be opened and passed to our side of the riuer where vndoubtedly he was in great danger This his dooing peraduenture himselfe and his familiar friends accounted a woorthy exploit supposing the King to stand in feare of him whom also they reputed a timorous Prince And true it is that he was so at times when there was cause why but not alwaies when the world so iudged of him For you shall vnderstand that the ciuill wars with the Princes of his realme out of the which he had wound himselfe by large gifts and promises had beaten this lesson into his head not to put any thing in aduenture if he could compasse his purposes by any other means which caused a number of men to suppose all his dooings to proceede of feare But diuers that vpon this imagination attempted foolish enterprises against him found themselues much deceiued namely the Earle of Armignack and others whom their fond attempts cost full deere For the King knew when it was time to feare and not to feare Sure this praise I dare boldly giue him which though happily I haue written before yet deserueth againe to be spoken that he was the wisest man in aduersity that euer I knew But to returne to my discourse of the Constable who desired peraduenture to hold the King in feare at the least I suppose so for I will not charge him with it but write this onely for an aduertisement to those that are in Princes seruice and vnderstand not all alike the affaires of this world for mine owne part if I had a friend I would aduise him to endeuor himselfe that his Master might loue him not feare him for I neuer knew man whose authority depended of the feare his Master had of him that sped not euill in the end and that by his Masters consent Examples ynow haue been seene heerof in our time or not long before In this realm of the Lord of Trimouille and others In England of the Earle of Warwick and his faction I could name some also in Spaine and in other countries But those that shal reade this discourse may peraduenture be able to say more therin than my selfe This their presumption oftentimes proceedeth of their good seruice for they thinke their experience so great that they cannot be spared and their deserts such that their Masters ought to beare all things at their hands But Princes on the contrarie side both say and thinke that men are bound to do them seruice and desire nothing more than to be rid of such malapart fellowes Touching the which point I must needes speake somewhat of the King our Master for once he told me in talking of those that do their Prince great seruice naming withall his author from whom he receiued this opinion that good seruice sometime vndooeth men and is recompensed with great ingratitude not alwaies by the Masters forgetfulnes but many times through the seruants owne fault who presuming vpon their good seruice behaue themselues arrogantly either towards their Masters or their fellowes Further as touching those that come to preferment in Court this was his opinion that he is happier that receiueth a benefit of the Prince he serueth without great desert whereby he standeth bound to his Prince than he that hath done so great seruice that his Prince seemeth in debted to him adding that he for his part loued those better that were bound to him than those to whom he was bound Thus you see how hard it is to liue in this world in any estate wherfore greatly are they bound to God whom he hath indued with vnderstanding how to gouerne thēselues in their vocation This enteruiew between the King the Constable was in the yeere 1474. THE FOVRTH BOOKE How the Duke of Burgundy being seazed of the Duchie of Gueldres sought to encroch farther vpon the Almaines and how he laied his siege before Nuz Chap. 1. THe same sommer as I remember that the King and the Constable met the Duke of Burgundy went to conquer the Duchy of Gueldres vpon a title woorthy to be declared to the end we may therby consider the wonderfull iudgements and power of God There was a yoong Duke of Gueldres named Adolph who maried his wife being of the house of Bourbon and sister to Peter Duke of Bourbon 1 now liuing in the Duke of Burgundies court for the which cause he was wel fauored there This Duke Adolph committed an horrible fact for one euening he tooke his father named Duke Arnold prisoner as he was going to bed and led him fiue dutch miles on foote bare legged in a maruellous colde night and laid him in a deepe dungeon the space of six moneths 2 where he sawe no light but through a little hole Wherfore the Duke of Cleues whose sister the old Duke being prisoner had maried made sharpe war vpon this yoong Duke Adolph The Duke of Burgundy sought diuers meanes to agree them but no good could be done Wherefore in the end the Pope and the Emperor began to stir in this matter so far foorth that the D. of Burgundy vnder great curses was commanded to take the old Duke out of prison which he did accordingly for the yoong Duke durst not withstand him both bicause he saw so many good men against him and also bicause of the Dukes great force I haue often seene them both togither in the Duke of Burgundies chamber pleading their cause before a great assembly and once I saw the good old man present the combat to his sonne The Duke of Burgundy was very desirous to agree them and offered the yoong Duke whom he fauored the title of Gouernor 3 of Guelderland with all the reuenues thereof saue of one little towne neere to Brabant called Graue which should remaine to the father with the reuenues of three thousand florens a yeerely pension of as much and the title of Duke as was but reason I with others wiser than my self were appointed to make report of these conditions to the yoong Duke who answered vs that he had rather throw his father headlong into a Well and himselfe after than agree to such an appointment alleaging that his father had been Duke forty fower yeeres and that it was now time for him to gouerne Notwithstanding he said that he would willingly agree to giue him a yeerely pension of three thousand florens with condition that he should depart the countrey as a banished man neuer to return diuers other such like lewd speeches he vsed This hapned at the very same instant that the King wan Amiens from the Duke of Burgundy who was then with these two Dukes at Dourlans whence bicause of the wars he departed in haste to Hedin forgetting this matter This yoong Duke put on French apparell 4 and departed with one onely seruant to repaire home into his countrey But as he ferried ouer a water neere to Namur he paied a gildon for his passage whereupon a
person Then I demanded of him againe how many he had lost and he answered neuer but one which was this we now bereaued him of adding that he receiued greater dishonor by returning home after this sort than he had obtained honor in winning the other nine Of this communication I aduertised the King who said he was a dangerous knaue and that some meanes must be found to stop his mouth whereupon he sent for him and made him dine at his owne table offering him verie large offers and goodly offices if he would tarry in Fraunce But seeing he would by no meanes be woon thereunto he gaue him a thousand crownes in money promising also a good turne to his brethren that were on this side the sea and I gaue him a watchword in his eare to employ his credit to continue the friendship and amity begun betweene the two Princes The King feared especially aboue all things least some word should escape him at vnawares whereby the English men might gather that he derided them And by chaunce the next morning after this meeting as he was in his closet and not past three or fower of vs with him he spake a merrie word touching the wines and presents sent to the English campe and as he turned about espied a merchant of Gascoine that dwelt in England who was come to mooue a sute to him for a licence to ship certaine Gascoine wines into England without impost which was a sute that might much benefit the said merchant if he could obtaine it The King woondered when he saw him how he was gotten in thither and asked him of what towne he was in Guienne and whether he were a merchant and married in England The merchant answered yea but that his wealth was not great Incontinent before his departure thence the K. appointed one to accompanie him to Bordeaux and I communed with him by his commandement Further a good office in the towne where he was borne was giuen him the licence for the wines which he demanded was granted him and besides this 1000. franks were deliuered him for his wiues charges vpon the way and he sent a brother of his into England for hir but went not himselfe Thus the King condemned himselfe in this penaltie for his ouer large speech The Notes 1 The old copie saith the 19. day Meyer the 31. day Gaguin the 28. of October 2 The like reparteth Iouius of the French How the Constable after the truce made with the English men sought to excuse himselfe to the King and how truce was also concluded for nine yeeres betweene the King and the Duke of Burgundie Chap. 11. THe selfesame day aboue mentioned being the next day after the enteruiew the Constable sent letters to the King by a seruant of his named Rapine who was a trustie seruant to his Master and whom also the King preferred afterwarde Monseur de Lude and my selfe were commanded to heare his message Now you shall vnderstand that Monseur de Contay was already returned from the Duke of Burgundie to the Court about the practise aboue mentioned deuised against the Constable so that the said Constable knew not to what Saint he should vow himself but remained in vtter despaire Rapines message was very humble tending to excuse his Master of the sundry euill reports that he knew had been made of him to the King for that the end sufficiently declared that he neuer meant to do otherwise than dutie required And to the intent he might the better assure the King of his true dealing he promised so to practise with the Duke of Burgundy that he would perswade him to helpe to destroy the King of England and his whole army if it so pleased the King And it seemed by his speech that his Master was in vtter despaire We told him that we were in perfect amity with the English men and would no war But Monseur de Lude who was with me aduentured to aske him if he knew where his Masters treasure lay I maruelled to heare such a word passe him for seeing this Rapine was a very trustie seruant to his Master this speech was sufficient to haue caused the Constable to flie and to vnderstand in what estate he was and what was a brewing for him especially seeing the danger he had been in not past a yeere before But I neuer knew man in my life neither heere nor elsewhere that could dislodge in time and shun the danger hanging ouer his head some bicause they thinke they shall not be receiued nor be in safetie in strange countries and other some bicause they are too much affectionate to their goods wiues and children which two reasons haue been the cause of many a good mans vndooing After we had made report to the King of Rapines message he called for one of his Secretaries none being with him but the Lord Hovvard the King of Englands seruant who vnderstood nothing of this practise against the Constable the Lord of Contay who was returned from the Duke of Burgundy and we two that had talked with the said Rapine Then he indited a letter to the Constable wherein he aduertised him of all that was done the day before namely the treaty of peace Further he senâ—â—â—â— word that he was busied with diuers affaires of great importance and had neede of such a head as his which word was no sooner vttered but he turned to the Englishmen and the Lord of Contay saying softly to them I meane not that we should haue the body but the head without the body This letter was deliuered to Rapine who liked it maruellous well especially those words that the King had need of such a head as his Masters but he vnderstood not the mystery thereof The King of England also sent the King the two letters of credit that the Constable had written to him and disclosed all the messages that he had sent him whereby you may perceiue how the Constable had behaued himselfe towards these three great Princes and in what estate he was euery one of the three desiring his death The King of England vpon the receit of his money departed and marched in great haste towards Callice fearing the D. of Burgundies malice his subiects and not without cause for whensoeuer his men scattered singled themselues some of them came short home At his departure he left for hostages with the King till his returne into England according to his promise the Lord Hovvard and the Master of his horse called Sir Iohn Cheiny You haue heard before at the entrance into these English affaires that K. Edward had no great deuotion to this voyage into Fraunce for being come to Douer before he embarked he began to practise with vs. But there were two causes that mooued him to passe the seas one the desire his whole realme had according to their natural humor to make war in Fraunce and the rather at this present bicause the Duke of Burgundy pressed the war so
him of all his demands for as yet he thought it not time to declare himselfe bicause he knew well the loyalty of the Dukes subiects to be such to their Prince that he should soone be aflote againe Wherefore he was desirous to see the end of this war without giuing occasion to either partie to make peace But notwithstanding the good entertainment the King gaue the said Contay yet heard he many scoffes and taunts in the towne for ballads were openly sung in the commendation of the vanquishers and reproch of his follie that was vanquished So soone as Galeas Duke of Milan then liuing vnderstood of this aduenture he reioiced not a little thereat notwithstanding that he were the D. of Burgundies confederate for he was entred into league with him for feare onely seeing the Duke so highly fauored in Italie Wherfore the said D. of Milan sent in all haste to the King a citizen of Milan a man of small apparance who by mediation of others was directed to me and brought me a letter from the Duke whereof when I had aduertised the King he commanded me to heare his message For he would not giue him audience himselfe bicause he was displeased with the Duke of Milan for abandoning his league with him to enter into confederacie with the Duke of Burgundie and the rather for that his wife was the Queenes sister The said ambassadors message was that his Master the Duke of Milan was aduertised that the King and the Duke of Burgundie should meete to conclude a finall peace and a league greatly to his Masters discontentation diuers slender reasons he alleaged to disswade the K. from the conclusion thereof But his last perswasion was that if the K. would be bound to make neither peace nor truce with the D. of Burgundie his M. would presently giue him 100000. ducats When the K. heard the substance of his ambassage he caused him to come to his presence my selfe only being with him and said thus briefly vnto him Heere is Monseur d'Argenton that aduertiseth me thus and thus tell your M. I will none of his monie for I leauie once in a yeere thrise as much as he And as touching peace or war I will dispose thereof at my pleasure but if your Master repent him that he hath forsaken his league with me to enter into confederacie with the Duke of Burgundie tell him I am contented that the league betweene vs shall continue as it was first concluded The ambassador gaue him most humble thanks perceiuing him by his answer to be no couetous Prince and desired that it would please him to cause the said league betweene him and his Master to be proclaimed in maner and forme as it was first concluded saying that he had power to binde his Master to agree thereunto The K. was contented and after dinner it was proclaimed an ambassador foorthwith dispatched to Milan where the league was againe proclaimed with great solemnitie This is one blowe aduersitie gaue the Duke of Burgundie for heere is one mightie Prince suddenly fallen from him who had sent a great and solemne ambassage to enter into league with him but three weekes before King Rene of Sicilie was purposed to make the Duke of Burgundy his heire and to put Prouence into his hands so far forth that Monseur de Chasteauguion that now is and diuers others were already gone into Piemont with 20000. crownes to leuy men to take possession of the said countrey for the Duke of Burgundy but vpon the newes of this ouerthrow they fled and hardly saued themselues and as touching their money the Lord of Bresse being then in those parts tooke it The Duches of Sauoy hearing these newes sent word thereof immediately to King Rene of Sicilie extenuating the ouerthrow and willing him to be of good cheere notwithstanding this small losse but hir messengers being Prouincials were intercepted and thereby King Renes practise with the Duke of Burgundy discouered Whereupon the King sent forces to the frontiers of Prouence 1 and ambassadors to the King of Sicilie desiring him to come to him and assuring him of good entertainment which if he refused to do he threatned by force to preuent this inconuenience Wherefore in the end the King of Sicilie agreed to repaire to Lions to the King where he was honorably receiued and well feasted I was with the King and heard the words that passed betweene them at their first meeting which being ended Iohn Cosse Seneschal of Prouence a woorthy gentleman and of a good house in the realme of Naples said thus to the King Sir you must not maruell if the King my Master your Vncle offered to make the Duke of Burgundy his heire for he was counselled thereunto by his seruants especially by my selfe bicause you being his sisters sonne his nephew haue done him so great wrong in taking from him the castels of Bar and Angiers and handled him so ill in all his other affaires Wherefore we meant to enter into this practise with the Duke of Burgundy to the end that you hearing this newes might indeuor your selfe to repaire the iniuries you haue done vs and acknowledge in the end the King our Master to be your Vncle but we neuer minded to bring this treaty to a full conclusion The King being a wise Prince tooke this practise in good part which the said Iohn Cosse vttered indeed simply as it was meant for he himselfe was the onely contriuer thereof In short space all controuersies between them were ended and money was giuen to the King of Sicilie and his seruants Further the King feasted him with the Ladies and vsed him in all points according to his owne humor as neere as he could and of the Duke of Burgundy no more mention was made but he was vtterly abandoned of King Rene. This is another mishap that ensued this small aduersity The Duches also of Sauoye who of long time was thought great enimy to the King hir brother sent one Monseur de Montaigny who was addressed to me with a secret message to reconcile hir selfe to the King alleaging diuers reasons why shee was fallen out with him and wherein she stood in feare of him Notwithstanding she was a verie wise Ladie and the Kings sister indeed for it appeered that she meant to temporize as he did to see what would happen further to the Duke before she would abandon him The King gaue hir better words than he was accustomed and sent the messenger very good answers by me willing him to desire his Mistres to come into Fraunce and thus hir man was dispatched See heere an other of the Duke of Burgundies confederats practising to forsake him Besides this through the whole countrey of Almaine enimies began to declare themselues against him and all the Imperiall townes as Nuremberg Francfort and diuers others ioined themselues with these old and new confederates of Swisserland so that all the world seemed to be perswaded the doing of him
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
ciuill dissentions and factions among themselues encreased daily in the great townes especially in Gaunt which bare the greatest sway in the countrie as you haue heard For the Lady of Burgundie diuers marriages were mentioned for all men were of opinion that either she must get hir a husband to defend that she yet held or marrie the Daulphin thereby quietly to possesse all Some desired greatly that this marriage with the Daulphin might take effect she hir selfe especially before the King deliuered the letters aboue mentioned sent vnto him by hir Chauncellor and the Lord of Himbercourt but others disallowed of this marriage both bicause of the said Daulphins yoong age for he was but nine yeeres olde and also bicause of the marriage promised in England and these labored for the Duke of Cleues sonne Others there were that trauelled for the Emperors sonne Maximilian now King of Romans The said Lady had conceiued extreme hatred against the King for the deliuerie of the letters aboue mentioned which was the onely cause of the two noble mens death and of the dishonor she receiued when hir letters were openly redeliuered hir before the assemblie whereof you haue heard Further the deliuerie of the said letters seemed also to be the onely occasion that mooued them of Gaunt to banish so many of hir seruants from hir to remooue from about hir hir mother in lawe and the Lord of Rauastaine and to put hir women in such feare that they durst not open a letter before they of Gaunt had seene it nor commune with their Mistres in hir eare Wherefore she began now to remooue from about hir the Bishop of Liege who was of the house of Bourbon and an earnest suter for hir marriage with the Daulphin which sure had been a very honorable match for hir had not the said Daulphin been so yoong notwithstanding the Bishop had no regarde thereof To be short the said Bishop departed to Liege whereupon euery man gaue ouer that sute It had been hard to deale in this busines to the contentation of all parties and I thinke who so should haue intermedled in it should haue had but small thanke for his labour in the end wherfore euery man forbare to speake therin Notwithstanding before hir marriage was fully concluded there was an assemblie held about it wherat the Lady of Halleuin the Princesse of Burgundies principall woman was present who said as I haue heard reported that they had neede of a man not a child and that hir Mistres was a woman growen and able to beare children which should be the onely stay of the countrey This opinion tooke place notwithstanding some blamed this Lady for speaking thus frankly but others commended hir saying that she had spoken but of such mariage as was most necessary for the estate of the countrey There was now no more to do but to finde a fit man And I thinke verily if it had so pleased the K. she would willingly haue married the Lord of Angoulesme that now is 1 so much desired she to continue hir alliance with the house of France But God was minded to make another match wherof peraduenture the sequel is yet vnknown Notwithstanding this we are able to say by that is already past that of the said marriage many great wars haue arisen both heere and there which perchance had neuer happened if she had married the Lord of Angoulesme wheras by reason of this other match both the countries of Flaunders and Brabant haue suffered great afflictions The Duke of Cleues was at Gaunt with the said Lady making friends there in hope to conclude a marriage betweene hir and his son but she had no fansie therunto for both she those that were about hir misliked much his sons conditions Wherfore some began to motion a marriage betweene hir and the Emperors sonne now King of Romans the which in times past had been so far foorth treated of betweene the Emperor and Duke Charles that it was concluded betweene them two Further the Emperor had a letter written with the Ladies owne hand by hir fathers commandement and a ring set with a diamond The contents of the which letter were that according to the pleasure of hir Lord and father she promised to the said Duke of Austrich the Emperors sonne to accomplish the marriage concluded betweene both their parents in such manner and forme as hir said Lord and father should appoint From the Emperor came certaine ambassadors to the said Lady being at Gaunt who receiued letters at Bruxels commanding them to stay there bicause Commssioners should be sent thither to treat with them which was the Duke of Cleues doing who was loth of their comming and sought to send them home discontented But the said ambassadors passed foorth that notwithstanding for they had good intelligence in the Ladies court especially with the Dowager of Burgundy who was remooued from the said Lady as you haue heard bicause of the letter aboue mentioned She aduertised them as it was reported that they should not stay at Bruxels notwithstanding these letters instructing them further what they should do at their comming to Gaunt and assuring them that the said Lady and diuers about hir were well disposed to their sute The Emperors ambassadors followed hir aduise and rid straight to Gaunt notwithstanding the message aboue mentioned Wherewith the Duke of Cleues was not a little discontented but he was not acquainted with the disposition of the said Lady and hir women The Councell concluded that these ambassadors should haue audience their message being heard the Princesse should bid them hartily welcome tell them that she would take aduise with hir Councel which words being vttered she should withdraw hirselfe without farther communication Whereunto she agreed The ambassadors when audience was giuen them presented their letters and declared their message which was that hir mariage had been concluded betweene the Emperour and the Duke of Burgundy hir father with hir consent as appeered both by hir letters written with hir owne hand which they there shewed and also by the diamond which they said she had sent and giuen in token of marriage Moreouer the said ambassadors required hir on their Masters behalfe that it would please hir to accomplish the said marriage according to the will and promise both of hir said Lord and father and also of hirselfe Further desiring hir to declare before the assembly there present whether she had written the said letter or not and whether she minded to performe hir promise Whereunto the said Ladie without further deliberation answered that she had sent the saide diamond and written the letter by the commandement of hir Lord and father and would performe all that was conteined therein Then the ambassadors gaue hir humble thanks and returned with ioifull minds to their lodging But the Duke of Cleues was highly displeased with this answer being cleane contrary to hir councels resolution and told hir that she had done vnaduisedly
this mariage was accomplished in August 1477. Introduct de la Marche so that he was eighteen yeeres old and sixe moneths when he was married 3 This is Philip father to the Emperors Charles the fift and Ferdinande he was borne the 23. of Iune 1478. and died the 25. of September 1506. 4 This Margaret is she whom they of Gaunt against hir fathers will betrothed to King Charles the 8. as Commines writeth in this booke cap. 9. The said King Charles neuer accomplished the mariage with hir but being growen to mans estate sent hir home to hir father as Commines writeth lib. 7. cap. 3. Afterward she married the Prince of Castile as is mentioned lib. 8. cap. 17. and lastly Philibert Duke of Sauoy She was borne anno 1480. de la Marche 5 This Frauncis was borne anno 1481. Introduct de la Marche he died a childe and another sonne also as other historiographers report named George 6 Or rather the fift for she was married anno 1477. and died 1482. as our author in the 7. chapter of this booke reporteth She was borne anno 1457. and King Lewis christened hir Meyer Annal. Burgund 7 She died 2. of March an 1482. by reason that through womanly bashfulnes she would not suffer hir thigh vvhich vvas broken vvith the fall from hir horse to be cured but chose rather to die How King Lewis by the conduct of Charles of Amboise his lieutenant recouered diuers townes in Burgundie which the Prince of Orenge had caused to reuolt from him Chap. 4. THe war endured still in Burgundy where the King could not atchieue his enterprise bicause the Prince of Orenge being reuolted from him was made lieutenant of the Burgundians and had some aide of the Almaines for his money but not in fauor of Duke Maximilian for as touching him there neuer came man into the countrey for his seruice at the least during the time I now write of But these Almains were certaine bands of Swissers that serued the Prince of Orenge as aduenturers but not as Maximilians waged soldiers for the Swissers are not friends nor well willers of the house of Austrich other aide this countrey of Burgundy had little notwithstanding inough it might haue had if their paiment had been good And as touching aide no man might better haue giuen it than Duke Sigismunde of Austriche Duke Maximilians vncle 1 whose dominions bordered vpon these countries of Burgundy especially the County of Ferrette which a fewe yeeres before 2 he sould for 100000. gildons to Charles Duke of Burgundy and tooke it afterwards againe without paying backe the money 3 by the which title he yet possesseth it He was a man of small wisdome and little regarding his honor and in such friends men finde small helpe Further he was one of those Princes aboue mentioned that vnderstand nothing of their owne affaires further then it pleaseth their seruants to acquaint them with who are euer plagued for their beastlines in their age as this Duke Sigismunde was For his seruants during these wars made him take part with whom them listed so that for the most part he ioined with the King our Master against his nephew and would haue giuen his inheritance being very large from his owne kindred to a strange house for he neuer had childe notwithstanding that he were twise married But now within these three moneths by the perswasion of another faction of his seruants he hath conueied a present estate of his whole patrimony to the said Maximiliam his nephew King of Romaines reseruing to himself a pension onely amounting to the third part of his reuenues without any further power or authority in the countrey But as I haue heard he hath often repented him thereof and if I haue heard a lie yet it is like inough to be true Such is the end of all Princes that liue like beasts against whom I inueigh thus vehemently bicause of the great office and charge that God hath giuen them in this world Notwithstanding those that are bereft of their wits ought to be free from all reproch but sure those that haue good wits and healthfull bodies and yet employ their time in nothing but folly and idlenes are not to be moaned when any misfortune falleth vpon them as on the other side those that spend their time according to their age somtime in wisdome and councell and somtime in honest ' recreation are greatly to be commended and happie be the subiects that liue vnder such a Prince This war in Burgundie endured long bicause of the Swissers small aide aboue mentioned notwithstanding the Kings force was much too strong for them besides that the Burgundians lacked monie for the which cause the garrisons that were in the strong places turned by intelligence Monseur de Cran the Kings lieutenant there laide the siege before Dolle the chiefe citie of the countie of Burgundie the force within it being so small that he despised it which turned to his losse for they salied foorth and assaulted him on a sudden and tooke part of his artillerie and slue certaine of his men which was a great dishonor to him and put him also into the Kings disgrace who being troubled with this accident determined to send a new gouernor into Burgundie partly bicause of this misfortune and partly bicause of the great pillings and pollings the said de Cran had vsed in the countrie which were in deede too excessiue Notwithstanding before his departure he ouerthrew a band of Almains and Burgundians and tooke prisoner Monseur de Chasteauguion 4 the greatest Lord in Burgundie Other exploit none was done that I haue heard of notwithstanding the report went that the said de Cran behaued himselfe there very valiantly as touching his owne person The King as before I said determined for the reasons aboue alleaged to place a new gouernor in Burgundie not diminishing any whit of the said de Crans profits offices or estates saue onely that he tooke from him all his men of armes except halfe a dosen or a dosen archers left to accompanie him home This Monseur de Cran was a very grosse man and willingly departed to his owne house where he liued at ease The King placed in his roome Master Charles of Amboise Lord of Chaumont a valiant wise and diligent gentleman Moreouer he practised to win all the Almaines that made war against him in Burgundie to his seruice not so much to vse their helpe as thereby to conquer the easilier the rest of the countrie The King sent also to the Swissers whom he called the Lords of these Almaine leagues making them many goodly offers for he promised a yeerely pension of 20000. franks 5 to their townes which be fower Berne Lucerne Zurich and I think Fribourg was the fourth Their Cantons also as I suppose receiued part of this pension which be three villages situate in the mountains namely Swisse whereof the whole countrie is named Soleurre and Ondreual other 20000. franks he
the feast of Saint Iohn Baptist in the yeere 1498. at which time he was bound to restore them also to the said Archduke and so he promised and sware to do Whether the alteration of these mariages agreed with the lawes of holy Church or no let others iudge for many Doctors of diuinitie said yea and many nay but were these lawfull or vnlawfull sure all these Ladies were vnfortunate in their issue Our Queene had three sonnes successiuely one after another in fower yeeres one of them 3 liued almost three yeeres and then died and the other two be dead also The Lady Margaret of Austriche was afterward married to the Prince of Castile onely sonne to the King and Queene of Castile and heire both of Castile and diuers other realmes The said Prince died the first yeere of his marriage in the yeere of our Lord 1497. leauing his wife great bellied 4 who immediately after hir husbands death fell in trauel before hir time and was deliuered of a dead borne childe which misfortune the King and Queene of Castile and their whole realme lamented a long time The King of Romanes immediately after this change aboue mentioned married the daughter of Galeas Duke of Milan sister to Duke Iohn Galeas before named the which marriage was made by the Lord Lodouics onely procurement but it displeased greatly both the Princes of the Empire and many also of the King of Romanes friends bicause she was not of a house noble ynough in their opinion to match with their Emperor For as touching the Viscounts of whom the Dukes of Milan are descended small nobilitie is in them and lesse yet in the Sforces for the first of that house was Francis Sforce Duke of Milan whose father was a shoomaker 5 dwelling in a little towne called Cotignoles but a very valiant man though not so valiant as his sonne who by meanes of the great fauour the people of Milan bare his wife being bastard daughter to Duke Philip Marie made himselfe Duke and conquered and gouerned the whole countrie not as a tyrant but as a good and iust Prince so that in woorthines and vertue he was comparable to the noblest Princes that liued in his daies Thus much I haue written to shew what followed the change of these marriages neither know I what may yet heerafter ensue further thereof The Notes 1 Annal. Burgund vvrite vvith Philip the King of Romaines sonne but the best vvriters agree vvith our author 2 Maximilian vvas chosen King of Romaines anno 1486. Funccius 3 Of this childes death he vvriteth lib. 8. cap. 13. 4 Of this Princes death he vvriteth at large lib. 8. cap. 17. 5 Francis Sforces father as some write vvas first a cooke in the campe after he became a soldier and lastly for his valor vvas made a captaine and a knight How the King sent to the Venetians to practise with them before he enterprised his voiage to Naples and of the preparation that was made for the said voiage Chap. 4. NOw to returne to the principall matter you haue heard of the Earle of Caiazzes the other ambassadors departure from the King at Paris and of diuers practises entertained in Italy and how the King as yoong as he was greatly affected this voiage notwithstanding that as yet he discouered his meaning but to the Seneschall and generall onely Further he required the Venetians to giue him aide and counsell in this enterprise who answered him that he should be welcome into Italy but that aide him they could not bicause they stood in doubt of the Turke yet were they in peace with him and as touching counsell it should be too great presumption in them to giue counsell to so wise a Prince hauing so graue a counsell about him but they promised rather to helpe him than hinder him This they tooke to be a wise answer and so was it I confesse But notwithstanding that they gouerne their affaires more circumspectly than any Prince or commonaltie in the world yet God will alwaies haue vs to know that wisedome and forecast of man auaile nought when he is purposed to strike the stroke For he disposed of this enterprise far otherwise than they imagined for they thought not that the King would haue come in person into Italy neither stoode they in any feare of the Turke notwithstanding their forged excuse for the Turke then raigning was a man of no valor 1 but they hoped by this meanes to be reuenged of the house of Arragon which they hated extremely both the father and the sonne bicause by their perswasion as they said the Turke came to Scutary 2 I meane the father of this Turke called Mahumet Ottoman who tooke Constantinople and greatly endammaged the said Venetians But apart to Alphonse D. of Calabria they had many other quarrels for they charged him first as the onely author of the war the D. of Ferrara mooued against them wherin they consumed such infinit treasure that it had well neere cleane vndone them of the which war a word or two hath been spoken before Secondarily that he had sent a man purposely to Venice to poison their cesterns at the least as many as might be come vnto for diuers of them be enclosed and locked They vse there none other water for they are inuironed with the sea and sure that water is very good 3 as my selfe can witnes for twice I haue been at Venice and in my last voiage dranke of it eight moneths togither But the chiefe cause of their hatred against this house of Arragon was none of these aboue rehersed but for that the said house kept them frō growing great as well in Italy as Greece on both the which countries they had their eies fixed notwithstanding they had lately conquered the I le of Cyprus vpon no title in the world 4 For all these considerations the Venetians thought it their profit that war should arise betweene the King and the house of Arragon but they supposed that it could not haue ended so soon as it did that it shuld but weaken their enimies not vtterly destroy them and further that if the woorst fell either the one partie or the other to haue their helpe would giue them certaine townes in Pouille lying vpon their sea coast as also in the end it hapned but they had well neere misreckoned themselues Lastly as touching the calling of the King into Italy they thought it could not be laid to their charge seeing they had giuen him neither counsell nor aide as appeered by their answer to Peron of Basche In the yeere 1494. the King went to Lyons to attend to his affaires but no man 1494. thought he would passe the mountaines Thither came to him the aboue named Master Galeas of Saint Seuerin brother to the Earle of Caiazze with a goodly traine sent from the Lord Lodouic whose lieutenant and principall seruant he was He brought with him a great number of braue horses and armours to run in
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
nor so well placed to haue succoured it as the day before Further bicause the Marques of Mantua who was entred into the plaine and past the riuer was directly vpon our backe about a quarter of a league behinde our rereward marching with his force softly and close togither which was a maruellous pleasant sight to behold the King was forced to turne his backe to his vawarde and his face towards his enimies and so to approch neerer to his rereward and retire from his vaward I was then with the Cardinall attending an answer of our letter but I told him I perceiued it was no time to staie any longer there wherfore I departed being hard by the Swissers and went to the King But before I could come to him I lost a page who was my cosin germaine and a groome of my chamber and a lackey which followed a prety way behinde me so that I saw not when they were slaine I had not riden aboue a hundred paces when suddenly a cry began to arise in the selfe same place from whence I was departed or but little beyond For you shall vnderstand that their Estradiots at this very instant came to our carriage anâ— entred into the Kings lodging where were three or fower houses in the which they slew or hurt fower or fiue soldiers but the rest escaped they slew also about an hundred of our straglers and put our carriage in great disorder When I came to the King I found him dubbing of knights but bicause the enimies were at hand we caused him to cease and then I hard the bastard of Bourbon named Mathew who was in good credit with the King and one Philip de Moulin a poore gentleman but very valiant call the King saying passe foorth sir passe foorth whereupon he went into the forefront of his battell and placed himselfe before his standard so that the bastard of Bourbon excepted I sawe none neerer the enimies then himselfe Our enimies marched lustely forward in such sort that within lesse than a quarter of an hower after my arriuall they were come within a hundred paces of the King who was as euill garded as euil waited on as euer was Prince or noble maÌ„ but mauger the deuil he is wel defended whom God defends And sure the prophesie of the reuerend father frier Hierom prooued true who told me as before you haue heard that God led him by the hand His rereward stood vpon his right hand being recoiled somwhat from him the neerest companie to him on that side was the D. of Orleans companie being to the number of 80. launces led by Robinet of Frainezelles and Monseur de la Trimoilles company being about forty launces and the hundred Scottish archers of his garde who thrust themselues into the presse as men of armes I my selfe stood vpon the left hand with the gentlemen pensioners and seruants of the Kings house This rereward was led by the Earle of Foix but as touching the names of the other captaines I passe them ouer for breuitie Within a quarter of an hower after my arriuall the enimies being so neere the King as you haue heard charged their staues and began a soft gallop They were diuided into two troupes one of the which charged the two companies of our horsemen and the Scottish archers standing on the Kings right hand and the other the King himselfe so that both they and the King were charged almost at one instant we that stood vpon the left hand charged them vpon the flanke greatly to our aduantage and vndoubtedly it is impossible for men to meete roughlier than we met But the Estradiots that accompanied them seeing our mules and carriage flie towards our vaward and their companions 4 get all the bootie turned their horses that way and forsooke their men of armes who by meanes thereof were vnfollowed whereby it manifestly appeered that God meant to preserue vs for if these fifteene hundred light horsemen had broken in amongst vs with their Cimeterres which are terrible swords like to the Turks vndoubtedly we had beene defeated our number being so small The Italian men of armes immediately after they had broken their staues fled and their footemen or the greatest part shrunke aside and fled also At the selfesame time that they charged vs the Earle of Caiazze gaue a charge also vpon our vaward but they met not so roughly as we for at the very instant that they should haue couched their staues they began to faint and disordered themselues in such sort that fifteene or twenty of them being scattered amongst our bands were taken and slaine by our Almaines the rest were but easily pursued for the Marshall of Gie endeuored to keepe his forces togither bicause he saw yet a great troupe of enimies not far from him Notwithstanding part of his men followed the chase and part of the Earle of Caiazzes men that fled passed ouer the place where the Marques we had fought with their swords in their hands for they had throwne awaie their staues But they that assailed the King fled immediately after they had charged and were maruellous swiftly pursued for we all followed the chase part of them tooke â—way to the village from whence we were departed the rest fled the next way to their campe we all pursuing them saue the King who staid behinde with a few men and put himselfe in great danger bicause he followed not after them with vs. One of the first that was slaine of their side was the Lord Rodolph of Mantua vnckle to the Marques who should haue sent word to the aboue named Master Anthonie of Vrbin when he should march for they thought that this battell would haue endured as their battels in Italie do which their error serued the said Master Anthonie for a good excuse but to say the truth I thinke he saw ynough to stay him from marching We had a great number of straglers and seruants following vs all the which flocked about the Italian men of armes being ouerthrowen and slue the most of them For the greatest part of the said straglers had their hatchets in their hands wherewith they vsed to cut wood to make our lodgings with the which hatchets they brake the visards of their head peeces and then claue their heads for otherwise they could hardly haue beene slaine they were so surely armed so that there were euer three or fower about one of them Moreouer the long swords that our archers and seruants had did that day a great execution The King tarried vpon the place where the charge was giuen accompanied with seuen or eight yoong gentlemen whom he had appointed to attend vpon him for neither would he follow the chase neither retire to his vaward bicause it was somwhat farre off He escaped wel at the first encounter coÌ„sidering that he was one of the foremost for the bastard of Bourbon was taken within lesse then twenty paces of him 5 and led prisoner to the
of Naples as of the Duchie of Milan failed for lacke of sending thither and how another enterprise against Genua sped euill also Chap. 15. THe King after his returne from Naples abode at Lyons a long time as before you haue heard holding iusts turneies It greeued him to lose the places in Italy aboue mentioned which he yet held neither cared he what treasure he spent in defence of them but he would take no paines himselfe in gouerning his owne affaires Moreouer he was aduertised daily of diuers practises entertained on his behalfe in Italy which notwithstanding that they were both dangerous and chargeable yet was he of power sufficient to haue atchieued them bicause his realme is populous plentifull of graine in Prouence and Languedoc and hath also a number of other wealthie countries where money might haue been leuied But if any other Prince besides the King of Fraunce should attend to these Italian practises and aduenture to entermebdle in their enterprises he should but vndoe himselfe spend his treasure and bring nothing to effect For the Italians neither do nor can serue but for money except it be a Duke of Milan or one of the greatest Seniories but a poore captaine be he neuer so well affectioned to the seruice of a King of Fraunce pretending title to the realme of Naples or the Duchie of Milan be he neuer so faithfull and trustie yet shal he not be able to do him seruice any long time after his paiment faileth bicause his men will forsake him and the poore captaine shall be vtterly vndone for the greatest part of them liue onely vpon the credit they win by the seruice of their soldiors who are paied by their captaine and he of him whom he serueth which is the cause why they desire in Italy nothing but factions and ciuile wars But as touching the practises aboue mentioned you shall vnderstand that they began before the towne of Caietta was lost to wit immediately after the King perceiued that the Duke of Milan would not performe the conditions of the treatie of Verceil and continued after the losse of the said towne the whole space of two yeeres after the Kings returne home As touching the said Duke of Milan he brake not his promise altogither vpon malice and trecherie but partly for feare for he doubted that the King would destroy him if he obteined the realme of Naples besides that he accounted the King to be a Prince in whom was no constancie nor assurance But to proceede one of these enterprises aboue mentioned was to inuade the Duchie of Milan after this sort Order was giuen that the Duke of Orleans should go to Ast to enter with a good band of men on that side whom I sawe once so neere his departure that his train was already gone We were sure of the Duke of Ferrareas friendship for he had promised to aide vs notwithstanding that he were the Duke of Milans father in lawe with fiue hundred men of armes and two thousand footemen which his promise vndoubtedly he would haue performed to the end he might haue rid himselfe of the danger he was in lying iust in the midst betweene the Venetians and the said Duke for not long before as I haue already made mention the Venetians had taken from him the Polesan and sought wholy his destruction wherefore he would haue preferred his owne safetie and his childrens before his sonne in lawes friendship yea and peraduenture he thought that the Duke of Milan seeing himselfe in this extremitie would make some appointment with the King 1 Moreouer by the said D. of Ferraraes meanes the Marques of Mantua was become our friend who lately had been and yet was generall of the Venetians but in great ielousie with them and he likewise being discontented with them soiourned with three hundred men of armes with his father in law the Duke of Ferrare for you shall vnderstand that he then had and yet hath to wife the Duches of Milans sister daughter to the said Duke of Ferrara Master Iohn Bentiuoille who gouerneth Bolonia and is as it were Lord thereof promised to aide vs with a hundred and fiftie men of armes and a good band of footemen and to send to the Kings seruice two of his sonâ—â—s who were captaines of certaine companies of horsemen and such was the seat 〈◊〉 countrey that he might haue done great seruice against the Duke of Milan The â—â—orentines who sawe themselues vtterly vndone vnlesse by large expences they recouered their losses fearing to be disseased of Pisa and the other places aboue mentioned 2 would haue furnished eight hundred men of armes and fiue thousand footemen vpon their owne proper costes and charges and had already prouided their paiments for sixe moneths The Vrsins and the Prefect of Rome brother to the Cardinall Saint Peter ad Vincula so often before named being in paie with the King would haue furnished a thousand men of armes but you shall vnderstand that their men of armes are not accompanied with archers as ours be but their wages and ours are much a like for a yeeres pay of one of their men of armes amounteth to a hundreth ducats and the wages of one of ours is double as much bicause of his archers These mercenary soldiers the King should haue paid but as touching the Florentines they should haue paid their forces themselues The Duke of Ferrara also the Marques of Mantua and Bentiuoille offered this aide vpon their owne charge for they hoped to conquer in the Duchie of Milan as much as should counteruaile their coste And if the Duke of Milan had been suddenly inuaded by the Duke of Orleans and all these aboue rehearsed at one instant his confederates namely the Venetians could not haue succoured him though they would haue spent all their treasure in his defence before he must haue been forced to reuolt to the K who would haue kept these Italians in the field a long time And the Duchy of Milan being once woon the realme of Naples would haue yeelded of it selfe The stay of this goodly enterprise proceeded of the Duke of Orleans who suddenly altered his minde the night before he should haue departed for he had already sent before him all things necessarie for his person and none remained to depart but himselfe onely for the army was in a readines their wages paid them they all gone before to Ast being to the number of eight hundred men of armes French and sixe thousand footemen among the which were fower hundred Swissers But the said Duke of Orleans being thus suddenly altered besought the King twice to propound this matter againe to his counsell and so he did I my selfe was present at the debating of it both the times and the whole Counsell concluded that he should go not one man speaking to the contrarie notwithstanding that there were present at each time ten or twelue Counsellors at the least And sure so had it beene most conuenient considering